IPOS interim Governance
The IPOS Secretariat, composed of the Towards IPOS Consortium, is currently establishing the interim governance that will be tested and refined as part of the IPOS ramp-up phase (2025-2027).
It is composed of:
IPOS Interim Steering Committee
The Interim Steering Committee provides strategic direction and oversight (including approval of the annual work programme and budget).
The Interim Steering Committee shall operate in accordance with the IPOS Values Charter, which prevails in matters of values, principles and standards across all IPOS governance bodies and activities.
Françoise Gaill
Chair of the Hosting institution (OSF)
Joachim Claudet
Chair of the IPOS Coalition of Scientific Institutions
Sieglinde Gruber
Appointed Expert Member
Fernando Menezes
Appointed Expert Member
Hans Otto Portner
Co-Chair of the IPOS Acting Knowledge Committee
Shenghui Li
Co-Chair of the IPOS Acting Knowledge Committee
Current members of the Interim Steering Committee:
More information about the IPOS Interim Steering Committee:
The first version of the Statutory Note, establishing the structure, functions and processes of the IPOS Interim Steering Committee for the IPOS ramp up phase (2025 - 2027) will be published in early 2026, after initial validation by the current members of the committee. It will be available on this webpage, and will be updated on a regular basis, to mirror the evolution of IPOS all along the ramp-up phase.
IPOS Acting Knowledge Committee
The Interim Steering Committee provides strategic direction and oversight (including approval of the annual work programme and budget).
We are strong believers in giving our employees a voice. Our teams are put together with the help of our resident psychologist to ensure maximum productivity and engagement.
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.
Transparency & Expert Selection Processes
The following documents describe the various selection processes implemented for the selection of experts for IPOS governance and projects. Please note that these processes are to be refined throughout the ramp-up phase (2025-2027) with the support of the interim governance as well as dedicated ad hoc working groups. If you have any question about IPOS governance and/or expert selection processes, please contact us at : lucas.becquet@ipos.earth
