Sessions Chairs
Katja Laingui
Katja Laingui is a dedicated environmental professional with over 15 years of experience in operational management. Currently part of the management team at PROTECT BALTIC, she is passionate about marine environments, environmental education and sustainable development.
Katja has a strong background in marine biology and sustainable development, holding a B.Sc. from the University of Cape Town and a Postgraduate Diploma from Stellenbosch University.
Her career includes significant roles at the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation, where she managed finance and operations, and most recently co-leading the global and European planning of marine protected area (MPA) day. She has more than 10 years of experience in public speaking.
Paul Trouth
Paul Trouth is an experienced communications professional with over 15 years of experience in science communication, environmental policy and public engagement.
Currently part of the PROTECT BALTIC management team, he leads the project's Communications and Sustainability Work Packages and coordinates communications for PROTECT BALTIC and the Blue4all project at HELCOM. He is passionate about making complex scientific and policy issues accessible and engaging to diverse audiences.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Paul holds a Master's degree in English Philology from the University of Helsinki and has a background in education and communications. His career includes over a decade at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), where he communicated complex scientific and regulatory issues. He is also a European regional co-coordinator for MPA Day, helping to raise awareness of marine protected areas and their importance for ocean conservation.
Presenters
Edmond Sacre
Edmond Sacre is a researcher within the Department of Aquatic Resources at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
His research focuses on the ecology and conservation of marine ecosystems, particularly regarding strategies and techniques for promoting biodiversity and ensuring healthy oceans.
Crucial to this work has been the development of methods for systematic conservation planning and spatial prioritization to design optimal networks of marine protected areas.
Alongside this work, Edmond has focused on various techniques for mapping and understanding marine species and ecosystems, including species distribution modelling, connectivity modelling, and cumulative impact assessment.
Débora Carmo
Débora Carmo is a Project Researcher at HELCOM – Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, working on the Horizon Europe project PROTECT BALTIC within the Adaptive Management – Governance branch.
Her current work focuses on marine protected areas, supporting the development of an ecologically relevant habitat classification for the Baltic Sea based on species distribution models and cluster analysis, and contributing to the drafting of ecological protection targets.
She holds an MSc in Ecology with a dissertation on food web modelling techniques in the Southern Ocean, and specialized training in polar seabird ecology with fieldwork conducted in Svalbard.
Her background spans ecological modelling and data analysis, complemented by field experience in oceanography and marine monitoring. She has also been active in science communication and outreach through APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists), including committee representation at national level and public engagement work.
Lois Watt
Lois Watt is a Project Coordinator and Researcher working for the HELCOM Secretariat based in Helsinki, Finland.
Lois holds an MA in Geography from the University of Aberdeen as well as an MSocSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Helsinki. Her current research interests are in the field of ecosystem services, wellbeing, and issues relating to marine spatial protection.
Within PROTECT BALTIC, she is currently leading the work package on ecosystem services and their valuation. Lois is also a research partner and coordinator within the Blue4All project, which deals with the integration of top-down and bottom-up approaches to the management of MPAs in the European context.
Estefania Cortez Gallegos
Estefania Cortez Gallegos is an environmental lawyer specialising in environmental and natural resources law, with a focus on climate change, marine conservation, ocean governance and biodiversity protection.
She is a Legal Expert and Project Manager at Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), an NGO working to protect the Baltic Sea environment, where she contributes to PROTECT BALTIC.
Estefania holds a Joint Nordic LL.M in Environmental Law from Uppsala University, the University of Eastern Finland and the Arctic University of Norway. Her academic research covers legal frameworks for deep-sea mining, marine environmental protection and MPA governance. She previously advised private-sector clients on environmental and regulatory matters in Latin America, including the mining and agriculture sectors.
Within PROTECT BALTIC, she leads the collection and harmonisation of regional MPA management plan data to identify governance gaps and support effective protection. She also co-leads the analysis of Baltic MPA legal frameworks, examining barriers and opportunities for strengthening designation, management and enforcement across jurisdictions. Her work connects environmental law, marine science and conservation practice to advance ocean governance in the Baltic Sea.
Charlotte Berkström
Charlotte Berkström is an Associate Professor within the Department of Aquatic Resources at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
Her research focuses on the ecology and conservation of marine ecosystems including networks of MPAs, connectivity, fish and fisheries in both the Global south and Global north.
Since 2023, she has been leading the Ecological Coherence work package in the PROTECT BALTIC project, which focuses on evaluating the development of the MPA network in the Baltic Sea, and identify where further development of the network is needed.
Cecilia Nyman
Cecilia Nyman is the Project Coordinator for PROTECT BALTIC at the HELCOM Secretariat. She holds a PhD in biology with a background in ecology and evolution. Her PhD thesis focused on studying the effects of the early social environment on behavioural and genomic responses in highly social cichlid fish.
She possesses expertise in Baltic Sea ecology, evolutionary ecology, sustainable development, hazardous substances and endocrine disruptors.
Before joining the HELCOM Secretariat, she worked at an NGO as an expert and later as a project manager on various environmental projects.
In PROTECT BALTIC she has also been involved in developing a methodology for management effectiveness assessment for marine protected areas (MPAs) and reviewing monitoring approaches and technics for MPAs.
Jannica Haldin
Jannica Haldin can look back on over 10 000 hours of marine fieldwork and 15 years of experience in international environmental diplomacy and policy, focusing on marine governance, biodiversity, conservation, status assessment, sustainable fisheries and climate change. Working closely with ministries, sectors and international organizations, including the European Commission, CBD, ICES, IUCN, UNESCO and UNEP, has allowed her to represent the Baltic Sea from the local to the global stage.
At HELCOM she has led the most comprehensive status assessment ever undertaken for the region, pioneered the regional Climate Change Fact Sheet, and coordinated the Baltic Sea Action Plan update. As a Special Advisor, she is currently spearheading PROTECT BALTIC - the largest project in HELCOM's history.
