The Secretariat
The Secretariat is one of the three principal organs of ISA. The seat of the Secretariat is in Kingston, Jamaica. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General, who is the chief administrative officer of ISA.
The main functions of the Secretariat include:
- Providing support to the Secretary-General in fulfilling the functions entrusted to him or her under UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement and in implementing the mandates provided by the Member States
- Producing reports and other documents containing information, analyses, historical background, research findings, policy suggestions, etc. that facilitate the deliberations and decision-making by the other principal organs and their subsidiary bodies
- Providing secretariat services to the other principal organs and their subsidiary bodies and providing meeting services (translation, interpretation, and reporting services) to the other principal organs, in accordance with the policies adopted by the Assembly
- Producing publications, information bulletins and analytical studies and disseminating information on the activities and decisions of ISA
- Organizing and servicing expert group meetings, seminars and workshops
- Implementing the work programmes and policies laid down by the other principal organs and their subsidiary bodies
- Ensuring compliance with plans of work for exploration and exploitation approved in the form of contracts
- Performing the functions of the Enterprise as specified in Section 2 of the Annex to the 1994 Agreement until the Enterprise begins to operate independently.
As of 2024, the Enterprise is staffed by an interim director general but does not operate independently of the Secretariat.
The Secretariat consists of the following central organizational units:
Executive Office of the Secretary-General
The Executive Office of the Secretary-General assists the Secretary-General in supervising and coordinating the work of the Secretariat under his or her executive direction and relevant directives of the Council and the Assembly.
The Executive Office is also responsible for protocol, liaison services, and communications and press support to the Secretary-General.
| Name | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Michael W. Lodge | Secretary-General | United Kingdom |
| Marie Bourrel-McKinnon | Chief of Staff and Head of the Strategic Planning Unit | France |
| Wenqiang Yin | Principal Policy Officer | China |
| Akuila Tawake | Chief of CARMU | Fiji |
| Philip Janikowski | Communications Specialist | Poland |
| Margaret Koli | Programme Management Officer | Kenya |
| Linda Ansu-Kyeremeh | Contract Management Officer | Ghana |
| Annekah Mason | Training Coordinator | Jamaica |
| Besmir Fidahić | Associate Copy Editor | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Christine Griffiths | Office Manager | Jamaica |
| Giovanni Ardito | Associate Policy Officer | Italy |
| Shanique Gregory | Senior Communications Assistant | Jamaica |
| Asenaca Navoti | Senior Liaison Assistant, Office of the Permanent Observer for ISA to the United Nations, New York |
Fiji |
| Nuklan Hugh | Learning and Development Assistant | Jamaica |
| Nicole Powell | Administrative Assistant | Jamaica |
| Melissa Beckles | Staff Assistant | Jamaica |
| Shanica James Brown | Administrative Assistant | Jamaica |
Office of Legal Affairs
The Office of Legal Affairs is the central legal service of the Secretariat. It provides legal advice to the Secretary-General, the Secretariat and the other principal organs of ISA and their subsidiary bodies. In addition, it represents the Secretary-General in legal conferences and judicial proceedings.
The Office of Legal Affairs is also responsible for the Satya N. Nandan Library, the official documentation of ISA and for managing the provision of conference services for sessions of ISA.
The Contract Management Unit is the central administrative point of contact between contractors, sponsoring States and the Secretariat. The Unit processes applications for approval of plans of work for exploration or exploitation and for extensions of such contracts. It maintains a definitive central registry of contracts, in accordance with best international practice, and ensures the safe custody and confidentiality of all documents, data and information submitted in connection with such contracts and applications for approval of plans of work.
| Name | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Gwénaëlle Le Gurun | Legal Officer | France |
| Marcelino Miranda | Legal Officer | Mexico |
| David Pusztai | Legal Officer | Hungary |
| Talatu Akindolire | Legal Officer | Nigeria |
| Tamanna Khan | Associate Legal Officer | Bangladesh |
| Kayon Wray | Documentation & Conference Management Officer | Jamaica |
| Shamene Parker | Administrative Assistant | Jamaica |
| Patrena Salmon | Administrative/Library Assistant | Jamaica |
Office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources
The Office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources provides scientific and technical input into the development and implementation of the rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of activities in the Area. It also coordinates the collection, analysis and dissemination of geological, biological, environmental and technological data and information on the Area and its resources, including through the development and maintenance of ISA’s global database.
The Office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources supports the development and implementation of regional environmental management plans, environmental impact assessment and environmental monitoring, and the development of environmental standards and guidelines. It also supports ISA’s work to promote and encourage the conduct of marine scientific research in the Area by developing collaborations with the Member States and international organizations and disseminating the results of scientific research and analysis.
| Name | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Jose Dallo Moros | Director | Spain |
| Ulrich Schwarz-Schampera | Programme Management Officer (Mining Geologist) | Germany |
| Noèmie Wouters | Programme Coordinator (Marine Scientific Research) | Belgium |
| Wanfei Qiu | Programme Manager (Marine Environment) | China |
| Luciana De Melo Santos Genio | Environmental Coordinator | Portugal |
| Sheldon Carter | Database Manager | Jamaica |
| Kioshi Mishiro | GIS Officer | Japan |
| Changsung Lim | Associate Programme Management Officer | Canada |
| Ansel Cadien | Senior Information Management Assistant | Jamaica |
| Camelia Campbell | Administrative Assistant | Jamaica |
Office for Administrative Services
The Office of Administrative Services provides general administrative and management support to the Secretariat. Its functions include financial management and control, preparation of proposed budgets, assessment of Member States’ contributions, recruitment of staff and contractors, procurement of goods and services, personnel management and security.
| Name | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Yongsheng Cai | Director | China |
| Joseph Khoreich | Budget and Oversight Officer | Lebanon |
| Pablo Andres Vidal | Finance Officer | Chile |
| Oliver Murima | Human Resources Officer | Zimbabwe |
| Esam Alnour | Associate CIT Officer | Sudan |
| Lilian Valles-Carrillo | Associate Procurement Officer | Jamaica |
| Sonja Phinn | Associate Security and Facilities Officer | Jamaica |
| Fitzroy Ferguson | Senior Finance Assistant | Jamaica |
| Sheldon Gruber | Senior Budget & Treasury Assistant | Jamaica |
| Bobett Russell | Administrative Assistant | Jamaica |
| Michell McGhie | Budget Assistant | Jamaica |
| Richard Tucker | Travel and HR Assistant | Jamaica |
| Andre Brooks | CIT Assistant | Jamaica |
| Sashi Walters-Brooks | Finance Assistant | Jamaica |
| Hyacinth Henriques-Douglas | Procurement Assistant | Jamaica |
| Leroy Smith | Driver/General Services Assistant | Jamaica |
| Oswald Williams | Driver/Warehouse Worker | Jamaica |