Marta Ruiz is Associate Professional Secretary of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), working on marine litter, underwater noise and non-indigenous species issues. In relation to marine litter, her work is to provide support on monitoring and assessment issues as well as on the follow up of the implementation of the HELCOM Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter. Before joining HELCOM in May 2013 as project staff, Marta was in charge of the Technical Secretary of the Spanish Technological Platform for the Protection of the Coast and the Marine Environment (2011-13). She worked as technical advisor on marine pollution issues both in the Spanish Ministry of Public Works (2010-11 & 2006-08) and in the private sector (2008-09). Both Marta’s MSc and PhD are in the field of marine sciences as well as her postdoctoral stay at the Technical University of Crete (2004-2006).