Our Founder and CEO

Birgit Liodden

Birgit is a self-made entrepreneur who has worked to push sustainability, entrepreneurship, next generation & diversity across the maritime industry for almost 15 years. She is currently building TOOL, a global and digital community for connecting ocean entrepreneurs with established industry players and resources, with partners across 17 countries. 

Her high-level track record includes; Director of Sustainability, Ocean Industries & Communication at Oslo Business Region, Project Manager Oslo European Green Capital/Business program. Director of Nor-Shipping, Founder & SG of YoungShip International, Project Manager Global Systems & Processes at Wilh.Wilhelmsen.

Birgit is the Working Chair of the Norwegian Organization for Environmental Boats, and on the boards of TECO2030, The Factory, GreenStat, Bellona Foundation and The Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue. She serves on the Executive Committee of Polytechnic Association and the advisory boards of REV Ocean, FutureTalks, SHE Community, Generation Mobility and Southern Africa Norway Association. 

In 2018, she interviewed President Barack Obama in front of 3000 executives. This year she has chaired NASDAQ ESG Summit, UN Environmental Assembly #ActForNature, and spoke at IMO World Maritime Day. She has received a number of awards & rankings for her leadership in Norway and abroad, and was awarded Top100 global female maritime leaders 2020. She was among the 150 top finalists for the World Economic Forum ́s Young Global Leaders 2018. She is an Alumn of U.S. State Dept. IVLP, and of SIKT, H.R.H Crown Prince Haakon of Norway ́s national young leader network.