Transition Agenda Call 1 (BAAT-01): Information Webinar 10 March 2026

Dr Niall McDonough

 Director of Policy, Information and Research Services (PIRS), Marine Institute, BlueActionAA WP1 Leader (Project’s coordination)) 

As Director of PIRS, Niall oversees a team and programme of work that plays a key role in supporting and promoting marine research and innovation at national and international level. He coordinates the implementation of Ireland’s Marine Research and Innovation Strategy (2017-2022) and chairs the national Marine Research Funders’ Forum. He oversees the Marine Institute’s circa €8 million per annum external research funding programme and is a member of the Irish Government’s Innovation 2020 Implementation Group and Horizon Europe High-Level Group. In November 2020, he was elected Chair of the European Joint Programming Initiative on Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans and has recently fulfilled his Chairship role.

Emmanuel Detsis 

Head of Science Operations, European Science Foundation, BlueActionAA WP2 and WP3 Leader (BAAC-01 management) 

Emmanuel is responsible for the management of science operations of the ESF, overseeing several teams across thematic and operational areas. The ESF Science Operations focus on: i) collaborative R&D projects in Europe, ii) large scale Grant Evaluation, iii) Administration of several expert boards, committees, virtual institutes with focus on science and iv) managing and participating in various funding programmes, including EC Horizon Europe projects with cascade funding.

Mariette Vandermersch-Desmartin 

Mission Coordinator, European Science Foundation, BlueActionAA WP2 and WP3 Leader (BAAC-01 management) 

Mariette is coordinating the team of Funding Programmes at ESF. She is an experienced mission coordinator, specializing in operational aspects of funding programmes, logistics and project coordination. Mariette is also leading the development of new elements for the ESF evaluation platform.

Sebastian Maria
Karl Heinrich KOPF

Advisor at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), BlueActionAA WP4 Leader (BAAC-01 Technical Assistance)  

Sebastian Maria Karl Heinrich KOPF is an Advisor at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) supporting large EU ocean and water projects, including Mission-oriented initiatives on marine and coastal ecosystem restoration in the Atlantic and Arctic. He holds an LL.M. in Law of the Sea and brings experience from EU programmes and UN operations, including sustainability guidance used by 30,000+ personnel and outreach reaching 3,000+ participants.