blue ocean wave

Turning the tide on
plastic pollution

Our Vision

A Plastic Ocean Foundation is a charitable organisation registered in Hong Kong, dedicated to creating a wave of change to stop plastic pollution and to be part of the solution through science, education and policy advocacy.

We are a group of dedicated scientists, educators, social entrepreneurs, scholars and journalists who are concerned about the fragile state of our ocean and are working together with other NGOs and the community to change attitudes towards plastic in one generation.

We are also the people that brought you the award winning feature-length documentary A Plastic Ocean, which has reached millions of viewers around the world and continues to astonish and move people to action each day.

water pollution

Stop plastic pollution.
Be part of the solution.

Our Philosophy

APO is a science-driven NGO, and our in-house scientists and scholars to ensure the projects we undertake have solid scientific bases and measurable outcomes that can be used to drive policy change. We also have our own team of educators, social entrepreneurs, and journalists who are dedicated to community outreach, corporate training and stakeholder dialogue to change attitudes towards plastic in our generation.

APO works collaboratively with the local communities and government authorities, and will only undertake projects where all necessary licenses and permits are secured, and consensus of the local communities are obtained. We are endorsed by The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science as a partner and have contributed to major local and international initiatives.

Our Values

A Plastic Ocean Foundation is not an anti-plastic organisation. We agree plastic is an amazing product - it’s how we dispose of plastic that is causing the problem. Our addiction to plastic and our ‘disposable’ lifestyle are now starting to pose a threat to the survival of marine species, as well as ourselves.

beach pollution

Plastic pollution is over
if you want it.

The Team

We are the team that brought you the award winning feature-length documentary A Plastic Ocean.

Daniel Auerbach

Daniel has spent 30 years in Asia as an early pioneer and leader in the development of the region’s Private Equity industry. Through his business involvement Daniel is associated with the establishment of some of the region’s most successful independent businesses. He has held key board roles with companies, including the Alibaba Group, WuXi Pharmatech, AsiaInfo and Asia Renal Care. He continues to serve on a number of Boards of Asia’s leading emerging businesses, including Innovent Therapeutics, Hua Medicine, Adagene, Wisers Information Services, and Delta Health (Chairman), China’s first world class, single specialty cardio vascular hospital located in Shanghai.

Daniel is a Trustee of Hong Kong‘s World Wildlife Fund; a Trustee of A Plastic Ocean Foundation and Executive Producer of the documentary A Plastic Ocean; a member of the Board of Overseers at the Morningside College, Asia’s first liberal arts college based in Hong Kong; a member of the Presidential Advisory Board of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2000, Daniel was nominated by the World Economic Forum as one of its Young Global Leaders.

Karen Chang

Karen founded Globe Creative in 2008 as an experiential design agency creating groundbreaking cultural programming and exhibitions for the region’s cultural districts, museums and public spaces. A trusted partner of the world’s museums (eg: British Museum, Brera, Design Museum, Louvre, Palace Museum, Pompidou, V&A,), and scientific and educational institutes (eg: National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Asia Society), Globe Creative has engaged audiences in the millions through permanent and travelling exhibitions across China, Asia and the Middle East. In recent years, Globe Creative has had great success incorporating advanced interactive technologies including Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality into their exhibitions. These ‘tech-based’ exhibits further enhance the visitor experience and drive attendance like never before.

Prior to establishing Globe Creative, Karen was the regional managing director of the world’s two largest public relations groups Fleishmen‐Hillard and Citigate Dewe Rogerson. She was first woman to hold this position, establishing their reputation and regional presence in Asia. In addition to being a founding board member of A Plastic Ocean Foundation, Karen also advises a number of not‐for‐profit organisations working in the special needs and arts and culture sectors.

Steven Matthew

Steven is a marine engineer, lawyer and commercial executive experienced in the shipping and marine environmental fields.  Based in Hong Kong since 2005, Steven has a thorough understanding of the shipping environment in the Asia-Pacific region, having dealt regularly with a variety of owners and shipyards on complex projects and legal challenges including environmental regulatory work, casualty, salvage and total loss, oil spill management and prosecutions, new shipbuilding construction, modifications and warranty claims.  In addition, Steven has considerable experience across the full spectrum of dry shipping litigation including commodities disputes primarily in the arbitral centres of London, Hong Kong, Singapore and China.  Most recently Steven has led the development of companies in Asia which have commercially developed technologies to combat the spread of marine invasive aquatic species in ships ballast water.

Steven is currently the sales director for Asia for Bio-UV, founding the Asia operations for the firm, founding director for Asia for MER Solutions, a comprehensive marine consultancy, Trustee of A Plastic Ocean Foundation, and founding director of STEM Innovations Limited, an early stage investment vehicle which has particular interests in Science, Technology, Entertainment and Media opportunities.

Sonjia Norman

After studying Law at the LSE in London, Sonjia was General Counsel and Head of Business Development for a joint venture whose largest shareholder was United International Holdings under Mike Fries, now CEO and Vice Chairman of Liberty Global, to develop broadcasting and satellite television networks throughout Asia. After two years she went back to practice law at Deacons in the Commercial Department until she started her own business two years later creating the two clothing and lifestyle brands Chibi and Sonjia.

Her love for the oceans encouraged her to gather like-minded individuals to create the award-winning film A Plastic Ocean which has been seen by millions of viewers around the world.

Fiona Waters

Fiona is founder and managing director of Waters Economics, a boutique economics and urban development consultancy based in Hong Kong. She has worked in over 20 countries across Asia, many in working as a consultant to the Asian Development Bank on urban infrastructure projects such as waste management, water supply and environmental clean-up. Fiona works as a consultant to several of the major Hong Kong and Asian property developers, as well as for Government, Statutory Bodies and NGOs. She also works for UK clients, primarily in helping them bid for public funding through the preparation of a robust business case and cost benefit analysis.

Fiona is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Hong Kong University in the Department of Urban Planning & Design, member of the Best Practice Committee of the Hong Kong Harbour Business Forum and the Urban Land Institute. As a recreational sailor, she has a passion for the water and keeping it clean and plastic-free.

Edmond Leung

Edmond Leung is a Partner at Hong Kong law firm Tanner De Witt and has over 15 years of experience advising clients in Hong Kong and throughout the region. He regularly works on general corporate and commercial matters, including setting up companies, joint ventures and dealing with regulatory and compliance issues. Edmond is a Band 2 Leading Lawyer, Chambers Asia Pacific 2018. Edmond has provided legal services to the Plastic Oceans charity on a pro bono basis and is proud to support the organisation.