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Valentine Thomas, born in Montreal, began her career as a lawyer in Canada before transitioning to finance in London, where she worked for six years. However, her passion for the ocean and a desire for a more meaningful path led her to make a life-changing decision. Thomas is now a world-class spear-fisher, freediving instructor, published author, and a thought leader in ocean sustainability. She holds world records in spearfishing and is recognized globally for her expertise in sustainable seafood practices. With a platform that spans continents, she is a two-time TEDx speaker, a Forbes Magazine Changemaker, and a consultant for the Quebec government on fisheries.
Thomas' mission is to educate and inspire individuals to make better seafood choices, fostering community action toward sustainability. As an advocate for The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and a speaker for Ocean Wise, she promotes sustainable fishing practices that prioritize environmental and social well-being. Her commitment to sustainability is further demonstrated through her roles as an Ambassador for the Eco-Tourism of the Philippines and as a board member of both the Trust Your Work Foundation and the Marine Education Initiative. She tirelessly works to protect marine ecosystems and ensure the future of sustainable seafood consumption.
In May 2023, Thomas released her debut book, "Good Catch: A Guide to Sustainable Fish and Seafood with Recipes from the World's Oceans." The critically acclaimed book is a unique blend of memoir, sustainability guide, and cookbook, offering 75 seafood recipes inspired by her global fishing adventures in places like South Africa, Taiwan, and Quebec. Part message and part recipe collection, the book underscores Thomas' passion for the ocean and her commitment to sustainable fishing.
As a global influencer and educator, Thomas regularly shares her insights on platforms ranging from media outlets to conferences. She is also the host of a TV show focused on ocean sustainability and spear-fishing. Her wide-reaching impact has made her a thought leader in marine conservation, and she continues to inspire change as an ambassador for a more ethical and responsible seafood industry worldwide.
Videos
Speech Topics
THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOURCING
With almost 8 billion people to feed on the planet, how do we survive without comprising our oceans? Valentine discusses what sustainability really means, what are the issues we are facing and what can we do, as consumer and society to provide better solutions.
FACING YOUR OWN SHARK: HOW I LEARNED TO GET OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE
The inspiring journey of Valentine Thomas, who faced severe anxiety, bullying and a fear of the ocean. By working on her mental strength, she took the plunge into the bumpy road of entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency as a spearfisher woman and advocate of sustainable seafood sourcing.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The inspiring journey of Valentine Thomas, who faced severe anxiety, bullying and a fear of the ocean. By working on her mental strength, she took the plunge into the bumpy road of entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency as a spearfisher woman and advocate of sustainable seafood sourcing.
THE HAPPINESS OF THE MONKEY
And if innovation wasn’t insuring our future and happiness? Imagine if the past was a better guarantor to make us happy? Valentine Thomas discuss the effect of our ADN on our hapiness and the dangers of technocological advancement creating a lack of proximity between humans and nature.
HOW A MARKET-BASED APPROACH CAN BE CRITICAL IN AN ERA OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Sustainability is about making the right compromises. The daily choices consumers make tread the fine and complicated line between personal preference (and education), availability and public policy. In an industry driven by profit, greenwashing and shaming advocates, personal due diligence is crucial to driving substantiative change. But in a world with so much in motion, how can personal due diligence be reliable for mass consumers? A market-based approach is continually more critical in the era of social media movements where consumer sustainability awareness is high and consumer preference can change rapidly. These rapidly evolving issue sets create vast problems and opportunities for businesses operating in the space. How do you create enough proximity to make buyers care? Can a targeted marketing budget reduce the responsibility of the supply chain to be the driver of change? What is social media’s growing role in the seafood industry?
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