Martha Papathanassiou is an expert in dissemination, communication, and environmental science education with 19+ years of specialized experience in EU-funded projects. As Founder & Director of INDIGO MED Consultancy, she delivers strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and ocean literacy solutions across Horizon Europe, H2020, and ERASMUS+ programs.

Core Expertise

• EU Project Management: Work Package Leader for Communication & Dissemination (BioProtect, Horizon Europe) and Education & Capacity Building (BRIDGE-BS, H2020), with proven track record managing multi-partner international consortia.
• Strategic Communication: Developed and implemented communication strategies for UNESCO, the European Commission, and 10+ large-scale EU research projects spanning FP6 through Horizon Europe frameworks.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Expert facilitator for citizen consultations, youth campaigns, and policy-maker outreach, with experience recruiting and engaging diverse audiences across Mediterranean and European contexts
• Science Communication: Translates complex marine science and environmental policy into accessible content for scientific, public, and policy audiences through multimedia platforms, publications, and events.

Professional Background

• International Organizations: Communication consultant for UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO)
• Research Institutions: 13-year tenure as Press & Communications Officer at Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), managing dissemination for flagship EU projects
• Publications & Editorial: Editorial Coordinator at Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; authored peer-reviewed publications and technical reports on ocean literacy, science-policy interfaces, and marine education.

Recognised Leadership

• European Marine Board Communications Panel (EMBCP) Steering Committee member (2017-2018).
• European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA) Board member and Communications Officer (2018-2020).
• Chair and organiser of international conferences including the 3rd EMSEA Conference (2015) and invited expert speaker at EC Atlantic Stakeholder Conference (2015).

Academic Foundation

• MA Communication Studies (Merit), University of Leeds
• B.Sc. (Hons) Marine Sciences, University of Southampton
• Bilingual professional fluency (Greek/English); working knowledge of French (B1-B2)

Technical Competencies

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, CMS platforms, social media management, ArcGIS StoryMaps, and multimedia editing tools for digital storytelling and impact visualization.