Thank you for your support! Since our inaugural event in 2022, we have raised over $4 million in support of ocean conservation efforts.
Singapore Inaugural Event
19 September 2024
in collaboration with McLaren Racing & Ximi
“This year, Sapphire shines brighter thanks to the extraordinary collaboration from our partners, and most importantly, our friends. Despite global economic challenges, it is your passion, love, and belief in our mission that have made this event possible. Our unique approach ensures every dollar raised goes directly to impactful conservation, and it is the dedication and passion of those involved that keep our vision alive. Together, we are creating a legacy of collective action for our oceans. Your unwavering support is the heartbeat of this project, driving us forward not just for today, but for generations to come. Thank you for being part of this journey and for believing in the power of unity to create lasting change.”
Hayley Baillie & Ryan Gollan
Co-Chairs of The Sapphire Project
A Legacy Project:
Uniting, Educating and Inspiring Our Community to Love and Protect Our Oceans
A Legacy for the Oceans: The Sapphire Project is a catalyst for transformative change, dedicated to raising essential funds and awareness for organisations making a tangible impact in protecting and preserving our oceans. More than just a conservation effort, it serves as a rallying cry for action, inspiring communities, celebrating leadership in sustainable innovation, and mobilising resources for a blue future. Through events like the Sapphire Dinner, we unite donors with visionary initiatives, building philanthropic momentum and fostering a shared commitment to the well-being of our oceans.
We are deeply invested in the preservation of our marine environments. Coinciding with the United Nations World Oceans Day, we take this moment annually to amplify our efforts, connecting local action with global conversations about ocean conservation.
Alarmingly, less than 2% of charitable contributions in Australia are directed towards environmental causes, with an even smaller fraction benefiting oceanic preservation. This stark reality underscores the critical need for targeted support within this sector.
As proud advocates of the UN World Oceans Day and in unique collaboration with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, our third annual Sapphire Dinner, themed "Awaken New Depths," took place on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the iconic Tank in the gallery. This year, our efforts focus on the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. As the largest living structure on Earth, the Reef is not only a national treasure but also a critical component of the global ecosystem, supporting 64,000 jobs and contributing $6.4 billion to the economy annually.
Beyond its economic significance, the Great Barrier Reef is essential to marine biodiversity, serving as a vital nursery for fish populations that sustain millions of people worldwide. It is also a source of groundbreaking medicinal discoveries and, like the Amazon rainforest, acts as a buffer against climate change. Yet, this underwater marvel faces unprecedented threats from global warming, with repeated bleaching events putting its future at risk.
From our last three dinners, we have raised over $4 million for ocean conservation, thanks to the generosity of individual donors. To date, our events have engaged over one thousand supporters in person, and with our inaugural event in Singapore this year that number continues to grow. Our impact continues to extend globally through online coverage and brand partnerships, continuously growing a community committed to ocean conservation.
In 2024, our commitment goes beyond acknowledgment — we are actively contributing to the preservation of this irreplaceable ecosystem. The time to act is now: the decade between 2020 and 2030 will be pivotal in shaping the legacy we leave for future generations, with consequences that extend far beyond our own lifetimes.
To read more about us, please click here. To discover more about our dedicated efforts in 2024, click here.
“Sapphire’s work is vital for Australia and the world. The culture that Sapphire has built on collaborative impact, building support, and generating funds for the best and brightest initiatives coming out of Australia gives hope for our oceans and our common future. Thank you to the Sapphire committee, who my husband David and I had the pleasure of meeting last year. A special thanks to all our supporters, whose unwavering support since our inception has been instrumental. You are ocean heroes and For The Oceans!”
Susan Rockefeller
Honorary Chair of The Sapphire Project
Founder of Protect What is Precious®
This summer, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced multiple cyclones, flash flooding, and now a marine heatwave is causing mass coral bleaching. Rising ocean temperatures are threatening the Reef’s very survival. We’ve made significant progress advancing methods to restore reefs damaged by the impacts of climate change, but coral reefs remain one of the most vulnerable ecosystem on the planet. The Great Barrier Reef can recover, but only with your support.
When she hurts, we hurt. You can help rescue the Reef and build her resilience to the challenges of a warming planet.
“The ocean provides the oxygen for every second breath we take.
In 2024, the UN World Oceans Day’s theme is Awaken New Depths. This is so pertinent here in Australia. Our coast is intimately linked to our national economy, industry, arts, social lifestyle and cultural identity, with more than 85 percent of Australians living within 50 kilometres of the sea. Water has always been good to me, it’s time to give back.”
Ian Thorpe AM
Sapphire Committee & Ocean Ambassador
“The greatest danger to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
Robert Swan