Ambassador Satya N. Nandan, C.F., C.B.E., was the first Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (1996-2008). He was also Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Fiji, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Law of the Sea, and Fiji’s Ambassador to the European Economic Community and nearby countries. He is a Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln’s Inn, England, and also a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Fiji. Ambassador Nandan is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia.

Michael W. Lodge is currently the Deputy to the Secretary-General and Legal Counsel for the International Seabed Authority. He closely worked with Ambassador Nandan for many years on deep seabed and fisheries issues. He holds a MSc. in Marine Policy and is a Barrister of Gray's Inn, London. Michael Lodge has authored over 25 books and articles on the law of the sea, oceans policy and related issues.

Professor Myron H. Nordquist serves concurrently as the Associate Director and Editor of the Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law. Professor Nordquist has edited over 60 books on law of the sea and international security topics. He is Editor-in-Chief of the multi-volume Commentary on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea sponsored by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy.