Jo Royle Email & Phone Number

Totnes, Devon, Gb

Founded Common Seas to design and deliver scalable solutions to marine sustainability challenges. Grew to ~£15 million, with teams on the ground in four countries and projects in more. Common Seas became recognised as a leader in partnership programmes demonstrating solutions that stopped the flow of plastic pollution. Exited in April 2024. Highlights include:- Pioneering the first detection of microplastics in human blood —secured finance to build a ‘plastic-free’ lab at Imperial College and co-designed ongoing research exploring the threat of plastic on our health.- Author of Plastic Drawdown, a data-driven model and method that provided 13 governments with technical understanding to deliver action plans to stop plastic pollution. The collaborative approach resulted in three governments committing to a 70% reduction in plastic emissions.- Equipping 187 underemployed women to make and sell reusable diapers stopped 3 million single-use ones from entering the Brantas River, Indonesia. - Building a digital reporting tool for hospitality businesses to easily measure, analyse and reduce how much plastic they use, developed through robust user testing.- Providing 3 million young people with a learning experience to help them solve the plastics crisis.

Directed philanthropy for Dona Bertarelli and her family office. Implemented structure and strategy for multi-generational philanthropy. Delivered grants in four continents across marine reserves and green jobs and co-founded The Marine Manager, an innovative technology platform aggregating disparate data, inc. satellite, to support robust and science-based management of protected areas.

Philadelphia, Pa, Us

Enabled the UK Government’s Blue Belt commitment, including the designation of the world’s largest fully protected marine reserve around the waters of the Pitcairn Islands.Collaborated with Satellite Application Catapult to co-design and pilot the first big data platform to monitor marine reserves.

Highlights: Sponsored by Pindar. Skippered only female entry in infamous double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race - France to Brazil. Voyages to Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia. Several Trans-Atlantic and one Pacific crossing. Skippered incredible boats including, Class 40, Volvo 60, Mini Transat 6.50.

Project manager and skipper of United Nations recognised campaign on ocean plastic that reached millions of people.Part of a wonderful team who designed and built world’s first ‘closed loop’ trans-ocean sailing vessel. Pioneered new cradle-to-cradle design philosophies in development of a low toxicity, recyclable material for boat superstructure and world’s first sailcloth from post consumer fibres.Skippered ‘Plastiki’ during three month, 8,000mile, Pacific crossing. Focusing the attention of the worlds media to the health of the Ocean.