Ana Lillebø holds a PhD in Biology, specialization in Ecology (2001) from University of Coimbra, Portugal and Habilitation in Biology (2023) from University of Aveiro, Portugal. During her PhD she had externship training in Sweden and in Denmark and was award with the IMAR prize (2001). Since 2006 she is an independent Researcher at CESAM/University of Aveiro, where from 2006-2010 she developed her research at the Department of Chemistry and from 2011 to present at the Department of Biology, where she is now Principal Researcher with habilitation. She is a well-established researcher in Coastal Ecosystems with focus on: Coastal Ecosystems Ecological Status & Management; Applied Ecology & Nature-based solutions; Environmental Chemistry & Anthropogenic impacts; EU Policies & Ecosystem Services, in a transdisciplinary context. She has collaborated with DG JRC on the Common Implementation Framework of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, co-authoring the 2nd Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem and their Services (MAES) report. She was also the main editor and co-author for the IWA book on Coastal Lagoons in Europe: Integrated Water Resource Strategies. Since 2015 she is a member of the Council of the Portuguese Centro Hydrographical Region (APA-ARH do Centro), which is an advisory and supporting body of the Portuguese Environment Agency, IP (APA IP) in terms of water resources; and the national contact point for Ria de Aveiro LTsER platform at the Portuguese E-Infrastructure for Information and Research on Biodiversity. She was the Scientific Coordinator of CESAM - Centre for Environmental and marine Studies from May 2017 until May 2021. Currently, she is CESAM’s representative and Vice-Chair of AlterNet: A long-term biodiversity, ecosystems, and awareness research network. Since May 2022, she is the Vice-Rector to matters concerning the promotion of quality, communication, effectiveness and efficiency of the University and environmental sustainability.