BOAT International has revealed its first speaker for Ocean Talks 2026, confirming Olivia Swaak-Goldman, executive director of the Wildlife Justice Commission, as this year’s keynote. The ninth edition of the event will return to central London on 11 June 2026, hosted at The Magazine, Serpentine North Gallery in Hyde Park.
Held in partnership with Ocean Family Foundation, Ocean Talks is designed to connect the superyacht industry with leading voices in marine conservation through a programme of talks, discussions and networking. The annual event has become a platform for fostering dialogue between yacht owners, industry stakeholders and environmental experts working to protect the world’s oceans.
Swaak-Goldman brings more than three decades of experience in international justice and diplomacy to the stage. A dual national of the United States and the Netherlands, she has built a career spanning international criminal law and humanitarian law, alongside academic roles as a lecturer at Harvard University and Leiden University.
As executive director of the Wildlife Justice Commission, Swaak-Goldman leads an organisation focused on disrupting transnational environmental crime. The Wildlife Justice Commission is an international NGO that works alongside law enforcement agencies to investigate and dismantle criminal networks involved in wildlife trafficking. While much of its work has historically focused on terrestrial species, its remit increasingly includes marine ecosystems, targeting illegal trade in species such as sharks, seahorses and sea cucumbers.
Its approach is distinct within the conservation space, applying intelligence-led investigations and legal frameworks more commonly associated with organised crime enforcement. By providing authorities with evidence and operational insight, the organisation contributes to arrests, prosecutions and the wider disruption of trafficking networks operating at scale.
Speaking ahead of the event, Swaak-Goldman highlighted the personal connection that underpins her professional work. “The ocean has always been a huge part of my life, starting from my childhood growing up in California,” she said, adding that she feels “incredibly fortunate” that her role enables her to contribute to protecting marine environments.
She also pointed to the scale and structure of the threat facing the world’s oceans. Illegal activities, often driven by organised criminal groups, continue to place pressure on marine biodiversity. “So much of the destruction of our waters is driven by illegal activities conducted on an industrial scale by organised criminal networks,” she noted.
At Ocean Talks 2026, Swaak-Goldman is expected to outline how the Wildlife Justice Commission applies a law enforcement-based approach to marine conservation. Her keynote will explore the organisation’s efforts to “attack the trafficking kingpins and disrupt the criminal networks trafficking marine species", from high-profile species such as sharks to lesser-known but heavily exploited species like sea cucumbers.
Her session will also reflect on the importance of cross-sector collaboration. As she emphasised, protecting the ocean requires alignment between environmental organisations, the boating community and law enforcement bodies. “I’m incredibly optimistic about the power of collective action to safeguard the ocean,” she said.
Swaak-Goldman’s career prior to joining the Wildlife Justice Commission includes senior roles across international legal institutions. She has served as head of the International Relations Task Force at the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, as well as senior legal advisor at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her earlier positions include legal advisor at the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal and legal assistant at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
She holds a BA with honours in Political Science from Trinity College, a JD summa cum laude from the Washington College of Law at American University, and an LLM with honours from the University of Amsterdam. She is also a registered attorney in both New York and Washington, DC.
Tickets to Ocean Talks are free, but registration is required to secure your place. For more information, please contact the BOAT International events team.
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