Dr. Juan Emilio Sala

An ecologist trained at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (University of Buenos Aires) and an independent researcher at CONICET, Argentina's National Scientific and Technical Research Council, based at the Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR, the Institute of Biology of Marine Organisms). He specializes in coastal and marine governance, environmental planning, and the management of social-ecological systems. His career combines public administration, applied scientific research, and strategic consulting, with a focus on bridging science and public policy.

He is currently Executive Coordinator of the Programa Pampa Azul Bonaerense (the Pampa Azul program of the Province of Buenos Aires) and previously coordinated the Interministerial Committee and the Scientific Advisory Council of the Pampa Azul Initiative, a national policy that brought together seven ministries. He has led consulting assignments for organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), FAO, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the French Development Agency (AFD) on integrated coastal management, marine protected areas, marine spatial planning, biodiversity, and conservation finance, coordinating interdisciplinary teams and participatory planning processes.