Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The University of Cape Town's Marine and Antarctic Research centre for Innovation and Sustainability (MARiS) is delighted to invite you to a distinguished lecture by Mrs Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), European Commission.

Mrs Vitcheva will be visiting Cape Town to participate in the prestigious BlueInvest Africa South Africa 2026 event, taking place from 2-3 November 2026. During her mission to South Africa, the Directorate-General has expressed a keen interest in engaging with Cape Town's marine research community through a special guest lecture hosted by UCT-MARiS and the UCT Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences. See the attached poster for more information on the speaker and lecture.

LECTURE: "The European Union's Ocean Diplomacy: From Commitments to Actions"

Date: Tuesday, 03 November 2026
Meet & Greet with Light Refreshments: 11h00 - 12h00
Lecture: 12h00 - 13h00

Venue: Studio 5, Level 5, UCT Environmental and Geographical Sciences Building
South Lane, Upper Campus, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town

This lecture presents a unique opportunity for researchers, students, early-career researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders beyond UCT to engage directly with one of the world's leading figures in ocean policy and governance, and to discuss critical issues shaping the future of our oceans.

Meet & Greet Opportunity

Before the lecture begins, attendees are warmly invited to join us for an informal meet-and-greet over light refreshments from 11h00 to 12h00. This provides an opportunity to connect with Mrs Vitcheva, exchange ideas, discuss shared interests, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

We encourage attendees to come prepared with questions and discussion points related to sustainable fisheries, the blue economy, ocean governance, maritime security, ocean observation, and ocean research.

RSVP

Please register by Wednesday, 28 October 2026 using the link below:

🔗https://forms.gle/hU6bHA8oaDKr1DHc8 

For any enquiries, please contact: comms.maris@uct.ac.za.

We would like to encourage you to share this invitation with any other relevant networks. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a highly engaging and thought-provoking discussion on the role of international cooperation, science, and policy in advancing sustainable ocean futures.

Kind regards,

UCT's Marine and Antarctic Research centre for Innovation and Sustainability (MARiS)

University of Cape Town