IWD Spotlight Series: Antonia Nicholls

This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on the inspiring women driving change in ocean conservation, science, and communication. Across the globe, women are at the forefront of protecting our blue planet—leading groundbreaking research, advocating for marine life, and empowering future generations.

For our fourth article in this series, we’re thrilled to feature Antonia Nicholls—an advocate for ocean conservation, a climate tech professional, and a passionate storyteller of the sea. With a life shaped by the water, Antonia’s journey began at just 11 years old when she first learned to scuba dive. Growing up in Malaysia, she explored the breathtaking marine ecosystems of the Coral Triangle—witnessing both their beauty and their heartbreaking decline.

Today, Antonia channels that passion into action. At Opna, she works to finance carbon removal projects, and through her podcast Seaze, she amplifies the voices of those harnessing business as a force for good in the blue economy. In this conversation, she shares her insights on the intersection of ocean health and climate solutions, the role of business in driving impact, and how we can all become better stewards of the sea.

Thanks so much for chatting to us Antonia. To start, can you tell us a bit about what inspires you to work in climate/ocean and what you hope to achieve? How has being a woman shaped your journey?

It can be a tough space to work in I'll admit and the task at hand can feel very daunting, what drives me is safeguarding our coral reefs for future generations. I want people to be able to fairly access and enjoy healthy and thriving coral reefs. Being a woman in this space has taught me so much and will continue to. On the one hand I've met so many incredible people, including women, on the other there are not enough women represented whether that be in a boardroom or on the frontlines of climate change. 

Definitely, we would love to see more women who are on the frontlines of combatting climate change gaining visibility. Can you tell us a bit about what you specifically love about the ocean?

I love slipping below the surface and forgetting about the top side world, the ocean is the ultimate place to feel present and will also humble you very quickly, showing you that nature really is in charge. 

And if you could bring more attention to one ocean issue, what would it be and why?

The ocean covers over 70% of the planet, it's a huge carbon sink and can really help us navigate and mitigate climate change but it is still treated as a human dumping ground and a never ending resource. SDG 14 Life below water remains the most underfunded goal so I want to see a world in which we figure out ways to get more capital flowing into the blue economy in a scalable and sustainable way, it's not an easy goal but the benefits are huge and we need to think more long term.  

That's a great fact to motivate people towards action - let's get SDG14 more awareness and funding! Are there any more positive facts you want to share or perhaps a cool experience in the ocean you can tell us about to further inspire people?

My coolest experience in the ocean has to be a night dive in Raja Ampat, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. We where there during the sunset and as the ocean got dark, crazy stuff came up from the deep and we got to watch squid hunt. I also have to mention a second dive in Raja Ampat where we sat on the sand next to a manta cleaning station where mantas with over 3m wingspan swooped over us - I was absolutely blown away on both occasions and will cherish those memories forever. 

Wow - what incredible experiences! Thanks so much for sharing. If people want to hear more about other ocean journeys, where can they listen to seaze?

Seaze is available on spotify, apple podcasts and youtube - all the links are here: https://linktr.ee/seaze.co.

You can follow us on LinkedIn where we also share something called the ocean opportunity list https://www.linkedin.com/company/seazeco/posts/?feedView=all an you can follow myself https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonia-nicholls-11029214b/ and my co-host, Marianne https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbrisson/ for more updates.

Championing Women, Protecting Our Oceans Antonia's story is a testament to the fact that you don’t have to work directly in marine conservation to have a meaningful impact on the ocean. While her career is rooted in climate tech, her passion for the sea has found a voice through storytelling, advocacy, and connection. Whether it’s through co-hosting Seaze podcast or simply by engaging in the ocean herself, she is helping to amplify the work of those on the frontlines of ocean protection—proving that you can be a powerful advocate, no matter your day job.

Her journey is a reminder that the causes we care about don’t have to be our full-time careers to make a difference. By sharing knowledge, supporting those doing the work, and using whatever platform we have, we can all contribute to something bigger than ourselves. This International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the voices—like Antonia’s—who use their skills, networks, and passions to drive change in unexpected but powerful ways.