A LIFE MORE THOUGHTFUL
"From the mountains to the seas, and even the stark beauty of arid landscapes, nature has always been my guide. Whether climbing peaks, sailing across the ocean, or exploring the hidden life of the desert, I’ve learned that our connection to Earth shapes our understanding of life’s vast potential."
A LIFE MORE THOUGHTFUL
"From the mountains to the seas, and even the stark beauty of arid landscapes, nature has always been my guide. Whether climbing peaks, sailing across the ocean, or exploring the hidden life of the desert, I’ve learned that our connection to Earth shapes our understanding of life’s vast potential."
"Philanthropy is not just about giving—it’s about creating lasting solutions. By bringing together stakeholders, taking risks and funding bold solutions, we can address the world’s challenges with a thoughtful, collective approach."
A journey through time
Dona Bertarelli’s journey as a philanthropist began at an early age, at the heart of her family, where she gained a love for all life on Earth, and a fundamental belief that action combined with empathy can drive positive change. Her father instilled in her a strong work ethic and a passion for the great outdoors, from climbing mountains in the Alps to sailing as a family in the Gulf of Argentario, and accompanying her mother to serve the elderly awakened her mindfulness. Dona’s childhood spent practicing sports in nature, whether swimming, skiing, sailing or hiking, forged her deep connection to the vast watery expanses of the ocean, the incredible variety of natural terrains and wildlife from the coasts to the mountains.
During the 1990s Dona was responsible for the Serono Symposia and the Serono Foundation programmes for the Advancement of Medical Science. She was later the driving force behind the Bertarelli Foundation’s early activities to improve public understanding of reproductive health, for which she was awarded the Kokopelli Prize from the American Infertility Association. She also led the foundation’s first ocean conservation programme. Through these experiences, Dona learned the power of gathering stakeholders to address challenges together.
Complementing her work with the Bertarelli Foundation in life sciences, and convinced of the need for A Life More Thoughtful rooted in a balance between people and nature, she founded Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy in 2016, bringing her innovative approach to philanthropy.
A legacy of impact
Today, Dona continues to put her philosophy into action, working with stakeholders at all levels of society. Among other activities, she is working towards the creation of large-scale highly and fully marine protected areas to help reach 30×30 target through Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy where she and partner The Pew Charitable Trusts have helped to obtain designations or commitments to safeguard over 13 million square kilometers of ocean to date. Dona also supports positive action for biodiversity in sports through Sports for Nature, a joint initiative with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Olympic Committee, United Nations Environment Programme, and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity, with more than 100 signatories and counting. She also promotes environmental education for youth through Sow my Dream, an in-house programme accredited by the French educational authorities.
Dona has a business-minded approach to philanthropy, and believes philanthropists are uniquely placed to take risks and fund potential solutions to challenges. This has been demonstrated through her support of the government of Ecuador’s debt conversion for conservation, completed in 2023. An innovative public-private partnership resulted in a historic deal, the largest to date, led by Ecuadorians, which will create funding in perpetuity to help protect the Galápagos Islands and its vibrant marine ecosystem.
As a believer in data-driven decision-making, and in the importance of ensuring marine protected areas are well designed, managed and implemented, Dona Bertarelli founded Marine Manager together with Global Fishing Watch, a revolutionary technology portal created to help track and transform the management of marine protected areas.
A Lifelong Commitment
Dona’s passion for the ocean inspired not only her role as an ocean advocate over the years, but also her success as a professional sailor. She has won prestigious races and broken records both inshore and offshore, among others winning the Bol d’Or Mirabaud in 2010 and 2014, the Fastnet race twice, setting a new Discovery Route record in 2013, and winning and setting a new record for the Transat Québec Saint-Malo in 2016. It was while challenging the Jules Verne Trophy aboard the world’s largest maxi-trimaran in 2016, that Dona became the fastest woman to sail around the world.
Dona Bertarelli’s commitment to conservation has been recognised with The Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, the Prince Albert I Grand Medal from the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, and she has been honoured as a Commander of the National Order of Honorato Vasquez of Ecuador, and as a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor of France. Dona has also served as UNCTAD’s Special Adviser for the Blue Economy, and continues to serve as a Patron of Nature of the IUCN.
A life in Words
Dona Bertarelli reveals the stark reality and determination behind her sailing team’s record attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy, through her log book, published as J’ai Osé in 2016.
The only woman on board among thirteen men, Dona Bertarelli reveals, in a deeply personal account taken from her log book, her experience of sailing the oceans aboard the world’s largest racing trimaran, her sailing team’s – and how she became the fastest woman to sail around the world.
L’Aventure Spindrift, published in 2016, chronicles the first five years of the Spindrift team (now Sails of Change) created by Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard. This photographic essay invites readers on a journey of emotions and marine odysseys.
Spindrift is donating all its royalties from the book to the lifeboat station at Auray, La Trinité-sur-Mer.