8 June 2023 New Chair for Ocean Decade UK

Dr Matt Frost, Head of the International Office at Plymouth Marine Laboratory has been appointed Chair of the UK’s National Decade (UK NDC), established to inspire, coordinate and facilitate UK engagement with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. 

The UK NDC utilises an all-society approach with members from across the breadth of ocean science to champion the UN Ocean Decade within the UK’s Ocean Science and sustainability communities, as well as supporting regional and international engagement through the UN Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The Committee will also support goals of the Integrated Review for promoting UK science internationally and the UK vision that by 2030 the ocean will be effectively governed, clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse, linking resilient and prosperous coastal communities around the world, and supporting sustainable economic growth for the UK, the Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies.

Matt's works brings a wealth of experience to this role in international matters, networking, science-policy and science diplomacy. As chair of the UKs primary marine climate advice body (the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership) he led on the first-ever climate assessment across all the UK Overseas Territories. As President of the European Network of Marine Stations (MARS) he led on the establishment of the World Association of Marine Stations (WAMS) and he has advisory roles for UNFCCC and CBD among others. Matt has worked with a wide range of stakeholders across different countries and cultures including the United Nations, embassies, The Commonwealth, G7, investors and Global NGOs.

Matt stated that “he was honoured to take on this role and work with a dedicated and diverse group of individuals to facilitate delivery of the objectives of the UN Ocean Decade. It is hard to overestimate the importance of helping the UK achieve its goals in support of a sustainably managed ocean underpinned by scientific evidence.”

We look forward to working together under his leadership to encourage and facilitate engagement by the UK Ocean Science community with the UN Ocean Decade.