In building out its sustainability team, The Ocean Race has appointed Johan Strid as Director of The Ocean Race Summits, a series of solutions-focussed events bringing together leaders from a wide range of fields to target the restoration of ocean health.

Johan Strid comes to The Ocean Race having previously served as Secretary General for the Swedish Paralympic Committee and Parasport Federation. In the Swedish bid for hosting the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games he was the architect of the ground-breaking sustainability programme that formed the basis of the bid.

“The Ocean Race is a fantastic event to push sustainability on a global level,” Strid said. “Ocean racing stands out in the sporting world due to its close relationship with nature and for using the ocean as our race track. And importantly, the athletes in our sport are amazing role models for a sustainable world.

“The Ocean Race Summits are unique as a platform for developing forceful, concrete actions and solutions for the restoration of ocean health.”

The current series of Summits opened in Genoa, Italy last autumn and migrated to an innovative and engaging online format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, for a May event based out of The Hague.

The upcoming Summit in Newport, RI, next month will follow a similar virtual format and marks a return to where the Summits originated during the 2014-15 event.

Subsequently developed in collaboration with 11th Hour Racing, the Premier Partner and founding Sustainability Partner of The Ocean Race, The Ocean Race Summits are now a core pillar of the Race’s award-winning sustainability programme, and will continue to evolve with Strid at the helm.

“We are happy to welcome Johan Strid on board,” said Richard Brisius, Race Chairman of The Ocean Race. “We look forward to his strong contributions as we grow the Summits into the most effective platform for developing, sharing and promoting solutions to contribute to a healthier planet.”

The next of The Ocean Race Summits will be an engaging, interactive virtual event based out of Newport, RI, USA, on 16 September.