Dec 2022 Coffee Q&A – Leslie-Ann McGee – WHOI Ocean Pavilion at COP27

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was the principal partner hosting the Ocean Pavilion at the recent COP27 conference. The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP27, was the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from 6 November until 20 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The Ocean Pavilion served as a central hub for over 15,000 conference delegates and more than 60 events where ideas were exchanged about how to address climate change by leveraging the ocean. Throughout the conference, held from November 6 to 18, the pavilion featured events, meetings and in-depth discussions that elaborated on the daily conference themes.

Visitors to the pavilion were able to learn about the work of the Ocean Pavilion partners and to serve as a learning and collaboration platform between scientists and policy makers as we search for solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Leslie-Ann McGee was WHOI’s project coordinator for the Ocean Pavilion, and spent three weeks in Egypt managing the exhibit. Leslie-Ann is the Director Special Projects, Marine Facilities and Operations. She is responsible for developing strategic vision and leadership, managing external relations and partnerships and retaining primary responsibility for organizational and program management. Leslie-Ann is responsible for the large-scale waterfront planning associated with the future WHOI dock and associated facilities that serves two global class UNOLS vessels, the iconic deep-sea submersible Alvin, a coastal research vessel, a robust robotics and non-vessel research program, mechanical shops, research labs and a leading dive program. Ms. McGee also manages the “Robots to the Sea” project – a partnership to drive innovation in marine robotics between WHOI and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ms. McGee served as the Director of Coastal Zone Management for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Director of Programs for the World Ocean Council, Director of Ocean and Coastal Solutions at Battelle Memorial Institute. She has held state and federal positions with NOAA, the New England Fishery Management Council and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game.

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