Hugo previously led the ocean campaigning charity Surfers Against Sewage, taking action from the beachfront to the front benches of Parliament, securing government legislation to protect our seas across four environmental pillars – plastic pollution, water quality, climate change and rewilding our ocean. Hugo founded the Plastic Free Communities movement, the Million Mile Beach Clean & the Plastic Free Awards. He is also a founding member of the Global Wave Conference.

He is part of the Edinburgh University Ocean Leaders programme and was recently awarded a Doctorate of Science by Exeter University for his services to the marine environment. He was recognised as Environmentalist of the Year 2021 by the Save the Waves coalition.