Sandra Bessudo

Sandra Bessudo Lion is a Marine Biologist from the Ecole Pratique de Hautes Etudes (EPHE) in Paris, with a Master in Life and Earth Sciences Studies in Perpignan (France). Professional diver, with over 5,000 immersions in open water. Sandra Bessudo is a professional strongly committed with the conservation of the marine biodiversity and the protection of the environment. She was High Presidential Counselor for Environmental Management, Biodiversity, Water and Climate Change until January 2012, when she took on the General Direction of the recently created Presidential Agency of International Cooperation of Colombia, governmental entity in charge of managing, technically coordinate and leading the public and private international cooperation received and granted by the country.

As Director of the Malpelo and Other Marine Ecosystems Foundation, she was an active promoter in the establishment of the Isla Malpelo Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, achieving not only that the Sanctuary was positioned before the international press, but to be scored as a “Particular Sensitive Area” by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), headquartered in London. She led several research projects on sharks using acoustic and satellite telemetry.

She worked in the Special Administrative Unit of the National Natural Parks System of the Ministry of Environment, and with Banco de Occidente as advisor and coordinator of photography in the book Colombia, Universo”

Hostess of the cultural program The Razor´s Edge, in Signal Colombia, also took part with Ocensa in underwater footage and was advisor from the Foreign Affairs Ministry for Expolisboa 98.

She also served as Coordinator of the Workshops and Cycles of Conferences in Colombia for the International Year of the Oceans. Diving instructor in Club El Nogal and diving Director in Aviatur. Sandra Bessudo has independently produced dozens of publications, videos and specialized documentaries.

Among her awards, she was recognized with the Distinguished Service Medal to the General Navy Direction, granted by the Colombian National Army, the 2011 Biosphere Awareness Award granted by the Mayors of Cadiz (Spain) and Mariquita (Colombia) and the Environmental Civil Order Merit "Thomas van der Hammen" Grade of Grand Cross of Gold, delivered in the Colombian Congress facilities and awarded by the Council of Environmental NGOs, among many other that she has received in Colombia and abroad.

References

• Bessudo, Sandra (2012), "Uniformados víctimas de minas se hacen buzos para un nuevo futuro", El Tiempo Newspaper (in Spanish)
• "Sandra Bessudo asume misión de atraer recursos para el país", Portafolio Newspaper, 2012 (in Spanish)
• "Sandra Bessudo, nueva directora de la Agencia de Cooperación Internacional", Caracol Radio, 2011 (in Spanish)
• "Sandra Bessudo fue designada directora de la agencia de cooperación internacional", El Colombiano Newspaper, 2011 (in Spanish)
• AFP (2011), "Gobierno pedirá explicaciones a Costa Rica por matanza de tiburones", El Tiempo Newspaper (in Spanish)
• Correa, Pablo (2010), "Sandra Bessudo: "Extraño la libertad"", El Espectador Newspaper (in Spanish)
• Rodriguez Becerra, Manuel (2008), "Milagro en Malpelo", El Tiempo Newspaper(in Spanish)
• Bessudo, Sandra (2012), "Editorial", Cooperando Magazine (in Spanish)

External links

• Sandra Et Le Requin Inconnu. Dir. Marie Hélène Baconnet and Yves Lefèvre. Perf. Sandra Bessudo. Canal+, 2002. (Documentary) (in French).
• Presidential Agency of International Cooperation of Colombia