Professor of Economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), and Karl-Göran Mäler Scholar at Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics (Sweden). His main research areas include economic valuation and governance of marine fishery resources, in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Dr. Villasante has published over 170 peer-reviewed scientific publications, including papers in Science and Nature. He is also actively involved in international and regional initiatives that bridge science and policy. He is the Director of the EQUALSEA Lab, and Scientific Coordinator of the project “Transformative adaptation towards oceans equity” funded by the European Research Council Consolidator Grant. He is also currently one of the co-leaders of the IPBES Transformative Changes Global Assessment. Sebastian founded the ICES WG on Resilience and Marine Ecosystem Services, and co-founder of Alimentta, a Think Tank to develop transitions towards sustainable food systems; he is also a member of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries which provides advice to the European Commission. He has given talks at international agencies/organizations such as the European Commission, European Parliament, FAO, World Bank, European Court of Auditors and the Convention Biological Diversity. His research has been cited by, among others, El Pais, Le Monde, The Economist, CNN, and The Washington Post. He is member of the Editorial Board of Ambio, Ecosystems and People, Frontiers of Marine Science, Marine Policy, and Nature Ocean Sustainability.