Founded by experienced independent maritime industry experts, including shipowners and ship managers, Pelagic Partners is redefining maritime investments by investing in assets across a wide range of shipping and offshore sectors. Pelagic Partners manages ship-owning funds, having created a steady stream of cashflows for the company’s individual and institutional investors. On November 7, 2023, Pelagic Partners’ management was honored to attend the esteemed Onassis Prizes ceremony at the historic Guildhall in London, with the event serving as a platform to recognize and celebrate the astounding academic achievements of Onassis Prizes laureates.

The Onassis Prizes ceremony was co-hosted by Onassis Foundation president, Dr Anthony S. Papadimitrou; president of City, University of London, Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein CBE; Bayes Business School dean, Professor André Spicer; and Costas Grammenos Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance chairman, Professor Costas Th. Grammenos CBE. Staged in cooperation with the City of London, the event welcomed over 350 esteemed guests, including senior figures from the world of shipping, international trade, and finance, as well as ambassadors and leading academics.

Bestowed upon Professor Marc Melitz, Professor Siri Pettersen Strandenes, and Professor Darrell Duffie at the banquet, the Onassis Prizes 2023 honored exceptional contributions and achievements in the fields of international trade, shipping, and finance, respectively.

Throughout the course of the evening, attendees listened to inspiring speeches highlighting the transformative power of education and research. Carefully selected for their outstanding contributions to their fields, the laureates shared insights into their work, as well as providing the audience with a glimpse into the future of their respective industries.

By recognizing and celebrating leading researchers, the Onassis Prizes hope to inspire and encourage the next generation of academics. Awarded once every three years to researchers leading the fields of finance, international trade, and shipping – the very fields that Aristotle Onassis himself excelled in – the Onassis Prizes are awarded to academics from all around the world in recognition of their entire body of work. Each Onassis Prize includes a $200,000 cash award, with the selection process undertaken by a committee of prominent academics, including two Nobel laureates. 

The Onassis Foundation focuses on the enabling sectors of culture, education, and health, providing humans with a foundation to not just survive but thrive. In the field of health, the Onassis Foundation gifted the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre to the Greek public 25 years ago. Meanwhile, in the field of education, the Onassis Foundation has been providing fellowships to graduates since 1978, using the Onassis Prizes as a platform to promote academic figures whose work has contributed to the advancement of their field.