Ana Hilário is a deep-sea biologist at the Centre for Environment and Marine Studies of the University of Aveiro. Her main expertise is in biodiversity, life-history traits and population connectivity with experience in different deep-sea ecosystems, including hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, seamounts and abyssal plains in different geographic regions (Atlantic, Pacific, Antarctica, Mediterranean, Gulf of Mexico). Currently A. Hilário is interested in developing research to that will provide the necessary data to inform ecosystem-based management of areas targeted for seabed mining. She she co-leads Challenger 150 (www.challenger150.world), a 10-year programme of deep-sea biological science endorsed by UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.