#ExpertProfile
Alan Evans
Head of the International and Strategic Partnerships Office at the NOC
Alan Evans is the Alternate Head of the UK Delegation to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), which was established in 1960 as the only competent organisation for marine science within the UN system.
Alan has been a UK Delegate at the IOC-UNESCO since 2015 and became the Alternate Head in 2017. In this role he engages with the UK Government, the UK marine science community and the UK National Commission for UNESCO. As the point person for engaging with the IOC Secretariat Alan promotes UK marine science expertise and capabilities, sharing UK best practice in contributing to global initiatives to sustainably manage the worlds ocean.
With well over twenty years’ experience in marine scientific research, he is a keen advocate of applying scientific evidence to the process of policy development. Throughout his career Alan has focussed on either applying policy, in particular Parts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) or influencing its drafting at national and international levels.
Alan is an advocate for collaborating with international partners, in particular at the IOC-UNESCO, which is a key forum for bringing together an international community of marine science champions to develop global marine programmes that stimulate the science we need for the future we want.

#Institution
National Oceanography Centre, UK
Head, International and Strategic Partnerships
SINCE 2015
#Alma-Matter
University of Bangor
BSc.
1999 – BANGOR, WALES
#Role at UNESCO
Alternate Head of the UK Delegation to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
QUOTE
“It is only by working together that we (the global marine science community) can address the big societal challenges the world faces, in particular those driven by climate change.”
Alan Evans, Speaking of the essential role that the IOC-UNESCO plays in ocean protection.
All accredited experts within our network are elected onto a specific international committee or programme within UNESCO’s framework
ROLE AT UNESCO
Alan Evans is the Alternate Head of the UK Delegation to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO).
Institutions
National Oceanographic Centre
Head of the International and Strategic Partnerships Office (ISPO) and a Marine Science Policy Adviser
SINCE 2015
European Marine Board
Natural Environment Research Council(NERC)-UKRI Representative and Vice-Chair
SINCE 2014
University of Bangor
BSc Geological Oceanography
1999
Role at UNESCO
Alternate Head of the UK Delegation to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
SINCE 2017
COMMISSION
IOC – Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
ESTABLISHED 1960 – PARIS, FRANCE

IOC is a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO that promotes international cooperation and coordinates programmes in marine research, services, observation systems, hazard mitigation and capacity development in order to better manage the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas.
Publications
SELECTED PUBLISHED WORK
Read some of Alan’s published work on our website, as well as other material, news and articles

The Challenges of Marine Spatial Planning in the Arctic.
2017
#ArcticSpace
Alongside his colleague, Rosemary Edwards, Alan explores how we are in desperate need for planning and governance across international boundaries, in order to protect Arctic ecosystems as the intensity of resource mining continues to increase.
LATEST
QUOTE
“The IOC-UNESCO plays a pivotal role in bringing together an international community of marine science champions to develop global marine programmes, stimulating the science we need, for the future we want.”
Alan Evans, On the role of the IOC
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