Dr. Kate Larkin (Ph.D 2006) is the Head of Secretariat for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), an operational EU marine data service funded by the European Commission DG MARE. Kate is a marine scientist who has worked in the areas of Ocean Observation and Ocean Data for more than 15 years, including at the NOC, Southampton, UK and the European Marine Board and, since 2019, with EMODnet. In her role, Kate works with EMODnet partners, associated partners and wider stakeholders at National, Regional, European and Global levels to expand, diversify and evolve EMODnet’s offer of marine data and knowledge needs for science, policy, industry and society. This includes EMODnet’s key partnership with the Copernicus Marine Service which includes joint activities to deliver the marine data infrastructure backbone and associated common data lake for the EU Digital Twin Ocean.

Madlie Le Bihan has been working for the past six years in the environmental sector on projects related to the energy transition, mitigation and adaptation to climate change. She conducted advocacy work on topics such as deforestation, trade, and energy policy. She has a background in law and holds two master’s degrees, one in International Relations and Sustainability from Université Paris Sud and one in Environmental Law from Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne. She works since 2021 with the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI), focusing on the environmentally friendly deployment of offshore wind through the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN). 

P.Y. Le Traon is the scientific director of Mercator Ocean International ocean prediction center.  His role is to ensure the scientific quality and prepare future evolutions of the ocean information offer of MOi and of the programmes managed by MOi for the European Commission (Copernicus Marine, Digital Twin Ocean).  P.Y. Le Traon is also in charge of the programme management of the Copernicus Marine Service. His areas of expertise include in-situ and satellite ocean observing systems, ocean modelling and forecasting and operational oceanography.  P.Y. Le Traon has been and is a member of the steering and advisory committees of several international programmes related to satellite and in-situ ocean observation, ocean prediction and applications.