Yolanda Sánchez advocates for ocean conservation through initiatives in ocean literacy, leadership development, networking, community engagement, and participatory dynamics. She works as an intenational consultant focuses on strengthening inclusive, contextualised, and diverse approaches to marine education by fostering community-centred processes and participatory methodologies. She has extensive experience in the co-design, coordination, and evaluation of education and engagement programmes, including training future educators and leaders. Her professional experience spans Latin America, Europe, and Africa, where she has worked across universities, NGOs, governmental institutions, and local communities, especially in marine protected areas.
As part of ongoing consultancies, Yolanda currently serves as Fund Engagement Manager at the OCEAN Grants Programme. In this role, she accompanies grantees and applicants throughout the project cycle, providing guidance on project design, capacity exchange, peer-learning facilitation, and the strategic visibility of funded projects. Yolanda is co-founder of the Latin American Marine Educators Network and a Board Member of the National Marine Educators Association (USA). She is currently pursuing a PhD focused on marine education and leadership, and actively participates in several international networks that promote ocean literacy and marine education worldwide. In addition, she collaborates with the University of Edinburgh Ocean Leaders programme in the design and implementation of marine education activities.
Above all, no biography of Yoli would be complete without mentioning that she deeply loves her canine family, finds joy and balance in swimming in the sea whenever she can and loves publishing illustrated nature books for kids.
