Genesis

The IPOS concept has been developed through international discussions to address this knowledge-decision gap.

Consortium

The Towards IPOS team, composed of the Ocean Sustainability Foundation, together with consortium of partners won the open call from the EU "Towards an IPOS". This initiative will bring together a diverse global network of leading ocean scientists, interdisciplinary experts, policy makers and civil society stakeholders in support for the establishment of the Towards IPOS initiative. A heartfelt thank you to our partners for embarking on this journey with us.

Interim governance

The Towards IPOS team has set up an interim governance until IPOS is created.

The governance is structured around:

• A Core team: the consortium

• An advisory board

• A Knowledge Committee

• A coalition of scientific institutions

• Strategic partners

Meet the new members of the IPOS Acting Knowledge Committee (AKC).

Over a two-year ramp-up phase, this diverse group of experts will guide the deployment of IPOS Decision Support Guidance options and ensure their scientific and technical rigor as we test, refine, and grow this proposed governance model.

The AKC was carefully selected to integrate transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and knowledge-holders from Indigenous, local, and practitioner communities, balancing scientific rigor with diverse perspectives to support equitable, actionable decision-making for ocean sustainability.

Over the coming months, the AKC membership will continue to grow, become even more representative of knowledge- and rights-holders from around the globe.

Current members of the AKC:

Hans-Otto Pörtner

Professor and Section Head in Integrative Ecophysiology at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) and Bremen University. Hans-Otto has served as Co-Chair of the IPCC Working Group II for the Sixth Assessment Report and has contributed to multiple IPCC and WBGU reports. He is the recipient of the 2023 Planetary Health Award and the 2022 Roger Revelle Medal. Hans-Otto is a member of the German Advisory Council on Global Change and the European Academy of Sciences, and he has authored foundational research on climate impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems.

Laura Khatib Lakiss

Co-founder of Guardians of the Blue and independent consultant. Laura holds master’s degrees in Development Economics from the University of Bordeaux and in Sustainable Blue Economy from the University of Trieste. She is actively engaged in ocean literacy and youth initiatives under UNESCO/IOC and the ECOP programme. Laura leads projects that promote community-based marine conservation, citizen science and ocean awareness across the Mediterranean.

Gerald Singh

Associate Professor and Ocean Nexus Chair of Global Change and Sustainable Development at the University of Victoria, Canada. Gerald holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia (2016) and his research addresses equity and governance in ocean sustainability. He serves on the Ocean Decade Action Committee and several International Science Council expert panels. Gerald is a major recipient of grants from the Nippon Foundation and NSERC, and his publications include influential works on social equity and inclusive ocean governance.

Mia Strand

Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University. Mia holds a PhD in Development Studies, with a focus on arts-based participatory research to inform ocean governance. Her research explores ocean equity, inclusion, and community-based approaches to governance. Mia is a co-investigator on WIOMSA, WWF, and One Ocean Hub projects and serves as a member of several international working groups under the Ocean Nexus and UN Ocean Decade ECOP Programme. She is the recipient of multiple research awards, including the 2024 Frontiers Planet Prize national championship.

Matt Frost

Head of the International Office at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Matt previously served as Deputy Director at the Marine Biological Association and has chaired several UK and international committees, including the UN National Decade Committee, Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership and the World Association of Marine Stations (WAMS). With over 30 years of experience linking marine research, policy, and diplomacy, Matthew has authored and co-authored numerous high-impact, policy-relevant papers on marine change and sustainability.

Shenghui Li

Lecturer and Researcher at Guangdong Ocean University and Director of the Center of MPA Case Studies. Shenghui holds a joint PhD in Marine Spatial Planning from Xiamen University and the University of Liverpool. She is an expert contributor to the UN Regular Process (WOA III) and FAO aquaculture governance reports. Shenghui leads research on marine spatial planning, ocean literacy, and governance frameworks, and has received several provincial and national research grants supporting sustainable ocean governance.

Olusola Adeoye

Director of the Ocean & Coast Program at Nature Cares Resource Centre as well as leading the Coast2Deep-Sea Initiative, a multi-year citizen science project focusing on empowering young people to become marine conservationists. He has led and consulted on numerous marine and climate governance projects in Africa. He is a recipient of multiple prestigious fellowships, including DAAD and Australia Awards Africa. Olusola contributes to ocean policy and coastal livelihood initiatives, with research focusing on marine biodiversity and governance.

Alexander Turra

Professor at the Oceanographic Institute, University of São Paulo, and head of the UNESCO Chair for Ocean Sustainability. Alexander is renowned for his pioneering research on marine litter and microplastics and coordinates major national and international projects on marine biodiversity, pollution, and ecosystem management. With an H-index of 53 (Google Scholar), he serves on numerous scientific and policy advisory boards, including the UN Decade of Ocean Science, Oceans20, and the Global Partnership on Marine Litter.

Nancy Karigithu

Special Envoy for Maritime and Blue Economy, Government of Kenya. Nancy previously served as Principal Secretary in the State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs and is a recognized leader in advancing maritime governance, blue economy development, and women’s participation in ocean sectors. She has represented Kenya in numerous international forums on ocean policy and sustainable development, including UN and IMO initiatives. Nancy is a strong advocate for regional cooperation, maritime safety, and equitable ocean management.

Leopoldo Gerhardinger

Conservation scientist and researcher focused on ocean governance and marine socio-ecological systems. Leopoldo has extensive experience in transdisciplinary research, participatory conservation, and sustainability science. He is an active contributor to the development of the International Panel for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS) initiative and collaborates closely with the Ocean Nexus program. His work integrates local knowledge and policy to strengthen marine biodiversity conservation across Latin America.

Rowena Mouda

Marine policy specialist with a background in environmental governance and regional cooperation in the Pacific. Rowena has worked with government and intergovernmental organizations on ocean affairs, climate resilience, and sustainable coastal management. She actively engages in regional and international marine policy dialogues and initiatives promoting the UN Ocean Decade objectives. Her experience spans program coordination, stakeholder engagement, and national policy development in marine resource management

Anthony Ndah

Marine and fisheries governance expert with a focus on ocean sustainability and blue economy initiatives in Africa. Anthony has worked extensively in coastal and fisheries policy development and regional ocean management projects. He is a contributor to knowledge co-production processes under the Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus framework. Anthony brings experience from both academic and applied research environments, linking marine resource use, capacity building, and policy implementation.

Samiya Selim

Dr. Samiya Selim is a Professor at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. She is a marine social scientist with over 15 years of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research experience in Bangladesh and the UK, focusing on environmental conservation, climate change and sustainable development. Her work applies social–ecological approaches to natural resource governance, small-scale fisheries resilience, ocean equity and blue justice. Dr. Selim works as an international consultant with organizations such as UNICEF, IIED, UNDP and the ILO. She is the Bangladesh Country Coordinator for the global V2V (Vulnerability to Viability) Small-Scale Fisheries Partnership and Co-Chair of the IMBeR Human Dimensions Working Group, advancing research on human–ocean interactions. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers on climate adaptation, equity in small-scale fisheries, marine governance and sustainability transformations.

Jean-Baptiste Jouffray
Researcher at the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions. Jean-Baptiste holds a PhD in Sustainability Science from Stockholm University. He is affiliated with the Natural Capital Project and the King Center on Global Development at Stanford University and is on leave from the Stockholm Resilience Centre. His awards include the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation Postdoctoral Scholarship and the King Carl XVI Gustaf Foundation’s Fund for Promising Young Researchers. Jean-Baptiste has contributed to initiatives such as the WWF Nature Positive Ocean Framework, UNEP FI Sustainable Blue Economy Guidance, and the UNFCCC Ocean-Based Climate Action group.