We are delighted to welcome three new colleagues to the EU4OceanObs Team who will each bring their unique expertise and energy to our work on international ocean observation and policy. At the same time, we bid a warm goodbye to a valued team member who is embarking on an exciting new chapter.
Meet Elaine Shen – Programme Scientist for the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative Coordination Centre (G7 FSOI)
Dr. Elaine Shen joins Mercator Ocean International as a Programme Scientist for the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative (G7 FSOI) Coordination Centre. She previously served as a Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences, where she contributed to the coordination and strategic development of national ocean science and technology policy. Elaine earned her Ph.D. in Biological and Environmental Sciences from the University of Rhode Island and a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Rice University. Her research examined the social and ecological dimensions of marine biodiversity monitoring, primarily focusing on environmental DNA and tropical marine ecosystems.
In her new role, Elaine is responsible for implementing the EU coordination activities of the G7 FSOI and will contribute to the strategic direction of the EU4OceanObs2.0 project. Her work will promote and support European priorities across the ocean observing value chain – from global observations, digital infrastructure, ocean prediction systems and digital twins of the ocean – and contribute to developing an ocean assessment system with appropriate indicators.
“I’m most excited about working collaboratively with international colleagues to ensure that the ocean science policy interface is strengthened through coordinated actions on ocean observations, which are the key to understanding, predicting, and sustainably managing our ocean and climate systems.”
Meet Daphné Lecellier – GEO Blue Planet Programme Manager
With a strong background in environmental engineering, Daphné Lecellier brings valuable experience to her role as Programme Manager at the GEO Blue Planet EU Office. In 2018, she graduated with an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique and KTH – Royal Institute of Technology, then went on to study water treatment in research laboratories abroad before moving to scientific and environmental diplomacy. She has worked as scientific project manager at the Embassy of France in Japan and as the French negotiator on Carbon Markets under the Paris Agreement for the Ministry of ecological transition.
In her new role, Daphné supports GEO Blue Planet’s activities aimed at bringing ocean science closer to policymaking. GEO Blue Planet is an initiative hosted by Mercator Ocean International. More specifically, she provides support to thematic working groups on marine litter and fisheries. She also coordinates IMDOS – the Integrated Marine Debris Observing System, a flagship project of GEO Blue Planet.
“I’m excited about supporting the science-policy interface in the international negotiation fora to help solving the plastic and biodiversity crisis in the ocean.”
Camille Cherques – Communications and User Engagement Officer
Bringing seven years of experience in communications and project management, Camille Cherques joins the EU4OceanObs team as Communications and User Engagement Officer. Her career has spanned internships with UNESCO and the WMO. She then worked for international NGOs on the power of art and cinema to raise awareness of environmental issues, including COP21. She has also worked extensively on ocean-related topics, including sustainable fisheries, gender equality in the seafood industry (fisheries, aquaculture, and supply chain), and for an international research network on social marine sciences, she worked on women in ocean science and cetaceans’ bycatch conflicts amongst stakeholders in the Bay of Biscay.
At Mercator Ocean International, Camille will coordinate communications, dissemination, user engagement, and events for the EU4OceanObs project. With an academic background in humanities, international and European law, political science, and project management, she thrives on making complex messages accessible to diverse audiences.
“In my new role, I am very excited about the opportunity to work again on ocean sustainability at the international and European level in a multicultural environment. It’s great to be part of a meaningful mission, to make ocean science accessible to policymakers as well as to be able to continue raising awareness about the urgent need for ocean science driven towards social benefits to better understand and therefore protect our ocean.”
Best of luck in your future endeavors, Lillian!
As we welcome new colleagues, we also say goodbye to Lillian Diarra, who is taking on a new role with Mercator Ocean International as Programme Manager for the new EU project Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa (OPERA).
During her time as the Communication and Outreach Manager for EU4OceanObs, Lillian played a crucial role in developing the EU4OceanObs and GEO Blue Planet websites and creating dissemination materials. She also supported high-profile events, including the 2022 GEO Blue Planet Symposium, the UN Ocean Conference in 2022 (UNOC2) and 2025 (UNOC3), and the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference. She also represented GEO Blue Planet at international events such as GEO Week 2023, the ESA EO4Africa Symposium, and Ocean Innovation Africa.
“Lillian brought incredible dedication and creativity to our program,” says Jose Luiz Moutinho, Co-Chair of GEO Blue Planet. “Her contributions have truly ensured high-quality standards in the work. I had the opportunity to work with her on several activities, and she was always proactive in solving problems, engaging people, and adding meaningful value to every task. We are grateful for everything she has done and excited to see the great things she will achieve next.”
Lillian will be greatly missed by her colleagues and collaborators, but we are excited to see her continue to make waves in her new role.
