Richard Delaney has over 35 years of experience with the development and implementation of integrated coastal and ocean management plans and policies at all levels of government in the US and other countries. Formerly President and CEO of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA for 14 years, he was also the founding Director of the Urban Harbors Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston where he provided leadership for the creation of the first Marine Spatial Plan in the US, among other things. He has served as the National Chair of the Coastal States Organization in Washington DC representing the views of the 35 coastal states, Great Lake states and US territories and their Governors on legislative and budgetary matters before Congress. Mr. Delaney has served on the Board of Directors of the Global Ocean Forum (GOF) since 2002. He has a BS in Political Science from Harvard, has completed graduate studies in environmental planning and landscape architecture at the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry and completed a Certificate Program for Senior Executives at JFK School of Government.

Peter Thomson is a Fijian diplomat who is currently serving as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean – the first person to be appointed to this position. He held the office of President of the General Assembly of the United Nations from September 2016 until September 2017. He was Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the UN from February 2010 to September 2016.

Thomson was elected President of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority’s 2011 session and then as President of the Authority’s Council for its 2015 session. In 2013, he chaired the Group of 77 and China at the United Nations on Fiji’s behalf and served as President of the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS from 2014 to 2015.

As a Government of Fiji civil servant, he devoted many years of his life to working in the fields of rural development and then foreign affairs. He gained a BA in Political Science from Auckland University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge, England.

Janine Felson is an Ambassador of Belize and a senior advisor to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on climate and ocean matters. For more than two decades, she has been a leading voice for small island developing states (SIDS) in key negotiations including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and the intergovernmental conference for a new high seas treaty on marine biological diversity, with the aim of tailoring global policy to the specific needs and circumstances of SIDS. Janine is concurrently completing a fellowship with Melbourne Climate Futures at the University of Melbourne-Australia where she is focused on integrated approaches to global policy on climate, oceans, and sustainable development.

Duncan Currie advises the High Seas Alliance on international law and policy matters. Duncan is a practicing international and environmental lawyer. He holds an LL.B. (Hons.) from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and LL.M. from the University of Toronto in Canada. He has practiced international law and environmental law for over thirty years. His work is now focused on oceans issues. Duncan has attended every BBNJ meeting since 2006 and he attends fisheries meetings – particularly the South Pacific RFMO (SPRFMO) and Southern Indian Ocean RFMO (SIOFA) from their formation – focused on protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems from bottom fishing. He also has attended the International Seabed Authority sessions since 2012. 

Danielle YEOW leads on climate change law and policy issues at the CIL. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, where she teaches a course on Environmental and Sustainability Management – Law, Governance and Practice. Danielle’s experience spans across a range of public international law issues including trade and investment, law of the sea, environment and climate change, and international security. She is a member of the International Law Association Business and Human Rights Committee and previously served on the Implementation and Compliance Committee established under the Paris Agreement to promote compliance and facilitate the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Danielle is a Senior Advisor with DGA- Albright Stonebridge Group and a Consultant with KGP Legal (member of Inter-Asia Law Group).

Johanna Diwa-Acallar is the Deputy Global Coordinator of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICO) Capacity Development programme. She has experience in international development cooperation spanning almost two decades and currently manages the IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development (GE-CD) behind important IOC initiatives such as the new IOC Capacity Development Strategy 2023-2030, the Ocean Capacity Development Hub (oceancd.org), and IOC Ocean Training Internships. Johanna has professional and academic background in issues related to the United Nations sustainable development agenda, having worked in various UN think-tank and research agencies such as the United Nations University (UNU), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), including as a Regional Manager for Capacity Development programme under a UNDP/GEF regional ocean governance project. 

Mr. Cordano is a Chilean diplomat, currently serving as Counselor in the Mission of Chile to the United Nations in New York. He was head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile between 2012–2021. He served as head of Chile’s negotiating team at COP28 and director of Environment, Climate Change and Oceans of the Foreign Ministry. Mr. Cordano holds a BA in History from the University of Chile and graduated from the Diplomatic Academy of Chile. He also holds a Master of Public Management from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

Loreley Picourt is the Executive Director of the Ocean & Climate Platform. As a strong advocate for multilateral cooperation, she works for a better integration of the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus in decision-making at the national and international levels. At the UNFCCC, she is co-focal point for Ocean and Coastal Zones for the Marrakech Partnership-Global Climate Action Agenda, and also part of the Specialized Group of Ocean Experts of the Nairobi Work Programme on adaptation.

Loreley holds an MSc in Environmental Policy from the London School of Economics and a BSc in Environmental Economics & Management from the University of York (UK).

Anna-Marie is the Senior Director of Climate Policy at Ocean Conservancy. She was previously at Rare, an international conservation and development non-profit, as the Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships. At Rare she managed a global network of policy staff, advanced fisheries policy in multiple countries, and advised executive leadership on ocean and climate policy. Prior to Rare, Anna-Marie was the Ocean and Coastal Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, where she worked closely with many stakeholders to advance U.S. domestic ocean policy priorities. She was a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow in 2010, has a Coastal Environmental Management degree from Duke University and received a BSc in Marine Science from University of South Carolina.

Thecla Keizer is the Deputy Head of the International Office at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, a co-founder of the first Virtual Ocean Pavilion at a COP and with her organization a partner in the first Ocean Pavilion in the Blue zone at COP27. Thecla has been attending the UNFCCC COPs since 2009 where, with her colleague Dr Carol Turley, she pioneered the realization of an international ocean acidification partnership presence. Closer to home she sits on the UK Marine Science and Coordination Committee International Working Group assessing UK marine science engagement with international initiatives. 

Catie Mitchell is a dedicated advocate for marine conservation. She holds a B.A. in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology from Vanderbilt University and an M.Sc. in Marine Biological Resources from Ghent University through the IMBRSea Erasmus Program. Following the completion of her studies, Catie worked in marine education and facilitated marine monitoring programs through positions at the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Clean Ocean Action. She joined the Global Ocean Forum in 2023 and is focused on addressing the multitude of challenges facing Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) through the Common Oceans Cross-sectoral Program.

Viktoria Varga Lencses brings over 20 years of experience in international fisheries, environmental policy and programme management. Since 2022, she has served as Senior Fishery Officer at the FAO in Rome, leading the GEF-funded global initiative Common Oceans Program to promote sustainable use of marine resources and biodiversity conservation. Prior to FAO, she was a Policy Coordinator at the European Commission, where she played a key role in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement fisheries negotiations and managed EU funding programs for the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic regions. Her career includes policy development and coordination roles in cross-border cooperation, energy policy and regional development.

Dr. Niels Krabbe is a researcher in the law of the sea and policy adviser, particularly interested in ocean governance, focusing on the intersection of biodiversity and climate regulation. His written production includes research on the regulatory implications of promoting ocean carbon and the recently published Hart anthology Marine Bioprospecting, Biodiversity and Novel Uses of Ocean Resources New Approaches in International Law. Apart from his research and regular lecturing, he has extensive experience from working with law of the sea policy. As deputy director with the Department for International Law at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden he was lead on oceans negotiations during Sweden’s EU Presidency in 2023 and led the EU council during the final negotiations of the new UN oceans agreement (BBNJ). He has been co-chair of the EU working party on the law of the sea (COMAR) and has been commissioned as expert in BBNJ ratification processes by several states.

Dr. Rachel Tiller is a Chief Scientist at SINTEF Ocean with special responsibility for research on sustainable multi-level Ocean governance and global environmental politics. She is also the Director of the strategic research area of Biodiversity and Area Use in SINTEF. Her expertise is in inter -and transdisciplinary global environmental politics from the high seas to land-sea interactions in coastal regions at all levels of governance analysis, from local stakeholder participatory perceptions to global governance frameworks and agreements – and synergies and compatibilities of these with one another. She has worked on the biological carbon pump from an interdisciplinary, multi-level governance and stakeholder co-production of knowledge perspective in two EU projects – the FP7 project Ocean Certain (2013-2017) and the Horizon2020 project SUMMER (2019-2024). 

Dr. Emma Cavan is a Senior Lecturer in ocean biogeochemistry and ecology at Imperial College London. She has spent over 10 years researching how carbon is sequestered through the biological pump, and how human pressures work to impact this carbon sink. She is part of many UK and internationally funded projects on all aspects of the biological pump, but has a particular interest in the Southern Ocean, Antarctic krill and fishing. Emma co-chairs the ICES working group WKFISHCARBON, bringing together international experts to address the impact of fishing on the biological pump.

Mr. Fuad Bateh consults for a variety of organizations and institutions working in development, law and negotiations related to environment and natural resources. On behalf of the State of Palestine as 2019 Chair of the Group of 77 & China, he coordinated the positions of the Group and led negotiations at the Intergovernmental Conference to elaborate an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction under the UNCLOS framework (BBNJ). Support to the State of Palestine continued throughout the BBNJ intergovernmental negotiations process expanding to also respond to a request from Pakistan to join the 2022 G77&China Chair ́s BBNJ team in coordination and negotiation of the group ́s positions. Previously, Mr. Bateh served as the Water Governance and Infrastructure Advisor to the Office of the Quartet (Jerusalem); Advisor on Environment and Water to the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat; Advisor to the Palestinian Minister of Water working on water sector development and reform, as well as resource mobilization; Legal Advisor to the Palestinian Chief Negotiator and negotiations team; and also legal consultant for the International and Environmental Law unit of the World Bank. He started his legal career in the area of project finance in Washington, DC.

Ms. Karen Stone is the Director of the Vava'u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) in Tonga. She is a local community-based conservation organization that implements ocean and terrestrial programs to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change and habitat destruction including community based fisheries, marine spatial planning, awareness campaigns and research initiatives to ensure healthy and productive ocean habitats.

Dr. Natalya Gallo is a marine ecologist and biological oceanographer working at the Norwegian Research Centre as part of the Horizon EU OceanICU and Marco-Bolo projects. Her overarching interests are in how climate change impacts deep sea ecosystems and how scientific research can support sustainable ocean management and development. She is passionate about the science-policy interface and has participated in eight climate- and ocean-focused United Nations Conferences. She is involved in the Early Career Ocean Professionals group of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the IOC-UNESCO Global Ocean Oxygen Network, and the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative. She is also on the advisory council for the Norway-Pacific Ocean-Climate Scholarship Programme, an interdisciplinary PhD programme between the University of Bergen and the University of the South Pacific. 

Dr. Richard Sanders is the Director of the ICOS Ocean Thematic Centre in Bergen Norway, a key component of the ICOS research infrastructure. Prior to his move to Bergen in 2019 he was the chair of the Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems Research group in NOC Southampton. He is the coordinator of the Horizon Europe project Ocean ICU, focused on understanding Industrial impacts on the ocean C cycle and TRICUSO (Three Research Infrastructures, Carbon Uptake Southern Ocean) which aims to integrate effort from multiple platforms together to better measure ocean c uptake in the Southern Ocean.

Dr. Jack Dyer as a specialist on climate change and development and blue/ocean economist, has over 10 years global/African consultancy, lecturing and entrepreneurship experience with a BSC Hons in Economics from the University of Kent, a Master of Commerce (Maritime Economics/Law) and PhD in climate change impact on the future of Pacific and global blue economies/marine resources, ecosystems, communities and individuals. His climate change, circular green and blue economy experience ranges from cruise and marine tourism to education, MSP, marine protected areas, natural disasters business, drones, ship repair, finance and psychology space economy, maritime law, ocean governance, logistics. sustainable, climate change, environment, green and blue economy experience extends to the legal, laws, policies, socioeconomic, events and latest technological/knowledge updates with work experience in a variety of ocean/blue economy areas. 

Chien Chih Chen (Danny), Optivide, is a CFA charter holder with ISO 14068 and was a sustainability consultant at a B corporation before. He is also the ReFi talent program cohort 2 mentor, EN ROADS climate ambassador, and a freelance carbon credit advisor who has supported ARR pre-feasibility studies from a carbon finance perspective and carbon credit insurance market intelligence, which few industry professionals are aware of. Apart from that, he has been several climate community ambassadors, leaders, and members, such as Ocean Community, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and Force of Nature

Kirsty has lots of relevant experience around climate with the UN, UK Government and the NGO sector, as well as blue carbon and blue finance in her current role as Head of Product Innovation at Climate Impact Partners. Heading up the partnerships team at Climate Impact Partners I build connections and partnerships to help organisations meet their climate and net zero commitments. Working for the United Nations on pivotal environmental conferences (Paris negotiations and Rio+20), the UK Government (in then newly established Department of Energy and Climate Change), Charitable Foundations (CIFF and Synchronicity Earth), and NGOs (ClientEarth, WWF), she brings a unique repertoire of skills ranging from team leadership, strategy development and execution, network building and collaboration, and creative and innovative thinking that all contribute to her knowledge and understanding of how to solve our environmental challenges through systemic change.

Indumathie Hewawasam is President of Sustainable Oceans and Coasts LLC, a non-governmental agency with a mission of building capacity in developing countries to govern ocean and coastal resources in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. She was formerly a Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank with 22 years of experience designing and managing projects in partnership with public, private and community representatives. Her post-World Bank experience of almost 10 years, included a position in The Nature Conservancy as Senior Marine Adviser working on the Coral Triangle Initiative in East Asia and the Pacific. As President of her company, she carries out consulting work for the World Bank and voluntary work for civil society organizations in Sri Lanka and the government of Zanzibar in Tanzania. She holds a doctoral degree in Marine Policy and is based in Washington, DC, USA

Leading the Marine Conservation Society’s work on natural capital, blue finance and the sustainable blue economy. The work seeks to highlight what governments and the finance sector can achieve through ocean recovery. This includes economic growth, financial resilience and job creation delivered by a sustainable blue economy built on healthy marine ecosystems. I have chaired the UK Blue Carbon Forum Policy and Markets group and currently co-host a podcast series gathering expert insights into all aspects of blue finance and the blue economy. Prior to this work, I had a career trading energy futures in Scandinavia before retraining in marine ecology.

Dr. Aaron Carlisle’s research focuses on how the abiotic and biotic environment and organismal biology interact to influence the behavior, distribution and ecology of species, and how these interactions impact their population dynamics, life history strategies, and ecosystem roles. He uses a variety of approaches and technologies, such as stable isotope analysis and biologging, combined in new ways to provide unique insights into improved management and conservation practices.

Dr. Oliver’s research focuses on biological oceanography and biogeography, working to pinpoint where ocean organisms live, their populations and factors that influence their distributions. Dr. Oliver uses remote sensing tools such as satellite imaging and submersible remotely operated vehicles and robots to track the impact of climate change on sea temperatures and ocean processes.

Dr. Serena Hackerott’s research combines marine ecology and molecular biology for the improved understanding and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. Her recent work focuses on identifying the mechanisms underpinning coral resilience, particularly within restoration. As a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Mark Warner’s lab, Dr. Hackerott is studying photobiology within coral symbiosis to support the development of an accessible bio-optical tool for predicting stress tolerance in corals. 

Dr. Kimberly Oremus researches marine policies for a changing environment. Her research focuses on fishery management and policy, plastic pollution, and the impacts of climate change on marine economies. 

Dr. Matt Frost is a senior leader with over 20 years’ experience in the charity and research sector and heads up the International work at PML. Matt works extensively on international matters specialising in networking and science diplomacy and sits on a number of international and national committees. Examples include: the UK National Decade Committee and the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (the UKs primary marine climate advice body), as well as the MCCIP Overseas Working Group. Matt led work with the UK Overseas Territory governments to produce the first-ever climate assessment across all the UK Overseas Territories. Matt also chairs and also led on the establishment of the World Association of Marine Stations (WAMS), working with global partners to bring together marine station directors (with UN IOC-Unesco) in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. Matt has worked on many marine issues including climate change and biodiversity with a wide range of stakeholders across different countries and cultures including international bodies such as the United Nations, embassies, global secretariats (e.g. the Commonwealth), G7, investors and Global NGOs.

Matt has previously worked for the civil service, as a lecturer at the University of Plymouth and for 20 years was Deputy Director of the Marine Biological Association and Head of Policy and Engagement. Matt originally graduated with a 1st class degree in marine biology before completing a PhD programme looking at large-scale patterns in sandy beach macrofauna.

Filimon was appointed as the Pacific Ocean Commissioner by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders on February 24, 2023. Prior to this role, Filimon served as the Deputy Secretary General at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for three years commencing May 20, 2020. From December 2018 to May 2020, he served as the International Legal Adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. In this role he provided legal support to Members on key regional priority issues such as ocean governance, the impact of climate change, and nuclear testing legacy issues, to name a few. Filimon also served three years as Legal Advisor, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 2013 to 2016. 

Before venturing out to the region, Filimon served as the Attorney General for the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands from 2009 to 2013, and then again from 2016 to 2018.   

Filimon holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Papua New Guinea, a Master’s Degree in international Maritime Law from the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) located at the University of Malta, and a Ph.D. degree from the Australian National Centre for Oceans Resources and Security (ANCORS) at the University of Wollongong in NSW, Australia.

Margaret Leinen was appointed the eleventh Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego in July 2013. She also serves as UC San Diego’s Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences and Dean of the School of Marine Sciences. She joined UC San Diego in October 2013.

Leinen is an award-winning oceanographer and distinguished national and international leader in ocean science, global climate and environmental issues. Her research in paleo-oceanography and paleo-climatology focuses on ocean sediments and their relationship to global biogeochemical cycles and the history of Earth’s ocean and climate.

Leinen received her doctorate in oceanography from the University of Rhode Island (1980), her master’s degree in geological oceanography from Oregon State University (1975), and her bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Illinois (1969).

Dominic Pattinson is the Executive Secretary of the OSPAR Commission. He was appointed in June 2020. His role is to support OSPAR’s16 Contracting Parties to implement the OSPAR Convention for the protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. Prior to joining OSPAR, he worked for the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on domestic and international policy development and implementation. For the last eight years of his career with Defra he implemented marine environment policies at a national, European, and international level. This included development of the UK’s Marine Strategy, marine litter policies, and 30by30 initiatives.

Katherine Arroyo Arce, the Executive Director at MarViva Foundation, is an ocean governance expert and environmental lawyer with postgraduate studies in climate change, international affairs, and international law. She holds an MSc in Marine Systems and Policies from the University of Edinburgh. She has over 15 years of experience in the environmental sector, supporting local communities, environmental authorities, private sector, and NGOs in the promotion of sound environmental governance, including addressing the effectiveness of access rights (public participation, access to information and environmental justice), promoting Paris Agreement-related commitments, and ocean policies and regulations. She was formerly a sustainable development negotiator at the Ministry of Foreign Trade in Costa Rica, and current member of the Ombudsman Environmental Advisory Committee. She started her career at MarViva in 2019 as Policy Advocacy Manager.

Julian Barbière is head of the Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. Educated as an environmental scientist, he has approximately 25 years of experience at the international level in the field of ocean sustainability, ocean governance, science/policy interface, and the development of technical cooperation in the field of ocean science. Playing a critical role in the development of several UN initiatives such as the preparation phase of the World Ocean Assessment, the technical framework leading to SDG14, or a global initiative in marine spatial planning that has inspired many nations to move towards ecosystem-based management approaches. Since 2017, he has been spearheading the development and coordination of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), also acting as the Decade Global Coordinator.

Andrew has a truly international background in the maritime industry, working as Chief Operating Officer for leading companies such as Wilhelmsen Ships Service and Wallem Group before joining the Sustainable Shipping Initiative as Executive Director in August 2018, and returning as CEO in June 2024.

In his time at SSI, Andrew has overseen an expanded work programme that looks to address systemic sustainability issues in shipping, from seafarers’ rights to sustainability criteria for marine fuels to the role of circular economy principles in shipping. He has also overseen a period of increased diversity in SSI membership, including the Port of Vancouver becoming the first port member (November 2022), and the addition of human rights expertise through NGO member the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) (January 2022).

In his role as CEO, Andrew regularly represents SSI at events and works to raise widespread awareness of the need for a systemic sustainability transition for the shipping sector. This has included speaking at COP, the Our Ocean Conference, London International Shipping Week, among others. He is based in the UK.

Mary S. Wisz is Professor of Marine Science at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden, where she leads a cross-disciplinary research team to understand and inform the management of the impacts of human activities (including shipping) on planetary health. The team has a particular focus on biodiversity, ocean carbon, and area based management tools such as marine protected areas and marine spatial planning. She currently leads WMUs work to identify opportunities for the shipping sector to address biodiversity loss and pollution as the sector decarbonizes. At WMU she has taught over 1000 early-mid career maritime professionals and diplomats, mostly from the Global South, on managing the impacts of maritime activities on marine ecosystems, and the use of holistic approaches for area based management.

Ida-Maja Hassellöv is Professor in Maritime Environmental Science at Chalmers University of Technology. Hassellöv has a broad research engagement within assessment of anthropogenic impact on the marine environment in general, and particularly impact from shipping. Since 2007 she applies her natural scientific background, (PhD) specializing in marine chemistry and biology, on different aspects of environmental impact from ships ranging from ecotoxicological effects of sea water scrubbing and turbulent mixing in ship wakes to risk assessment of polluting shipwrecks. Hassellöv is coordinating author of the Chapter on shipping in World Ocean Assessment III.

As Head of Science Conservation and Management at the International Whaling Commission, Iain Staniland oversees the work of both the IWC Scientific and Conservation Committees.  These Committees deal with a diverse range of issues but focus on the assessment of cetacean populations in terms of their abundance, status and mitigating the threats they face. This work allows the IWC to fulfil its mandate as the international body responsible for the management and conservation of cetaceans. However, because many of the threats facing these populations are outside the authority of the IWC a great deal of our work is collaborative with other IGOs, Governments, NGOs and other stakeholders.

Prior to joining the IWC he worked for the British Antarctic survey for over 24 years as an Antarctic wildlife ecologist with expertise in seals, cetaceans and penguins. During this time he participated in over 10 Antarctic field campaigns including a two and a half year stay at Bird Island research station on South Georgia.

Michelle was appointed as Canada’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO in August 2022 and in this capacity has played a lead role in the negotiations on the IMO GHG Strategy  Prior to this, she was the lead Director at Transport Canada responsible for addressing the impact of shipping on the marine environment, including advancing Canada’s efforts to reduce underwater noise from shipping, both domestically and internationally. She has held various positions within the Canadian government focusing on matters of environmental law and policy, including species at risk, oil spill response, environmental enforcement, and environmental assessments. She is the founding editor-in-chief and an Advisory Board member of the McGill International Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy and holds a Master’s in Law in Global Sustainability and Environmental Law from the University of Ottawa.

Joseph Appiott is the coordinator of the marine, coastal and islands biodiversity programmes of work at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). At the CBD Secretariat, Joseph works with governments, international organizations and other stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the Convention and the achievement of global goals for biodiversity. This work includes facilitating the description and mapping of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), coordinating capacity building activities, and synthesizing scientific and technical advice related to pressures on marine biodiversity (e.g., underwater noise, marine debris) and planning/management tools (e.g., marine spatial planning, area-based management). Joseph’s work also includes coordination with, and input to, other UN agencies and multilateral processes with regards to issues related to marine and coastal biodiversity. Joseph has a Ph.D. and M.S. in Marine Policy from the University of Delaware, and a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Miami.

Since 2017, Mr. Camille Bourgeon has been working in the Marine Environment Division of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). He is in charge of the regulatory development & policy coordination unit / Climate action and clean air section. In the IMO Secretariat, Camille supports and facilitates intergovernmental negotiations in developing global regulatory frameworks and policies for international shipping, focusing on clean air and climate change issues (MARPOL Annex VI).

As VP of International Affairs Lisa focused much of her work in the areas of international shipping regulations successfully leading the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) to receive provisional status at the International Marine Organization (IMO) where Inuit are the first Indigenous People.
In Lisa’s current role as President of ICC Canada, she also serves as Vice-Chair of ICC International. In this international role, she promotes collaboration with the other three ICC offices in Greenland, Alaska, and Chukotka. Greenland currently holds the position of ICC International Chair. She works for Inuit interests in self-determination advocating Inuit political and economic autonomy, social justice (particularly through Inuit law), and protection of the environment, culture and language.

Melanie Lancaster is Senior Specialist, Arctic species, for World Wildlife Fund’s Arctic Programme and a member of the leadership team of the Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative.
Melanie works with WWF offices around the Arctic to implement conservation of Arctic species, including polar bears, walrus, beluga and bowhead whales, narwhals and caribou/reindeer. She is particularly engaged in ensuring these species have the conditions they need to adapt to rapid changes taking place in the Arctic. This includes protecting and connecting their important habitats and safeguarding them from impacts of increased industrial activity such as shipping and associated underwater noise.

Based in Halifax, Canada, Travis has worked on international ocean governance and conservation campaigns for the past several years, particularly focused on protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. He now works with Communications INC on a number of projects and specialises in advocacy communications and designing impactful strategic-driven campaigns. He holds a Masters of Marine Management.

Natalie is an author, researcher and communications advisor. She has extensive experience designing and delivering strategic communications and behavioural change campaigns in complex and hostile environments. Natalie believes in the power of writing and communications to enhance our world and specialises in evidence-based, research led approaches that deliver effective change.

Environmental Awareness professional with several years of laboratory and fieldwork experience, several years of Laboratory Skills experience in Research, aquatic Science, marine ecology, conservation and restoration. Strong Life Sciences, critical analysis, and project management skills. Able to apply a strong scientific background in the development and delivery of Coastal and Marine conservation projects.

Jen is a social science researcher with a background in natural and social sciences. Her work engages participatory methods that invite critical perspectives, place-based narratives, and creative solutions to shared challenges.

A professional storyteller, Monika specializes in turning complex content into compelling messages. She is convinced that the power of a story can change the world.

Juliana Corrales is an ocean advocate with a passion to bring people closer to the ocean. She's directed my personal and professional life to change the way in which people feel and perceive the ocean through targeted communications, design, and real-life ocean interactions.

Fiona Pelham is CEO of not for profit Positive Impact which is powering The Pavilion for People, an initiative so all voices can be heard at events like COP29.

Dr. Bernadette Snow, Senior Marine Social Scientist, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scotland. Bernadette is a senior marine social scientist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. She leads ocean governance research, transdisciplinarity, equitable management and marine spatial planning. Her wide networks and collaborations involve working with UNEP and WWF, tackling regional ocean governance strategies and implementation of MSP in the Western Indian Ocean. She mentors early career researchers in South Africa and the UK.

Eugenia Merayo is a gender consultant for the Common Oceans Cross-sectoral project, supporting gender mainstreaming and the visibilisation of the roles and challenges of women in maritime sectors. Her background is in environmental economics and policy, particularly in the fisheries sector, with experience in the public sector, consultancy, non-for-profit, and academia.

Dr Bolanle Erinosho, is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Derby, UK. Bolanle researches in the areas of ocean laws and governance, human rights law particularly in relation to the oceans and vulnerable groups such as small-scale fisher communities that depend on the ocean. She has worked closely with women small-scale fishers in Ghana on research that supports their access to and participation in law and governance spaces.

Anaïs Deprez leads mobilisation and communication efforts at the Ocean & Climate Platform. With a strong passion for the interconnectedness of ocean, climate, and biodiversity, she is dedicated to amplifying the expertise of the Ocean & Climate Platform’s network. Anaïs works to ensure that this knowledge reaches both policymakers and the public, fostering greater awareness and action on critical environmental issues

Mark Haver is the Founder and Chief Consultant of BlueGreen Generation, a consulting firm for impact campaigns for ocean, climate, and sustainable fashion. Mark has been working with Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) as North America Regional Representative and Global Policy Advisor for almost three years. From 2020 - 2021, Mark was the inaugural Chair of SOA's Youth Policy Advisory Council, where he led the development of the Global Blue New Deal, a youth-led crowdsourced ocean and climate policy framework. He has been leading SOA's delegation and building the youth movement for ocean-climate action at the UNFCCC since COP26 in 2021.

Iwona Gin holds Master’s degrees in business management and administration from Skema Business School, International Relations, Intercultural Cooperation and Applied Linguistics from Universities Lille (France) and Slaski (Poland). Since 2003 she has developed, managed and overseen projects funded by the European Commission (Horizon, Interreg, EMFF): the Youth4Ocean Forum, Mr.Goodfish3.0, Treasure, H2O:Source2Sea, BlueNights, Sumaris, Valgorize, Aqua-Lit learning labs, Marina, Sea4Society and ACCENT participatory workshops, Ocean Info Pack, World Ocean Network, and the Blue Planet Forum. She specialises in stakeholder engagement and participatory approaches to inspire behavioural change for sustainable management of the ocean.

Guillaume Lheureux holds a Master's degree in economics and sociology from Lille University, and is particularly interested in social justice and democratic innovation. A member of Nausicaa's international cooperation team since 2012, he has been involved in several mobilisation and mutual learning projects (Sea for Society, Marina, Aqua-Lit, Ocean Literacy for All) and facilitates the Youth4Ocean Forum commissioned by the DG MARE of the European Commission in 2019. He works with over 400 young people in the development of their ocean related projects in advocacy research, entrepreneurship, education and science communication.

I graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences-Mülkiye Political Science and Public Administration BA in 2017. I completed my MA on Administrative Sciences in 2020. I am currently continuing my academic career as a research assistant at Atılım University, Department of Political Science and Public Administration in 2019.

Currently working as JPI Oceans’ Communication Officer, Lisa has a strong academic background in Marine Biology alongside specialised training in Science Communication and Ocean Literacy. 

I am an interdisciplinary researcher in geography, legal and political sciences. I work on the regulations of human activities in marine protected areas, investigating what uses are allowed or restricted in these spaces, why, and how we agree on these regulations, for example, what decision-making processes, who, and on which discourses.

Dana is a passionate educator and community leader with a background in promoting inclusive education, youth empowerment, and environmental awareness. She is an Ocean Lawyer advising on granting indigenous and bedouin communities of the Middle East Protective Environmental rights on their land and marine ecosystem

Laura is the co-founder of the NGO Guardians of the Blue based in Byblos, Lebanon, and a freelance consultant in blue economy and project management. She works on developing and spreading ocean literacy in Lebanon, leading community-led underwater cleanups, and mitigating the lionfish invasion. She is involved in the ECOP Programme, OLWA and EMSEA.

Biology student. Member of the YOUTH4OCEAN forum and Young Ocean Advocate. Creator of the Instagram account @laviemarine_2.0 .Co-manager of Cleanwalker Corte.

Hello! I'm a Marine Chemistry student at the University of Toulon, researching the great biogeochemical cycles in the oceans. The sea has always fascinated me since I was a kid, and I'm looking forward to sharing that passion, and showing people how important the health of our oceans is for everyone living on this planet. 

Mélinda Martins is an ocean scientist focused on how long-term ocean changes interact with climate dynamics. With an MSc in Marine & Coastal Systems from the University of Algarve, her research addresses ocean-related issues and climate change, supporting preparedness efforts.

Youth4Ocean Advocate - Environmental & International Ocean Policy Communicator 🌍 Policy Communications Lead at Surfrider Foundation Europe. Previously Communications and Outreach Assistant at the Ocean Climate Platform and a Partnership Development Officer for the School of Global Affairs at King's College London. 

Applied Zoology student at Harper Adams University with a passion for marine life. Open Water certified diver and SEALIFE volunteer, committed to ocean conservation and promoting sustainable practices through hands-on experience, research, and study. Aspiring to further contribute to marine conservation efforts on a global scale.

I’m currently a PhD student in Civil Engineering that focuses on hybrid platforms that combine Offshore wind and Aquaculture. My background includes BSc Marine Biology with Oceanography and MSc Offshore Renewable Energy. In addition I am the Bulgarian ambassador for two Marine Conservation organizations, one of which focuses solely on the Black Sea.

Emily Y. Chen grew up in New Jersey, but is now finishing her PhD at the Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences. She is a marine ecologist who uses interdisciplinary approaches to study plankton in the polar regions and how they change with increasing environmental and human pressures.

My name is Thaïs Giguet, I am French, and I am a lawyer specializing in public international law. During my master’s program, I wrote a thesis on the environmental protection in the International Seabed Area. 

To specialize in Ocean protection, I chose to undertake a six-month internship as an advocacy officer at the Fondation de la Mer. 

I've just graduated from a master International Relations and I now work at Nausicaa on a european project aiming for plastic reduction in the North Sea.

Shayna Demick is a senior environmental science major with an eco-science concentration and minors in marine science and biological science at the University f Delaware. Shayna is currently researching Per-and poly-fluoroalkylsubstances (PFAS) in the Bering Sea food web and has previously done research on insect ecology, sustainable fashion, and climate change. They are most interested in environmental health, environmental justice, and marine conservation issues.

Alyssa Wentzel is an undergraduate honors student studying marine science and public policy at the University of Delaware. As a researcher, Alyssa focuses their work on environmental pollution and justice. Through research and advocacy, they use the lens of intersectionality to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities to inform a more inclusive environmentalist movement.

Belle Kornas is a sophomore from New Jersey studying energy and environmental policy at the University of Delaware. She works on sea level rise communication with the Delaware Water Resources Center and is a surfing instructor. Growing up, she spent her summers at the shore and developed a passion for ocean conservation, which set her on her path to become an advocate for the ocean.

Ira Washington III is a sophomore at the University of Delaware, planning to pursue marine science with a concentration in marine biology. An environmentalist and justice advocate, Ira fosters connections to empower communities, using outreach and community engagement to share environmental knowledge and build a strong, interconnected society.

Dr. Peter J. Ricketts is Professor of Earth and Environmental Science at Acadia University, where he has just completed a six-year term as Acadia’s 16th President and Vice-Chancellor. Born in Harrogate, Yorkshire and raised in Bournemouth on the south coast of England, Dr. Ricketts earned his BA (Honours) degree in Geography at the University of Nottingham in 1974 and his PhD from the University of Southampton in 1982.

Prior to his appointment as President at Acadia, Dr. Ricketts served as Provost and Vice-President Academic at Carleton University in Ottawa from 2009 to 2017 and has over 25 years of experience as a senior university administrator in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Ontario. He has now returned to teaching students at Acadia University about natural disasters, applied geomorphology, climate change, and maritime security.

La Daana teaches undergraduate students enrolled in the BSc. Biology and BSc. Environmental Science and Sustainable Technology degree programs. She supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing research on coastal and marine ecosystems. As a scientist, her multidisciplinary research is focused on understanding human impact on coastal/marine ecosystems, to advance the development of context-specific interventions that will contribute to ecosystem health and human well-being. La Daana has conducted research in Trinidad and Tobago, the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. La Daana serves on several local, regional and international working groups and committees focused on marine conservation and pollution.

Julian Walcott is a highly motivated, self-driven, scientist with a passion for the conservation of the environment and natural resources. His work in this field began as a Research Assistant and has evolved to the Coordinator of the Tropical Coastal and Resource Management specialisation stream at the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), University of the West Indies (UWI: Cave Hill Campus). At present, he champions the role of enhancing capacities among young scientist across the region, to aid in the quest for sustainable development. Some of his key roles include providing graduate students with training, conducting research in pertinent environmental areas, public awareness and outreach and providing professional services.

Dr. Jack Dyer as a specialist on climate change and development and blue/ocean economist, has over 10 years global/African consultancy, lecturing and entrepreneurship experience with a BSC Hons in Economics from the University of Kent, a Master of Commerce (Maritime Economics/Law) and PhD in climate change impact on the future of Pacific and global blue economies/marine resources, ecosystems, communities and individuals. His climate change, circular green and blue economy experience ranges from cruise and marine tourism to education, MSP, marine protected areas, natural disasters business, drones, ship repair, finance and psychology space economy, maritime law, ocean governance, logistics. sustainable, climate change, environment, green and blue economy experience extends to the legal, laws, policies, socioeconomic, events and latest technological/knowledge updates with work experience in a variety of ocean/blue economy areas. 

Mr. Christopher Corbin is the Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Cartagena Convention Secretariat based in Kingston, Jamaica. He assumed these duties as of 2022. Chris has been with UNEP since 2004 and prior to assuming the role of Coordinator, was the Programme Manager for its Marine Pollution Programme.

Mr. Corbin, a Saint Lucian national, has over 30 years of national and regional programme and project management experience and has been involved in several intergovernmental processes and discussions for improving ocean governance, marine pollution, and water resources management in the Wider Caribbean Region.

Since 2018 up to the present, Peni has been Oceans Analyst and Manager at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat focusing on leveraging the economic, financial and social bargaining power of the Pacific Ocean and its resources. Prior to joining the PIF Secretariat, Peni was a Principal Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Fiji in 2017-2018 and for four years before that held the position of Second Secretary at the Parment Mission of Fiji to the United Nations in New York where he was generally responsible for administrative and managerial responsibilities as Head of Chancery. While in that position, he was also involved in the crafting of National Statements and liaising with relevant stakeholders to progress national issues on the broader global front.

Dan leads work on blue carbon at Fauna & Flora, within the wider Climate & Nature Linkages team. His background over the last 20 years is in marine ecology, specializing in coral reef research, climate impacts, and marine ecosystem service science.

Ana is a leading expert in seaweed blue carbon, leading and advising on research programmes around the world seeking to protect oceanic carbon towards climate change mitigation. Ana’s team produced the first field estimates of seafloor sequestration of seaweed carbon in the wild, and Ana has led the development of modelling  approaches that are helping to estimate the location of sites where seaweed carbon is sequestered in the ocean, and well as climate-resilient ways to protect these habitats, informing the development of marine conservation policy. Ana is a member of the UN Ocean Decade’s Global Ocean Blue Carbon Programme, the Sustainable Ocean Planning Programme, and the Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience, among other roles. She works actively at the science-policy, industry and finance interfaces.

David is a Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa and chairs the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, 2023-2026). CORDIO is a knowledge organization supporting sustainability of coral reef and marine systems in the Western Indian Ocean. David’s primary research over the last 30 years has been on coral reef resilience, biogeography and climate change impacts. His interests are turning now towards sustainability science pivoting around coastal, African and societal needs and priorities, in the broader sustainable development paradigm. David works from the local scale, through fostering innovative action to promote sustainability, through regional scale alignment and integration, to global scales. David was a Co-Chair of IPBES’s Nexus Assessment and was active in compiling science inputs into the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. David was awarded Kenya’s national honour, Moran of the Burning Spear in December 2021, and the Coral Reef Conservation Award of the International Coral Reef Society in 2022.

Ruth is a marine ecologist with expertise in seabird movement and energetics. Ruth investigates the influence of marine predators on the ecosystems that they inhabit and move through. Her recent research has involved trying to advance our understanding of the impacts of island restoration on tropical seabirds, their nutrient flows, and effects on coral reef ecology.

While pursuing a bachelor's degree in Sociology at the Middle East Technical University, she completed a minor in Urban Planning. She later completed a master's degree in Social Entrepreneurship and Local Government at the Department of Urban Policy Planning and Local Governments at the Middle East Technical University. At the same, she volunteered in many non-governmental organizations and worked on climate crisis, cultural heritage, sustainability, and zero waste. Since 2021, she has been working as an General Secretary at the Mediterranean Conservation Society.

Professor David Freestone is a Professorial Lecturer and Visiting Scholar at George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C. He is the Executive Secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission, established by the Government of Bermuda pursuant to the 2014 Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea. He is also founding Editor of the International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law (now in its 34th year). Professor David Freestone also serves as a member of the International Board of Directors for the International Coastal and Ocean Organization.

Jérémie Adlerfligel is a Monegasque diplomat working at the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations. After starting his career at the Department of External Relations and Cooperation, Jérémie focuses on issues relating to the protection of the environment, the ocean and the law of the sea.

Dr. Andrew Hume coordinates the International Waters Focal Area for the Global Environment Facility. His work supports public and private sector investments to save the planet. His areas of interest include ocean technology, human-centered design, data-driven approaches, and unlocking new ways for business to be a vehicle for change. He has a background in marine biogeochemistry, blue carbon, sustainable fisheries, environmental sensor tech, and coastal restoration.

Raphaël Goulet is the Deputy Director for International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission. He is heading since 2020 the unit promoting international ocean governance, law of the sea and the Arctic. He has been instrumental in negotiating international agreements and fostering cooperation between nations to protect and sustainably use the ocean. He worked previously in other departments of the Commission, dealing with public interest services (DG for internal market) and with Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, the Netherlands, pre-accession infrastructure projects in Latvia, communication and international relations (DG for regional policy). Raphaël Goulet graduated from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris and from the Free University (political science and economics) in Berlin.

Lisa Levin is Distinguished Professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, and was Director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation and Oliver Chair from 2011-2017. A marine ecologist, Dr. Levin studies benthic ecosystems in the deep sea and shallow water and is the author or co-author of more than 275 scientific publications. Dr. Levin is founder and co-lead of the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI), which seeks to integrate science, technology, policy, law and economics to advise on ecosystem-based management of resource use in the deep ocean and strategies to maintain the integrity of deep-ocean ecosystems within and beyond national jurisdictions.

Gina Torry is the Executive Director of the International Center for Dialogue and Peacebuilding. She directs the BBNJ Informal Dialogues - a Track 1.5 process that brings together over 100 UN Member States to make progress on the BBNJ Agreement. Ms. Torry is an international peace and security expert. For almost two decades, she has worked extensively with the United Nations, its Member States and civil society around the world to advance peace and treaty processes.

Valentina Germani is Senior Legal Officer at the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations. Her current work focuses on capacity-building, in particular as Programme Advisor of the United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programmes, ocean and climate change, and gender. From 2010 to 2012, Valentina was a Legal Officer at the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, where she worked on the compliance mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol and the multilateral negotiations leading to the adoption of the Paris Agreement.  Prior to joining the United Nations in 2001, she lectured in International Law of the Sea and International Environmental Law at Queen Mary University of London and University College of London.

Dr. Miriam Balgos is Executive Director of the Global Ocean Forum and concurrent Project Manager-Capacity Development Specialist of a GEF-funded project on Building and Enhancing Sectoral and Cross-Sectoral Capacity to Support Sustainable Resource Use and Biodiversity Conservation in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. Formerly Associate Scientist at the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware and the Program Coordinator of the Global Ocean Forum, Miriam led the Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy team in the organization and conduct of multi-stakeholder dialogues in integrated ocean and coastal management. Her research focused on integrated ocean and coastal management, marine protected areas, marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, and climate change adaptation. She co-authored and contributed to various publications, including A Comparative Analysis of Ocean Policies in Fifteen Nations and Four Regions and co-edited the Routledge Handbook of National and Regional Ocean Policies. Miriam received a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and a master’s in marine biology from the University of the Philippines and a master’s in business administration and a doctorate in marine studies from the University of Delaware.