Mafalda Freitas is a marine biologist, with a Msc in Business Administration (Management of MPA’s). Since 2020, she assumed the Regional Directorate for the Sea (DRM) of the Madeira Government, working in ocean governance, sustainable blue economy, marine spatial planning, deep sea resources and ocean literacy and representing the Madeira Government in several consultative commissions. The mission of DRM is to propose regional policies for the sea of Madeira Outermost Region and to coordinate the development of the Madeira Blue Economy Strategy, considering the valorization and sustainability of marine resources and the exploration, preservation and research of the sea.