Election of Brazilian Oceanographer Letícia Carvalho as Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority

The Brazilian oceanographer Letícia Carvalho was elected today, August 2nd, as Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the term 2025-2028. The election took place during the 29th ISA Assembly, held in Kingston, Jamaica. The Brazilian candidate received 79 votes out of a total of 113.

Letícia Carvalho will be the first woman, scientist, and Latin American to hold the position. The Brazilian oceanographer has built a solid professional career, accumulating 26 years of experience in executive positions within the Brazilian public administration and multilateral organizations. She currently serves as the Principal Coordinator of the Marine and Freshwater Branch at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi.

The International Seabed Authority was established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and its 1994 implementation agreement. Its mandate is to manage the resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdictions, considered the common heritage of mankind.

Headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica, the ISA also promotes international cooperation, scientific research, and technology transfer in the fields of marine research and the exploration of international seabed minerals.