Women Leadership in Marine Science and Technology Webinar Series: Women in Ocean Food Innovation

Description:

3.3 billion people rely on seafood for protein. When women are engaged in ocean food production, output increases by 10-20%. However, only 4% of CEOs in top seafood companies are women (WSI 2021). Please join us for a discussion of innovative programs and efforts to promote women engagement and leadership within the sector. 

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Speakers

• Erika Montague, Chief Technologist at Schmidt Marine Technology Partners
  Erika is the chief technologist at Schmidt Marine. She is an oceanographer, explorer, and evangelist of technology for a healthier ocean, with a Ph.D. in oceanography from Johns Hopkins University. Her past research has involved work with submersibles and unmanned vehicles with a focus on the development of novel, nondestructive methods for studying extreme and remote marine environments. Erika has led cruises to study bioluminescent life forms and test underwater technologies for use at the surface and down to the deepest parts of the ocean. She aims to bridge the gap between diverse stakeholders to create sustainable solutions that leverage the technology driven culture of today to empower the next generation.

• María Elvira López, Portfolio Impact Senior Coordinator
  María Elvira works within the Portfolio Solutions team at Conservation International Ventures, where she leads the impact monitoring and evaluation of the portfolio and supports other aspects of portfolio management including risk monitoring and performance. She is passionate about inclusive conservation practices for the benefit of people and the planet. She has a background in Environmental Justice, and International Relations, with a focus on Latin America.

• Mariana Flores Vargas, Hatch Blue
  Mariana is a marketing professional with a Masters in Strategic Management based in La Paz, Mexico. Her experience spans project management, corporate communications, and brand development, with a focus on fisheries and aquaculture. Currently, she leads Community Development for Latin America in Hatch Blue's Women in Ocean Food program. Mariana's work involves value chain analysis and strategic communication in the blue economy sector, particularly in sustainable ocean food systems and women's participation in aquaculture.

• Elena Martínez Martínez, SOS Biotech
  Elena Martínez Martínez is an oceanographer and entrepreneur passionate about unlocking the ocean’s potential for a more sustainable future. She is the CTO and Co-founder of SOS Biotech, the first BlueTech company in the Dominican Republic, dedicated to transforming invasive seaweed into high-value products that drive environmental and economic impact. Through innovations in sustainable agriculture, biomaterials, and ocean-based solutions, her work creates opportunities for coastal communities while tackling one of the Caribbean’s biggest ecological challenges. Recognized by MIT Solve, the Rockefeller Foundation, and IUCN, Elena aims to redefine what’s possible when science, sustainability, and local empowerment come together.