Pierandrea Leucci (President Emeritus)
Legal Officer at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission. Prior to joining the Commission, he worked as a Law of the Sea expert at the Max Planck Foundation and served at the Fisheries Unit of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and at the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. He is the President of the Associazione di Consulenza in Diritto del Mare (ASCOMARE), Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook on the Law of the Sea, and a founding member of the Consortium for the Study of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy (CONSMAR). Pierandrea regularly lectures on the Law of the Sea at various academic institutions and training centres, is a member of the European Environmental Law Forum, and an alumnus of the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy.
Dr AKM Emdadul Haque (Research associate)
Dr. Emdad graduated in Law at the University of Rajshahi and conducted his PhD in international law of the sea from Western Sydney University (WSU), Australia under the prestigious Australian Leadership Award. He was called to the Bangladesh Bar Council as an Advocate in 2002 and enrolled as a lawyer of Bangladesh Supreme Court in 2004. After completion of his LLM degree, he started his career as a corporate lawyer. He then joined Bangladesh Judicial Service in 2005 and promoted to the post of District Judge. Presently he is working as Deputy Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. He negotiated projects on the law of the sea and access to justice with developing partners including World Bank, European Union, UNODC, UNDP, JICA, GIZ, Australian Aids etc. Dr. Haque is also engaged in academic and research works with top ranked universities in Bangladesh. He is an adjunct lecturer in the Notre Dame University of Bangladesh. He also works as an adjunct Senior Research Fellow at International Centre for Ocean Governance in Dhaka University where he carries out his independent research and consultative works related to the law of the sea and ocean governance. He played key role in establishing International Centre for Ocean Governance (ICOG) at WSU as well as in establishing its collaborative research centre at Dhaka University. He is a member of International Law Association (ILA), American Society of International Law (ASIL) and Australia New Zealand Society of International Law (ANZSIL). Dr. Emdadul Haque has published a number of articles and book chapters on law of the sea and blue economy in renowned international journals and edited books. He has attended a number of international conferences and workshops on law of the sea and blue economy as well.
Chiara Pavesi (Project coordinator and Research associate)
Chiara graduated in Law (Master’s Degree) from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, completing a thesis in International Law. She also holds an LL.M. in International Law from the University of Nottingham, with a thesis on the relationship between UNCLOS and non-state actors, and the use of force by states against private oil companies. She interned at the legal office of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg and participated in the Jean Monnet Summer School on “European Union and the Law of the Sea” (EULoS) in 2021. Currently, Chiara is a Ph.D. student and a Graduate Teaching Fellow (GTF) at the University of Liverpool. Her research areas include International Law of the Sea and Maritime Security. Additionally, she is the Project Coordinator of the Ascomare Yearbook on the Law of the Sea.
Pierre Clément Mingozzi (Project coordinator and Research associate)
Pierre Clément is currently a Ph.D. candidate in International Law at the University of Milan, co-supervised by the University Aix-Marseille, France. His research project focuses on the use of human rights in strategic litigation cases related to climate change. He holds an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University (the Netherlands) and a Master’s Degree in European Legal Studies from the University of Turin (Italy), with a thesis on law enforcement and conflict at sea. Pierre has worked as a legal research assistant under the supervision of Mr. Gregory Makoff at the Center for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). Prior to this, he interned at the ITC-ILO, United Nations Campus, in the Enterprise, Microfinance and Local Development Programme (EMLD), and at the Italian Embassy in Paris through the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In 2018, Pierre attended the Spring School on ‘The Use of Force at Sea,’ as well as the Jean Monnet Summer School on ‘European Union and the Law of the Sea’ in 2017 and the UNICRI and SIOI Winter School on Environmental Crimes in 2016. He is also the Project Coordinator of the Working Group on the Law of the Sea and Palestine.
Matteo Bedendi (Project coordinator and Research associate)
Matteo graduated from the Università degli Studi di Genova with a dissertation on the International Law of the Sea entitled “Enforcement of UNCLOS in Italy and Japan: Similarities and Differences.” During his studies, he participated in the Erasmus+ European mobility program, spending 10 months at Université Toulouse 1 Capitole (France) and a three-month research period at Waseda University in Tokyo (Japan). After attending the Jean Monnet Summer School on “European Union and the Law of the Sea” (EULoS) in 2021, he joined a law firm specialized in maritime and admiralty law in October of that year. In July 2022, he attended the Summer Course of the Hague Academy of International Law. Matteo became a Ph.D. candidate in international law at Università degli Studi di Genova in November 2022. He is the project coordinator of the small-scale fishing project and its follow-up.
Mekhala Dave (Research associate)
Dr. Mekhala Dave (she/her) is a Vienna-based lawyer and art scholar integrating legal practice with transdisciplinary research bridging art, law, and science. She holds a PhD in Art History and Curatorial Studies from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, where her research explored decolonial ocean epistemologies through contemporary art and curatorial practice. Her expertise spans deep-sea mining and ocean governance, with participation at the International Seabed Authority and UN climate–ocean conferences. She is a member of the Confluence of European Water Bodies and Deep Currents Collective, advocating for the recognition of nature’s legal rights and equitable seabed governance. Since October 2025, Dave is a Research Associate at ASCOMARE, where she leads EU-funded projects on the blue economy, maritime law and policy, where she is facilitating collaboration among EU–Turkish partners, delivering youth training workshops, and building interregional cooperation. Drawing on her cross-sector experience in programme coordination, she regularly contributes to the ASCOMARE Yearbook and related initiatives that broaden ASCOMARE’s vision on ocean and freshwater governance.
Faten Loussaief (Research associate)
Faten Loussaief is a specialist in Private International Law, Maritime Law, and the Law of the Sea. She holds two Master’s degrees: the first in Private International Law from Tunisia, where she wrote her thesis on the Implementation of the Hague Service Convention, and the second an LLM from Ankara University in Maritime Law and the Law of the Sea, with a thesis on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Carriage of Goods by Sea. Ms. Loussaief has served as a research assistant at DEHUKAM, where she actively contributed to two significant projects in the Law of the Sea: COP 22 Barcelona Convention and Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning for a Resilient Blue Economy in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. She is fluent in Arabic, French, English, and Turkish, both written and spoken. She is a two-time scholarship awardee of the Turks Abroad and Related Communities Presidency (YTB). Her experience encompasses public speaking, leadership, and organization, making her a capable researcher with formal experience in providing detailed written analyses.
Wajahat Sharif (Research associate)
Dr. Wajahat Sharif is a legal scholar and advocate specializing in the law of the sea, maritime security, and human rights at sea. Dr. Sharif completed his PhD in Sea and Maritime Law at Ankara University (2021-2025), as a recipient of the prestigious Türkiye Bursları (YTB) scholarship, where his research focused on jurisdiction over stateless vessels on the high seas. He also holds an LL.M. in International Law (2019-2020) from International Islamic University Islamabad and a B.A. LL.B. (2013-2018) from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, both awarded with gold medals. Dr. Sharif has served as Senior Lecturer in Law at Bahria University in Pakistan and as an Advocate of the High Court in Pakistan. He has worked as a Young Human Rights Expert with the Ministry of Human Rights Pakistan and the European Union in Pakistan. His publications include a peer-reviewed article on maritime interdiction and human rights at sea. His academic and professional interests cover Human Rights at Sea, Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, UNCLOS, and the Blue Economy. He has also attended international conferences, including the 46th Conference on Ocean Law and Policy in Istanbul and the 1st Maritime Law Summit in Ankara.
Marco La Rocca (Deputy Director; Head of Operations and Strategy)
Marco graduated in Political Science and Decision Making at the University of Florence and also obtained a Postgraduate Master degree in International Development from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. During his studies he has demonstrated interest for International Affairs and International Law with focus on Human Rights. Marco has worked as a Program Administrator with RedR Australia, a standby Partner organisation for the UN Agencies and other international organisation, that focuses on humanitarian response such as the Rohingya refugees crisis in Myanmar. In this capacity he supported the deployment of skilled people in key sectors of the response such as Wash, Shelter and Camp Management to different UN Agencies. He is also working with Amnesty International as Team Coordinator for the Mobilization Network by training new volunteers and introduce them to the structure of the organisation. Marco is a fellow at Amnesty International Australia Fellowship Lead Activist Program. In this capacity he is focusing on straightening the activism in the regional Victoria by training activists in advocating and campaigning in achieving the goals set by Amnesty International campaigns, nationally as well as internationally. He has been a fellow at the “Monash Fellow Leadership Program” in 2017.
Andrea Valentina Salamino (Research associate)
Andrea holds an LLM in International Law from the Graduate Institute of Geneva, specialized in international environmental law and governance and the law of the sea. She previously graduated in Law (Master’s Degree) from Università degli Studi di Torino (UniTo) with a thesis on “Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in International Law”. After completing the legal traineeship required in Italy to access the bar exam, she interned at the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in the Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea, at the World Trade Organization (WTO), and at the European Commission (DG MARE). She is currently employed at the WTO, in Geneva.
Ketty Luyambula (Digital marketing manager)
Ketty holds a degree in Public Relations and Press from EFP in Brussels. She has gained diverse experience in various roles, including Collaboratrice Notariale, Employé Parlementaire, and Collaboratrice Chargé du Digital Management. In her parliamentary role, she provided essential support through legislative research, policy analysis, and constituent engagement. More recently, she has utilized her digital management expertise to develop and implement effective digital marketing strategies, manage social media accounts, and enhance online presence.
David Mannini (Planning and Outreach Officer)
He graduated in Economic Development, International Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at the University of Florence, with a postgraduate qualification in Human Rights and Conflict Management obtained at the prestigious Sant’Anna University in Pisa. He improved his knowledge and understanding of human rights law by working as project assistant for a number of important international bodies and institutions, including: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Egypt; the Foundation for Human Rights, in South Africa; the ‘Roots & Shoots’ programme of the Jane Goodall Institute, in Tanzania. He is currently working as a local project manager at the Italian Committee for UNICEF, in Rome. For ASCOMARE, he is endowed with the task of strategic planning, coordinating and implementing ASCOMARE activities and initiatives.
Lorenzo Petrelli (Financial Officer)
Lorenzo carried out his studies in Economics and Business and graduated in Economics, Management and Corporate Law from the University of Bari Aldo Moro. Before specialising in web marketing (Google Digital Training) and business development strategies (Tourism Marketing Management: course certified by ‘Regione Puglia’), he worked as accounting consultant at Progenia S.r.l.; he coordinated services of outbound marketing at New Voice S.r.l.; he collaborated with Molly SAS for the organisation and promotion of cultural events. He also worked as administrative assistant at the General Secretatiat of the Office of the Mayor of Carmiano, in Apulia. For ASCOMARE, he is endowed with administrative tasks, including those concerning ASCOMARE’s affiliations with bodies and institutions in Italy and abroad, as well as those related to the promotion of services and activities of the association.
Lorenzo Enrietto (Research assistant)
Lorenzo graduated in International Law and International Organizations (Master’s Degree) from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Université Côte d’Azur. Simultaneously with his Bachelor’s Degree, Lorenzo also obtained the Certificate of Excellence, having participated in a multi-year seminar program organized by the Faculty of Law and Political Science of Université Côte d’Azur which was reserved to the best ranking students of the first term of the first year of the Bachelor’s in Law. Moreover, he enrolled in the Online Summer Courses on Public International Law of The Hague Academy of International Law in 2021 and attended the Intensive Preparation Course for the Competitive Exam for Careers in Foreign Service provided by LUISS Guido Carli University in 2023-2024. Lorenzo has been collaborating with lawyers specialised in Italian Law, more specifically in Italian Corporate and Commercial Law. His main areas of interest and expertise are Public International Law, International Organizations Law, Law of the sea, International Human Rights Law, International Environmental Law and Corporate Law. He is fluent in Italian, English and French, both written and spoken.
ASCOMARE: Associazione di Consulenza in Diritto Internazionale del Mare 