Meet the members of the Legal and Technical Commission
    2023-2027

Adoté Blim Blivi, Togo, has degrees in geography, geomorphology and coastal oceanography. This is his first time serving on the LTC, where he hopes to contribute with his practical and theoretical knowledge of geomorphology and oceanography. Prof. dr. Blivi was an IOC Vice-Chair, a consultant for organizations and at the University of Lomé Togo. He is a Technical Adviser on Atlantic of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo.

Andrés Camaño Moreno, Chile, has degrees in marine biology, environmental engineering, comprehensive operational risk management and metallurgical processes. This is his first time serving on the LTC. Mr. Moreno is a general manager at Socioecological Systems.

Becky Hitchin, United Kingdom, has a degree in marine biology and a PhD in marine palaeontology. This is her first time serving on the LTC, having previously served in the Council of the Authority with UK and Commonwealth delegates. Dr. Hitchin is a principal consultant working on environment impact assessment processes associated with licensable activities in the marine environment.

Carsten Michael Rühlemann, Germany, has degrees in cartography and geology. This is his second term on the LTC, where he has been a member since 2020. Dr. Rühlemann is the Head of the Marine Geology section at the BGR.

Dao Viet Ha, Viet Nam, has degrees in biochemistry, marine science and aquatic sciences. This is her first term on the LTC, where she hopes to contribute with her knowledge of biochemistry, marine toxins, seafood poisonings, safety and security and bioactive substances in marine organisms. Dr. Ha is a Director of the Institute of Oceanography, Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology.

Edwin Egede, Nigeria, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in public international law. This is his first time on the LTC, where he hopes to contribute with his hands-on practical and theoretical knowledge of the law of the sea. Dr. Egede is a professor of international law and international relations at the School of Law and Politics, Cardiff University, UK, and an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.

Ellen Pape, Belgium, has an MSc in biology, an MSc in marine and lacustrine sciences and a PhD in marine sciences. This is her first term on the LTC, where she hopes to contribute with her experiences and expertise in deep-sea benthic ecology including taxonomic methods and standardization. Prof. dr. Pape is a scientific project coordinator and postdoctoral scientist and a professor in marine and maritime Lifelong Learning at Ghent University, Belgium.

Erasmo A. Lara-Cabrera, Mexico, the Chair of LTC, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in international law. This is his second term on the LTC, where he has been a member since 2019. Dr. Lara-Cabrera is a member of Mexico’s Foreign Service and has experience in international law and the law of the sea. He is also a conciliator under Annex V of UNCLOS.

Gamal Abdelrehim Mohamed Metwally, Egypt, has degrees in international law. This is his first time on the LTC, where he hopes to contribute with his experiences as a career diplomat. Mr. Metwally is an Assistant Minister for International Legal Affairs and Treaties at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Georgy A. Cherkashov, Russian Federation, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology. This is his third term on the LTC, where he has been serving continuously since 2013. Dr. Cherkashov is a deputy director of the Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ocean, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Haryo Nugroho, Indonesia, has a doctorate in Juridical Science in Law of the Sea and Ocean Policy. He served as the Head of the Indonesian delegation to ISA in 2014. This is his first term on the LTC, where he hopes to contribute as a career diplomat and legal expert. Dr. Nugroho works as Deputy Director, Directorate for Legal and Territorial Affairs Treaties at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.

Hong Nguyen Vu, Czechia, has degrees in chemistry and metallurgy. This is his first time serving on the LTC. Dr. Vu is the Head of the Chemical Metallurgy Group at the Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering, Prague, Czechia.

Joshua T. Tuhumwire, Uganda, has degrees in chemistry and geology. This is his second time serving on the LTC, having previously served since 2017. Mr. Tuhumwire is the founder and managing director of Gondwana Geoscience Consulting Ltd.

Juan Luis Gonzáles Minaya, Dominican Republic, has degrees in oceanography, natural protected areas and seabed research. This is his first time serving on the LTC. He works at the Maritime Operations Center in the Navy of the Dominican Republic.

Juan Pablo Paniego, Argentina, is a career diplomat and legal expert specializing in public international law and law of the sea. With extensive diplomatic experience, he served at the Office of the Legal Adviser and held a post at the Permanent Delegation of Argentina to UNESCO. He currently serves at the Argentine Office of the Legal Adviser and as the Argentine Alternate Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission. This is his second term on the LTC as he was a member between 2014 and 2016.

Kahlil Hassanali, Trinidad and Tobago, is serving on the LTC for the first time. He hopes to contribute with his expertise on the blue economy and CARICOM, UNCLOS and BBNJ Agreement. He has degrees in environmental sciences, and environment and development, and a PhD from the World Maritime University in Sweden. Dr. Hassanali works at the Institute of Marine Affairs as a Senior Research Officer in Marine Policy and Governance.

Luísa Pinto Ribeiro, Portugal, has degrees in geology, dynamic geology and geosciences. This is her first time serving on the LTC. Dr. Ribeiro is a geology advisor at the Task Group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf.

Malakai Finau, Fiji, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in marine geology and applied geology. This is his first time serving on the LTC, where he hopes to contribute with his vast experience gained, having served as Director of Mineral Development and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Lands and Mineral Resources of his country. Mr. Finau is the instructor and course coordinator for the Geology, Mining and Quarrying programme at the Fiji National University and a consultant.

Malcolm Clark, New Zealand, has degrees in zoology and marine biology. This is his second time serving on the LTC, having previously served from 2017. Dr. Clark is a principal scientist (fisheries) at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand.

Mariamalia Chaves Rodríguez, Costa Rica, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in international public law. This is her first time serving on the LTC. Dr. Rodríguez’s last position was as a programme coordinator at the DOALOS/Norway programmes of assistance to meet the strategic capacity needs of developing states in the field of ocean governance and the law of the sea.

María Gómez Ballesteros, Spain, has degree in geology. This is her first term on the LTC, where she hopes to contribute to the Commission from her 25 years of experience with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, where she works on seafloor protection and marine biodiversity conservation, providing scientific advice to support sustainable development in the oceans by applying an ecosystem-based approach. Dr. Gómez-Ballesteros is also deputy Vice-president of Organization at Spanish National Research Council.

Marzone Affonso Rego Gavino, Brazil, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in international management and marine science. This is his first time serving on the LTC. Navy Captain (retd.) Marzone is an advisor at the Interministerial Commission for the Resources of the Sea, coordinated by the National Maritime Authority of Brazil.

Mario Juan A. Aurelio, Philippines, has degrees in geology, geodynamics of oceans and continents, structural geology and tectonics, deep offshore tectonic studies and geodynamics by space geodesy and seismotectonics. This is his second time serving on the LTC, having previously served from 2017. He is a professor and the head of research at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Philippines.

Mark B. Alcock, Australia, has degrees in geology and environmental law. This is his second time serving on the LTC, having previously served from 2017. Mr. Alcock has been an active member of the LTC, developing Draft standards and guidelines and taking a keen interest in data management systems for the ISA. He is a Director of Georegulation/Senior Advisor for Georegulation and Law of the Sea, Geoscience Australia.

Michael Gikuhi, Kenya, has degrees in geology and geophysics. This is his second term on the LTC, where he has been a member since 2019. Mr. Gikuhi is a director at the Kenya International Boundaries Office, Cabinet Affairs Office, Maritime and Continental Shelf.

Michael Imran Kanu, Sierra Leone, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in law. Although he has previously served as a head or a member of several ad hoc and informal working groups to regulate prospecting, exploration and exploitation of marine minerals in the international seabed Area, this is his first time serving on the LTC. Dr. Kanu is an Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative for Legal Affairs at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in New York.

Michelle Walker, Jamaica, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in law. She is the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Government of Jamaica to ISA. This is her third term on the LTC, where she has been a member since 2014. Ms. Walker is a Deputy Solicitor General at the International Affairs Division in the Attorney General’s Chambers in Jamaica.

Niki Aloupi, France, has undergraduate, graduate and PhD degrees in public international law, with a specialization in the law of the sea. This is her first time serving on the LTC. She is a Professor of Public International Law at the University of Paris Panthéon-Assas and has been Assessor judge representing the UNHCR at the French National Asylum Court from 2013 to 2023.

Noorah Algethami, Saudi Arabia, has degrees in law, international financial regulation and corporate law, and international relations. This is her first time serving on the LTC, where she is hoping to contribute with her pragmatic approach to complex legal issues. Ms. Algethami is a general manager in the International Treaties department at the National Centre for Environmental Compliance, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Paulus Kainge, Namibia, has degrees in biological sciences, fisheries biology and management, and marine science and fisheries management. This is his first term serving on the LTC, where he hopes to contribute with more than two decades of professional appointments in similar roles. Dr. Kainge is a chief scientist (fisheries) at the National Marine Information and Research Centre, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Swakopmund, Namibia.

Piotr Nowak, Poland, has a degree in mechanical engineering. This is his second time on the LTC, where he has served since 2018. Mr. Nowak works as an Expert, Ocean Research Team Leader in the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

Ramesh Sethuraman, India, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology and marine geology. This is his second time on the LTC, where he has served since 2022. Dr. Sethuraman is a scientist at the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, India.

Richard Addo Darko, Ghana, has degrees in exploration geophysics. This is his first time serving on the LTC, where he hopes to contribute with his 29 years of experience in petroleum exploration and management expertise. Mr. Darko is a Director of Resource Management/ Operations at the Petroleum Commission, Ghana.

Roman Opimakh, Ukraine, has degrees in international relations and political studies. This is his first time on the LTC. Mr. Opimakh is a Director General at the Ukrainian Geological Survey, Ukraine.

Shengxiong Yang, China, has degrees in marine geology and geophysics and marine sedimentology. This is his second term on the LTC, where he has been a member since 2018. Dr. Yang is a principal investigator of the Deep-sea exploration innovation programme, China Geological Survey.

Sissel Eriksen, Norway, an LTC Vice Chair, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology. This is her first time serving on the LTC. Dr. Eriksen works at the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Marine Minerals, as a senior geologist, mapping and assessing the marine minerals on the Norwegian continental shelf, the impact assessment and the opening process for the seabed minerals activity.

Se-Jong Ju, Republic of Korea, has degrees in oceanography and marine estuarian environmental science. He has been serving on the LTC since 2017. Dr. Ju is a Principal Research Scientist at the Deep-sea Resources Research Center at the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology.

Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou Utoikamanu, Tonga, has degrees in commerce, administration and social sciences. This is his second term on the LTC, where he has been a member since 2017. Mr. Utoikamanu is an independent contractor.

Théophile Ndougsa Mbarga, Cameroon, has degrees in mining engineering and internal geophysics. He has been a member of the LTC since 2015. Prof. Mbarga is a Professor of Exploration Geophysics at the University of Yaounde 1, and Former Director of Geology at the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development in Cameroon, as well as a Professional Geoscientist and Engineer for the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Tomohiko Fukushima, Japan, has degrees in fisheries and biology. Although he has previously served as a member of the technical working group for guidelines for the establishment of baseline environmental data and the technical working group for guidelines for the establishment of environmental management and monitoring plan, this is his first time serving on the LTC. Dr. Fukushima is a Deputy Director General, Seafloor Mineral Resources of the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation.

Vincent Bartholomew Mtavangu, Tanzania, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in constitutional, administrative and environmental law. This is his first time serving on the LTC, where he hopes to contribute with his practical legal knowledge. Dr. Mtavangu is a lecturer in law at Mzumbe University and an advocate before the Superior and Subordinate Courts of Tanzania.