THE HIGH SEAS TREATY
From negotiation to implementation
6-7 October 2023
Edinburgh, UK & online
Symposium programme
For details of associated meetings and workshops, please click here
Programme overview
Day 1: Friday 6 October 2023
08:00 – 08:30 – Registration & Welcome Coffee
08:30 – 09:25
Welcome & Opening address
Session 1
09:25 – 10:50
Marine genetic resources, including questions on the sharing of benefits
Session Chair: Marcel Jaspars
Keynote speaker: Janine Coye-Felson
Panellists: Gaute Voigt-Hanssen, Muriel Rabone, Siva Thambisetty, Andre Abreu, Arianna Broggiato
10:50 – 11:20
Coffee break
Session 2
11:20 – 12:45
Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas
Session Chair: David Johnson
Keynote speaker: Aurélie Spadone
Panellists: Guillermo Ortuño Crespo, Joe Appiott, Dominic Pattinson, Cindy Van Dover
12:45 – 13:45
Lunch break
Session 3
13:45 – 15:10
Environmental impact assessments
Session Chair: Daniela Diz
Keynote speaker: Neil Craik
Panellists: Andrew Kenny, Simon Walmsley, Kahlil Hassanali, Daniel Stewart, Wini Broadbelt
Session 4
15:10 – 16:35
Capacity building and the transfer of marine technology
Session Chair: Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki
Keynote speaker: Harriet Harden-Davies
Panellists: Judith Gobin, Julia Schutz-Veiga, Kwaku Kyeremeh, Fuad Bateh
16:35 – 17:00
Closing remarks; end of Day 1
Day 2: Saturday 7 October 2023
08:30 – 09:00 – Welcome Coffee
09:00 – 09:15
Day 2 welcome
Session 5
09:15 – 10:05
Lessons learned from other initiatives in area beyond national jurisdiction
Session Chair: Phenia Marras
Panellists: David Freestone, David Vousden, Jorge Jimenez, Ruth Fletcher, Nichola Clark
Session 6
10:05 – 10:55
Best available science and international cooperation
Session Chair: Lea-Anne Henry
Panellists: Adrian Glover, Jake Rice, Christine Gaebel, Ivan Conesa Alcolea, Sebastian Valanko
Session 7
10:55 – 12:00
Implications for the other competent global and regional bodies
Session Chair: Abbe Brown
Panellists: Darius Campbell, Daniel Kachelriess, Mery Ciacci, Matthew Gianni, Katy Soapi
12:00 – 13:00
Lunch break
Session 8
13:00 – 13:50
Compliance and dispute resolution
Session Chair: James Harrison
Panellists: Oonagh Sands, Cymie Payne, Hiroko Muraki-Gottlieb, Ronan Long, Birgir Hrafn Búason
Session 9
14:00 – 14:50
Implications for industry
Session Chair: Thomas Vanagt
Panellists: Sahan Abeysekara, Jane Collins, Nicola Ferri, Kent Bressie, Jean Bapiste Jouffray
15:00 – 15:30
Coffee break
Session 10
15:30 – 16:45
Hitting the ground running: preparations for COP1
Session Chair: Ben Boteler
Panellists: Kristina Gjerde, Philippe Raposo, Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Lowri Griffiths, Salvador Vega Telias, Torsten Thiele, Charlotte Salpin
16:45 – 17:15
Final remarks; symposium close
Speakers & panellists
Symposium Welcome Address
Symposium Chair: J Murray Roberts, University of Edinburgh
Murray Roberts is Professor of Applied Marine Biology & Ecology at the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences. He leads the Changing Oceans research group, chairs the Joint Working Group between St Abbs Marine Station and the University and coordinates the European Horizon 2020 iAtlantic project. In 2022 was appointed a Sargasso Sea Commissioner and member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council to government. He studies marine ecosystems in a changing ocean focussing upon structural habitats such as cold-water corals in the deep ocean. He has published 106 peer reviewed publications, is senior author of the textbook ‘Cold-water Corals’ and has generated £22.72M in research funding. His work on deep-sea biology has taken him to sites off the UK, Norway, Ireland, the SE United States and West Africa. Murray is a contributing author to the 2014 and 2019 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Reports and a consultant to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
Prof Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson MBBS(Hons) (London), PhD (Cambridge), FRCP (London), FRCPE, FMedSci, FRSE, FRSA has been the 35th Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh since February 2018. Prior to that he held an analogous role as 15th President of the University of Hong Kong between April 2014 and January 2018. Of the various prizes and academic awards that he has received, he is most proud of being voted "Teacher of the Year" by Cambridge medical students in 1992; the Milne-Muehrcke award from the Renal Association and the National Kidney Foundation of USA for “most promising young researcher” from UK in 1997; the UK Renal Association Lockwood Award (for contribution to academic renal medicine) in 2004; and being voted “top teacher 2011-12” by Foundation doctors at University Hospitals Bristol.
Dr Hermione Cockburn, Scientific Director, Dynamic Earth
Dr Hermione Cockburn is the Scientific Director of Dynamic Earth, the UK’s only science centre dedicated to the Earth’s story. Her academic background is in geomorphology, but she moved to work full time in public engagement more than 15 years ago. In 2020, she was awarded an OBE for services to public engagement in science.
Ambassador Rena Lee, Singapore's Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues and Special. Envoy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Rena Lee is Singapore’s Ambassador for International Law and Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). Rena joined the Singapore public service in 1992 and has served in a number of roles, including with the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She specialises in public international law, covering diverse areas including law of the sea, environmental and climate change law, humanitarian and human rights law. Rena was most recently Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues and Special Envoy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this capacity, Rena was elected President of the BBNJ IGC in 2018 and served until the conclusion of the negotiations in 2023. Rena was also a member of the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority from 2017 to 2022.
Ms Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Scottish Government
Lorna Slater was reappointed as Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity in March 2023. She was born, raised and educated in Canada. She moved to Scotland in 2000 after earning a master's degree in engineering from the University of British Columbia. Prior to being elected in 2021, Lorna worked as an engineer, and then a project manager in the renewables sector. During this time, she worked on the Orbital O2 project, the world's biggest floating tidal turbine. Ms Slater has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothian since May 2021. She was elected as a co-leader of the Scottish Green Party in August 2019.
Session 1: Marine genetic resources (MGR), including questions on the sharing of benefits
Session Chair: Marcel Jaspars, University of Aberdeen
Marcel Jaspars is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen where he leads the Marine Biodiscovery Centre which focuses on marine resources for novel pharmaceuticals, and to investigate fundamental questions in marine chemical ecology and biosynthesis. Marcel has been active at national and international levels to develop the science, its applications/industrial uptake and associated policy involved in marine biodiscovery and biotechnology. He provides scientific advice to the UK, EU and UN for global policy processes on ocean conservation and digital sequence information via reports, papers and taking part in discussion meetings. He is a co-lead of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative’s Working Group on Marine Genetic Resources.
Keynote speaker: Janine Coye-Felson, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations
Janine Felson is a senior level diplomat of the Government of Belize. She has served as legal counsel in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Belize-United Nations. She is a principal advocate for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in complex international negotiations on global development policy, climate change, climate finance, law of the sea and oceans governance. ). She held leadership roles throughout her tenure at the United Nations . Janine is presently an Enterprise Fellow of Melbourne Climate Futures, University of Melbourne Law School, where she is supporting the development of a research hub for the Indo-Pacific Region, as its Inaugural Head, with a focus on thought leadership and capacity building in adaptation and resilience.
Panellist: Gaute Voigt-Hanssen, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway
Gaute Voigt-Hanssen is a Policy Director in the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment and the Chief negotiator for Norway in the Convention on Biological Diversity/CBD). He was Co-Chair for Digital Sequence Information (DSI) in the Global Biodiversity Framework and is a member of the CBD SBSTTA-bureau. He has been negotiating marine genetic resources for Norway in the BBNJ-process since 2015. He is a lawyer with degrees from University of Bergen, Norway, and University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Panellist: Muriel Rabone, Data and Sample Coordinator, Natural History Museum, UK
Muriel Rabone is a biologist and data manager at the Natural History Museum, London. Originally from New Zealand, she began her career in environmental monitoring for geological and ecological consultancies. She has since published over 40 publications and has expertise in the development of biological collections and associated data management. She has been involved in science-policy since 2018, co-leading the DOSI Marine Genetic Resources working group. Her main science interests include the mapping and spatial ecology of neglected diseases, and deep-sea invertebrate diversity and biogeography.
Panellist: Siva Thambisetty, Associate Professor of Law, London School of Economics
Siva Thambisetty is an Associate Professor of Law at the London School of Economics, where she teaches and researches on the legal protection of inventions, innovation in emerging technologies, cultural property and the use and circulation of genetic resources. Among others, she has previously held grants from the EPSRC for a project on synthetic biology at Imperial College and an EU Horizon 2020 grant for a study on marine genetic resources under the Nagoya Protocol. Dr Thambisetty attended intergovernmental negotiations on the BBNJ Treaty, first as an advisor to the Pacific Small Island Developing States (IGC2, IGC3) and second, as an expert on the G77 Chair’s Team in 2022 (IGC5) and 2023 (Resumed IGC5). Her work and publications on the Treaty negotiations is funded by LSE Knowledge Exchange and Impact.
Panellist: Andre Abreu, Head for International Affairs, Tara Foundation
André studied Philosophy and Social Communication in UFRJ, Rio, with a specialization in International Relations and Economic Development in Sorbonne, Paris. With more than 15 years of experience working with international cooperation in the domain of environmental issues, he joined the France Libertés Foundation in Paris in 2003, where he worked for six years, with participations in the UN Human Rights Council. In 2010 he joined the Tara Ocean Foundation, taking in charge of international policy & coordination, working since then in the International Policy issues and International Scientific Cooperation with focus on South America. Since 2012, he is the focal point for the Tara Foundation in the ECOSOC of the United Nations, following the negotiations on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Panellist: Arianna Broggiato, European Commission
Arianna Broggiato holds a PhD in international law and LLM in Environmental Law. She has specialised on the issue of access and benefit sharing to genetic resources, with a focus on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction; and has been working in this field in the last 15 years, focusing on bridging the gaps between involved stakeholders, and raising awareness about the different technical aspects. She joined the European Commission (DG MARE) in 2018 to join the EU team negotiating the international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).
Session 2: Measures such as area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas
Session Chair: David Johnson, Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative
David Johnson is a Director of Seascape Consultants, Emeritus Professor of Coastal and Ocean Management at Southampton Solent University, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh. David is a global expert working at the interface of marine science and policy and an experienced and influential advisor on policy and public affairs concerning the future of global oceans. He was previously Executive Secretary to the OSPAR Commission (2006-2012), responsible for establishing the world’s first network of MPAs in area beyond national jurisdiction. Since 2013 he has coordinated the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, supporting the CBD in describing 338 ecologically or biologically significant marine areas worldwide. He has followed the BBNJ process closely for many years, participating in meetings of the ad hoc working group and Preparatory Committee, through to the intergovernmental conferences and final negotiations.
Keynote speaker: Aurélie Spadone, Senior Programme Officer, International Union for the Conservation of Nature
Aurélie completed her PhD at Sorbonne University (Paris, France) in Environmental Sciences (physical oceanography) in 2009. She joined IUCN in 2010 and is now a Senior programme officer on ocean governance within the Ocean Team of IUCN Centre for Conservation Action, based in IUCN Headquarters in Switzerland. Her portfolio of projects include the following topics: High Seas biodiversity, marine plankton, Southern Ocean conservation, deep-sea mining, regional seas conventions, CBD EBSAs, KBAs, Important Marine Mammals Areas, MPA agency partnership & networks, and aquaculture & bature-based solutions. Aurélie developed and led multiple marine conservation projects, notably on seamount ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction of the South West Indian Ocean, with a strong focus on the science-policy interface.
Panellist: Guillermo Ortuno Crespo, Co-lead of the IUCN WCPA High Seas Specialist Group
Dr Guillermo Ortuño Crespo pursued his interest in applied marine conservation though a doctoral degree in Marine Science & Conservation at Duke University. His PhD addressed challenges in High Seas fisheries, as well as the recently negotiations for a High Seas biodiversity treaty, for which he has led or co-authored a dozen information briefs or research articles that intended to inform Parties on ecological connectivity or spatial management. Guillermo is currently an independent scientific consultant and one of the co-leads of the IUCN WCPA High Seas Specialist Group, through which he hopes to help accelerate the scientific, technical and technological basis for advancing potential ABMTs under the new BBNJ treaty.
Panellist: Joe Appiott, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Joe Appiott coordinates the work on marine, coastal and island biodiversity at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). At the CBD Secretariat, Joe works with governments, international organisations and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the Convention. This work includes facilitating the description and mapping of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), coordinating capacity building activities, and synthesising policy advice related to pressures on marine biodiversity. Joe's work also includes coordination with, and input to, other UN agencies and multilateral processes with regards toissues related to marine, coastal and island biodiversity.
Panellist: Dominic Pattinson, Executive Secretary, OSPAR Secretariat
Dominic Pattinson is the Executive Secretary of the OSPAR Commission – the Regional Sea Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. Appointed in June 2020, his remit is remit to support OSPAR’s 16 Contracting Parties to deliver their 2030 North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy. Prior to joining OSPAR, he worked for the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) where he worked on domestic and international policy development and implementation. For the last eight years of his career with Defra he focussed on marine environment protection policies at a national, European, and international level. This included development of the UK’s Marine Strategy, marine litter policies, environmental aspects of deep-sea mining and the UK’s Global Ocean Alliance and 30by30 initiatives.
Panellist: Cindy Van Dover, Distinguished Professor of Biological Oceanography, Duke University
Cindy Van Dover, Distinguished Professor of Biological Oceanography at Duke University, was an early explorer of deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the 1980s and earned her PhD from the WHOI-MIT Joint Program in Oceanography in 1989. She joined the team that operates the deep-submergence vehicle Alvin, becoming a US Navy-certified Alvin pilot in 1990 and making nearly 100 dives to the deep seabed, including 48 dives as Pilot-in-Command of Alvin. Her research interests include the biogeography, trophic ecology, and adaptations of species in chemosynthetic ecosystems. In recent years, her work has primarily focused on deep-sea environmental management in the context of deep-sea mining. As part of the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, Cindy has worked with international colleagues to provide the scientific rationale for establishing hydrothermal vents as sites in need of protection within Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Session 3: Environmental impact assessments (EIAs)
Session Chair: Daniela Diz, Heriot-Watt University
Dani Diz is an Associate Professor at the Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, specialised in international ocean governance. Dani has over 20 years of experience in the field of environmental law and oceans governance, with her main research area focusing on international marine biodiversity law and policy. She regularly participates as an expert at UN meetings related to the law of the sea, marine biodiversity and fisheries, and conducts policy and legal studies related to marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable use to UN agencies, government institutions and civil society.
Keynote speaker: Neil Craik, University of Waterloo
Neil Craik is a Professor at the University of Waterloo with appointments to the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, where he teaches and researches in the fields of international and Canadian environmental law. His current research examines the legal structure of global commons regimes, with particular interests in deep seabed mining regulation, climate and geoengineering law and governance, and environmental impact assessment. He is the co-author of Liability for Environmental Harm in the Global Commons (Cambridge University press, 2023), and The International Law of Environmental Impact Assessment (Cambridge University Press, 2008). He is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).
Panellist: Andrew Kenny, Principal Ecosystem Scientist, UK Delegation to NAFO and NEAFC
Dr Kenny is part of the UK Delegations to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) and the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) advising on deep sea Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) management measures and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). Dr Kenny is a marine benthic ecologist and ecosystem scientist with over 20 years of experience conducting research into the effects of various type of human activities on the seabed environment. He has published over 60 scientific papers and articles on a wide range of subjects, including impacts of bottom trawling activities on deep sea Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, seabed habitat mapping, ecological risk assessment and modelling benthic ecosystem food-webs. He is Chair of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Steering Group on Human Activities, Pressures and Impacts (HAPISG).
Panellist: Kahlil Hassanali, Senior Researcher, Insitute of Marine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago
Kahlil Hassanali is a senior researcher at the Insitute of Marine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago with over ten years experience in the field of marine policy and governance. He holds a PhD in Maritime Affairs from the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) (Sweden). He was a 2013-2014 recipient of the UN-Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship where he received advanced training in ocean affairs and Law of the Sea, and also a 2017-2018 Hubert Humphrey Fellowship recipient in the field of Natural Resources, Environmental Policy and Climate Change. Kahlil served as lead negotiator for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Environmental Impact Assessment during the BBNBJ treaty negotiations.
Panellist: Simon Walmsley, WWF
Simon is a Chartered Scientist, Chartered Marine Scientist, Fellow of IMarEST, and Associate Member of IEMA. He earned his PhD at Hull University in Marine Biomonitoring and Ecotoxicology, looking at biomonitoring tools such as indicator species and the genetics of pollutant-tolerant marine populations. Simon has been with WWF for over 24 years and has occupied a plethora of different positions. More lately he has worked as Chief Marine Advisor WWF-UK, Senior Advisor on Sustainable development for the WWF International Arctic Programme and at WWF-International as Marine Manager, advising the WWF network on Ocean Governance, extractive industries and shipping. He returns to WWF UK were until 2010 he was head of the marine programme. He has also worked at the British Antarctic Survey, the Institute of Coastal and Estuarine Studies and has worked in consultancy, industry, academia and at DEFRA.
Panellist: Daniel Stewart, Independent International Legal Advocates (IILA)
Daniel Stewart is the founder and Executive Director of Independent International Legal Advocates (IILA), a unique organisation that works with the international law teams of small / developing States to build their capacity to strategically manage, make and use international law, in order to ensure a more just and equitable world. Most recently, IILA has supported successive Chairs of the G77 & China in the BBNJ process, including the current Chair, Cuba. Daniel founded IILA in 2017, after many years working in international law at the United Nations Secretariat. A graduate of Harvard and Columbia universities, Daniel has worked at the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia; the European Court of Human Rights; the Constitutional Court of South Africa; the Supreme Court of Israel; and the International Court of Justice. He has regularly taught courses on various aspects of international law, including at Columbia, Cardozo and St. John's law schools and at the New School.
Panellist: Wini Broadbelt
Wini Broadbelt was the legal adviser to the delegation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands during the UN BBNJ Ad Hoc Working Group and Preparatory Committee phases, and subsequently for the Intergovernmental conference on an international legally binding instrument under the UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of ABNJ. Winnie also served a member of the EU negotiating team on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) during the BBNJ treaty discussions.
Session 4: Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology
Session Chair: Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki, University of Vienna
Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki is a PhD student in the ERC project MARIPOLDATA, at the University of Vienna, where she studied science–policy interfaces for ocean protection throughout the BBNJ negotiations. With her academic background in international relations and professional experience in climate and foreign policy with the German government, the GIZ, and NGOs, she specializes in international cooperation on environmental issues. She has published on ocean governance topics regarding plastic pollution, synergies in biodiversity governance, IUU fishing and the BBNJ negotiations.
Keynote speaker: Harriet Harden-Davies, Director of the Nippon Foundation-University of Edinburgh Ocean Voices Programme
Dr Harriet Harden-Davies is the Director of the Nippon Foundation-University of Edinburgh Ocean Voices Programme. The new UN treaty for biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction is a key focus of her research. She co-founded the Early Career Ocean Professional Programme under the UN Ocean Decade and is a member of the UNESCO-IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development and the Editorial Board for Marine Policy, and co-lead of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative.
Panellist: Julia Schutz Veiga, PhD candidate in Law at NOVA School of Law, Ocean Voices
Julia is a PhD candidate in Law at NOVA School of Law (NSL), Portugal. Her PhD research focuses on unlocking IP constraints to transfer knowledge and technology, particularly ensuring access to and utilisation of marine and green technology by least developed and developing countries. She holds a Masters in Law and Economics of the Sea, and a postgraduate degree in International Law from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. She became an adviser for the Brazilian Delegation to the IGC-BBNJ in 2019 and participated in four sessions of the IGC. Her intense focus is on giving voice to the Global South - more than learning with experts, Julia wishes to be a turning point in designing the protection of marine biodiversity and building solid bridges among stakeholders. She is part of the NOVA Knowledge Centre on Intellectual Property and Sustainability at NSL and a visiting fellow at the Ocean Voices Programme, University of Edinburgh.
Panellist: Judith Gobin, University of West Indies
Prof. Judith Gobin is an internationally recognised marine scientist (and benthic ecologist) with a career spanning more than 40 years. She has made significant contributions to the knowledge of marine biodiversity in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) and the Caribbean. Professor Gobin contributes globally to a number of key discussions on ocean conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources. She is a CARICOM Adviser on Marine Genetic Resources and participated for 8 years in what has now become a reality: The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty! In March 2023, she was honoured by a group of scientists who named a deep sea tube worm after her: Lamellibrachia judigobini. As a UWI Lecturer for the past 22 years, she is especially proud of the positive impact she has made and continues to have on young scientists.
Panellist: Kwaku Kyeremeh, Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Ghana
Kwaku Kyeremeh leads a young academic research team at University of Ghana that enjoys a track record of being the first to study marine and microbial natural products in the Department and Ghana at large. He pioneered the collection of marine invertebrates by following the tide recession which normally exposes several species on the shore and the collection of soil samples in 1m deep trenches. Key areas of research include Isolation of biosynthetically talented strains from different environmental samples, and discovery and identification of microbial natural products.
Panellist: Fuad Bateh, IGC Delegate and Representative of the 2019 G77&China Chair for BBNJ
Mr Fuad Bateh consults regularly for a variety of organisations and institutions working in development, law and negotiations related to environment and water resources. Throughout 2019 on behalf of the State of Palestine as Chair of the Group of 77&China, he coordinated the positions of the group and led negotiations on subsequent positions at the BBNJ treaty negotiations. This support to the State of Palestine continued throughout the BBNJ Intergovernmental negotiations process, including responding to a request to join Pakistan as the 2022 G77&China Chair. Previously, Mr. Bateh served as the Water Governance and Infrastructure Advisor to the Office of the Quartet; Advisor on Environment and Water to the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean; Advisor to the Palestinian Minister of Water working on multilateral negotiations and water sector reform; 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.
Session 5: Lessons learned from other initiatives in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ)
Session Chair: Phenia Marras, French Biodiversity Agency
Phénia Marras – Aït Razouk is Marine Adviser in charge of international cooperation and institutional partnerships at the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), based in Brest. Phénia studied at the University Institute for European Studies in Paris on the geopolitical, economic and sociocultural challenges of European integration. She is associated member of the European Institute for Marine Studies (IUEM) at the University of Brest (UBO). She’s developing pilot initiatives relative to ABMTs governance in the high seas, as well related to marine biodiversity conservation policies, for regional seas and international legal frameworks. Since 2010, she has been leading European consortia for regional networks of MPA managers. She was previously Fundraising Manager in Radio France international (RFI) for capacity building projects in the media and in social economy.
Panellist: David Freestone, Executive Secretary, Sargasso Sea Commission
Dr David Freestone is Executive Secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission, established in 2014 pursuant to the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea. From 1996-2008 he worked at the World Bank in Washington DC, first as head of the International and Environmental Law Group and from 2004-08 was Deputy General Counsel and Senior Adviser in the Office of the General Counsel. He is Visiting Scholar and Professorial Lecturer at The George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C. He has written widely on the Law of the Sea and international environmental law, and is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law (now in its 35th year).
Panellist: Dr. Jorge Jiménez, Board of Directors, MarViva Foundation
Dr. Jorge Jiménez has a PhD in marine ecology from the University of Miami, he has extensive experience in the field of scientific research. He has worked for more than 30 years on issues related to marine spatial planning, wetland conservation and biological inventories. In addition, he has taught at universities in Australia, Latin America, the United States and Europe. He has been Director of the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) in Costa Rica, Director of Biological Inventories at INBIo and researcher at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE). He has been Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Ramsar Convention, Scientific Director of Wetlands International and received the National Science Award of Costa Rica in 1990. For the last 15 years, he was in charge of the General Direction of MarViva Foundation for Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. Now, he is part of the Board of Directors.
Panellist: David Vousden, Rhodes University; Chair, GESAMP
Dr. Vousden is an Honorary Professor of Ocean Governance at Rhodes University in South Africa and is also currently the Chairperson for the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP), the independent global body of experts that advises the United Nations system on both on-going and newly arising marine environmental scientific issues. He has a career spanning some 38 years during which he has worked in various governmental and United Nations positions, all related to environmental management. David is currently involved in the development and implementation of sustainable management strategies for oceanic fisheries, the management of large-scale marine protected areas and in evolving management and stewardship mechanisms for marine ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction
Panellist: Ruth Fletcher, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Ruth is an inter-disciplinary scientist working at UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. She has expertise in ecology, economics, and some of the social dimensions of marine biodiversity. Her expertise in strategic planning particularly through the use of theory of change and impact pathways has led to the role as Lead Social Scientist. Her work on marine governance focussed on managing part of a large GEF funded project under the Common Oceans Programme. The project aimed to look at sustainable management of marine resources beyond national jurisdiction and the UNEP led component focused on area-based planning and capacity. The geographic lens involved working with two pilot regions in the South East Pacific and the Western Indian Ocean in the delivery of a multi-year project supporting regional cooperation and capacity development on the potential for area-based planning in the high seas.
Panellist: Nichola Clark, Pew Charitable Trusts
Nichola A. Clark is a senior officer at the Pew Charitable Trusts, where she lead’s Pew’s work related to the BBNJ treaty. She also leads the High Seas Alliance’s ABMT working group and is the policy co-lead of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas High Seas Specialist Group. Nichola has been actively engaged in the BBNJ treaty negotiations for the last decade, focusing particularly on the ABMT and institutional arrangements chapters of the text. Prior to joining Pew, she worked for the United States government on international fisheries issues and at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies on deep-sea mining. Nichola received her Master’s degree from Duke University and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong’s Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS).
Session 6: Best available science and international cooperation
Session Chair: Lea-Anne Henry, University of Edinburgh
Lea-Anne is a marine ecologist with a special focus on deep-sea environments, and works on several international advisory groups and committees through ICES and DOSI. She provides the scientific evidence base, environmental baselines, and transdisciplinary models needed to underpin policies on the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems. Collaborations with industries, local communities, and policy-makers remain essential to the delivery in this research. Over the last decade, she has worked through the science-policy interface to describe and designate EBSAs and MPAs. Currently, Lea-Anne leads a Work Package on Understanding Drivers of Ecosystem Change in the ‘iAtlantic’ project, and is Programme Director of the ‘Marine Systems and Policies’ Masters degree at the University of Edinburgh.
Panellist: Jake Rice, former Chief Scientist for Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Jake Rice was Chief Scientist for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2006-2016), and Director of Science Advice (1996-2006), with prior senior DFO positions in St. John’s and Nanaimo. He holds a BSc from Cornell University and a PhD from University of Toronto, and has more than 300 professional publications on marine ecosystem dynamics and management. and the science-policy interface. Jake has led or participated in major assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, similar initiatives by several UN agencies fisheries, biodiversity, and ocean governance, and advisory boards for several multinational marine research projects.
Panellist: Christine Gaebel, University of Edinburgh / Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative
Christine is an interdisciplinary early career researcher with a focus on ocean governance, law of the sea, and the integration of science and other knowledge into decision-making processes. She co-leads the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative’s (DOSI) BBNJ Working Group and has attended most of the BBNJ negotiating sessions. Christine holds an undergraduate degree with a double major in Law and Human Rights, an MSc in Marine Systems and Policies, and is currently undertaking a PhD with the Edinburgh Earth, Ecology and Environment Doctoral Training Partnership at the University of Edinburgh.
Panellist: Ivan Conesa Alcolea, DG RTD, European Commission
Ivan Conesa Alcolea is MSc Agronomist Engineer and MSc in Ecotoxicology from ParisTech institute and Paris University. He worked for the French marine research institute (IFREMER) for 7 years in particular on international and European research projects in marine environment and marine living resources. In 2005, he joined the European Commission at the Research and Innovation Directorate where he started working on the coordination between national research funding and joint programming on marine and environment topics. Since 2015 he joined the unit Healthy Ocean and Seas where he manages now research & innovation policies and the EU research funding programme for marine biodiversity and ecosystems functioning, restoration, nature based solutions and marine litter in support of the implementation of EU and international marine biodiversity/ecosystems policies. He is also part of the support group to the EU negotiation team for the different international commitments taken by the EU in scientific cooperation and science advice to policy.
Panellist: Adrian Glover, Natural History Museum London
Dr Adrian Glover is a Merit Researcher and Principal Investigator of the Deep-Sea Systematics and Ecology Research Group at the Natural History Museum in London. He has over 20 years experience leading deep-sea biology projects across the world with a speciality in the high seas including the abyssal Pacific and Antarctic. He was the President of the Deep-Sea Biology Society from 2016-2021.
Panellist: Sebastian Valanko, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
As a leading policy officer for ecosystem advice, Sebastian has 10-year professional experiences working at International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES). In his role at ICES, Sebastian has coordinated ICES work related to advice on spatial management measures related to VMEs, also OECMs/MPAs, as well as work related to operationalizing many EU Directives (MSFD, Deep Sea Access Regulation). Seb also contributes towards overseeing the contact between a vast network (5000 experts, 700 institutes, 20+ countries) and various organizations (OSPAR, HELCOM, NEAFC, DGENV, DGMARE) involved in managing the marine ecosystem of the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea. In addition, Sebastian has a academic back ground in marine ecology and policy at BSc, M(Res), PhD and post-doc level to also complement my recent professional merits – working on connectivity of seafloor communities.
Session 7: Implications for other competent global and regional bodies
Session Chair: Abbe Brown, University of Aberdeen
Abbe Brown is Professor in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Aberdeen. Her main focus is intellectual property law and its intersection with other legal fields, and consequences for addressing key societal challenges. Her research has explored health, climate change, and benefit sharing. She is involved in interdisciplinary funded projects including MARBLES and Blueremediomics and Ocean and Us (RSE). Abbe was in IUCN’s delegation to the BBNJ negotiations and the University of Aberdeen delegation to UNFCCC COP26, Glasgow. She is Senior Expert of NERC’s Constructing a Digital Environment Programme and member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Technology committee.
Panellist: Darius Campbell, Secretary, North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission
Dr Darius Campbell is the Secretary of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission. The Commission aims to provide sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits through the long-term conservation and optimum utilisation of the fishery resources in its Convention Area. Before this role, Darius was the Executive Secretary for the OSPAR Commission, an intergovernmental organisation aiming to protect and conserve the North-East Atlantic and its resources. Previously Darius worked for the UK’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs as a Deputy Director responsible for issues such as the National Climate Change Adaptation Programme, UK policy on marine environment, and international oceans governance issues including illegal fishing. Before joining the UK Civil Service, Darius worked in international development in Jordan, Nigeria and India.
Panellist: Daniel Kachelriess, Independent Consultant, High Seas Alliance
Daniel Kachelriess has held several roles at the interface between science, policy and law, including as Advisor to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives on oceans, fisheries and legal matters in 2013 and 2014, as Marine Species Officer of the CITES Secretariat from 2015-2020 and as Senior Policy Specialist and then Executive Director at Sea Shepherd Legal from 2020-2022. Since 2023 Daniel is an independent consultant. As a member of the High Seas Alliance and IUCN’s delegations during the BBNJ negotiations, Mr. Kachelriess has worked towards the successful adoption of the BBNJ Treaty and co-lead the High Seas Alliance’s work on cross-cutting issues and Marine Genetic Resources.
Panellist: Matthew Gianni, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition
Matthew Gianni is an independent advisor, advocate, activist and campaigner for ocean conservation. He co-founded the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) and serves as the Political and Policy Advisor to the DSCC. He has authored/co-authored a number of reports and papers on high seas fisheries, marine biodiversity, deep seabed mining and international oceans governance for science and policy journals as well as for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, IUCN and a number of governments and NGOs. He has been involved in international fisheries and marine conservation negotiations, campaigns, policy and law for over 30 years and has worked to promote ocean conservation and improve international law and ocean governance at the UN General Assembly, FAO, regional fisheries management organisations, the International Seabed Authority, CBD and UN summits on environment and sustainable development.
Panellist: Katy Soapi, Coordinator for the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science at the Pacific Community (SPC) in Fiji
Katy Soapi is the Coordinator for the Pacific Community Centre for Ocean Science at the Pacific Community (SPC) in Fiji. Previously, she held various roles at the University of the South Pacific, including lecturer and Manager of the Pacific Natural Products Research Centre. With a keen interest in marine genetic resources, Soapi has assisted PSIDS BBNJ negotiators in New York during treaty negotiations. She serves on the UN Decade of Ocean Science Advisory Board, focusing on ocean issues from a PSIDS perspective, particularly where ocean science, policy, and traditional knowledge intersect.
Panellist: Mery Ciacci, European Commission
Mery Ciacci works as International Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG Environment, in the Multilateral Environmental Cooperation Unit. She is the ABS Focal Point for the EU. Her main tasks focus on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and the development of ABS policy and measures in the EU. She also follows international processes, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Meeting of the Parties of the Nagoya Protocol, the Open Ended Working group on Digital Sequence Information, and ABS-related processes under FAO and WHO. Previously, she has worked at the Italian Ministry of Environment as a legal and policy adviser on ABS, biodiversity and marine issues. She holds a PhD in International and European Law from the European University Institute (Florence, IT) and has several years of experience as lecturer in Law and Bioethics, environmental law and EU external relations law at the University of Siena.
Session 8: Compliance and dispute resolution
Session Chair: James Harrison, Professor of Environmental Law, University of Edinburgh
James Harrison is Professor of Environmental Law at Edinburgh Law School. His research focuses on environmental law, governance and dispute settlement, with a particular interest in the protection of the marine environment. He has published extensively on these topics and he is also regularly engaged as a consultant, trainer or legal adviser by governments, non-governmental organisations and intergovernmental organisations on a range of issues and projects, including fisheries governance, aquaculture regulation, marine spatial planning and protected area management.
Panellist: Oonagh Sands, Fietta LLP
Oonagh Sands is a dually-qualified English and US lawyer with deep experience representing sovereign States and State-owned entities, as well as individuals and private entities before leading world dispute resolution fora including the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, as well as investor-State arbitral tribunals. She regularly counsels States on territorial and maritime boundary disputes, international environmental law, the law of the sea, treaty interpretation, the law of State responsibility, and international dispute resolution.
Panellist: Cymie Payne, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law
Cymie Payne is Chair of the Ocean Law Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Environmental Law and Associate Professor, Rutgers University (Law and Human Ecology). She advised the IUCN delegation to the UN intergovernmental conference on conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of the high seas ("BBNJ Agreement") and currently leads work on legal aspects of BBNJ Agreement implementation. She also leads the team for IUCN’s submission to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in its current advisory opinion case on climate change. She has provided expert advice on environmental liability and reparations before courts including the International Court of Justice.
Panellist: Ronán Long, Director, World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute
Professor Ronán Long is the Director of the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden, and holds the Nippon Foundation Professorial Chair in Ocean Governance and the Law of the Sea. He is the author/co-editor of 15 books and over 100 scholarly articles on oceans law and policy. He read for his PhD at the School of Law Trinity College Dublin, he has been a Senior Visiting Scholar-in-Residence at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Visiting Scholar at the ‘Centre for Oceans Law and Policy' at the University of Virginia. Ronán is passionate about the law of the sea, conservation and global sustainability, as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Further information and contact details on Professor Long’s WMU Profile: https://wmu.se/people/ronan-long
Panellist: Birgir Hrafn Búason, Director of International Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iceland
Birgir Hrafn Búason is the International Law Director at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland. He has extensive experience in the field of international law, where he has mainly focused on the law of the sea, treaty law and international dispute settlement, having worked both for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Court of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA Court). Birgir served as the Head of Iceland’s delegation to the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference
Panellist: Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb, Harvard University
Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb is an attorney with over 20 years of experience in law and policy on sustainability and international matters. As the Representative for the Ocean, International Council of Environmental Law, Ms. Muraki Gottlieb was the head of delegation to the high seas treaty negotiations at the UN. She is also an Associate, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, an Adjunct Professor of Law, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and the Senior Ocean Governance Advisor, IUCN. Ms. Muraki Gottlieb’s research interests include the role of business in sustainability, harmonisation of multilateral environmental agreements, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to foster capacity development.
Session 9: Implications for industry
Session Chair: Thomas Vanagt
Thomas Vanagt is a marine biologist and entrepreneur. He obtained his PhD in marine ecology from the University of Ghent in Belgium. In 2009, he founded the marine environmental consulting company eCOAST, which he successfully sold to Eurofins in 2019. Since then, he has been building a new company, ABSint, which helps biotechnology companies to go from resource over lab to market. One of the main focus areas of the company is Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) on genetic resources. Thomas’ marine biology and genetic resource interests naturally come together in the topic of Marine Genetic Resources, one of the key elements of the BBNJ treaty. Thomas has been an active participant in the BBNJ process since 2014.
Panellist: Sahan Abeysekara, Lloyd’s Register
Sahan Abeysekara is a Principal Specialist at Lloyd’s Register. With over 20 years’ experience in the shipping industry. He led LR’s Ballast Water and Biosafety team and currently developing value proposition for ‘Biodiversity’. Sahan is an expert in Marine engineering and environmental technologies. Sahan represents Lloyd’s Register on many industry forums and collaborative initiatives. He is an IACS representative to IMO MEPC meetings for the last ten years. He is an author and keen speaker of marine environmental policy & regulations. Sahan is a Fellow at Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, Member of Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology and Engineering council. Sahan started his career at sea as a marine engineer prior joining LR. He holds Masters degree from City University, London.
Panellist: Jane Collins, KPMG UK
Jane has over 10 years of international work experience within government, the private sector and academia related to responsible management of the marine environment. With a keen interest in ocean science and policy, Jane completed a PhD in 2020 involving research into policy options for governance of marine genetic resources (MGR) in the context of the new BBNJ agreement. Jane then took on the role of Team Leader for Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) with the UK Government, leading on the implementation, enforcement and awareness raising of UK ABS Regulations. She also operated as subject matter expert and advisor on MGR with the UK Government team involved in the UN BBNJ negotiations. In 2022, Jane joined the Life Science Regulatory Solutions practice at KPMG UK. In this capacity, Jane supports life science organisations with regulatory affairs, focussing on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations.
Panellist: Nicola Ferri, FAO General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
Nicola Ferri holds a PhD in International Law and currently serves as Legal and Compliance Officer at the FAO/GFCM Secretariat. He is in charge of main institutional, legal and compliance related tasks and has been representing FAO/GFCM in several global fora, including the BBNJ forum. Before joining FAO/GFCM, Dr Ferri cooperated many years with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a legal consultant. In this capacity, he represented Italy at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, overseeing matters relating to oceans and fisheries. He was also tasked to oversee other legal issues in the framework of the work of the Sixth Committee of the UN's General Assembly while in New York. Dr Ferri has authored several publications on various international law topics.
Panellist: Kent Bressie, Partner & Head of International Law, HWG LLP
Kent Bressie is a partner with HWG LLP in Washington DC and heads its international practice. An expert on telecommunications, international trade and investment, and national security regulation, he represents communications and technology companies and investors in a wide variety of cross-border and domestic regulatory and commercial matters. He works extensively in the submarine cable sector and represents operators, suppliers, and investors. He serves as the legal adviser to both the International Cable Protection Committee and the North American Submarine Cable Association. He is a graduate of Stanford University, the University of Chicago Law School, and the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy.
Panellist: Jean-Baptiste Jouffray, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions
Jean-Baptiste Jouffray is a researcher focused on the interlinked social, economic, and ecological challenges that shape the new global ocean context. Initially trained as an ecologist, Jean-Baptiste has embraced inter and trans-disciplinary approaches over the course of his PhD with a particular attention to the ocean economy and the role of industry. He is involved in the Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) initiative, a co-production project between scientists and the world’s largest seafood companies, and is frequently in dialogue with ocean industries to explore their potential for collective and cross-sectoral action. Jean-Baptiste holds a PhD in sustainability science from the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University and has recently joined the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions as a postdoctoral fellow.
Session 10: Hitting the ground running: preparations for COP1
Session Chair: Ben Boteler, RIFS Potsdam/TMG
Ben Boteler researches ocean governance for the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. He is interested in how innovative governance strategies can help to underpin transformative action towards overcoming global challenges such as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. From 2018 to 2022, he was a co-lead of the STRONG High Seas project (Strengthening Regional Ocean Governance for the High Seas), a project that aimed to facilitate the development of comprehensive, cross-sectoral approaches for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the high seas.
Panellist: Kristina Gjerde, Senior High Seas Advisor, IUCN
Kristina M. Gjerde, J.D., is Senior High Seas Advisor to IUCN’s Ocean Team and an adjunct professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California. Kristina has been representing IUCN in meetings dealing with high seas and deep sea biodiversity since 2003. Kristina has authored and co-authored more than 200 publications and co-founded four initiatives: the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, the Sargasso Sea Project, the High Seas Alliance, and the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI). Kristina also currently serves on advisory boards for the Schmidt Ocean Institute, Ocean Voices Program, and Edinburgh Ocean Leaders; and previously served on the Executive Planning Group of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. In February 2023, Kristina received the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Fred Packard Award for her efforts to secure protections in international law for the ocean beyond national jurisdiction.
Panellist: Philippe Raposo, Foreign Affairs, Brazil
Philippe Raposo is a Brazilian diplomat based at the Brazilian Embassy in Berlin (from Sept 2023). He has a background in Law (Fluminense Federal University), International Relations (University of Brasilia) and History, Politics and Cultural Assets (Getúlio Vargas Foundation). Between 2021 and 2023, he worked in the Division of Sea, Antarctica and Outer Space Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, leading on topics related to oceans, international seabed and Law of the Sea. Philippe was a member of the Brazilian delegation the BBNJ agreement negotiations between 2021 and 2023, coordinating the Core Latin American Countries (CLAM) in the negotiations of marine genetic resources and sharing of benefits (Part II of the BBNJ Agreement). He also coordinated Brazil's official position of support for the precautionary pause of deep-sea mining activities within the scope of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), in Kingston, Jamaica (July 2023).
Panellist: Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Independent International Ocean Expert
Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli is an independent international ocean expert. She retired from the United Nations in early 2020 after more than 32 years of service, including as Director of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). Apart from 3 years when she led the work of the Treaty Section of OLA, she spent all of her career working on ocean issues. BBNJ is very close to her heart. She has been working on BBNJ issues for close to 20 years, first while working in DOALOS, including as Secretary of the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference, and then following her retirement she has been moderating several dialogues on the issue during the High Seas Treaty Dialogues and more recently during the BBNJ Informal Dialogues, amongst other activities.
Panellist: Lowri Griffiths, Head of Ocean Policy, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Lowri Mai Griffiths is the Head of the Ocean Policy Unit at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The work of the Ocean Policy Unit covers all aspects of the implementation and interpretation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as other marine and maritime issues. Lowri was the Head of the UK delegation to the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference. She is also a member of the UK delegation to the International Seabed Authority. Prior to joining the Ocean Policy Unit, Lowri was a lawyer in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Legal Directorate, advising on issues relating to the UK’s Overseas Territories, including maritime boundary negotiations and marine management issues.
Panellist: Salvador Vega Telias, Head of the Oceans Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile
Salvador Vega Telias is the Head of the Oceans Department of the Environment, Climate Change and Oceans Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile. The Ocean Department is in charge of all issues related to ocean governance and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; he has experience in international negotiations on environment, biodiversity and fisheries. Salvador was part of the Chile delegation to the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference, and he is part of the national team for the proposal of Chile to host the BBNJ Secretariat. Salvador is also a member of the delegation to the International Seabed Authority, and he is one of the co-facilitators of the Working Group on institutional matters in the negotiation process of the Drafts Regulations of Exploitation. He is also Technical Secretary of the Council of Ministers for National Ocean Policy, and worked on national processes to establish and implement marine protected areas.
Panellist: Torsten Thiele, Global Ocean Trust
Torsten Thiele is a expert in ocean governance and sustainable blue finance, drawing on over 20 years experience in project and infrastructure finance with leading financial institutions and a decade of ocean research. During the BBNJ negotiations which he attended as IUCN observer Torsten focussed on Art. 52, the financial mechanism. Torsten Thiele is Founder of Global Ocean Trust, Strategic Advisor to the IUCN Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility and Senior Advisor to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance. Recent publications address high seas finance, climate policy, coastal infrastructure, nature-based solutions and innovative ocean solutions. Torsten Thiele holds degrees from the universities of Cambridge, Bonn and Harvard and is an Affiliate Scholar at the Research Institute for Sustainability, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Germany and Honorary Fellow at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK.
Panellist: Charlotte Salpin, UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Charlotte Salpin is a Senior Legal Officer at the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, where she has worked for nearly 20 years on various issues. She currently heads the cluster dealing with BBNJ, the protection and preservation of the marine environment, marine scientific research and sustainable development issues. A former Senior Legal Officer at the International Seabed Authority, she started her UN career at the United Nations Environment Programme. Charlotte has followed the BBNJ process since its inception in 2004 in various capacities, most recently as lead of the team supporting the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference. Charlotte holds advanced postgraduate university degrees in public international law and in environmental law. She has authored and co-authored a number of articles and publications on BBNJ and environmental law.
The High Seas Treaty Symposium
6-7 October 2023, Edinburgh, UK