Robert Calcagno

Education and nationalities

Born in Menton, France, Robert Calcagno attended the lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (1970-1978) - also attended by the future Prince Albert II, who is two years his senior. He then transferred to the Lycée Massena in Nice, completing his college studies in 1980.

In the fall of 1980, he enrolled in the prestigious Science and Engineering Institution École polytechnique (1980-1983) et de l'École nationale des ponts et chaussées en 1986 Upon graduation, he furthered his studies obtaining a civil engineering master's degree in 1986 from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées.

Robert Calcagno also obtained an Executive Master of Business Administrations (MBA) degree at Columbia University in New York City.
In 2009, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco granted him Monegasque nationality.

Career

He made the first of his career as entrepreneur and investor in different countries (Malaysia, United States, France, South-East Asia, and Australia). Engineer, Site Engineer (Dredging and Construction) on the site of the Port of Kuching - Sarawak (Malaysia) for Bouygues (1984-1985), Head of the operational district of the Departmental Directorate of Equipment (DDE) of Loiret and Technical Director Sivom Orléans (1986-1990), Director of Strategy and Development Scetauroute (1991), Managing Director of Scetauroute Development (1992-1995), Managing Director of Transroute Asia Pacific (1995-2000), Managing Director of Egis Group (2000-2003). Later he became Managing Director of the Nice City Council.

In 2005, Calcagno joined the Cabinet of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco as Senior Advisor for Economic Affairs and Environment. The following year he was appointed Minister in charge of Public works, Environment and urban development. He undertook projects that included re-urbanization of former railway right-of-way, initiating new urban development, and the revision of the Environmental Code of Monaco.

In 2009, he became CEO of the Oceanographic Institute Foundation Albert I, Prince of Monaco. He is the Executive Director of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and the « Maison des océans » located in Paris.

Upon taking on responsibility of the Oceanographic Museum, Calcagno’s main priority became to accompany restoration to its former glory; in time for the centenary celebrations of the Institution. A new dynamic has been injected into the type of exhibitions currently taking place under his management, including the inauguration of contemporary art exhibits by Damien Hirst, Mark Dion, Huang Yong Ping, and Marc Quinn, among others.

Robert Calcagno was a main proponent for the launching of the Monaco Blue Initiative , an international brainstorming platform for the protection of the oceans created in 2010. He made several conferences about marine life, organized by the Museum or otherwise.

Board membership and honors

Among other responsibilities, Robert Calcagno is a member of the Board of Directors of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, of the Mercantour National Park; as well as Director of Monaco Inter Expo, and of the commission of the Strategic Attractiveness Council. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Ocean Acidification International

Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He is the Chairman of the Quality of Life Commission of the Strategic Council for Attractiveness of Monaco.

On July 13, 2007 he received the Knight Medal by the French National Order of the Legion of Honor.

Conferences and lectures

Sharks: Beyond the misunderstanding, Maison des océans in Paris, January 2013

The importance of the oceans in climate change: mitigation measures, Panelist, World Ocean Conference in Manado, Indonesia, 13 May 2009

Oceans, climate change and the public: mobilizing the public and the private sector for action, Panelist, World Ocean Conference in Manado, Indonesia, 12 May 2009

Managing our planet’s blue heart, Speaker, Global Policy and Sustainability at the International University of Monaco, 3 June 2013

Personal life

Robert Calcagno, who is married to Béatrice Auché a physiotherapist at the Princess Grace Hospital Center, has 3 children. He is a keen scuba diver, and has been diving with the Great White Sharks. He speaks French, and English. He loves hiking. He has traveled a lot around the world, and his favorite food dishes are Asian.

Publications