Steve Bender
RCAT Director-Charter President, Rotary Club of Newport Beach, Chairman-United States Green Chamber of Commerce
Steven Bender is a global sustainability leader and strategic advisor with decades of experience turning environmental goals into practical, measurable impact across business, government, and civil society.
Steve serves as CEO of Sea 2 Sky Solutions, an international consulting firm that helps organizations across six continents develop sustainability strategies, partnerships, and growth plans. With offices and partners in Newport Beach, Dallas, Mexico, Finland, and Panama, the firm supports projects spanning climate action, ocean conservation, green infrastructure, and community development. Key initiatives include EarthX, the 7 Seas Initiative, Oceans Week Mexico, sustainable and traceable seafood programs, and The Rotary Reef Project—an ocean restoration effort focused on resilience for island nations and coastal communities.
He is also CEO of The 7 Seas Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, and head of Newport Homes, where he leads work in green building, affordable housing, and sustainable design. Steve additionally serves as Global Head of Strategic Partnerships at EarthX, and as founder of The Environmental Xperience, a new global sustainability event series.
Steve serves as Chairman of the Board of the United States Green Chamber of Commerce and is a founding director of both the U.S. and California Green Chambers. Known for bridging business, government, and nonprofit leadership around shared sustainability goals, he has built a reputation for making sustainability work for business.
His civic and conservation leadership is extensive. As President of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach, The Rotary Global Service Club, and Director of the Environmental and Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) for Western North America, he supports environmental projects across more than 1,700 Rotary clubs and serves as a Director on the Rotary Climate Action Team. He is a former President of the Newport Bay Conservancy, where he helped protect and restore one of Southern California’s most vital coastal ecosystems.
Steve is the founder of Rebuild Ukraine Green, an initiative working with international partners on post-conflict recovery. In collaboration with Rotary, this work includes funding landmine removal from agricultural regions and supporting a prosthetic hand program to help civilians injured by the conflict regain mobility and independence.
He also serves as CEO-President of AYUDA International, advancing projects that integrate environmental protection, health, and community development across post-conflict and underserved regions,including The Panama Project.
A certified Master Diver with a lifelong passion for the ocean, Steve brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to everything he does. He is a frequent speaker and trusted partner to businesses, governments, NGOs, and international organizations worldwide.