Meet our 2024 award winners

This award gives us the opportunity each year to recognise someone who has shown exceptional dedication and continuous effort to supporting the Marine Conservation Society.

Duncan Scott

The winner of this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award is Duncan Scott. As a long-standing and dedicated Seasearch diver and organiser, Duncan has consistently gone above and beyond to support the community.

He is always eager to assist new divers by helping them find suitable dive sites and guiding them through the process of completing their forms. Recently, Duncan also showcased his commitment by writing a newspaper article highlighting Seasearch for the local press. We truly appreciate Duncan’s dedication and ongoing support, and we are grateful for all he does to help promote and expand the Seasearch community.

Each year, we present two fundraising awards to honor individuals of all ages who have made extraordinary efforts to raise funds for the charity.

Fundraiser of the year

Arabella Lloyd

This year’s award goes to Arabella Lloyd. In December 2023, she embarked on an extraordinary journey to row across the Atlantic as part of an independent adventure with 11 strangers. The row served as a fundraiser for our charity.

Through her incredible efforts and passion, Arabella not only took on this challenging physical feat but also used the opportunity to raise awareness and support for a cause close to her heart. Her dedication and spirit made her a truly deserving recipient of this award.

Young Fundraiser of the Year

Alistair Boulan

Alistair Boulan, a passionate young advocate for marine life and conservation, is being recognised as our Young Fundraiser of the Year. He took on the challenge of swimming 2,000 metres to raise vital funds for our cause, driven by his deep commitment to protect our ocean.

His enthusiasm for marine conservation and his drive to make a positive impact at such a young age prove him to be an outstanding choice for this award. We look forward to seeing what he will do next for our sea.

The Young Ocean Optimist of the Year Award recognises exceptional young people making a difference for our ocean. It’s all about amplifying their voices and celebrating their dedication. The younger generation holds incredible power, and their enthusiasm for marine conservation and protecting our planet is truly inspiring. We’re thrilled to honour these changemakers and highlight the positive impact they’re having in their communities.

Young Ocean Optimist of the Year (12 & under)

Autumn-Rose Bradley

In the 12 and under category, our winner is Autumn-Rose Bradley, for her outstanding dedication to the Hiraeth Yn Y Môr Project’s One Ocean Forum. As one of the youngest and most committed members, Autumn-Rose has been involved from the very beginning. Even encouraging her dad, Paul, to join the meetings, where he has now become an active member himself.

Despite being one of the only young voices in the room, Autumn-Rose bravely contributes to important decision-making discussions, shaping the project with her unique perspective. Her passion for ensuring that young people are represented and that activities remain engaging for them has inspired others and made a lasting impact on the project.

We are incredibly grateful for her dedication and the positive influence she brings to the forum.

Young Ocean Optimist of the Year (13-25 year old)

Ellena Jenks

In the 13-25 age category, our Young Ocean Optimist of the Year is Ellena Jenks. We are delighted to congratulate Ellena for her exceptional contributions to the Youth Ocean Network since joining in 2023. From participating in virtual calls to helping plan events, Ellena has been a dedicated and supportive member, always focused on increasing accessibility and inclusion in everything we do.

This year, Ellena went above and beyond in her role by leading the development, design, and delivery of a creative art project for our World Ocean Day celebrations in June. Her vision for the piece, inspired by the Rumi quote, ‘You are not a drop in the ocean. You are an entire ocean in a drop,’ beautifully highlighted how individual actions can come together to make a significant impact.

Ellena’s positivity, creativity, and commitment to making a difference are truly inspiring, and we are excited to continue working with her for many years to come.

A massive thank you and congratulations to all our nominees. By making a difference to the world we live in and the ocean we love, you're all winners in our eyes. We look forward to seeing how you will all continue to help support the charity and our projects in 2025!