Programme Committee appointed to shape the vision and legacy of the 2027 Ocean Decade Conference

Yabanex Batista is the Global Lead for Nature and Deputy Manager of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) at the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). He leads efforts to design and deploy blended-finance solutions that mobilize public and private investment for nature-positive development and resilient coastal economies, with a focus on small island developing states, least developed countries, and other vulnerable countries.

With more than 20 years of experience, Mr. Batista has worked at the intersection of sustainable finance, conservation, international development, and multilateral environmental policy. He previously served as CEO of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), leading the establishment and expansion of financing facilities supporting long-term biodiversity and protected-area management, as well as ecosystem-based adaptation across the Caribbean.

His earlier roles include positions at GITEC/GIZ in Mexico, The Nature Conservancy, the World Bank–GEF Unit, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) in Brazil. He brings extensive cross-regional experience in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and is a frequent contributor to global dialogues on ocean and nature finance and nature-based solutions.

Marie-Elaine Boivin currently leads Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s international science engagement in a variety of bilateral and multilateral forums, including the UN Decade of Ocean Science and the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance. She has extensive experience bridging science and policy in the Canadian federal government, with a recent emphasis on ocean issues. From 2019 to 2021, she worked with IOC-UNESCO in Paris as a Program Specialist, contributing to the preparation phase of the Ocean Decade and its launch. She also held senior managerial and strategic advisory roles at Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada. Marie-Elaine holds an MBA in Information Technology Management and a B.Sc. in Geomatics Engineering from Laval University, complemented by advanced professional training in public management as well as science and innovation leadership.

A highly motivated professional dedicated to translating science into impactful action, Janaina Bumbeer is a multi-skilled biologist with over 20 years of experience, specializing in the crucial intersection of the Ocean, Biodiversity, and Climate agendas. With a PhD in Ecology and Conservation, and pursuing an MBA in Leadership and Management, she currently applies her expertise at the Boticario Group Foundation. There, she leads transdisciplinary initiatives that drive impactful public policies and deliver tangible Nature-Based Solutions. Her proven expertise spans stakeholder mobilization, advocacy, strategic planning, Communication & Outreach, and the co-design of innovative solutions.

As Executive Director of Future Earth Coasts (FEC), Xiaoyu Fang leads a global research network connecting over 5000 experts and 1000+ early-career researchers worldwide. Her work actively bridges science and policy through multiple UN and intergovernmental roles. Her strategic governance experience includes membership on the Future Earth Governing Council (2025-) and the Future Earth Assembly (2022-2025), where she helps guide priorities for global sustainability science within UN-aligned frameworks.

She serves as a Key Facilitator and Project Affiliation Reviewer for the UN Ocean Decade Programme Mega-Delta and Science Decade Programme Cross-Coastz, and as a Grant Reviewer for the Future Earth Cross-Cutting Initiative grant. She is also a Science Steering Committee Member for the Sustainability Initiative in the Marginal Seas of South and East Asia and an Expert Member of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC).

She bridges science and policy by serving on the UN ESCAP SDG 6 review committee and co-authoring a Regional Seas Conventions position paper for the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. She co-leads initiatives like “Tour de Coasts” and the “Meta-network” to mobilize global expertise, engaging 80+ countries and 30+ research networks to produce influential reports, including a Global Survey and a foundational Gap Analysis.

Linda Faulkner is Pou Whakarae Te Hiringa Taiao – Chief Scientist Māori Environmental Research at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA), and currently Natural Sciences Commissioner of New Zealand’s National Commission for UNESCO. Linda hails primarily from the tribal regions of Ngāti Rangi and Whanganui in Aotearoa New Zealand and has long advocated the opportunities and benefits possible through empowering indigenous knowledge and practice to work alongside contemporary science. Linda was until June 2024 Deputy Director for New Zealand’s Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge, where her work informed transformational change to the way indigenous knowledge contributes to multi and transdisciplinary ocean research, and the significant benefits and impact that accrue from such approaches. Linda has also held executive leadership and governance roles within New Zealand government organisations (including the Environmental Protection Authority) and the New Zealand Biological Heritage National Science Challenge.

Professor Amel Hamza-Chaffai is a Full Professor at the University of Sfax and an internationally recognized expert in marine ecotoxicology, marine pollution, and ocean sustainability, with over three decades of academic and policy-relevant experience.

Professor Hamza-Chaffai is a member of the Tunisian Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (Beit Al Hikma) and was appointed in 2023 as a court expert in environment and pollution, strengthening the science–policy interface.
She currently serves as Chair of the IOC-UNESCO Ocean Decade Task Force Africa, where she supports the co-design and implementation of Ocean Decade Actions, with a strong focus on capacity development, ocean literacy, blue skills, blue entrepreneurship, and inclusive participation of African stakeholders. She actively contributes to advancing Ocean Decade Outcomes, particularly a clean ocean, a healthy and resilient ocean, and an inspiring and engaging ocean.

She was recently nominated by the Tunisian Government as a member of the Group of Experts for the 4th cycle (2026–2030) of the UN Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, further contributing to global ocean assessments and governance.

Peter M Haugan is Policy Director at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and professor of oceanography at the Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Norway. He served as elected Chair of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC) 2015-2019 and Lead Expert of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy 2018-2025. He has done research in a wide range of ocean issues ranging from coastal oceanography and polar oceanography to ocean climate processes including carbon cycling and ocean-based renewable energy. His main focus is on ocean sustainability and science-policy-society interactions.

Charlotte Hudson is the Executive Director of the Blue Convergence Fund (BCF), a U.S. non-profit that bridges knowledge, communities and governance using grantmaking and collaborative initiatives in order to increase the sustainability of global oceans and coasts.

Before founding BCF, Charlotte led the Lenfest Ocean Program at The Pew Charitable Trusts, where she spent two decades funding projects that bridging the gap between science and policy. Her work focused on evolving grantmaking and engagement activities towards more transparent and equitable methods, incorporating concepts of co-design and co-production. Charlotte’s career began with roles at Earthjustice and Oceana, which enhanced her understanding of how science informs law, policy and practice. Her publications cover topics such as the role of philanthropy in engaged science, methods to increase use-driven research, and research impact.

Evgeniia Kostianaia is Consultant with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and Global Coordinator of the UN Ocean Decade endorsed Programme for Early Career Ocean Professionals, or ECOP Programme. The mission of the ECOP Programme is to support early career ocean professionals in their capacity development and work by providing meaningful networking, training, professional development, funding opportunities and creating capacity for cooperation and knowledge exchange. With over four years in international ocean governance and seven years in business development, she bridges scientific research, strategic partnerships, and early-career empowerment. Her expertise spans climate resilience and impact of climate change on coasts and coastal economies, and multilingual communication.

Ms. Viviane Koutob is a legal oceans and environmental expert with extensive experience in oceans governance, environmental law, maritime law, and the law of the sea. With over a decade dedicated to the governance and sustainable management of marine resources, conservation, and fisheries Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance and Enforcement (MCSE), she has made significant contributions to translating complex policy and legal frameworks into practical actions in West and Central Africa.

Her professional journey includes collaboration with Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) and active participation in global dialogues shaping ocean governance. She has contributed to key international processes, including discussions at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI), the United Nations Our Ocean Conference, and initiatives such as the Declaration of Torremolinos on the ratification of the Cape Town Agreement, the ILO C188 Convention, and the Blue Justice Initiative.

In her current role, Ms. Koutob serves as Programme Lead for MCS and Legal Expert in West and Central Africa, as part of the Senior Management Team of a non-profit organization supporting the implementation of development aid programs funded by international agencies. Her leadership ensures the delivery of impactful projects that strengthen governance and promote sustainable fisheries.

Lydia Latifah Nansubuga, from Kampala, Uganda, has been an active member of H2OO since 2020. Her passion is advocacy, both environmental and human rights, as she understands profoundly that they are connected. Latifah has experienced first-hand the realities of the devastating intersection of the climate humanitarian crises, especially as a girl.

She developed Climate Smart Urban Farming to grow food to avoid the fate of forced child marriage at just 13 years old. Latifah advocates for education and information platforms to amplify voices, resources, empowerment opportunities, safety and support for all, especially for marginalized communities. She wants to bridge the gap between the suffering of such marginalized communities and lawmakers, as those who make law have the power to help.
More so, Latifah wants to end gender-based violence against girls. Latifah speaks publicly to share her story, and she inspires others to work toward a better world.

Prof. Dr. Fangli Qiao, Member of Academia Europaea (MAE), Academician of International Eurasian Academy of Sciences, and the co-Editor-in-Chief of Ocean Modelling, is currently the Deputy Director General of the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) of Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Chair of the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research of China (China-SCOR, since 2019). He has actively contributed to IOC activities. For example, he was the Executive Planning Group (2018-2020) and then Decade Advisory Board (2021-2023) members of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development; the founding director of UN Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre on Ocean-climate Nexus (DCC-OCC, since 2022) and the founding director of the IOC Regional Training and Research Center on Ocean Dynamics and Climate (UNESCO/IOC-ODC, since 2011).

His research interests cover ocean and climate model development, ocean dynamics, turbulence and air-sea interaction, etc He received numerous academic awards including Wooster Award of PICES and National Innovation Awards of China. He has more than 400 publications on peer-review scientific journals, which have been cited for more than 14 thousand times.

Rayén Quiroga is a senior blue economy expert.

She has retired from the UN in February 2026. Since 2000 she has collaborated with the UN, supporting governments in public policies related to the blue economy, green economy, energy transition, natural resources, and sustainable development. She has also contributed to the development and use of official indicators and methodologies in these areas. Highlights include serving as Chief of the Energy, Water, and Biodiversity Unit in the Natural Resources Division at ECLAC (UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) until January 2026. Previously, she was Head of the Environmental and Climate Change Statistics Area of ECLAC, and before that, she worked as a global expert in the UN’s UNSD DESA team on environmental, energy, and industry metrics in New York between 2010 and 2016.

Earlier in her career, she served as senior economic advisor to the Minister of Environment of Chile, and worked in academia serving as a visiting professor in multiple graduate programs across the region. She also worked in cleaner production and energy efficiency with the industrial private sector in Chile. She has extensively published articles and books on the relationship between economics, natural resources, environmental and social sustainability from a Latin American perspective.

Marinez Scherer holds a PhD in Marine Sciences, is a professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil and the COP30 Presidency Special Envoy for the Ocean. Her work focuses on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Marine Spatial Planning, and Ecosystem-Based Management. She also co-leads the OTGA Regional Training Center Cono Sur and is the co-chair of the IOC-UNESCO Working Group on Sustainable Ocean Planning and Management.

Francis Staub started his career working on coral reefs for the French Ministry of Environment, then the World Bank based in Washington D.C. at the Environment Department before becoming a consultant. Based in London since 2012, he founded Blue Pangolin Consulting, a consultancy company working towards the conservation and sustainable use of marine, coastal and terrestrial resources.

For the last 25 years, Francis has been involved with the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). He has acted as strategic advisor to most of governments who have chaired ICRI (USA, France, Australia, Japan, Monaco, among others). Francis is also advising the French Government’s Coral Reef Initiative (IFRECOR).

He is on the advisory board of the Coral Triangle Conservation Fund based in Indonesia. He has co-authored the latest GCRMN – Status of Coral Reefs World Report and received the Coral Reef Conservation Award from the International Coral Reef Society in 2024, for his significant contributions to coral reef protection.

He is a member of the Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) for Mediterranean Marine Protected and Conserved Areas.

More recently, Francis has been focusing on the High Seas and is currently acting as technical director for a project to support the ratification and early implementation of the High Seas Treaty (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement) by the Preparatory Committee and Conference of the Parties.

Merete Tandstad is the Senior (Programme) Coordinator for the EAF-Nansen Programme at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO) in Rome, Italy. The EAF-Nansen Programme is a longstanding partnership between FAO and Norway, executed in close collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR).

In her role, Ms Tandstad provides overall leadership and coordinates Programme activities in collaboration with the partners, including regional organizations and 32 countries across Africa and the Bay of Bengal, to promote an ecosystem approach to fisheries and knowledge-based decision making for improved food and nutrition security. In 2021, it also became a UN Ocean Decade Action Programme that actively contributes to six of the ten Ocean Decade Challenges, and is fully aligned with the mission to generate transformative ocean science solutions for the ocean.
Ms Tandstad holds over 20 years of experience with FAO, in roles related to ocean governance, fisheries management, applied science, and capacity development. She also has many years of experience working on fisheries issues in Africa, in particular West Africa, including with the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF).

Dr. Alexander Turra is a professor at the Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo (IOUSP, Brazil) and coordinator of the UNESCO Chair on Ocean Sustainability, based at the Oceanographic Institute and the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo. He is a biologist that exercises interdisciplinary and integrated research, focusing on themes such as marine biodiversity, governance, integrated management, marine conservation, environmental impact assessment, climate change and marine pollution (marine litter). Turra seeks to promote the integration between science and society, policy makers and the private sector to support public policies and technological development and innovation applied to the ocean.

Asia Williams is a passionate Climate Change and Blue Economy Specialist who has worked with several organisations to develop blue economy projects and create climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Asia is the Blue Economy Manager at the Waitt Institute where she works with countries including Bermuda, Fiji and the Maldives, to design their Blue Economy Strategies with a focus on sustainable fisheries, renewable energy, eco-tourism, sustainable entrepreneurship and blue finance. She has done extensive research on the economic benefits and relationship with marine spatial planning activities and marine protection.

Asia has also worked with the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship on their Blue Economy Entrepreneurship program to identify and develop Blue Economy Entrepreneurs across the Caribbean region. Asia has also worked with the Commonwealth Climate Change Network during the ‘Blue’ COP to host an intergenerational dialogue, advocating for the role of ocean conservation to support resilience to climate change, and access to innovative forms of finance.