Paula Mendonça (she/her)

Dr. Paula Mendonça currently serves as the Executive Director of the Ocean Startup Project, while on secondment from her position as Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Memorial University. Paula's expertise in marine biology, intellectual property, research commercialization and innovation ecosystems has contributed to the growth of ocean innovation in Canada. She gained her know-how within Canadian and international contexts, having lived, worked and studied in ocean communities on two sides of the Atlantic: Portugal and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Throughout the inception of the Ocean Startup Project, Paula has been the guiding force behind its Lab2Market Oceans program. This initiative has empowered graduate students and researchers across Canadian universities with entrepreneurship skills, to validate the market potential of their ocean-related research.

Beyond her work with the Ocean Startup Project, Paula is a dedicated community member recognized for her contributions with the Most Inspiring Immigrants of Atlantic Canada award in 2022 by My East Coast Experience.