Our Ambassadors

Dr Helen Czerski

Dr Helen Czerski is a physicist and oceanographer with a passion for science, sport, books, creativity, hot chocolate and investigating the interesting things in life. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University College London and her research focus is the physics of breaking waves and bubbles at the ocean surface. She is also a writer and broadcaster, and was awarded the Institute of Physics Gold Medal in 2018 for her work on physics communication. Her 2020 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture was on the topic of the ocean.

Why I support NOC’s work

We often talk about living on a blue planet, but we rarely really look at that blue, and almost never acknowledge that it’s the most critical part of our planetary life support system. The ocean does things – it moves in beautiful and intricate ways, it transports heat, nutrients and life around the planet, and it makes Earth habitable.

I’m delighted to support NOC in its critical work to create, synthesise and share knowledge about Earth’s ocean. Understanding our ocean is both incredibly satisfying and enriching, and also necessary for good stewardship of our planet. We should be proud of being citizens of an ocean world.

Julian Hector

Professor Julian Hector led the BBC Studio's Natural History Unit (NHU) for six years before leaving the BBC in 2022. Under his leadership, the influential producer delivered such hit series as Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Seven Worlds One Planet, The Green Planet, and Frozen Planet II to the BBC between 2016 and 2021, as well as securing major orders from US streaming giants Apple TV+, NBCUniversal/Peacock, and National Geographic/Disney. This content earned numerous awards, including an Emmy and a BAFTA, and the plastic pollution campaign driven by Blue Planet II continues to have a lasting impact globally.

As an audio and radio enthusiast, Professor Hector developed several radio shows for BBC Radio 4, including the still-broadcasting Tweet of the Day, which he is particularly proud of. Prior to his 30-year career at the BBC, Professor Hector was a British Antarctic Survey scientist and received his PhD for his work on Diomedea Albatrosses from the University of Bristol in 1985. In 2014, the same university awarded him with an Honorary D.Sc for his work in serving radio audiences, and in 2019, he was jointly awarded the Chatham House Prize with Sir David Attenborough by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This prestigious prize recognized the influence of Blue Planet II on global awareness and action, especially in relation to plastic pollution in the oceans.

Why I support NOC’s work

The seven seas are not as they seem, they are one global ocean, and we know this not least because of the NOC’s excellence in international oceanographic research. Discovering that there is a complex planetary circulation of the sea has lifted the lid on the diverse structure of our oceans and helps us understand how the ecosystems and habitats therein relate to each other. NOC’s mission to discover the inner secrets of the world’s ocean and communicate it to specialist and general audiences all over the world, make this one of the world’s most important research institutions now and in the future. I am so proud to be ambassador for the NOC and will shout its value from atop every mast I climb.

Olly Hicks

Olly Hicks is a man of the sea – triple world record holder, ocean rower, sailor, sea kayaker, diver and ocean farmer. Olly was the youngest person to row an ocean solo and the first person to row alone, From America to England. In 2005, after 124 days alone at sea Olly landed in the Scilly Isles to a heroes welcome from Prince William and Richard Branson, “not much madder than when I set off”.

Olly’s next mission was to row single-handed around the world. The aim was to row from Tasmania to South Georgia, stop for the winter and then carry on through the Southern Ocean back to Tasmania – a trip of 18,000 miles. A mission described by The Times as “at best perilous and at worst suicidal”. He set off only to disappointingly, after “only” 96 days, be forced to abandon the voyage because of boat problems. Olly is intent on going again.

Between remote and solitary escapades Olly served 10 years in the British Army, was CEO of ocean charity 10% for the Ocean and now devotes his time to pioneering sustainable offshore mariculture through his seaweed biotech company Algapelago Marine.

Why I support NOC’s work

Having been so fortunate to spend large parts of my life in some of the planets most remote ocean corners, often travelling at the pace of plankton, I have seen time and again the startling natural beauty and life on the high seas - to watch Blue Planet merely offers a glimpse into the reality, the majesty and the simply incredible wildlife and oceanic spectacles that play out many horizons away.

From the Antarctic to the Arctic I have borne witness to these little visited, still pristine regions of our planet. It is only through the incredible research, data gathering and analysis by institutions like NOC that we can fully understand how these deeply complex oceanic systems work and with that knowledge be informed to effectively protect our little blue marble which we all call home.

Lizzie James

Lizzie is a Paddleboarder and Ocean Advocate based on the South Coast, UK. With so much time being spent on the water and exploring the coastline, Lizzie has seen first-hand the damaging effects that plastic pollution is having on both the environment and wildlife.

With her adventures, not only does she hope to inspire and encourage more people to get outside and experience all the benefits our blue spaces have to offer but to also raise awareness for the plastics crisis we’re currently facing, the importance of a healthy ocean and ways that we can live more sustainably.

Why I support NOC’s work

It’s in our nature to only want to protect the things we can understand and sometimes when we talk about the ocean, it can be so science heavy and unrelatable that people shy away from it. The work and research carried out by the incredible teams here, plays such a vital role in our understanding of the ocean and this is why I’m so honoured at this opportunity to be working with NOC to help make these topics of conversation more relatable to a wider audience. I’m fully stoked for the year ahead!.

Mhairi McCann

Mhairi McCann is the Founder and CEO of Youth STEM 2030, where she’s on a mission to empower youth globally to use STEM to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. Based in Inverclyde, Scotland, Mhairi has a strong belief in the power of youth to create waves of change. Mhairi is a National Geographic Young Explorer, and winner of the 2022 Young Scot Environment Award. In June 2022, she was one of 20 youth globally tackling climate change selected for the inaugural 776 Foundation Climate Fellowship.

Why I support NOC’s work

I support NOC’s work because of our shared focus on using STEM research and innovation to restore and protect our ocean. I believe research and innovation are critical components to tackling the climate, ocean and biodiversity crises, and securing a liveable future (and present, for many) for my generation. As one of NOC’s new Ambassadors, I hope to inspire and empower young people to use STEM research and innovation to make waves of change for our ocean.

Megan McCubbin

Megan is a zoologist and science communicator who works as a wildlife TV presenter, adventurer, photographer and author. Whilst training to be a scientist, she became passionate about raising awareness for our changing climate and the biodiversity that lives within it. She began presenting in 2017 and is now one of the faces of BBC Two’s BAFTA award winning Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch as well as BBC One's Animal Park.

Megan found her love for the ocean whilst studying sharks and has been involved in multiple campaigns to highlight the most pressing issues facing these animals and their marine home. Having seen the damage first hand, she wants to empower people to use their voice for the health of the environment.

Why I support NOC’s work

Understanding our planet's climate and wildlife can be a daunting subject, especially in relation to the ocean which is so vast and epic! It’s an awe-inspiring, complex environment that is packed full of wonder, but it’s facing unprecedented threat due to the actions of mankind. NOC’s work is vital; understanding how our marine landscape functions and how it is changing has the potential to unlock new solutions to solve the greatest threat to humanity. The ocean holds the answers, if we dare to look.

Benhilda Mlambo

Benhilda Mlambo, a sustainable fashion designer and chemical engineer with a wealth of experience in sustainability compliance, is the founder of two innovative ventures: Mlambo (meaning river in Xhosa), a sustainable fashion brand, and WaterSangoma, a climate tech start-up that utilizes a multi-systems approach to help communities build resilience and adaptability in the face of water-related challenges posed by climate change. By integrating satellite, socioeconomic, and indigenous data, WaterSangoma aims to empower communities in Africa to navigate the complex and pressing issues of water scarcity and management.

Mlambo, on the other hand, takes a unique approach to sustainable fashion by leveraging the powerful imagery of African penguins, rivers, and oceans to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect and preserve these vital ecosystems. As a graduate of the University of Bath's Centre for Sustainability and a current doctoral candidate in Conflict Management and Sustainability, Benhilda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work, which is particularly focused on the critical issues facing Africa as the climate crisis intensifies.

Why I support NOC’s work

As a fashion designer, the work of NOC on microplastics is an essential component of the fashion industry’s urgent need for education and awareness. As a scientist, I hold the utmost respect for the dedication, scope, precision, and profundity with which NOC approaches the task of illuminating the impacts of human activity on our oceans. The information they provide is critical in facilitating informed and responsible decision-making.

Assaad Razzouk

Assaad W. Razzouk, author of “Saving the Climate Without the Bullshit” published by Atlantic Books and host of The Angry Clean Energy Guy podcast, is a Lebanese-British clean energy entrepreneur, author, podcaster and commentator based in Singapore. He co-founded and runs Gurīn Energy, a clean energy company headquartered in Singapore, financing, building and operating renewable energy projects in Asia; as well as a not-for-profit Singapore start-up, digitising and democratising renewable energy.

Assaad is a Trustee of ClientEarth (the environmental charity using the power of the law to protect people and planet), as well as a Board member of EB Impact (the Singaporean non-profit organisation focused on delivering training and programmes to Asia Pacific’s underserved communities to generate positive sustainable development), and a member of the International Council of the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

Why I support NOC’s work

The high seas cover 43% of our planet and make up 61% of our oceans. A huge variety of creatures migrate daily from the seabed, sometimes hundreds of metres deep, to feed near the surface, then plunge back down to poop, contributing to a phenomenon known as the biological carbon pump, which captures vast quantities of carbon from the atmosphere to store in the depths. If we lost this biological carbon pump, or continued to weaken it, we would release enough greenhouse gases into the atmosphere to increase its CO₂ concentration by 50%, accelerating climate change.

This is but one example of the importance of our oceans. Yet, we know so little about them and must significantly increase our knowledge about oceans, while figuring out how to manage them in a sustainable way. There isn’t an organization doing more important work in this field than the UK’s National Oceanography Centre.

Gaia Vince

Gaia Vince is a science writer and broadcaster exploring the interplay between human systems and the planetary environment. She has visited the five oceans and scuba dived in three or four, and is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Anthropocene Institute at UCL.

Her first book, Adventures In The Anthropocene won the Royal Society Science Book of the Year Prize. Her latest book, Nomad Century: How To Survive The Climate Upheaval, explores global migration and planetary restoration in a radical call to arms.

Why I support NOC’s work

I’m delighted and honoured to support NOC’s work to increase our understanding of the oceans through scientific exploration and technology at a time when they are in such crisis. We all depend on our blue planet’s oceans, yet climate change, pollution, over-exploitation, acidification and other human activities are eroding their healthy function, threatening us all.

James Ketchell

James Ketchell is a record-breaking aviator, adventurer, motivational speaker.

On 1st February 2014, James became the first and only person to have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, successfully summited Mount Everest and cycled 18,000 miles around the world, in what the media dubbed ‘The Ultimate Triathlon’. More recently in 2019 he flew his open cockpit gyroplane over 24,000 nautical miles around the world, in 175 days setting a Guinness World Record. The mission was to inspire a million young people to pursue their own goals and dreams.

It was an inauspicious start for James; in 2008 he was recovering from a serious motorcycle accident that had left him with broken legs and a severely broken and dislocated ankle. The prognosis was that he would likely suffer a permanent walking impairment and would certainly not be able to continue the active physical lifestyle he had so enjoyed.

Not all James adventures have been easy! He survived two mid ocean rescues and on one he found himself clinging to a rope ladder on the side of a 100,000-tonne oil tanker as he climbed to safety in storm force winds in the Indian Ocean. No stranger to overcoming adversity and dealing with obstacles, James is an accomplished presenter and regularly speaks at events and conferences around the world including, US, India, Europe and the Middle East.

Why I support NOC’s work

I am delighted to support NOC and to share the incredible work they are doing with young people around the world. I have been fortunate enough to have spent many hundreds of days in the ocean and witness the incredible wildlife and oceanic wonders our planet has to offer. My next round the world project is an incredible opportunity to highlight the importance of understanding and protecting our oceans.