About Wavemakers
The work of fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement professionals is at the heart of protecting the world’s oceans and the communities that depend on them. Wavemakers exists to strengthen the people who do that work — connecting them, investing in their growth and building a more resilient global community for the long term.
Wavemakers is a professional development programme of the IMCS Network that connects early and mid-career professionals (our Navigators) and experienced women leaders (our Guides) across the global fisheries community.
Wavemakers is a statement of intent
The IMCS Network believes that investing in people — in their growth, their confidence and their connections — is the most powerful thing we can do for the future of fisheries compliance. Wavemakers is how we act on that belief
Over nine months, Navigators and Guides will work together to share experiences and insights, discuss challenges and opportunities, build skills, confidence and judgement.
Wavemakers is not a fixed curriculum. It is a nine-month personal and collective journey that will be co-developed by participants. The programme will be structured yet flexible, grounded in real-world challenges and shaped by the shared experiences of those working in the field. Equally important, the programme will create a safe and trusted environment where participants can speak openly, reflect honestly and learn from one another.
Grounded in the Pacific, connected globally
Wavemakers draws inspiration from Pacific leadership and perspectives while connecting practitioners from across the world. It reflects the shared challenges and responsibilities of the global fisheries community.
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Vision A resilient, connected and inclusive global fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement community, strengthened by shared expertise and sustained investment in its people. |
Mission To connect and invest in professionals across the global fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement community through a women-led professional development programme open to all. |
Who are the Wavemakers?
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Guides Early and mid-career professionals working in fisheries MCS, compliance and enforcement. They may be building confidence and networks, working in isolated or challenging environments, or looking to deepen their leadership and broaden their impact. |
Navigators Experienced women leaders from across the fisheries sector. Not instructors or supervisors. They share experience, challenge ideas and help create a trusted environment for honest conversation, reflection and growth. |
Key elements
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Cohort-based journey Wavemakers brings together a small global cohort of Navigators and Guides who take part in the programme over a shared nine-month period. While participants progress through the experience at the same time and connect through occasional cohort touchpoints, the core of the programme takes place in Navigator partnerships and conversations with Guides. |
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Navigator partnerships Navigators will be matched in pairs or small groups at the outset of the programme. These partnerships provide a trusted space for discussion, peer learning and mutual support as participants reflect on challenges and opportunities in their work. |
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Navigator-led matching with Guides Early conversations will help Navigators clarify what they hope to gain from the programme and the type of perspective that would be most valuable. These reflections help inform the matching process with Guides. |
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Guided perspective Experienced women leaders serve as Guides, offering insight, perspective and encouragement. Their role is not to direct the process, but to support Navigators as they explore challenges, strengthen judgement and grow in confidence. |
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A co-developed journey The programme evolves through the experience of participants. Conversations, reflections and shared learning help shape the direction of the programme over time, ensuring it remains grounded in the realities of those working across the fisheries community. |
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Mutual learning Built on shared learning rather than hierarchy. Guides and Navigators learn from one another through conversation, reflection and experience. |
Accessible and adaptive
Designed to work across regions, institutions and time zones with flexible formats, multilingual engagement and a dedicated digital community platform.
Programme support
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Advisory Group Senior women leaders providing strategic perspective and supporting the overall direction and integrity of the programme. |
IMCS Network team Contributing directly to the design and delivery of the programme, ensuring it remains responsive to participants’ needs and experiences. |
Leadership coach Supporting participant reflection, matching processes and the development of strong, trusted learning relationships throughout the programme journey. |
Want to find out more? Please email the Network at connect@imcsnet.org
