The Board

Leïla Benabdallah is the President of OCEANS Network. French-Moroccan, currently living in Belgium, she studied International management of SMEs, marketing and social development. Following studies and professional experiences in France, Türkiye, UAE and UK, she joined, in 2018, the European Commission, at DG GROW (Internal market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs).

Engaging in various volunteering activities both locally and internationally, Leïla joined OCEANS with the aim of expanding Erasmus+ opportunities for young people worldwide. Her passion lies in fostering a more cohesive society, ensuring equal access to education for all, and advocating for youth participation, international mobility, and mutual understanding. Her involvement with the Network has further fueled her motivation to make a difference.

Journalist graduated from Universidade Paulista (UNIP) in Brazil, Luan did his Erasmus+ at Zagreb School of Business, in Croatia. Today, he works as editor-in-chief of one of the largest newspapers in Brazil, in addition to being Head of Internal Affairs at the OCEANS Network. Passionate about football and Vasco da Gama, he worked at both FIFA and Conmebol in the communications department of both.

Today, he aims to bring more internal communication and democracy within OCEANS. Always listening to members and discussing problems faced by the Organization, as well as other organizations in which it participated.

Marcelo Assis is passionate about what he does and has communication in his DNA. He has a degree in Social Communication from UNINOVE, a postgraduate degree in Consumer Behavior from Anhembi Morumbi and in Digital Branding from Belas Artes. He also has a specialization in Digital Marketing, training in Advertising Writing from Senac and in Google products from Google Academy, as well as a Master's degree in Communication and Semiotics from PUC São Paulo.

Internationally, Marcelo was a scholarship holder in the Top Spain program, held in the city of Salamanca, at the Universidad de Salamanca, where he obtained intermediate level certification in Spanish Language and Contemporary Spanish History.

He currently works in the areas of Branding, Communication, Marketing and Wayfinding at GRU Airport - São Paulo International Airport, as a specialist in airport communication. GRU Airport is the largest airport in Latin America, serving more than 46 million passengers a year.

With experience on different platforms and with different audiences, products and services, Marcelo has developed resilience, creativity and a growing passion for this dynamic segment with its opportunities. For him, communication is an engine that drives him, inspires him and pushes him to face new challenges, with the mission of ensuring that every experience is always positive and impactful.

Thanks to these skills and his passion for communication, Marcelo believes he can effectively guide the Communications Department, generating impact, engagement and visibility for the OCEANS Network family.

Yassine Zarouk holds the position of Head of the Project Activity Department within the OCEANS Network and serves as the National Representative for Morocco, engaging actively with the network since 2019.

His academic pursuits have led him to earn a Cotutelle PhD in Informatics Engineering from the University of Porto, and he currently contributes as a researcher in Educational Technology and a professor at the Ministry of National Education of Morocco.

Beyond his professional and academic roles, Yassine is the co-founder and president of the Erasmus Morocco Network, driven by a strong passion for international academic and cultural exchange, striving to enhance intercultural understanding and collaboration.