In April Island Innovation launched the Global Sustainable Islands Summit (GSIS) 2026 in Gran Canaria. Inviting companies and individuals from around the world for one collective goal; “Promoting sustainability within the world’s islands and countries”. It brought together passionate individuals sharing their experiences and innovations, demonstrating the sustainability efforts and initiatives in their jurisdictions. Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) attended the event represented by Strategic Projects Manager Sam Cockwell and Marketing and Communications Assistant Lane McKay.
Prior to the summit relevant field trips were organised. Lane attended Salto De Chira Hydro Power Plant, the first energy storage project to be developed in the Canary Islands. Sam visited the Spanish Bank of Algae, where they demonstrated science and research into micro algae and seaweed and how they can be utilised in a multitude of ways
The summit launched with an opening ceremony with talks from James Ellsmoor (CEO of Island Innovation) alongside Konris Maynard, Minister of St Kitts & Nevis (last year’s hosts), and Antonio Morales, President of Gran Canaria.
On Day two of the summit, Sam spoke as a panellist to present “Community Power: Batteries, Microgrids & Energy Innovation”, discussing the power situation within the islands in terms of microgrids and what the Falkland Islands are actively doing to improve our power systems. Alongside him four other speakers shared their experiences: Danny Kennedy, Director of Solar Global Council, Dominic Goncalves, Founder & Director of Naviara Energy, Kneyone Murray, Caribbean Director at Blue Planet Alliance, and Carla Isari Diaz Ortega, CEO of Energia Solar Canarias. The panel then took questions from the audience on a range of topics including grid forming inverters and battery technology.
On the final day of the summit, Sam was invited to the Solutions Showcase as an expert panellist alongside Julia Martinez Carbrera (Founder of CircleBee) and Danny Kennedy (Director of Solar Global Council). This showcase gave companies from different sectors a voice to pitch their innovative products across multiple sectors: Energy Systems & Grid Innovation, Circular Economy & Waste-to-Value, and Renewable & Bioenergy Solutions. At the end all three experts reflected on the pitches and shared insights and broader observations from a technical or island perspective.
Lane says, “It was a great experience, and I felt he learned a lot from the opportunity to attend. The way others are so passionate and proactive in promoting sustainable innovations within island communities was refreshing. There is a lot that the Falklands could take from this event, even with the limited resources we have”. One session that stood out for Lane, was a seminar discussing Young People Shaping the Future of Museology Through the Lens of the SDGs. The session discussed how museums in Islands can preserve and promote the culture and educate the younger generation.
Sam commented, “The summit was excellent, and a rare opportunity where the significant majority of sessions, panels and workshops were directly relevant to challenges and opportunities we see in the Falkland Islands. I am very keen to develop our relationship with Islands Innovation and bring more people from the Falkland Islands to their events”.
Learn more about Island Innovation Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 here : Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 | Island Innovation – Island Innovation
Islands Innovation will host a Virtual Islands Summit in September 2026, more details can be found here: Virtual Island Summit 2026 | Island Innovation
To register your interest to attend Global Sustainable Island Summit 2027: GSIS 2027 – Global Sustainable Islands Summit | Island Innovation
Photo credits: FIDC & Island Innovation
