Ocean Week Brunei took centre stage this afternoon at the Green Space, Poni Group Sdn Bhd, celebrating Brunei’s emerging youth leaders who are championing marine conservation and driving innovative solutions for a sustainable future. The program seeks to empower young people and local communities to develop impactful, homegrown solutions that protect Brunei’s ocean ecosystems while fostering sustainable economic growth.
The event gathered distinguished representatives from the Brunei Innovation Lab (BIL), Brunei Gas Carriers (BGC), and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) alongside participating students, educators, and members of the media. It opened with welcoming remarks from Ms. Anna Aziz, Chief Business Officer of Poni Group, followed by an insightful presentation from Mr. Tahsin Wong Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer or Poni Group, who underscored the Ocean Champion Program’s mission to cultivate a generation of ocean leaders by merging environmental stewardship with innovative entrepreneurship.
Central to the afternoon was the Signing of Agreements, which honoured outstanding youth-led achievements across three pillars of program — the Ocean Voices Video Competition, the Ocean Youth Grant and the Ocean Hero Award. The Ocean Voices Video Competition highlighted compelling ocean-themed storytelling, with the Junior Category titles awarded to Nur’aini Syahmina Zarifah Haji Zainol Shamri from Pusat Tingkatan Enam Tutong and Abdul Raziq Syahmi Abdul Halim from Ma’had Islam Brunei for their powerful video essays that champion ocean protection and positive action.
In the Ocean Youth Grant segment, Fatih Aquaculture was recognised for it pioneering work as Brunei’s first smart aquaculture initiative, while Team Terraqua from Sekolah Menengah Berakas secured the Junior Category title with their innovative concept for a smart robotic ocean guardian to collect marine debris with AI image recognition. Both teams formalised their commitments through the signing ceremony, marking the beginning of their journey to transform their concepts into real-world solutions. The ceremony also recognised the prestigious Ocean Hero Award upon Ahmad Fathi Dr Haji Norafan, honouring his exemplary contributions to ocean innovation, impact, and inspiring youths to follow in his footsteps in the aquaculture industry.
The Ocean Youth Grant agreements were officiated by Mr. Tahsin Wong Abdullah and Mr. Adzimin Amin, Acting General Manager of Brunei Innovation Lab, whose presence underscored the collaborative spirit between Brunei’s private sector and innovation ecosystem in supporting youth-driven environmental projects. Their involvement affirmed a shared commitment to nurturing young talents who are poised to lead Brunei’s blue economy. By offering access to mentorship, BIL will play a crucial role in the development of the Ocean Champions’ on going projects.
Other partners supporting the Ocean Champions include Universiti Brunei Darussalam as an Education Partner with the knowledge support, Radio Television Brunei, Kristal Media, biG Magazine and Brunei Press as Media Partners, to showcase their work and to support and amplify their social impact.
In his remarks, Mr. Tahsin emphasised that the Ocean Champion Program reflects Poni Group’s long-term dedication to empowering youth for sustainable ocean solutions. “When we give young people the tools and opportunities to innovate for our oceans, we are building a future where environmental stewardship and economic growth go hand in hand,” he said.
The event concluded with a group photo session featuring all awardees, partners, and guests, capturing a milestone moment in Brunei’s collective movement towards ocean sustainability. The Ocean Champion Program stands as a testament to the power of youth-driven innovation and collaboration in shaping a resilient, ocean-conscious future for the nation.
The Ocean Champion initiative stands as a testament to the creativity and commitment of Brunei’s youth in driving ocean advocacy. Through the platform of Ocean Week Brunei, it has provided young leaders with opportunities to showcase their ideas, raise awareness, and take meaningful action for marine conservation.
The journey for this year’s Ocean Champions is only just the beginning. This recognition marks the start of their role as advocates and changemakers for the ocean with ongoing support for the next 12 months. The Poni Group and its partners are committed to supporting their efforts, providing guidance and opportunities to help them make a lasting impact. Their achievements are expected to inspire many more to take action in protecting our marine environment. Until the next group of Ocean Champions are announced next year, the call to safeguard our oceans continues.
