Dr. Jacqueline Uku is a seagrass scientist based at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Mombasa, Kenya and is currently leading the National Marine Spatial Planning process for Kenya. Her extensive leadership roles include serving as the recent past President of WIOMSA, former Chair of the Africa Ocean Decade Task Force, and Co-chair of the Editorial Board for the development of the 3rd Edition of the Global Ocean Science Report under IOC-UNESCO. Dr. Uku is also a Lead Expert under the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and a recipient of the NK Panniker Award for capacity building from the IOC-UNESCO General Assembly. She is an alumnus of the Women for the Environment (We Africa) Leaders Programme. Seagrasses have been central to Dr. Uku's journey, which she has leveraged to teach and guide youth in scientific research pathways. As a member of the Ocean Literacy Group of Experts under UNESCO, she continues to advocate for greater ocean awareness in Kenya.