Applicants for the 2024-2025 APECS Executive Committee

The application period for the 2024-2025 APECS Executive Committee has closed and we are not accepting late applications. You can find all applicants listed below (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Anastasia Deyko - Peru

  Bionote: Since my 8 years of research of Barents and Lapland, indigenous North changed my multicultural experience completely. Shortly, is “So close, yet so far”. “So close” means my observation: philosophy of life behind and above the polar circles, coexisting and conquering nature, fighting in eternal winter and taking the most of every moment during the short summer. Those are gentle uniting points of every one from the Polar regions. Those secret ancient knowledge that let scientists to survive independently of language, borders and fast recent climate and political changes. It is my core interest - to unite scientists and enthusiasts,independently in their field of study. By “So far” I mean not only density of population, but also massive, from point to point, cross country territory, with bare inside transport connection. But mainly bureaucracy, economic and political borders, which destroyed the original net of centuries long human beings' values. Tracking international activity of the Polar regions, I see a lot of affordance in the direction to become relatively closer and achieve synergy effect together with government institutions, self established scientists and volunteer initiatives. I aim to blur the barriers and find more uniting points between culture, politic and social studies in Polar territories. Hopefully, build stronger “bridges'' between established science institutions and emerging initiatives. I believe it is possible to detect weak points of Polar related organisations and develop new ways of cross studies international collaborations. Is my priority interest in the present career level. It is my main focus, which I experienced recently promoting early stage researchers in the Barents region, Siberia, Greenland and especially focusing on Antarctica in the last year.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  I would like that my experience being 2 terms Social Media Coordinator and 3 terms Project group leader will find a reasonable practical continuation. I see my ideas, which I shared during ExCom/Council meetings, get used and get developed for APECS future.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  As Council Executive in APECS and, earlier as PG leader, my responsibility was to collaborate with partner organisations and be responsible for APECS presentation in the networks. I maintained a network of polar researchers across disciplines and internationally to meet, share ideas and experiences, as well as develop new research directions and collaborations. I provided and distributed opportunities regarding career development in both traditional and emerging professions related to the polar regions, including promoting education and activities as integral components of polar research. I suggested new projects, directions, and ideas for the Executive Committees to be shared over Project Group. During the term of changes in APECS Directorate and complicated period for all Project groups, I was able to keep Social Media filled with relevant content, update news and provide necessary information by requests. This, I believe, was not only important to keep APECS represented actively on the global stage, but as well establish a solid base for future terms. As APECS Art PG leader (term 2021-24) I was distributing tasks to PG members for tracking activities of international cultural institutions and art movements. We build bridges (online archives as a supporting guideline) to visualise climate change, independently of age, nationality, geographical position. Records of monthly seminars, contributions and posts to the newsletter can be found in the archives. I promoted PG for international conferences and helped to build closer communications between groups. I was co-leading 3 Polar Weeks as well as Antarctica day, bringing new scientists, connecting institutions and promoting events globally. I was able to grow the Social Media presence of APECS globally during important events and monitor daily postings, discovering and suggesting interesting information.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I hope to contribute to the movements (ideologically and technically) that connections between PG leaders, NC leaders and Councils become more transparent, to reach each other will be easier and it will motivate interest of everyone to be more active for each other's benefits. I hope to make APECS leaders understand that it is important to be connected, share ongoing projects, ideas and help each other to reach the goals. Being ECR finding the partners, collaborations and connections related to the exact field of study is a long, complicated process. I hope to make it easier, by uniting members and leaders of APECS. As well, I will work on detaled explanation of APECS handbook to the new members, project group leaders and Councils. EG expectations, technical moments, responsabilities. Maybe to make like build in chat for the autorised memebers on the APECS web page, where simple questions, minor doubts, urgent technical issuses, misunderstanings could be solved instantly by ExComs and Councils. I feel very frustrating, when PG activities goes to almost zero fromt he beginning of the term to the end of the term. I think apart of motivations of the every member is important to provide clearer explanations of how PGs funcion, as well to show opportunities of active participation and appreciation of every volunteer involvment. That contribution, I think will increase interest in APECS make membership more attractive.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  Conceptually motivate PG leaders, NC leaders and Councils to be more active during monthly meetings, to share information of what is happening in their groups and committees as well share requests for collaborations and offer partnerships between different levels of APECS organisation.To convince NC and PG leaders, Councils that it is important to share Social Media contributions as well over main APECS SM channels, not just having their own isolated presence as many NCs do. Technically, in my opinion it would be great to have an interactive map on the APECS page, where, voluntary, members, Councils and leaders can tag themselves regarding to the field of studies, institution, university. Same as the APECS map with countries of members/leaders, but more detailed. I believe it will be a great opportunity for everyone, who is involved in APECS actively or passively, to find new collaborations, useful professional contacts, scientific solutions and just exchange Polar related information/requests. I really hope to make APECS more connected and “alive” person to person in the web. And more interactively visible, during APECS live participations in conferences (eg live streamings).

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising committees, Project Groups or individuals?

  As Council Executive in APECS and, earlier as PG leader, my responsibility was to collaborate with partner organizations and be responsible for APECS presentation in the networks. I maintained a network of polar researchers across disciplines and internationally to meet, share ideas and experiences, as well as develop new research directions and collaborations. I provided and distributed opportunities regarding career development in both traditional and emerging professions related to the polar regions, including promoting education and activities as integral components of polar research. I suggested new projects, directions, and ideas for the Executive Committees to be shared over Project Group. During the term of changes in APECS Directorate and complicated period for all Project groups, I was able to keep Social Media filled with relevant content, update news and provide necessary information by requests. This, I believe, was not only important to keep APECS represented actively on the global stage, but as well establish a solid base for future terms. As APECS Art PG leader (term 2021-2024) I was distributing tasks to PG members for tracking activities of international cultural institutions and art movements. We build bridges (online archives as a supporting guideline) to visualize climate change, independently of age, nationality, geographical position. Records of monthly seminars, contributions and posts to the newsletter can be found in the archives. Details 1) Notable active participation in conferences, summits and forums (Northern Forum, ASSW, AMASS Lapland, UArctic as the main priorities, but not limited to) 2) Seek further opportunities to represent APECS and this PG’s goals in conferences, academic symposia, through oral and poster presentations. 3) Participate in relevant events as an invitee with the aim of networking and digging useful links, resources. 4) Generate notable APECS ART media content biweekly and later daily (APECS Art blog, collaboration with Vlog PG, social media contributions, APECS newsletter) During term Polar Weeks 2023-2024 as well Antarctica Day 2024, I was presenting as a co-leader (with Erica and Kiwi), looking for speakers, coordinating schedules, making posters and SM publications, being speaker and mentor of sessions. I never skipped ExCom/Council meetings during all terms, actively reporting about SM activities, problems and giving suggestions.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2024 - 2025 term?

  No.

• Hugo Guímaro - Portugal

  Bionote: Olá from Portugal! I am a Biosciences PhD student at the University of Coimbra (Portugal), based at the Marine and Environmental Science Centre (MARE) and at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in the United Kingdom. My research focuses on Antarctic marine animal ecology with a particular interest in ecological interactions of apex predators like emperor penguins to climate change and conservation in the Southern Ocean, using new technologies such as satellite imagery, tracking and diet modelling. I have a background in Biology with a specialisation in Ecology, but social sciences are also present in my life. Besides my scientific work, I am highly involved in education and outreach activities related to polar science, raising awareness for environmental issues. Photography is also part of my life as the art I use to express how I see the world. My adventure within APECS community started back in 2018 when I was seeking for news opportunities for my personal growth. I find out that I love helping others (i.e., ExCom Member, National Committee Coordinator, Council Chair or even APECS Portugal Representative), and for me APECS is a safe community where I can learn more about myself. I believe collaboration and kindness are the best way for a better world, and I do hope to continue share it with everyone in APECS!

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  For me APECS is an amazing community that gave me so much help and space to grow as person. I wish to give it back to the others and at the same time help APECS. Since 2018, I became a member and so far, has been very rewarding, not only in terms of career development but also in terms of personal development as I already mention. There are a lot of reasons that I could state why I enjoyed this journey so much until now, but I will try to summarize it briefly. Probably the great characteristic that made me be very active and interested in APECS was the fact that APECS is an international organization full of opportunities for people from such different cultures and backgrounds to work together towards a common goal: a better polar science for a better world. Those opportunities range from career development to encouragement of occupying leadership positions to full support our personal grow. I had the opportunity to help several working groups through time, leading my way to be a Council Chair to deep my understand of APECS Council. Afterwards, being a National Committee Coordinator gave me the chance to work closely with the National Committees and with their Representatives - without a doubt, helping other colleagues with the dream of form a polar community in their own country was so enriching that could give me a lot of insights on how the NCs work in so different ways to achieve the same goal: help young polar enthusiastic communities on their own countries. Naturally, I feel that a step further should be joining the Executive Committee. Being a part of the ExCom offered me a unique vantage point. It's the central hub where everything happens, decisions are made, and actions are coordinated. As a member of the ExCom, I had the opportunity to contribute to shaping the organisation's overarching goals and priorities, as well as implementing initiatives that directly impact APECS community. Seeking a second term on the ExCom feels like a natural step for me. The past term has been incredibly rewarding and challenging, offering opportunities for personal and professional growth. I had the pleasure to work with amazing people and I truly believe in the invaluable impact that the ExCom can have on APECS community. That being said, I am eager to continue contributing to that impact in a meaningful way being part of next ExCom team.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  My involvement through APECS Leadership began back right in the beginning of my relationship with the polar regions, in 2017. First, I became a member and right after I applied to APECS Portugal ExCom, where I’m staying until now more as an advising member, helping the current President and Vice-President through the daily life of APECS Portugal. But I had the opportunity to be Vice-President for a term and President for two consecutively years, where I had the responsibility with my fellow colleagues to understand and how to react to a changing world during the pandemic of COVID-19, and at the same time maintain the support of APECS Portugal to the Portuguese community. I became more active in APECS Council when I became one of the Representatives of APECS Portugal. That gave the insights that I needed to understand the value that an organization as APECS could have in my life (and I continue to be the Rep. along with other good friends). Then, I began to be involved in several working groups but the group that was responsible to review the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports by early career scientists, was the one that I can say that gave me the click to be more ambitious. So, during that time, between 2019 and 2021, I had the chance to be a sub-chair of the group that reviewed the Second Order Draft (SOD) of WGII contributions to the IPCC AR6. Here, I helped coordinating the Polar Chapter, by selection the participants and the sorting of the participants’ comments, as well as other things. Afterwards, I moved to have a broader vision of APECS Council through the Council Chair leadership position, with other two colleagues, being one of the connection links within the Council. Later, I had the opportunity to be one of the National Committee Coordinators, giving me a lot of insights on how the National Committees work to achieve the same goal. Finally, the Council put its trust in me, and I was elected as an ExCom member. During the last term as an ExCom member, I learned a lot what means to manage a community so big and with such diverse adversities. I gained the insights that I believe will help me further. I want to put in practice all this information and experience to the wellbeing of APECS community being again an ExCom member if APECS Council would give the chance.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I hope I can help APECS grow as an organisation by contributing with new ideas and with my perspective. I want to help keep the tasks to be running smoothly and helping new APECS members to have a safe and inclusive environment capable of fulfilling everyone professional and personal potential. Facilitating clear and open communication channels between the ExCom and all APECS Council members is a priority for me, as I envision a cohesive APECS family where everyone feels valued and connected, driving our collective mission forward.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  For this ExCom term, I would like to focus as the main priority to be helping to continue reestablishing a clear and fluid communication channel between the ExCom and all APECS Community, as I think that is the fundamental pilar of APECS as a networking organisation of young scientists. For that, I want to continue working in past term priorities, such as: Polar Early Career Summit – APECS will organize a third APECS World Summit in March 2025 in Boulder, Colorado (USA), together with PSECCO. This going to be a great opportunity to gather a APECS Community all together in person to offer ECRs valuable opportunities and integrate their voices into the planning process for the International Polar Year, as well as for the future of APECS as an organisation. APECS Handbook – finishing the document that offers a comprehensive overview of APECS' organizational structure, serving as a beacon of understanding for all APECS members. Also, there are other priorities that I think that it should give attention and support, as for instance the engagement of APECS members: Project Groups – ensure that all members of the project groups understand their role, learn from it, being active and feel integrated in their group. I think the PGs are one essential part of APECS Community as most of APECS members have their contact only through them, so it is very important to them to be running smoothly. National Committees – from my experience as a National Committee Coordinator, I feel there is a need to provide capacity-building resources to NCs so that they can sustainably grow, as there is a lot of interest from new members to form new NCs for their own country. Social Gatherings – with the new changes to the council structure some years ago, the contact of some APECS members became a little restricted to their own Project Groups, so making social gatherings would be essential to build a healthy and cohesive APECS community.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising committees, Project Groups or individuals?

  I already have some experience as seen above through my experience in the APECS Leadership by being an ExCom Member, a National Committee Coordinator, a Council Chair. Also, I already was President and Vice-President of APECS Portugal and nowadays, I serve more as an advising member but I'm active on its ExCom. I oversaw different activities and organisational committees of conferences of polar sciences in Portugal and overseas, as well as, back in my city, I had the opportunity also to be the President of the Journalism Section of the Academic Association of Coimbra during several years, where I advised and write for the Science and Technology section of the Academic Journal of Coimbra. Here, I serve in the Advisory Committee of the journal until now.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2024 - 2025 term?

  None.

• Sebastian Maria Karl Heinrich Kopf - Norway

  Bionote: Sebastian Maria Karl Heinrich holds a Master of Laws degree in International Law of the Sea from UiT The Arctic University of Norway. His professional and academic journey has taken him across the globe, as he lived, studied and worked in Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. In his previous roles, Sebastian has played a key role in various projects and research initiatives, including at the United Nations and Arctic Frontiers. He has contributed to further developing and implementing policy and compliance monitoring systems, recycling projects and developing sustainability action plans for 30.000+ personnel. Before joining NIVA, Sebastian worked at Arctic Frontiers, where he coordinated the Young Program and co-managed the annual Arctic Frontiers conference, which hosted over 1,100 participants in 2024. Also outside of his professional life, Sebastian is passionate about the outdoors. He enjoys running, skiing and sailing and participates in competitions across Norway. Also, he is currently building a remotely operated maritime vehicle.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  APECS offers exiting opportunities to its members and is highly important for our Polar regions' future. This puts APECS at a highly important spot for the future of this region. As I am passionate about our Polar regions, I want to contribute. Based on my academic background and work experiences, I want to contribute to the great work that has been done and contribute to its further development, in collaboration with all other APECS members, so with all of you.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  While I have not yet had the privilege to directly serve in the APECS leadership, I have cooperated with APECS in my previous job at Arctic Frontiers. Being an APECS member based in Tromsø myself, I have gained a thorough understanding of APECS, its activities and organizational structure. Furthermore, I have extensive leadership experience in diverse organizations and have worked both in an academic settings as well as in an international coordination and advisory settings. This includes, e.g., my work at Arctic Frontiers, federal associations and organizations in Germany as well as at the United Nations. This experience has provided me with the experience in organizing events, providing advice and leading projects and programs. I am excited about the Polar Regions and the opportunity to bring my experience and passion for the the Polar Regions to the Executive Committee and work with you to foster ECR engagement in the Polar Regions.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I hope to contribute to APECS via several pathways. Recognizing the great work that you have been doing over the past years, I am excited to provide support in the continuation of successful activities and initiatives. I am especially interested in fostering further collaboration and outreach, showcasing the potential and importance of including young voices, like APECS’s members, in political and business decision making processes. This can include working together with existing projects and associations (e.g., the Arctic Youth Network and the Youth for Arctic Futures project), lobbying for more participation of young voices in decision making processes for the Polar regions' future towards nation states, supranational and international institutions as well as helping to provide a platform to exchange ideas between early career researchers. Based on my background, I hope to contribute to some of the ongoing and potentially new projects with coordination support.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  I am most excited about facilitation exchange between early career researchers and fostering collaborations with different Polar-related institutions. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, ECR workshops and (online) conferences.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising committees, Project Groups or individuals?

  I have over a decade of experience in mentoring and advising committees, project groups and individuals. This includes both mentoring and advising in academic fields and environments as well as regarding project coordination. As an example, in 2023-2024, I coordinated 20+ volunteers at the Arctic Frontiers Conference in Tromsø, organized events with early career scientists to inspire young individuals (from 5-35 years) as well as was responsible for students from the circumpolar north and beyond regarding a week-long program. Furthermore, in my work for the United Nations, I advised the sustainable procurement task force regarding how to analyze and decide on offers received from potential suppliers. These experiences provided me with the chance to prove and further develop my mentoring and committee advising skills. In addition, I took part in professional development courses, both on (Digital) Mentoring and on Group facilitation to further improve my skills in this area.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2024 - 2025 term?

  I do not expect any longer away periods.

• Conor Savage - United Kingdom

  Bionote: I have valuable experience in environmental, social and governance (ESG) activity within the finance sector, covering key topics such as climate change, the biodiversity crisis, and human rights. I'm an ESG Programme Manager with Sainsbury's, where I'm responsible for the development and delivery of Sainsbury's Bank's ESG strategy. Before this, I was a Climate Reporting Manager with NatWest Group, where I provided advice and technical expertise on climate, nature, and other sustainability-related policy. I have an academic background in Marine Biology, completing both a BSc and MSc at Bangor University, specialising in the impacts of climate change on the Arctic, and how it adversely affects the sea ice-reliant and sea ice-associated species that inhabit it, in particular, walruses! Whilst I now work in the finance sector, I continue to volunteer with many organisations involved in the polar and marine fields. This includes but is not limited to APECS, Arctic PASSION, the UK Polar Network, the Marine Biological Association, and the United Nations Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development via the Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme. These volunteer roles have taken me up into the Arctic and to partake in international conferences shaping the future of the world’s polar regions and oceans. I attended the APECS-Arctic PASSION Arctic Sharing Circle, staying with Indigenous Saami people learning about their history, culture, and language in Inari and Sevettijärvi in far northern Finland/Sápmi in October 2023. I was also selected for the 2024 Emerging Leaders Programme of Arctic Frontiers, where I engaged with stakeholders involved in/from across the Arctic in the high north of Norway in Tromsø in January 2024. Additionally, I spoke at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona in April 2024 about my extensive experience with capacity development, having a strong track record of delivering training to both academic and industry non-expert audiences.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  Ever since I joined the UK Polar Network Committee as a Member-At-Large and attended the APECS-Arctic PASSION Sharing Circle in Inari and Sevettijärvi, I've aspired to get more involved with APECS and its work. I've already started to do this by being a Member of the Organising Committee for the Polar Early Career World Summit 2025, which will be held in Boulder, Colorado, USA as part of ASSW 2025. I believe the Executive Committee is the natural next step for me, as it will allow me to leverage all of my leadership/management experience I've accrued in other volunteer roles, and help expand/augment APECS and its work. But most of all, I love polar science!

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  I'm a Committee Member-At-Large with the UK Polar Network. I've represented the UKPN at the Arctic Frontiers Conference 2024 by showcasing a poster of our activities, sponsors, etc. at the Poster Reception, with a goal to boost recruitment, establish new collaborative links, etc. One such link, with KOPRI in Korea, has led to me building a relationship that recently culminated in me submitting a session proposal on international polar science policy linkages for this year's Arctic Circle Assembly with KOPRI, APECS Korea, KoARC, NIPR (Japan), and the APECS International Directorate as Co-Organisers. I also represented the UKPN at ASSW 2024, where I presented about my experience on the APECS-Arctic PASSION Sharing Circle and how best to convey academic knowledge to industry audiences (and vice versa).

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee Member in four main ways: 1) leveraging my leadership/management experience that I've accrued with other volunteer organisations as I mentioned above, 2) using my well-established network to link in APECS with new organisations we can work with, 3) providing a voice for those within industry who are often sidelined in academic spaces, and 4) generating new and exciting ideas - I'm well known for my 'outside-the-box' thinking!

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  My main priorities would be to: 1) lead a drive to setup new APECS National Committees in countries currently without them, as well as support the 'relaunch' of APECS National Committees that may have become inactive - I'm a firm believer in building a strong grassroots base to help deliver our objectives, and 2) undertake an outreach campaign to establish formal/informal relationships with like-minded organisations to make sure APECS is tapping into the 'network of networks' that is being fostered in early career spaces. This is in addition to supporting all the current work that APECS is undertaking, including organising the Polar Early Career World Summit 2025 as I mentioned above.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising committees, Project Groups or individuals?

  I have a wealth of experience, but I'd like to focus on the two examples I'm proudest of. I was Education Lead of the Sustainable Futures Network (an Employee-Led Network that aims to empower colleagues to embed sustainability at home/work) at NatWest Group for over three years whilst I worked there. I led & managed a team of ~15-20 colleagues that developed & delivered climate change, biodiversity, and other sustainability-related training (i.e., oceans, energy, etc.) to 10,000+ attendees over the course of my final two years, boosting my colleagues’ knowledge and equipping them with ways to tackle the climate and nature crises. I’ve also been the Training & Mentoring Manager for the ECOP Programme for over a year and a half now on a voluntary basis. I lead & manage a team of ~10 members, which is both international and intersectoral in its makeup. We organise webinars/facilitate training courses, review mentoring programmes (with an aim to establish a standalone ECOP Mentoring Programme), and develop/deliver training materials, all for ECOPs, furthering their personal/professional development.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2024 - 2025 term?

  No - I currently don't have anything planned that would take me away for 3+ weeks.

• Martina Tenti - Italy

  Bionote: I am a geophysicist and geomorphologist from Italy and I did my PhD in Polar Sciences at the Cà Foscari University of Venice. My project was focused on the paleo-reconstruction of the Antarctic Ice Sheet from its maximum extent during Last Glacial Maximum to the present configuration through geophysical, geomorphological and geological evidence detected on the seafloor. Previously, I studied for a BSc in Geology at the University of Urbino (Italy) and for a MSc in Exploration and Applied Geophysics at the University of Pisa (Italy). During my PhD program, I spent two years working at the Louisiana State University (USA) where I had the opportunity to take part into two Antarctic cruises (December-March 2022-23 and February-April 2024). I have been a member of board in APECS Italy since 2021 and I am really passionate about Antarctica and polar exeditions. In fact, from September 26th to October 10th 2024 I will inaugurate my first Antarctic photographic exhibition (including also video and panels with the story of the past Antarctic expeditions) with the aim of divulgating and raising public awareness. I also give talks in primary and secondary schools about polar sciences with the aim of showing kids and teenagers how wonderful the scientific reseach can be!

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  As one of the members of board in APECS Italy, I consider this association one of the most useful and powerful means that exist to help young researchers finding job opportunities in polar sciences and taking part in projects by creating international collaborations. I would like to join the Executive Committee because I just finished my PhD and my postdoctoral fellowship will start next year so, right now, I have more time to dedicate to APECS Italy and also to the ExCom if I will be selected for this role. I can give to APECS a significant contribute in organizing activities and events or anything else is needed.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  I am a member of the National board in APECS Italy since 2021 with the main role of organizer. In particular, I arrange private meetings for discussing with the members of the board and also public ones with all the members of APECS for important announcements or advice/feedback about past organized events. I organize the annual conferences (logistics, extra-activities, remote connection for the participants who cannot attend in presence, coffee breaks and gadgets), workshops and seminars, and all other kinds of events.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I hope to be involved in the organization of events, as conferences and seminars, but also in the divulgation to let people around the world know about this invredible association.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  I would like to help with the organization of the Polar week and the online conference (things that I used to do in APECS Italy), but also APECS Podcast and Art, because I think that science linked to art represents a perfect duo that let the polar regions being more interesting and more accessible to people.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising committees, Project Groups or individuals?

  During the annual meeting organized by the National Program of Researches in Antarctica (PNRA), APECS Italy has been invited for involving early career researchers in national projects and polar fieldworks. During this meeting, I had to mentor the geoscience group for finding new ideas/goals for the projects that are going to be funded during the next 3 years. During the past two Antarctic cruises I took part in, I was the teamleader of the nightshift, with the role of mentoring and supervisioning my team and the work done.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2024 - 2025 term?

  I will probably take part into the Italian Antarctic cruise in January and February 2025.