OceanObs’29 Ad-hoc Committee

The OceanObs’29 Ad-Hoc Committee consists of distinguished experts invited to serve a 12-month term to lay the groundwork for this decadal conference, scheduled to convene in 2029. The committee’s responsibilities include defining conference goals aligned with the UN Ocean Decade, designing the selection process for the Program Committee, and establishing a practical operational framework flexible enough to extend based on planning needs. Below are the members guiding this critical preparatory phase.

Committee Members (A-Z)

  • Francisco Armando Arias-Isaza

    General Director, The Marine and Coastal Research Institute

  • Minhan Dai

    Chair Professor, Xiamen University

  • Albert Fischer

    Director, WMO Integrated Observing System

  • Jean-Pierre Gattuso

    Research Director, French National Center for Scientific Research

  • Juliet Hermes

    Oceanographer, South African Environmental Observation Network

  • Michelle Heupel

    Executive Director, Integrated Marine Observing System

  • Takeshi Kawano

    Executive Director, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

  • Margaret Leinen

    Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

  • Jan Newton

    Professor, University of Washington

  • Nadia Pinardi

    Professor, Bologna University

  • Joanna Post

    Director, Global Ocean Observing System

  • Christopher Sabine

    Interim Associate Dean for Research, University of Hawaii at Manoa

  • Paul Seaton

    Director, Hydrography and Coastal Resilience in Asia Pacific, Fugro

  • John Siddorn

    Chief Executive, National Oceanography Center

  • Aileen Tan

    Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia

  • Jyotika Virmani

    Executive Director, Schmidt Ocean Institute

  • Martin Visbeck

    CEO, Foundation to Support International Deep Ocean Discovery, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

  • Anya Waite

    CEO & Scientific Director, Ocean Frontier Institute

  • Lixin Wu

    Vice President, Ocean University of China

OceanObs’29 Coordination Team

The OceanObs’29 Coordination Team, comprising Fei Chai and Samuel Wang from Xiamen University, Max Zhao from the Ocean University of China, and Nick Rome from UCAR’s Center for Ocean Leadership, is leading the planning and execution of this decadal conference. Leveraging their expertise in ocean science, operational coordination, and global collaboration, they are shaping a strategic vision to advance ocean observing networks and strengthen international partnerships through 2029 and beyond.

For inquiries, please email info@oceanobs29.net to contact the team.