Maximiliano Bello is an international ocean policy expert who has worked in the environmental arena for over 2 decades to advance marine conservation priorities. He has worked for non-governmental organizations in Chile and the US including The Pew Charitable Trusts, Oceana, World Wildlife Fund, the Blue Whale Center and currently with Sylvia Earle at Mission Blue and Island Conservation as a Latina American Manager.
Max has worked with a wide array of international fora including the United Nations and UN conventions and bodies. Additionally, he has worked directly with governments in Latin America and around the world to establish marine protected areas. Of note, Max was instrumental in securing protections for over 2 million kilometers squared of countries’ territorial waters.
Mr. Bello has advanced degrees and diplomas in natural resource management and economics, but his main focus always has been nature protection and knowledge. He has participated in a number of expeditions and studies including Antarctica, Patagonia, East Timor, Galapagos and others. He considers himself a naturalist and a photographer to show the beauty of this world to everyone possible.
Manta rays in Komodo National Park, Indonesia • Max currently shoots a Sony Alpha a6500 with dual DS161 strobes
Awards + Achievements
- 2019 Named among the most influential 100 Latin-Americans by the NGO Sachamama and No-Planet B Summit
- 2019 Advisory panel member and founder of the Ocean Leaders Programme of the University of Edinburgh with the support of the Foundation Prince Albert of Monaco
- 2019 Named COP25 Chile’s Presidential advisory Council as the Ocean Representative
- 2018 Received the University of Edinburgh Fellowship alumni for his work in marine conservation around the globe
- 2017 “10 Chileans that are changing the world” Featured by Chilean National TV program as one of the most influential Chileans working outside the country to change the world
- 2006 Bicentennial Award to the Blue Whale Center (founder), recognition by the President of Chile for the most iconic project in the country
- 2017 Led campaign to establish Mexico’s Revillagigedo Marine protected area, the largest fully protected marine area in North America
- 2013 to 2016 Led campaign to establish Chile’s Easter Island Marine protected area, the largest marine protected area in the Americas
- 2016 Led Campaign to establish two mayor marine protected areas in Brazil, San Pedro and San Pablo and Trinidad and Martin de Vaz
- 2012 Led campaign to protect sharks in the Caribbean archipelagos of Los Roques and Las Aves, Venezuela
- 2011 Led campaign to ban shark finning in Central America and Chile
- 2010 Led campaign to establish a Shark sanctuary in Honduras where sharks are fully protected in its Economic Exclusive Zone, the first in the Caribbean
