Paul Holthus is the founding President/CEO of the World Ocean Council (WOC), the international business leadership alliance on corporate ocean responsibility. The WOC brings together oil and gas, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, offshore renewables and other ocean industries, creating an unprecedented ocean business community and private sector leadership in addressing shared marine sustainability challenges.
Mr Holthus has held senior positions with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and international environmental organisations, including serving as Deputy Director of the IUCN Global Marine Programme. Among other things, he created the “Coral Triangle” concept, a highly successful large seascape approach to international marine conservation and sustainable development.
Since 1998, Mr Holthus has worked primarily with the private sector to develop practical solutions for the sustainable development of the marine environment. He has worked in over 30 countries with companies, communities, industry associations, UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations and foundations.
Mr Holthus is a graduate of the University of California and the University of Hawaii, with advanced degrees in marine
