Mr. Paul Holthus

Paul Holthus founded the World Ocean Council (WOC) – the Global Blue Economy Business and Investment Organization – a network of 35,000+ ocean industry, innovation and investment stakeholders from shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, offshore energy, ports, and other sectors for global private sector leadership, collaboration and action on sustainable development.

The WOC includes the Ocean Investment Platform, Blue Economy Global Innovation Network, annual WOC Sustainable Ocean Summit and annual the Global Blue Finance Summit.

Paul has held senior positions with UN Environment and other international organizations. He has worked in 30+ countries, with companies, communities, industry associations, UN agencies, NGOs, and governments on practical ocean sustainability solutions - including work on coastal sustainable development in the Red Sea/Gulf region.

Paul is a regular speaker at international business, investment and intergovernmental events and is the only global ocean industry organization representative invited to address the UN General Assembly.