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.
Business administrator and Master's degree holder in Production Engineering from COPPE/UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro).
She has been working with Corporate Sustainability for 20 years in various contexts and economic sectors.
As a consultant, she supports organizations in integrating ESG parameters into business management, in dialogue with the Executive Board and the Board of Directors.
She serves as a judge for the Eco Sustainability Award by AMCHAM and is a professor in several Sustainability and ESG courses at PUC-Rio, UFRJ, and the Ethos Institute of Companies and Social Responsibility, of which she has been a member since 2008.
Lawyer from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and Postgraduate in Projects and Business in the Electric Sector from IBMEC/RJ.
With over 20 years of experience in leadership positions in the legal field.
As Legal Director of Enel Brazil, she is responsible for providing full legal support to the business areas and managing contingencies.
She is also a graduate in psychology and a writer.
She has published two books: "Quando o dia amanhece" (When the Day Dawns) and "Enquanto olho o cardápio" (While I look at the Menu).
