Dona Bertarelli
A Life of Velocity, Value & Vocation
By Peter Davis
Dona Bertarelli is a Swiss entrepreneur, philanthropist, and dedicated ocean advocate whose remarkable life blends high-stakes business, record-breaking competitive sailing, and a profound commitment to environmental conservation. Born in Rome, Italy, in 1968, her influence is felt across multiple global sectors, all driven by a powerful sense of purpose.
The foundation of Dona Bertarelli’s story lies with the family’s biotechnology company, Serono, which was founded in Rome in 1906. Along with her brother, Ernesto Bertarelli, she inherited the company, which grew to become a leader in the field, particularly known for its pioneering treatments for female infertility. Dona was actively involved in the business, serving as Executive Director, Public and Professional Affairs from 1992 to 1997.
During this time, she established the Serono Symposia and the Serono Foundation, driving the company’s philanthropic and educational initiatives. The family sold Serono to the German drugmaker Merck KGaA in 2007, and since then, Dona has focused on managing her investments, which include luxury hospitality assets such as the five-star Grand Hôtel Park in Gstaad and the acquisition of the Italian fashion brand Fiorucci.
From Helmswoman to Ocean Advocate
Bertarelli’s lifelong passion for the sea evolved into a formidable competitive sailing career. Since 2007, she has raced with her professional team, Sails of Change (formerly Spindrift Racing), which she co-founded with her husband, Yann Guichard. Their racing fleet is used as a highly visible platform to promote their environmental mission, notably carrying the ’30×30′ message, which calls for the protection of at least 30% of the earth and the ocean by 2030.
Her sailing achievements are numerous and impressive. She became the first helmswoman to win the prestigious Bol d’Or Mirabaud on Lake Léman in 2010, a victory she repeated in 2014. She also secured two victories in the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Her most iconic achievement came in the winter of 2015-2016 during a Jules Verne Trophy challenge, a non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the world aboard the maxi-trimaran. While the team narrowly missed the overall record, Dona Bertarelli earned the title of the fastest woman to sail around the world. Her experience on the world’s oceans solidified her dedication to their protection, making her an ocean advocate first and a sailor second.
“The ocean needs us now, and what we do in the next five to ten years will decide the fate of our marine ecosystems and, ultimately, our own.”
Driving Global Marine Conservation
Dona Bertarelli’s philanthropic work, primarily focused on ocean conservation, has become her central mission. She is the Co-chair of the Bertarelli Foundation, which she helped shift to prioritize marine protection alongside life sciences. She is a co-founder of the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy, which partners with The Pew Charitable Trusts to establish large-scale, highly protected marine areas.
This work has led to the safeguarding of millions of square kilometers of ocean globally. Demonstrating a business-minded approach to philanthropy, she supported the government of Ecuador’s 2023 debt-for-nature conversion, the largest such deal to date, to secure funding for the perpetual protection of the Galápagos Islands’ marine ecosystem.
Recognized for her leadership, Dona Bertarelli served as the Special Adviser for the Blue Economy for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and is a Patron of Nature of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). She has also founded Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager, a technology portal created to help transform the management of marine protected areas.
Through these roles, she champions the idea of a sustainable blue economy, promoting the responsible and regenerative use of marine resources to support both economic growth and ecosystem health. Her commitment to conservation has earned her high honors, including the Prince Albert I Grand Medal and the distinction of Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France. Dona Bertarelli’s career is a testament to the power of using personal success as a springboard for global good. She embodies the rare fusion of a driven entrepreneur and a passionate adventurer, translating her accomplishments on the water into a powerful voice for environmental action.
