About
Director
South Seas Consulting Ltd
sebastien@southseas.science
Summary
Physical oceanographer and Pacific conservation leader with 20+ years’ experience translating marine science into policy and action. Conceived, secured funding for, and managed multi-million-dollar international projects, including the USTDA-funded modernization of Vanuatu’s Meteorological Service. Co-founder of Backyard Buoys, a USD 35M Indigenous- and community-led ocean observing initiative. Experienced in supporting and advising marine and weather technology startups to bring innovations to market. Partnered with Indigenous and local communities across the Pacific and applied oceanographic data to Marine Protected Area monitoring and coastal resilience. Bilingual in English and French, based in New Zealand with long-standing Pacific networks. Combines scientific depth, regional knowledge, and hands-on program delivery to advance equitable and durable ocean protection.
Publications
Title: BackyardBuoys: Meeting coastal indigenous community needs for wave data through co-design and co-production. Publisher: One Ocean Summit Date published: Wed, 04/06/2025 - 12:00 Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394974841_BackyardBuoys_Meeting_coastal_indigenous_community_needs_for_wave_data_through_co-design_and_co-production
Title: Backyard Buoys: Meeting Needs of Coastal, Indigenous Communities Through Co-Design and Co-Production Publisher: The Oceanography Society Date published: Mon, 23/09/2024 - 12:00 Link: https://tos.org/oceanography/article/backyard-buoys-meeting-needs-of-coastal-indigenous-communities-through-co-design-and-co-production
Title: Workshop Report for the Air-Sea Observations for a Safe Ocean, a satellite event for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development - Safe Ocean Laboratory Publisher: OASIS for a SafeOcean Date published: Thu, 07/04/2022 - 12:00 Link: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/57159/
Title: Comparative wave measurements at a wave energy site with a recently developed low-cost wave buoy (Spotter), ADCP and pressure loggers Publisher: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology Date published: Thu, 01/04/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350572769_Comparative_wave_measurements_at_a_wave_energy_site_with_a_recently_developed_low-cost_wave_buoy_Spotter_ADCP_and_pressure_loggers
Title: Simplified approach to operationalise UKC calculations Publisher: World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) Date published: Tue, 01/05/2018 - 12:00 Link: https://coms.events/pianc-panama/data/x_abstracts/x_abstract_156.pdf
Title: Marine Weather Forecasting and Monitoring at the Port of Sydney and Botany Bay, NSW, Australia Publisher: Coasts and Ports Date published: Sun, 01/09/2013 - 12:00 Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283824032_Marine_weather_forecasting_and_monitoring_at_the_Port_of_Sydney_and_Botany_Bay_NSW_Australia
Title: Development Of A Low Cost Wave Buoy By Utilising Smartphone Technology Publisher: Coasts and Ports Date published: Sun, 01/09/2013 - 12:00 Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265728503_Development_Of_A_Low_Cost_Wave_Buoy_By_Utilising_Smartphone_Technology
Title: Analysis of multibeam sonar data for benthic habitat characterization of the Port of Tauranga, New Zealand Publisher: University of Waikato Date published: Fri, 01/06/2012 - 12:00 Link: https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/6611
Title: Backyard Buoys: Meeting Needs of Coastal, Indigenous Communities Through Co-Design and Co-Production Publisher: The Oceanography Society Date published: Mon, 23/09/2024 - 12:00 Link: https://tos.org/oceanography/article/backyard-buoys-meeting-needs-of-coastal-indigenous-communities-through-co-design-and-co-production
Title: Workshop Report for the Air-Sea Observations for a Safe Ocean, a satellite event for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development - Safe Ocean Laboratory Publisher: OASIS for a SafeOcean Date published: Thu, 07/04/2022 - 12:00 Link: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/57159/
Title: Comparative wave measurements at a wave energy site with a recently developed low-cost wave buoy (Spotter), ADCP and pressure loggers Publisher: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology Date published: Thu, 01/04/2021 - 12:00 Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350572769_Comparative_wave_measurements_at_a_wave_energy_site_with_a_recently_developed_low-cost_wave_buoy_Spotter_ADCP_and_pressure_loggers
Title: Simplified approach to operationalise UKC calculations Publisher: World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) Date published: Tue, 01/05/2018 - 12:00 Link: https://coms.events/pianc-panama/data/x_abstracts/x_abstract_156.pdf
Title: Marine Weather Forecasting and Monitoring at the Port of Sydney and Botany Bay, NSW, Australia Publisher: Coasts and Ports Date published: Sun, 01/09/2013 - 12:00 Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283824032_Marine_weather_forecasting_and_monitoring_at_the_Port_of_Sydney_and_Botany_Bay_NSW_Australia
Title: Development Of A Low Cost Wave Buoy By Utilising Smartphone Technology Publisher: Coasts and Ports Date published: Sun, 01/09/2013 - 12:00 Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265728503_Development_Of_A_Low_Cost_Wave_Buoy_By_Utilising_Smartphone_Technology
Title: Analysis of multibeam sonar data for benthic habitat characterization of the Port of Tauranga, New Zealand Publisher: University of Waikato Date published: Fri, 01/06/2012 - 12:00 Link: https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/6611
Qualifications
Degree: Master of Science (Physical Oceanography) Period: 2010-2012 Status: Completed Education institution: University of Waikato Country: New Zealand
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Oceanography, Hydrographic Surveying) Period: 2002-2006 Status: Completed Education institution: INTECHMER, University of Glamorgan Country: France
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Oceanography, Hydrographic Surveying) Period: 2002-2006 Status: Completed Education institution: INTECHMER, University of Glamorgan Country: France
Work Experience
Project name: Vanuatu: Early Warning System Modernization Pilot Project and Capacity Building Client: Tomorrow.io, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department (VMGD), United States Trade and Development Agency Project period: Mon, 01/07/2024 - 12:00 - Sat, 01/08/2026 - 12:00 Position: Project Founder and Lead (scoping, fundraising, and implementation) Location: Vanuatu Deliverables "Vanuatu: Early Warning System Modernization Pilot Project and Capacity Building" Conceived, designed, and secured USD 3.3M in funding from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for the full modernization of the Vanuatu Meteorological and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD). Lead the program end-to-end; from technical scoping and financial planning to grant preparation, award, and full project management. Oversee deliverables, compliance, and reporting across government agencies, private-sector partners, and technical teams.
Project name: Backyard Buoys Client: University of Washington, National Science Foundation Project period: Wed, 01/09/2021 - 12:00 - Sun, 31/08/2025 - 12:00 Position: Co-Founder, Principal Investigator Location: Remote Deliverables https://backyardbuoys.org/ Backyard Buoys is a project funded (USD5M) by the National Science Foundation that empowers Indigenous and other coastal communities to collect and use ocean data to support their blue economy: maritime activities, food security, and coastal hazard protection. This is achieved by providing them with low-cost wave buoys. Innovations include a sustainable process for community-led stewardship of affordable ocean buoys (over 80 deployed) and a web-based application that renders data easy to understand and bridges to Indigenous knowledge.
Project name: Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing (GOMO) 5 years review Client: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Project period: Fri, 01/07/2022 - 12:00 - Wed, 31/08/2022 - 12:00 Position: Stakeholder reviewer Location: Remote Deliverables The scope of this review was to assess the quality, relevance and performance of research and activities sponsored or conducted by NOAA’s GOMO over the last 5 years (2017-2021), and to provide recommendations for improvements moving forward. The panel was also asked to assess the progress of GOMO on implementing strategic plans and provide insights for future planning.
Project name: Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III) Client: United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) Project period: Tue, 03/10/2023 - 12:00 - Thu, 01/10/2026 - 12:00 Position: Expert Location: Remote Deliverables The Third World Ocean Assessment will, for the first time, not only report on the current state of the ocean, but detail the information, tools and approaches that can be utilized by decision-makers to ensure the future sustainability, conservation and restoration of the ocean. It will also incorporate the ‘One Health’ concept, that focuses on the critical nexus between people and the physical and chemical components of the ocean and the organisms that live there.
Project name: Backyard Buoys Client: University of Washington, National Science Foundation Project period: Wed, 01/09/2021 - 12:00 - Sun, 31/08/2025 - 12:00 Position: Co-Founder, Principal Investigator Location: Remote Deliverables https://backyardbuoys.org/ Backyard Buoys is a project funded (USD5M) by the National Science Foundation that empowers Indigenous and other coastal communities to collect and use ocean data to support their blue economy: maritime activities, food security, and coastal hazard protection. This is achieved by providing them with low-cost wave buoys. Innovations include a sustainable process for community-led stewardship of affordable ocean buoys (over 80 deployed) and a web-based application that renders data easy to understand and bridges to Indigenous knowledge.
Project name: Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing (GOMO) 5 years review Client: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Project period: Fri, 01/07/2022 - 12:00 - Wed, 31/08/2022 - 12:00 Position: Stakeholder reviewer Location: Remote Deliverables The scope of this review was to assess the quality, relevance and performance of research and activities sponsored or conducted by NOAA’s GOMO over the last 5 years (2017-2021), and to provide recommendations for improvements moving forward. The panel was also asked to assess the progress of GOMO on implementing strategic plans and provide insights for future planning.
Project name: Third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III) Client: United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) Project period: Tue, 03/10/2023 - 12:00 - Thu, 01/10/2026 - 12:00 Position: Expert Location: Remote Deliverables The Third World Ocean Assessment will, for the first time, not only report on the current state of the ocean, but detail the information, tools and approaches that can be utilized by decision-makers to ensure the future sustainability, conservation and restoration of the ocean. It will also incorporate the ‘One Health’ concept, that focuses on the critical nexus between people and the physical and chemical components of the ocean and the organisms that live there.