Romain Mari

Background

About Romain Mari

Business-minded and sustainability-driven with an entrepreneurial mindset, I am grateful to have grown up in a family of sailors and ocean lovers: caring for the ocean and planet is part of my DNA. Over the years, I developed impact-driven businesses from the ground up, transforming dreams into realities, often evolving in challenging environments, and enthusiastically building communities around sustainability, both online and offline. After studying Marine Biology, Ecology (Bsc) and Natural Resource Management (Msc) in Australia, I soon decided to launch my own ventures to implement the change I wanted to see in the world. I founded three award-winning projects in Kenya, employing approximately 65 people today, and cumulating more than 100k social media followers. These projects have since acted as catalysts for an ever-growing green community of impact-driven entrepreneurs, change makers, professionals and artists that are transforming the town of Kilifi for the best- Distant Relatives Ecolodge is an 80-bed lodge on the coast of Kenya focused on celebrating human diversity and sustainable living- Beneath the Baobabs is a 50-acre venue and events company, hosting events up to people, with a particular focus on local music, arts, and culture as well as well as wellness and positive social impact- The Twisted Fig: a fine-dining restaurant on the edge of a valley under a baobab. Aside from projects I founded, I also worked alongside the founders of other impact-driven projects, helping them transition from what were both initially merely dreams into economically viable businesses and well-developed brands that are presently attracting significant investment and community growth. I most recently joined Ocean Born Foundation, a young non-profit organisation dedicated to restoring ocean health and fighting climate change, donating 100% profits from the four businesses under its portfolio. I am actively involved in the business development of all four business units. I am always eager to connect with all the good people out there doing what they can to make the world a better place: don’t hesitate to reach out!