18-19 February, Singapore

BBNJ SYMPOSIUM 2025

Following its first iteration in October 2023 (Edinburgh, UK), the second BBNJ Symposium will take place from 18 to 19 February 2025 in Singapore!

Since the BBNJ Agreement opened for signature in September 2023, the international community has been working towards the early entry into force of the Agreement. To this end, the Symposium will focus on issues pertaining to the ratification and implementation of the Agreement, and draw in perspectives from the Asia-Pacific region. It will involve a diverse set of panellists from different sectors, including government, civil society and the research community. There will also be discussions on the forthcoming work of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Symposium!
In-Person Participation registration is closed as of 20 January 2025, 8pm, Singapore Time

Registration for online participation is still available - please follow the link below to register to follow the meeting online.

Delegates are invited to register for the satellite events on February 20, 2025. Registration will remain open as long as spaces are available. Please register soon to secure your spot!

PROGRAMME
Tuesday, 18 February 2025
Day One

  • 08:15-09:00 - Registration

  • 09:00-09:15 - Welcome Address by Ambassador-At-Large Professor Tommy Koh

  • 09:15-09:30 - Keynote Address by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

  • 09:30-11:00 - Panel 1: The BBNJ Agreement and its Contributions to Ocean Governance
Discussing how the BBNJ Agreement complements the ocean governance framework, and how the law of the sea has evolved and will continue to adapt to future challenges. Speakers will examine the opportunities and challenges of implementing the BBNJ Agreement, and share lessons learnt from the implementation of other ocean laws and regulations. Speakers will discuss the Agreement’s coherence with, and ability to advance ocean governance, particularly in the high seas and deep seabed.

Moderator: Kenneth Wong, Senior Director and Senior State Counsel, Attorney-General’s Chambers, Singapore

Speaker details

  • 11:00-11:30 - Coffee Break and group photo-taking for panellists and moderators

  • 11:30-13:00 - Panel 2: Ratification – Challenges and Opportunities
Discussion by member states on experiences in working towards the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement including challenges and lessons learnt. Speakers will touch on the role of stakeholder engagement and inter-governmental coordination, as well as capacity-building opportunities available for states seeking to ratify.

Moderator: Robert Beckman, Emeritus Professor, NUS CIL

Speaker details

  • 13:00-14:00 - Lunch

  • 14:00-15:30 - Panel 3: Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement
Speakers will discuss state approaches to legislation and regulation surrounding environmental impact assessments, marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology. Speakers will also touch on the implementation of the Agreement’s funding mechanisms, assessed contributions and the access and benefit sharing fund, with a focus on capacity-building and how sustainable sources of funding can be established.

Moderator: Nguyen Lan-Ahn, Associate Professor and Director-General, East Sea Institute, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

Speaker details

  • 15:30-16:00 - Coffee Break

  • 16:00-17:30 - Research roundtable
This roundtable features researchers across career stages discussing their roles in implementing the BBNJ Agreement through the integration of best scientific practices. The discussion will focus on the standardisation of data collection, coordination of research activities, and the importance of baseline data with examples focussing upon marine genetic resources and area-based management tools. Panellists will highlight how these efforts can both support the objectives of the BBNJ Agreement and benefit the wider scientific community.

Moderator: Murray Roberts, Professor, University of Edinburgh

Speaker details
Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Day Two

  • 08:30-09:00 - Registration

  • 09:00-10:30 - Fireside Chat with Co-chairs of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission
Sharing the BBNJ Preparatory Commission’s priorities and scope of work for its upcoming meetings.

Moderator: Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee

Speaker details

  • 10:30-11:00 - Coffee Break

  • 11:00-12:30 - Panel 4: Cooperation with Relevant Instruments, Frameworks and Bodies (IFBs) under the BBNJ Agreement
Discussing the interaction of the BBNJ COP with relevant IFBs; how IFBs may apply to activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction and contribute to implementation of the BBNJ Agreement; cooperation and coordination among relevant IFBs; and how IFBs work in concert with UNCLOS and the BBNJ Agreement.

Moderator: Zhen Sun, Associate Professor, World Maritime University

Speaker details

  • 12:30-13:30 - Lunch

  • 13:30-15:00 - Panel 5: Subsidiary Bodies
Discussing the roles and terms of reference of the BBNJ Agreement’s subsidiary bodies, such as the Scientific and Technical Body, the Access and Benefit Sharing Committee, the Capacity-Building and Transfer of Marine Technology Committee, and the Implementation and Compliance Committee; the interactions between the different subsidiary bodies, with relevant IFBs, and with the BBNJ COP.

Moderator: Nilufer Oral, Director, NUS CIL

Speaker details

  • 15:00-15:30 - Coffee Break

  • 15:30-17:00 - Panel 6: Clearing House Mechanism (CHM)
Discussing how the CHM could be structured for its users and stakeholders, for cataloguing and facilitating access to information; the interaction of the CHM with the Capacity-Building and Transfer of Marine Technology Committee and the Access and Benefit Sharing Committee; sharing best-practices from other CHMs; and industry/practitioners’ prior experiences with CHMs.

Moderator: Wendy Yap, Director (International Biodiversity Conservation), National Parks Board Singapore

Speaker details

  • 17:00 - Closing
Thursday, 20 February 2025
Satellite events

In conjunction with the main programme of the Symposium, Mara is pleased to offer a range of satellite events on Thursday, 20th February 2025. Please click here to learn more about the satellite events.
SPEAKERS
Panel 1: The BBNJ Agreement and its Contributions to Ocean Governance
18 February 2025; 09:30-11:00
  • Marie-May Jeremie
    (Speaker, Panel 1)
    CEO, SeyCCAT
    Marie-May Jeremie is the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT). She holds a Masters of Environment Degree from the University of Melbourne and a degree in Biological Sciences from Edith Cowan University. Ms. Jeremie is a seasoned Executive with expertise in Biodiversity Conservation, Ocean Governance, and management of protected areas in Seychelles. A trained Conservation Biologist, she has contributed to conservation efforts, policy development, and environmental legislation over the past 15 years. She also serves on numerous boards in conservation and resource management internationally, and she leads policy for ocean governance, including the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan. Ms. Jeremie is President of the Western Science Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).
  • Andreas Aditya Salim
    (Speaker, Panel 1)
    Program Director, Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative
    Andreas Aditya Salim, S.H., LL.M. is the Program Director for Maritime Security and Access to Justice at the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative. Before this, he was a legal counsel for the Indonesia Presidential Task Force on Combatting Illegal Fishing. He earned his law degrees from Universitas Indonesia and UC Berkeley School of Law and is a Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy alum (2016) and a United Nations-Nippon Foundation Fellowship alumnus (2019). Salim actively works to promote Indonesia's ratification of the BBNJ agreement through national newspaper pieces, consultations with the Indonesian government and the UN, and seminars.
  • Prof. Joanna Mossop
    (Speaker, Panel 1)
    Professor, Victoria University of Wellington
    Professor Joanna Mossop (Victoria University of Wellington) is an expert in the international law of the sea. Her publications cover a range of issues including maritime security, biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, dispute settlement, ocean governance and the continental shelf. Professor Mossop has provided advice and training in law of the sea matters to the New Zealand government and the UN Development Agency. She was an independent legal adviser on the New Zealand delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference that negotiated the BBNJ Agreement. With Professor David Freestone she is currently co-editing a Commentary on the Agreement that will be published by Oxford University Press in early 2025.

  • Mr. Craig Douglas
    (Speaker, Panel 1)
    Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica, Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations
    Mr. Craig Douglas is the Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nation in New York. He has held this post since September 2023. His areas of focus include ocean affairs, including implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, as well as matters related to International Peace and Security and Decolonization.  Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Douglas served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations in Geneva, where his areas of specialization was International Economic Relations, Migration and Labour.  He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Relations and Public Administration as well as a Master’s Degree in International Trade Policy.
  • Kenneth Wong
    (Moderator, Panel 1)
    Senior Director / Senior State Counsel; Attorney-General’s Chambers, Singapore
    Kenneth advises and represents the Singapore Government on a broad range of public international law issues. In the areas of law of the sea and environmental law, he was part of the Singapore national delegation to the Intergovernmental Conference that recently concluded the negotiations on the BBNJ Agreement, and advised on maritime boundary delimitation issues. He also worked on the ICJ advisory proceedings on States’ obligations in respect of climate change. In the area of international crime engagement, he works on Financial Action Task Force issues, and Singapore’s implementation of UNTOC and UNCAC, and mutual legal assistance and extradition treaties.
Panel 2: Ratification – Challenges and Opportunities
18 February 2025; 11:30-13:00
  • Ambassador Maria Angela A. Ponce
    (Speaker, Panel 2)
    Ambassador and Head of the Philippines’ BBNJ Negotiating Team
    Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    Ambassador Ponce, the first woman ambassador of the Philippines to Malaysia, has spent over two decades in diplomacy. Before Kuala Lumpur, she served as Assistant Secretary for the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office and the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Her notable positions include roles at the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and the Philippine Embassy to UNESCO in Paris. Ambassador Ponce, a lawyer educated at the University of the Philippines and University College London as a British Chevening Scholar, received the prestigious "Gawad Mabini" Award from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on 5 July 2024. She was honored for her significant contributions in international ocean policy negotiations, including the BBNJ Agreement, and fostering maritime dialogues.
  • Mr. John Junior Kemakeza
    (Speaker, Panel 2)
    Assistant Secretary (Supervising), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Solomon Islands Government
    John Junior Kemakeza has extensive experience in international affairs, currently serving as the Assistant Secretary (Supervising) at the United Nations and America’s Desk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Solomon Islands. He earned a Master’s in International Affairs and a B.B.A. in International Business and Management from Ming Chuan University, Taiwan, with earlier Mandarin studies at Fu Jen Catholic University. His diplomatic career spans over six years, including roles such as Acting High Commissioner and Second Secretary at the Solomon Islands High Commission to New Zealand. John has actively participated in significant international conferences and negotiations globally, showcasing leadership in multilateral and bilateral settings. His tenure in various diplomatic positions reflects a deep commitment to advancing his nation's foreign relations.
  • Mr. Bingzhuo Li
    (Speaker, Panel 2)
    Legal Officer, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations
    Bingzhuo Li is a Legal Officer at the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations. He works in the team addressing BBNJ, the protection and preservation of the marine environment, and marine scientific research. Since joining the Division in 2017, he has closely followed the BBNJ process, and had also contributed to the Division's work on capacity-building and the World Ocean Assessments, among others. Prior to joining the Division, he had 10 years of experience working in the foreign service of China on various aspects of public international law.
  • Mr. P. Jeevananth Paliah
    (Speaker, Panel 2)
    Undersecretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES)
    P. Jeevananth Paliah is the Undersecretary of the Strategic Planning and International Division at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES). In this role, he oversees strategic initiatives and international collaborations that aim to promote environmental sustainability nationally and in Southeast Asia. Jeevananth has been a key participant in the 4th IMT-GT Working Group on Environment, focusing on major issues such as oil spill management and the development of a 2030 Blue Economy Strategy. His efforts contribute significantly to ASEAN's biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation goals. He supports fostering international partnerships and is deeply involved in implementing the BBNJ framework, working with diverse stakeholders to align regional actions with global biodiversity objectives, thus advancing Malaysia's commitments to environmental sustainability and regional cooperation.
  • Prof. Robert Charles Beckman
    (Moderator, Panel 2)
    Emeritus Professor, NUS CIL
    Prof Beckman is an international lawyer with a special interest in legal skills. For many years he taught Public International Law, International Legal Process and Introduction to Legal Method, and coached the NUS Jessup Moot team and other NUS international moot teams. He was the founding Director of the Centre for International Law (CIL), a university-wide research institute that is closely affiliated to the Faculty of Law. He served as the Director from 2009 to July 2016. He now serves as the Head of CIL’s programme Ocean Law and Policy.
Panel 3: Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement
18 February 2025; 14:00-15:30
  • Dr. Fran Humphries
    (Speaker, Panel 3)
    Associate Professor in Environmental Law, Griffith University Law School in Australia
    Fran Humphries (PhD, LLM, BA/LLB) is an Associate Professor in Environmental Law at Griffith University Law School in Australia, who has specialised in marine and biodiversity law and policy for over 22 years. After working in the Supreme Court, she spent a decade working in fisheries management and biosecurity government roles. She has led large research projects for the United Nations, WorldFish, governments and Australia’s National Science Agency CSIRO on biological resource governance, including access and benefit sharing, biosafety and intellectual property laws. She was on the International Council of Environmental Law delegation during the BBNJ Treaty negotiations in New York. Recent works include F. Humphries (Ed.) Decoding marine genetic resource governance under the BBNJ Agreement. Springer (forthcoming 2025).
  • Richard Tur de la Concepción
    (Speaker, Panel 3)
    First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the UN,  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
    As an official of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Richard has specialised in the area of multilateral affairs. During his posting at the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations, he took an active role in the Cuban 2023 Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China, leading this bloc of 134 countries through the last Intergovernmental Conference for the negotiation of the BBNJ treaty. His experiences on this process have been shared in scenarios such as the 2023 BBNJ Qingdao International Symposium and through publications in scientific journals such as ¨Marine Policy¨.
  • Dr. Nicola Ferri
    (Speaker, Panel 3)
    Senior Legal and Compliance Adviser, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the FAO (GFCM)
    Nicola Ferri holds a PhD in International Law and currently serves as Senior Legal and Compliance Adviser at the GFCM. International lawyer with strong specialisation in ocean governance and over twenty years of professional experience in major global organisations and fora. His areas of expertise include blue economy (at international, regional and national levels), design and implementation of capacity-building projects and application of monitoring, control and surveillance technologies. Furthermore, he has deep familiarity with the BBNJ Agreement and the work of the GEF under the International Waters focal area. Dr Ferri has authored several peer-reviewed publications on various international law topics.
  • Torsten Thiele
    (Speaker, Panel 3)
    Founder, Global Ocean Trust
    Torsten Thiele is an expert in ocean governance and sustainable blue finance, with over 20 years of experience in finance, and a decade in ocean research. He participated in BBNJ negotiations as an IUCN observer, focusing on financial mechanisms. Thiele is the founder of Global Ocean Trust and advises both the IUCN Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility and the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance. His recent work spans high seas finance, climate policy, and innovative ocean solutions. He holds degrees from Cambridge, Bonn, and Harvard, and is affiliated with the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
  • Dr. Zeehan Jaafar
    (Speaker, Panel 3)
    Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences
    Zeehan Jaafar is a marine biologist with research interests in the ecology of fishes within the Indo-Pacific region. She has led and participated in many international and regional expeditions to enhance understanding on the diversity and distribution patterns of fish fauna. Her work informs the conservation of fish fauna and their habitats. A keen diver, she enjoys sharing her passion for marine areas through public engagement and education.
  • Dr. Michael Imran Kanu
    (Speaker, Panel 3)
    Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, New York
    Michael Imran Kanu (SJD) serves as Sierra Leone's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York and concurrently as Ambassador to Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela, and to the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica. In August 2024, he presided over the UN Security Council. He is a member of the International Seabed Authority's Legal and Technical Commission (2023-2027) and Vice-President of the International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties. H.E. Dr. Kanu previously served as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN (2018-2023), was Managing Partner of Kanu & Associates, and prosecuted for Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission. He holds degrees from Central European University and studied at Sierra Leone Law School and Fourah Bay College.
  • Dr. Thi Lan Anh Nguyen
    (Moderator, Panel 3)
    Associate Professor and Director General, East Asia Institute, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
    Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh is the Director General of the East Sea Institute at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and oversees its International Law Faculty. An expert in international law and the law of the sea, her research covers ocean law and policy, maritime boundary delimitation, and maritime security. Prof. Lan Anh advises government agencies and international bodies on legal and policy issues and often represents Vietnam in track 2 and 1.5 diplomatic initiatives globally. Previously, she was Deputy Head of Mission at Vietnam's Embassy in the UK.
Research Roundtable
18 February 2025; 16:00-17:30
  • Dr. Neo Mei Lin
    (Speaker, Research Roundtable)
    Senior Research Fellow, Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, St John's Island National Marine Laboratory
    Dr. Neo is a marine ecologist with more than 15 years of research experience in topics including marine biodiversity and conservation, population connectivity, wildlife trade of endangered marine species, and science communication. Her recent research focuses on building connections and networks with regional collaborators through shared challenges including marine plastics pollution and threatened marine species.
  • Dr. Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki
    (Speaker, Research Roundtable)
    Ocean Nexus Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Wollongong
    Dr. Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki is an Ocean Nexus Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) at the University of Wollongong. She specialises in international ocean governance, focusing on ocean equity in the contexts of fisheries, deep-sea mining, and marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions. She holds a B.A. from Griffith University and an M.A. in International Relations from Humboldt, Freie University, and the University of Potsdam, complemented by a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Vienna. Her career also encompasses significant contributions to climate and foreign policy on a global scale.
  • Laisa Branco de Almeida
    (Speaker, Research Roundtable)
    Ph.D. Candidate, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)
    Laisa Branco de Almeida is a Ph.D. Candidate in international law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID). She holds a Master's Degree in International Law from the same institution, where she was granted the Hans Wilsdorf Fellowship from the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. She is a qualified lawyer in Brazil and member of the Minerals and the BBNJ Groups of the Deep Stewardship Council Initiative and the World Commission on Environmental Law of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
  • Lucy Harris
    (Speaker, Research Roundtable)
    PhD Student, University of Southampton and National Oceanography Centre
    As an early career researcher, my research has focussed on deep-sea ecology, the threats these communities face and the benefits of their conservation within the topics of deep-sea mining, climate change and oil and gas decommissioning. My methodology involves the use of marine imagery and physical sampling techniques from the West of Shetland, North Sea to the Clarion Clipperton Zone, Pacific. As part of the DeepEnd project, which attempts to show the value of deep-sea ecosystems, myself and partners at the Marine Biodiscovery Centre, Aberdeen, conducted a comprehensive investigation to catalogue and analyse the pharmaceutical potential of the deep sea with a view to aiding targeted biodiscovery in the deep, high seas.

  • Prof. David Vousden
    (Speaker, Research Roundtable)
    Honorary Professor of Ocean Governance, Rhodes University; Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP GEF Sargasso Sea Project
    Dr. Vousden is an Honorary Professor of Ocean Governance at Rhodes University, South Africa, and former Chairperson of GESAMP, an expert advisory body to the United Nations on marine environmental issues. With a 38-year career in various governmental and U.N. roles related to environmental management, he has developed and applied advanced monitoring, analysis techniques, and innovative management and governance mechanisms, especially for global oceans and coasts. Dr. Vousden has also provided expertise to numerous global marine ecosystem management and ocean governance initiatives. His current work focuses on management and stewardship of marine ecosystems in international waters.
  • Prof. J Murray Roberts
    (Moderator, Research Roundtable)
    Professor of Applied Marine Biology & Ecology, University of Edinburgh /
    Director, Mara Consultants
    J Murray Roberts is a Professor of Applied Marine Biology & Ecology at the University of Edinburgh, where he founded the Changing Oceans research group and chairs the Joint Working Group between St Abbs Marine Station and the University. He led the EU Atlantic research programs ATLAS and iAtlantic and in 2022, was appointed Sargasso Sea Commissioner and a member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council. His research focuses on deep-sea cold-water corals and marine ecosystems. Roberts has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and the textbook ‘Cold-water Corals.’ He contributes to IPCC Reports, with fieldwork across the UK, Norway, Ireland, the U.S., Cape Verde, and the Pitcairn Islands. Previously, he directed Heriot-Watt University’s Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology.
Day 2

Fireside Chat with Co-chairs of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission
18 February 2025; 09:00-10:30
  • Ambassador Janine Felson
    (Co-chair, BBNJ Preparatory Commission)
    Ambassador & Deputy Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations / Enterprise Fellow, Melbourne Climate Futures
    Janine Felson is a distinguished diplomat, legal scholar, and advocate for equitable global policies. As Belize’s Ambassador to the UN, she has played a pivotal role in shaping international agreements on climate change, ocean governance, and sustainable development. With two decades of multilateral experience, she specializes in public international law and climate finance, championing the interests of small island developing states. She is the co-Chair of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission and heads the Indo-Pacific Climate Hub at Melbourne Climate Futures, fostering a network of researchers to advance climate resilience and sustainability. Her work reflects a steadfast commitment to global equity.
  • Mr. Adam McCarthy
    (Co-chair, BBNJ Preparatory Commission)
    Chief Counsel and First Assistant Secretary, Legal Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
    Mr. Adam McCarthy is the Chief Counsel and First Assistant Secretary, Legal Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), previously serving as First Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Policy Division. From 2015 to 2019, he was Australia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, also accredited to Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Namibia. He has held other significant roles including Deputy High Commissioner to the UK and Australian Representative to the Commonwealth Board of Governors from 2009-2012. In Canberra, his work has spanned multilateral, trade, legal, and arms control areas. In June 2024, Mr McCarthy was elected co-chair of the Preparatory Commission for the BBNJ Agreement under UNCLOS.
  • Ambassador Rena Lee
    (Moderator, Fireside Chat)
    Singapore’s Ambassador for International Law, Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
    Rena Lee is Singapore’s Ambassador for International Law and Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore. Rena joined the Singapore public service in 1992 and has served in a number of roles, including with the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She specializes in the practice of public international law, covering diverse areas including law of the sea, environmental and climate change law, and humanitarian and human rights law. Rena was most recently Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues and Special Envoy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this capacity, Rena was elected President of the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference in 2018 and served until the successful conclusion of the negotiations in 2023.
Panel 4: Cooperation with Relevant Instruments, Frameworks and Bodies (IFBs) under the BBNJ Agreement
19 February 2025; 11:00-12:30
  • Prof. David Freestone
    (Speaker, Panel 4)
    Executive Secretary, Sargasso Sea Commission
    Professor David Freestone has been the Executive Secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission since 2014. He is a former Visiting Professor and now a Visiting Scholar at The George Washington University Law School in Washington DC. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law (now in its 40th year). He is currently editing, with Joanna Mossop, a Commentary and Analysis of the 2023 BBNJ Agreement for Oxford University Press (forthcoming 2025). Recent work includes - Conserving Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (2019, Ed., Brill). In 2007 he was awarded the Elizabeth Haub Gold Medal for Environmental Law.
  • Nichola Clark
    (Speaker, Panel 4)
    Senior Officer, Pew Charitable Trusts
    Nichola A. Clark is a senior officer at the Pew Charitable Trusts, where she lead’s Pew’s work related to the BBNJ treaty. She also leads the High Seas Alliance’s ABMT working group and is the policy co-lead of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas High Seas Specialist Group. Nichola has been actively engaged in the BBNJ treaty negotiations for the last decade, focusing particularly on the ABMT and institutional arrangements chapters of the text. Prior to joining Pew, she worked for the United States government on international fisheries issues and at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies on deep-sea mining. Nichola received her Master’s degree from Duke University and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Wollongong’s Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS).
  • Viktoria Varga Lencses
    (Speaker, Panel 4)
    Senior Fishery Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
    Viktoria Varga Lencses is a Senior Fishery Officer at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), leading the GEF-funded global initiative Common Oceans Program to promote sustainable use of marine resources and biodiversity conservation. She has 25 years of experience in international fisheries, environmental policy and programme management. Prior to FAO, she was a Policy Coordinator at the European Commission, where she played a key role in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement fisheries negotiations and managed EU funding programs for the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic regions. Her career includes policy development and coordination roles in cross-border cooperation, energy policy and regional development.
  • René Lefeber
    (Speaker, Panel 4)
    Legal Adviser & Head of the International Law Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
    René Lefeber is the Legal Adviser and Head of the International Law Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He advises his Government on international law, and represents the Netherlands in international legal proceedings and intergovernmental negotiations. He also holds a chair in International Environmental Law at the Amsterdam Centre for International Law of Faculty of Law of the University of Amsterdam.
  • Dr. Youna Lyons
    (Speaker, Panel 4)
    Chair, Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS)
    Dr. Youna LBL Lyons is a marine policy analyst with 30 years of professional experience, trained in international law and oceanography across Australia, France, and the USA. She specialises in the overlap of legal, policy, and scientific aspects of marine environmental protection, focusing on issues like ocean governance, marine geoengineering, and the ecological balance of marine environments. She serves as a trustee and Chair of the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS), influencing international marine legislation and guidelines through bodies such as OSPAR, the Arctic Council, the International Maritime Organisation, and others. Previously a research professor at the National University of Singapore, she is also a coordinating author for the World Ocean Assessment III's governance section.
  • Dr. Zhen Sun
    (Moderator, Panel 4)
    Associate Professor (Research/Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management), World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute
    Dr Zhen Sun is an Associate Professor (Research/Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management) at the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute in Malmö, Sweden. Before joining WMU, Zhen was a Research Fellow at the Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore. Her main research interests include the law of the sea, international regulation of shipping, gender equality in ocean governance, climate actions and the protection of the marine environment. She published on a wide range of topics in the law of the sea and ocean governance, including a monograph Finding a Balance in the Exclusive Economic Zone (CUP, 2025).
Panel 5: Subsidiary Bodies
19 February 2025; 13:00-15:30
  • Dr. Marie Antonette Juinio-Meñez
    (Speaker, Panel 5)
    Professor, Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines
    Dr. Marie Antonette Juinio-Meñez is a Full Professor at the University of the Philippines' Marine Science Institute and an Academician of the National Academy of Science & Technology of the Philippines. She is known for her contributions to marine ecology, biodiversity conservation, and policy. Her research focuses on the biology and ecology of key marine invertebrates and managing nearshore ecosystems. Dr. Juinio-Meñez leads transdisciplinary programs in community-based coastal resource management, sustainable mariculture, stock restoration, and environmental governance. She co-chairs the IUCN SSC Sea cucumber Specialist Group and has authored over 90 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, conference proceedings, and training manuals.
  • Julia Schutz Veiga
    (Speaker, Panel 5)
    Visiting researcher, The Nippon Foundation - University of Edinburgh Ocean Voices Programme
    Julia is a PhD candidate at NOVA School of Law and an FCT research fellow affiliated, Portugal. Her scholarly research focuses on interpreting the legal framework governing the transfer of marine technology, examined through the perspective of international intellectual property law. The primary objective of her work is to enhance accessibility and facilitate the transfer of technology to promote ocean equity. Within the BBNJ Agreement framework, Julia has been an advisor to the Brazilian delegation on capacity-building, marine technology transfer, and marine genetic resources since 2019.
  • Dr. Kim Wonhee
    (Speaker, Panel 5)
    Director of Ocean Law Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
    Dr. Kim Wonhee is Director of the Ocean Law Research Department at the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology(KIOST). Before joining the KIOST, he also has taught public international law and judicial settlement of international disputes at Konkuk University, Ewha Womans University, and Korea National Open University. He has participated as a legal advisor to the Korean delegations in the Intergovernmental Conference on the BBNJ Agreement and the Meetings of State Parties to the UNCLOS. His research interests include the law of the sea, territorial and boundary disputes, and international litigation before international courts and tribunals.
  • Bupe Mwambingu
    (Speaker, Panel 5)
    Biodiversity Partnerships Manager, Basecamp Research, UK
    Ms. Bupe Mwambingu (MSc), Biodiversity Partnerships Manager at Basecamp Research, UK, leverages her expertise in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nagoya Protocol, BBNJ Treaty, and Digital Sequence Information (DSI) to promote ethical commercial biodiscovery. At Basecamp, she leads collaborations across 20 countries, aligning microbial research with international ABS frameworks and enhancing Basecamp’s proprietary biotech database. This work supports innovative developments in biotechnology, drug discovery, and conservation. A seasoned panellist, Bupe actively participates in UN biodiversity policy dialogues, including UN COPs, contributing insights into governance, sustainable innovation, and the ethical facets of bioprospecting, fostering inclusive and equitable research practices globally.
  • Dr. Nilufer Oral
    (Moderator, Panel 5)
    Director, NUS CIL
    Nilufer Oral is Director of the Centre of International Law at the National University of Singapore. She is a member of the UN International Law Commission (ILC) and served as Chairperson of the 74th session of the ILC. She is a Co-chair of the ILC Study Group on sea-level rise in relation to international law. She is a Member of the Curatorium of The Hague Academy of International Law and is an associate member of the Institut de Droit International. She was a legal advisor and climate change negotiator for Turkish MFA (2009-2016). She is currently a Member of the Committee of Legal Experts of the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS). She served a member of Council of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and was Co-Chair of the Oceans Specialist Group of the World Commission of Environmental Law. She has extensive academic publications.

Panel 6: Clearing House Mechanism (CHM)
19 February 2025; 16:00-17:30
  • Lowri Mai Griffiths MBE
    (Speaker, Panel 6)
    Head of the Ocean Policy Unit, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Lowri Mai Griffiths MBE is Head of the Ocean Policy Unit at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Ocean Policy Unit leads UK policy on the implementation and interpretation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as other marine and maritime issues. Lowri was the Head of the UK delegation to the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference and is a member of the UK delegation to the International Seabed Authority. She is also the FCDO representative on the UK National Decade Committee for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development,
    Prior to joining the Ocean Policy Unit, Lowri was a lawyer in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Legal Directorate, advising on issues relating to the UK’s Overseas Territories, including maritime boundary negotiations and marine management issues.

  • Dr. Thomas Vanagt
    (Speaker, Panel 6)
    Co-CEO, 3BIO
    Thomas Vanagt is a marine biologist and entrepreneur. He obtained his PhD in marine ecology from the University of Ghent in Belgium. In 2009, he founded the marine environmental consulting company eCOAST, which he successfully sold to Eurofins in 2019. Since then, he has been building a new company, ABSint, which helps biotechnology companies transition from resource over lab to market. A key focus of ABSint is Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) on genetic resources. Thomas' interests in marine biology and genetic resources converge in the topic of Marine Genetic Resources, a central element of the BBNJ treaty. He has been an active participant in the BBNJ process since 2014.
  • Mahesh Pradhan
    (Speaker, Panel 6)
    UNEP COBSEA Coordinator (United Nations Environment Programme; Coordinating Body for the Seas of East Asia)
    Mahesh Pradhan is the COBSEA Coordinator, an intergovernmental mechanism overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme. COBSEA unites nine countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam) to protect the marine environment of the East Asian Seas. He directs the Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Framework, aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, focusing on Sustainable Blue Economy. This includes Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Protected Areas, and conservation of seagrass, mangroves, and coral reefs. Previously at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Pradhan coordinated the Global Partnership for Nutrient Management and supported UNEA resolutions on Sustainable Nitrogen Management.
  • Dr. Thamasak Yeemin
    (Speaker, Panel 6)
    Associated Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Huamark, Bangkok, Thailand
    Thamasak Yeemin is a head of the Marine Biodiversity Research Group in the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok. He holds a D.Sc. in Biology from Kyushu University, Japan. With more than 30 years of field experience in Thailand and other parts of the Western Pacific, his expertise spans various aspects of coastal and marine ecosystems, including management, conservation, research, and administration. Additionally, he has served as a consultant for several regional collaborative projects with international organisations, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), UNEP, and the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity.
  • Thembile Joyini
    (Speaker, Panel 6)
    Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)
    Thembile Joyini was elected as Judge of ITLOS in June 2023 and sworn-in as Judge on 2 October 2023 in Hamburg, Germany. Prior to this appointment, he served as Counsellor for Legal Affairs for South Africa in New York and Acting Chief State Law Adviser at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. He has a background in dispute settlement, with time as a Commissioner with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration as well as acting Judge of the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria. Thembile was intimately involved with the negotiations for the BBNJ Agreement, acting on behalf of South Africa, and also on behalf of the African Group on some matters. He was also one of the Facilitators in the BBNJ negotiations facilitating Institutional Arrangements.
  • Dr. Arvin C. Diesmos
    (Speaker, Panel 6)
    Director, Biodiversity Knowledge Management Department, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
    Arvin C. Diesmos is a herpetologist in the Philippines who has co-authored over 180 scientific papers and is the co-discoverer of around 80 species of frogs, lizards, snakes, insect arthropods, and bird species found in Southeast Asia. He received his Ph.D. in Biology from the National University of Singapore. He also serves as a member of the Amphibian Specialist Group, Tortoise & Turtles Specialist Group, Crocodile Specialist Group, and the IUCN Amphibian Red List Authority. He is the Senior Director of Biodiversity Knowledge Management, the lead department in managing and updating the ASEAN Clearing House Mechanism at the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity.
  • Wendy Yap Hwee Min
    (Moderator, Panel 6)
    Director/ International Biodiversity Conservation, National Parks Board, Singapore
    Wendy Yap is the Director for International Biodiversity Conservation at the National Parks Board of Singapore. She oversees regional and global cooperation on nature conservation and biodiversity; in particular with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. She is the national focal point to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its subsidiary bodies. Her previous experience includes being the Senior Officer for Environment for ASEAN and the Head of Conservation Policy at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia.
Registration for this event is free of charge, but as the venue has limited seating capacity
- make sure to secure your spot by 20 January 2025.
THE VENUE

Conference Venue
Orchard Hotel Singapore
442 Orchard Road, Singapore 238879 (Map)
Ballroom 1 & 2 (Level 3)
SYMPOSIUM ORGANISERS
In collaboration with
PROGRAMME ADVISORY GROUP
  • Prof. J Murray Roberts
    Chair in Applied Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Edinburgh
  • Dr Anna Gebruk
    Research Project Manager, University of Edinburgh
  • Dr Nilufer Oral
    Director, National University of Singapore Centre for International Law (NUS CIL)
  • Emeritus Prof. Robert Beckman
    Co-Head, Oceans Law and Policy Programme, NUS CIL
  • Dr Tara Davenport
    Co-Head, Oceans Law and Policy Programme, NUS CIL
  • Eduardo Cavalcanti de Mello Filho
    Research Associate, Oceans Law and Policy Programme, NUS CIL
  • Prof. Marcel Jaspars
    Chair in Chemistry, University of Aberdeen
  • Dr Dani Diz
    Associate Professor, Heriot-Watt University
  • Dr Pradeep Singh
    Fellow, RIFS
  • Dr Vikki Gunn
    Director, Seascape Consultants/GOBI
  • Monika Thiele
    Coordinator (Acting), Regional Seas Programme, UNEP
  • Daniel Kachelriess
    Cross Cutting Coordinator (Consultant), High Seas Alliance
  • Rizza Sacra-Dejucos
    Asia Regional Coordinator, High Seas Alliance
  • Dr Thomas Vanagt
    Co-CEO, ABSint
  • Kristina M. Gjerde, J.D.
    Senior High Seas Advisor, IUCN
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Background image - Cold-water coral assemblage on a vertical wall in the Whittard Canyon, NE Atlantic. Image courtesy NOC/JC237, iAtlantic Research Programme