JPI Oceans Elects New Vice-Chairs
Dr. Maria Azzopardi and Dr. Koen Lefever were unanimously elected Vice-Chairs of the JPI Oceans board.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
JPI Oceans unanimously elected Dr. Maria Azzopardi and Dr. Koen Lefever as Vice-Chairs, concluding the Vice-Chair mandates of Dr. Angelo Camerlenghi and Dr. Benjamin Kürten. The election was announced on November 2, 2026.
Why it matters
The appointments place experienced researchers from Malta and Belgium in leadership roles within the multinational ocean research initiative. Azzopardi's appointment is expected to further strengthen Mediterranean representation within JPI Oceans.
Azzopardi has served four years on the JPI Oceans Internal Advisory Committee, while Lefever has more than seven years of experience in international marine research coordination. The source does not detail the length of the new mandates.
The players
JPI Oceans
JPI Oceans is a multinational joint programming initiative that coordinates European marine and maritime research across member countries.
Dr. Maria Azzopardi
Dr. Maria Azzopardi is a Maltese biochemist and research administrator who holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and serves as Malta's Alternate Member of the PRIMA Board of Trustees.
Dr. Koen Lefever
Dr. Koen Lefever is a Belgian science policy programme manager with a PhD in Philosophy of Science who chairs the JPI Oceans Deep-Sea Mining International Engagement Hub.
The details
Dr. Maria Azzopardi, Director responsible for Research Internationalisation at Xjenza Malta, and Dr. Koen Lefever, a programme manager at the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO), were elected by unanimous vote. Their elections replace the outgoing Vice-Chair mandates of Dr. Angelo Camerlenghi and Dr. Benjamin Kürten.
Timeline
2019: Lefever joins the JPI Oceans Management Board and General Assembly.
2022: Azzopardi joins the JPI Oceans Management Board and General Assembly.
2024: Lefever joins the Internal Advisory Committee.
November 2, 2026: JPI Oceans announces the election of the new Vice-Chairs.
Market Landscape
The election continues the leadership succession within JPI Oceans, a multinational joint programming initiative that coordinates European marine research. Filling Vice-Chair seats with researchers from Malta and Belgium reflects the program's cross-border structure across member states.
For researchers and institutions involved in European marine science, the new Vice-Chairs will shape collaboration priorities and funding coordination. The change affects how ocean research partnerships are led across member countries.
The takeaway
Leadership changes within multinational research initiatives can shift how cross-border ocean science is coordinated. Watching who fills these roles offers insight into the direction of collaborative marine research.
Further reading
Explore more People profiles to see other leadership changes in the business world.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jpi-oceans.
