José Luiz Moutinho is a biologist (BSc Zoology, UFRJ, 1981), architect (Santa Úrsula University, 1988), and holds an MSc in Engineering and Technology Management (IST, 2005). He is currently Nations Enablement Director at OceanQuest. As a biologist, he published scientific work on orchids and bromeliads. As an architect, he developed projects across Portugal, Brazil, Spain, and Albania, focusing on sustainable design. He has also authored scientific publications and book chapters on the information society. He has led initiatives in digital transformation, e-government, and smart cities across Europe and Africa, founding and managing companies focused on complex technological projects and public policy advisory. His work includes participation in large-scale European R&D projects. In 2017, he joined the AIR Centre, a scientific diplomacy initiative led by Portugal to strengthen cooperation across the Atlantic. He played a key role in developing international partnerships, aligning governments, research institutions, and space and ocean agencies, and advancing collaborative programs in Earth observation, climate, and ocean science. Since 2025, as Nations Enablement Director at OceanQuest, he leads global partnerships with governments, academia, and industry to support ocean exploration. He played a key role in the Around Africa Expedition 2025, including ECOP programs, permitting, and science planning, and co-organised major international workshops in Brazil and South Africa.