Olivier Wenden, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, shares his vision for the future goals and key focus areas of this prominent international organization dedicated to environmental protection. The Foundation focuses on critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development.
Establishing a new relationship with nature was already a major concern for His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco when, in June 2006, he decided to establish his Foundation to address the planet’s alarming environmental challenges.
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (PA2F or FPA2) is committed to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development on a global scale. The Foundation supports initiatives by both public and private organizations in the fields of research, technological innovation, and socially responsible practices.
Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation has worked worldwide to unite scientists, political leaders, and stakeholders from both the economic and civil sectors around a vital objective for the future: protecting our Ocean and land. The Foundation’s long-term efforts have led to some encouraging victories, from safeguarding endangered species to improving the livelihoods of rural communities through the implementation of sustainable and ethical solutions.
Through its invaluable work, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, helping to build a world where peace, justice, and equality prevail for both people and the planet.
In 2019, Olivier Wenden was appointed Vice Chairman and CEO of the Foundation. Having served as Executive Director for five years, Wenden played a pivotal role in the Foundation’s international growth, streamlining its fundraising efforts and expanding its partnerships with private sector organizations to support science-based initiatives.
Before joining the Foundation, Wenden held key positions within the Parliament of Monaco, serving as Chief of Staff and International Affairs Advisor, as well as Chargé de Mission for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. He holds degrees from Sciences Po Bordeaux and the University of Sorbonne Nouvelle.
Mr. Wenden, reflecting on almost two decades of remarkable achievements, could you share with us what makes the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation so unique?
“We are a very unique organization in the sense that we are a charity led by a sitting Head of State.
This allows us not only to finance on the ground projects to assist local communities but also, thanks to our chairman, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, to raise awareness of challenges that we face at the highest political levels.
When I refer to political levels, I mean both multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations, as well as bilateral engagements with other heads of state or government. This is something truly unique in the world.
We are the only foundation with such added value, which I believe explains a lot of our nearly two decades of success—such as our efforts to change international regulations and save endangered species on the verge of extinction like the bluefin tuna.”
Could you please tell us about the mission and vision of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for 2025?
“Over the last three years, the Foundation has started transitioning from pure philanthropy and charity toward more impact investing, which means increasingly collaborating with the private sector.
Naturally, our top priority remains ocean conservation and promoting the blue economy, which aligns with the international recognition of the role played by His Serene Highness.
Monaco will host the Blue Economy and Finance Forum on June 7-8, 2025, at the Grimaldi Forum, as a special event of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which will be held in Nice, France, from June 9-13, 2025.
This is a significant milestone for the Monaco community and for us, as co-hosts of such an important event. The Forum will shine a spotlight on the importance of the blue economy.”
What will be the key takeaway from the Blue Economy and Finance Forum?
“It’s crucial to raise awareness not just about the environmental challenges but also to identify the financial opportunities the blue economy offers today. The blue economy is becoming a core component of the global economy.
In terms of GDP, the ocean economy is already the seventh largest in the world, and it continues to grow. In terms of investment and economic returns, there is enormous potential to generate new jobs.
Businesses in this sector often take innovative approaches to environmental challenges, with significant, positive impacts on marine ecosystems. We believe the Blue Economy and Finance Forum will be an opportunity to push for win-win solutions—benefiting both the environment and the economy.”
How can people gain access to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum?
“The Forum is an invitation-only event, a B2B platform for around 1,500 people. We expect to gather CEOs, entrepreneurs, bankers, institutional investors, sovereign funds, pension funds, and international philanthropists alongside His Serene Highness to discuss the implementation of these solutions and financial mechanisms.”
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has already introduced the ReOcean Fund, a private equity fund launched in 2023. Could you tell us more about this?
“The ReOcean Fund aims to develop, scale up, and accelerate businesses focusing on five key investment areas: blue food (1), ocean data (2), green shipping (3), plastic and solutions to alternative plastic (4) (especially to prevent plastic from reaching the ocean), and ocean resilience and restoration (5).
We are mostly looking to invest in companies that have recurent revenues.”
Has the Foundation made any investments so far?
“Yes, we made our first investment through the fund in January. It’s an exciting opportunity in a company called NatureMetrics, which was founded in the UK and is expanding rapidly worldwide.
They offer end-to-end solutions for biodiversity monitoring and impact reporting that enables businesses to gain a comprehensive assessment of nature-related risks and opportunities.
NatureMetrics’ technology is fascinating. They can identify the exact species living in a given area by using a simple water sample.
This technology helps governments assess the quality of marine protected areas, and it can also help fisheries avoid bycatch by focusing only on the species they want to catch.”
One of the new developments for the Foundation is the opening of a new office in São Paulo, Brazil. Can you share more details about this?
“In November 2025, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will participate in COP 30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil. During this event, we will inaugurate our new office in São Paulo, marking our 11th office worldwide.
It will also provide an opportunity to visit one of our most impactful projects, Instituto Terra, led by renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado. Together with his wife, Salgado launched a reforestation initiative on a massive estate that had been completely depleted of trees.
Since 1998, they’ve focused on environmental restoration and sustainable rural development in Brazil’s Doce River Valley. Thanks to their efforts, the forest and its biodiversity are returning.
It’s also a key moment for us to promote and highlight initiatives supporting indigenous communities and local leaders who are protecting primary forests.
We can’t be naive on this topic; we also need to help develop new sources of income for these communities so they can achieve economic growth while safeguarding their natural resources.”
In recent decades, His Highness has been known as the Protector of the Ocean. What are some of the most pressing environmental issues the Foundation is currently focusing on? Why were these areas chosen?
“Unfortunately, ocean conservation remains at the top of our priority list. The recent signing of the BBNJ Agreement (the Treaty of the High Seas) gives us hope, but there is still much work to be done.
Protecting marine biodiversity and addressing the impacts of climate change on our Ocean are critical for the future of the planet.”
The BBNJ Agreement aims to achieve a more holistic management of high seas activities, balancing the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological resources. Could you elaborate on its significance?
“To succeed and ensure this agreement is fully implemented, we need 60 ratifications. This means that after signing, national parliaments must incorporate the agreement into their domestic laws. If we don’t reach 60 ratifications by June 2025, the agreement will not come into force.
So far (January 2025), only 16 countries have signed, which means we still have a long way to go. We need to continue pushing forward and technically assist those states that express a desire to accelerate the process. In the international context we face, there is serious doubt that we will meet this crucial milestone.
The Ocean is essential for the survival of humanity. For instance, we are working to prevent the exploitation of deep-sea mining. We still don’t know enough about, or have scientific evidence on, the potential impacts that such activities could have on marine ecosystems. Monaco’s position, supported by His Highness, has always been one of precaution.
Until we have the scientific evidence that such activities can be carried out safely, we should halt the efforts put forward by some companies to exploit these areas.”
What other critical issues is the Foundation focusing on regarding ocean conservation?
“Overfishing is another urgent issue for humanity, and sadly, many areas are already depleted. His Highness participated in an expedition to the Solomon Islands in November 2024, where he faced the harsh reality of vast, deserted areas at sea. He witnessed coral reefs in very poor condition and a dramatic lack of fish in many places. The situation is worsening in most cases.
We will certainly continue pushing for ocean conservation for these reasons. However, we must not overlook what is happening on land, particularly the loss of biodiversity.
As a Foundation, we often refer to the situation as a ‘triple crisis’—the crisis of climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the tragic rise in pollution, including chemicals and plastics, both on land and at sea.
This triple crisis must be addressed in tandem. You can’t fix one without tackling the others. Experts and scientists have warned us for over 70 years about this, but clearly, we haven’t moved as quickly as we should have. This brings me back to my earlier point: we need the private sector. We must define business models that enable our actions—whether from NGOs, private entities, or governments—to be developed in a sustainable manner.
When I say ‘sustainable,’ I mean in terms of financial viability, job creation, and minimizing the environmental impact. We can’t continue year after year providing subsidies for activities, even though they are important and valuable.
We need to move beyond this and establish a new model. That’s why developing a solid business model and understanding the economics behind it is crucial.”
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco is the only Head of State to have visited both Poles. In 2005, the Sovereign led an expedition to the Arctic in Spitsbergen, reached the North Pole in 2006 and visited the Antarctic in 2009.
Thanks to his constant travels, His Highness quickly became aware that we were disrupting all the major planetary balances instead of safeguarding them, thus endangering the future of humanity. Therefore, the Sovereign decided to become personally involved in His Foundation in order to amplify His action in favour of the environment.
How do you think the private sector can contribute more to environmental conservation efforts, and how does the Foundation facilitate these collaborations?
“That’s a key question, and one that should be central to our reflections. We’ve experienced this with the ReOcean Fund, and also with the Ocean Innovators platform we launched before that.
The idea is to bring together entrepreneurs who have developed solutions,usually at the local or regional level, and who now need funding to grow and scale. We aim to put these entrepreneurs in the same room as investors.
Today, at least in the context of the Ocean and the blue economy, investment typically comes from private individuals, family offices, and some professional investors and institutional investors who are particularly focused on this area. However, the majority of large institutional investors—sovereign wealth funds, pension funds—haven’t yet invested in the blue economy. It’s a sector they don’t yet apprehend as part of the broader global market.
There’s a strong need for education here. When I say education, I’m not referring to the basic argument that if we don’t act, species will disappear, and humanity will be at risk. While that’s true, it’s not the most effective approach. Otherwise, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation today.
The education we need is about understanding that the blue economy is a competitive market. The risks associated with investing in the blue economy are no greater than those in the green economy. What we really need to do is promote the companies that exist and that have the potential to make real change. Of course, the market is still emerging, but it’s growing quickly.
In the five sectors I mentioned earlier, we have analysed roughly 1,200 companies worldwide. Of those, around 100 are potential candidates for our investments. This number is evolving, and in the last five years alone, more than $1 billion has been invested in the 43 blue funds that exist globally—funds that didn’t even exist five years ago. This growth is accelerating, and we feel we’re at the crossroads of a new trend.”
In addition to funding projects, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation places a strong emphasis on education and raising awareness about environmental issues.
The Foundation supports research and innovation in sustainability, and it regularly awards grants to researchers and innovators developing solutions to environmental challenges.
“The education part is crucial. We need scientific evidence to measure the impact. For example, in our ReOcean Fund, we’ve granted our impact committee veto power.
If international experts in any vertical feel that a project could have a negative environmental, ethical, or governance impact, there’s simply no deal.
We always rely on scientific evidence in our actions. But we also need to push for innovative solutions that are scalable and adaptable to the magnitude of the challenges we face.
Because of human activity, we’re beyond the point of just mitigating climate change. When people still talk about mitigation, we’re too far along.
What we need now is resilience. We need to repair, restore, and find the best solutions in the private sector to do so. This is the most urgent challenge.”
Over the past few years, there have been many challenges regarding environmental issues, along with new goals such as social impact investment.
As Vice Chairman and CEO, what is your personal vision for the Foundation’s future over the next 5–10 years?
“We need to remain agile and flexible. The future is incredibly unpredictable, especially with the context of climate change rapidly accelerating. Ten or even 15 years ahead feels too far to predict with certainty.
Nonetheless, I would be extremely happy if we could design a blended approach. I see it as a combination of continuing to support communities at a grassroots level—those central to the vision of His Serene Highness. Helping change the life of a family, village, or community is important, and we want to keep doing that.
At the same time, we need to address solutions at a global scale. Given the magnitude of the problem, we face the risk of human extinction, not the extinction of the planet itself. Humanity’s position on Earth is at risk. That’s where philanthropy and impact investment play complementary roles in addressing these challenges.
We need to continue supporting charitable activities for projects that aren’t profitable in the short term—such as scientific research, or emergency responses to natural disasters like wildfires in California or Australia. This is usually charity.
But when it comes to building a more resilient, sustainable economy, that’s where impact investing comes in. We are evolving from 100% subsidies to new investments, and that’s a game changer.
Donors are also evolving. They no longer just want to give a grant—they want to see the impact of their contributions and invest in projects they believe in. Ultimately, they can generate returns on their investments, which can be reinvested into new projects, creating a win-win situation. That’s the future I envision for the Foundation.”
What is the most significant challenge you face in your role, and how do you approach overcoming it?
“We are incredibly fortunate to work for a chairman who is the Head of State of Monaco, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II. His involvement in the Foundation’s management—defining its vision, activities, and actions—is truly a blessing.
We have grown to a staff of 30, many of whom have been with us for over a decade. Some have been with the Foundation since its inception, which speaks to the loyalty and commitment to the mission. This is remarkable.”
And on a personal level?
“On a personal level, the biggest challenge I face as CEO is keeping the team small enough to maintain flexibility and agility, while still meeting all our objectives and fulfilling our mission. Our work covers the entire scope of the environment, with projects on all continents.
We have 11 branches around the world and over 100 partners. We function like a medium-sized company in terms of finance, management, reputation, action, and impact. Juggling all of these aspects is a daily challenge, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
However, we don’t see ourselves in competition with the largest NGOs. We work within our niche, humbly serving the communities and vision of the Sovereign Prince. Our added value lies in working at the local level, all the way up to the political level. We happily collaborate with larger stakeholders or even pass on projects if we feel they are better equipped to handle them.”
The Foundation is a role model in promoting impact investment and environmental protection. By encouraging young people to become active participants in environmental conservation, the Foundation hopes to inspire future leaders in sustainability.
What are the key qualities necessary for effective leadership in the environmental and philanthropic sectors?
“First and foremost, and something we’ve learned from working with His Serene Highness, is the importance of humility. If you really want to make an impact, put your ego aside. Don’t reinvent the wheel—work with people who know more than you do. The key is to facilitate the gathering of the right stakeholders.
Questions like: Who has the most financial need? Who has the best teams? What’s my niche? What’s my added value?—these are the questions that define leadership today. That’s exactly what His Highness has done over the years. We stay true to our role, knowing our size and our capacity.
It’s also important to shine a light on the urgent challenges and push for regulations at the highest political level. We’re committed to doing this, but once we’ve done our job of promoting an issue and putting it in the spotlight, we’re happy to step back and let larger stakeholders take over. We don’t view it as competition.
Leadership also requires admitting mistakes. It’s tough, but sharing failures and mistakes allows us to co-design better solutions faster.”
What are some of the most notable projects or partnerships that you are personally proud of as Vice Chairman and CEO of the Foundation?
“For me, one of the most rewarding projects was the conservation of the bluefin tuna. We helped save the species from the complete of extinction. It’s a powerful reminder that if we reduce human pressure on marine ecosystems, life can rebound quickly.
But I’m equally proud of building such a talented team here in Monaco. With just 30 people, we’ve achieved remarkable results. It’s a true privilege to work alongside people who are so committed to His Serene Highness’s vision and the Foundation’s impact.
We also take great pride in our ability to raise funds which allows us to continue our work. We’ve created new financial mechanisms to diversify our sources of income, and I’d like to pay tribute to the incredible donors who have supported the Foundation for many years. Their ongoing commitment is the backbone of what we do. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do enough, I think.”
What role do Monaco’s residents and businesses play in supporting the Foundation’s work? How do you engage the public and raise awareness about the Foundation’s mission and activities?
“In Monaco, we are fortunate that the environment is a priority at the highest levels. That’s a huge advantage. While we can still move faster and get into more granular details in implementing green strategies, the foundation of support is already there.
But beyond education, it’s about working with businesses to define new, sustainable approaches to production, transportation, and consumption.
We are trying to create a new trend, for example, with the Greenshift Festival, which inspires people and shows them the world we want to create. We need to dream about the future we want—without dreams, we wouldn’t have made the environmental transition we have already seen.
The challenge is that magazines, movies and novels are seeing the future of humanity in extremes, like extinction or living on the planet Mars. It is really hard to find positive readings on what we can achieve down here on Earth.
We also have initiatives, like sustainable fashion, which show that consumers, as a collective, can push industries to accelerate change. People want to see progress, and as a group, we have the power to influence industries that drive sustainability.”
Through his foundation, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II has established a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship.
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has demonstrated that concerted efforts, collaboration, and innovation can make a significant impact on the preservation of the planet.
As the world continues to face complex environmental challenges, the Foundation’s work remains a beacon of hope for a more sustainable and harmonious future.
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