Island Innovation, an international social enterprise, has announced this year’s 140 Virtual Island Summit Ambassadors, a network of islanders from across the globe.

These are the new members of its international network that empowers islands by collaborating on creative solutions to shared challenges. The Ambassadors will collaborate towards creating a successful Virtual Island Summit, which will be held online from September 7-13th and anticipates 10,000 island stakeholders in attendance. The Ambassadors will serve as bridges between their communities, connecting distant islands to ignite conversations about these complex and evolving issues throughout the event.

Ambassadors will serve as representatives for island communities across the globe, ranging from Öland (Sweden) to Fiji to Jamaica to Hawai’i to Tierra del Fuego (Chile). They will partner with and amplify the voices of politicians, entrepreneurs, innovators, activists and community leaders. The ambassador network allows for global exchange in expertise without geographic limitation, and look for opportunities to collaborate with each other.

Shinique Parkinson, an ambassador from Trinidad and Tobago, shared that“In the face of emerging worldwide crises such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, the spirit of international problem-solving fostered by the Virtual Island Summit is more critical than ever.”

James Ellsmoor, Island Innovation founder, commented: “The Virtual Island Summit seeks to build digital bridges between island communities around the world, regardless of size, political status, or location. Islands often face similar challenges to one another but are forced to tackle them separately due to barriers created by distance, language, and culture. This is all possible due to the hard work and dedication of our ambassadors, who provide a unique perspective into their communities.”

Island Innovation brings together the private sector, government, utilities, NGOs and universities to advance innovation for sustainability and prosperity in islands worldwide. For more information, visit the Island Innovation Website. To find more information about Ambassadors in your community, visit theAmbassador Page.