🎙️Cross-Interview: Robert Calcagno #oceanomonaco & Olivier Wenden #PA2F.
- M Abti
- 21 hours ago
- 9 min read
Exclusive Cross-interview with Robert Calcagno, CEO of the Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation, and Olivier Wenden, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
🗣️ The future of ocean management is scalable and regenerative.
BIOGRAPHY ROBERT CALCAGNO
Since 2009, Robert Calcagno has been acting as the CEO of the Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation - #OceanoMonaco. He therefore plays a role of great responsibility, been responsible for two major institutions: the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and the Maison de l'Océan in Paris.
Formerly, he was Chief Executive of Sydney-based Asia-Pacific investment company EPAP from 1995 to 2000. From 2000 to 2003, he took office as Managing Director of the Egis Group, a global consulting and engineering group in urban transportation, cities, water, and the environment. He also served as Senior Advisor to the private office of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco before being appointed as the Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development within the Prince’s Government, from 2006 to 2009. He is closely involved together with the Sovereign Prince in promoting ocean conservation, knowledge and awareness, sustainable ocean management, and the Blue Economy.
He is also the Chairman - Managing Director of the Société des Explorations de Monaco.
Under his leadership, the Oceanographic Institute has stepped up its role as a unifying force, building bridges between ocean management stakeholders, notably: scientists, politicians, entrepreneurs, financial experts, NGOs, and the general public. Drawing on his experience, he regularly organises and chairs international meetings to mobilise political and socio-economic stakeholders and build links with the scientific community, through a variety of initiatives to promote ocean conservation.
BIOGRAPHY OLIVIER WENDEN
Appointed by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2019, Olivier Wenden serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation - #PA2F, one of the world’s foremost philanthropic institutions dedicated to environmental conservation. Under his leadership, the Foundation has expanded its global reach, strengthened its scientific and policy-driven initiatives, and forged strategic partnerships that bridge the private sector, academia, and civil society.
Prior to his appointment, Wenden played a pivotal role in shaping the Foundation’s international strategy as Executive Director and Secretary General, positions he had been held since 2014. His vision has reinforced Monaco’s position as a leading advocate for environmental sustainability on the global stage.
Wenden’s career has been defined by his passion for sustainable development and international affairs. After achieving his degree in public affairs and economy at Sciences Po Bordeaux, he pursued a trilingual Master’s in international trade at Université Paris Sorbonne Nouvelle, provided him with a global perspective on public economy, foreign affairs, international governance and economic diplomacy.
After he came back to Monaco, Wenden contributed to shaping national and international policy, serving as Chief of Staff and International Affairs Advisor to the President of the Conseil National de Monaco, and Chargé de Mission to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Gouvernement Princier, between 2007 and 2013.
With a career dedicated to bridging diplomacy, philanthropy, conservation and impact investment, Wenden remains at the forefront of efforts to drive meaningful change for the planet and future generations, by accelerating the development of a sustainable Blue Economy, promoting indigenous rights and supporting the emergence of new generation talents.
MONACŒCOART® had the privilege of interviewing exclusively Robert Calcagno and Olivier Wenden in a cross-interview where they were able to express significant considerations on the importance of prior international events like BEFF and UNOC3, underlining their mutual commitment to foster a transition towards a fully sustainable ocean management, worldwide.
ℹ️ Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation OceanoMonaco Official Website / Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation: PA2F Official Website
🔸QUESTIONS =
🗣️ Can you list three strong points that are generating beneficial effects, almost six months after BEFF conclusion?
🗣️ Following up the most recent COP30 and COP24, what priorities did you set for the Oceanographic Institute and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in a hypothetical Wish List?
🗣️ Can you tell us about new initiatives in this direction that will be promoted by the Oceanographic Institute and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in the coming months?
🎙INTERVIEW
MONACŒCOART®: The Blue Economy and Finance Forum - BEFF, held at the Grimaldi Forum on the 7th and the 8th June 2025, as integral part of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), actively contributed to the transition towards new regenerate economic models, with the concrete allocation of €8.7 billion. There are various interventions identified, notably: shipping and port decarbonisation, marine ecosystem restoration, offshore energy sources, and biotechnology. Can you list three strong points that are generating beneficial effects, almost six months after BEFF conclusion?
🗣️ Robert Calcagno : To truly scale the Blue Economy, three conditions must be met. The first one is a robust pipeline of investable projects. Many initiatives stall at a pilot stage due to lack of early finance, technical support, or enabling policies. Public banks and governments must catalyse development, especially in vulnerable coastal areas, by rethinking risk and valuing ecosystem protection as an economic return.
The second imperative is to create enabling conditions for investment. Ocean sectors (e.g.: shipping, fisheries, tourism, infrastructure, etc.) need credible net-zero and nature-positive targets. Policymakers must set clear rules, notably: marine spatial plans, subsidy removal, and public funding for transition. Recent commitments by over 20 public banks to scale up ocean finance signal the leadership has to unlock private capital.
The third and last one is the alignment of financial flows with sustainability goals. National accounts must value ecosystem services and climate risks, while clear taxonomies prevent greenwashing. Blended finance and tools like biodiversity credits can direct public and private capital toward measurable conservation outcomes.
🗣️ Olivier Wenden : : The BEFF brought together nearly 2,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including 6 Heads of State, 15 Heads of Government and ministers, 3 royal family members, representatives of public and multilateral organisations, and hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors. The momentum is there. But we now need to move from commitment to coordination, from ambition to investment. Public, private and philanthropic actors announced €8.7 billion in new investments, using tools like blue bonds and blended-finance vehicles. The goal of unlocking funding for ocean-positive projects has been reached, but this remains far below what is needed to meet global targets. A more strategic approach is urgently required. It focuses on leveraging public and philanthropic capital to de-risk investment in ocean-positive projects and attract long-term private finance.
And Monaco is doing its part to bridge this gap! The ReOcean Fund – an ocean-focused private equity fund, co-managed by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Monaco Asset Management – has raised 80 million USD to invest in companies pioneering technologies that promise to advance critical goals like restoring marine ecosystems and decarbonising shipping.
MONACŒCOART®: Following up the most recent COP30 and COP24 (Barcelona Convention), whose core values have many points in common with BEFF and UNOC3, like transport transition, biodiversity preservation and climate mitigation, what priorities did you set for the Oceanographic Institute and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in a hypothetical Wish List?
🗣️ Robert Calcagno : In an unstable world with limited public resources, we must demonstrate that it is possible to build an economy that provides food, energy, jobs, and value for humanity. To achieve this, we must avoid repeating past patterns and instead invent a new economic system—more virtuous and more respectful of nature’s balance. Rather than prioritising growth while taking account of nature, our philosophy needs to focus on channelling a healthy economy to protect and regenerate the environment.
For more than 15 years, the Oceanographic Institute has been working with the private sector, and we continue to strengthen this engagement so that companies are at the heart of the transition toward a Blue Economy. In the coming years, we will also work particularly on the development of biodiversity credits, building on the work carried out within the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits. These scientifically validated certificates could become a powerful tool for ecosystem restoration, learning from the shortcomings of carbon markets while ensuring alignment with planetary boundaries.
🗣️ Olivier Wenden : In the aftermath of COP30 and COP24 under the Barcelona Convention, their core themes you mentioned such as transport transition, biodiversity preservation and climate mitigation, resonate strongly with what BEFF has also brought to the forefront. Taken together, these milestones have reaffirmed how essential these issues are for shaping the resilient world we aspire to build.
If I were to articulate a “Wish List” for the Foundation following these major gatherings, it would begin with a decisive acceleration of pace. The multilateral process remains vital for establishing long-term direction, yet the crises we face are advancing far more rapidly than institutional timelines allow. One of the key lessons from this cycle is that these priorities must increasingly extend beyond international conference rooms and take root within the private sector, where agility, innovation, and capital can transform commitments into swift, scalable action.
This was, in fact, the underlying ambition of the BEFF: to operate firmly in the realm of concrete and tangible progress. And it is precisely this spirit that will guide us moving forward. The Foundation’s priorities focus on forging partnerships capable of delivering measurable results at speed; amplifying solutions that respond directly to the urgency of environmental disruption; and cultivating collaborative models in which public ambition and private dynamism reinforce one another. Only by sustaining this momentum can we hope to meet the demands of the decade and translate collective resolve into lasting impact.
MONACŒCOART®: The BEFF testified how successful is the inclusive approach advocated by the Principality of Monaco, to get public decision makers, private investors, philanthropists, civil society and next generations sit round the same table. Can you tell us about new initiatives in this direction that will be promoted by the Oceanographic Institute and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in the coming months?
🗣️ Robert Calcagno: Under the leadership of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Oceanographic Institute will continue to co-organise with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation the Monaco Blue Initiative, which has grown for sixteen years into a key annual event bringing together all leading stakeholders committed to ocean management and conservation. In parallel, the Institute will also continue to support the development of the algae sector, which represents both a promising economic opportunity and a vital contribution to ocean sustainability.
Algae cultivation already shows strong economic and nutritional potential, particularly in Asia, and we are now working to develop these value chains in Europe and the Americas. Another concrete example that has been presented at the BEFF is the work carried out in recent months within the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits, an international group of 23 experts — including bankers, developers, economists — whose goal is to structure a genuine market for biodiversity credits. These credits would be backed by scientifically validated certificates and could represent a major economic lever for ecosystem restoration, following the example of carbon markets — from which we have critically learnt.
This highly technical subject will be widely discussed during the BEFF, with the ambition of moving forward together toward financial tools aligned with planetary boundaries.
🗣️ Olivier Wenden: The inclusive approach highlighted at the BEFF is not a recent shift for us; it lies at the very core of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s DNA. Whether we are working on project implementation in the field, advancing scientific research, or fostering the emergence of a robust and responsible Blue Economy, we have always believed that meaningful progress depends on bringing diverse communities together.
This philosophy already underpinned the launch of the Ocean Innovators Platform in 2021, conceived precisely to gather in one room innovative entrepreneurs, forward-looking investors, and committed philanthropists. The objective was, and remains, to catalyse collective intelligence and accelerate solutions that can scale.
In the coming months, the Foundation will continue to champion this ethos, in Monaco and beyond. We will further expand initiatives that convene decision makers, private capital, civil society actors, without forgetting the next generation of leaders, ensuring that all voices are not only heard but empowered to shape action. Our commitment is to sustain and strengthen this collaborative momentum internationally, so that inclusive dialogue continues to translate into tangible, lasting impact for the Ocean and the Planet. ***
✒️ Maurice Abbati
Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.
Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy.
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