Biography

Laura was part of the team from 2019 till 2023 and conducted a PhD on the role of certification and coordination in local food value chains. She obtained a master’s degree in Marine Systems and Policies from the University of Edinburgh (2018), and master’s degree in Environmental Bioengineering from UCLouvain (2015).

Before starting her PhD, Laura worked for six months as an officer at the Fisheries Areas Network (FARNET) Unit, providing technical assistance to DG Mare (European Commission), local authorities and Fisheries Local Action Groups to ensure the good implementation of community-led local development in EU Member States. Prior to that, she worked for 18 months for a marine consultancy company based in London (MRAG). As part of her job, she conducted several studies leading to advice in marine resources management (mainly in fisheries and aquaculture); and traceability audits in fisheries supply chains. Laura also spent about a year in Latin America, first as a research assistant for a stevia producing company in Peru (Stevia One), and second as a stakeholder consultation assistant – mostly with smallholder farmers – for a cocoa exporting company in Costa Rica (Nahua Chocolate). Laura is fluent in four different languages, namely French, English, Spanish and Dutch, and always eager to learn and adapt to new environments.