SEASCAPE BELGIUM - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Environmental Data Scientist
• Lead Manager Data Science

Dr. Conor Delaney is an environmental data scientist and has over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of applied environmental science and information technology, with an emphasis on geographical information systems and Earth observation and marine data. He was awarded the position of visiting research fellow at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission where he worked on maritime affairs with a particular focus on improving access to and utilisation of marine science data. He has worked in a number of areas including urban air quality, climate change in the Arctic, water pollution management in the Irish sea, water quality management in rivers and lakes, shellfish aquaculture management and information technology for environmental management around Europe. Currently, his focus has been on the promise of Cloud computing to improve access to big data sets and the Digital Earth. Conor has also worked in the private sector as an environmental scientist and software engineer. He has an MSc in Environmental Science from Trinity College Dublin, and a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from National University of Ireland, Galway, of which he is an honorary member of faculty. For Seascape Belgium, Conor is taking on a senior position at the EMODnet Secretariat as Technical Coordinator.

Job Titles:

• Junior Project Officer

Debbie Tsang trained as a geologist. She holds an MPhil in Earth Sciences from the University of Hong Kong, and a PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Nagoya University, Japan. Her research focused mainly on the genesis of metallic ore minerals. At the beginning of her career, Debbie worked in the mineral exploration industry. She has experiences in exploration geologist and also mining consultant roles, and gained opportunities to work across the globe. The majority of the projects she involved in located in Western Pacific region, including China, Australia and Indonesia. Debbie's early experiences exposed her to witnessing how extraction of natural resources damages our mother Earth, both physically and chemically. She became desperate to contribute to environmental conservation work. Debbie later shifted her career focus to the field of resource sustainability, in which she dedicated herself to the facilitation and coordination of ESG projects. Besides local green projects initiated by an NGO in Hong Kong, she was also involved in overseas ESG projects conducted in Tanzania and DR Congo. Before Debbie relocated to Belgium, she got a precious chance to work at the CUHK Museum of Climate Change in Hong Kong, where she also contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Hong Kong. The experience further enhanced her motivation to advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals. At Seascape Belgium, Debbie will mainly support the coordination of EMODnet activities as a UN Ocean Decade Implementing Partner. She will support the communication and coordination among the EMODnet for Ocean Decade Coordination and Implementation Group, as well as assist in maintaining a cordial relationship between Seascape Belgium (as administrator of the EMODnet secretariat) and the National Marine Data & Information Service (NMDIS) of China.

Job Titles:

• Lead Manager Marine Knowledge

Kate Larkin holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and a PhD (2006) in marine science from the University of Southampton Ocean and Earth Sciences, U.K. Her research expertise includes marine biogeochemistry, deep-sea environments (in particular benthic ecosystems), oceanic carbon cycling, oxygen minimum zones, bioluminescence and ocean observation (from infrastructures and time-series analysis to governance). She has over 10 years' experience working in European marine science and connecting science with policy, industry and wider society. Kate first worked for organizations in the U.K., including the National Oceanography Centre and Natural Environment Research Council, with roles spanning postdoctoral research and scientific management of European projects (FP6 EUR-OCEANS NoE; FP7 EuroSITES) to knowledge exchange of oceanography for industry and the defence sector. In 2012 Kate joined the European Marine Board Secretariat, becoming Deputy Head (2015-2018) and including 5 months as Acting Head in 2017. Achievements include coordinating scientific foresight reviews for deep-sea research, marine protected areas and developing innovative solutions to the Marine Directive (MSFD) science-policy interface for the FP7 STAGES project. Her work involved regular interactions with related networks including JPI-Oceans, EuroMarine, EMODnet and EuroGOOS and dialogue with the European Commission and European Parliament. She also led EMB activities in ocean observation and marine research infrastructures. This included Navigating the future IV (chapter 11), and ocean observation coordination and governance development for the H2020 AtlantOS project and the wider European Ocean Observing community, developing Strategy, hands-on events and solutions to strengthen the capability and delivery of ocean observation and monitoring data products (see Call to Action, November 2018). Kate joined Seascape Belgium in January 2019, bringing her marine science expertise together with skills in professional Secretariat operation, project management, scientific editing, science communication, scientific conference and event planning and stakeholder engagement. In this role, Kate is heading Seascape Belgium's Marine Knowledge activities and took on the role as Head of the Secretariat of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) since April 2023, after having served as Deputy Head from January 2019 till March 2023.

Job Titles:

• Scientist at the University of Ghent
• Senior Expert

Marijn Rabaut is trained as a marine biologist/scientist at the University of Ghent and holds a PhD in Science from the same university (2009). As a high level marine policy advisor/negotiator, he has contributed to a wide range of projects with a science-policy nexus. Marijn was the driving force behind the legally binding Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) in Belgium (royal decree of 2014), he has been involved in fisheries related research and policy, in marine protected areas, aquaculture, in offshore wind energy, blue growth, shipping, sustainable development etc. Since 2016 he works as an independent expert and he is associated with Seascape Belgium since July 2018. For Seascape Belgium, Marijn Rabaut acts as a strategic advisor for business development and supports selected activities by providing high-level added value in innovation projects, negotiation processes, environmental diplomacy, MSP and policy advice. Marijn has over 90 publications (as author and co-author) and contributed to a range of Laws and Royal Decrees. He is an excellent communicator and is experienced in presenting both science and policy related topics (in national and international contexts). Dr. Rabaut speaks English, French and Dutch fluently and speaks Spanish considerably.

Job Titles:

• Project and Operations Manager

Nathalie Tonné holds a MSc and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the Free University of Brussels (VUB). She has worked on diverse topics including loss of landscape features of inferred biological value and its effect on European migratory bird species, and ecology of the seedlings of Rhizophoraceae mangrove species. In addition to her research, she organized the "Plant Physiology" practical course for bachelor students, and assisted students with their respective thesis. Before joining Seascape as a Project Officer for the EMODnet Secretariat, she co-coordinated the interuniversity MSc programme Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management (‘Oceans & Lakes'). At the EMODnet Secretariat she is responsible for several core tasks, including the monitoring and follow up of the thematic and regional EMODnet projects as well as gathering user feedback via user surveys and assessment of user friendliness of EMODnet data portals and services.

Job Titles:

• Lead Manager Science and Policy, CSPO

Oonagh has over 20 years of experience working both as an active research scientist and subsequently in the science policy domain. With a multidisciplinary background gained across the biological and environmental sciences, mainly in the fisheries and aquaculture domain, she worked in both academic and government institutions in Ireland before joining a Belgian marine research consultancy in 2015, operating at the interface between science and policy. In 2015 Oonagh joined Seascape, working for 4 years as part of the EMODnet Secretariat team on the transfer of marine knowledge to diverse stakeholders, as well as leading Seascape's contributions to several EU-projects. After working as a Senior Consultant with Seascape since 2019, she stepped back full into the organisation with a key role as Lead Manager Science and Policy in June 2023. In this role, Oonagh is a member of Seascape Belgium's senior management team, contributing to the strategic development of the company and its portfolio of projects. Oonagh has significant experience in content development, communication, stakeholder facilitation, project management, and strategic event organization. Oonagh holds a B.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Queen's University, Belfast.

Job Titles:

• Marine Data & GIS Specialist

Tim Collart is trained as a marine geologist at the University of Ghent. In 2019, he completed a PhD in Science at the same university, investigating the environmental and anthropogenic processes that control the occurrence of cold-water coral reefs in the North-East Atlantic. He has multidisciplinary research experience in geophysics, physical and chemical oceanography, geospatial data processing and statistical analysis. For Seascape Belgium, he works as a Marine Data Analyst and GIS Support Officer at the Secretariat of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet). In this role, he is involved with assessing and streamlining the data flow from research project and national data repositories to the users of EMODnet, technical performance monitoring of the EMODnet data portals and maintenance and development of the European Atlas of the Seas (EAS).

Job Titles:

• Science Officer

Vicente Fernández holds a PhD in Physical Oceanography (2004) by the University of Balearic Islands, Spain, and a Master in Environmental Engineering and Management (2014) by the EOI business school in Madrid, Spain. He has over 15 years of experience working in multiple roles related to marine research, operational oceanography, marine knowledge value chain and scientific coordination. Vicente worked as a researcher in public research institutions in Spain (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB) and Italy (National institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology, INGV) and in the Spanish Harbors Authority operational agency. He has been involved in several projects related to ocean numerical modeling and forecast and marine in situ and satellite data analysis. After that, he worked in the private sector (Qualitas Instruments Ltd, Spain) as responsible in projects supporting the coordination and use of High-Frequency Radar coastal ocean observing technology. He has also worked as a marine data consultant supporting environmental impact assessment of offshore and coastal projects and activities that require marine data information and knowledge. Since 2015 to 2023 he worked as a Science Officer at the European Global Ocean Observing System (EuroGOOS) Secretariat in Belgium, where he was heavily involved in European and international collaborative projects and initiatives related with coordination and sustainability of ocean observations at European level, marine data management, user and stakeholder engagement and definition of in situ data requirements and observing gaps for the improvement of operational downstream marine products and services supporting science, policy and society in the different European Sea Basins. Vicente joined Seascape Belgium in June 2023 as Science Officer for European and Global Project for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).

Job Titles:

• Engineer
• Managing Director

Jan-Bart Calewaert graduated as a bio-engineer in cellular and genetic biotechnology from the University of Ghent in 2001 and completed an additional Masters in Marine Environment Management with specialization in eco-toxicology from the Free University of Brussels and University of Antwerp in 2004. Through most of his career, Jan-Bart has been involved in a multidisciplinary research projects and science policy advisory bodies in support of marine research, sustainable management of marine and coastal environments and related policy frameworks. He has worked mostly at the interface between science, policy and industry, combining his expertise in marine sciences with knowledge of the marine and maritime policy landscape in Belgium and Europe. Jan-Bart has worked for institutes and organisations in Belgium and Europe, including Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), the Maritime Institute (UGent) and the Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology (UGent). For more than six years at the European Marine Board Secretariat, Jan-Bart Calewaert coordinated foresight and policy activities in various working areas including marine biotechnology, oceans and human health, climate change impacts on the marine environment and marine pollution. Jan-Bart joined Seascape Consultants in 2013, bringing expertise in coordination of science support activities, marine environmental management, project coordination and science policy communication. Since 2017, is lead manager of Seascape Belgium which he co-founded in 2017. From September 2013 until March 2023, Jan-Bart has dedicated most of his time to support the European ocean observing and data community as Head of the Secretariat of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), a long-term marine data management and sharing initiative supported by the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Since June 2023, he has changed roles to take the Lead of the newly established Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing in an assignment for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Within the context of the UN decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (https://oceandecade.org/) the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing (DCO-ODS), hosted by IODE (https://iode.org) acts as sub-unit of the central Decade Coordination Unit to catalyse and coordinate Decade Actions falling under its scope, promote cooperation amongst UN and Member State partners, monitor progress, communicate on achievements and mobilise resources. The DCO on ocean data management will take on an important role in (i) supporting the decade actors with their data and information challenges and to assisting with the implementation of the Decade's Data and Information Strategy (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385542). The overall objective of the DCO Ocean Data Sharing is to manage the Data Sharing component of the digital ecosystem needed for the Ocean Decade to be successful.

Job Titles:

• Junior GIS Project Officer - Intern

Matteo is trained in chemical oceanography, environmental management, GIS data analysis and management. He holds an MSc in Marine Sciences from Utrecht University, Netherlands with a specialisation in chemical oceanography as well as an MSc in Environmental and Resource management from the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands with a specialisation in Ecosystems and Biodiversity management. Before joining Seascape Belgium as a Junior GIS officer, Matteo has studied various aspects of marine and coastal environments during his first degree, including, nature-based coastal management solutions, chemical exchanges at the sediment-water interface and deep-sea phosphorus cycles, modelling of tidal systems and coastal geomorphological evolution. During his second degree in Amsterdam Matteo focussed on applying his scientific knowledge to coastal ecosystems and biodiversity management, he was trained in the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for acquiring and analysing environmental data. And focussed on coupled terrestrial-marine processes. Now returning to his home country after 7 years abroad, Matteo joined Seascape where he will be supporting the EMODnet technical working group on various matters regarding spatial data and metadata publishing and management.

Job Titles:

• Marine Scientist
• Science and Communications Officer

Pieter is a marine scientist with a side-project-turned-specialty in visualizing information. He shares your enthusiasm about research and puts that energy into clear and attractive designs. Pieter has a MSc in biology and more than eight years of experience in visual science communication at the VIB (Flanders Institute of Biotechnology) and various international projects. He has given guest lectures about scientific design at the Universities of Antwerp, Gent, Leuven and Luxemburg. Before joining Seascape as a Science and Communications Officer, he was in charge of the design department of an agency active in life science communication. As Science and Communications Officer, Pieter will be active and support a range of Seascape Belgium activities and projects. He will work on supporting communications for specific HE Research Projects. He will also provide targeted support for EMODnet communication (e.g. website, infographics, etc.) and support management of the collaborative tools EMODnet uses.

Job Titles:

• Multimedia Expert

Anaïs Dyckmans has a background in photography and has been active as a videographer an multimedia specialist producing content for various sectors including fashion, arts, business and science communication. She is particularly specialized in making video impressions of all kinds of subjects, from fashion mood films, science communication videos, concert video's, promo-films to moving images for social media and experience with graphic design from stills to moving infographic representations, including for social media and websites. For Seascape Belgium, Anaïs is an expert providing diverse multimedia and video content for range of communication and promotion materials and activities.

Job Titles:

• Communication and Partnership Relations Officer

Angelika Karampourouni holds a BA in International Marketing from Baruch College in New York and began her career in communication in the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI), followed by the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome. Returning to her native Greece in 2008, Angelika focused on partnership and stakeholder management, leading the secretariat of young entrepreneurs of Greece, before moving to Brussels in 2012 to become the secretary general for young entrepreneurs of Europe (JEUNE), of which she is still a member for its Advisory Board. She worked for the cabinet of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) as a policy advisor from 2015 to 2017. Angelika's professional concentration in recent years has been in the private sector undertaking stakeholder manager for startups in the EU and North America, focusing on humanitarian and environmental issues. At the same time, she has actively sought to apply her professional experience in the environmental sector especially on the Blue Economy while also volunteering with marine conservation and coastal protection organizations throughout Europe. She is joining Seascape Belgium for the EMODnet Secretariat, supporting communications and partnership relationship activities.

Job Titles:

• Senior Communication Officer
• Writer

Jula is a writer and multimedia content specialist, having managed the development of interactive educational and e-learning products for a variety of large-scale projects delivered to both the school and adult training markets. In a career spanning twenty years, she has provided communication and editorial support, as well as creative and project management for companies in the technology, science, film, travel, and educational sectors including Phoenix/Sony Pictures, Random House Worldview Systems, Riverdeep Interactive Learning (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) and Universal Vivendi/Havas Interactive. She has worked on licensed brand computer games from Warner Brothers, Cartoon Network and Lucas Film, and started her career at Electric Arts in customer and community support. Jula found a love of science when working on educational content and products for science curriculum. In recent years she has been providing Marine and Earth Observation science researchers with proposal and communication support, as well as business development and marketing services for start-ups. She holds an MA in Film and Digital Media from the John Huston School of Film at the National University of Ireland, Galway and a BA from the School of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University. Originally from California, Jula is an Irish Citizen who has had the opportunity to live in Ireland, Italy, Germany and now in Belgium where she happily joined the Seascape team in March 2023 as senior communication officer. In this role, Jula will be involved in Seascape Belgium's communication, dissemination and outreach activities across a range of European research and coordination projects.

Job Titles:

• Lead Manager Business & Strategy, CBSO

Julia Vera Prieto holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Amsterdam and has successfully completed an Executive Development Program (IESE - University of Navarra) and a Master in Digital Marketing (Online Business School). Her professional career has developed within the environmental sector, having worked as both consultant and project officer for private organizations such as KPMG and Spain's Business Council for Sustainable Development (Fundación Entorno) and held management positions in public institutions such as Fundación Biodiversidad (Spanish Ministry for the Environment). For 10 years, her professional career focused on advancing sustainability in the coastal and marine tourism industry as founding Partner of Travelecoology - an ecotourism consulting and travel boutique. In 2015, she was responsible for founding, managing and coordinating WILDSEA Europe, a network that brings together leading European Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), NGOs and tourism operators to advance coastal and marine ecotourism in Europe, as a proactive response to the EU's Blue Growth Strategy. Over 5 years, she successfully evolved the network through different EU funded projects (such as the SOPHIE Project), while leading multiple-Partner consortiums in charge of project delivery. She has an extensive experience in piloting stakeholder management and engagement processes, having also worked as external consultant for EU Interreg MED funded initiatives such as the Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Community featured by the PANACeA project, acting as facilitator and rapporteur of different workshops and meetings. Julia joined Seascape Belgium's team in September 2020 as Senior Expert and Project Officer initially assigned to the Blue Cloud Project and her portfolio has since evolved to contribute to most if not all Seascape Belgium's projects and activities.

Job Titles:

• Marine Knowledge Expert

Ms. Julie Auerbach, is an Irish National. After graduating in Geology and Earth Science from University College Cork (1999), she furthered her study through an MSc in Geophysics in Malta. To date, most of her professional life has been based in Malta, (Pre EU and Post EU membership), where as a Senior Scientific Officer she concentrated primarily on the technical aspects of offshore exploration, as well as coordinated marine scientific research (In accordance with UNCLOS and in reference to the Regional Sea Convention, i.e., the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols). Her experience includes involvement in the European Maritime Observation Data Network (EMODnet) Geology phase two, and also as contributor to the EMFF funded project, SIMWESTMED project proposal for Malta with respect to implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning legislation. Since 2010, she has been engaged specifically as a policy and research analyst for maritime affairs, under the umbrella of the Integrated Maritime Policy. Duties included the setting up of the ‘Blue Growth' Agency in Malta. Her recent work includes a focus on environmental perspectives, sustainable development and climate change sectors, where she has participated in the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, (MSFD), as well as the setting up of the GIS infrastructure for the related data management in compliance with INSPIRE (EU Directive 2007/2/EC). As part of this role, duties have included her representation for environment both nationally, and in European workshops for MSP and MSFD. She has also led the environment authority in its efforts for the Copernicus Relay and Academy in Malta towards the use of earth observation data, primarily for marine monitoring. She has been the officer responsible for the coordination of ‘Networks', which include the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the related Environment Protection Agency (EPAN), as well as the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), as part of its cross-cutting expert group. Additional experience includes lecturing in the University of Malta in Geoinformatics and Biostratigraphy (related to Climate Change). She had also been Malta's National Delegate for Eurogeosurveys in 2011 when it first joined after several years of observing. Julie's most recent work has been with the United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP). For her role as project manager of the EcAp MED II project, she was based in Athens at the Barcelona Convention Secretariat. For Seascape Belgium, Julie is taking on a senior position at the EMODnet Secretariat as Partnership Relations Officer and Project Manager for the EMOD-PACE project (EMODnet Partnership for China and Europe).

Job Titles:

• Junior Science Officer

Megan Tijssens holds a Master's degree in biological science with a specialization in biodiversity, conservation and restoration and a bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical science. Before joining the EMODnet secretariat as intern with the function of Junior Support Officer in September 2022, Megan worked on diverse topics during her academic career including management of invasive aquatic species (decapods), influence of invasive species on the ecosystem as well as reintroduction and translocation of macrophytes. At the EMODnet Secretariat she will be supporting diverse tasks including team meetings and board meetings, logistics support for virtual events, maintaining social media and website, marketing, desktop studies, policy support services and research projects.

Job Titles:

• Finances and Contracts Advisor

Mieke has worked nearly 20 years for a multinational petrochemical company before joining Seascape Belgium. Her roles ranged from managerial Business Finance and Audit towards individual contributor roles advising senior management on complex business model optimisations. Her non-conventional approach led to many improvement initiatives across the different sectors and regions in Operations, Sales and Marketing, which included managing diverse Finance IT projects. Her academic background includes a MSc Business Economics from KUL (Leuven, Belgium,1995) combined with ERASMUS scheme at the University of St.Andrews (St. Andrews, Scotland,1994-1995), followed by a postgraduate Master in Fiscal Tax Law and Accountancy obtained at the Vlerick Management School (Ghent, Belgium, 1996). In addition, in 2012, she took at her own initiative a one year career break to obtain a Master of Science International Management for China at SOAS (London, United Kingdom, 2013).