A Life Shaped by the Sea
Growing up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Mark Andrew Kozlowski was surrounded by water, ships, and science. His father, a marine biologist, and his mother, a coastal geologist, inspired him to see the ocean not just as a landscape—but as a living system.
By age 10, he was sailing small boats and learning navigation with his father. At 12, he was exploring tide pools, taking underwater photos, and building small remotely operated vehicles from spare parts. “They usually sank within minutes,” he once laughed, “but I learned more from those failures than from anything that floated.”
Those early experiments set the foundation for a career at the intersection of engineering, data, and sustainability.
From Student Engineer to Marine Visionary
Kozlowski studied Offshore Engineering at Dalhousie University, adding minors in Environmental Science and Marine Geospatial Technologies. He quickly stood out. He led the Marine Robotics Club, co-founded Oceans@Dal—a student think tank for sustainability—and competed on the varsity sailing team.
His senior thesis on AI-driven wave prediction won the Dalhousie Ocean Innovator Award, and he graduated with the Governor General’s Academic Medal. “The research was intense,” he said, “but it taught me that data could do more than describe the ocean—it could help protect it.”
After graduation, he worked as a Marine Systems Engineer at OceanEdge Dynamics, where he led projects integrating smart sensors into offshore turbines. Later, as an Environmental Innovation Fellow for the UN Global Compact Oceans Program, he worked across continents helping communities manage resources more responsibly.
“In Kenya, we trained local fishers to log their catches using a basic mobile app,” he recalled. “By the end of the week, they were tracking stock patterns better than some national agencies. It showed that technology doesn’t have to be fancy—it just has to fit the problem.”
Founding Blue Horizon Technologies
In 2017, Kozlowski founded Blue Horizon Technologies to merge artificial intelligence with ocean sustainability. The company started with small pilot programs monitoring fish populations in the North Atlantic. Today, it operates global research hubs in Canada, Norway, Japan, Kenya, and Chile.
Blue Horizon builds tools that combine real-time data with ecological insight. Its projects include offshore wind and tidal energy systems, AI-driven marine analytics, and sustainable fisheries platforms that help communities balance livelihoods with conservation.
“We don’t build technology for the sake of it,” Kozlowski explained. “We build tools that make ocean data useful for the people who rely on it most.”
Recognition and Industry Leadership
Kozlowski’s impact has been recognized around the world. He won the Global Marine Innovation Prize in 2022 and was named a World Economic Forum Ocean Leader in 2023. That same year, he received the Order of Nova Scotia for contributions to environmental technology.
He serves on several boards, including Ocean Supercluster Canada and the Global BlueTech Coalition, and chairs the Atlantic Marine Innovation Network. “The ocean industry is moving fast,” he said. “Our job is to make sure innovation happens with integrity. The ocean doesn’t give second chances.”
Education, Philanthropy, and Ocean Literacy
Beyond business, Kozlowski focuses on education and community outreach. He founded the Kozlowski Foundation for Ocean Literacy, which funds coastal programs in underserved communities and invests in shoreline restoration. Five percent of Blue Horizon’s annual profits go directly to conservation projects.
He also mentors students weekly through STEM programs. “Young people ask the hard questions,” he said. “They don’t care about profits or politics—they just want to know why we aren’t doing better. That keeps me honest.”
A Balanced Life on the Coast
Despite leading global projects, Kozlowski still calls Nova Scotia home. He lives in a carbon-neutral house built from recycled marine materials with his wife, documentary filmmaker Leila Hassan, and their twin sons, Ari and Kai.
He free dives along the coastline, cooks seafood with Mi’kmaq and Acadian recipes, and keeps a reef tank featuring native Canadian species. In his free time, he writes poetry about the sea—his collection Tidal Echoes explores how humans and oceans are connected.
“Our home isn’t about luxury,” he said. “It’s about living the values I talk about. You can’t ask the world to change if you won’t change yourself.”
Leading the Future of Marine Innovation
For Kozlowski, leadership in marine technology isn’t about building the biggest company—it’s about reshaping how industries think. He believes the future lies in nature-based solutions like living shorelines, wetlands, and hybrid energy systems that work with the environment instead of against it.
“The wind, the waves, the tides—they never stop,” he said. “If we learn to work with that power, not fight it, we’ll build an economy that lasts.”
Today, his work at Blue Horizon continues to bridge the gap between science, policy, and community. It’s a career built on curiosity, persistence, and purpose—a journey that started with a boy tinkering with toy motors beside the cold Atlantic and grew into a global mission to protect the oceans that shaped him.
Shikha Negi is a Content Writer at ztudium with expertise in writing and proofreading content. Having created more than 500 articles encompassing a diverse range of educational topics, from breaking news to in-depth analysis and long-form content, Shikha has a deep understanding of emerging trends in business, technology (including AI, blockchain, and the metaverse), and societal shifts, As the author at Sarvgyan News, Shikha has demonstrated expertise in crafting engaging and informative content tailored for various audiences, including students, educators, and professionals.
