The legal expert who became the Baltic Sea’s best friend – Heike Imhoff awarded the Baltic Sea Award

As a lawyer and diplomat, she has played a crucial role. Heike Imhoff is awarded the Baltic Sea Award 2025 for her long-standing commitment to the Baltic Sea environment.

At the German HELCOM* delegation and the German Ministry for the Environment, Heike Imhoff has combined legal expertise with diplomacy and a fine sense of judgment. Step by step, she has become a central figure in building relations between governments, organizations, and sectors.

Bridge-builder Heike Imhoff has guided conflicting views towards trust-based compromises – leading to concrete progress for the marine environment. Her innovative work on marine protected areas, stricter emission rules, ambitious targets to reduce eutrophication, and placing marine litter on the agenda has cemented her decisive importance for the Baltic Sea.

– Heike Imhoff is a role model in international environmental cooperation. Her perseverance and ability to build bridges have led to results that truly make a difference for the future of the Baltic Sea,” says Sara Arons, Managing Director of the Baltic Sea Foundation.

The Baltic Sea Award is the Baltic Sea Foundation’s most prestigious award and is presented annually to a person or organization that has made significant contributions to the Baltic Sea environment. The award consists of EUR 20,000 and will be presented in Åland on 26 September.

*HELCOM – the Helsinki Commission – was established in 1974 for intergovernmental cooperation on Baltic Sea environmental policy. The member states have jointly signed the Helsinki Convention, committing to reduce pollution from land, shipping, incineration, dumping, and seabed exploitation. The convention also addresses the environmental impacts of fisheries in the Baltic Sea as well as the protection and conservation of biodiversity in the sea and along its coasts.

Award motivation
Heike Imhoff (Germany) is awarded the Baltic Sea Award for her longstanding and significant work to protect the Baltic Sea environment. For nearly three decades, she has been a key figure in international cooperation, where her legal expertise, diplomatic skills, and deep commitment have driven environmental solutions throughout the Baltic Sea region. Through her inclusive and knowledgeable approach, she has earned respect and trust – qualities that have been crucial in international negotiations. Heike Imhoff has played a central role in establishing marine protected areas, implementing stricter regulations on emissions from shipping and agriculture, and bringing issues such as marine litter and eutrophication to the forefront. Her ability to build bridges between governments, organizations, and sectors has contributed to agreements that combine high environmental ambitions with realistic solutions. Heike Imhoff’s efforts have been of great importance for the future of the Baltic Sea.

Contact
Heike Imhoff, award winner +49 172 202 7024, Heike.Imhoff@bmukn.bund.de
Sara Arons, Managing Director Östersjöfonden +358 457 345 9889,  sara.arons@ostersjofonden.org

Material
Film about Heike Imhoff  (Available subtitles: Swedish and English)