President of the Port Authority of Vigo
Carlos Botana Lagarón holds a PhD in Marine Sciences, Technology and Management from the University of Vigo. His doctoral thesis, "The Role of Ports as a Tool in the Fight Against Climate Change", was awarded Cum Laude with the highest distinction. He also holds a degree in Marine Sciences (Oceanography), an MBA, and a master’s degree in environmental management.
He has more than 20 years of experience in the management of commercial, fishing, and port activities at the Port of Vigo. Throughout his career, he has participated in more than twenty projects on environmental management and sustainable development, including numerous European programmes such as LIFE+, Horizon 2020, Interreg Atlantic Area, Horizon Europe, and POCTEP, which together have received 13 international awards.
He is Coordinator of the Atlantic Ports Pillar under the European Commission's Atlantic Action Plan, a member of the ESPO Sustainability and Environmental Committee and the ESPO Energy Committee, a member of the IAPH Climate and Energy Committee, and former President of the ESPO Blue Growth Network (2019–2022).
Dr. Sylvestre BADOU holds a PhD in Invasion and Population Biology and is a postdoctoral researcher at the Environmental Monitoring Port Platform (PPSE) of the Port of Cotonou. He is operationally responsible for monitoring the maritime introduction of new invasive exotic rodent species and managing those already established.
He is also involved in supporting control campaigns (deratting operations) and assessing resistance associated with the use of chemical anticoagulants. His expertise enables him to address issues relating to the community ecology of invasive alien species and their pathogens with high zoonotic potential, which may affect biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Jean-Daniel Cyrille Ebongue Ngoh is a Cameroonian architect and urban planner. He currently serves as Director of Urban Planning, Development, and Mobility at the Douala Urban Community. A graduate of the Ecole Supérieure Spéciale d’Architecture du Cameroun (ESSACA), he furthered his training abroad through an Erasmus mobility at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux (ENSAPBX), as well as a degree from the Ecole d’Urbanisme de Paris (EUP). With more than a decade of experience, including 10 years in architecture and 9 years in urban planning, he applies his expertise to Douala’s urban transformation. He has led and coordinated several major projects for the city, particularly in planning, development, and mobility. Beyond his official duties, he is Douala’s focal point for the Sustainable Land Management and City Project (PVGFD), rapporteur of the street naming committee, a member of the building permit committee, and chair of the committee monitoring temporary occupation of public land. A recognized figure in urban governance, he regularly represents the city of Douala at major international forums, including the World Urban Forum and conferences of the International Association of French-Speaking Mayors (AIMF).
