Prof. Em. Dr. Vande Lanotte was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and the North Sea between 2011 and 2014. He is professor emeritus of constitutional law at Ghent University and currently a senior legal counsel at a law firm. He laid the policy foundation of the offshore wind energy industry spearheading Belgium. Through Ghent University, Prof. Em. Dr. Vande Lanotte, has been involved with the International Seabed Authority’s workings since 2018.