What if restoring just 3% of coral reefs could protect 50% of the entire ecosystem?
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation TED talk is live! Watch Theresa Fyffe, our Executive Director of Impact, deliver a powerful call to action for the future of coral reefs and the communities that depend on them. With breakthrough technologies, local leadership, and a bold plan to restore reefs at scale - we have a lifeline.
Pre-Release Now Open
A Legacy Project:
Unite, Educate and Inspire
A Legacy for the Oceans: The Sapphire Project is a catalyst for transformative change - dedicated to raising vital funds and awareness for organisations making a tangible impact on ocean conservation. More than just a fundraising initiative, Sapphire is a rallying call for collective action: inspiring communities, celebrating innovation, and mobilising resources to safeguard a blue future.
Through immersive events like the Sapphire Dinner, we connect donors with bold, visionary initiatives. Together, we are building philanthropic momentum and a shared commitment to the protection of our oceans.
We are deeply invested in preserving marine ecosystems. Each year, aligned with United Nations World Oceans Day, we amplify our efforts - connecting local impact with global dialogue to highlight the urgent need for ocean conservation.
Yet today, less than 2% of charitable contributions in Australia support environmental causes - an even smaller fraction goes toward protecting our oceans. This stark gap underscores the urgent need for targeted, strategic support.
As proud advocates for UN World Oceans Day, and in a unique collaboration with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, we held our 2024 Sapphire Dinner at The Tank - a breathtaking iconic venue beneath the gallery. Themed "Awaken New Depths," the evening was a celebration of innovation, generosity, and collective action.
Looking ahead to our fifth anniversary in 2025, we will gather again on Friday, 15 August, to support five leading organisations driving marine conservation and climate action across Australia:
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation
The Great Southern Reef Foundation
Sea Forest Foundation
Surfers for Climate
Preserving Australia’s Unique Seadragons
(A conservation partnership between the University of Technology Sydney, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, and Jordan Askill Labs)
The Great Barrier Reef - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world - is the largest living structure on Earth. Beyond its beauty, it sustains 64,000 jobs, contributes $6.4 billion annually to the economy, and plays a critical role in global biodiversity, climate regulation, and even medical discovery.
But this irreplaceable ecosystem is under threat. Rising ocean temperatures and repeated bleaching events are jeopardising its survival - placing the future of our oceans, and life on Earth, at risk.
Since launching in 2021, The Sapphire Project has raised over $4 million for ocean conservation across three dinners, thanks to the generosity of individual donors. Our events have engaged more than 1,500 in-person supporters, and in 2024, our inaugural Singapore event marked the beginning of Sapphire’s international expansion. Our impact continues to grow through global partnerships with like-minded brands.
In 2025 and beyond, we’re not just acknowledging the crisis - we’re contributing directly to solutions. The decade from 2020 to 2030 is our window to act decisively. The legacy we create today will shape the world inherited by future generations. The time to protect what cannot be replaced is now.
To read more about us, please click here. To discover more about our dedicated efforts in 2025, click here.
Art for the Ocean
“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
Tiffany & Co. Foundation & Earth Day
“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®
Thank you for your support! Over the last three dinners, we have raised over $4 million in support of ocean conservation efforts.
“The ocean provides the oxygen for every second breath we take.
In 2025, the UN World Oceans Day’s theme is Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us. 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