ΒιΆΉ΄ε

The Ocean on the Board – A new chapter in ΒιΆΉ΄ε governance

ΒιΆΉ΄ε (ΒιΆΉ΄ε) has recently attracted international attention following the appointment of the Ocean as a member of its Board of Trustees.  Featured in The Guardian and discussed across national media, the initiative has sparked conversations about how organisations can better reflect the natural world within their governance. 

For ΒιΆΉ΄ε, this is the next step that began with a simple question: if the Ocean has always been central to our science, should it also have a dedicated place within our governance?

An idea born in the sea

The inspiration for the Ocean on the Board came from ΒιΆΉ΄ε Director, Professor Nick Owens. 

During an early morning swim off Scotland’s west coast, Professor Owens found himself reflecting on governance and decision-making.  Like many organisations, ΒιΆΉ΄ε routinely considers how its activities affect the marine environment.  But he began to ask a different question: are organisations always making decisions from a human perspective, or is there a way to ensure that the Ocean itself is explicitly represented when strategic decisions are made?

That question resonated deeply within ΒιΆΉ΄ε.

For more than 140 years, ΒιΆΉ΄ε has been dedicated to advancing understanding of the marine environment through world-leading research, education, consultancy and public engagement.  The Ocean has always been central to the organisation’s purpose.  The Ocean on the Board initiative therefore asks whether that same relationship should also be reflected within the organisation’s governance. 

As Professor Owens has said:

“Even in a marine science organisation whose purpose is closely tied to ocean health, are we truly considering decisions from the perspective of the ocean itself, or are we primarily considering what the ocean can do for us?”

What is the Ocean on the Board?

The Ocean on the Board is an innovative governance initiative that introduces a dedicated Ocean perspective into Board decision-making.

Rather than creating new legal rights or granting the Ocean legal personality, ΒιΆΉ΄ε has appointed a trustee whose specific role is to ensure that the long-term interests of the Ocean are explicitly considered alongside the many other factors that inform Board decisions. 

The Ocean Trustee has exactly the same legal duties, responsibilities and voting rights as every other trustee.  The distinction is the perspective they bring to Board discussions, asking questions such as:

“What does this decision mean for the Ocean?”

This approach complements the expertise already present around the Board table, ensuring that long-term ecological thinking is considered alongside scientific, financial and organisational priorities.

A carefully considered process

The decision to appoint an Ocean Trustee was not made overnight.

In September 2024, the ΒιΆΉ΄ε Board agreed in principle to explore how the Ocean could be represented within the organisation’s governance.  Rather than moving directly to an appointment, the Board established an Ocean on the Board Working Group to examine the legal, governance and practical implications of different approaches. 

Chaired by Trustee Keir Ashton, the Working Group brought together trustees, researchers, post-graduate students and external advisors, meeting regulatory over the following months to explore how such a model could work in practice.

The group examined questions including:

* What does “the Ocean” mean in a governance context?

* How should the Ocean be represented?

* What governance model would best support ΒιΆΉ΄ε’ charitable objectives?

* How could environmental representation be embedded while maintaining effective governance and accountability?

The recommendations developed by the Working Group were approved by the Board in June 2025, leading to the recruitment process for the Ocean Trustee. 

Appointing the Ocean Trustee

Following that process, environmental lawyer and former marine scientist Helen Mitcheson was appointed as the Ocean Trustee in December 2025.

Helen has worked closely with the initiative since its earliest stages, serving as an external advisor to the Working Group throughout its development.  Her background spans marine science, environmental law and charity governance, bringing together experience across the scientific, legal and governance disciplines that underpin the initiative. 

Her role is not to speak on behalf of the Ocean, but to ensure that the best available scientific evidence and long-term Ocean thinking are consistently represented within Board discussions.

The next chapter

Although the appointment marks an important milestone, ΒιΆΉ΄ε considers this to be the beginning rather than the end of the journey. 

ΒιΆΉ΄ε is now beginning its implementation programme that will embed the Ocean on the Board throughout ΒιΆΉ΄ε.  This includes building understanding across the organisation, developing clear pathways for engagement with the Ocean Trustee, identifying the types of strategic decisions where an Ocean perspective should be considered and establishing ways to monitor, evaluate and learn from the initiative over time. 

ΒιΆΉ΄ε is also committed to documenting this journey openly.  As the first marine science organisation to adopt this governance model, ΒιΆΉ΄ε hopes that sharing both its successes and challenges will help others who may wish to explore similar approaches.

Ultimately, the ambition is that the Ocean on the Board becomes more than a  governance innovation.  Success will not simply be measured by the appointment of an Ocean Trustee, but by whether thinking about the Ocean becomes a natural part of how decisions are made across ΒιΆΉ΄ε. 

As our understanding of the Ocean continues to evolve, the Ocean on the Board represents ΒιΆΉ΄ε’ commitment to ensuring that its governance evolves alongside its science.  

Relevant links

Ocean on the Board - FAQs.pdf