Panos Smyrnios

Panos Smyrnios is a multilingual ocean governance and marine conservation professional with over six years of global experience advancing sustainable fisheries management, biodiversity conservation, and international ocean policy. His work spans Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, supporting inclusive, science-based solutions to critical ocean challenges.
Panos has held roles with the Environmental Defense Fund and NOAA, where he has contributed to efforts addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, promoting seafood traceability, and strengthening international cooperation on ocean sustainability. He has actively participated in national policy dialogues, regional meetings, and bilateral engagements to help shape equitable marine policies globally.
Fluent in English and Spanish and rooted in his Greek-Cuban heritage, Panos brings a culturally grounded and collaborative approach to cross-sector work. He has managed multimillion-dollar conservation programs, built partnerships with governments, Indigenous and coastal communities, NGOs, and the private sector, and supported the alignment of local priorities with international frameworks such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Panos is especially passionate about the climate-ocean nexus and ensuring ocean governance efforts are inclusive, science-informed, and community-driven. He is honored to support organizations like Aquaworld in scaling marine protection and governance innovation across West Africa and beyond, and in empowering youth-led solutions for a more sustainable and just ocean future.