Seattle, Washington – The Seattle Aquarium hosted its annual Ocean Honors Awards dinner on February 15, 2024, in recognition of outstanding leaders in marine conservation. This year’s recipients reflect the conservation partnerships of two global partners helping to restore marine life of the Coral Triangle.

Aquarium CEO & President Bob Davidson presented Rili Djohani with the Aquarium’s prestigious Sylvia Earle Medal. In 2010, Djohani co-founded the Coral Triangle Center, a Bali-based learning center focused on strengthening local leadership, advancing community-based coastal and resource management, and innovative outreach and communication programs. Djohani customized training programs and community practices to scale conservation projects in a sustainable fashion. She works closely with partners as Mission Blue and the Seattle Aquarium to protect coastal and marine ecosystems while ensuring the region’s sustainable livelihoods. Djohani also does significant outreach engagement to build empathy for ocean conservation and the animals who call it home.

“Under her leadership in Indonesia and throughout the Coral Triangle region for the past 30 years, her work to co-create and implement community-centered marine protected areas has transformed the future of ecosystems and communities,” said Davidson. “The diversity of life is not only reflected in our one world ocean, but by the people helping to save it. The Coral Triangle Center and the Seattle Aquarium both inspire the awe and urgency of ocean conservation.”

Djohani customized training programs and community practices to scale conservation projects in a sustainable fashion. As part of her work, Djohani also does significant outreach engagement to build empathy for ocean conservation and the animals who call it home.

“It was an honor to receive the Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Medal 2024 life-time achievement award in Seattle last week. I am grateful for the recognition of our team effort, for the learning opportunities and impact we have with partners and for the growth of CTC as an organization,” Djohani said.

She further noted that CTC’s community approach and focus on diversity, equity, and inspiring generations to care for the oceans are well received and very aligned with the mission and values of the Seattle Aquarium (SA).  She also works closely with partners as Mission Blue to protect coastal and marine ecosystems while ensuring the region’s sustainable livelihoods.

“Recognizing Indonesia is also one of the most populous countries in the world, it’s pivotal to strike a balance between environment, society, and economic growth,” Djohani said. “Whilst we were focused on the marine ecology of the underwater environment a few decades ago, we are nowadays much more holistic in our approach. Conservation is all about people and working together. No one can be left behind.”

Djohani also noted the attendance of Wira Sanjaya, CTC’s Bali portfolio manager, during the award ceremony. She then expressed her gratitude to the Seattle Aquarium, CTC’s board and team, partners, sponsors, and all colleagues and friends who could not be there for all their support to CTC and during her conservation journey of more than 30 years.

The Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Medal honors individuals whose leadership and lifetime accomplishments reflect and advance the mission of the Seattle Aquarium: Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Formerly the Seattle Aquarium Medal, the award was renamed in 2018, after we presented Dr. Sylvia Earle with our first Seattle Aquarium Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Aquarium also presented Christine Dudgeon, Ph.D., with the Seattle Aquarium’s Conservation Research Award. Dudgeon is a Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast/University of Queensland, Australia. She has been an instrumental leader with the Seattle Aquarium and its global partners with the ReShark and StAR projects.

The Seattle Aquarium Conservation Research award honors leaders and innovators in marine conservation research. Special consideration is given for researchers working on projects in the Salish Sea or Coral Triangle, who have a special connection to the Seattle Aquarium, those with strong educational or science communication elements to their work.

Founded in 1977, the Seattle Aquarium is a conservation organization working to regenerate the health of Earth’s one ocean. We work among global leaders to advance animal wellbeing, marine and ecosystem science, public policy, field conservation, education, and species recovery programs that benefit the ocean. Help support the Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.

A special video was also made which was shown during the event. It can be seen here: https://bit.ly/CTCConservationHonorsEvent2024

Photos: Seattle Aquarium