Melanie Austen is head of science at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, in the UK, leading the interdisciplinary Sea and Society research area. She is currently leading the Blue Communities program, funded by the GCRF, which aims to develop interdisciplinary research capability in South-East Asia to support development of marine plans, using UNESCO marine Biosphere Reserves as case studies. The overarching challenges are: to improve the integrated management of marine and coastal environments, to reduce conflict between users, mitigate risks associated with expanded or new uses, and protect fragile ecosystems while supporting livelihoods, food security, health and well-being of coastal communities. Mel was originally a marine ecologist, but for the past twenty years she has led and undertaken interdisciplinary marine research across the multiple and interacting sectors of the blue economy (e.g. renewable energy, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, recreation and leisure) and the ecosystem services that underpin and are impacted by them, publishing more than ninety peer reviewed publications and providing policy advice at EU and UK level. She is on the Board of the UK Government organization: Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and was part-time chief scientific advisor to the UK Government's Marine Management Organisation (2010-2013).