The role of women in youth-led ocean conservation initiatives: a case study of the ocean citizens summit 2025

Abstract

Youth participation and gender equity are increasingly emphasized within global ocean governance initiatives, yet relatively little empirical work has examined how young women enact leadership within youth-driven conservation arenas. This study explores the roles and perceived influence of women in a global youth initiative connected to international ocean governance, using the Citizen of the Ocean Summit 2025.

Drawing on an exploratory case study approach, the analysis combines organizer-provided information on the structure of the initiative with questionnaire responses from Summit participants (n = 12). The results show that women were highly visible across collaborative roles within the Summit, particularly in facilitation, communication, and coalition-building. Participants frequently associated women’s leadership with relational practices that supported inclusive dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collective advocacy.

At the same time, respondents identified several barriers that may shape longer-term leadership trajectories, including unequal access to opportunities, gender bias, and challenges in sustaining participation alongside educational and professional commitments.

These findings highlight the importance of youth-led initiatives as spaces where collaborative forms of leadership can emerge and be practiced. At the same time, they suggest that the influence of emerging women leaders in ocean governance will depend on the extent to which institutional structures create pathways for sustained participation, recognition, and engagement in decision-making processes.