Our mission is to give a voice to our ocean
By promoting the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural marine environment by widening and deepening public understanding of the ocean's issues and challenges. By sharing stories of those dedicated to the ocean and its conservation, we can inspire others to take action and join the movement to protect our oceans.
OUR APPROACH
Through immersive educational workshops, we enlighten young minds about marine ecosystems, plastic pollution, and sustainability, fostering a deep connection to our oceans.
Our impactful grant programme amplifies the voices of Ocean Guardians worldwide, providing resources for vital conservation initiatives. Our public events, showcasing the beauty and challenges of the ocean, unite communities in the shared cause of conservation.
OCL's impact resonates globally, empowering countless individuals to become Ocean Guardians and bridging the critical gap between science and communication in the ocean conservation movement.
Read our 2022/2023 annual review here.
meet the team
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Environmental Portrait and Celebrated Royal Family Photographer
As the founder of Ocean Culture Life, Matt Porteous embarked on a mission fueled by his fascination with the stories of others. Driven by his passion for life, travel, nature, and humanity, Matt sought to forge a global community dedicated to amplifying the positive narrative surrounding the oceans and their inhabitants.
Matt's compelling attraction to storytelling is evident in his ability to craft visual tales of extraordinary depth. His work, ranging from intimate captures to epic journeys, seeks the profound emotions hidden within. With a deep respect for the Earth and its oceans, Matt focuses on narratives that carry a significant impact, stories that bridge the gap between individual experiences and universal truths. His work is not just seen; it's felt, marked by a transformative energy and a genuine perspective that renders each photograph not only a moment in time but a piece of art that speaks to the soul.
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BEING A LIFELONG OCEAN LOVER, TAMSIN HAS SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE ON OR CLOSE TO THE SEA.
INSPIRED BY THE OCEAN FROM A YOUNG AGE, TAMSIN SET OUT ON A JOURNEY LEARNING HOW TO COMMUNICATE TO THE MASSES WITH THE AIM TO DO IT FOR A GOOD CAUSE. AFTER GRADUATING WITH A FIRST CLASS HONOURS IN ADVERTISING & MARKETING SHE SPENT YEARS AGENCY SIDE MANAGING NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS FOR MARKET LEADING BRANDS. IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG FOR HER TO REALISE THE MISSING LINK - HER PASSION FOR THE SEA.
TAMSIN BELIEVES THAT OUR EMOTIONAL BOND WITH THE OCEAN IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES TO MARINE SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT, BY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CULTURE, SCIENCE AND COMMUNICATION THROUGH CREATIVE PRACTICES WE CAN PROMOTE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, HERITAGE AND OCEAN STEWARDSHIP.
TAMSIN@OCEANCULTURE.LIFE
Meet the Team
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Darby Bonner - Head of Communications
Darby is a talented communicator with a flair for creative storytelling. With a background in marine science and communications, she spearheads our outreach efforts, engaging audiences worldwide in the mission to give a voice to the ocean.
darby@oceanculture.life
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Lindsey Raine - Youth Engagement Officer
Lindsey Raine is a passionate advocate for ocean conservation and the transformative power of the sea on behavioural development. As our dedicated Youth Engagement Officer, she brings a wealth of expertise as a trained childcare officer, ensuring engaging and impactful educational experiences for young learners.
lindsey@oceanculture.life -
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Alexandra Faure - Trustee & Project Manager
Alex's exceptional organisational skills ensure the seamless execution of workshops, events, and grant programs. With a passion for SDG14 and policy change, she strives to empower businesses to do better and to inspire the next generation of Ocean Guardians.
alexander@oceanculture.life
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Seana Brooks - Trustee & Secretary
As the Volunteer Secretary, Seana plays a crucial role in organising meetings, maintaining records, and supporting administrative tasks. With her strong organisational skills and commitment to the cause, Seana ensures the smooth functioning of our charitable endeavours.
seana@oceanculture.life
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![https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-oliver-589ab534/?originalSubdomain=je]()
Mark Oliver - Treasurer
Mark Oliver, our esteemed Treasurer, leverages his extensive experience in finance and dedication to philanthropy to ensure the fiscal health and transparency of our organization, guiding us with his expertise towards achieving our mission effectively and ethically.
Advisory Board
JOIN THE TEAM
Thank you for your interest in joining OCL.
Current Vacancies Include
Fundraising Manager
Ambassador Coordinator
Please email info@oceanculture.life.
Ride the Wave of Transformation with Us.
Join the tide of change and be at the forefront of a revolutionary movement. At Ocean Culture Life, we're building a charity and cultivating a global community. As part of the OCL team, you'll stand alongside passionate storytellers and dedicated guardians, all working in unison towards a sustainable and vibrant oceanic future. We're searching for dynamic individuals to help us craft the most exhilarating global ocean charity ever envisioned. Seize the opportunity, make a splash, and let's co-create a legacy that will echo across the deep blue for generations to come.
Every once in a while, perhaps only once in a generation, profound shifts ripple through the world’s conscience: attitudes change, knowledge broadens, and the way we live our lives is redrawn.
Ocean Culture Life is a community that has grown out of this new era of awareness and tapped into a worldwide network of storytellers and guardians.
OCL’s storytellers are united by a love of the water and an intuitive ability to capture emotion and change through the lens. Across the world, we support and connect these talented creators so that they can tell their stories in captivating photography and film.
Through the fog of media that bombards us daily, these stories of progress, incremental improvement and endeavour in the face of persistent and unrelenting pushback are the ones that stay with us.
Together we continue to support ocean-related community projects, research and conservation efforts worldwide, creating compelling content that catalyses positive change.
Building a community
OCL’s storytellers are united by a love of the water and an instinctive ability to capture emotion and change through the lens. Across the world, we connect these talented creators with our Ocean Guardians, so that they can tell their stories in captivating photography and film.
Through the fog of media that bombards us every day, these stories of progress, of incremental improvement and endeavour in the face of persistent and unrelenting pushback, are the ones that stay with us. In a matter of months, community projects, scientific research and conservation efforts across the world were soon brought to life by our storytellers, creating compelling content which catalysed positive change.
