A graduate in Philosophy and Humanities from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, specializing in Anthropology. He was a teacher and Head of Studies, leading pedagogical innovation projects. Since 2015, he has been part of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, where he currently serves as the Counselor for Environment, Climate Change, and Circular Economy. He promotes key initiatives such as the Energy Transition Agenda, the development of local energy communities, and the Circular Economy Strategy.

A prominent figure in the field of renewable energy and environmental policy in the Canary Islands. She currently serves as the Deputy Minister for Ecological Transition, Climate Change Mitigation, and Energy in the regional government of the Canary Islands.

She has participated in international research projects, including a notable stay at Stanford University with a Fulbright scholarship, where she explored strategies to achieve 100% renewable energy for isolated electrical systems, such as those in the Canary Islands.

Agricultural Engineer and Technical Agricultural Engineer. Among his professional experience: Head of Works at Empresa de Transformación Agraria, S.A., S.M.E, M.P.; Councillor for Services, General Works, and Industry at the City Council of Puerto de la Cruz; and Head of Purchasing/Responsible for the Autonomous Contracting Unit (Canary Islands) at GRUPO TRAGSA.

He holds a degree in Marine Sciences, a Master’s in Oceanography, and a PhD in Marine Sciences from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). He was a Postdoctoral Researcher at various French institutions for 5 years. He is currently an Associate Professor at the same institution, where he is also the Academic Director of the ULPGC’s own degree program. On the other hand, his motivation to find nature-based solutions has led him to coordinate the University Expert in Circular Economy in Isolated Territories program.

Emiel Schut has been the Chief Commercial Officer at Wavepiston since two years. Emiel holds a master’s in business economics and has extensive experience from commercial and managerial roles from the Automotive and Heavy Construction Equipment industries. He has worked at large corporates, in international roles before making a career shift and dedicating his life to renewable energy and the decarbonization of our planet through wave energy.

Architect by the University of Westminster, PhD cum laude by the ULPGC and winner of the 2017 Arquia/Thesis Award. She founded her studio in 2001 and has won awards in international competitions such as the Gold Medal at the Miami Beach Biennial and, together with José Antonio Sosa (Alonso+Sosa Arquitectos), was a finalist for the ArquinFAD 2021 Award. A lecturer at the ULPGC, she has been a guest lecturer at Harvard, the European University and the University of Genoa. Her work has been exhibited internationally and she has received the Miguel Martín-Fernández de la Torre Architecture Award in 2022. Co-founder of the Marca Púrpura Association.

Professor of Physical Geography at the ULL, specialised in Climatology with more than 30 years of experience and almost a hundred published papers on tropical nights, flood risks and climate change. He has directed numerous research projects on natural hazards and climate change. He is director of the Chair of Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilient Cities at the ULL. He has been secretary of the AGE and AEC, and is currently a member of the standing committee of the Climate Change and Natural Hazards Group of the AGE.

Savvas Vlachos, Environmental Engineer and Civil Engineering master’s graduate, began his career in 2004. He worked as an environmental engineer, specializing in environmental impact assessments and waste treatment design. Joining the Cyprus Energy Agency in 2009, he became an Energy Expert, focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy. He is a certified Energy Performance Certificate issuer and auditor. Since 2016, he’s been the director of the Agency, managing EU projects and coordinating energy transition initiatives. He was elected Vice-President of FEDARENE in 2022 and appointed Chairman of the Environmental Engineers Committee in 2024.

Technical Forestry Engineer and Master in Forest Fire Management, he works in the Department of Environment of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria. With more than a decade as director of Fire Extinction, he also leads the Gran Canaria Mosaic prevention strategy. He is a member of the Gran Canaria Pastorea project, which remunerates shepherds for grazing in strategic areas, recognised with the ‘Innovative Experiences in Protected Areas 2024’ award by EUROPARC-Spain.

Gudfinnur Sveinsson, CEO of Brineworks, has over nine years of experience in C-suite advising and technological innovation focused on sustainable development. With a master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, he is leading Brineworks in revolutionizing sustainable energy solutions through innovative technologies for CO2 extraction and e-fuel production.

Gonzalo Piernavieja holds a degree in Physical Sciences from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich and a postgraduate degree in Energy and Environmental Management from the Technical University of Berlin. In Germany, he worked at SIEMENS and “Stadtwerke München”. Upon returning to the Canary Islands, he coordinated renewable energy and water technology projects at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Since 1996, he has worked at the Canary Islands Technology Institute (ITC) and served as Deputy Minister of Industry, Energy, and Trade in 2018-2019. He is currently the Director of R&D&I at ITC, coordinating 9 technological departments with over 180 people

Cum Laude Doctor by the University of La Laguna, with a thesis titled ‘The Carbon and Water Footprints in Hydraulic and Port Infrastructure in the Archipelagos of Spain’.

Her professional career focuses on participating in R&D&i projects in the field of engineering, particularly her involvement in competitive international calls such as INTERREG, ERASMUS+, Horizon Europe, and H2020. Her scientific activity includes the publication of 69 articles, as well as the authorship of 9 books or monographs, 6 book chapters, and the presentation of 32 papers at national and international conferences.

Agronomist Engineer and Master’s in Environmental Engineering and Management from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). His journey in the environmental sector and waste management began over 29 years ago, holding various technical management positions in companies in the sector such as BFI (Browning Ferris Industries), Cespa (Suez-AGBAR Group), and Ferrovial Servicios.

Currently, he is the Head of Engineering, Innovation, and Strategic Projects at the Development and Operations Department of Prezero Spain and Portugal, where he actively participates in the implementation of new technologies and processes, promoting the circular economy, adopting and adapting Industry 4.0 technologies, and fostering sustainability in the waste management sector.

Chemical engineer with over 12 years of experience. Since 2020, he has worked in the Water Department at ITC, specializing in the evaluation of reverse osmosis brine valorization technologies. In this field, he has published scientific papers and reports, and has been a speaker at various international conferences, webinars, and events. Previously, he worked for 7 years as a process engineer in the United Kingdom.

Verónica Pavés Lorenzo (Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, 1993) is a journalist specialized in science. Since 2016, she has been the lead reporter covering Health, Science, and Environment for the newspapers El Día-La Opinión de Tenerife and La Provincia-DLP.

She is the author of the poetry collection Cosmic Letters (2021) and Blas Cabrera, una vida magnética (2023).

Her journalistic work has earned her the Concha García Campoy Scientific Journalism Award in its seventh edition in the digital journalism category

10 years of experience in Environment and Climate Change, 10 years of experience in Planning, and two years as Head of the Environment Service on the Island of Lanzarote..

He is a graduate in Industrial Technical Engineering from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and has a Master’s in Engineering and Environmental Management from the School of Industrial Organization.

Since 1996, he has worked at the Canary Islands Technological Institute (ITC), where he has led projects on sustainable water management in collaboration with European and African partners. Some of the most notable projects include AQUAMAC, DEPURANAT, ISLHáGUA, and ADAPTaRES. His work focuses on climate change adaptation and water demand management, promoting sustainability and innovation in the sector.

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences with a Master’s in Environmental Management and Waste Management, and a specialist in Geographic Information Systems. She currently works as a Project Technician in the Water Department of the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands, where she specializes in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the integrated water cycle. Her career includes studies on carbon footprint calculation, analysis of climate change impacts on water infrastructure, vulnerability assessments, and the design of mitigation and adaptation measures

Victor Monsalvo is the Head of the Ecoefficiency Area at Aqualia and the current Chairman of the R&D Committee of the International Desalination Association (IDA). He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and has been a professor and researcher at various international universities. Previously, he was the Director of the Water Technology Area at Abengoa Research. He has led over 50 innovation projects, is the editor of 4 books, coauthor of 3 book chapters, holds 8 patents, and has over 110 scientific communications. He has collaborated in the implementation of innovative solutions in the water cycle and has received 7 national and international awards and recognitions.

Specialist in marine biodiversity

Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1982, holds a degree in Marine Sciences from ULPGC, a Master’s in Environmental Management and Audits from UPC, and a PhD in Computational Engineering from ULPGC. His thesis focused on the prediction of adverse weather phenomena. He joined AEMET in 2009 as an analyst-predictor and, in 2017, moved up to the State Meteorologists’ Corps. Since 2021, he has been the Territorial Delegate of AEMET in the Canary Islands, leading developments in numerical modeling and weather forecasting.

Gaia Agnello is the Executive director of the Sicily Environment Fund. She gained a BSc in Natural Sciences at the University of Palermo and a MSc in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation at Imperial College London. She has been involved in community-based projects and protected area management in Belize. She has conducted research on community engagement and managed EU funded projects with the European Citizen Science Association in Berlin. She’s currently Vice President of Citizen Science Italia. Her interdisciplinary approach aims to develop conservation actions accounting for its social dimensions, fostering participatory and co-creation approaches to tackle environmental challenges.

Three years in the Adeje Edible Productive Forest project. The philosophy and design represent the present and the future.

Communications and Systems Manager at CECOPIN of Gran Canaria, Technical Director of ALERTAGRAN, Telecommunications Engineer and Radio Communications Technical Engineer from ULPGC, Master’s in Civil Protection and Emergency Management from the University of Valencia, Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Operational Coordination and Intervention from the University of Alcalá, Master’s in Education from UNIR.

He is a specialist in genetic conservation, molecular phylogeny, and phylogeography. He has been directing the Viera and Clavijo Botanical Garden since 2014 and its Associated R&D Unit with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) since 2010. His research group applies the information contained in DNA molecules, interdisciplinarity, and creativity to help solve problems related to the origins, identification, and diversity of insular floras, as well as their conservation and management. Since 1999, he has been catalyzing the scientific activity of the Department of Molecular Biodiversity and (since 2004) the DNA Bank at the center where he works.

Carmelo is an Industrial Engineer from ULPGC. His professional activity is mainly focused on the public administration, with all his work concentrated in the water sector. He has been an engineer at the Island Water Council of Gran Canaria (CIAGC) since 2001, having held various positions within the CIAGC, and is currently the manager of the organization. In the private sector, he was the manager of Elmasa Tecnología del Agua, a company specialized in water. He also has teaching and research experience and has been a speaker at numerous conferences.

Distinguished researcher at ULPGC in physical oceanography with extensive international experience in the study of ocean circulation, particularly in the North Atlantic. In 2015, she was invited to give a lecture at NASA’s Goddard Space Center. In 2019, she received the Kostas Nittis Award for young scientists, granted by EuroGOOS. In addition to her research work, she has dedicated a significant part of her career to teaching and scientific outreach, offering courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and participating in outreach activities.

She studied Marine Biology at ULL and later specialized in marine ecosystem management, environmental management and consulting, waste management, environmental auditing, etc. For over 20 years, she has worked at Tragsatec, carrying out tasks related to the monitoring and management of the operational activities of Marine Reserves in the Canary Islands, Marine Special Conservation Areas, and other projects related to the protection and study of the natural environment, especially the marine environment in the Canary Islands.

Bachelor in Economics, MA in Public Administration. Helped regain Estonia’s independence in 1991 as a member of the Estonian Congress and chair of the Culture and Education Committee. Held roles in business, as Vice-Mayor of Pärnu, and on the County Development Center Board. Assisted companies in West Estonia with site selection, permits, and EU grants. Focused on bio-economy and Blue economy development, including Baltic Sea offshore opportunities. Founder of the Estonian Islands Energy Agency, contributor to Clean Energy for EU Islands.

After completing his Msc-thesis, Simon joined REDstack working on the development of the so-called Blue Energy, harvesting of energy from a salinity difference using Reversed Electrodialysis (RED).
During the past years REDstack made a pivot, based on the knowledge gained in the development of RED, REDstack is now valorising this knowledge by offering the most energy efficient ElectroMembrane Stacks available for the recovery of resources like water, nitrogen and CO2

She is a Doctor in Agricultural Engineering and joined the Canarian Institute of Agricultural Research (ICIA) in 2004. She has worked on determining the effect of climatic conditions and management techniques on crop development, yield, and production quality, as well as defining water and nutritional requirements for certain horticultural and subtropical species (papaya and pitaya). In recent years, she has been working on soil improvement through the use of organic materials from various sources, transformed into compost, vermicompost, and biochar.

PhD in Chemical Engineering and professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Active member of the Renewable Energy Systems Research Group at the university, participating in the development of several European and regional R&D&I projects related to the integration and planning of different renewable energy sources, including marine renewable energy. She is also the author and co-author of dozens of scientific publications in this field.

His main research focus is on understanding the processes and mechanisms that shape biodiversity, using Mediterranean plants and island environments to address questions related to biogeography, evolution, and conservation. He has participated in teaching activities and has pursued training at internationally renowned institutions (stays at Kew Botanic Gardens, University of Hawaii, University of California, Berkeley). He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Botany at the University of Granada.

President of ADACIS. He leads the “INORENG” expedition in the Persian Gulf for wildlife rescue during the First Gulf War. Director of the Marine Program for WWF Spain and Dolphin Save in Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. He coordinates wildlife rescue during oil spills in the Aegean Sea, including the Prestige and Oleg Naydenov incidents. Director of the WWF Canary Islands office. He designs the ERGOS operation against oil spills with the European Space Agency and the declaration of the Canary Islands as a “Particularly Sensitive Sea Area” by the UN. He leads the Canary Islands office against Repsol’s exploration projects and serves as the Coordinator of the Climate Change Observatory for the Canary Islands government, drafting climate strategies for LG, EH, FV, and GC.

Raúl Macias, with over 15 years of experience, is the Head of the Energy Department at Grupo SATOCAN and President of AEOLICAN, the Canary Islands Wind Energy Association, a position from which he promotes the energy transition in the Canary Islands.

He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Pontifical University of Comillas. He has previously worked as an International Project Manager at ATERSA, carrying out Off-grid photovoltaic installations in Africa and Latin America, and as Regional Manager at ENERCON, promoting wind energy development in the Canary Islands.