Matteus Arinaga
Dedicated professional with a strong foundation in sustainable development and marine science , currently transitioning into marine conservation. This career pivot is driven by an understanding of the critical importance of marine ecosystems for planetary health and a general lack of awareness about this often-overlooked topic. Eager to contribute time, energy, and knowledge to initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and science-based marine conservation .
Work History
Climate & Sustainability Expert
1 Year 10 Months- Initiated the implementation of 250 actions of the municipal Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Plan 2030
- Focused on organization-wide sustainability and committed to continual improvement.
- Excelled at activating colleagues from many fields of expertise (transportation, energy, buildings, IT, youth, etc.).
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Project Officer - Learning Network
2 Years- Cultivated public and private partnerships to advance residential energy-efficient renovation projects under European LIFE Project Belgium Renovates for Energy Efficient Living (BE REEL!).
- Developed instructional content (>15h) focused on best practices in energy-efficient construction for professional development.
- Organized and conducted 50+ stakeholder meetings to foster collaboration and gather insights for energy efficiency initiatives.
- Communicated key project outcomes and insights to diverse audiences at international conferences (EURESFO, eceee Summer Study) and events (mainly webinars, workshops).
- Engaged with key stakeholders to build and maintain robust professional relationships.
- Oversaw the synchronization of project timelines and deliverables, ensuring adherence to agency objectives.
Education
MSc - Ocean Science, Innovation, And Conservation
This 1y international and interdisciplinary MSc focused on blending marine science with socio-economic realities. My thesis, titled 'Retention of thermal tolerance of an extreme coral reef in the Gulf of Thailand', was sponsored by Global Reef, a marine science organization in the Gulf of Thailand.
Courses included:
- Blue Sustainable Development
- Marine Ecology
- Oceanography
- MPA Development
- Fisheries Science
- International Law of the Sea
- Remote Sensing & AI
- Transversal Skills (R Studio, QGIS)
MSc - Sustainable Development
This 2y international and interdisciplinary MSc blended the economical, ecological and social aspects of sustainable development. My thesis was titled 'Port expansion, resistance, and contesting narratives. A case study of Doel, Belgium (1964-2020)'.
Courses included:
- Urban Social Geography
- Global Environmental Politics
- Tourism, Globalization, and Sustainable Development
- Biogeography & Macroecology
- Global change, Ecosystems, and Sustainability
- Strategic Spatial Planning
BA - Political Sciences
Skills
Languages
Certification
- SCUBA diving (RAID): Divemaster, Ecological Diver, Nitrox, Deep 40, Emergency O2 Provider (Roctopus & Ecotrust Koh Tao, 2023)
- Marine Ecology, Biology, & Conservation diving course (Roctopus Ecotrust Koh Tao, 2023)
- Delve Deeper Marine Biology course (Newcastle University, 2023)
- Ocean Governance course (International Ocean Institute, 2022)
- Coordinator for internal media (Sea Shepherd Belgium, 2023-...)
- Parliamentary intern in the Flemish Parliament for Groen (Flemish Greens, 2018)
- Student projects: AIESEC Leuven (2016-2017), Academics for Development (2018-2019), Product Innovation Project (2019-2020)