Speaker — Neptune Forum 2026
Minna Epps
IUCN Director Global Ocean Policy / Executive Director BBNJ High Ambition Coalition Secretariat
IUCN Director Global Ocean Policy / Executive Director BBNJ High Ambition Coalition Secretariat
Minna Epps is a global ocean thought leader on Ocean Governance, Ocean Climate and Biodiversity nexus, Sustainable Blue Economy, and Blue Natural Capital. A published author with over 20 years of international environmental work experience primarily in ocean conservation and sustainable use, from Marine Stewardship Council, European Commission, UNEP, World Trade Organisation, and marine conservation NGOs. She is a marine biologist with studies from Imperial College, Rhode Island School of Oceanography and UC Berkeley. Today, the Global Ocean Policy Director at the IUCN the Centre for Policy and Law, where she leads IUCN’s global ocean science to policy and advocacy in key international processes including linked to climate change, biodiversity, and plastic pollution as well as the high seas, sustainable use of ocean resources and regenerative blue economy. Her work includes programmatic development and delivery of multi-million dollar progammes dedicated to commissioning cutting edge marine scientific research. She is the IUCN Head of delegation for the BBNJ negotiations and currently the Executive Director of the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition Secretariat supporting state members.
