Presented by Tiffany & Co. the inaugural Sapphire Dinner raised more than $1 million for ocean conservation. Held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal on Sydney Harbour, the event highlighted the Sapphire Project and its mission, ‘Protect what is precious.’

300 of Australia’s top philanthropists, VIPs and leading conservationists were in attendance, raising  a total of $1.2 million in support of the critically underfunded area of ocean conservation, particularly organisations working to protect our own Great Barrier Reef for generations to come.

The Sapphire Project educates and inspires the Australian community to unite and take action in protecting oceans. With support of sponsors, 100 per cent of every dollar raised on the evening goes directly to organisations involved in research, rehabilitation and education in support of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Tiffany & Co. Sapphire Dinner was carbon-zero, employed organic, sustainable menus and entertainer Jess Hitchcock sang ocean inspired songs in a Romance Was Born coral dress. Fittingly the dress code was sustainable, as a ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ theme was enforced on the night.

Guests in attendance included friends of the House Victoria Lee and Maddison Brown, Sapphire ambassador Ian Thorpe and Jarrod Scott, Sapphire committee member Sophia Forrest, Giaan Rooney and Michael Klim. Alongside the distinguished guests were the Sapphire comitte members including Ryan Gollan (Chair), Hayley Baillie, Clare Ainsworth Herschell, Susan Wynne, Brioney Prier, Kate Champion, Chong Chua and Phil Rist.

“What I find most empowering is that everyone involved in this project shares the same passion; from our committee to ocean partners, sponsors and production partners, everyone brings to the table their own set of skills and the love for our oceans,” said Chair Ryan Gollan in a statement. “In Chinese, there is a saying that ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’. What we are creating here is a legacy project, a next-gen philanthropy platform in which anyone and everyone can take part. United, we can make a difference, not just for ourselves, but for our future generations.”

In 2022, The Sapphire Project is working with a selection of charitable organisations includes Blue CarbobLab, Lizard Island Research Station, Take 3 for  the Sea, Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, Girrugun Aboriginal Corporation and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.