Speakers at Seminar “The Sea as Potential and Representation: Unlocking the Power of the Oceans”
The speakers will be organised by session.
Coastal Zone Management:
Sustainable Coastal Zone Management in Sri Lanka: Challenges and Opportunities, Dr. Vindya Hewawasam
Dr. Hewawasam graduated from the University of Tsukuba with a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Studies. She researches climate change and disaster management policies, focusing on community resilience and empowerment. Her work includes global environmental governance, traditional knowledge and equitable resilience and loss and damage among the urban poor. She was a JSPS postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tsukuba. Other than her academic research, she worked for the Air Resources Management and International Relations of the Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka, for more than 11 years.
Sophia University's activities in Japan's coastal management, Prof. Guangwei Huang
Dr. Guangwei Huang was born in Shanghai and graduated from Fudan University. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo. His research activities can be described as multidisciplinary and multiscale. His work includes lake eutrophication monitoring and modeling, wetland conservation and wise use, urban flood risk analysis and management, environmental impact assessment and long-term policy impact analysis.
Enhancing Energy Security and Achieving Zero Waste in Africa, Prof. Nkweauseh Reginald Longfor
Dr. Longfor specializes in sustainable resource management, focusing on critical environmental challenges such as waste management, unsustainable production and consumption, energy crises, and air and water pollution, resource depletion, and climate change. His research emphasizes interdisciplinary and systems thinking approaches, with a particular focus on complex social environmental issues in the Global South and developing innovative strategies to enhance governance for sustainable development.
Marine Biotechnology
Marine Natural Products for Health and Wellness, Prof. Ana Gomes
Dr. Ana Maria Gomes is Associate Professor at Escola Superior de Biotecnologia of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (ESB-UCP). Her academic background is in Pharmaceutical Sciences (University of Coimbra) with a PhD in Biotechnology from ESB-UCP. As leader of the Nutrition and Health group at CBQF Research Centre (ESB-UCP) her research spans the multifunctionalization of food with pro-, pre- and postbiotics in the context of microbiome and health; bioprospecting and valorization of marine resources within the biorefinery concept; and bioactive lipids and microencapsulation.
Bioremediation Strategies for Marine Protection, Prof. Paula Castro
Paula ML Castro is a Full Professor at Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (ESB-UCP), serving as the Dean of the faculty since 2001. She has a background in Food Engineering from ESB-UCP and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from University College London. Main research areas focus on developing bioprocesses and nature based solutions for environmental protection and restoration, including biodegradation of pollutants and wastewater treatment and bioremediation. She is among the world’s top 2% Scientists List for career-long impact in Environmental Sciences, Biotechnology and Enabling & Strategic Technologies.
Marine Ecology, Law and Governance
The universal duty to take care of the ocean, Dr. Maria Ermida
Maria Pena Ermida is a Doctoral Student and a Researcher at Católica Research Centre for the Future of Law at Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Her PhD research focuses on the governance of Marine Global Commons, specifically in what concerns the management of resources through international obligations. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and a master’s degree from NOVA School of Law in International and European Law where she presented her master’s thesis, ‘The Precautionary Principle Applied to Deep-Sea Mining’. She often works with Ocean focused NGOs in Policy Making and is currently working on projects related to the international protection of underwater cultural heritage and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in Portugal.
Ocean Governance and Sustainability, Prof. Sónia Ribeiro
Sónia Ribeiro holds a PhD (2010) and Master (2000) in European Studies in the Institute of European Studies of the Portuguese Catholic University and a degree in International Relations (1997) of Lusíada University of Porto. She is a Assistant Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Portuguese Catholic University and Coordinator of the Research Line in Maritime Affairs, since 2011. She has coordinated various advanced programs within the UCP Institute of European Studies, and since 2014 has coordinated the Advanced Program in Sea Studies and coordinates, since 2015, the Post-graduation in Sea Sciences & Business Administration. Sónia is Consultant and Executive Project Manager at SaeR - Society of Strategic Assessment and Risk since September 2000, specializing in the areas of Geopolitics and Prospective, Strategic Planning, Strategic Evaluation and Regional Development.
Round Table: Ocean Sustainability
Dr. Vindya Hewawasam (moderator)
Margaux Anniemarie Duhem; Jiarong Hu; Dhyna Apriyanti; Sara Cunha; Maria Ermida
Blue Economy
Dr. Nelson Lage, ADENE – Agência para a Energia
Nelson Lage holds a degree in Political Science - International Relations and an Executive Master's Degree in Management and Leadership Development (Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics) and over 20 years of experience in the public sector in the areas of energy, innovation and international relations. He held positions of advisor, deputy and Chief of Staff and member of governmental WGs. In 2011 he joined ADENE - Portuguese Energy Agency and since 2020 he has been President of the Board of Directors of ADENE, President of the Board of Directors of OLMC - Logistic Operator for Change of Supplier and member of the Board of Directors of the MEDENER network - Network of Mediterranean Energy Agencies. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of ERSE – Energy Services Regulatory Authority and a member of the Strategic and Advisory Board of several initiatives and events, Member of the Board of Directors of the Centre for Professional Training for the Energy Transition (IEFP/ADENE/APREN), Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Energy Poverty Observatory (ONPE-PT) and President of the Advisory Committee of the Energy Poverty Observatory (ONPE-PT). In September 2024, he was appointed representative of the Ministry of Environment and Energy to the Strategic Committee of the Council for Digital in Public Administration (CDAP). Since April 2025, he has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. From February 2022 to February 2023, he was President of EnR – European Energy Network. On a voluntary and pro bono basis, Member of the Advisory Board | Green Energy & Sustainable Growth of the Portuguese Business Council UAE , Chief Global Affairs Officer at Her Venture Hub, Executive Director of the Reach Alliance Global Network for Intercultural Dialogue, a board member of the Alliance of Civilisation Foundation, and a member of the East West Bridge International Foundation.
Before the future
Before the future: The sea as a changing landscape in Portuguese cinema, Prof. Daniel Ribas
Daniel Ribas is a film researcher, curator and writer. He is an Assistant Professor at the School of Arts, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, where he coordinates the Master in Cinema and heads the Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from the Universities of Aveiro and Minho and has served as curator for film festivals (Curtas Vila do Conde, Porto/Post/Doc and Batalha). Expert for the Portuguese Film Institute and the European Commission, he also contributes regularly to the Portuguese daily Público.