Kristina Gjerde passed away on 26th December 2025, following a battle with cancer. Quite simply, Kristina was a global superstar, famous for her inspired leadership and dedication to securing a positive future for the High Seas. In particular, she played pivotal roles in the design and creation of the international Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), or ‘High Seas’, Treaty, which was adopted through the United Nations on 19 June 2023, and entered into force on 17 January 2026. Many wonderful tributes have been written about Kristina’s work in this domain. So, here we focus on her role in supporting the leadership, skills and impact of a global network of early mid-career ocean professionals through the Edinburgh Ocean Leaders programme.
About eight years ago, Meriwether and Sandy were contemplating their next steps, and more specifically how best they could support positive change for the ocean and for communities that depend upon it. Kristina was one of the first of their trusted friends they reached out to, to explore ideas and to brainstorm what interventions could have the greatest impact. Kristina’s guidance and support through this creative design phase for the Edinburgh Ocean Leaders programme was crucial, and she kindly agreed to join the International Advisory Panel from the outset. Since that moment, with our first cohort of Ocean Leaders joining in March 2020, Kristina has been fully engaged, helping with the appointment of each new cohort, joining monthly online calls with the Ocean Leaders to share advice and perspectives, and joining our annual gatherings in Edinburgh each year.
Kristina’s contributions have been profound. She has modelled for us all a style of leadership that is visionary and inclusive; that displays empathy alongside clear and incisive purpose; and that empowers and inspires those around her. She shared wisdom and kindness in supporting Meriwether and Sandy, and she went out of her way to connect with each of the Ocean Leaders individually, demonstrating that she valued and respected them, and cared not only about their professional mission but for them as humans. So many of these Ocean Leaders have been sharing with Meriwether and Sandy examples of Kristina’s support, professional advice and kindness.
We will all miss Kristina terribly. However, she will continue to inspire us. Through discussion late last year with Kristina and her husband, Adam de Sola Pool, we are creating an annual Ocean Leaders Prize in Kristina’s name. At Kristina’s suggestion, this prize is about looking ahead, to celebrate and encourage selfless leadership, strengthening connections across our community. So perfectly apt. More details of this Prize will follow soon.
Meriwether and Sandy, Co-Directors of Edinburgh Ocean Leaders
To fully appreciate and learn more about Kristina, please visit these other tributes in acknowledgement her rich life and far-reaching impact on our ocean, and ourselves:
New York Times
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
High Seas Alliance
Mongabay
DOSI (Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative)
