Catherine Chabaud is a French journalist and sailor, born on 29th November 1962 in Bron (Rhône). During the third edition of the Vendée Globe (1996-1997), she became the first woman to complete a round-the-world sailing race, single-handed, racing and non-stop. It was during her races that her commitment to protecting the environment was born, after witnessing the state of pollution in the ocean. Her interest in sustainable development was first expressed through her work as a journalist, then through associative activities and finally through her political commitment. She co-founded the Ocean and Climate platform and launched an initiative to recognise the ocean as a “common good of humanity".
Ms. Chabaud was advisor to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council and then delegate for the sea and coastline at the French Ministry of the Environment, Energy and the Sea from 26 February 2016 to 13 November 2017. On 26 May 2019, she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament on the Renaissance list, affiliated with the MoDem. She is active in the European Parliament in the Committees on Development, Environment and Fisheries and works on maritime topics.