Dr. Vera Songoro

Dr. Vera Songoro is a distinguished marine biologist with over 20 years of experience studying coral reef ecosystems in Melanesian waters. Based at the Pacific Community (SPC) in Noumea, she has led groundbreaking research on coral bleaching resilience, community-based marine protected area design, and the intersection of traditional ecological knowledge with modern conservation science. Dr. Songoro has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and has advised governments across the Pacific on marine spatial planning and climate adaptation strategies. She is a recipient of the IUCN Outstanding Marine Conservationist Award and a passionate advocate for Melanesian women's leadership in ocean science.