Steve Bender, Chairman
Steve Bender is a global sustainability leader and strategic advisor with decades of experience building partnerships, launching environmental initiatives, and helping organizations grow in ways that are both responsible and resilient.
He is the CEO of Sea 2 Sky Solutions, an international consulting firm focused on sustainable innovation and collaboration; the head of Newport Homes, where he leads work in green building, affordable housing, and sustainable building design—including new product lines made from recycled materials and food waste; and the CEO of The 7 Seas Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans.
Through Sea 2 Sky Solutions, Steve works with organizations across six continents to develop sustainability strategies, partnerships, and growth plans. The firm operates with partners and offices in Newport Beach, Dallas, Mexico City, Finland, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Panama, supporting projects in climate action, ocean conservation, green infrastructure, and community development. His work includes initiatives such as EarthX, Sustainable and Traceable Seafood Initiatives, Oceans Week Mexico, the 7 Seas Initiative, and the founding of The Rotary Reef Project, which focuses on ocean restoration and resilience for island nations and coastal communities.
Steve serves as Global Head of Strategic Partnerships and Revenue Growth at EarthX and is leading the creation of the Environmental Xperience at EarthX , a bold new global sustainability event designed to capture the energy and spirit of EarthX while standing confidently on its own. Launching alongside the 15th anniversary of EarthX—one of the world’s leading sustainability conferences—the Environmental Xperience introduces an immersive format focused on real-world, practical solutions. The event is designed to welcome more than 10,000 visitors per day and foster meaningful connections among businesses, innovators, nonprofits, educators, and the public from around the world.
Steve also serves as Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce, helping guide its national and international growth. As a founding director of both the U.S. Green Chamber and the California Green Chamber, he is widely recognized for bringing business, government, and nonprofit leaders together around shared sustainability goals—always with a focus on making sustainability work for business.
His conservation and civic leadership include, serving as President of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach (The Rotary Global Service Club), as well as Director of the Environmental and Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) for Western North America, supporting environmental projects across more than 1,700 Rotary clubs. He also serves on the Rotary Climate Action Team and is a former President of the Newport Bay Conservancy, where he helped protect and restore one of Southern California’s most important coastal ecosystems.
Steve is the founder of Rebuild Ukraine Green, an initiative working with international partners to support post-conflict recovery in Ukraine. In collaboration with Rotary, Steve also focuses on funding landmine removal from agricultural regions and supporting a prosthetic hand program to help civilians injured by the conflict regain mobility and independence.
In addition, Steve serves as Global Partnership Ambassador for the United Nations Association–Orange County and leads AYUDA International, advancing projects that integrate environmental protection, health and community development. His international work includes The Panama Project and ongoing efforts in post-conflict regions focused on sustainable rebuilding and long-term resilience.
A certified Master Diver with a lifelong love of the ocean, Steve brings both professional expertise and personal passion to marine conservation. He is a frequent speaker and works closely with businesses, governments, NGOs, and international organizations to turn sustainability goals into practical, measurable, and lasting impact.