Damanaki to Lead Nature Conservancy's Global Oceans Program
Posted by Eric Haun
Friday, December 12, 2014
Maria Damanaki, former European Union Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, will join the Nature Conservancy (TNC) as Global Managing Director for Oceans.
With over 30 years of public service in Europe, Damanaki most recently served as EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Under her leadership, the Commission was able to bring fish populations back to healthier levels – from as few as five sustainable stocks in 2010 to up to 27 today – which could lead to 30 percent more jobs and EUR 1.8 billion in additional revenue by 2020. She also introduced and implemented the Blue Growth agenda for Seas and Oceans in Europe, which aimed to create 1.6 million new jobs and EUR 600 billion in revenue by 2020.
Damanaki previously served as a member of Greek Parliament for more than 25 years. She became the first woman to lead a political party in Greece in 1990, and was the first woman elected as Vice President of Parliament in 1986.