Blue Readiness Board

Filipe is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and impact ecosystem builder with more than 25 years of experience. As founder of Impact Hub Lisbon & Porto and TEAL Impact Angels, he supports and invests in early-stage ventures creating positive environmental and social impact. He brings deep expertise in innovation, venture building, fundraising, AI, and impact investing.

May Liew is Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of OCTAVE Capital, an impact investment firm focused on deploying capital for positive environmental and social outcomes. With more than 20 years of experience across investment, corporate strategy, climate tech, and sustainability-led innovation, she brings a strong systems perspective to scaling ocean and climate solutions across Asia-Pacific.

Anette is an active early stage tech investor focusing on ICT and deep-tech science based innovation while adding global environmental goals into the mist. Anette has received multiple recognitions; One of Sweden’s most powerful tech investors 2016, Nordic 100 most influential persons 2018 and mentioned in EBAN 2018 report on 200+ most active Business Angels in Europe. Anette was crowned “Sweden’s nicest Business Angel” at Venture Cup Sweden 2018. Anette is a Partner at Stockholm Business Angels, Managing General Partner at Nordvest, Venture Partner at Butterfly Ventures, Chairwoman at “We Don’t Have Time”, Managing Partner and founding investor at Cross Nordic Capital and former Chapter President and CEO of Keiretsu Forum Nordics.

Ross Brooks is General Partner at Katapult Ocean and an economist by training, with deep expertise in environmental economics, natural capital, and ocean impact investment. With over 13 years of investment management experience, including previous roles at Baillie Gifford and LeapFrog Investments, he works to connect financial markets with regenerative ocean and natural capital solutions.

Jason Giffen is Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer at the Port of San Diego, where he works across coastal resilience, maritime sustainability, climate action, environmental protection, and blue economy innovation. With more than 25 years of experience in planning and environmental work, particularly in coastal and marine environments, he brings a strong applied perspective on how ports can become platforms for sustainable ocean innovation, pilot deployment, and real-world adoption.

Jason Giffen is Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer at the Port of San Diego, where he works across coastal resilience, maritime sustainability, climate action, environmental protection, and blue economy innovation. With more than 25 years of experience in planning and environmental work, particularly in coastal and marine environments, he brings a strong applied perspective on how ports can become platforms for sustainable ocean innovation, pilot deployment, and real-world adoption.

Tessa Charupatanapongse is Investment Lead at Potato Impact Partners, where she leads deal sourcing, due diligence, and ecosystem building within the sustainable seaweed aquaculture value chain. Her work focuses on seaweed innovation as a pathway to strengthen food security, climate resilience, coastal livelihoods, and the blue economy. She brings experience across impact investing, social impact, gender lens venture capital, mental health, startups, and international development.

Laura Francis is Director of the Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund and a marine biologist and educator with 30 years of experience in ocean conservation, research, and education. After 27 years at NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, she now focuses on ocean philanthropy and impact investing to support a healthy, sustainable ocean.

Markus Böhm is Founding Partner of Planet Ocean Fund, where he invests in ocean-focused solutions that support regeneration, climate resilience, and sustainable blue economy growth. He brings more than 15 years of experience across corporate finance, M&A, venture capital, and board roles, with over €300 million in transactional experience. A marine biologist and scuba diver, Markus combines financial expertise with a deep personal connection to the ocean.

Lead Manager of Hub Azul Portugal at Fórum Oceano. With a degree in Economics and an international MBA, he was responsible for business development in a collaborative innovation consultancy for the areas of Blue Economy, Sustainability, Smart Cities and Tourism. He was Program Director of the Bluetech Accelerator, an open innovation program developed with the Portuguese Ministry of the Sea and the Directorate General for Maritime Policy, to boost innovation in the blue economy and focused on Ports & Maritime Logistics. He was also part of the initial development team of the European project AspBAN (Atlantic Smart Ports Blue Acceleration Network).

André de Almeida Santos is Partner at Indico Capital Partners, where he leads the firm’s Sustainability & Impact strategy and its investments in the Blue Economy. With more than 20 years of investment experience, and a broader career spanning development finance, economic policy, responsible investment, and academia, he brings a strong systems perspective to ocean innovation and regenerative capital. He was previously Principal Country Economist at the African Development Bank and is a Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School.

Ingrid is the Katapult Ocean Impact Director, and she is passionate about ocean impact startups. Before she joined Katpult she worked in Ferd, investing in, and supporting social entrepreneurs. She has also extensive experience from financing and leading social inclusion projects in The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF). Ingrid believes that companies with a positive impact on the world are the future, and that financially sustainable startups can scale great solutions for a thriving ocean.

Darko Manakovski is Founder of Manakovski Global and a strategic advisor working at the intersection of ocean finance, systemic climate action, and regenerative economic transition. He serves as a Board Member of the EU Mission for Healthy Oceans and Waters and advises organisations on strategy, partnerships, capital mobilisation, and systems-level change. His work focuses on strengthening the conditions for ocean innovation, investability, and long-term ocean resilience.

Rita Sousa is Partner at Faber Blue Pioneers Fund, an early-stage Fund, investing in the early stages of high potential deep-tech startups aiming for high positive impact on ocean sustainability and climate action. Rita has been working in VC for 7 years, is a jury member for the EIC/European Commission and has previously worked in energy & utilities, innovation and CRM consultancy. Rita is a Mechanical Engineer (IST), MSc. Energy/Environment (Strathclyde), MBA (AESE/IESE BS) and MiF (Católica BS).

Ann Lee Carpenter, the co-founder and CEO of Braid Theory, serves as an advisor to deep tech companies in ocean/maritime, transportation and goods movement, and related industrial sectors. She brings more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing, business development, and community outreach. Braid Theory, located at AltaSea in the Port of Los Angeles, focuses on efforts to grow a sustainable blue economy with pre-accelerator, accelerator and venture studio programs targeting blue economy entrepreneurs. These world leading programs connect seamlessly to Ocean Community Challenge for the awarded teams after completing OC acceleration preparation program, and final qualification assessment.