Featured Speaker: Jerry Sheehan – Ocean Economy Accounting to Support Policy

Jerry Sheehan, Director of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Directorate at the OECD, will be one of the featured speakers at the UNOC3 side event — “Delivering on the 2030 Sustainable Ocean Economy: Pledge to Develop Ocean Accounts by 2030”. With over 30 years of experience in science policy, innovation systems, and digital transformation, Mr. Sheehan will share insights on how ocean economy accounting can support evidence-based policy and the development of a sustainable blue economy.

Prior to rejoining the OECD in 2023, Mr. Sheehan held leadership roles at the U.S. National Library of Medicine and served twice at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he advanced initiatives on open science, data transparency, and scientific integrity. He has also worked with the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment.

A former Senior Economist at the OECD (2000–2006), he coordinated key publications on innovation and R&D policy. He has chaired several high-level international forums, including the OECD Working Party on Innovation and Technology Policy and the G7 Open Science Working Group.

At Ocean Accounts 2030, Mr. Sheehan will bring a policy-oriented perspective on how robust ocean economy accounting can drive more informed and impactful decision-making.