MEET THE CHAMPIONS
OF OCEAN AND CULTURE
The Ocean Rising Ambassadors are a group of trailblazers, spanning cultural sectors from sport, fashion, music, and entertainment united by a passion for the ocean. Their mission: to amplify the wonders of the ocean, inspire action, and make the ocean part of every cultural conversation. Each ambassador brings their own distinct story, perspective, and skill set to this global movement.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Phallon Tullis-Joyce is first-choice goalkeeper for Manchester United Women and the United States Women’s National Team and her love of the natural world extends far beyond the confines of a football pitch.
Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Phallon built her career across three continents, playing in France, the United States and England before establishing herself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Women’s Super League. In the 2024/25 season she claimed the WSL Golden Glove, Manchester United’s Players’ Player of the Year award and was selected in the WSL Team of the Season, having kept 13 clean sheets and helped the club qualify for the Champions League. She made her USWNT senior debut in April 2025 and is now firmly leading the conversation as her country’s number one.
What sets Phallon apart is what she does away from football. She majored in marine biology, is a certified advanced open-water and scientific diver, and spent part of her most recent offseason in the Amazon rainforest shadowing a researcher studying stingless bees. The ocean has been a constant throughout her life — a source of curiosity, wonder and purpose. On off days away from football, you can be sure to find her on scuba trips, or exploring the natural wildlife wherever she is in the world.
As an Ocean Rising Founding Ambassador, Phallon brings exactly the combination the movement was built for: a world-class athlete with a world-class scientific mind, and a genuine, lifelong love of our blue planet.
Federica Pellegrini
Federica Pellegrini is widely regarded as the greatest female competitive swimmer in history and Italy’s most celebrated aquatic athlete. Born in Venice in 1988, she dominated the pool for two decades, breaking nine long-course world records and becoming the first woman ever to break the four-minute barrier in the 400m freestyle. She is the only swimmer — male or female — to have won eight consecutive medals in the same event at the World Championships, all in the 200m freestyle, and at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics she became the first female swimmer to qualify for five consecutive Olympic finals in the same discipline. Her final world record in the 200m freestyle, set in 2009, stood for nearly 14 years — a testament to an extraordinary career that concluded with her retirement in November 2021. She has since been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame and serves as Italy’s representative on the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
The ocean has been inseparable from Pellegrini’s identity — she grew up in the Venetian lagoon and the sea shaped not just her career but her sense of purpose. Following retirement, she has channelled her public profile into environmental advocacy, participating in ocean conservation campaigns including the Italian initiative “Ma il Mare non vale” (But Isn’t the Sea Worth It?), which raises awareness about marine pollution. As one of the most recognisable faces in Italian sport, Pellegrini uses her platform to connect millions of fans with the fragility of the ocean environments she has spent a lifetime in — bringing a personal, embodied understanding of the water to the wider conversation about ocean health.
Lisa Blair
Lisa Blair OAM is a record‑holding solo sailor, author and environmental leader who has turned life at sea into a platform for sharing stories about our changing ocean. She has sailed more than 130,000 nautical miles, set eight world records and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2025 for her services to sailing and climate advocacy.
In 2022, aboard her yacht Climate Action Now, Lisa became the fastest person to sail solo, non‑stop and unassisted around Antarctica, breaking the previous record and working with scientists to collect data from some of the most remote waters on Earth. She has also completed solo, non‑stop and unassisted circumnavigations of Australia, set the record for the fastest solo passage between Sydney and Auckland, and become the first person to sail solo, non‑stop and unassisted around New Zealand.
As a storyteller Lisa blends adventure, science and human experience to reach audiences well beyond traditional sailing and environmental circles. Through her book Facing Fear, her film Ice Maiden and live talks, she invites people of all ages into the emotional reality of life on the ocean, using personal narrative to open up conversations about resilience, risk and our relationship with the sea.
She is now preparing the Arctic Impact Project, an attempt to become the first person to sail solo, non‑stop and unassisted around the Arctic Circle, using the journey to gather data, test new materials and engage new audiences with the future of polar oceans. “The ocean has taught me resilience, humility and hope – and shown me that we all have the power to create change, it’s just starts with one action.” Lisa joins Ocean Rising to share that spirit with new communities, linking the power of human endurance with the need to care for our seas.
BECOME AN AMBASSADOR
Ocean Rising Ambassadors are passionate individuals and creators, leaders in their own cultural field, who act as bridges between their audiences and the ocean. Through real-world experiences, collaborations, and creative projects, ambassadors will experience and inspire new ways to celebrate the ocean
Unique Ocean Experiences
Gain exclusive access to the ocean through workshops, expeditions, and events designed to spark creativity, deepen understanding, and inspire meaningful advocacy.
Growth & Impact
Expand your reach and influence with access to expert guidance, educational resources, high-quality footage, and connections to world-leading ocean scientists. Empower yourself to drive lasting change.
Collaboration & Community
Join a global network of passionate advocates, creators, and experts. Ambassadors can exchange ideas, co-create content, and receive practical support to bring their projects to life.
WHAT WE ASK OF OUR AMBASSADORS
Create & Share
- Share Stories and Content: Use your platforms, voice, and creativity to highlight what you love about the ocean
Engage & Collaborate
Get involved in unique ocean experiences, creative projects, and contribute your ideas to shape our collective work.
Expand & Amplify
Grow the Movement: Introduce Ocean Rising to new communities, organizations, and individuals who could benefit from joining our network.
JOIN THE RISING
If you’re passionate about connecting culture and ocean conservation and are interested in becoming an Ocean Rising Ambassador, we would love to hear from you. Reach out to us to start a conversation.Have ideas or want to work with us? Let’s connect.
