For over 20 years, Patricia has been actively engaged in the convergence of Arts, Education, and Sustainability. Her diverse background encompasses work in academic, artistic, business, governmental, and non-profit sectors. Driven by an unwavering passion for rivers and seas, she founded Acqua Mater in 2017, placing WATER and the OCEAN at the heart of all its projects.
Senior Programme Specialist at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, where she coordinates the “Ocean Literacy With All” (OLWA) Programme of the UN Ocean Decade and is also in charge of all Ocean Literacy activities and Ocean Science Communication.
Previously she was the technical secretary of the Tsunami Early Warning System for the North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and connected Seas.
She holds a MSc in Environmental Sciences, with a specialization in Marine Sciences, and a PhD in Analysis and Governance for Sustainable Development.
Wenche (“Venka”) is an experienced leader in corporate sustainability globally.
Building on over 15 years of experience in sustainable business and policy, she is currently the Director of Strategy and Partnerships in the science-business initiative Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS).
Since 2018, she has been engaged as a Senior Advisor to the UN Global Compact management in New York, working with the UN system to build awareness of the critical role of ocean stewardship in the 2030 Agenda.
Through her Consultancy Organization Wega, she has been advising many executives on Ocean Stewardship.
She is a marine geologist specializing in Science education. She participated in oceanographic campaigns taught at the University of Lisbon and Évora. She is a teacher trainer, guest editor, and reviewer of Ocean Literacy articles.
From 2006 to 2009, she worked in the Task group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf.
Since 2009 she has been dedicated to promoting Ocean Literacy, namely in formal and non-formal education. She is responsible for creating synergies between the sea sector, science, education, NGOs, and municipalities to improve Ocean Literacy in Portuguese Schools.
She coordinates the National Blue School program in Portugal, she is part of the coordination of the Atlantic network of Blue Schools and part of the Aanchor experts on Ocean Literacy.
Karen Kun is the Founder and President of Waterlution. She thrives sharing her global experience, extensive network, creativity and leadership skills with others across the water sector.
Developing programming to build diverse skills and networks for water and climate leaders with the necessary tools to approach complex issues through innovation is a cornerstone of Waterlution’s ongoing work to drive positive change.
Karen credits her time two decades ago living and working with Indigenous communities in Latin America as the inspiration behind applying water as a metaphor for everything essential in caring for and preserving ourselves and our planet.
Fisheries Engineer, PhD in Ecology, and Postdoctoral Researcher in Psychosociology of Communities and Social Ecology.
She has dedicated over 28 years to the field of public policies for the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity.
She is a professor in the Professional Master's and PhD Program in Biodiversity in Conservation Units at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, and a board member of the League of Women for the Ocean.
She previously served as the Director of Climate Public Policy at the Talanoa Institute.
In the Ministry of Environment, she has also held positions as the Director of Protected Areas and Ecosystems.
She also leads the Innovation at WIL Global, as well as partnerships, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and network building in Waterlution programs in Brazil and Mozambique.
A strong advocate for women's leadership in the water sector, she creates opportunities for women and youth who aspire to realize their innovative ideas.
Bringing her 20 years of experience as a facilitator, project coordinator, performer, director, and learning experience designer to Waterlution, she has been collaborating with the organization since 2010 in Canada, Brazil, Portugal, and Mozambique.
He has roots in Social Architecture, Urbanism, Aikido, Arts, and Communication. Besides being a TEDx Speaker, he has been working for 25 years as a speaker and facilitator in companies, universities, and other institutions (FGV, HSM, MAM, Perestroika, SESC, SENAC, Sputnik, Waterlution, etc.), inspiring people with his vision for the challenges of the 21st century.
His language is light and impactful, awakening new perceptions about leadership, sustainability, and education. His work is based on dialogue and vibrant experiences that give shape and meaning to a new awareness of how we live and coexist.
He has 30 years of experience in the socio-environmental field.
He is a biologist with a specialization in Limnology from Unesp in Botucatu, São Paulo, and holds a Master's degree in Sustainability from FIA, affiliated with the Faculty of Economics and Administration at the University of São Paulo.
He is engaged in various organizations and initiatives, including the Latin American Alliance of Water Funds, the Brazil Section of the World Water Forum, the Water Governance Observatory Steering Committee, and the Water Working Group of the UN Global Compact's Brazil Network.
He is a columnist for the Um Só Planeta (Only One Planet) platform of Grupo Globo.
He actively participated in the discussions for the development of Brazil's first National Water Resources Plan.
