Governance and Transparency Policy
Green Ocean Foundation CLG, Company number: 772171, Registered Charity Number (RCN): 20206959
Effective Date: June 2026
Restoring Ireland’s seas takes more than oysters and enthusiasm. It also depends on the trust of the people and organisations who fund our work. Good governance has been central to Green Ocean from the start, and it shapes how we manage our finances, our science and our work on the water.
Our Story in Brief
Green Ocean began as an initiative of Watermark Coffee, owned by David and Marguerite Lawlor, funded by €1 from every bag of Green Ocean Coffee sold. This provided the seed funding to understand whether the Green Ocean initiative would be viable. Following on from our successful pilot projects in Dún Laoghaire, Poolbeg, Malahide and Howth over 2023 and 2024, Green Ocean Foundation CLG was incorporated. In December 2025 it became a registered charity. Our constitution reflects best practice in the charity sector. Green Ocean Coffee remains an important source of funding to this day.
Learn more about our funders and corporate partners here.
Our Board
- Colm Kelly, Independent Chair
- Jim Breslin, Non-Executive Director
- David Lawlor, Director and Team Lead
We comply with the Charities Governance Code, and all of our directors are unpaid. The board meets every two to three months to review our finances, operations, staffing and projects, with a particular focus on risk. Our work is guided by a three-year strategic plan approved by the board.
Financial Controls
A full set of board-approved policies guides our board, staff and volunteers, including an authority matrix, expenses, reserves and conflict of interest policies, and a staff handbook. Our Finance & Admin Lead, Marguerite Lawlor, is a chartered accountant. All payments require two signatories, and any payment involving a connected party must be approved by an independent director.
Our accounts are independently prepared and examined, and are filed with the Companies Registration Office. You can view our financial statements here.
Science and Safety
Our restoration work is guided by our scientific partners at DCU Water Institute, and all licences and permits are obtained from the Marine Institute and the relevant local authorities. Our on-water operations are led by qualified Yachtmasters, everyone who operates our RIBs is trained, and volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.
Our relationship with Watermark Coffee
Watermark Coffee was our first funder and is now one of many, though it still provides the most support: €1 from every bag of Green Ocean Coffee, administrative support, and the secondment of David Lawlor to lead the Foundation. This is set out in a written agreement. The Green Ocean name belongs to Watermark Coffee and the Foundation’s use of it is covered by that agreement.
The relationship runs in one direction only: the Foundation pays Watermark Coffee nothing for any goods or services. Because David and Marguerite Lawlor own Watermark Coffee, the relationship is managed under our conflict of interest policy and overseen by the independent members of our Board. David does not take part in board decisions concerning Watermark Coffee.
Contact
If you would like to know more about our governance, or to see any of our policies, please contact us at info@greenoceanfoundation.ie.