Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi, MBS

Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi, MBS, Chair IOC-AFRICA is a career diplomat. Ambassador Gichuhi also serves as the Secretary, Diaspora Welfare and Partnerships, State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Kenya.

Ambassador Gichuhi previously served as Charge dÁffaires a.i at the Embassy of Kenya in France, accredited to Portugal, Serbia, Holy See and Monaco; she was also Ambassador/Deputy at the Permanent Delegation of Kenya to UNESCO where she led the Africa group in advocating for Priority Africa and strongly lobbied for IOC-AFRICA to remain in Africa. She was Deputy Head of Mission at the Kenya High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa. She holds an MA in International Studies & Diplomacy, and, a Bachelors in Education degree.

The Ambassador has over 15 years of positive contribution in diplomacy and diplomatic relations; over 25 years of active engagement in training, administration and education work; and over 30 years involvement in participatory human development processes.

In addition Ambassador Gichuhi actively participated in the historic Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held in Kenya as the focal person for mayor’s and governors as well as the moderators. She has excellent communication and negotiation skills having participated in several bilateral and multilateral fora, as well as in various conferences as a speaker.

Bope Bope Lapwong Jean Marie

Né le 18 septembre 1972

• Coordonnateur du Centre de Contrôle et Surveillance de la Pollution Marine
• Chef de Département de l’Environnement Marin et Côtier au Ministère de l’Environnement et Développement Durable de la RD Congo
• Point Focal du Comité Intergouvernemental des Négociations du PNUE sur les Plastiques pour la RDC
• Alternatif Point Focal Convention d’Abidjan en RDC
• Chargé des enseignements à l’Institut Supérieur de Navigation et de Pêche à Muanda
• Coordonnateur du Centre National des Données Océanographiques (CNDO-RDC)
• Vice-Président de la Sous- Commission Océanographique Intergouvernementale de l’UNESCO pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest et Centre (IOC-Africa)

Education:

• PhD en Océanographie Physique(RYUKUS University of Japan)
• Marine Environmental Management (Université de Toulon)
• Assainissement et Gestion de l’Environnement (Kinshasa)
• En Géologie et Biologie(Kinshasa)

Experience:

• Expert de la RDC au projet GCLME (Large Ecosystème du Courant Marin de Guinée) (2008-2010)
• IODE EXPERT (MIM Coordinator)
• Membre du Poll des Experts of the UN Regular Process in support of First,Second and third rounds of regional Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects in the Atlantic side.
• Chargé des cours à l’Institut Supérieur de Navigation et de Pêche (ISNP/Muanda/ RDC)
• Conseiller Hydrologique de l’Agence Météorologique par satellite(METTELSAT) de la RDC auprès de l’OMM

Dr. Gilbert Siko

Dr. Gilbert Siko is currently the Director Marine and Polar Research, Palaeosciences at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation of the government of South Africa, where he is responsible for the implementation of the development of national oceanic and Antarctic research programmes that guide the capacity and human capital development. He also manages the distribution of resources that enables access to the acquisition and use of research infrastructure as well as research grants.

He has over 20 years of experience in guiding the development of national and international policies and strategies for the development of ocean sciences and Antarctic research. He also serves as the South African focal point for national and international scientific collaboration platforms in oceanic and Antarctic research. He also served in the first Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Executive Planning Group for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030.

Dr. Massata NDAO

Dr. Massata NDAO is currently Director of the Directorate of Seabed Management and Exploitation, at the Ministry in charge of Fisheries and maritime activities, in Senegal. He holds a PhD in Conservation and Management of Maritime Resources, but also holds several Masters: in Economics and Fisheries Management, obtained at the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM); in Environmental Sciences and Engineering, obtained at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL); in Aquaculture, obtained at the University of Liège (ULB); in Biology and Marine Ecology, obtained at the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD).

Mr. Massata NDAO was successively a Researcher at the Oceanographic Research Center of Dakar-Thiaroye (CRODT), Consultant in Natural Resources Management and Environmental Assessment at the Dakar Ecological Monitoring Center (CSE) and Program Assistant at the West African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD). In 2006, he joined the Maritime Economy Administration of Senegal where he was, successively, Head of the Office for the Valorization of Seabed Products, and Head of the Division of Oceanography and Protection of the Seabed Environment, at the Directorate of Seabed Management and Exploitation.

Within the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, Dr Massata NDAO is a member of the IOC Expert Group on Capacity Development and of the IOC-FAO Intergovernmental Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB).

At the level of the International Seabed Authority (IAFM), he is the national focal point, responsible for ensuring communication with the ISA on issues related to Capacity Development. He is also member of the African group responsible for monitoring the agreement relating to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement).