Biliana Cicin-Sain

President and Chair, International Board of Directors Global Ocean Forum


Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain (PhD in political science, UCLA, postdoctoral training, Harvard University) is President of the Global Ocean Forum, and past Director of the Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy and Professor of Marine Policy at the University of Delaware. An expert in the field of integrated coastal and ocean governance, she has authored over 100 publications in the field, and has forged international collaboration among all sectors of the international oceans community to advance the global oceans agenda, as founder and president of the Global Ocean Forum.

Dr. Cicin-Sain’s international ocean work has been recognized through a number of awards, including: 2018 Pioneer of the High Seas, French National Sea Center, France; 2017 Champion of the Ocean award,  Monmouth University; 2010 Laureate for the Elizabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy; 2010 honorary doctorate in maritime law by Korea Maritime University; 2007 Coastal Zone Foundation Award, USA; 2007 Elizabeth Mann Borgese Meerespreis, Germany; 2002 co-recipient of the Ocean and Coastal Stewardship Award (US). In 2019, Dr. Cicin-Sain will be receiving the Prince Albert I of Monaco “Grand Prix des Sciences de la Mer.” Dr. Cicin-Sain has been active in the UN negotiations on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction since 2004. Most recently, Dr. Cicin-Sain has led the mobilization of multi-stakeholder analyses on capacity development regarding Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction ( https://bit.ly/2C0FuvD) and the Roadmap to Oceans and Climate Action initiative to advance the issues related to oceans and climate within the UN Framework on Climate Change and other relevant international fora.