Team

Octavio Llinás

General Coordinator

PhD in Science, with extensive experience in ocean circulation research, in marine environmental training and awareness, academic and general, in sustainable compatibility of traditional and emerging uses, in the marine environment and management of strategies, institutions and scientific-technical projects in public and private, national and international environments.

Vicente Marrero

Head of Advisory Board

Labour law professional with more than three decades of experience in industrial restructuring and privatisation of public companies in the naval and aviation sectors. Specialised in Human Resources, Industrial Safety, Quality Management, Occupational Risk Prevention and Environment, he has worked on integrating international regulations, including ISO standards.

Actualmente, ocupa el cargo de Vicepresidente del Consejo Económico y Social de Canarias en representación de las Organizaciones Empresariales. He is also Vice-President of FEDEPORT, Member of the Board of Directors of FEMEPA, Member of the Plenary of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Gran Canaria, and member of the Board of Directors of the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands.

Ayoze Castro

Coordination Support

D. in Veterinary Medicine, professor and researcher in the Department of Morphology at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where he works at the University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA). He was Director of Innovation at the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) for ten years and his research focuses on Veterinary Pathology of marine animals and Applied Marine Sciences and Technologies for the sustainable use of marine space. He has coordinated and participated in European projects within the FP7, H2020 and INTERREG programmes and has extensive experience in the management of research and innovation projects with international PRINCE2™ certification.

Eva Meyers

Head of Science Unit

Marine biologist with extensive experience as a project manager, researcher and a background in international nature and biodiversity conservation and environmental policy. My main objective is to build bridges between science and policy to provide solutions at governmental and community level.

Carlos Mallo

Innoceana Founder & CEO

Civil engineer and founder of Innoceana, an international marine conservation NGO with entities in Spain, Costa Rica, and the United States. Winner of the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize (Oceans category) for his work to stop the Fonsalía Port in Tenerife, he champions Nature-based Solutions and ecosystem regeneration. Carlos is a member of the MPA Canary Islands Expert Committee and leads projects across Macaronesia.

Claudia Iglesias González

Project Manager

Veterinarian and PhD candidate in Animal Health and Food Safety (ULPGC–IUSA). With meticulous attention to detail and a service-oriented mindset, she drives an agile, transparent workflow so team decisions are executed seamlessly. Passionate about the sea, she brings rigor, empathy, and perseverance to keep every milestone moving forward on time and as planned.

Karima G. López

Senior Scientific Officer

Biologist specialized in biodiversity conservation and the management of marine protected areas. Doctoral candidate at the University of La Laguna (ULL) with extensive experience in applied research, biodiversity management, and the sustainable use of marine resources. Throughout her career, she has worked on interdisciplinary projects integrating science, policy, and environmental management, contributing to the planning, administration, and strengthening of protected natural areas in regional and international contexts.