Haydée is a lawyer, passionate about translating science into public policy for ocean conservation. Since 2001, she has worked with civil society organizations on issues related to the human right to water and sanitation, marine spatial planning, sustainable management of fisheries, protection of marine vulnerable species, climate change and public participation in environmental decisions. From 2018 to 2021, she was the vice-minister for Water and the Ocean for the Government of Costa Rica. From there, she developed public policy for marine conservation and prioritised ocean issues in the national and international agenda. She led negotiations and partnerships to promote a healthy ocean as hope and solution to face climate change and biodiversity loss. As a consultant, she works with governments, NGOs and international organisations to design smart marine conservation policies and to connect the dots between climate change and the ocean. Haydée’s heart belongs to the deep waters of Cocos Island in Costa Rica.
