Michael Wear
Malgana Traditional Custodian, Shark Bay, Western Australia
Michael Wear is a Malgana Traditional Custodian of Shark Bay (Gutharraguda) in Western Australia and a leading figure in Indigenous environmental conservation and sustainable marine enterprise.
He is the founder of Tidal Moon, Australia’s first Indigenous-owned and led sea cucumber fishery and marine restoration enterprise. Drawing on deep cultural knowledge of “Saltwater Country” and integrating it with modern science, he has developed an innovative model that combines ecological restoration with sustainable commercial practices.
With over 30 years of experience working on and around the ocean, Michael has been committed to restoring marine ecosystems, particularly the seagrass meadows of Shark Bay—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and creating long-term economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.
In recognition of his pioneering work bridging Indigenous knowledge systems and scientific research, he was awarded the inaugural Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems in 2025.
Speaking at
Michael Wear
Malgana Traditional Custodian, Shark Bay, Western Australia
Rongtao Sun
Head of Strategic Investment, China, Aramco Ventures
Liming Xiao
Vice President of Tencent’s Sustainable Social Value (SSV), Tencent Group
Ambassador (Rtd.) Paul Myler
Former Deputy Chief of Mission, Australian Embassy to the United States Founder and Managing Director, Australian Embassy to the United States, StratQ
Irina Bokova
Former Director-General of UNESCO, UNESCO
Wei Zhang
Assistant Resident Representative, Communications, Innovation, and Partnership, UNDP
Wenxuan Li
Chairman, PCG Power
Frank Phuan
CEO, Equatore Renewables Asia