SPEAKER PROFILES

Co-Founder & COO, bound4blue

Cristina, COO and co-founder of bound4blue, holds a BSc. & MSc. in Aeronautical Engineering and an Executive MBA from IESE Business School. She has also attended several business programs at the University of Cambridge, ESADE Business School and Singularity University. Cristina has participated in more than 15 national and European projects, being the inventor of more than 11 patents in the field of wind-assisted propulsion systems and its various applications (such as hydrogen generation). Due to her endeavour, she has received several awards, such as being recognized by Nor-Shipping with the Young Entrepreneur Award.

Partner, Caland Advocaten

Cherry started as a lawyer in 2004. She has been a lawyer in the maritime field since 2007. In January 2019 she founded Caland Advocaten together with four other partners.

The firm is a boutique law firm that specializes in Maritime and Trade law.

Cherry deals with various transport related matters, particularly on cargo claims and charterers’ liabilities. Apart from the more  “wet” cases she also advises and assists logistic service providers and commodity traders. She has a large experience in bunkers claims as well as matter in the metal and food industry. Cherry is sometimes also instructed to act as arbitrator, mostly in logistic disputes.

Innovation & Sustainability Manager, ICO Terminals

Fanni Arvai, with over 15 years in the maritime and transport sector, including running her own transport expedition company, now leads as Innovation & Sustainability Manager at ICO.

Her entrepreneurial background provides her with a unique ability to balance operational efficiency with sustainability challenges. At ICO, she focuses on reducing the environmental impact of shipping by exploring innovative technologies such as shore power and other decarbonization strategies.

Fanni ensures ICO meets regulatory requirements, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), while driving the company toward leadership in sustainable port operations. Known for her collaborative and inclusive approach, she actively engages stakeholders and advocates for more diversity in maritime, particularly encouraging opportunities for women. Through her work, Fanni is committed to shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for the shipping industry.

Membership & Communications Manager, SGMF

With an education in Chemical Engineering and a proven track record in the bunkering industry, Claudia has a wide experience on alternative fuels. From the moment she entered the maritime sector 14 years ago, Claudia started to grow a passion for LNG, its fossil free alternatives and other future fuels.

After exploring all angles of the maritime fuels industry, in Emerson, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions and VT Shipping, Claudia has developed a large network and extensive knowledge on the use and bunkering of conventional and future fuels.

Back in 2014 she contributed to the SGMF workgroup on Quality and Quantity Measurements of LNG and since 01-01-24, Claudia joined the SGMF team as Membership and Communications Manager, supporting SGMF’s members in their transition towards decarbonisation.

Head of Energy, C-Job Naval Architects

After finishing his Bachelor of Engineering in Naval Architecture in early 2014, Niels de Vries started at C-Job Naval Architects. Niels has been working at C-Job for more than 10 years, most recently as Head of Energy. While working at C-Job, Niels completed his Master of Science, including a Pre-Master, in Marine Technology which concluded with his thesis ‘Safe and effective application of ammonia as a marine fuel’ in June 2019. In November 2019, his study was awarded the Maritime Designer Award at the annual Dutch Maritime Awards Gala. Niels is a strong supporter of renewable fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, and believes synthetic fuel production can be a great solution to use renewable energy effectively besides direct application.

Director - Low Carbon Market Development, Americas, Methanex Corporation

Mr. Dewan is currently working as Director – Low Carbon Solutions Marketing for Methanex Corporation with over 38 years of multifaceted experience in the marine industry during which he has held several senior leadership roles.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Dewan worked with CSL and American President Line as a Chief Engineer for fifteen years on bulk carriers, chemical tankers, multipurpose and cellular container ships, and B.C. Ferries for two years. He held leadership roles at Seaspan Ship Management Ltd during his tenure of eighteen years from 2001 to 2018 including Procurement, Technical Services and Fleet Management responsible for over 115 container ships. He was Director, Marine Fleet Operations where he was directly responsible for the supervision of 60 large container ships. Mr. Dewan was CEO of a US Scrubbers Company based in China in 2018 & 2019 and developed a business unit in China comprising of marketing, design, fabrication, controls, and automation systems as well as installation and commissioning of exhaust gas scrubbers on sea-going ships. He was Vice President of Marine Fleet Department at Oceanex Inc., Canada from March 2020 to Jan 2024. Responsible for the overall safe and efficient operation and long-term planning of marine assets as a member of the senior executive team. Responsibilities included vessels maintenance, dry docks, new builds, fuel management program, crewing, training and labour relations, compliance, health and safety, ISO/ISM, marine operations budget, and fleet renewal program.

Mr. Dewan has a Bachelor of Science degree along with degree in Marine Engineering and holds First Class Marine Engineer COC issued by Transport Canada.

Chief Operating Officer, SEA-LNG

Before taking up his position at SEA-LNG, Steve was Head of Energy at Xyntéo. He began his career as a Geophysicist in BP, subsequently working in a variety of business development, strategy, and analysis roles in the company’s gas, power, & renewables and energy trading businesses.

Steve has also worked in the City of London, for a commodity futures market, leading the development of financial instruments for the energy sector and for management consultants Pöyry Energy and Caminus Energy, where he specialised in providing advice on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), gas and power market policy, and commodity trading and risk management.

Vice President – Survey & Inspection, Inchcape Shipping Services

Chris Greenwood is the Vice President for Survey and Inspection at Inchcape Shipping Services, based in London, UK. In this role, Chris is responsible for Inchcape’s Global Survey & Inspection initiatives as well as sitting on Inchcape’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Working Group.

Chris spent the first 15 years of his career with ABS in a range of operational and commercial roles between the UK, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, USA, and the Middle East & Africa. Chris has a Bachelors in Marine Technology from the University of Plymouth, a Masters in Project & Program Management from the University of Liverpool, and an Executive MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, with a focus on sustainability strategy. Chris’ focus at Inchcape is improving safety, environmental and commercial outcomes for their clients, and on capitalising on Inchcape’s industry position to accelerate the decarbonisation of the industry. 

Business Strategy Manager, Hydrogenious Maritime

Thorsten Halbreder has been working for more 20 years for a large Japanese Trading Company in several functions. Being a  founding member of an Environmental Business Unit he had represented his previous company in a number of Associations and Working Groups, increasingly focussing towards Hydrogen and PtX .

In 2023 he changed to Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime as a Business Strategy Manager. Having a strong interest in decarbonisation topics, today his main area of activity is to plan and develop a hydrogen supply infrastructure using LOHC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier) for the Maritime Industry.

Head of Berlin Office, eFuel Alliance

Marlene Hermfisse is Head of Berlin Office of the eFuel Alliance e.V.. The eFuel Alliance is an interest group committed to promoting political and social acceptance of eFuels and to securing their regulatory approval with more than 180 member companies, associations and consumer organizations along the eFuel production value chain. Next to following current policy developments on the topic of eFuels especially in Germany, Marlene Hermfisse is responsible for the aviation and maritime sectors with a focus on the EU political framework. She holds a B.A. in Economics and Slavic Studies from the Humboldt-University of Berlin and a M.A. Eastern European Studies with a focus on politics from Freie Universität Berlin. She previously worked for the German Eastern Business Association (Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft).

Head of Fleet Management, Samskip

Erik Hofmeester is the Head of Vessel Management at Samskip, a role he has held since June 2018. Based in Rotterdam, he oversees Samskip's in-house ship management of six container vessels and two LNG-driven multipurpose vessels. He leads the Vessels Newbuilding Dept. building two hydrogen driven Seashuttles and running more innovative green projects, such as the use of biofuel, CO2 capturing systems, and plug-in hybrid LNG vessels, wind assistance & solar panels, "digital twins", emphasizing environmental sustainability in maritime operations.

Previously, Erik served in various leadership positions at Vroon Shipping, where he managed ship management teams, technical operations, and fleet performance for a diverse range of vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers, and offshore support vessels. His extensive career spans over 40 years, starting as a Marine Engineer at Nedlloyd, continuing a shore career as Superintendent up to Managing Director of Vroon Ship Management, giving him deep technical expertise in dry-docking, conversions, and newbuilding.

Erik's career reflects his strong commitment to safety, operational excellence, and green innovation in ship management.

Director of Energy & Renewables, Columbia Group

Philippos Ioulianou is a seasoned shipping and energy executive with extensive global experience in managing teams, sales and operations in fast-paced, demanding environments. He has served as Columbia Group’s Energy & Renewables Group Director since February 2023, and has a proven track record in leadership, business development, strategy and negotiations. Before joining Columbia Group, Philippos spent 13 years with ABB, serving as General Manager and then Regional Sales Manager before his appointment as OEM Global Service Manager in 2017. With an MBA, an engineering degree, diplomacy and a law degree, Philippos combines technical expertise with strategic insight. He is also deeply involved in industry leadership and the nurturing of young talents, having founded and chaired YoungShip Cyprus and served as Chairman of YoungShip International. He is based in Switzerland.

Fuels and Technology Lead, Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub

Dr. Charlie McKinlay is a researcher in the field of maritime decarbonisation and is the Fuels and Technologies Lead at the Lloyd Register’s (LR) Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, where he one of the key team leads for The Silk Alliance Green Corridor Cluster initiative for shipping focused on bunkering alternative fuels in Singapore.

Charlie’s professional research expertise focuses on clean maritime fuels, encompassing the whole value chain, from sustainable and scalable supply chains to efficient onboard deployment.

Charlie holds a PhD in Dynamic Energy System Modelling from the University of Southampton, where he researched into transition technologies for viable zero emissions shipping solutions, such as fuel cells, energy saving technologies, and smart energy management.

You can connect with Charlie on LinkedIn to learn more about his research work.

Secretary General, Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs)

ZESTAS has been created to promote the interests of the Zero Emissions Shipping Technology Industry, supporting its development and representing the interests of international and regulatory bodies, ensuring a level playing field for Zero Emissions Ship Technologies.

Madadh is also a founding member and on the executive committee of the International Windships Association. She has most recently worked in the hydrogen sector for ITM Power.

ZEM-Tech’s objective is to advise and inform the maritime on zero emission technologies, facilitating their uptake and guiding industry on a pathway to climate change impact reduction.

Madadh has many years of experience in experimental maritime archeology, maritime environmental projects and sustainable development. She makes her home in Scotland, Brittany and Senegal.

Director of Project Development, Enerkem

Alex is an accomplished project and business developer with extensive experience throughout the renewable energy sector, specialising in waste-based technologies generating electricity, heat, biofuels and chemicals. He has a profound understanding and knowledge of all aspects of project development encompassing site identification, commercial contract procurement, equity investment and debt financing, and a proven track record across the entire spectrum of renewable energy including waste-to-energy, onshore wind, solar, landfill gas and hydro generation.

In total, he has over 18 years professional experience in the development of renewable/sustainable infrastructure projects, project management, funding and finance and has successfully secured over EUR 150m in funding support for development projects.

 Policy Analyst - Sustainable Finance, Environmental Defense Fund

Guillaume is a Sustainable Finance Analyst at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a leading global NGO dedicated to advancing world-class science and harnessing market forces to achieve ambitious environmental goals.

At EDF, Guillaume conducts research and analysis on strategies to green the financial sector and explores how financial institutions can drive the real economy's transition to net zero.

His work includes a specific focus on shipping finance, exploring strategies to align financiers’ guilsustainable finance targets with the short- and long-term decarbonization goals of the shipping industry.

Senior Investment Consultant, Royal HaskoningDHV

Mr. Nijboer is a senior investment consultant with a focus on maritime energy transition. He worked for 10 years in natural gas transmission and trading prior to joining Royal HaskoningDHV. As part of the maritime economics group, he supports public and private clients in their investment decisions and strategic planning. He has been involved in numerous investment projects across the globe, including renewable energy, onshore power supply and alternative fuel projects.

Senior Director Shipping Policy & Communications, European Community Shipowners’ Associations

Luisa Puccio joined the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) in November 2020 as Director for Shipping and Trade policy.

Prior to joining ECSA, Luisa worked for 10 years as an EU affairs consultant in Brussels, focusing on maritime and road transport, sustainability and circular economy.  Luisa holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Economics and Management of Government and International Organizations from Bocconi University in Milan.

Founder, Strandesen Consult ApS

As Head of Future Fuels at Maersk, Maria has been at the forefront of exploring future fuels and shaping Maersk’s decarbonization strategy. Her journey involved identifying Maersk’s future fuel mix for their fleet of 700+ ships, considering technical, commercial, legislative, and sustainability constraints.

Her unique insights extend beyond the technical aspects. From the early days, when Maerks’s decarbonization efforts were centered around her and two other people in a corner of a technical innovation department, to the current 200-person strong Energy Transition unit, she has witnessed Maersk’s decarbonization journey firsthand. This experience has equipped her with valuable knowledge on building and executing ambitious energy transition strategies in a global multi-national company – ranging from investment strategies, target setting, sourcing strategies over R&D efforts and customer engagement.

As of 1 June 2024, Maria established her own consultancy firm – Strandesen Consult – where she offers unique guidance in the pro’s and con’s on the various low-carbon marine fuel options as well as guidance in how to build and execute strong energy transition strategies.

General Manager, Project Sales & Development, Wärtsilä

Toni Stojcevski is a professional within the area of marine engineering and business development. He has been working in various positions in Wärtsilä for 22 years and gained a broad experience in the marine industry, especially within the field of medium speed combustion engines and alternative fuels. In 2013 Toni graduated from the Executive MBA on the University of Gothenburg. After, in 2014-2016 Toni was responsible for the “Methanol development project” comprising of new product development, application and its market strategy, and the delivery and conversion of the four main engines onboard Stena Germanica which was the first ship in the world operating on methanol as a fuel and a starting point for the change in the marine industry while still leaving a trace of sustainability to the society in whole.

Currently Toni is working as General Manager Large Projects and is accountable for business development with focus on large projects in the marine industry in North Europe.

Program Manager - Fuel Transition, Port of Antwerp-Bruges

As Program Manager Fuel Transition, Arne Strybos is working on the transition to sustainable and CO2-neutral transport from, to and through the port of Antwerp-Bruges. With a focus on the integration of alternative fuels in the port platform, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims to accelerate the energy transition of maritime shipping, inland navigation, road and rail.

Arne studied chemistry and environmental sciences and obtained a postgraduate degree in environmental coordination. Previously, he worked as an energy and sustainability engineer for industry and within public sector organizations.

Head of Sales Marine & Power Benelux, MAN Energy Solutions

My name is Henk Verstraeten I am the Head of Sales Marine & Power for the Benelux, at MAN Energy Solutions Benelux, where we have 2 offices one in Schiedam the Netherlands and one in Antwerp Belgium. I am 53 years married and I live in Breda in the Netherlands. I started at MAN in 2022.

My Career path: All started at the automotive sector in the 90ties, but I moved very quickly to the maritime sector, already more than 20 year of experience within the business. I have been active in different disciplines, New Product Development, Services, Marketing & Sales, Bid Management, LNG Program Manager & Project Management. I have been very pro-active at known Solutions Suppliers for Services & Newbuild Solutions but also at Shipyards for Project Management Newbuilds. My competences are Commercial and Technical high level scales, from Engines till Propulsion, and everything what is needed to build a vessel or to make a vessel operational. Special interest in future alternative fuels like LNG, Methanol & Ammonia to make the world more greener.

Business Manager Sustainable Transport, Port of Rotterdam