Former EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries joins NOVA School of Law

It is with great satisfaction that NOVA School of Law welcomes Maria Damanaki to join our teaching staff to teach the subject “Ocean Policies” on the Master’s in Law and Economics of the Sea- Ocean Governance, in conjunction with Professor Assunção Cristas.

With long experience in marine affairs, fisheries and international politics, the former European Commissioner reinforces the talent and academic excellence of our teachers, following our strategy of internationalization and commitment to finding professionals from diverse backgrounds, who enrich us with their different perspectives and teaching methods.

Maria Damanaki was European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries from 2010 to 2014, during which time, the Commission was able to bring fish populations back to healthier levels by adopting a fisheries policy that, if sustained, could lead to 15 million more tons of fish in the sea, 30 percent more jobs and the equivalent of over US $2 billion in additional revenue. Maria Damanaki also prepared and implemented the Blue Growth agenda for Seas and Oceans in Europe and established legislation to create a common framework for Maritime Spatial Planning to map and better manage maritime activities across EU countries.

Between 2014 and 2020, she served as the Global Managing Director for Oceans at «The Nature Conservancy», where she led marine programmes in 27 countries, across all continents, focused on transforming how the world manages its oceans.

Previously, she worked as a member of the Greek Parliament for over 25 years. She became the first woman to lead a Greek political party in 1990 and was the first woman ever elected as Vice-President of the Greek Parliament.

She currently co-chairs the advisory network of the High-Level Panel for Oceans, is a member of the Friends of Ocean Action of the World Economic Forum and sits on the Boards of the Monaco Ocean Foundation and the Oceanographic Institute, the Board of European Marine Regions Forum, the Board of the Global Fishing Watch and the Board of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

You are, once again, very welcome Professor Maria Damanaki!