Blue Economy Summit
21st May 2026, Milan
21st May, Milan - Blue Economy Summit
On the morning of May 21, 2026, the Blue Economy Summit will be hosted in the Allianz Tower in Milan, bringing together global leaders and providing an opportunity for institutions, businesses, academia, and research to discuss the oceanʼs status and the urgent need to accelerate a regenerative Blue Economy.
Blue Economy Summit
About
The Blue Economy Summit conceived and promoted by One Ocean Foundation, brings together internationally renowned leaders from business, finance, academia, society, and government to discuss the urgent need to mobilize greater financial resources for the protection and restoration of Blue Natural Capital. Each year, the event engages hundreds of participants, including students and researchers, and addresses key topics such as biodiversity loss, technological innovation to tackle ocean-related challenges, and emerging opportunities in the Blue Economy.
Agenda
21st of May 2026, Milano
08.45 – 09.30
Welcome and Registration
Moderator: Manuela Rafaiani, Journalist
09.30 – 09.40
Institutional Opening: The urgency of a transformative Blue Economy
Elena Eva Maria Grandi, Municipality of Milan
Riccardo Bonadeo, President, One Ocean Foundation
09.40 – 10.20
From Natural Capital to Climate Action: Unlocking Marine Nature-based Solutions
Minna Epps, IUCN
Rafael Sardà, Spanish CSIC
Jan Pachner, One Ocean Foundation
10.20 – 11.00
Ocean Protection, Blue Economy and Blue Finance: Drivers of global climate and biodiversity action
Sylvie Goulard, International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits
Giorgio Ricci Maccarini, Cluster BIG
Torsten Thiele, ORRAA, Global Ocean Trust
11.00 – 11.10
Greetings and brief remarks
Giacomo Campora, Allianz S.p.A.
11.10 – 11.25
Keynote speech from Ralph Chami
From planetary tipping points to economic turning point
Ralph Chami, Blue Green Future
11.25 - 11.45
Fireside chat with Paul Rose
Stories and insights from the Expedition Leader of the National Geographic Pristine Seas expeditions
Paul Rose, Explorer, TV Presenter, Public Speaker
11.45 – 12.35
The role of the private sector in driving a regenerative Blue Economy
Stefano Pogutz, SDA Bocconi
Filippo Bettini, Pirelli, UN Global Compact Network Italy
Mirella Vitale, ROCKWOOL Group
Elisa Zambito Marsala, Intesa Sanpaolo
Mario Ferraro, Smeralda Holding
Ambra Cozzi, One Ocean Foundation
12.35 – 13.10
Sustainable food systems: The ocean's strategic role
Sara Roversi, Future Food Institute
Erik Bruun Bindslev, MERIKA
Luciano Pirovano, Bolton Food
13.10 – 13.20
Fireside chat with Minna Epps
What the High Seas Treaty means for ocean protection: an expert view
Minna Epps, IUCN and BBNJ High Ambition Coalition Secretariat
13.20
Conclusions and final remarks
DOWNLOAD THE AGENDA
Keynote Speakers
Minna Epps
Director, Global Ocean Policy, IUCN. Executive Director of the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition Secretariat
Elena Eva Maria Grandi
Councillor for the Environment and Greenery, Municipality of Milan
Sylvie Goulard
Co-Chair International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits
Filippo Bettini
Senior Advisor Sustainability, Pirelli. President, UN Global Compact Network Italy
Ralph Chami
Co-Founder and CEO Blue Green Future. Former IMF Assistant Director
Mirella Vitale
Senior Vice President, ROCKWOOL Group
Torsten Thiele
Senior Advisor, ORRAA. Executive Director, Global Ocean Trust
Elisa Zambito Marsala
Head of Education Ecosystem and Global Value Programs, Intesa Sanpaolo
Paul Rose
Explorer, TV Presenter, Public Speaker
Rafael Sardà
Senior Scientist, Spanish National Research Council
Stefano Pogutz
Full-time MBA Director, SDA Bocconi School of Management
Sara Roversi
Founder, Future Food Institute
Giacomo Campora
Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Allianz S.p.A.
Luciano Pirovano
Chief Sustainable Development Officer Bolton Food S.p.A.
Giorgio Ricci Maccarini
President, National Technology Cluster "Marine Economy" BIG
Mario Ferraro
CEO, Smeralda Holding
Erik Bruun Bindslev
Founder, MERIKA
Blue Economy Summit in numbers
3
editions
1300+
participants
75
international speakers
20
thematic panels
Our values
Awareness
Raising understanding of the relationship between businesses and marine ecosystems
Advocacy
Sharing knowledge to influence decisions across political, economic, and social institutions
Dialogue
Encouraging debate on new ideas and innovative solutions to address pressures on the ocean
Paving the way
Bringing together industry pioneers to promote best practices within the Blue Economy framework
Our past speakers
Carlos Duarte
Professor of marine science at KAUST
Ralph Chami
CEO & Co-Founder Blue Green Future and Rebalance Earth
Mere Takoko
Executive Director Hinemoana Halo Ocean Fund
Alessa Berg
Founder & CEO Top Tier Impact
Vincent Doumeziel
Senior Advisor on the Oceans to the United Nations
Kilaparti Ramakrishna
Senior Advisor on Ocean and Climate Policy to the President of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Sylvie Goulard
Former Deputy Governor of the French Central Bank
Minna Epps
Head of Global Ocean Programme at IUCN
Andrea Illy
Chairman illycaffè and co- Chair Regenerative Society Foundation
Mirella Amalia Vitale
Senior Vice President Marketing and Public Relations ROCKWOOL
Torsten Thiele
Executive Director Global Ocean Trust and Blue Finance Senior Advisor at ORRAA
Partners
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