In celebration of World Oceans Day 2017 “Our Oceans, Our Future” Villa Caletas Hotel, , , 8 to 9 June 2017 The speakers , President of the Republic of Edgar Gutiérrez, Minister of Energy & Manuel González Sanz, Minister of Foreign Costa Rica Environment, Government of Costa Rica Relations, Government of Costa Rica Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera Edgar Gutierrez Espeleta is Manuel González Sanz is the is the 47th President of the the Minister of Environment Minister of Foreign Relations Republic of Costa Rica. He and Energy of Costa Rica. He who was formerly a has held management is a professor at the professor of corporate positions in philanthropic University of Costa Rica, co- and securities at the and multilateral founder of the project Universidad de Costa Rica. organizations in Costa Rica “State of the Nation” of the He has served as National Rectors Council of Ambassador of Costa Rica to and internationally. He has Costa Rica and founder of the UN and its specialized been a member of the the Observatory for Development at the University organizations in Geneva in 2003, Coordinator of the Board of Directors of the Academic Council for of Costa Rica. He has over 30 publications in Caribbean and Latin America Group in 2004, Vice- the United Nations System and of the Editorial national and international journals and a book President of the Human Rights Commission Board of several magazines. He has written 10 about statistical methods. Minister Espeleta lead between 2004 and 2006 and Minister of Foreign books as an author, co-author and editor. He has the first two reports of the United Nations Trade. He serves as adviser to corporations and edited more than 60 academic articles in Environment Programme about the status of the financial institutions on project finance, corporate specialized magazines published in Central environment in Latin America and the Caribbean, finance, reorganizations, acquisitions, foreign America, South America, Europe and the United the first environmental report in , investment and trade. He was formerly Board States. and the deck of environmental data for Latin Member of the International Bank of Costa Rica. America and the Caribbean, among others.

Elizabeth Taylor Jay, Permanent Representative Ramon J.P. Paje, Senior Advisor to the Climate Vladislav Smrž, Ministry of the Environment, to UNEA, Change Commission, Philippines Czech Republic Elizabeth is the Ambassador Ramon J. P. Paje, Vice Vladislav Smrž is the of Colombia to Kenya and the President of the United Deputy Minister in the Permanent Representative to Nation Environmental Environmental Policy and UN Environment and UN Assembly, was the International Relations Habitat. She is leading the Minister (Secretary) of Section of the Ministry of Friends of Oceans in Nairobi. Environment and Natural Environment. He She was born in Providencia, Resources of the Republic graduated from the Socio- Colombia. Previous to the of the Philippines from Economic Faculty of the current assignment, she led 2010 to 2016. He University of JE Purkyně in the development of the first land use plan of the island at the Cooperation for Sustainable implemented, among others, an extensive Ústí nad Labem. He previously worked in the Development of the Archipelago Department of San national greening program and a total logging chemical and automotive industries, where he Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina ban in all natural forests in the country. He is was responsible for human resources, security (CORALINA). From 2012 to 2015, she served as the currently the Senior Advisor of the Philippine and asset management. Before joining the Director of the Marine, Coastal and Aquatic Affairs Climate Change Commission. Ministry of Environment he worked as personnel of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable director at Lovochemie. Development and has extensive experience in marine and coastal environmental management, small island and coastal zone environmental management and protected area planning.

The speakers Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Environment Pelayo Salinas, Instituto Darwin Galápagos Richard Mason, Volvo Ocean Race, S.L.U

Ibrahim is the Deputy Pelayo is based in the Richard is the chief Executive Director of UN Galapagos islands where he Operating Officer of Volvo Environment and Assistant conducts applied research Ocean Race. Richard has a Secretary-General of the to inform sustainable long history with the race, United Nations. He plays a artisanal fisheries taking part in the last five critical role in providing management; document editions - four times as a leadership and shaping the the biodiversity of sailor and in the last strategic vision and unexplored seamounts edition, as the Shore direction of the ecosystems; and to Manager of the all-female organization. Ibrahim provides direct oversight understand the ecology of highly migratory Team SCA. He heads up the team that works to the development of the programme of work shark species in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. His with all the host ports to provide the stopovers and plays a critical role in the implementation of research and conservation efforts around and operational logistics for the race. Richard UN Environment’s mandate and management of Darwin and Wolf Islands in the north of the trained as an environmental scientist so it is not the organization, as well as advancing the on- Galapagos were pivotal to inspire the Ecuadorian surprising that his hobbies all centre around the going internal performance and reform agenda. government to create in 2016 a 40,000km2 no- sea: windsurfing and surfing. take marine sanctuary to protect the largest global shark biomass recorded to date and unique deep-water seamount ecosystems.

Miguel Bosé, Singer and environmentalist Monica Araya, Costa Rica Limpia Frederic Nepveu, Villa Caletas Hotel

For the past 30 years Monica is Founder and Fredric is the General Miguel Bose has been a Director of Costa Rica Manager of the Villa Caletas major force in Latin Music, Limpia, a citizen initiative to Zephyr Palace in crossing all genres but promote fossil-free country Puntarenas, Costa Rica. always maintaining an with a focus on renewables electronic beat. He grew and clean mobility. She has up with Picasso and Ernest worked on sustainability Hemingway, who were issues for over 20 years, has family friends. In 2007 to a PhD from Yale University celebrate his 30 year career he made the album and was a lead climate negotiator. She talks to "Papito" in collaboration with major musical the local and international media and is stars all over the world: Shakira, Laura Pausini, associated to several global initiatives. Her TED Michael Stip (REM), Gloria Gaynor, Ricky Martin, talk about fossil free Costa Rica has been viewed Paulina Rubio, to name a few. over 1 million times. In 2016, she was part of the world’s largest all-female expedition to Antarctica.

Alan Steenstrup, UnderSea Hunter Group Lorna Inniss, UN Environment Jorge Jiménez, MarViva Foundation

Alan has worked as the Lorna is the Coordinator of Jorge is the Executive International Sales Manager the Caribbean Director of MarViva. Before for the Undersea Hunter Environment Programme. joining MarViva, he worked Group for 16 years. He A Barbadian national, She as the specialist in the organizes and supports has a background in marsh lands and desert special customers and Environmental Planning management at the projects such as and Management and Tropical Agricultural conservation groups, Marine Sciences. She has Research and Higher scientific research over 20 years of Education Centre (CATIE). expeditions, film making projects, private experience in the management of coastal At the Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto charters, and news organizations. Alan holds a ecosystems in the Caribbean and was Director of Rico, he served as the instructor for the tropical Bachelor’s degree in Biological Basis of Behavior. the Coastal Zone Management Unit of the forest management, and for the postgraduate In 1993, he worked as a naturalist guide at Selva Government of Barbados. Lorna has also been courses of the Organization of Tropical Studies Verde Lodge in Costa Rica. He joined the the joint coordinator of the World Ocean (OET), to which he serves as a member of the Undersea Hunter Group in 1995 where he Assessment during the past four years. assembly and the board of directions. remains, contentedly, to this day.

The speakers Ureña Vargas, Canal Authority Kerstin Stranimaier, AkzoNobel Edouard Michel, Institute of Ecology and Environment of Since 2013 Angel is the Kerstin has been working Edouard works for the Environmental Assessment with AkzoNobel for the last CNRS ‘Institute of Ecology Manager at ACP. Responsible five years. In her role as and Environment’ (INEE) of the development and Director, Planet Possible division, managing its implementation of environmental policies in the Program she is responsible international connections Panama Canal Authority for the global with a particular focus on (ACP), including the planning implementation of the northern countries. As of environmental programs AkzoNobel’s sustainability something of a scientific for the control of the strategy. Planet Possible diplomat, Edouard leads operations, ensuring that all technical and legal actively drives CO2 emission reduction in its own development of institutional and scientific environmental requirements are met. He has operations as well as along the value chain. partnerships between the CNRS and foreign developed and coordinated activities of the Green AkzoNobel has been the first company which has institutions, while keeping abreast of Route of the Panama Canal, including technical cooperation with the Development Bank of Latin introduced an accredited carbon credit scheme international policies and conferences. He also America (CAF), the International German Cooperation for the shipping industry. contributed to a French national working group Agency (GIZ), in addition to representing the Panama on tropical forest policy to prepare for the 2012 Canal Authority in the National Delegation to the Rio+20 Conference. Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), participating in the discussion of issues related mainly to Marpol, Annex VI. Haydée Rodríguez, MarViva Foundation Maria Eugenia Arreola, Mexican Fund for the Peter Murray, Caribbean Regional Fisheries Conservation of Nature Mechanism Haydée has Masters Maria has more than 15 Peter works with the Degrees on Environmental years of experience Caribbean Regional Fisheries Law (University of Costa designing and coordinating Mechanism, were he is Rica) and Environmental environmental programs. responsible for the planning Science and Public Policy As part of the Mexican and implementation of the (Columbia University, New Fund for the Conservation fisheries conservation, York). Since 2002, she was of Nature (FMCN) team she management and development programme. specialized on has spent seven years Prior to this, he was a senior environmental law, building the Mesoamerican programme officer at the Organization of Eastern international law, and human rights. In Costa Reef Leadership Program. Maria also Caribbean States Commission with responsibility Rica she has led policy advocacy processes in collaborates with the Kanan Kay Alliance a multi- for "all things marine", as well as being the de facto favor of strengthened integral management of sector initiative working towards establishing an lead for climate change and sustainable energy. water resources and sustainable management of effective network of fish refuges to protect 20% marine ecosystems. Experience in Latin America of the territorial waters of the State of Quintana includes climate change, mining, marine Roo in , to allow the recovery of artisanal stewardship, and fresh water management, in fisheries and the conservation of the association to human rights. Mesoamerican Reef. Zdenka Piskulich, Costa Rica por Siempre Gilles Marit, Univeg, Costa Rica Ivannia Alayes, CoopeSoliDar

Zdenka is the Executive Gilles is the managing Ivannaia is a social director of Associacion director of UNIVEG in psychologist, with 20 years Costa Rica por Siempre. Costa Rica. The UNIVEG of experience in the field She has a law degree from Group is a worldwide of development, the University of Costa supplier of fresh produce, specializing in gender Rica and a master’s in active in the fields of Fruit issues and participation. international development and Vegetables, Flowers She is a professor at the from American University and Plants, Convenience University of Costa Rica in Washington, DC. products, Transport and and University for Peace Logistics. and currently belongs to the interdisciplinary group of consultants who formed the Cooperativa de Servicios Profesionales para la Solidaridad Social CoopeSoliDar R.L.

The speakers George Jaksch, Mesoamerican Biodiversity Patrick Debels, Caribbean Large Marine Isis Alvarez, Global Forest Coalition Partnership Ecosystem Project George is President of the Patrick Debels, United Isis and a senior gender Mesoamerican Biodiversity Nations Office for Project advisor and campaigner Partnership. He is Senior Services (UNOPS), is the of the Global Forest Director of Corporate Regional Coordinator of Coalition (GFC). She is a Responsibility and Public the 5-year UNDP/GEF Colombian biologist with Affairs at Chiquita CLME+ Project. The CLME+ work experience in the International. A member of Project is a regional field of biodiversity Chiquita’s corporate initiative that helps conservation having been responsibility steering countries and stakeholders involved in field research committee, George has actively and with from the Wider Caribbean region implementing as well as policy and advocacy work with a conviction supported the evolution of the a 10-year Strategic Action Programme for the strong focus on the gender aspects of concept. As a lead auditor, he has conducted the Sustainable Management of shared Living conservation. She is a former organizing partner SA8000 audits in Chiquita’s Honduran, Marine Resources. Mr. Debels has previously for the Women’s Major Group in Sustainable Guatemalan and Costa Rican divisions, together worked as researcher and project coordinator at Development, and is currently co-facilitator of with independent observers from human rights Universities in and several countries in the Women’s Major Group to UN Environment. NGO’s and trade unions. Latin America, and as consultant for UNDP, UN ECLAC, the World Bank and the International Water Management Institute IWMI. Justin Roosevelt Sealy, Lucia Solid Lester Doodnath, Institute of Marine Affairs in Waste Management Authority Trinidad & Tobago Justin is the General Lester is a Project Manager of Solid Implementation Officer at Waste Management the Institute of Marine Authority. Formerly he was Affairs whose work the Strategic Planning includes formulation of Manager attached to the environmental impact Water and Sewage assessments, advising on Company (WASCO) Inc. regulation and legislation, Justin is the holder of a contributing to supervision Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from and execution of environmental projects and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, resource mobilization. He has extensive local , and an MBA with Distinction in working relationships with governmental and Engineering Management from Coventry non-governmental environmental bodies and University in the . He is also a has had wide experience in various fields registered professional engineer and the underpinned by his strong advocacy for immediate past President of the Association of environmental education and the transfer of Professional Engineers of Saint Lucia. sustainable values to youth.

The facilitators Fernando Mora, Vice-Minister of Environment, Leo Heileman, UN Environment Lisa Emelia Svensson, UN Environment Government of Costa Rica Fernando is the Vice Leo is UN Environment´s Lisa is the Coordinator of Minister of the Ministry of Regional Director for Latin the Marine and Coastal Environment and Energy. America and the Caribbean Ecosystem Branch of UN He represents the Minister based in Panama. Prior to Environment. Prior to this at the Boards of Directors this appointment he was appointment, she served as of the Rural Development the UN Resident the Swedish Ambassador Institute, the National Coordinator, UNDP and for Oceans, Seas and Fresh Commission for Risk UNFPA Resident Water, providing advice Prevention and Emergency Representative in the and expert guidance to the Care, the Presidential Social Council, and the Union of the Comoros from March 2015. He was Minister for the Environment on actions needed Governing Board of the Pacific Marine Park, to UNDP Resident Representative Interim in Angola to move forward on ’s international which he serves as the president. He is also a and from 2009-2014, UN Resident Coordinator ocean and water agenda. She was also representative of the Governing Council to the and UNDP Resident Representative in Equatorial Ambassador for Corporate Social Responsibility, Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Fisheries Guinea. Earlier in his career Leo worked for where she was involved with the private sector and Aquaculture Institute. many years with UN Environment in many on how to incorporate environmental and social programme management positions across the values in business models for enhancing globe following his employment with the competitiveness and economic growth. Institute of Marine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ilena Zanella, Mision Tiburon

Ilena is a marine biologist and Magister Scientiae in Wildlife Conservation and Management. She has worked in research, education and conservation of sharks with national organizations and with the National University of Costa Rica. She is very interested on sharks nursery areas, in fact in her thesis of master degree, she characterized the fisheries ecology of the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica, describing its distribution and alimentation in nursery area.