Maria Damanaki

Maria Damanaki played a leading role in the underground student opposition to the dictatorship in Greece; imprisoned by the regime after the student uprising of November 1973 and until the fall of the dictatorship in 1974. She served for more than 25 years as a member of the Greek National Parliament. From 2010 to 2015, Damanaki was European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. In that capacity, she introduced the reform of the European Fisheries policy, the Blue Growth Agenda and the European System against IUU Fisheries. Damanaki is principal adviser for Systemiq and The Paradise International Foundation.