Laura is a biologist with a bachelor's degree from USP. She has a master's degree from Unifesp/Santos with a project titled “Co-construction of a Payment for Environmental Services Mechanism in Artisanal Fishing: What Are the Key Elements for a Fair and Sustainable Public Policy?” Her areas of interest include Coastal Management, Ocean Governance, Ocean Literacy, and Participatory Methodologies.

Professor Leandra Gonçalves is an assistant professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). She completed her PhD in International Relations and subsequently pursued postdoctoral research at USP’s Oceanographic Institute, focusing on coastal and marine governance. Recognized for her contributions to advancing the science–policy interface and integrating gender perspectives in ocean studies, she recently led major environmental assessments as a Lead Author for UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook 6, the IPBES Nexus Report, and the World Ocean Assessment. She has published articles more than 40 in peer‐reviewed journals and serves as a founding member of the Women’s League for the Ocean, a contributing member of the Brazilian Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and a collaborator with WEBLUE – Gender Equity for Ocean, a UN‐endorsed initiative under the Decade of Ocean Science.