Contributors

Tiago Pitta e Cunha

Executive Board Member, Oceano Azul Foundation

Tiago Pitta e Cunha has been Chief Executive Officer of Oceano Azul Foundation since its establishment in 2017. For over two decades, he has pursued an international career advocating for stronger ocean governance, having worked in ocean sustainability for the United Nations, the European Commission, the Portuguese government, and the President of Portugal. 

He started his career in the United Nations working as a counsellor on ocean affairs in the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations (1997-2002) and represented the European Union in the UN General Assembly on ocean affairs during the 2000 Portuguese and French EU Presidencies. He was appointed Coordinator of the Oceans Strategic Commission, a high-level 

working group in charge of designing the country’s national strategy for the ocean, by the Portuguese Prime-Minister, in 2002. As a policymaker, he worked in the cabinet of the European 

Commissioner for Maritime Affairs, as the Coordinator of the European Commission for the development of the new EU Integrated Maritime Policy (2004 – 2010). In Portugal, he was adviser to the President of the Republic on Environment, Science and Maritime Affairs (2010-2016). 

He was awarded the European Citizen’s Prize by the European Parliament for his actions dedicated to promoting ocean governance in the United Nations, the European Union and in Portugal in 2016. He was awarded with the Pessoa Prize, the most prestigious award in Portuguese culture and science in 2021.