Jan-Bart Calewaert trained as a
bio-engineer in cellular and genetic biotechnology (University of Ghent,
2001). After working for a major agrochemical company for a short
while, he returned to study, completing an additional Masters in Marine
Environment Management from the Free University of Brussels and
University of Antwerp (2004). Since then, Jan-Bart has been coordinating
a range of multidisciplinary research projects, initiatives and science
policy advisory bodies in support of marine research, sustainable
management of marine and coastal environments, and related policy
frameworks at national, regional and global level. For more than six
years at the European Marine Board Secretariat, Jan-Bart coordinated
foresight and policy activities across a range of marine issues, before
establishing the Secretariat of the
European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) in 2013 to
coordinate its activities, in support of the EC Directorate‐General for
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). In 2017, Jan-Bart co-founded
Seascape Belgium, leading a professional team of dedicated marine
science and data specialists, securing and managing funds for
multi-partner collaborative marine knowledge projects and initiatives at
national, European and international level. Since
the start of the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development
Jan-Bart has been supporting its progress, among others as co-chair of
the Decade’s Data Coordination Group (DCG) which has produced the first
version of the Decade Data and Information Strategy released in May 2023
(https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385542).
Since June 2023, Jan-Bart has taken on a new assignment as Lead Manager
of the Decade Coordination Office (DCO) on Ocean Data Sharing (ODS) to
establish the DCO on solid grounds, support the Decade actors on data
and information sharing related challenges and opportunities and secure
funding for the further growth and evolution of the DCO. He looks
forward to establish the DCO and drive the development of the data
sharing component of the digital ecosystem needed to support the
successful implementation of the Decade’s ambitions.