SPEAKERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

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Nikos Christodoulides holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Economics, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies from the City University of New York, Queens College, and a Master’s degree in Political Science from New York University. He holds a doctorate from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the University of Athens.

He was a career diplomat between 1999 and 2018. During this time, he served, inter alia, as Consul General at the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in the United Kingdom, as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Cyprus in Greece and as Spokesperson of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU at the Permanent Mission of Cyprus in Brussels.

He also served as Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President of the Republic of Cyprus (2013-2018) and as Government Spokesman (2014-2018). On 1st March 2018 he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position which he held until his resignation on 11 January 2022.

Between 2007 and 2010 he was a Lecturer and Research Associate at the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Cyprus in the subject of History of the Postwar World. He is the author of the books Plans for Solution of the Cyprus Problem 1948-1978 (2009), Relations between Athens and Nicosia and the Cyprus Problem, 1977-1988 (2013), and Geopolitical Realities in the Plans for Solution of the Cyprus Problem 1948-1978 (2021).

On February 12, 2023, he won the Presidential Elections with a percentage of 51.97% and assumed his duties as the 8th President of the Republic of Cyprus.

Marina Hadjimanolis studied Law at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, where she was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons).

She was awarded the title Barrister at Law from the Inns of Court School of Law in London, as a member of Lincolns Inn in England.

She is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association and the Lemesos Bar Association. She practiced the law profession for many years, in a law firm, as well as in companies as a legal advisor.

She has been an elected Municipal Councillor in Lemesos Municipality since 2016. She actively participates in numerous committees of the Municipality and she is a member of the Board of Directors of the Sewerage Board of Limassol.

She was a founding member of the Youth Chamber of Commerce of Lemesos, President of the Parents’ Association in Primary Education, Member of the Federation of Parents’ Associations and Guardians of Primary Schools of the city and District of Lemesos and she is an active member of public and private charities of the city. She has received honorary awards for her social and charity work.

With her own contribution, a Blockchain application was implemented for the Municipality of Lemesos for the first time, for the electronic issuance and authentication of documents of the Municipality, allowing the residents of Lemesos to receive quality service in a digital environment.

Since 2021, she has been the first female honorary member of Europa Uomo Cyprus, where she pioneered in the campaign to raise awareness and prevent prostate cancer.

Her political activity began from her school years as an active member of the Student Movement (MAKI) of NEDISY Lemesos, then in Protoporia of England and then in NEDISY and the Democratic Rally.

During the 2023 presidential election campaign, she held the position of Director of the Political Bureau of the President-elect of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.

Elpi Petraki has been working for ENEA Management Inc. for the last 26 years, a Greek shipping company that manages a fleet of small sized, clean and specialised tankers.  During this time, she has been involved in various parts of the business, with a primary focus on both operations and chartering of its fleet as well as business development.

Elpi is currently the President of WISTA International, the Women in Shipping and Trade Association, where goal is to encourage diversity and inclusiveness in the maritime sector, as well as to support women in furthering their careers, and ensure equal opportunities for all.

Prior to her appointment, Elpi was the President of WISTA Hellas, a position she held for three and a half years where she was instrumental in the National WISTA Association’s growth, and a number of initiatives designed to support women working in maritime and encourage the next generation to consider a career in the industry.

Serving as the 2^nd Vice President of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association (HSSA), Elpi is involved in the promotion and the overall development of short sea shipping within National and European borders. Additionally, Elpi is a member of the board of directors for the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and is an active member of Intertanko. Elpi holds an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.

Elpi is also a member of the board of the Hellenic Maritime Museum, assisting in the preservation of maritime history and the development of a culture whereby younger generations are exposed to and come to appreciate maritime and naval traditions.  Additionally, in July 2024 Elpi joined the Executive Board of the World Maritime University.

Ranked in the Lloyds List Top 100 maritime influencers, she is a well-known personality in shipping, both in Greece and internationally, and an active member of the shipping community. Elpi regularly speaks at industry conferences and events on a wide range of topics, from diversity in maritime and attracting the next generation of talent, to decarbonisation, new technologies and how to address the challenges facing the industry.

Natalia Bury Loyal is an accomplished maritime industry professional with a deep expertise in maritime technology. As the Chief Operations Officer at Tototheo Global, she has been instrumental in driving innovation and efficiency in the sector.

She is a holder of an MSc in Marketing Management from the faculty of Information Technology and Management from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland.

In addition to her work at Tototheo Global she is active in the maritime community. She was elected as the President of WISTA Cyprus in November 2022 and actively participates in the activities of WISTA International by being a member of the Technology Committee.

Natalia believes that diversity in shipping and the uptake of new technologies by the industry are key to forming a sustainable and efficient maritime ecosystem.

Mr. Dominguez assumes his role as tenth IMO Secretary-General, bringing with him more than three decades of experience serving the global maritime sector, across a spectrum of leadership roles of increasing scope and responsibility.

Initially representing his native Panama, first within the Panama Maritime Authority and in his lattermost appointment as Ambassador of Panama to IMO, his affinity for building consensus saw him elected by his peers as Chair of several flagship IMO intergovernmental meetings, including: the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the Technical Committee of the 29th Assembly, and the Maritime Security, Piracy and Armed Robbery Group, as well as a number of Vice-Chair and Board member roles.

A naval architect at heart and by training, Mr. Dominguez gained his first degree at Veracruzana University, Mexico. Recognising from the outset of his career the importance of a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectorial approach to the maritime sector, Mr. Dominguez later went on to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Hull, as well as an executive qualification in International Law and European Politics at Birkbeck University, both in the United Kingdom.

This agile approach served him well in better understanding the priorities and navigating the needs of the different stakeholders across the maritime sector, and indeed the complexities of a specialized UN agency whose mission it is to support them. In 2017 Mr. Dominguez harnessed this extensive technical and diplomatic knowledge and experience as a delegate for the benefit of IMO. He joined the Organization, first as Chief of Staff, followed by Administrative Director – leading the Organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. Directly prior to his election in July 2023 as Secretary-General, he was the Director of the Marine Environment Division.

His initial term as IMO Secretary-General, approved at the 33rd Assembly in December 2023, will be for a period of four years from 2024 to 2027.

K D Adamson dismantles Big Future’s techno-optimism by demonstrating that tomorrow is not a tech problem, it’s a value problem that no technology can solve.

A top futurist, ecocentrist and global authority on the future of business she challenges our assumptions – on stage, screen, in print and in organizations around the globe – offering truly world-changing ideas and perspectives on geopolitics and society, the environment, economics, technology, business and enterprise, and shows us that different kinds of future are available.

Her stellar client list includes top global brands, multi-nationals, governments, non-profits and NGOs where her vision and foresight together with candid pragmatism, commercial acumen and practical expertise has made her a trusted guide. She is also the world’s leading and most influential futurist in the maritime and shipping industry.

Sharp, funny and straight-talking her inspirational performances have been described as a TED talk on steroids, and a Tarantino movie where no one died. A renegade, iconoclast, and self-described ‘hopeful sceptic’ her motto is ‘dubito, ergo sum’ – ‘I doubt, therefore I am.’

Mr. Chrysostomou is a seasoned professional in the shipping industry. He holds an MBA (Master’s in Business Administration) and he graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, with a Bachelor of Engineering in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding.
Mr Chrysostomou has a long-standing career. He is currently the CSO of Tototheo Global and the Executive Director of the Clean Shipping Alliance (CSA). He previously held the positions of CEO of Marine-Fields Holding Ltd, Director of the Department of Merchant Shipping (the Maritime Authority of Cyprus), CEO of Transmed Shipping Co. Ltd., and Act. Secretary-General of CLIA Europe.

In his career Mr. Chrysostomou held senior management roles in fields such as safety and security, protection of the marine environment and administration. He also served as the elected Chairman of the Design and Equipment Subcommittee of the IMO and the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) the later for 11 years. He was twice elected and re-elected Chairman of the International Mobile Satellite Organization and served as a member of the Board of Governors of the World Maritime University (WMU). He also served as President of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMAREST).

Mr. Chrysostomou’s skills and integrity have been acknowledged by peers, by awarding him the 2011 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Shipping. In November 2011 he has also been presented with the Distinguished Public Service Award by the United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard, for his invaluable service to International Shipping and in 2013 the GST Award – Leading Shipping Personality of the Decade 2003 – 2013. Furthermore Mr. Andreas Chrysostomou was awarded The Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Award – “International Personality of the Year” 2015, he received the YoungShip Cyprus Honorary Award in 2019the and has been awarded the GREEN4SEA Leadership Award 2020.

Polys V. Hajioannou is the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Bulkers, Inc. and has been Chairman of the board of directors since 2008. Mr. Hajioannou also serves with Safe Bulkers Management Ltd. in Cyprus, which provides technical, commercial and administrative management services to the Company, and prior to that, with its predecessor Alassia Steamship Co., Ltd., which he joined in 1987. Mr. Hajioannou was elected as a member of the board of directors of the Union of Greek Shipowners in 2006 and served on the board until February 2009. Mr. Hajioannou is a founding member and Vice-President of the Union of Cyprus Shipowners. Mr. Hajioannou is a member of the Lloyd’s Register Hellenic Advisory Committee. In 2011, Mr. Hajioannou was appointed to the board of directors of the Hellenic Mutual War Risks Association (Bermuda) Limited and in 2013 he was elected to the board of directors of the UK Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Bermuda) Limited where he served until 2016. In that year, he was elected a member to the newly established UK Club Bermuda Members’ Committee. Mr. Hajioannou holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nautical studies from Sunderland University.

CONFERENCE PANELS

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Panel 1: Innovative Horizons: Pioneering Technologies Transforming the Maritime and Trade Industries

Moderator:

Nicola Good is a writer, editor and strategic communicator with more than 30 years’ experience in the maritime industry. A court assistant for the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, Nicola was most recently external communications director at Lloyd’s Register, the marine classification society. Prior to that, she was a journalism director at IHS Markit (now S&P) and executive editor of Fairplay. Nicola also had a long tenure at Lloyd’s List, where she occupied a variety of roles across news, production and special reports and was for many years the custodian of key publications including the Intelligence, Top 100 people in Shipping and Top 100 Ports. Nicola is currently working as a freelance communications consultant and actively supports several industry initiatives including the Rewriting Women into Maritime History project. She is a trustee of the Howard Leopold Davis Charity, which provides support to seafarers, wives, widows and children during difficult times as well as funds for the encouragement of careers at sea. Nicola was named International editor of the year in 2016.

Panellists:

Despina serves on the boards of various organizations, including the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and on the Executive Committee of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation. She is also a Member of the General Committee of the Αssociation of SA & Entrepreneurship in Greece.

From August 2021 to February 2024, Despina held the positions of President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Electricity Authority and Vice President of the Cyprus Natural Gas Infrastructure Company (ETYFA). She also served as President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA International)  from October 2017 to October 2022.

In 2024, Despina was awarded the first-ever IMO Gender Equality Award, recognizing her outstanding achievements in promoting gender equality in maritime. She also received the Gender Equality Award from the Republic of Cyprus in the same year.

Leading international shipping publication Lloyd’s List has recognised Despina as one of the Top 100 Most Influential people in shipping for 6 consecutive years. In 2019, she was named “International Personality of the Year” at the Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards.

Despina is a frequent speaker at space mobility, shipping, and energy events, sharing her expertise and insights from her extensive involvement across these sectors. Her contributions underscore her commitment to advancing discussions and shaping the future of these interconnected industries.

She holds degrees from the National and Capodistrian University of Athens, the Copenhagen Business School and the University of Oxford.

Mr. Dominguez assumes his role as tenth IMO Secretary-General, bringing with him more than three decades of experience serving the global maritime sector, across a spectrum of leadership roles of increasing scope and responsibility.

Initially representing his native Panama, first within the Panama Maritime Authority and in his lattermost appointment as Ambassador of Panama to IMO, his affinity for building consensus saw him elected by his peers as Chair of several flagship IMO intergovernmental meetings, including: the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the Technical Committee of the 29th Assembly, and the Maritime Security, Piracy and Armed Robbery Group, as well as a number of Vice-Chair and Board member roles.

A naval architect at heart and by training, Mr. Dominguez gained his first degree at Veracruzana University, Mexico. Recognising from the outset of his career the importance of a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectorial approach to the maritime sector, Mr. Dominguez later went on to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Hull, as well as an executive qualification in International Law and European Politics at Birkbeck University, both in the United Kingdom.

This agile approach served him well in better understanding the priorities and navigating the needs of the different stakeholders across the maritime sector, and indeed the complexities of a specialized UN agency whose mission it is to support them. In 2017 Mr. Dominguez harnessed this extensive technical and diplomatic knowledge and experience as a delegate for the benefit of IMO. He joined the Organization, first as Chief of Staff, followed by Administrative Director – leading the Organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. Directly prior to his election in July 2023 as Secretary-General, he was the Director of the Marine Environment Division.

His initial term as IMO Secretary-General, approved at the 33rd Assembly in December 2023, will be for a period of four years from 2024 to 2027.

Kjersti Aass works for the United Nations Global Compact and leads the Maritime Just Transition Task Force, an initiative started by the International Chamber of Shipping, International Transport Workers’ Federation, the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization and UN Global Compact to ensure that shipping’s response to the climate emergency puts seafarers at the heart of the solution.

Kjersti also serves on the board of Höegh Autoliners, a global shipping company in the Roll-on/Roll-off segment. Previously, she has worked as Sustainability Development Director at Yara International, and also served on Yara’s board. She has also worked as a logistician for Doctors without Borders in Ethiopia and Afghanistan, and been a citizen scientist in Antarctica.

She holds a Master of Science Degree from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, specializing in entrepreneurship.

Kjersti is passionate about science and collaboration, especially development fostered through unconventional partnerships.

She is a Norwegian citizen and currently resides in London, UK, with her partner and two young children.

Group Managing Director and CEO of MSC Shipmanagement Limited, Cyprus.

Board Member of Directors & Vice President of Cyprus Chamber of Shipping Board Member of CMMI Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute Chairman of the Board of Governors of Cyprus Maritime Academy
Vice President of Shipowners Association of Portugal. Board Member of Directors of MSC Crewing Services India/Ukraine/Philippines/Romania Advisory Board Member of the Dept. of Maritime Transport and Commerce, Frederick University Member of the Advisory Committee on Competitiveness of the Cyprus Maritime Cluster.

Prabhat is the Group Managing Director and CEO of MSC Shipmanagement Limited, Cyprus. MSC Shipmanagement Limited is the biggest in-house Ship Management company in the world and has a proud policy of exclusively managing only MSC-owned vessels. Today it manages over 590 vessels and ensures the highest technical standards and a first-rate commitment to safety and punctuality. It is part of world’s largest container shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. MSC Group has one of the youngest and greenest fleets among the world’s leading shipping lines. MSC Shipmanagement is among the few companies whose entire fleet is certified with ISO 9001,14001, 50001, 26001, 27001 and 45001 standards.

Prabhat is a Marine Engineer and his career at sea was on various kinds of vessels up to the rank of Chief Engineer. After stepping ashore as Technical Superintendent, he continued to pursue his quest for knowledge and completed an MBA in General Management & Finance from University of Liverpool and Advanced Management Program from IESE Barcelona. He has played a key role in set-up of MSC Shipmanagement Limited Hong Kong in year 2005 and subsequently MSC Shipmanagement Limited, Cyprus in year 2008. MSC Crewing Services Offices are under his direct responsibility, and he is a board member of all these companies. Under Prabhat’s leadership, the company has increased its managed fleet nearly twenty times since its inception in 2008 and has the highest crew retention rate (98%) in industry.

Marinos Yiangou is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SmartSea, a leading innovator in maritime technology. With fifteen years of experience in the maritime industry with a world-class maritime services provider. His expertise spans across digitalization, process automation, and sustainable practices, driving SmartSea’s mission to enhance sustainable and productive operations across the whole maritime value chain.

Marinos holds a BSc in Mathematics and is an active member of the institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, the institute of Risk Management, and the Association of Privacy Professionals.

Panel 2: Sea of Change: The Impact of Socioeconomic Turmoil and International Regulations on Innovation in Maritime and Trade

Moderator:

Katharina Stanzel has served as Managing Director of INTERTANKO since 2012, representing the interests of independent tanker owners worldwide, promoting safety, environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance. The fifth MD in the Association’s long history, she brings an environmental background to the position.

She is passionate about advancing the role and reputation of the tanker industry as a vital and responsible partner in the global energy supply chain and has been driving collaboration and partnerships between industry stakeholders; advocating for policies that foster sustainable growth, fair competition and international cooperation in developing best practice, operational excellence and global solutions for a global industry.

A marine biologist by training, she entered the world of shipping in the 1990s. Focussing on marine pollution from ships, she spent ten years as technical advisor for the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation before joining the IOPC Funds, a UN body tasked with administering several crucial compensation conventions for oil pollution from tankers.

Katharina holds postgraduate qualifications in coastal management and business administration from universities in Germany, the UK and Australia. She is a Member of the American Bureau of Shipping and sits on the International Quality Assessment Review Board (IQARB), an initiative to promote and enhance maritime safety and pollution prevention.

In 2012, she was honoured to be named WISTA International Personality of the Year by the Women in Shipping Trade Association and in 2022 won the SheEO Leads Prize for excellent leadership in a company.

Panellists:

Mark O’Neil is the President and CEO of Columbia Group. Previously an English Army Officer and then a maritime lawyer by profession, as a Partner with Stephenson Harwood LLP and Reed Smith LLP for 17 years, Mark headed up international law firm Reed Smith LLP’s German Shipping Team, and also co-lead the firm’s Offshore Department. His clients included Ship Owners, Charterers, Insurers, Management Companies, Banks, Oil Companies and Offshore Contractors worldwide with a particular focus on the German, Scandinavian, Greek, Dutch, South American and Cypriot markets. He therefore has an in-depth knowledge of the shipping, ship management, banking and offshore sectors.  

Mark chairs and/or speaks at numerous maritime and banking conferences and seminars worldwide.  He is a passionate advocate of performance optimisation, digitalisation, crew training and the Human Element within the shipping and ship management industry and regularly speaks on these matters.  In December 2020 Mark was elected as President of InterManager, and is also CEO of Schoeller Holdings.

Guy Platten was appointed Secretary General of ICS in August 2018.

He has extensive experience in the maritime industry both at sea and ashore and is a qualified Master Mariner. He has held a number of senior positions including Chief Executive of the UK Chamber of Shipping, Chief Executive of Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, and Director of Marine Operations for the Northern Lighthouse Board.

Guy’s career at sea began in 1982 with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. He joined the RNLI in 1993 as an Inspector of Lifeboats, latterly as Inspector for Scotland training and overseeing lifeboat crews around the coast and following this he served with the MOD as a Salvage Officer and led or contributed to a number of projects including the removal of oil from a sunken World War 2 battleship, recovery of ditched aircraft and the refloating of a grounded warship.

Dr Dorota Lost-Sieminska is the Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division at the International Maritime Organization, where she leads the activities of the Division on various complex and topical subjects of international maritime law and treaty law. She oversees the development of tools for the enhancement of the Organization’s legal and external relations work. She also manages the depositary functions of the Organization, serves as the of Secretary to the IMO Legal Committee and provides first line support to the Secretary General in his capacity as the Secretary of the Council and the Assembly. Her duties also include leading the Organization’s accreditation, events, functions, inter-agency and protocol-related activities; providing guidance and assistance to Governments, inter and non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders; managing  the Organization’s Outreach and Communication Services; managing the activities and continuous development of the Organization’s Maritime Knowledge Centre; ensuring collaboration with all Divisions of the IMO Secretariat and all external stakeholders engaged in the Organization’s legal and external relations work.

Before joining IMO, dr Lost-Sieminska lead the Polish delegation to the IMO Legal Committee and was a delegate to other IMO meetings. She also served as the Vice President of the HNS Diplomatic Conference. She was also a delegate to various UN and EU meetings.

Dr Lost-Sieminska holds Master of Laws and PhD in international maritime law from the University of Gdansk/Poland and Master of Laws from the IMO International Maritime Law Institute. She is also a barrister and a member of the Pomeranian BAR Association.

Mrs. Karin Orsel (1970) became a shipowner and maritime entrepreneur at the age of 23 in the northern town of Farmsum/ Delfzijl in the Netherlands.

• She is CEO and co-owner of ship management company MF Shipping Group since 2001.
• Mrs. Karin Orsel (1970) became a ship-owner and maritime entrepreneur at the age of 23 in the northern town of Farmsum/Delfzijl in the Netherlands.
• She is CEO and co-owner of the Dutch based ship management company MF Shipping Group since and managing director of Thun Tankers BV.

MF Shipping Group now runs a fleet of approximately 55 modern and versatile vessels, providing maritime transportation services worldwide. Oil product/chemical tankers, RoRo, multipurpose vessels, self-unloaders and cement carriers. MF Shipping Group employs approximately 1.000 seafarers and 80 office staff employees. The company is regarded in the tanker segment as one of the leading shipping companies. The tankers sail for the top 10 oil companies.

In 2017, Karin received an Honorary Doctor of Public Administration Degree of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in recognition of her significant contributions to and impact on the maritime industry through her leadership, motivation and commitment to excellence as well as her active participation in numerous national and international organizations. She also received prestigious awards, among which the “Industry Leader Award 2019” at the Tanker Shipping & Trade Conference in London and the “Personality of the Year 2019” at the WISTA International General Meeting. In 2021 Karin received the Seatrade Diversity & Equality Award an in October 2023 the SAFETY4SEA Personality Award.

Besides her core business, MF Shipping Group, she is an independent board member of various other organizations both inside and outside the maritime sector. She also is involved as an investor and mentor for several start- and scale ups.

She’s known as a strong advocate for the advancement of the Maritime Industry, Diversity & Inclusivity and developing Mental Health awareness is high on her agenda. Orsel currently serves as Chair of European Community Ship Owners Association (ECSA), Board member (immediate past President) of the Royal Association of Netherlands Ship-owners (KVNR), Chair Diversity panel ICS, Council member of the Executive Committee of INTERTANKO and Chair of International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN).
https://www.mfshippinggroup.com/en

Panel 3: Financing the Future: Navigating the Energy and Technology Transition in maritime

Moderator:

Katalin Dobránszky-Bartus is Senior Director, Policy Analysis, Social Affairs and Finance in the European Shipowners Association. She joined ECSA in 2019, and within her capacity, she orchestrates the ECSA Policy Hub, oversees social affairs and taxation matters, and focuses on raising awareness of the importance of ship finance with EU regulators. Having worked with a wide range of financial stakeholders in Brussels for the last two decades, such as the European Mortgage Federation and the European Banking Authority, Katalin is an expert on sustainable finance and fiscal matters. Katalin is also trained as a risk manager and investment analyst as well as in law. She studied in Budapest, Maastricht and Cambridge and she holds a PhD degree in sustainable finance. Katalin is a member of WISTA Belgium.

Panellists:

Philippos Philis is the founder of Lemissoler and has been Managing Director since its establishment in 1996. He has been appointed as Chairman and CEO of Lemissoler Group since 2009. The Group is active in ship-owning, ship management, ship commercial operations, and chartering, as well as in R&D with a focus on enhancing the ship’s efficiency and decreasing the carbon footprint.

Philippos is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), past President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC), and has been Chairing the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Shipowners’ Employers Association (CySEA) from 2016-2021. He is an elected member of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a member of the DNV GL Cyprus Committee, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the West of England P&I Club. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Board of Directors of USB Bank.

Philippos graduated from RWTH Aachen in Mechanical Engineering, and he is also a Harvard Business School (HBS) graduate. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the School of Management and Economics of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT).

Born in 1974, Themis Papadopoulos graduated from the University of Warwick before joining Interorient Navigation Co Ltd in 1997.

He served in various positions in the company before being appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2004, a position he still holds.

He is the current President of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, Vice Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping and a board member in various industry bodies including OEB and is also a director of numerous companies including Eurogate Container Terminal Limassol and Interorient Shipping Fund AIF V.C.I.C. PLC.

Katerina has a long working experience in managerial positions in the fields of Shipping, Banking and Finance.

She is co-Principal Organizer of the ESG Shipping Awards platform, which recognizes and celebrates sustainable practices while allowing award-winning companies to inspire, educate, and collaborate with others to drive positive change in the shipping industry.

She is the Executive Director of Investments & Finance Ltd. I&F is a financial consultancy firm dedicated in providing financial and investment banking advisory services to shipping and corporate clients. Katerina’s career in shipping and finance started in 1986 in the finance department of Athenian Sea Carriers, one of the traditional and prestigious Greek shipping Groups, and continued into Banking as Head of Shipping Finance for two Greek private Banks, responsible for setting up and developing their shipping loan portfolios. She also held the position of Credit Committee member of these banks.

Katerina is a Jury Expert with the European Commission on Blue Economy and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. She is also Governor of The International Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Piraeus, Member of WISTA Hellas and WISTA International ExCo member for 6 years, Lecturer on Shipping Finance at the Greek Branch of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, Mentor and Clinical Professor on the MSc in Shipping Management program of the University of Piraeus, and DNV Trainer.

Kathleen C. Haines has served as an Independent Director of Genco Shipping and Trading since 2017, where she chairs the Audit Committee and is on the Compensation and ESG committees. Genco is a publicly traded dry bulk company with capsize, Ultra and Supramaxes. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of SeaMachines Inc. based in Boston which is a leader in autonomous shipping.  Until May 2020, sheserved as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Heidmar Inc. (“Heidmar”), a privately held company which commercially manages a fleet of oil tankers.  Ms. Haines is the Principal of Holbridge Capital Advisors, a financial consulting and investment firm specializing in the maritime industry.  During 2010, she served as the Chief Financial Officer of Asia Pacific Carriers, based in Hong Kong.  From May 2007 to May 2008, she was the Chief Executive Officer of the transition company created following the sale of OMI Corporation, a U.S.-based NYSE-listed international shipping company.  Ms. Haines served as the Chief Financial Officer of OMI Corporation from 1998 until its sale.  Ms. Haines was a board member of OSG America LLC from 2007 until it was reacquired by its parent company in 2009 and served as Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Conflicts Committee.  She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Seamen’s Church Institute as Audit Chair and member of the Finance and Endowment Committee as well as the Governance/Nominating Committee.   She is active in numerous professional associations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and is the Treasurer and a founding board member of the U.S. affiliate of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association. Ms. Haines holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Texas Tech University and is a controllership graduate from the University of Wisconsin, School of Bank Administration. 

Panel 4: Anchoring Global Maritime and Trade Excellence. The Human Element at the Heart of Innovation

Moderator:

Julia Anastasiou is the Group Chief Operating Officer for Crew Management in OSM Thome and Managing Director of the OSM Thome Cyprus office. The Cyprus office is the headquarters of the group’s Crew Management operation. Julia’s noteworthy professional and academic accomplishments include attaining fellowship with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and an MBA from the University of Warwick.

She holds various roles within the shipping community including being an elected member of the Advisory Committee on the Competitiveness of the Cyprus Maritime Cluster for the Shipping Deputy Ministry, member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, member of the Board of Trustees for the OSM – AD Foundation, holding several Board roles globally and being a member of various associations. Julia had her first academic work published in 2017 for the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden, founded by the IMO. In 2019, Julia was awarded the young disruptor award for her contributions to the shipping industry by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Julia has been actively engaged in the industry for 28 years having focused her career on the human element. Personal and career development initiatives have been at the forefront of the work she has focused on supporting an equal opportunity and sustainable environment for seafarers.

Panellists:

K D Adamson dismantles Big Future’s techno-optimism by demonstrating that tomorrow is not a tech problem, it’s a value problem that no technology can solve.

A top futurist, ecocentrist and global authority on the future of business she challenges our assumptions – on stage, screen, in print and in organizations around the globe – offering truly world-changing ideas and perspectives on geopolitics and society, the environment, economics, technology, business and enterprise, and shows us that different kinds of future are available.

Her stellar client list includes top global brands, multi-nationals, governments, non-profits and NGOs where her vision and foresight together with candid pragmatism, commercial acumen and practical expertise has made her a trusted guide. She is also the world’s leading and most influential futurist in the maritime and shipping industry.

Sharp, funny and straight-talking her inspirational performances have been described as a TED talk on steroids, and a Tarantino movie where no one died. A renegade, iconoclast, and self-described ‘hopeful sceptic’ her motto is ‘dubito, ergo sum’ – ‘I doubt, therefore I am.’

Eva Rodriguez Navia is Corporate HR Marine Director at Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement and member of the Management Board. In her role, which she has held since 2018, she is responsible for all aspects of talent strategy, including employee experience, rewards, attraction, retention, training, development and diversity, inclusion and belonging for BSM’s rapidly growing global seagoing workforce of more than 25,000 seafarers. Eva and her team are focused on creating an environment where seagoing employees can thrive and flourish.

Anna Sanfedele is a seasoned professional with over 11 years of experience at Gulf Marine as the Senior Delivery Operations Manager for Europe and Africa. Her expertise lies in managing and optimizing delivery operations to ensure efficiency and excellence in service. With a proven track record of success in the maritime industry, Anna brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to her role.

Mariana Noceti brings over a decade of experience in the United Nations system and International Maritime Organization (IMO), where she has contributed significantly across multiple teams. She began her career in the Maritime Safety Division, playing a key role in the implementation of the Goal-Based Standards (GBS) programme, which focuses on ensuring international safety regulations for ships are consistently adhered to. Subsequently, she moved to the Office of the Director for Legal Affairs and External Relations, where she supported the organization’s engagement in international legal matters and diplomatic outreach, including the coordination of the Seafarer Crisis Action Team, established during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Currently, Mariana leads the IMO’s flagship gender programme, Women in Maritime. In this role, she champions gender equality in the maritime industry, developing and overseeing technical cooperation work aimed at empowering women and fostering their professional development across the sector. Her expertise in capacity-building has enabled her to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions that enhance the maritime workforce globally, while advocating for greater female representation in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

WORKSHOP SPEAKERS

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Workshop 1: Crafting the Future: Building an Innovation Ecosystem in Maritime to Propel the Global Supply Chain

Rafaella Yiangou is a qualified Chartered Shipbroker with an MSc in Shipping, Trade, and Finance from Cass Business School and a BSc in Economics from the University of Reading. She began her career at Fleet Management in 2015 as an Accounts Officer, transitioning into business development in 2019 as Assistant Manager for the company’s Cyprus office.

That same year, Rafaella earned her Professional Qualification from the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and became a full member. Since 2019, she has been an active member of WISTA, serving on its Board since 2022.

With over eight years of experience in the maritime industry, Rafaella has cultivated an extensive network and gained deep practical insights into the sector. As Business Development Manager at the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, she led the department, shaping growth strategies and establishing collaborations with a wide range of stakeholders, including industry leaders, government bodies, and academic institutions, both locally and internationally.

Currently, Rafaella is the Client Relations Area Manager at Prevention at Sea, a maritime company specializing in both traditional advisory services and advanced software solutions. Her role encompasses managing key client relationships, driving cross-selling and upselling opportunities, and expanding the company’s presence in the Far and Middle East, fostering strategic partnerships and growth in these regions.

Theodoros Loukaidis is the Director General of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), the national funding agency for research, technological development and innovation in Cyprus.

He has extensive experience in technology and commercial roles in Cyprus and abroad, having led multi-million technology and business transformation programmes, launched new lines of business and taken new services to the market.

He started his career in Cyprus where he worked in local telcos and then moved to London, where he held strategy and business development roles in large multinational corporations, including CKHH and Colt.

He holds an MBA from Warwick Business School (UK), an MSc degree in Communications and Signal Processing from Imperial College London and a BEng (Hons), First Class, in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from UMIST (UK).

Ms. Charalambous is a US and EU national with a BSc in Accounting, an MBA in Information Technology, a Juris Doctorate in International Law and an LLM in Oil and Gas.  She has worked in several States in the US and in Europe as both Regulatory Affairs and Legal Director for multinationals at local, Head of Area (15 countries) and Head of Europe level positions.  She has taught law at UCLAN, Cyprus and she is currently the head of the Limassol Municipality Blue Innovation Center. She has served on the boards of Rothmans International, AIPFE and the Cyprus Natural Gas Public Company.  Publications in oil and gas include: European Energy Journal: The Settling of the Boundaries in the Mediterranean: You may not want to play but you have to share, 2013/2 EEJ 64.  Review EU Energy Law & Policy Yearbook 2012, Published January 2013 by Claeys & Casteels Publishers, ISBN: 9789081690409.

Workshop 2: The role of innovation in creating efficient global supply chains.  The Transformation of Limassol Port

Workshop 3: Building a Sustainable Maritime Workforce through Training

Moderator:

Eva Rodriguez Navia is Corporate HR Marine Director at Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement and member of the Management Board. In her role, which she has held since 2018, she is responsible for all aspects of talent strategy, including employee experience, rewards, attraction, retention, training, development and diversity, inclusion and belonging for BSM’s rapidly growing global seagoing workforce of more than 25,000 seafarers. Eva and her team are focused on creating an environment where seagoing employees can thrive and flourish.

Elisabeth Calbari (MISCP) is a psychologist, neuroscientist, keynote speaker, and author reporting on the brain, psychology and behavioural sciences. She is a neuroleadership consultant on self-improvement and wellness programs that lead to better performance, focus, resilience and emotional control. An award-winner program designer where her expertise is a combination of neurosciences, psychology and leadership. Over the past 25 years years, her clientele is primarily multinational corporations, educational and bank institutions, shipping companies as well as healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in Greece and Europe where seafarers, health professionals, educators, managers and executives learn how to optimize motivation, concentration, stability under pressure and emotions during key moments and peak stress. She is the founder of Self Balance, L&D Neuroscience based solutions company using evidencebased tools that show performance results and improvement in different settings.

Siren Berge is the Chief Technology Officer at Mintra. Siren has extensive experience in leading international operations, strategic decision-making, business development for specialist ERP software organisations, pioneering strategic business initiatives, leading specialist teams and providing technical thought leadership to drive forward sales growth. Over the past 20 years, Siren has held a number of senior management positions, CEO of OCS HR, CEO of Emisoft AS, Director of manufacturing and industry solutions in Hands ASA, and Partner, CEO of Emma EDB Bergen and executive board memberships.

Tracey is a leading expert in Maritime Human Capability, dedicated to enhancing the Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Management, and Teamwork of seafarers and shore-based professionals. She provides consultancy and specialised support to Ship Management Companies, the superyacht industry, and other maritime organisations, positioning herself as a valuable asset for industry transformation.

With an extensive career as a commissioned officer in the British Royal Navy, Tracey brings a wealth of operational and training experience, including with women in maritime. She holds a degree in Leadership & Management, is a Registered Psychometrics Practitioner, and is an experienced coach and qualified Social Worker. Her unparalleled expertise in crew welfare and well-being stems from years of managing Seafarers’ Welfare Support Teams, leading the Navy’s Casualty Response Team during high-profile incidents, and directing a Specialist Welfare Training School.

As a qualified Adult Education Teacher and Training Designer, Tracey adopts a holistic approach, enabling her to deliver exceptional Human Capability support and professional development tailored to her clients’ needs across the maritime sector.

Stephen Bond was the founder and owner of Videotel Marine International.

His wealth of experience and expertise within the Maritime Safety Training Sector spans over 40 years for which he was awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for his years of contribution to the safety of seafarers.

Since selling Videotel , he has since established a new company Marine Media Enterprises.  Along with his small team they produce highly successful maritime training and awareness material with the main focus on Seafarer Wellbeing.

The aim is to raise awareness and to give guidance on how to deal with every day challenges faced by crew and those ashore. Working directly with clients, regulatory bodies and innovators MME ensures that all training materials are delivered to the highest quality and in many languages.

During Covid Stephen wanted to give something back to the industry and produced a number of videos to help the many seafarers on-board cope with the challenges of being unable to join loved ones, how to deal with mental stress and how to keep themselves safe.  These were sent to thousands of vessels at no cost.

Since then,  MME launched the  “Donate & Train” scheme,  which not only  provides a solution to crew welfare and enhanced learning, but also fulfils your company’s Environmental Social Governance (ESG) by way of the charitable donations.

Captain VS Parani is currently Vice President – Marine at Tufton Asset Management Ltd., Cyprus. Over the last many years, he has been involved in the development and delivery of crew training. He is Fellow of the Nautical Institute and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. His book, Golden Stripes – Leadership on the High Seas was one of the first ones written specifically for merchant-mariners on leadership. He is also the Producer of the GoldenStripes Podcast.

Stewart Bankier is Director Crewing Training at Columbia Shipmanagement.  He has had a long career in the maritime business starting out as cadet and then junior deck officer before changing direction and serving in various position in the UK Royal Navy, over a career lasting 27 years serving in all types of vessels including frigates, destroyers and aircraft  carriers.  He also spent a number of years in instructional training positions in the Naval Academy and Air Force Academy as well operational frontline training on military exchange in Australia and on secondment to the UN Mission in Sierra Leone. 

Stewart entered the commercial shipping business in 2013 with Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement initially in crew management and latterly in a variety of roles focussing on seafarer competence, training, welfare, wellbeing and cadet programmes.  In January this year he moved to tale up his present position at Columbia Shipmanagement.  He has a strong focus on human capability, leadership development, training and seafarer rights.