Following a highly competitive process, and recognition of the current work being undertaken by Tom and Blue Pangolin, he will join 15 other committee members for the congress in 2022 that will:
- Ensure that all aspects of IMPAC5 are seen through a youth lens;
- Help shape thematic discussions and speak on a variety of panels; and
- Build the legacy of the Congress to engage young people beyond IMPAC5.
Eight of the sixteen Young Professionals Committee members are from Canada, including six Indigenous members from across the country. The remaining eight members come from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North and South America. Between them, they speak eight languages.
Tom will work with the IMPAC5 Youth Committee to ensure that young leaders from the international marine protected area (MPA) community, Indigenous groups and other related backgrounds will be heard at IMPAC5 and well beyond.
“Young people from all nations and backgrounds play important leadership, stewardship and decision-making roles in marine protected areas and ocean conservation.”
IMPAC5 will take place from 23rd – 30th June 2022 in Vancouver, Canada, where oceans conservation professionals and high-level officials will come together to take a stand to protect the Ocean by informing, inspiring and acting on marine protected areas.
Tom will draw upon his experience managing, establishing and monitoring Marine Protected Areas to share knowledge and discuss best practices and ideas for future ocean protection across five thematic areas: Building a Global Marine Protected Area Network; MPAs and Human Activity; Addressing the Climate Crisis and Conserving Biodiversity; Advancing Conservation in the Blue Economy; and Connecting Ocean, Culture and Human Well-Being.
On receiving the news of his successful application, Tom stated: “I applied to join the Young Professionals Committee for the IMPAC5 to empower youth around the world to utilise MPAs, to take immediate action, and to conserve the marine environment. I look forward to beginning this exciting journey and mobilising a generation of action”
Read more about the Youth Professionals Committee and meet the other young professionals here.
Tom is also an active member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and the Financing Protected Areas working group of the Conservation Finance Alliance.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][thb_share facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true” text=”Love it? Share it!”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]