The Story of Blue Hope
Blu Hope and British High Commissioner – Kuala Lumpur’s plastic pollution work in Commonwealth member country Malaysia in 2020

Moderator:
Amy Dangin, KK12FM Radio Announcer, Social Media Influencer

Amy Dangin (born March 12, 1985) is a Sabahan radio presenter, TV show host, voice & acting talent and a social media influencer with over 25K followers – local and regional. She is the face behind the viral Aunty Patrin videos. Prior to radio, Amy was also a journalist with a cumulative experience of 7 years reporting for a local newspaper, with an interest in sparking conversations surrounding social and environmental issues, which she continues to advocate for through her current platforms.

Speakers:
Simon Christopher, Blu Hope, Founder

Simon is a Sabah/Malaysia-based zoologist deeply committed to communicating the critical importance of biodiversity to as many people as possible worldwide. Having founded Scubazoo.tv and TimorBlue after more than two and half decades with more than 180 documentary programmes from BBC Natural History blockbusters such as Blue Planet II, LIFE, Human Planet – Oceans and Big Blue – Live, to hit reality shows like Survivor, Amazing Race and Man vs Wild, IMAX films like Sacred Planet and Conquest of the Skies, 3D – plus seven large-format coffee-table book publications under his belt, Simon is excited to be launching BLU HOPE alongside UNESCO Ocean Decade.

Monica Chin, Blu Hope, Co-Founder

Born and bred ‘ocean-loving Sabahan’, Monica has been diving/promoting Sabah’s unique marine biodiversity for 23 years. Owner of Ocean Virgo Scuba Dive for diving, environmental & marine educational conservation program, set up ‘Trash Hero Borneo’ and the Marine & Environmental Research, Education & Conservation Centre (ADRECC). A regular speaker at various Asia Dive Expos and Australia, Monica was awarded ‘Top 25 most influential Women Diver in Asia’ at ADEX Singapore plus ‘Outstanding Contributor to Ocean Conservation & Environment’ at ADEX Beijing. With her “Ocean is not our Garbage Bin, Be part of the Solution” mantra, via super-strong, multiple stakeholder partnerships and collaborations, Monica looks forward to rolling out Blu Hope all across Sabah and beyond …

Alison Collingridge, Head of Marketing, British High Commission-KL

Alison’s professional marketing career of over 28 years spans the UK, Hong Kong and Malaysia. In her role as the Head of Marketing & GREAT Campaign in the British High Commission-Kuala-Lumpur, she has conceived and delivered two extremely successful GREAT Britain marketing campaigns promoting British Retail and Education, which have been rolled out across the ASEAN region. She’s currently working with Blu Hope and other campaign partners in the run-up to COP26 to promote nature and to stop plastic pollution. In her career, she’s had the privilege of working with Zandra Rhodes; Jimmy Choo; Gary Rhodes and Sir David Attenborough. Alison is married and has a young son

Fish–Bomb–FREE–Sabah

Moderator:
Amy Dangin, KK12FM Radio Announcer, Social Media Influencer

Amy Dangin (born March 12, 1985) is a Sabahan radio presenter, TV show host, voice & acting talent and a social media influencer with over 25K followers – local and regional. She is the face behind the viral Aunty Patrin videos. Prior to radio, Amy was also a journalist with a cumulative experience of 7 years reporting for a local newspaper, with an interest in sparking conversations surrounding social and environmental issues, which she continues to advocate for through her current platforms.

Speakers:
Simon Christopher, Blu Hope, Founder

Simon is a Sabah/Malaysia-based zoologist deeply committed to communicating the critical importance of biodiversity to as many people as possible worldwide. Having founded Scubazoo.tv and TimorBlue after more than two and half decades with more than 180 documentary programmes from BBC Natural History blockbusters such as Blue Planet II, LIFE, Human Planet – Oceans and Big Blue – Live, to hit reality shows like Survivor, Amazing Race and Man vs Wild, IMAX films like Sacred Planet and Conquest of the Skies, 3D – plus seven large-format coffee-table book publications under his belt, Simon is excited to be launching BLU HOPE alongside UNESCO Ocean Decade.

Monica Chin, Blu Hope, Co-Founder / Community Director

Born and bred ‘ocean-loving Sabahan’, Monica has been diving/promoting Sabah’s unique marine biodiversity for 23 years. Owner of Ocean Virgo Scuba Dive for diving, environmental & marine educational conservation program, set up ‘Trash Hero Borneo’ and the Marine & Environmental Research, Education & Conservation Centre (ADRECC). A regular speaker at various Asia Dive Expos and Australia, Monica was awarded ‘Top 25 most influential Women Diver in Asia’ at ADEX Singapore plus ‘Outstanding Contributor to Ocean Conservation & Environment’ at ADEX Beijing. With her “Ocean is not our Garbage Bin, Be part of the Solution” mantra, via super-strong, multiple stakeholder partnerships and collaborations, Monica looks forward to rolling out Blu Hope all across Sabah and beyond …

Clark Dunson, Technical Director, ShotSpotter/US

Clark started his career at NASA as a payload engineer, working on mission designs and hardware testing for the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs. He then moved into leadership positions on commercial spacecraft programs such as Sirius, Globalstar, and others. In 2003 he began producing remote sensing detectors for weather, earthquakes, and gunshot/fish bomb detection. In 2005 he was awarded the “Spot Beam Award” by the California Space Authority, and in 2013, the “Champions of Change” award by the White House. He is a founding member of the Board of Directors for stopfishbombing.org

Captain Dieter Rudolph, Executive Director, Earth Island Institute

Dieter Rudolph is the Director for the Earth Island Institute project “Stop Fish Bombing SFB USA”. He has extensive experience working with Ocean focused NGOs, as President and CEO to address the impact of climate change. In the commercial sector, he was responsible for business development and contract management in support of Army, Navy and Department of Energy customers. As U.S. Program Director for the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation Program (AMEC) he supported the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security. This $32M international program developed and demonstrated nonproliferation technologies focused on radiological and environmental issues in Russia in cooperation with the Ministries of Defense for Norway, the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States. During his Navy Career, Captain Rudolph served as Deputy Oceanographer of the Navy and as Commanding Officer of three Naval Oceanographic Commands. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal and two awards of the Legion of Merit.

Terence Lim, MD of Stop Fish Bombing Malaysia

As the Executive Director, Terence was responsible for the establishment of SFB Malaysian Sdn Bhd in July 2019 with the goal of stopping fish bombing. In collaboration with SFB USA, Sabah Parks and other partners. Fish bombing is controlled through the deployment of acoustic arrays that provide rapid law enforcement notification with precise blast location information. Terence has been a member of the Stop Fish Bombing International Board of Directors since its inception in 2015. Terence was one of Scubazoo’s (SZ) Operations Directors and he has been involved with SZ managing multiple TV shoots including the UK’s Survivor series in Pulau Tiga, US’ Survivor series in Thailand and Conquest of the Skies, 3D with Sir David Attenborough since its inception in 1997. Having been General Manager of SDC Lodges, Sipadan Dive Centre S/B, Bukit Melapi Proboscis Lodge and Pulau Tiga Resort, Operations Manager at Gayana Eco Resort and Bunga Raya and Spa Resort, Operations Officer on Sipadan Princess luxury yacht Terence has been heavily involved with Sabah’s marine tourism industry all his working life. Also a Level 3 Scuba Instructor with the National Dive League + been scuba diving around Sabah’s incredible coral reefs for more than 30 years Terence is acutely aware of the prevalence of fish bombing in Sabah waters. As Chairperson for the Semporna Resort Operator Association (2016- 2018) and a committee member for the Kinabatangan Tourist Association together with his unique experience, Terence is perfectly placed to advise and co-ordinate the overall implementation of SFB in Sabah’s waters closely with the Government and all other key parties.

WWF Malaysia Shark Showcase
WWF Malaysia discuss their ongoing shark research, monitoring and activities across Malaysia

Moderator:
Amy Dangin, KK12FM Radio Announcer, Social Media Influencer

Amy Dangin, born on March 12, 1985, is a Sabahan radio presenter, TV show host, voice & acting talent and a social media influencer with over 25K followers – local and regional. She is the face behind the viral Aunty Patrin videos. Prior to radio, Amy was also a journalist with a cumulative experience of 7 years reporting for a local newspaper, with an interest in sparking conversations surrounding social and environmental issues, which she continues to advocate for through her current platforms.

Speakers:
Dr Henry Chan, WWF-Malaysia, Head of Conservation

Monique Alwine Sumampouw, Head of Marine Conservation Programme, WWF Malaysia

Ms. Monique has more than sixteen years of professional experience in Environmental planning development and marine Coastal resources management projects. Ms. Monique is taken a leadership leading Marine Program WWF Malaysia as Head of Marine since 2019, before that, she managing the People and Marine Biodiversity Marine Program supporting decision makers, local community, community based organization, universities and other NGO on protecting and preserve the Marine coastal biodiversity, including the marine protection area management and marine spatial planning. She has served WWF Malaysia for almost 10 years.

Serena Adam, Marine Conservation Officer – Shark (WWF-Malaysia)

Serena Adam is a Shark Conservation Officer at WWF-Malaysia. A graduate of Marine Biology from the University of Terengganu (UMT), her work revolves around research coordination, bycatch mitigation initiatives, supporting the implementation of the National Plans of Action, and monitoring of sharks and rays in marine protected areas (MPAs). Her goal is to improve the recovery of these vulnerable species and ensure they are still swimming in our waters for years to come.

Adam Junaidi Payne, Marine Conservation Officer – Shark (WWF-Malaysia)

Adam Junaidi Payne is a Marine Conservation Officer for WWF Malaysia based in Kudat, Sabah. Studied in University Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus, with a Diploma in Fisheries. His work involves a variety of subjects including working with coastal communities on setting up MPA’s, Reef Check Monitoring and Traditional Small Scale fisheries data gathering. Currently, he is assigned to different projects which are the monitoring of blast fishing activities in Tun Mustapha Park, Sea Surface Temperature Monitoring, Sand Temperature Monitoring and with the main focus of Shark & Ray surveys in Tun Mustapha Park (TMP) using the Baited Remote Underwater Video Method (BRUV). His goal for this BRUV survey is to identify species and habitats of Sharks in TMP and to further facilitate its conservation efforts in the park.

David McGuire, Founder of Shark Stewards

David McGuire is the Founder and Director of the shark and marine conservation non-profit Shark Stewards. A marine biologist, David is an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco where he teaches marine policy, a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences where he conducts shark research studies in the San Francisco Bay and in SE Asia. Shark Stewards introduced the California shark fin trade ban and have lead several states and international movements limiting the overfishing of sharks and the shark fin trade. Shark Stewards protects critical marine habitat, working with NOAA in US National Marine Sanctuaries and establishing California Marine Protected Areas, where he is Co-chair of the Golden gate MPA collaborative. David is also a documentarian and written having written two books and several articles on sharks and ocean adventure, and produced documentaries on shark conservation including Shark Stewards of the Reef, and the Emmy Award-winning Reefs to Rainforests. He is an ocean expeditioner and a National Geographic Explorer.

Simon Christopher, Blu Hope, Founder

Simon is a Sabah/Malaysia-based zoologist deeply committed to communicating the critical importance of biodiversity to as many people as possible worldwide. Having founded Scubazoo.tv and TimorBlue after more than two and half decades with more than 180 documentary programmes from BBC Natural History blockbusters such as Blue Planet II, LIFE, Human Planet – Oceans and Big Blue – Live, to hit reality shows like Survivor, Amazing Race and Man vs Wild, IMAX films like Sacred Planet and Conquest of the Skies, 3D – plus seven large-format coffee-table book publications under his belt, Simon is excited to be launching BLU HOPE alongside UNESCO Ocean Decade.

Monica Chin, Blu Hope, Co-Founder

Born and bred ‘ocean-loving Sabahan’, Monica has been diving/promoting Sabah’s unique marine biodiversity for 23 years. Owner of Ocean Virgo Scuba Dive for diving, environmental & marine educational conservation program, set up ‘Trash Hero Borneo’ and the Marine & Environmental Research, Education & Conservation Centre (ADRECC). A regular speaker at various Asia Dive Expos and Australia, Monica was awarded ‘Top 25 most influential Women Diver in Asia’ at ADEX Singapore plus ‘Outstanding Contributor to Ocean Conservation & Environment’ at ADEX Beijing. With her “Ocean is not our Garbage Bin, Be part of the Solution” mantra, via super-strong, multiple stakeholder partnerships and collaborations, Monica looks forward to rolling out Blu Hope all across Sabah and beyond …

Blu Hope South Pacific

Speakers:
Stephan Harris, Founder, MAUI’s Ark

Kosi Latu, Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

Mr. Kosi Latu is the Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) which is the premier intergovernmental agency for the Pacific environment. SPREP was established by Treaty in 1993 to support Pacific island countries and territories with environmental management, sustainable development and protection of the environment. SPREP has 26 member governments including 21 Pacific island countries and territories and 5 metropolitan members. SPREP has key priority areas in climate change resilience; island and ocean ecosystems; waste management and pollution control; and environmental monitoring and governance. SPREP is also an accredited entity to the Adaptation Fund and Green Climate Fund. Mr. Latu has led a distinguished career as the SPREP Director-General since 2016, SPREP Deputy Director-General from 2008 to 2015 and as the Special Legal Adviser and Head of the Legal and Economic Division, and Deputy Director for the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Prior to SPREP Mr. Latu was the Manager of the United Nations Office for Project Services Financial Compliance Programme at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. He started his career as a state prosecutor with the Attorney General’s Office for the Government of Samoa from 1990 to 1995. Mr. Latu is a graduate of the Canterbury University of New Zealand and has expertise in international environmental law, the law of the sea and financial compliance.

Dato Dr. Nick Boden, Co-Founder of Klean Asia, Blu Hope Partner

An entrepreneur at heart, Dr Nick as he is commonly known as was born in South Africa and raised in a small village in the Kingdom of Eswatini. These years allowed him to witness, first hand the challenges facing a largely poor and rural population, including access to healthcare and the effect of environmental changes on the ability for people to survive and thrive. A Chiropractor by training, Nick was part of the technical staff for the South African Men’s Hockey team and travelled the world attending the 2002 World Cup and Commonwealth Games, and the 2004 Athens Olympics. A resident of Kuala Lumpur for the last 17years, he has set up many integrated spines and joint clinics across the country and more recently Co-founded the startup Klean. Klean aims to tackle the plastic crises by rewarding people for recycling plastic bottles, through the deployment of a network of smart AI-enabled smart reverse vending machines, invented by the company. Klean has won worldwide recognition for its innovation, winning the Pitch@Palace Singapore in 2018, and a UNCDF grant to role out machines in Fiji in 2019, where Klean rewards recyclers with micro-healthcare insurance. Klean currently has installations in Malaysia with Shell, in Indonesia with Danone and in Singapore and Fiji.

Demetrio Do Amaral De Carvalho, Secretary of State for the Environment, Timor Leste

Simon Christopher, Blu Hope, Founder

Simon is a Sabah/Malaysia-based zoologist deeply committed to communicating the critical importance of biodiversity to as many people as possible worldwide. Having founded Scubazoo.tv and TimorBlue after more than two and half decades with more than 180 documentary programmes from BBC Natural History blockbusters such as Blue Planet II, LIFE, Human Planet – Oceans and Big Blue – Live, to hit reality shows like Survivor, Amazing Race and Man vs Wild, IMAX films like Sacred Planet and Conquest of the Skies, 3D – plus seven large-format coffee-table book publications under his belt, Simon is excited to be launching BLU HOPE alongside UNESCO Ocean Decade.

Launch of ‘Water is Life’ – Sabah Schools

Moderator:

Paul Rose, Explorer, Broadcaster, Expedition Leader National Geographic Pristine Seas and Vice President of the Royal Geographic Society from 1999 to 2002 / Blu Hope Ambassador

Speakers:

YBHG. Datuk Dr Mistirine Binti Radin, Director of Sabah Education Department

Zaki B. Abu Bakar, Director Head of Assistant Human Resource Department

David Monnier, Founder & Chairman of Fonto De Vino

David Monnier has spent 13 years around the world, working for international NGOs, both for emergencies and development programmes. All over those years, David has never been satisfied with the solution provided to people suffering from disasters. In 2017 with Anthony Cailleau, the other Co-founder of Fonto De Vivo, he decided to develop an alternative solution: the ORISA®. With the support of the main French INGOs a low cost, effective and simple household water filter was born. Designed for disaster response it happened to also be an ideal tool for clinics and schools.

Jo Ruxton, Founder, Ocean Generation/Plastic Oceans UK

Glen MacNair, Managing Director at Forest Solutions Malaysia

Mr. Glen MacNair is the Partner and Managing Director at Forest Solutions Malaysia, an award-winning forest management Company. Glen has 30 years of experience in forestry business management; internationally and in Malaysia. He believes that a well-managed, productive tree plantation is the key to preserving the biodiversity in Sabah.

Maya Karin, Actress, Singer and Environmental Activist

Jeffrey Tsang, Blu Hope, Senior Project Director

Jeffrey is a Sabahan tourism industry leader who loves travelling, adventure and learning about the wonders of nature and mankind’s history. Especially passionate about youth development, having been heavily involved with Sabah’s Junior Chamber International, Sabah Shark Protection Association and, as President of Sabah’s Backpacker Operators Association naturally Jeffrey’s become increasingly-immersed with marine protection and striving to reach a more harmonious balance between human development and protecting nature.

Simon Christopher, Founder, Blu Hope

Simon is a Sabah/Malaysia-based zoologist deeply committed to communicating the critical importance of biodiversity to as many people as possible worldwide. Having founded Scubazoo.tv and TimorBlue after more than two and half decades with more than 180 documentary programmes from BBC Natural History blockbusters such as Blue Planet II, LIFE, Human Planet – Oceans and Big Blue – Live, to hit reality shows like Survivor, Amazing Race and Man vs Wild, IMAX films like Sacred Planet and Conquest of the Skies, 3D – plus seven large-format coffee-table book publications under his belt, Simon is excited to be launching BLU HOPE alongside UNESCO Ocean Decade.

Monica Chin, Co-Founder/Community Director, Blu Hope

Born and bred ‘ocean-loving Sabahan’, Monica has been diving/promoting Sabah’s unique marine biodiversity for 23 years. Owner of Ocean Virgo Scuba Dive for diving, environmental & marine educational conservation program, set up ‘Trash Hero Borneo’ and the Marine & Environmental Research, Education & Conservation Centre (ADRECC). A regular speaker at various Asia Dive Expos and Australia, Monica was awarded ‘Top 25 most influential Women Diver in Asia’ at ADEX Singapore plus ‘Outstanding Contributor to Ocean Conservation & Environment’ at ADEX Beijing. With her “Ocean is not our Garbage Bin, Be part of the Solution” mantra, via super-strong, multiple stakeholder partnerships and collaborations, Monica looks forward to rolling out Blu Hope all across Sabah and beyond …

Launch of ReWild Carbon/Plastic App

Moderator:Moderator:
Paul Rose, Explorer Broadcaster – Expedition Leader, National Geographic Pristine Seas and Vice President of The Royal Geographic Society from 1999 to 2002

Speakers:
David Thomas, Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission-KL

Deborah Sacks, Waste & Resources Specialist, Department for International Trade

John Bamford, Head of Advisory UK, Eco-Act & TerraNeutra

John leads the EcoAct UK Advisory team and is a Chartered Engineer, specialising in operational performance of carbon and energy-related systems and management programmes. He provides in-depth support to key clients attaining to reach Net Zero through their energy and carbon reduction strategies. John’s background covers strategic and operational management of engineering and energy solutions and has extensive experience leading large complex projects within the retail, banking, real estate and manufacturing sectors.

Graeme Gourlay, Publisher Syon Publishing, Dive/Geographical/The Environment Magazines

John Robertson, Director of Public Relations & Development, Danau Girang Field Centre / Regrow Borneo / Cardiff University (ReWild-Green)

I first came to Sabah in 2007 when, as the Director of Administration at the School of Biosciences (Cardiff University, UK), I helped co-ordinate the establishment of the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) through a formal partnership with the Sabah Wildlife Department. My varied career in higher education and institutional mergers has taken me all over the world, most recently working with the senior management at the University of Malaya (Kuala Lumpur), as Director of Institutional Advancement. Now, over ten years on, I am delighted to have joined DGFC as their Director of Public Relations and Development.

Dr Wong Siew Te, Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre (ReWild-Green)

Fergus Vaux, Blu Hope ReWild – Development/Researcher

Fergus Vaux, Project Development/Researcher, has joined Blu Hope to help drive the new plastics app, ReWild. Fergus has a First Class degree in Product Design. At university his dissertation focused on the UK’s recycling infrastructure, identifying the benefits and drawbacks of bioplastics, and suggesting innovations to tackle the plastic problem. He previously worked at Muller Dairy, where he gained an in-depth knowledge of FMCG plastic packaging materials. He is currently the Operations Manager at a sustainability-oriented start-up.

Simon Christopher, Blu Hope, Founder

Simon is a Sabah/Malaysia-based zoologist deeply committed to communicating the critical importance of biodiversity to as many people as possible worldwide. Having founded Scubazoo.tv and TimorBlue after more than two and half decades with more than 180 documentary programmes from BBC Natural History blockbusters such as Blue Planet II, LIFE, Human Planet – Oceans and Big Blue – Live, to hit reality shows like Survivor, Amazing Race and Man vs Wild, IMAX films like Sacred Planet and Conquest of the Skies, 3D – plus seven large-format coffee-table book publications under his belt, Simon is excited to be launching BLU HOPE alongside UNESCO Ocean Decade.

Launch of Sabah Plastic Neutral
Celebration of Blu Hope / Sabah Government BDKK MOU launch of Sabah Plastic Neutral

Commonwealth Observance Day
Live-streamed from the Royal Commonwealth Society of Malaysia’s Clubhouse

Speakers:
Kassim Abdul Rahman, President of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Malaysia

Mr Kassim bin Abdul Rahman joined The Royal Commonwealth Society of Malaysia in the year 1986 and was later appointed as the President from 2017 in till present. Mr Kassim is currently working as the Head of Public Affairs and is the company’s corporate liaison with local authorities, state and federal government agencies for the Selangor Properties Sdn Bhd. Mr Kassim is active. member and have held many other portfolios in Council such as HR & Admin, Membership & Discipline for many years before his appointment as the President in 2017.

H.E. Charles Hay MVO, British High Commissioner to Malaysia

His Excellency Charles Hay MVO started as the British High Commissioner to Malaysia in March 2019 in succession to Vicki Treadell CMG MVO. Prior to Malaysia, Mr Hay was the British Ambassador to South Korea from 2015 to 2018. During his time in the British diplomatic services, he has been posted to the Czech Republic, Spain and the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels. Charles was also the Director of Consular Services in London, responsible for assisting British nationals and in crisis management worldwide. Before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1993, he was a Captain in the British Army.

YBhg Dato’ Nadzirah Binti Osman, Deputy Secretary-General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong by Doyen of the Commonwealth Countries in Malaysia, H.E. Vanu Gopala Menon, Singapore High Commissioner

Mr Dhanesh Basil, Director of Youth Affairs, the Royal Commonwealth Society of Malaysia, Asia Regional Co-ordinator Royal Commonwealth Society

Dato’ Sudha Devi, Chair of the Board of Governors, Commonwealth Foundation

A retired career diplomat with over 34 years of service with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Joined the Administrative and Diplomatic Service in 1986, and held various positions in the Ministry including DG Department of Policy Planning and Coordination; undersecretary East Asia Division; and DDG ASEAN-Malaysia Secretariat. Served as High Commissioner to Australia, Ambassador to Brazil and in various positions in Switzerland, Singapore and Germany. Retired in June 2020. Appointed Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation from January 2021. Graduated with a B.Econs from the University of Malaya and also holds diplomas in Public Administration, National Institute of Public Administration and in International Relations from Geneva, Switzerland.

Film Screening: Malaysia from Below