Roland Brautigam – Increasing the Philanthropic Standards in the Principality of Monaco

Roland Brautigam brought something special to the Principality of Monaco, with some voting it the summer gala of the year, a meaningful, emotional, and transformational event honouring the tremendous efforts of Mercy Ships.

Long-term Monaco resident Roland Brautigam was originally born in a small resort town in the Eifel region of western Germany, located in North Rhine-Westphalia. 

As a second-generation family member after World War II, Roland and his family decided to move to Rotterdam when he was 14 years old. However, being accepted as a German in the major port city in the Netherlands was not easy for Roland.

“In 1982, we were one of the first German families to move to Rotterdam after the war. Rotterdam had been bombed by the Germans, and it was complicated, especially for a young boy like me. 

Being bullied for my nationality helped me grow thick skin because going to school there was tough.”

In the late 1980s, Roland started working in the shipping industry, and his family, including his two sons, moved to Australia.

“We spent nine years in Australia. There was a lot of sun, water, and hard work. I started a shipbroking business in 1999 and, among others, became an agent for Damen Shipyards for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. I also worked with Australian government agencies like the NSW Water Police.”

Roland worked on shipping projects at the highest level, including a joint venture chaired by the  Honourable Robert “Bob” Hawke, the 23rd prime minister of Australia.

In 2008, the family left Australia for good, and Roland and his family returned to Europe, aiming to set up a new company in the south of France. 

Monaco gave us a welcoming opportunity

This period coincided with the global financial crisis (2007–2008), the most severe worldwide economic crisis since the Great Depression.

“After one year in France, we needed to decide where to settle or if we would return to Australia. We didn’t want to go back to Australia. At that time in 2009, we were offered the opportunity to live in Monaco, despite not being particularly wealthy at the time.”

Back then, the Principality was seeking successful, young families and gave Roland the opportunity to relocate and set up his business there. 

The family enrolled their children, Jimmy and Joey, in the International School of Monaco, and Roland established Romas Marine (Monaco) Sarl in 2010.

“We were given the gift of becoming Monaco residents as a family and build our business here. That’s very much how I feel. It always felt like a reward for all the hard work, sacrificecs made, risks taken, and our behaviour as parents and humans in the years before.”

Soon his youngest son, Jimmy, will be added as director at Romas Marine.

Care for others

Roland started his career in shipping in Rotterdam more than 30 years ago. Romas Marine is a company specialising in the sale, purchase, and charter of very highly specialised vessels used in the construction and maintenance of offshore platforms and/or offshore wind farms. The company operates in both the oil, gas, and renewables sectors. However, in Monaco, their boutique business focusses more on the renewables market.

“Although traditionally a Shipbroking firm with S&P and chartering as a base, our core business at the moment is the buying and selling of equipment related to offshore construction. For example, we specialise in the techno-commercial activities of offshore cranes, particularly subsea offshore cranes capable of lifting subsea loads of up to 400 tonnes and working depths up to 4,000 metres.”

Roland and his company are also involved in special projects. In 2020, during the pandemic, Roland was in discussions with the Dutch government about providing a COVID hospital ship. 

“I knew that a COVID hospital ship had worked in Genova for the Italian government. I wanted to use that ship in Rotterdam in the fall of 2020 because they were already talking about lockdowns and curfews due to the shortage of hospital beds in the Netherlands at the time. Our proposal would have freed up thousands of hospital beds, and was brought before parliament twice and discussed at the highest political level. Unfortunately, it became a political hot potato, with debates arguing that one cannot have a hospital on a ship, hence my talks with Mercy Ships started.”

During this time, Roland contacted Mercy Ships, a non-profit organisation that uses hospital ships to provide free surgery and medical training in regions where resources are scarce. Mercy Ships’ mission to provide hope and healing to those in need began in 1978. They own the two largest civilian hospital ships in the world, “Global Mercy” and “African Mercy”, which operate 100% with professional volunteers from over 60 nations who selflessly provide life-changing surgeries.

“I have known about Mercy Ships for 20 years. They supported us with our Dutch project and provided technical support that we could use with the government. It is amazing and beautiful for me to know that highly qualified doctors, nurses, specialists chose to live onboard a ship for 1 to 2 years or more, in a small cabin, in the worst countries on earth, for free, only to help those in need.”

Staying in contact with the Mercy Ship team, they met again in 2022, before the Monaco Yacht Show.

“In 2022, I organised for  Mercy Ship our first small event on a yacht just in front of the Monaco Yacht Club. We had a 50-metre yacht with approximately 70 people enjoying a wonderful day with African music and cocktails, raising awareness for this beautiful charity and laying the foundation for future events in the Principality.”

Private Philanthropic Gala of the Year

In 2023, Mercy Ship and Roland began planning a Charity Gala to raise awareness and funds about and for Mercy Ships in Monaco. The Principality, with its substantial yachting community and numerous philanthropists and philanthropic organisations, seemed like the perfect next step for Roland.

“It took us seven months to organise such an event, but it was a tremendous success, and we raised more than €400,000.”

The event was held on June 15, 2024, with guests flying in from various countries, including over 50 additional guests from Switzerland, Italy, and France who came solely to participate. 

What does it mean for you to accomplish such an extraordinary success with a first-year event?

“During the past 25 years, I was running my business, raising my family, and travelling, which affected my social life. Yet, I wanted to become a more valuable member of the community in Monaco. By organising this gala for Mercy Ship, I feel that I have contributed at a higher and more meaningful level.”

Was it easy to sell out the tables?

“No, not at all. I invested a lot of time and energy into socialising. Also, it was a teamwork. For instance, during the Pink Ribbon event in March, I met Margaux Pohosian who loved the charity. She teamed up with us and helped with her large local network through her modelling agency and social media presence. This helped me meeting many people much more easily than if I had done it alone. 

Later in the process, Lili Pahlavan joined us and was very valuable due to her high organisational skills.”

What is the key to hosting a successful gala in Monaco?

“I don’t have a key for this, but when we decided on this project, I knew that I had to visit many events to set my benchmark. 

I attended most of the galas in Monaco as well as in Italy and Switzerland to see what I liked and what I didn’t like. I noticed that some of the gala’s seemed very similar, and I wanted to do it differently, and think outside the box.

One of the first things we did was build up the anticipation. Already at the entrance, there was an African band playing music in traditional clothes, there were acrobats, and different entertainment, making people immediately entertained upon arrival. 

We wanted to create this excitement so people would wonder, “Wow, what is going on inside?”. That was something I found important because it was lacking at other galas. The party started from the moment you arrived.”

Of course, not everyone knows about the accomplishments of Mercy Ships, which has been providing hope and healing around the world. Therefore, during the event, short video clips were played on a large screen to help the guests understand what the charity was about. Among others, Nelson Mandela was displayed promoting Mercy Ships:

“I applaud Mercy Ships in their efforts of transformational development as they make a lasting difference in a world of need. Mercy Ships has committed themselves to the vision of an African renaissance in their vision of bringing hope and healing to the continent of Africa. I salute the vision and mission of Mercy Ships and ask that you join me in supporting their noble work and contribute to make this world a better place.”
– Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)

The event featured silent and live auctions, with donations possible during the auctions totalling in excess of €400,000 for Mercy Ships. A fantastic result!

What was the most successful item in the auction?

“I would highlight two of them. For me, the Nelson Mandela figure by Marcos Marin was just amazing. However, the highest price was paid for the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection holiday. A voyage with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers an unprecedented opportunity to be untethered. It fuses the refined residential feel and legendary service of the Ritz-Carlton with the relaxed freedom of the yachting lifestyle. So, I am not surprised that this item triggered the most interest and am very thankful for Ritz Carlton to make their trip available. Of course we are thankful for all of our partners and people who made the auction items selflessly available.”

The fact that even before the event, people already had donated and arrived with cheques of €5,000 – €25,000 proves not only the success of the event but also the power of Monaco’s philanthropic community.

Do you have any plans for the continuation?

“Absolutely, we are working on the next event. Next year, we would like to at least double the capacity. We are in talks with SBM, Fairmont and MYC as venues. This year, it was a tremendous success, and some magazines stated that it was the best gala of the summer.”

You have been a resident for 15 years now. What was the biggest benefit that Monaco has given you?

“It provided us as a family, especially my boys, with the best education and the opportunity to grow up with wonderful, high-quality friends. We visited Monaco for the first time in 2006, and from then on, considered it the best place for our family. It is home. The education at the International School of Monaco was exceptional. My oldest son, Joey, for example, is now doing his PhD in psychology in Australia, and my youngest, Jimmy works with me since some years. Overall, Monaco provides a very safe environment for a family. I’m very thankful for that.”