Anna Shapulenko is an inspiring sustainability professional and environmental advocate representing Russia on the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council. She holds a BSc in Ecology and Nature Management from Saint-Petersburg State University and an Erasmus Mundus Master’s in Global Environment and Development from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Milan.
Her academic work bridges technical modelling and environmental policy. Her Bachelor’s thesis developed Python-based models of fuel dispersion in the Barents Sea to assess pollution risk to Arctic ecosystems, and she has co-authored research on Arctic oil and gas pollution (The Arctic Institute) and on marine conservation targets under the 30×30 framework (Collegio Futuro Journal). Anna has also worked with Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) as part of a Franco-Russian climate dialogue in the Biodiversity and Arctic working groups, co-authoring a policy paper for both governments that was later presented at the IUCN. At Milan Model EU 2026, she served as Political Advisor, analysing EU energy regulation and advising delegates on gas import bans, balancing energy security with decarbonization goals. Professionally, she has worked as a Sustainability Intern at The Coca-Cola Company, supporting EHS compliance and sustainability reporting, and as a Student Researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science, investigating plant resilience to climate change. Her colleagues describe her as responsible, proactive and full of ideas. Alongside her technical work, Anna is an active science communicator, having developed a climate-focused podcast, a community newsletter, and public speaking engagements including the Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum. She brings this combination of environmental science, policy research, and public engagement from the experience of studying and working in 5 different cultures to the Council, with a focus on translating ocean and climate science into action for wider audiences.