Speakers
Dr. Emma Heslop
Programme Specialist – Global Ocean Observing System IOC-UNESCO
Emma is a physical oceanographer with significant strategic and business development expertise. An initial career in the technology industry developed skills in new market development and communications. Sailing made her profoundly aware of the importance of the oceans and of the human impacts on them. She completed a PhD in physical oceanography. Her experience encompasses circulation variability, new technology, multi-platform ocean observing systems, the economics of ocean data and ocean data products, and the value chain for delivery of ocean data to users.
In 2018 she joined the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO to support the development of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), in particular implementing its ambitious 2030 Strategy. The ocean has a key role to play in our sustainable future and ocean observations are the foundation to achieving this. She now concentrates on the ensuring ocean observing is understood as critical infrastructre and that the system is responsive and delivers to societal needs.
Alma Román
Head of ASC Spain and Portugal
She holds a degree in Biology from Universidad Complutense and has complemented her studies with training in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility at the School of Industrial Organization (EOI). With over fifteen years of international experience, particularly in the food sector, she has focused on defining and advancing sustainability strategies.
She has built her expertise across a variety of sectors. In the NGO sphere, she initiated work on the MSC in Spain. For manufacturers and brands, she served as Head of Sustainability for Grupo Calvo. In the retail sector, she led international sustainability efforts as Head of International Sustainability for Grupo Dia.
Alma played a pivotal role in creating some of the first sustainability plans for the fishing sector and spearheaded one of the earliest programs to ensure compliance with human rights. Her deep understanding of the perspectives of various stakeholders across the value chain has helped her build and maintain strong relationships with them. Recently, she returned to the NGO sector to lead the efforts of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), the leading certification scheme for the aquaculture sector in Spain and Portugal.
Pamela Nath
Director of Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP)
Pamela Nath is the Director of Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP), a pioneering sustainability initiative led by Ecuador’s shrimp farming industry. Since 2017, she has spearheaded efforts to position Ecuador as a global leader in responsible shrimp production, promoting high standards in traceability, social and environmental responsibility, and antibiotic-free farming.
Under her leadership, SSP has built strong partnerships with key global organizations such as WWF, The Nature Conservancy, Seafood Nutrition Partnership, and IDH–The Sustainable Trade Initiative. She has also led international promotional campaigns to raise awareness and enhance the differentiation of Ecuadorian shrimp in global markets.
Ecuador is currently the world’s largest shrimp exporter, generating aproximately USD 7 billion in 2024, with more than 1.2 million metric tons exported to over 60 countries. Ecuador’s shrimp industry generates nearly 290,000 jobs.
Mike Kraft
Executive Director FISH Standard For Crew and Certified Seafood International (CSI)
Mike Kraft assumed the role of Executive Director for the FISH Standard for Crew in February 2021. The Fairness, Integrity, Safety, and Health (FISH) Standard for Crew is a voluntary third-party certification program for crew on fishing vessels harvesting wild-caught seafood. FISH serves as a tool for harvesters to demonstrate to stakeholders that their seafood comes from responsible sources with respect to crew treatment.
Prior to his current role, he was the Vice President Global Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at Bumble Bee Seafoods, leading the company’s CSR and sustainability initiatives for over eleven years. Previously, he spent five years with The Clorox Company, where he co-led the development of its sustainability strategy and drove the strategy across business units and functions. After working in a variety of marketing and finance roles in the private sector, Mike Kraft served eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and received an MBA from Old Dominion University.
Øyvind Ihle
Øyvind Ihle is the CEO of the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI), bringing a wealth of experience from leadership roles across the seafood and marine ingredients industries, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. GSSI is on a mission to ensure confidence in the supply and promotion of certified seafood as well as promote improvement efforts in seafood sustainability globally.
A native of Norway, Øyvind has spent the last decade championing health and sustainability within the seafood value chain, contributing to major companies like BASF (Omega-3), DSM/Veramaris (algae-based feed ingredients), and Avramar (bass & bream aquaculture). His recent tenure as a Board member at Zooca, which focuses on zooplankton for feed and nutraceuticals, underscores his commitment to sustainable practices. His work in influencing consumer behaviour earned him a position on the marketing committee of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership’s Eat Seafood America campaign.
Garazi Rodríguez Valle
Head of Production and Marketing Plans at APROMAR
She holds a degree in Biology from the University of Navarra, a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and Control in Business from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the Ecoembes Chair, and a Master’s degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries from the University of Cádiz. Since 2017, she has worked at APROMAR, the Spanish Aquaculture Business Association, which represents 95% of marine and inland aquaculture companies farming fish in Spain.
At APROMAR, she is responsible for Production and Marketing Plans (PPyC), the main tool for planning future actions to achieve the objectives of the CMO. These include a strategic communications plan (Aquaculture of Spain), a sustainability report, a collective brand for fish (Crianza Mares y Ríos de España), the Annual Report “Aquaculture in Spain,” training initiatives, international relations, and more.
Since 2024, she has been leading the coordination of the APROMAR Innovation Network (REMA).
Luis García Castro
Sustainability Director at CONXEMAR
This experience allowed him to work for several years as an Official Foreign Health Inspector in the ports of Vigo and Marín. For the past nine years, Luis García Castro has worked at Conxemar (the Spanish Association of Wholesalers, Importers, Processors, and Exporters of Fishery and Aquaculture Products), first in the Food Safety Department and later as Director of the newly created Sustainability Department.
María Martínez Herrera
Director of Sustainability ASEDAS
María Martínez Herrera serves as the Director of Sustainability at the Spanish Association of Distributors, Self-Service Stores, and Supermarkets (ASEDAS), representing 75% of the food retail sector in Spain.
She holds a degree in Journalism from the Pontifical University of Salamanca. Within the association, her role includes coordinating key working groups focused on Food Quality and Safety, Sustainability, and Equipment and Energy.
She is actively involved in working groups for Eurocommerce (the European retail association), CEOE (General Council of the European Union), UNE Standards, and various other associations. Additionally, she serves as the Vice President of the Advisory Council of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN).
Raquel Arribas
Director of Institutional Relations at Kantar Worldpanel
She serves as Director of Institutional Relations and Director of Client Services for Kantar Worldpanel. With over 30 years of experience in market analysis and extensive training, including a degree in Psychology, a specialization in Human Resources Management, and a master’s in Behavioural Therapy, she has developed a deep understanding of consumer purchasing behaviour.
She is currently responsible for developing Worldpanel’s business with public agencies. Since 1997, she has managed and coordinated the Food Panel service for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. In 2015, she led the design and implementation of the food waste panel, covering both in-home and out-of-home consumption—a project that continues to this day.
Throughout her professional career, she has been responsible for managing a broad portfolio of clients and numerous work teams, dedicating herself exclusively to market research. Her work has extended beyond the food sector to include many other markets, such as mass consumption, telecommunications, distribution, fuels, lotteries, and more.
Nuno Cosme
Chief Sustainability & CSR Officer Nueva Pescanova Group
Nuno Cosme is the Chief Sustainability & CSR Officer of the Nueva Pescanova Group. He has joined the Group in 2017, and in his role since, he acts as a key driver of the necessary changes in business models and in the agendas of each area of activity, promoting more efficient processes and sustainable products. He is also responsible for transparent corporate reporting on sustainability and ESG matters.
He holds a degree in Marine Biology from Portugal, a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, and a PhD in Sustainability Engineering from Denmark. He has an extensive background in quantifying and analysing the sustainability of products and processes, as well as conducting studies on ecology and managing environmental impacts.
Damián Martínez
Head of Sustainability Projects AECOC
Damián Martínez holds a degree in Environmental Sciences from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a Master’s degree in Territorial Planning and Environmental Management from the University of Barcelona.
He currently serves as the Head of Sustainability Projects at AECOC, where he leads initiatives aimed at fostering responsible and sustainable business practices, helping organizations navigate environmental challenges effectively.
Previously, he worked with firms such as EY and Baker Tilly as an ESG and sustainability consultant. His expertise includes environmental regulatory compliance, data analysis, non-financial reporting, and the development and implementation of sustainable strategies across various sectors.
Bhakti Anand
Consultant at the Sustainable Trade and Value Chains unit NFI/FAO
Bhakti Anand is an International Trade Consultant at the Trade and Markets – Sustainable Trade and Value Chains unit of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). She holds an MSc in Economics from TERI University (India), and is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics from Amity University.
With a strong background in international trade and sustainable development, her work focuses on promoting responsible fisheries management and enhancing global trade policies to support sustainable and inclusive value chains in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Prior to working at FAO, Bhakti Anand served as a Senior Trade Policy Advisor at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and as a Research Fellow at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), which works closely with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Sector Area Coordinator at ANFACO-CECOPESCA
Iñigo Azqueta is the Sector Area Coordinator at ANFACO-CECOPESCA, a private organization with over 120 years of history that brings together more than 250 companies in the Spanish seafood industry, including a leading Technology Center with over 100 researchers. His work focuses on representing and defending the sector’s interests before public administrations, international organizations, and key players in the value chain, promoting policies that foster the competitiveness of the seafood industry.
Trained as a lawyer, prior to joining ANFACO-CECOPESCA, Iñigo developed his career in national and international law firms, specializing in litigation, arbitration, and European and competition law. He holds a degree in Law and Business Administration from the Pontifical University of Comillas (ICADE), a specialization in Institutional Relations and Development from Georgetown University, and an Executive MBA from IFFE Business School.
Elena Ojea
Oportunius program research professor at CIM-Universidade de Vigo
Elena Ojea is a research professor in the Oportunius program at the CIM-Universidade de Vigo (Spain). She leads the Future Oceans Lab, a team researching adaptation solutions for marine socio-ecological systems. She holds a degree in Environmental Sciences and a PhD in Economics, and has experience as a postdoctoral researcher at the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) and as a visiting postdoctoral researcher at the Bren School for Environmental Science and Policy (USA).
He has experience in European projects contributing to nature-based solutions to climate change and leads several projects with the Xunta de Galicia. She has published in Nature and other journals with international policy impact, and has participated in reports for FAO and the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. She is lead author of the latest IPCC Assessment Report on the Oceans Chapter of Working Group II on Impacts and Adaptation, and currently serves on the Scientific Committee of the Blue Food Assessment initiative of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions. In 2023, he received the National Marine Sustainability Research Award from the Banco Sabadell Foundation.
Fran Saborido Rey
Professor and researcher at the Marine Research Institute-CSIC
He holds a PhD in Biology and serves as a CSIC research professor at the Institute of Marine Research. His research focuses on various aspects of fisheries ecology, emphasizing reproductive ecology, growth, and recruitment dynamics. He investigates how fishing practices and environmental factors affect life history traits, including response patterns and fishing-induced evolution. His goal is to apply this knowledge to stock assessment and management, offering insights into resource status while promoting sustainable fisheries.
Since 2000, he has led the Fisheries Ecology research line at the IIM-CSIC. From 2018 to 2023, he served as director of the Institute of Marine Research. Over his career, he has contributed to 98 research projects and directed 71 of them, including 32 international initiatives. His scientific achievements include 184 publications and 83 talks. Currently, he coordinates the Galician Marine Sciences Program.
Madlen Sobkowiak
Director of the MSc in Global & Sustainable Business at EDHEC Business School
Dr. Madlen Sobkowiak is Associate Professor of Accounting and Director of the MSc in Global & Sustainable Business at EDHEC Business School. She is also a member of the Science Team of SeaBOS (Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship), a unique collaboration between leading global seafood companies and world-class scientists working together to transform the seafood sector toward sustainability.
Her research focuses on sustainability accounting, extra-financial reporting, and the role of corporate transparency in addressing environmental challenges. Dr. Sobkowiak works at the intersection of academic research and business practice, with a particular interest in how companies measure and manage their impacts and dependencies on nature.
Rosa Chapela
Managing Director CETMAR
Rosa Chapela serves as the Director-Manager of the Centro Tecnológico del Mar. She holds a PhD in Law and a postgraduate degree in Fisheries Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela. With over 20 years of experience, she has coordinated the Socioeconomics department at CETMAR. Rosa began her career as a technical advisor on legal matters for the Fisheries Department of the Xunta de Galicia. Since 2013, she has been a geographical expert and point of contact for Spain within the European Network FAMENET, the support unit for DGMARE, promoting participatory local development through Fisheries Local Action Groups.
From CETMAR, she has taken a leading role in and participated in numerous European projects focused on fisheries sustainability, governance, competitiveness, and value chains within the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Her work has also extended to participatory local development and addressing climate change, collaborating with diverse teams across Europe. She has partnered with international organizations, such as FAO and IUCN, and contributed to international cooperation projects, including the training of women in fisheries and aquaculture in countries like Vietnam and Senegal, as well as twinning initiatives in Romania and Bulgaria. Additionally, she is an active member of the CPMR Fisheries Working Group.
Bjarni Herrera
CEO & Founder Accrona, Sustainable Finance Expert
Bjarni Herrera is an internationally recognised leader in sustainability and sustainable finance, with a career spanning high-level roles in banking, advisory, and sustainable finance across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. As CEO and Founder of Accrona, Bjarni advises governments, corporations, and financial institutions on identifying opportunities for value creation, new revenue, cutting costs, investments, and sustainable financing.
With deep blue and green finance expertise, Bjarni developed the world’s (likely) first corporate blue bond for Brim Seafood in Iceland. This landmark transaction helped develop the discussion around sustainable financing in the seafood sector. He has since worked alongside multiple seafood and aquaculture companies globally, supporting their journeys towards sustainable growth and responsible financing. Author of Supercharging Sustainability, ni is a sought-after speaker for his ability to translate complex sustainability challenges into clear, actionable strategies.
Shashwat Koirala
Lead of the OECD’s Sustainable Ocean for All programme
Shashwat is the Lead of the OECD’s Sustainable Ocean for All programme. In this capacity, he oversees OECD’s sustainable ocean economy country diagnostics, tracking of ocean-related development finance, and thematic studies on topics like plastics pollution and private finance mobilisation. He is also currently leading the development of the Guidance on Development Co-operation for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, which strives to establish common principles to inform effective ocean-related development interventions.
Shashwat is an economist by training, having received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Chicago and a Master’s in International Economic Policy from Sciences Po Paris. He has previously held positions in the OECD’s Office of the Chief Economist, the organisation’s Environment and Public Governance directorates, as well as in the private sector.
Manager of Social Responsibility and Sustainability at ABANCA
María joined ABANCA in 2018 as part of the General Direction of Social Responsibility, Sustainability and Communication team.
She holds a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Vigo, and a Master’s degree in Marketing & Sales from the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems (Austria), and has also completed the AFI Management Development Program in Sustainable Finance and the London Business School’s Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility program.
Her career spans Erste Group Bank (a banking group with a presence in the EU), where she worked for seven years on Innovation Projects (Social Impact and Financial Education) and Marketing (sponsorship, branding), until joining ABANCA. Since 2019, María has been ABANCA’s Director of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, with the main task is of coordinating initiatives to promote the achievement of the objectives defined in the strategy and sustainability plan.
Antonio Basanta
Policy Assistant at the Office of the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans of the European Commission
Antonio Basanta currently serves as Policy Assistant at the Office of the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans of the European Commission.
Previously, he worked as a General Director of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Technological Innovation of the Consellería do Mar (Galicia); advisor to the Ministry of the Environment; and Head of Institutional and International Relations at the Ministry of the Sea (Spain). He was the Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Affairs and at the Ministry of the Sea. Moreover, he has worked as a fishing and port service sailor and has taught various courses and master’s programs at the three Galician universities. He has also participated in and collaborated on several European Union projects.
He earned a degree in Political Science and Administration, specializing in Public Administration, from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). Additionally, he holds a Master’s degree in Fisheries Economics from USC and is a specialist in data processing and analysis. He has served as a deckhand in the Merchant Navy.
