Michael Lodge

Michael W. Lodge is a British lawyer who has served as Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority since 2016.^[1]

Michael W. Lodge
Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority
In office 2016–present
Preceded by	Nii Allotey Odunton (Ghana)
Personal details
Alma mater	University of East Anglia London School of Economics

Education

Lodge studied law at the University of East Anglia and was later awarded a Master of Science degree in marine policy from the London School of Economics.^[1] He was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in London.^[2]

Career

Lodge worked as a legal counsel for the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (1991−1995) and the International Seabed Authority (1996−2003), and as counselor for the OECD Roundtable on Sustainable Development (2004−2007). He was a lead negotiator for the South Pacific island states for the 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement and has worked as a consultant on fisheries and environmental and international law.^[1]

In 2016 Lodge succeeded Nii Allotey Odunton as Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, having served as Deputy to the Secretary-General and Legal Counsel since 2011.^[1][3] He was re-elected for a second four-year term in 2020, but was unsuccessful in his bid to secure a third term, losing to the Brazilian oceanographer Leticia Carvalho in the election held in August 2024.^[4][5] Lodge had been criticized for pushing for industrial deep sea mining to begin before formal regulations were in place.^[6][7][8]

Lodge held appointments as an associate fellow of Chatham House in London (2007), a visiting fellow of Somerville College, Oxford (2012−2013), and a member of the World Economic Forum global agenda council on oceans (2011−2016). He is also the author of over 25 books and articles on the law of the sea and oceans policy.^[1]

In 2020 Lodge was recognized as an International Gender Champion.^[3]

References

1. "Mr. Michael Lodge". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
2. "Michael Lodge". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
3. International Seabed Authority, The Secretary-General. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
4. Lipton, Eric (2024-08-02). "Agency Votes to Replace Official Accused of Rushing Start of Seabed Mining". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
5. "ISA Assembly elects Ms. Leticia Carvalho of Brazil as a new Secretary-General - International Seabed Authority". 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
6. "Row erupts over deep-sea mining as world races to finalise vital regulations". The Guardian. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
7. "British Head of Deep Sea Authority Accused of Pushing for 'Reckless' Mining". Common Dreams. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
8. Lipton, Eric (2023-03-19). "Leader of International Seabed Mining Agency Admonished by Diplomats". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-06.