Mark Andrew Kozlowski: Building a Smarter Future for Our Oceans

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A Childhood Shaped by the Sea

Mark Andrew Kozlowski grew up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a small fishing town with a strong maritime heritage. His father, a marine biologist, and his mother, a coastal geologist, raised him with a deep respect for the ocean.

By the age of 10, Mark was already sailing small boats with his dad and learning navigation skills. At 12, he was exploring tide pools and experimenting with underwater robots made from salvaged parts. “The ocean was my playground,” he recalls. “I didn’t just want to watch it—I wanted to understand how it worked.”

That mix of curiosity and technical tinkering carried into his teenage years. He built model ships, coded simple wave simulations, and joined friends in “The Cove Crew,” a group of local kids who spent summers kayaking and camping along the coast.

From Dalhousie to Innovation

Mark Andrew Kozlowski attended Dalhousie University, where he earned a degree in Offshore Engineering with minors in Environmental Science and Marine Geospatial Technologies. He quickly became a campus leader.

He was president of the Marine Robotics Club, co-founder of Oceans@Dal—a student think tank focused on sustainability—and a member of the varsity sailing team. His thesis on AI-driven wave prediction won him the Dalhousie Ocean Innovator Award, and he graduated with the Governor General’s Academic Medal.

Reflecting on those years, Mark says: “University gave me the tools. But more importantly, it showed me that technology and sustainability don’t have to compete. They can reinforce each other.”

Early Career at Sea

After graduation, Mark began his professional journey as a Marine Systems Engineer at OceanEdge Dynamics. There, he worked on offshore turbines, integrating smart sensors that improved energy output while reducing environmental impact.

He later joined the UN Global Compact Oceans Program as an Environmental Innovation Fellow. That role exposed him to international policy debates and gave him a global perspective on the Blue Economy—the idea that sustainable use of ocean resources can drive long-term growth.

“It was clear to me,” Mark says, “that the future of our economy and the health of our oceans were tied together. We can’t separate them.”

Founding Blue Horizon Technologies

In 2017, Mark launched Blue Horizon Technologies with a simple mission: merge artificial intelligence with ocean conservation.

The company began with real-time ocean monitoring tools and quickly expanded to include offshore wind and tidal energy projects, AI-driven marine data analytics, and sustainable fisheries management systems. By 2024, Blue Horizon had grown to five international hubs in Canada, Norway, Japan, Kenya, and Chile.

“We wanted to make ocean data practical,” he explains. “When policymakers, fishermen, and energy companies have better information, they make better decisions.”

Global Recognition and Leadership

Mark’s work has not gone unnoticed. He received the Global Marine Innovation Prize in 2022, was named a World Economic Forum Ocean Leader in 2023, and later earned the Order of Nova Scotia for his contributions to environmental technology.

He also serves on the boards of Ocean Supercluster Canada, the Global BlueTech Coalition, and chairs the Atlantic Marine Innovation Network. These roles keep him at the center of conversations on ocean sustainability and emerging marine technologies.

A Belief in Education and Community

While Mark spends much of his time leading Blue Horizon, he is equally dedicated to education and outreach. He founded the Kozlowski Foundation for Ocean Literacy, which funds coastal education programs in underserved communities. Blue Horizon donates 5% of its profits to shoreline restoration projects.

Every week, Mark also mentors students in STEM programs. “Young people need to see the ocean not just as scenery, but as a system that shapes their future,” he says.

Balancing Work and Life on the Water

Despite his global responsibilities, Mark remains grounded in Nova Scotia with his wife, documentary filmmaker Leila Hassan, and their twin sons, Ari and Kai.

In his free time, he free dives along the rugged coastline, cooks traditional Mi’kmaq and Acadian seafood dishes, and keeps a reef tank featuring native Canadian species. He also writes poetry about the sea, with a small collection titled Tidal Echoes.

“I try to live what I preach,” Mark says. “Our home is carbon-neutral, built from recycled marine materials. If we ask the world to change, we have to lead by example.”

Looking Ahead

Today, Mark continues to push for innovation that balances economic opportunity with ecological responsibility. He sees promise in nature-based solutions like living shorelines and in using advanced data tools to guide smarter ocean policy.

“The question isn’t whether we can keep exploiting the ocean,” he says. “The real question is whether we can learn to work with it instead of against it. That’s where the future lies.”

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