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Born in Galicia, NW Spain, I was trained as a Marion biologist and worked for 10 years as a marine biologist. I then moved to fisheries management in the EU where I worked for 30 years on the Common Fisheries Policy. I have written several books including two on fisheries management. I led the conservation policy of the EU at the time we redressed the tradditiional¡ failures, and was responsible for the last reform of the policy in 2013.Currently I chair ICCAt and the Fisheries Expert Group of EBCD, member of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥

Despina Symons-Pirovolidou, has been Director and founding Member of the European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD) since its establishment in 1989, with the main objective to promote the conservation and sustainable use of natural renewable resources and focusing mainly on marine environment. Working closely with EU institutions and globally, Despina has been linking the conservation, scientific communities and civil society providing them with experts and strategic advice for over 30 years. 

As an active member of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥, Despina has been contributing to all UN processes in relation to fisheries management, climate and biodiversity conservation including FAO, CBD, UNCLOs, CITES.

As key to several initiatives within Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥, including the establishment of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ European office, the Mediterranean office as well as the Marine Program, Despina initiated the establishment of the CEM/FEG in 2008 for which she is the secretary and coordinator.

Prior to joining EBCD, Despina worked on fisheries related issues in Madrid (Spain) where she represented the Spanish coastal fishers to the EU.