The University of Edinburgh in Scotland is one of the most international universities in the world, with a history of pioneering marine research and a deep commitment to civil society. The genesis for the Ocean Leaders programme draws upon the expertise and enthusiasm of our graduates, colleagues, and international contacts around the world, who are themselves global ocean change-makers. With the first cohort of Ocean Leaders now underway in 2020, our plan is to grow the programme over the following 5 years for an intake of 20 new Ocean Leaders per year, reaching out to a wide range of donors and partners across all sectors and global geographies.