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WISTA International 2022 Conference

WISTA CONFERENCE SPEAKER PROFILES

 

Eman Abdalla

Eman Abdalla

Global Operations & Supply Chain Director, Cargill

Global Operations Director for Cargill Ocean Transportation, based in Geneva, Switzerland. She joined Cargill in 2021 and has over twenty years’ experience in shipping and logistics. Extensive commercial and operational experience in the shipping, mining, and metals industries, spanning across three continents: Africa, North America, and Asia. She has strategic stakeholder management expertise and has led, motivated, and developed multinational teams. She currently manages a team of 150 people in six locations around the world, operating a fleet of 700 vessels, transporting approximately 200 million tons of various commodities globally. She is also responsible for Ocean Transportation’s sustainability agenda and is a board member for ZeroNorth, the Cargill representative for Sea Cargo Charter and is an active member in various DEI working groups within the industry.
Eman has an international background and has a master’s in international shipping and logistics from the Norwegian School of Management and the Norwegian Shipping Academy. Only through collaboration, her goal is to make zero harm and zero carbon shipping a reality underpinned by promoting crew wellbeing, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Furthermore, Eman is passionate about using digital transformations as an enabler to decarbonize supply chains.




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Veronika Aspelund

Veronika Aspelund

Ropes Business Director, Wilhelmsen Ships Service

With 17 years of experience in shipping, Veronika began her journey at Norwegian ropes manufacturer Timm in 2004, where she gained industrial-related skills ranging from sales, marketing, operations, and business development.
When Wilhelmsen acquired Timm in 2015, she was put in charge of managing the mooring ropes product portfolio. As Ropes Business Director for Wilhelmsen Ships Service, Veronika is instrumental in the ongoing development of safer and sustainable rope solutions. An epitome of which is the Snap Back Arrestor – the first verified and tested solution in the market that reduces the danger of snapback – developed with expert stakeholders such as in-house R&D, vessel owners, terminals, and international organizations.
Veronika has rich experience and skills in the industry and became lately a board member in Eurocord, European Association of Rope, Twine and Netting manufacturers, their suppliers and affiliate industries.

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Helena Athoussaki

Helena Athoussaki

Head of ESG, Sustainability & Climate Change, Motor Oil Group

Helena is the head of ESG, Sustainability and Climate Change at Motor Oil Group in Greece. She is presented by many years of experience in the Energy and Shipping sectors focusing on Decarbonization. During her carrier, Helena established and grew ESG related LoS and consultancy businesses. She held Sustainability leadership positions globally and served in several executive roles at International corporations where worked closely both with the private and public sector undertaking strategic assignments related to Decarbonization, Sustainability, Sustainable Finance and ESG integration. Helena holds an MBA from ALBA, an MA from Middlesex University and she completed several executive programs at Oxford Said Business School and London Business School.

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Sarah Barrett

Sarah Barrett

Head of Product Insights, Wärtsilä Voyage

Sarah Barrett is a Head of Product Insights at Wärtsilä Voyage. She joined the maritime industry in 2004 and spent over ten years working in marketing and customer relations roles, mainly focused on sensor and performance monitoring technologies. After working on the ISO19030 for measuring changes in hull and propeller performance, she took on the role of a vessel performance superintendent for a ship owner and manager. In 2021 Sarah joined Wärtsilä to lead the Voyage product marketing team.

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Eva Beykirch

Eva Beykirch

Business Development Manager, Wärtsilä Voyage

Born in Seoul, but raised in Hamburg. Eva started her career in the maritime industry with one of the biggest ship management companies as a ship merchant in Hamburg and Cyprus. She instantly fell in love with this vibrant, versatile and very special industry. After completing her business degree and stopovers, among others, as a trainee with Clarkson Research in London, she extended her experience in Sales with an international towage company, where she extended her network with customers such as big container lines as well as privately owned shipping companies across Europe. As a General Manager of Kotug Smit, nowadays Boluda Europe in Germany she gained significant knowledge about the port operation, safety at sea and more importantly strategic business development.

She then moved as a General Manager to Navisense, a privately owned start-up based in Hamburg that specialises in software as a service to towage companies to optimise their fuel consumption based on KI algorithm and IoT solutions. She has been with Wärtsilä Voyage since April 2022 as an Area Business Development Manager Central Europe in Hamburg. Eva strongly believes in digital transformation and is passionate about taking people along to make change happen.

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Natalia Bury Loyal

Natalia Bury Loyal

Chief Governance Officer,  Tototheo Maritime

Natalia Bury Loyal is the Chief Governance Officer at Tototheo Maritime. Dealing with regulatory compliance requirements for their customers as well as the unrelenting need for continuous development and optimization, Tototheo Maritime is a leading Maritime Technology provider with worldwide reach.

Throughout her career, Natalia has gained extensive knowledge and experience in the Maritime Technology sector, having taken roles ranging from commercial sales to operations and strategic planning. In her current position, Natalia oversees the overall legal, quality, HR and marketing activities of Tototheo Maritime thus having daily interaction with a wide range of stakeholders within the maritime ecosystem.

Having graduated from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology (Poland) with an MSc in Marketing Management from the faculty of Information Technology and Management, Natalia has since then applied her academic background towards bringing new ideas to the table.

Natalia is a Board Member of WISTA Cyprus since 2018.

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Guadalupe Concepcion

Guadalupe Concepcion

Ocean Care Lead for Caribbean and Pacific Latin America - A.P. Moller Maersk

Guadalupe Concepcion better known as Lupe is the Cargo Care Manager – Latin America in Maersk. She has been in the company for 21 years holding different roles in Operations and General Management in Maersk (in Panama and UK). About her professional career she made a bit of everything from Documentation to very interesting challenges as Equipment and Repairs of Containers supervisor and took the decision to embark to the old continent as stowage coordinator for the big vessels crossing from Far East to US/EUR.

Later she became Manager of Special cargo & rail operations department for Panama, and she found later that what drives her is supporting our customer and developing people. And she is enjoying doing so from her current role connecting and improving life for all by integrating the world.

Lupe’s aspirations are to continue growing in the company and seeing her legacy of developing talent also growing.

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Alison Cusack

Alison Cusack

Founder and Principal Lawyer, Cusack & Co Pty Ltd

An innovative and forward-thinking maritime law firm. Alison’s modern approach to business is fresh-minded, progressive and inclusive. Alison is the immediate past President of WISTA Australia, a role she held for 4 years, the mastermind behind Propel Forward, a shipping 101 course she runs through Cusack & Co Academy, and a former Lecturer at Victoria University. Alison was most recently named a finalist as a sole practitioner of the Australian Women in Law Awards and her firm was Highly Commended for the Diversity & Inclusion DCN Awards 2021.

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Sanjam Gupta

Sanjam Gupta

Founder, Maritime SheEO

Sanjam Sahi Gupta is Director for Sitara Shipping Ltd. She heads the NVOCC vertical which specializes in the handling of over dimensional cargo. She is a Governing council member of the Logistics Skill Council India.

She is a founder member of Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) India and was a Board Member of WISTA International from 2014-2021

She's a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the World Maritime University based in Malmo, Sweden- the first Indian professional from the industry(non Government) to hold this position.

In 2014 the International Womens' Leadership Forum awarded her "Leading Woman in Shipping Business" and was also awarded in 2014 by SPJIMR Business school as Outstanding Family Business.

In May 2018, she was the recipient of the Sandvik Gender Award –for her outstanding contribution and commitment to gender equality. As part of her award she conducted India's first survey for gathering data on women in maritime (https://maritimesheeo.com/report2019.pdf)

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals awarded her “Woman of the Year 2019” in March 2019.

In June 2019 she was invited as part of a High Level panel initiative by The Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, comprising a group of world leaders from coastal states committed to ocean action in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.This panel will advise 14 heads of government across the world that will drive the transition to a new and sustainable economy for a healthier and wealthier planet.

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Sasha Heriot

Sasha Heriot

Head of Product, Vessel Assistance Systems, Wärtsilä Voyage

Dr Sasha Heriot is Head of Product for Assistance Systems at Wärtsilä Voyage. After completing her PhD in Physics in 2003, she left academia in 2007 worked in various commercial roles in the chemical industry.  Sasha began her career in the maritime industry in 2015 where she introduced innovative sensor technology into new marine markets and applications.  In 2021 Sasha started her appointment in her current role and now is responsible for driving the success of Assistance Systems – the latest technology to assist the captain and crew.

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Dorothea Ioannou

Dorothea Ioannou

CEO, The American P&I Club

Dorothea holds a J.D. from St. John's University School of Law in New York and a BA from the City University of New York. Her more than 30-year career began in the early 90s initially working in medical insurance and at law firms involved in commercial as well as maritime law. Dorothea entered the marine insurance industry in 1998 when she joined Allied Insurance Brokers Ltd. to manage the Marine Insurance Claims Department. She joined SCB (Hellas) Inc., the Piraeus Claims Liaison Office for Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. (SCB), the Managers of the American P&I Club, in 2005 as a Claims Executive. In 2009 she took on the claims as well as general management of the office and went on to become the first woman appointed to the Executive Committee of SCB. She became the Regional Business Development Director for Europe Middle East and Africa in 2013 and was later promoted to Global Business Development Director; making her the first woman to occupy a top-level global executive position in the history of the American P&I Club and its Managers. Dorothea was named Chief Commercial Officer in 2018 and became Deputy Chief Operating Officer overseeing global operations early in 2020. In June of that year, she was appointed Secretary of the Board of Directors of the American P&I Club and as of August 2022 assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer of SCB, becoming the first female CEO to lead an International Group club in the 167 years since the first mutuals of the current Group were founded. Dorothea is active in the shipping industry as a frequent speaker at events and a known mentor for young professionals. She won the Next Generation Shipping Award for 2017 at the Lloyd’s List Global Awards in London. Dorothea served on the Board of the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Hellas for four years as Vice President, served as a Board member of the Piraeus Marine Club and represents the Club as a member of the American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce. Most recently she was elected to the Board of Governors of the International Propeller Club of the United States – Port of Piraeus. Dorothea is also on the Board of American Steamship Owners Marine Insurance Company (Europe) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the American P&I Club.

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Tamara Ioseliani

Tamara Ioseliani

Director, Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia

Ms. Ioseliani has been serving as the Director of the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia since March 2018.

She has been extensively involved in the maritime transport field since 2011 and has participated and led at different points Georgian efforts in the development of national maritime safety and security regulations; seafarers’ education, training and certification standards, ship registry and other connected issues to the maritime field.

Concurrently, since 2021, Ms. Ioseliani is head of Interagency Council for the Feasibility study to introduce Port Community System (PCS). Also, since 2020 she is acting National Contact Point for IMO-Norway ‘GreenVoyage2050’ Project and Head of the Interagency Council for the Feasibility Study to introduce the Single Window Concept in Georgian Port (MSW). She was the Authorization Board Member of Higher Education Institutions and the National Contact Point for the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Black and Caspian Sea Project between 2017-2018. She was the President at Women's International Shipping and Trading Association - Georgia in 2016. Ms. Ioseliani had also served as the Deputy Director at Maritime Transport Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia from 2012 to 2018.
In addition, Ms Ioseliani has served as the Head of various Georgian Delegations to the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s assembly and a number of IMO committees. In this capacity, she has represented Georgian positions on a number of issues within the international maritime industry including maritime safety and security, maritime education and etc.
In 2017, Ms. Ioseliani chaired the Georgian delegation in New York at the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the Ocean Conference). She has also been invited as a panelist at a number of international and regional conferences. In 2019, she spoke regarding the Georgian perspective on the Importance of climate change elements in the National Maritime Transport Policy Agenda at The SDG Action Zone, held during the High-level week of the UN General Assembly.
Ms. Ioseliani holds a B.A in Law from Georgian American University. She also has a Fellowship Degree from Southampton University in Ocean Governance (Building Global Capacity in Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea). She completed several certificate programs at London School of Economics including but not limited to: Corporate Law and Governance, International Law, Contemporary Issues.
She speaks English and Russian.



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Olena Isaieva

Olena Isaieva

Commodity Sector Solutions Lead, KPMG

Olena is the Commodity Solutions Lead at KPMG Switzerland. She has more than 15 years of cross-functional and consulting background across various areas of the commodity trading sector. She has successfully originated and led businesses as a trader at start-up, large trading house Gunvor Group and is currently leading advisory practice at KPMG. Olena is helping her clients to solve complex organizational issues, digitalize their operations and improve risk management framework.  She is an active member of WISTA Switzerland, advisory board member of Climate Neutral Initiative, invited speaker and moderator for top conferences within the Commodity Trading Industry.

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Marina Jakobsen

Marina Jakobsen

Founder & CEO, Marine Brokers APS

She has been in shipping and trading for 10 years and has experience from a diverse international trading houses. Marina has a Master’s in Journalism and has been maritime educational background from Danish Shipping Academy and Copenhagen Business School.

Throughout her career, Marina has followed her dream of being an entrepreneur Woman in Shipping. Her ambitions were driving her towards creation of Marine Brokers APS. Marine Brokers is a reliable Bunker Trader and Broker Worldwide, who trades all grades of marine oil and lubricants and strive to always find the best credit and price solution for the customers.

Marine Brokers are focusing on increased gender equality, and continually makes an effort to keep up an equal gender distribution in the team.

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Dr. Sadan Kaptanoglu

Dr. Sadan Kaptanoglu

Immediate Past President, BIMCO  |  CEO, Kaptanoglu Group  |  President, TURMEPA

Şadan Kaptanoglu is a shipowner and shipyard owner.

She completed her Phd in De Montfort University after she graduated from Cass Business School, MSC Shipping,Finance and Trade.

On 14th of May 2019 at the BIMCO General Meeting in Athens, Sadan was elected as President of BIMCO thereby becoming the first woman to reach that position.

Sadan Kaptanoglu is the chairperson of TURMEPA and immediate past  president of BIMCO. She is vice chairperson of Turkish Chamber of Shipping as well. 

Sadan is the first winner of Seatrade young person of the year award in 2008.

She is married, has two daughters.

Amb. Nancy W. Karigithu, CBS

Amb. Nancy W. Karigithu, CBS

Principal Secretary, State Department for Shipping & MARITIME, Government of Kenya

Mrs. Nancy Karigithu, CBS is the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Shipping and Maritime, the State Department charged with responsibility for promotion of the Maritime and Shipping Industry in Kenya. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a Master’s degree in International Maritime law from the IMO International Maritime Law Institute, Malta.
Prior to joining the State Department, Mrs. Karigithu worked at the Kenya Maritime Authority as Director General for nine (9) years. She has previously served as the Chair of the Technical Cooperation Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for two (2) terms. Currently she sits on the Boards of Governors of the World Maritime University (WMU) based in Malmo, Sweden and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute based in Malta.
She was involved jointly with IMO, in the setting up and launch of the Association of Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern & Southern Africa (WOMESA), where she served two terms as Chairperson and now sits on the governing council. WOMESA is a first regional body which brings together women professionals in the maritime sector of 26 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Before her present appointment Mrs. Karigithu was working as a legal expert for the European Union (EU) project, Critical Maritime Routes, aimed at enhancing maritime situational awareness in the Indian Ocean.
Mrs. Karigithu was bestowed with an Honorary Fellowship by the World Maritime University, in recognition of her distinguished service to the international maritime industry, and recently appointed by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya as Ambassador and Special Envoy for Maritime and Blue Economy in Kenya.

Fred Kenney

Fred Kenney

Director of Legal and External Affairs, International Maritime Organization


Mr. Kenney currently serves as the Director of Legal and External Affairs at the International Maritime Organization, London. In this capacity, he is responsible for advising the Secretary-General on all legal issues associated with the functioning of the Organization, with special emphasis on matters of treaty law and the law of the sea. He provides legal counsel to the Secretariat staff supporting IMO's committees and sub-committees and has particular responsibility as Secretary for the Organization's Legal Committee. He oversees the Organization's role as depositary for the 53 multilateral conventions adopted under the aegis of IMO. He also oversees the operation of IMO's Public Information Service, its Maritime Knowledge Centre and External Relations Office. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Kenney has served as the Chair of the Secretary-General’s Seafarers Crisis Action Team. In July and August 2022, Mr. Kenney served as the UN Interim Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative and as Senior UN Representative to its Joint Coordination Centre.

Prior to joining the Secretariat of IMO, Mr. Kenney served as the Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the United States Coast Guard, attaining the rank of Rear Admiral. Previously, he served as the Chief of the Coast Guard’s Office of Maritime and International Law and as a judge on the Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals. He served at sea for more than 5 years, including service on a polar icebreaker and extensive service conducting tactical law enforcement operations.

Mr. Kenney holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He has written and lectured widely, including as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, the IMO International Maritime Law Institute, the World Maritime University and the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies.

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Monica Kohli

Monica Kohli

Senior Lawyer, 

Monica Kohli is a senior solicitor specializing in Maritime law.  She is dual qualified in India and England & Wales and has been practising shipping and trade law for the past two decades; as a barrister in India, and as a solicitor in UK.  For the last  13 years she has been a Senior Lawyer in Gard, the largest of the Protection and Indemnity Clubs, advising Ship Owners, Charterers and Traders on legal issues pertaining to shipping and trade worldwide. She has worked on internal projects looking into legal tech and innovation – including AI and NLP – making in house legal work efficient and lean.

Monica has clients and members in London, Oslo, Dubai,  Istanbul, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mumbai.

Monica read maritime law at the University of Southampton, UK and studied for an MBA ( Shipping and Logistics), at Copenhagen Business School.

She speaks at events in the city and abroad on legal tech, diversity and inclusion in the maritime industry and on issue of interest in shipping law. She is currently President of “Women in Shipping and Trade Association” ( WISTA UK)  and the Chair  of Indian Maritime Association UK (IMA, UK).  She is also a Maritime Skills Commissioner, U.K.  and a trustee on  the board for organizations focusing on environmental  law and seafarers welfare.

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Kitack Lim

Kitack Lim

Secretary General, International Maritime Organization
Mr. Lim (Republic of Korea) is the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Born in Masan, Mr Lim graduated from the Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU), Busan, and worked on ships before joining the Korea Maritime and Port Administration in 1985. From 1986, Mr. Lim participated in the Republic of Korea delegation to IMO meetings. In 2006, he was appointed as Maritime Attaché, minister-counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in London and served as Alternate Permanent Representative to IMO until August 2009. Mr Lim was then appointed Director General for Maritime Safety Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM). In 2011, Mr. Lim was appointed Commissioner of the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal (KMST). In 2012, he became President of Busan Port Authority, until January 2016 when he took up his appointment as Secretary-General of IMO. Mr Lim holds master’s degrees from Yonsei University, and the World Maritime University (WMU).

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Mathilde de Mareuil

Mathilde de Mareuil

Headhunter & Vice President, WISTA CH - Women's International Shipping & Trading Association

Mathilde is a native English and French speaker who lived and studied in South East Asia and Paris. After graduating from a business school in Paris, Mathilde started working at Thomson Reuters in London and was soon transferred to the Singapore office. Mathilde was offered the opportunity to work at an employee benefit provider, Rewardz, where she grew a network in commodity trading companies. After 7 years in Singapore, she moved to Geneva and is she working as a Headhunter in commodities trading and in shipping. Mathilde is the Vice-President of Wista Switzerland’s board.

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Gary McGuigan

Gary McGuigan

President Global Trade and group Chief Risk Officer, ADM

Gary oversees ADM’s Global Trade business that includes crop origination and merchandising operations, global ocean freight, structured trade finance, as well as rice and cotton trading.

He joined ADM in 2009 as joint managing director of ADM Arkady in Ireland and has since held a number of senior management positions within the company, including global head of feedstuffs and managing director, Global Trade. He has spent his entire career working in the food and agriculture sector.

Gary holds a degree in Banking & International Finance from the City University Business School in London. 

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Namrata Nadkarni

Namrata Nadkarni

CEO & Founder, Intent Communications

Namrata Nadkarni is the CEO and Founder of Intent Communications. She is the Non-Executive Director of Shoreham Port, the Chair of the Fuels Working Group at the World Ports Climate Action Programme (WPCAP), and is a media and communications consultant for the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

With nearly two decades of work in the maritime industry under her belt, Namrata has worked on brands such as Safety at Sea, Fairplay, The Marine Professional, Lloyd’s List, Seatrade magazine, Seatrade Cruise Review, Dredging and Port Construction, Ports and Harbors, and the Marine Engineer’s Review.

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Prof. Burcu Özsoy

Prof. Burcu Özsoy

Director, TÜBİTAK MAM, Polar Research Institute (PRI)

Prof. Burcu Ozsoy started to work as a lecturer at Istanbul Technical University Maritime Faculty in 2001 and started her doctoral degree at University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in 2005. Ozsoy shaped her studies on satellite technology, especially with statistical mathematics and geophysics. By doing her doctorate on the subject of tracking the sea ice surrounding Antarctic continent with satellite images, she had the opportunity to work on the same platforms with many national and international competent scientists working on the same subject in the United States, one of which is the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Ozsoy has been in the charge of Horizon 2020 projects, worked on Arctic and Antarctic regions. She was the founding director of the Polar Research Center (PolReC) established in Istanbul Technical University in 2015. Prof. Ozsoy, led the first, second and third National Antarctic Science Expeditions held in 2017, 2018, 2019 under the auspices of the Presidency, the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the coordination of PolReC, She was the expedition leader of the first and second Turkish Arctic Science Expedition. She gave expert opinion to the special report published by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), covering the regions of the ocean and the cryosphere (ice surfaces, glaciers, sea ice and permofrost).

Ozsoy is the director of the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) Polar Research Institute, which established in 2019, and the Vice President of TÜBİTAK MAM. Ozsoy coordinated the Fourth, fifth and sixth National Antarctic Science Expedition in 2020, 2021 and 2022, was elected to the 2020 Newton Fund Awards scientific committee, is being a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Southern Ocean Observation System. She received the Polar Studies award at 2020 Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) Young Scientist Awards Program.

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Ben Palmer OBE

Ben Palmer OBE

President, Inmarsat Maritime

Ben was appointed President of Inmarsat’s maritime business in November 2021. He is responsible for the company’s global commercial strategy and execution in merchant marine, offshore energy, fishing, maritime passenger and leisure markets.

Ben brings 25 years’ experience of driving growth, performance improvement and transformation in complex technology-heavy businesses. He has a track record of building high performing teams, is committed to placing the customer at the heart of what we do and enjoys building deep relationships to deliver value.

 

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Gina Panayiotou

Gina Panayiotou

ESG Manager, West of England P & I Club

Gina Panayiotou is the ESG Manager at West of England P&I Club, responsible for leading its’ Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy. With extensive experience in ESG consulting within the maritime sector, Gina represents the Club at the IG Group Sustainability Committee, heads’ the internal ESG working group and works closely with all offices globally, in further enhancing the Club’s ESG commitments.

As a maritime lawyer and industry strategist, Gina has held senior roles mainly within shipowning organisations and founded her consultancy firm Oceans Arena, aimed at supporting industry stakeholders with practical ESG strategies, covering the whole scope of formulation, implementation, compliance, as well as being an expert on communications and brand positioning in this respect.

Furthermore, Gina has been featured among the "Top Maritime Influencers you should follow" by Marine Traffic and shortlisted for the Inspirational Influencer Awards in the Global Impact category for her work on youth and female empowerment. She has also been ranked by Legal 500, GC Powerlist Greece and Cyprus as one of the Top 100 in-house counsel driving innovation within their sector, has been featured in the Top 100 Women in Shipping list for 3 consecutive years and successfully hosts a broadcast committed to branding the industry that makes the world go round.

Based in London Gina is also the UK Chair of the G100 Network Brand Creation & Marketing, the Secretary of WISTA UK and represents the UK on the WISTA Trade International Committee.


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Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou

Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou

President, WISTA International & co-CEO, Tototheo Maritime

Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou is joint Chief Executive Officer of TOTOTHEO MARITIME, a leading global supplier of equipment and services for satellite communications as well as bridge navigation systems, automated applications and operational efficiency solutions.

As from August 2021 she is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus.

Despina is President of WISTA International and board member of various organizations like the Cyprus Shipping Chamber the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation etc.

Leading international shipping publication Lloyd’s List selected Despina as one of the Top 100 Most Influential people in shipping for 5 consecutive years since 2017. In 2019 she named the “International Personality of the Year” at the Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards.

In June 2022, she was appointed as an Ambassador of the Global Maritime Club representing Cyprus.

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

 

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Elsa Pernot

Elsa Pernot

Group HSEC Director, Gunvor Group

Elsa is the Global Head of HSEC for Gunvor Group, one of the largest physical energy commodities trading companies in the world, moving approximately 200 million MT of physical energy annually. Her role entails oversight of corporate policy relating to health, safety, environment, community, and human rights. Primary to her current objectives is the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as promoting initiatives relating to the Energy Transition.

Elsa is an engineer, who grew up between Madagascar and Europe, and started her career as a consultant, supporting large companies on Greenhouse Gas emissions management, sustainability information and strategy and corporate culture programmes, mainly for the energy sector. She joined Petrofac in 2014, managing HSSEC for its Oil & Gas division operations in Mexico, Malaysia, Tunisia, Romania, and the North Sea. As an HSSEC Director, she coordinated the definition of the division-wide approach to sustainability matters, focusing on the protection of workers and contractors, the environment and the relationship with local communities, and it implementation within local specificities.

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Anna Rossetti

Anna Rossetti

 Global Human Resources Director, MSC & MEDLOG

Anna joined the MSC Cargo division in Geneva in January 2017, becoming Global HR Director of MSC and MEDLOG in July 2020. She brings more than 20 years of professional experience in HR to her work, including vast expertise built in senior roles at international corporations in Italy, such as Konica Minolta, Heineken and Panasonic.

In her role, Anna spearheads the development of the international HR function throughout MSC and MEDLOG’s entities around the world. Before she took on her current responsibilities, HR processes were managed locally by the company’s 155 agencies. The new global HR division has consolidated those regional approaches to better support business transformation and employee development.

Anna firmly believes in developing people from within the organisation. She launched and implemented the first global talent management program at MSC with the goal to support career advancement and foster a diverse and inclusive environment while remaining consistent with the company’s DNA.

Anna is passionate about learning and development (L&D) and has a long track record of leading or establishing L&D functions across all the businesses in which she has worked, including MSC. She is a firm believer that by enabling MSC people to thrive and deliver above expectations, the business will also meet and exceed its objectives.

Anna studied Philosophy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan and has a Master's Degree in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). She is also a certified coach and has trained in mindfulness-based stress reduction for business performance (MBSR).

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Florence Schurch

Florence Schurch

Secretary General, Swiss Trading and Shipping Association

Florence Schurch was nominated by the STSA Board of Directors as Secretary General of the Swiss Trading and Shipping Association on February 1, 2020.
Florence Schurch was born and raised in Geneva. After obtaining a Master's degree in political science from the University of Geneva, she studied a year in Oxford, U.K. While working at the Swiss Embassy in the United States, she obtained a second Master's degree in International Security from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 2007.
Florence Schurch started her career with the Federal Police in 1998. As an investigator, she led major domestic and international efforts to coordinate the fight against organized crime in Switzerland. In May 2002, six months after September 11, 2001, Florence was the first female agent to be appointed as a police attaché posted overseas. She worked for five years at the Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C. in the United States.
In September 2007, Ms. Schurch was appointed liaison officer in Germany, a position she held for 18 months before being appointed in 2009 by the State Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva to set up a new service to provide the necessary support to the Canton of Geneva in the implementation of the strategy to defend its interests in major federal issues.
Florence Schurch has a 10 years old child and speaks French, English, German Spanish and Italian.

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Martha Selwyn

Martha Selwyn

Manager, United Nations Global Compact

Manager for Ocean and Climate at the United Nations Global Compact. In her role she works with companies and policymakers across the ocean economy - including stakeholders from shipping, ports and offshore wind - to support the implementation of ambitious sustainability goals, including climate and biodiversity targets and human and labour rights. At present, Martha leads work on the social-climate nexus with the Maritime Just Transition Task Force established at COP 26 by industry, the UN and social partners. She also leads work on the energy transition with a focus on offshore wind and marine planning.

Before holding her position at the UN, Martha completed her Master of Public Policy with a Summa Cum Laude Honours at Sciences Po, Paris. During her studies, Martha led the Paris chapter of the Berlin-based think-tank ‘The Policy Corner’ and was a researcher for London-based Think-Tank ‘Engage Britain’. Prior to Sciences Po, Martha spent one year at the Berlin-based public affairs consultancy KekstCNC in 2017-18 and one year with MICHEL International Relations and Services at the German Foreign Office supporting the G20 summit preparations. She completed her First Class undergraduate studies in German and Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh from 2012-2016.


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Angelica Sogor

Angelica Sogor

Manager, Marine Safety & Training, International Cruise Line

Angelica Sogor is an experienced maritime professional, with 12 years of experience in maritime operations, safety, training, and regulatory compliance.

She began her career designing and managing maritime training courses and professional development programs, including technical and non-technical training, for regulatory compliance and custom client needs. Eager to see the industry from additional perspectives, she then gained experience in operational vessel management and regulatory compliance (including health, safety, security, and environmental) with cruise ships and privately owned passenger vessels.

She currently holds a position as Manager of Marine Safety and Training at an international cruise line, based in Miami, Florida, United States. In this position, she has an essential role of implementing and verifying regulatory safety and training procedures and programs, as well as ensuring emergency response preparedness for a global fleet of 25 vessels. She creates and manages shipboard emergency response procedures; implements crew training, drill, and assessment programs; and supports passenger safety through implementation of the onboard guest safety briefing process.

She holds a B.A. and M.S. in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami and a M.S. in Education and graduate certificates in Teaching the Adult Learner and Leadership in Technology from Johns Hopkins University.

 

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Maryana Yarmolenko Stober

Maryana Yarmolenko Stober

President, WISTA Switzerland & Associate General Counsel EMEA, ADM

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Hidenobu Tokuda

Hidenobu Tokuda

Associate Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD

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WORKSHOP SPEAKER PROFILES

 

Muriel Maurizzio

Muriel Maurizzio

Commercial Manager & Chartering Manager, Oceanway S.A.

Mrs. Muriel Maurizzio has a Bachelor in International Relations at Torcuato Di Tella University, a Master in International Senior Management at Universidad Complutense of Madrid, an MBA with specialization in International Commerce and Project Management at Cerem Business School (Spain) and counts with the Professional Qualifying Examination from the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) and member of that organization. As well she is a founding member of Wista Argentina and member of the Wista International Trade Committee.
Mrs Muriel Maurizzio is an expert in shipping, as well as multimodal transport, with more than 15 years of experience working in the maritime industry.
She manages English and Spanish as native languages and has an advanced knowledge of French and Portuguese.
As from 2015 she has been working as Chartering Manager at Oceanway S.A., located in Argentina, managing clients in Argentina but also worldwide (USA, Brazil, Europe and Asia) and as from July 2022 she has taken the Commercial Management of the port agency as well.

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Sponsorship Options

  • Wärtsilä
    Platinum
  • Tototheo Maritime
    Platinum
  • Marine Brokers
    Gold
  • Inmarsat
    Silver
  • Total Marine Solutions
    Silver
  • IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry
    Bronze
  • MF Shipping Group
    Copper
  • Ben Line Agencies
    Friends of WISTA
  • American P&I Club
    Friends of WISTA

As organiser of this event WISTA's cancellation policy is as follows:

No cancellation fees prior to 31st August. 25% if cancelled in September and 50% if cancelled from 01 up to 10 October. After 10 October cancellation fee to be 100%.


ORGANISED BY

wista strap


MANAGED BY

petrospot


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