Jo Royle is a British environmental leader and the founder of Common Seas, an organisation dedicated to tackling plastic pollution at its source. With a background as a trans-ocean skipper, Jo used her sailing experience to highlight the growing threat of ocean plastic, including skippering Plastiki across the Pacific in 2010—a 60-foot catamaran she co-designed and built from reclaimed plastic bottles. During her tenure at Common Seas, Jo led a visionary team that pioneered impactful partnerships with governments and communities. Her leadership drove groundbreaking research into the human health impacts of plastic, including the first discovery of microplastics in human blood. Common Seas’ Plastic Drawdown model, recognised by the UN and World Bank, has helped 13 governments craft national action plans against plastic pollution. Jo’s career has included key achievements such as co-leading The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Global Ocean Legacy campaign, which secured the UK Government’s commitment to the Blue Belt Programme, protecting over 4.4 million square kilometres of ocean. She also worked with the Prince of Wales International Sustainability Unit to launch the Plastic Pact, now spanning 19 countries and over 900 members. Jo’s work has been featured by BBC, National Geographic, Vogue, Time, and TEDx. She is the recipient of the Geddes Environmental Medal and holds a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Society from University College London. Since transitioning from Common Seas in 2024, Jo has focused on ventures supporting resilient coastal communities and advancing nature rights.