José Manuel Pacheco Castillo joined the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute in January 2023 and currently holds the role of Project and Research Fellow. He supports the Institute and its faculty, under leadership of GOI Director, with research and project management efforts for the Ocean Research Agenda. He coordinates a few academic proceedings projects including the post event efforts of the IMO-WMU joint academic conference and assists the Programme PI’s with research matters as well as supports the Institute’s outreach and capacity building activities in the realm of the Ocean Research Agenda.

Prior to joining WMU, José Manuel worked for the Peruvian Government in the Directorate of Aquatic Transport Policies and Norms of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Peru (2020-2022) and in the Directorate of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru (2014-2019). His professional activities also include teaching undergraduate courses related to Public International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

José Manuel holds an LL.M. with distinction from the IMO International Maritime Law Institute in Malta (2020) and an LL.B. from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (2014). He joined the Lima Bar Association in 2017 after defending his thesis with distinction at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. His academic background includes international courses and training programs in the law of the sea, including a fellowship at the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea - DOALOS (2022).