Justin Dearing to represent MI Ocean Net at leadership summit

The Marine Institute will be represented by Justin Dearing at the 21inc Emerging Leaders Summit in St. Andrew's, New Brunswick. Dearing, conference coordinator with the Marine Institute's MI Ocean Net, is one of only 50 people from across Atlantic Canada chosen to take part in the summit

Friday, November 19, 2010

The Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland will be represented by Justin Dearing at the 21inc Emerging Leaders Summit in St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick. Dearing, conference coordinator with the Marine Institute’s MI Ocean Net, is one of only 50 people from across Atlantic Canada chosen to take part in the summit. More than 400 applicants were nominated to take part, making Dearing a member of an exclusive group.

“When I found out 407 people were nominated and only 50 had been chosen, it just made me go, ‘Wow,” said Dearing. “I work with a lot of people who deserve recognition; volunteers who contribute so much. I`m always happy to be involved with these people, so to learn someone is paying attention to what we’re doing and what we are able to accomplish together is a bonus.”

Those chosen for the leadership conference had to display leadership and vision, community involvement and contribution and achievements in their field. The 50 participants were selected by an independent panel of respected leaders from the private, public and community sectors.

Nomination

Dearing was nominated by Ross Reid, deputy minister of volunteer and non-profit secretariat, Provincial Government. His nomination and application was then endorsed by the Marine Institute.

“I deeply believe in this work and it’s very personal to me. The fact that other people saw the work I was doing and believed in it as well means a lot to me,” Dearing said.

Thanks in large part to Dearing’s expertise and enthusiasm regarding ocean sustainability and marine environmental issues, MI Ocean Net has helped educate and inform the province’s young people about the importance of healthy and sustainable oceans and ocean environments through Youth and the Oceans Conferences and the Friends of Beaches Network. The Youth and the Oceans Conferences celebrate the role of youth in marine environmental activity in Newfoundland and Labrador. Junior high and high school students and teachers take part in day-long series of thought-provoking presentations and interactive discussions with a focus on marine environmental issues representing leadership and career opportunities for youth.

Between June and September of 2010, MI Ocean Net’s Friends of Beaches Network set up chapters in Placentia, Burgeo, Arnold’s Cove, Bonavista and Makkovik. The chapters held regular cleanups of beaches and ocean environments across Newfoundland and Labrador, as did a number of other volunteers and organizations not directly linked to one of the five chapters. By the end of November, over 100 cleanups will have taken place thanks to the efforts of over 1,100 volunteers. In total, 1,529 garbage bags and more than 20,000 pounds of garbage was removed from Newfoundland and Labrador beaches and ocean environments during this time.

“To me, this is really all about and the MI Ocean Net volunteers and the success they’ve had in creating positive changes in their communities,” said Dearing. “The volunteers are the people who are creating all this success and they are the ones drawing attention to MI Ocean Net. I’m only one person attending this summit, but my presence reflects the passionate dedication of the thousands of MI Ocean Net volunteers. I’m honored to be a part of that.”

Summit includes networking, leadership training

The 21inc Emerging Leaders Summit begins Sunday, Nov. 21 and continues until Wednesday, Nov. 24. Participants will meet with their peers from the Atlantic Provinces for leadership training, policy dialogues and relationship building exercises. They will then participate in the 21inc Ideas Festival from Nov. 24 to 26. All fees related to the summit and festival are paid by 21inc and the events’ sponsors.

“There is a lot of emphasis on networking. These other 49 people I’ll interact with, these are individuals I could form partnerships with, exchange ideas or collaborate on projects with,” said Dearing. “From what I saw there’s not too many from an environment/social change background.  There seems to be a lot young entrepreneurs and strong business minds. I’m going there with the perspective of what is possible to accomplish when one person cares enough to make a difference in spite of the challenges they face.  I’m excited, curious, and open-minded about the possibilities that will come from this opportunity.”

Dearing will take his usual enthusiasm and energy to the summit and expects to see the same type of outlook from his fellow attendees.

“One of the biggest things I hope to take from it is the support network the summit could create,” said Dearing. “These are all people I’ll be able to connect with in the future. To be a part of this is incredibly empowering and can only enhance the individual strengths of each participant.”