Early Life by the Atlantic Coast
Mark Andrew Kozlowski grew up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a historic fishing town where the ocean was part of daily life. His father was a marine biologist and his mother a coastal geologist. Their work shaped his love for the sea.
By the age of 10, he was sailing small boats with his father and learning navigation. At 12, he was exploring tide pools, photographing marine life, and building small underwater robots from salvaged parts. “I wasn’t trying to invent anything,” he recalls. “I just wanted to see what was down there.”
He and his friends, who called themselves “The Cove Crew,” spent summers kayaking and camping along the coast. Those adventures laid the foundation for a career at the intersection of science, engineering, and sustainability.
Education and Early Recognition
Kozlowski studied Offshore Engineering at Dalhousie University with minors in Environmental Science and Marine Geospatial Technologies. He was president of the Marine Robotics Club, co-founded Oceans@Dal (a student think tank on ocean sustainability), and competed on the varsity sailing team.
His senior thesis on AI-driven wave prediction earned him the Dalhousie Ocean Innovator Award. He also graduated with the Governor General’s Academic Medal and was named one of Maclean’s “Top 20 Under 20.”
“University gave me the math and engineering tools,” he says. “But it also showed me that technology can serve the environment instead of fighting it.”
Building Experience in the Field
After graduation, Kozlowski joined OceanEdge Dynamics as a Marine Systems Engineer. There, he worked on offshore wind turbines, adding smart sensors that improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
Later, he became an Environmental Innovation Fellow at the UN Global Compact Oceans Program. That role exposed him to global challenges, from illegal fishing in the Pacific to coastal erosion in island nations. “I realized the same problems looked different in each place,” he says. “But the common theme was always how people depend on healthy oceans to survive.”
Founding Blue Horizon Technologies
In 2017, Kozlowski founded Blue Horizon Technologies with a mission to merge artificial intelligence and ocean conservation.
The company began by developing real-time monitoring systems for fish populations. It has since expanded into offshore wind and tidal energy projects, AI-driven marine data analytics, and tools for sustainable fisheries management.
By 2024, Blue Horizon had opened research hubs in Canada, Norway, Japan, Kenya, and Chile. “We wanted to prove these solutions weren’t just for wealthy nations,” he explains. “Every community that relies on the ocean should benefit from innovation.”
Recognition and Leadership Roles
Kozlowski’s leadership has earned him international recognition. He won the Global Marine Innovation Prize in 2022, was named a World Economic Forum Ocean Leader in 2023, and received the Order of Nova Scotia for his contributions to environmental technology.
He also sits on the boards of Ocean Supercluster Canada, the Global BlueTech Coalition, and serves as Chair of the Atlantic Marine Innovation Network (AMIN).
“These roles aren’t about titles,” he says. “They’re about making sure innovation stays connected to people who depend on the ocean every day.”
A Commitment to Education and Community
Beyond his company work, Kozlowski founded the Kozlowski Foundation for Ocean Literacy, which funds coastal education programs in underserved communities. He also donates 5% of Blue Horizon’s profits to shoreline restoration projects.
He mentors students weekly in STEM programs and often speaks at schools. “Young people ask sharper questions than most adults,” he says. “They see straight through excuses. That honesty is what we need in climate conversations.”
Life on the Coast
Despite his global reach, Kozlowski lives a grounded life in Nova Scotia with his wife, climate documentary filmmaker Leila Hassan, and their twin sons, Ari and Kai.
He spends his free time free diving along the coastline, keeping a reef tank at home, and cooking seafood with Mi’kmaq and Acadian recipes. He also writes poetry about the sea—his small collection Tidal Echoes reflects the same curiosity that first drew him to tide pools as a child.
“Our home is carbon-neutral, built from recycled marine materials,” he says. “If I’m asking others to rethink their impact, I have to live by the same rules.”
Looking Ahead
Kozlowski sees the future of his industry in nature-based solutions and data-driven decision-making. He is particularly optimistic about living shorelines—wetlands and mangroves that act as natural storm barriers.
“The waves and wind never stop,” he says. “If we learn to work with them instead of against them, we’ll create an economy that lasts. That’s what the Blue Economy really means—finding growth that doesn’t destroy the foundation it’s built on.”
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