An interview with the ceo of evotix

We're thrilled to welcome Evotix as a key supporter for our ocean rowing expedition from Peru to Australia. Specialising in Environmental, Health, Safety, and Sustainability (EHS&S) solutions, Evotix offers a comprehensive suite of software and services to create safer, smarter, and more sustainable workplaces. With Evotix by our side, we're confident that we have the tools and support we need to succeed.

As we embark on our journey across the Pacific Ocean, safety and sustainability are top priorities for us. That's why we're proud to work with Evoitix. Their expertise will not only ensure our safety throughout the expedition but also align with our mission to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability.

We spoke to Matthew Elson, CEO of Evotix, about the partnership and here’s what he had to say:

What inspired your company to partner with Seas the Day Ocean Rowing Team? (Was there a specific reason behind this decision? What aspects of our rowing expedition appealed to your company?)

There is a great alignment between Evotix and Seas the Day on a number of fronts. First, we share a passion for helping young people to fulfill their potential.  Seas the Day will obviously be a difficult expedition for the young crew. Both organisations are also corporate sponsors of Outward Bound. 

For Evotix, this is a natural extension from health and safety to mental health and wellbeing. The culture at Evotix is very strong and support of Seas the Day has the potential to provide an extra spark and focal point – the opportunity to gain inspiration from a very difficult expedition and use it to overcome more common challenges. Finally, of course, we are able to offer practical support in assessing and, as far as possible, managing the risks that the expedition faces.

When you first heard about the ocean rowing team's upcoming endeavors, what intrigued you the most?

There are so many things that are unique/represent a “first'' in this expedition.  Traversing the Pacific is of course a much bigger challenge than the Atlantic.  It is unusual to have a crew of three. And, of course, the fact that it is a female crew. The challenge is not only physical but also mental and logistical. I had some understanding from reading the account in Ben Fogle and James Cracknell’s book, “The Crossing. Conquering the Atlantic in the World’s Toughest Rowing Race,” but this expedition is of a different magnitude.

Were there any specific moments or qualities about our team that sealed the deal for you?
Lottie’s infectious enthusiasm and great storytelling.

We'd love to hear about the values your company holds dear and how they resonate with the goals of the ocean rowing team.
A number of our values seem a great fit:
Willing to Contend: we have honed our skills at bringing a rich diversity of experiences to bear on a problem and finding a strong solution.  The team will certainly need to learn how to contend and reach agreement without causing lasting discord while enclosed in a small boat in a stressful situation over a period of many months!
We’re Unconventional: at Evotix we are a challenger brand in some of our markets.  We are not bound by convention – the world of work is changing fast and we will do what is right for us and not “what the book says”.  The Seas the Day team certainly embraces this philosophy: there is nothing conventional about saying “I know, let’s row across the Pacific Ocean”!
A Bright Outlook: we bring passion and energy to what we do, owning and solving problems, amplifying what works and not obsessing about what is wrong.  The crew will need to nurture these qualities in order to sustain their effort and deal with the inevitable setbacks.

What makes this partnership more than just a sponsorship, but a meeting of minds and missions?
It’s early days, but I hope that our people will derive inspiration from the expedition and that the women will benefit in turn from our professional expertise around analysing risk and developing management plans.

What aspects of our journey are you most excited for or want to highlight?
I love the scale of the ambition.  Is it risky?  Yes, of course it is.  But this is a good safety story.  Good safety is at the heart of operations.  At Evotix, we don’t succumb to the disingenuous statement that “safety is our number one priority”.  If that were true, nobody would ever do anything.  Organisations exist to fulfill a purpose.  It is much better to say “safe operations is our number one priority”.  So in this case, “a safe crossing of the Pacific is our number one priority”.  Let’s understand the risks.  Let’s plan for them carefully.  But let’s know that we can’t eliminate them if the crew is to seize this opportunity.

Would you ever row an ocean?
I’ve rowed quite a bit.  I know how physical rowing is – how when racing you can push yourself to the max, perhaps beyond any other sport.  I now enjoy competitive triathlons.  But I can’t imagine the scale and duration of this challenge, either physically or mentally.  So, no, rowing an ocean would not be for me!

What would your luxury item be if you were to row an ocean?
An espresso machine😊