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| Ben Abraham Global Head of Marine Willis Towers Watson Ben is the Global Head of Marine Group within Willis Towers Watson, the leading global marine insurance broker and risk management consultant. Ben has 29 years of marine liability insurance experience and headed the Willis Protection and Indemnity (P&I) team since 1999. He was promoted to run the Marine team in 2014. In addition to management responsibilities, Ben continues to be closely involved with a number of the major corporate Marine clients and has a particular interest in large, complex and/or specialist risks. | |
| Jens Alers Group Director Schulte Group Jens Alers began his career in 1985 as a Management Trainee with liner shipping company OPDR in Hamburg. In 1988 he became Inland Marketing Manager of Hapag Lloyd (UK) in London, directing the company’s container haulage and rail logistics. He joined the Schulte Group in 1991 as a partner and Sale & Purchase Broker in Alemania Shipbrokers, Hong Kong. In 1995 he became Commercial Manager of Schulte Group’s Isle of Man based ship management operation, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (formerly Dorchester Maritime). In 1998 he was promoted to Managing Director of sister company Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement Bermuda (then known as Atlantic Marine L.P.) with general responsibility for the Schulte Group’s business development in the Americas. Since November 2009, he has been retained by the Schulte Group in an independent capacity to represent their business development activities in the Americas and Europe. He is the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bermuda. | |
| Morten Arntzen Executive Chairman Team Tankers Mr. Arntzen has been involved in the global shipping industry continuously since 1979. He has served as Executive Chairman of Team Tankers since April, 2015. He is currently also on the board of directors of Guardian Navigation and serves as Senior Shipping Industry Advisor to Macquarie Bank, Australia. Mr. Arntzen worked for 18 years at Chase Manhatten Bank (and its predecessor institutions) from 1979 to 1997, including running the Global Transportation Group from 1992-1997; was the CEO of American Marine Advisors Inc. from 1997 to 2003; and the President & CEO of Overseas Shipholding Group from 2004 to 2013. In addition, he has substantial board experience serving as a director for companies, including Chiquita Brands International, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Overseas Shipholding Group, Essar Shipping (India), IM Skaugen (Norway) and TBS Shipping. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Maine Maritime Academy. | |
| Scott Bergeron Director of Business Development & Strategy Oldendorff Carriers Scott Bergeron is the Direct of Business Development and Strategy for Oldendorff Carriers, the world’s leading bulk carrier owner and operator. With a modern leadership approach and a strong technical foundation, Scott is a proven business leader and international shipping industry executive. Scott is an honors graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and also earned an MBA from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Prior to joining Oldendorff Carriers, Scott was a Principal with the YCF Group. As the Group’s maritime program leader he held a variety of roles that included Chief Executive Officer of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the world’s second largest ship registry. Scott also conceived, established, nurtured and grew several profitable businesses for the Group including EuroFlag Services, SeaNet Maritime, SeaNet Verification and Decatur Marine Audit & Survey. In 2011 Mr. Bergeron was appointed by Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell as a Commissioner of the Port of Virginia, where he was subsequently elected as Vice Chairman. During a 3-year term, Scott provided financial and operation governance of one of the largest and deepest ports in the United States of America. Earlier in his career, Bergeron held senior management positions in an international ship owning & ship managing company and served as a marine surveyor for the US Coast Guard and for Det Norske Veritas. | |
| Joe Brady Correspondent TradeWinds Joe has been a full-time journalist with TradeWinds since 1995. He began working for TradeWinds on a freelance basis in 1990, the paper’s first year of publication. Since 2007, he has been a financial reporter. Prior to joining full time, Joe was a reporter and editor for daily newspapers in Connecticut for 15 years, covering a broad range of beats. Most recently, he was city editor of the New Haven Register. Joe was educated at the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University | |
| Julian Bray Editor-in-Chief TradeWinds Julian Bray is Editor-in-Chief of TradeWinds, the shipping business news publisher which since its launch 25 years ago has become a reference point for decision makers in the industry. During a career in business journalism, he has won awards for both reporting and editing and built a track record of product innovation having lead numerous newspaper, magazine and website launches and relaunches. In addition to his specialist knowledge of maritime commerce, he has also been a Correspondent for the Reuters news agency, written for national newspapers and magazines, and made television and radio appearances. Away from the office, a love of the natural work often takes him to wild and mountainous regions to walk, cycle, climb and watch wildlife with family and friends. He also has a passionate interest in politics, culture and music. | |
| Shelley Chapelski Partner, Head of Shipping (Canada) Norton Rose Fulbright Shelley Chapelski is the leader of a team of experienced shipping lawyers within the transport group in Canada. Both the practice group and Shelley are ranked as top tier in Canada by several ranking agencies. Her practice includes a wide spectrum of maritime law including both dry and wet work acting for owners, charterers, insurers and marine service providers. Shelley has handled hundreds of maritime casualties including claims subject to the LLMC and the Athens Convention and has been involved in dozens of vessel arrests acting for either the lien claimants or the vessel owners. She has authored many papers on the subjects of maritime law and is regularly invited to speak at both national and international maritime law and insurance events. Shelley is the President of the Canadian Maritime Law Association and frequently meets with government representatives with respect to the development of maritime law matters in Canada. | |
| Ed Davies Chief Financial Officer North Group Ed is a chartered accountant who trained with Deloitte in Newcastle Upon Tyne. He has been with North since 2005 and is Chief Financial Officer, a member of North’s Executive Team and on the Board of Directors. Ed is responsible for the financial operations of the club, financial and regulatory reporting and management of the investment portfolio. He is also responsible for delivering on the financial aspects of North’s strategy and led on North’s acquisition and integration of Sunderland Marine. | |
| The Hon. Zane De Silva Minister of Tourism and Transport Bermuda The Hon. Zane De Silva JP MP was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2007 under the Progressive Labour Party. In December 2009, he was appointed as Minister Without Portfolio and in November 2010, was appointed Minister of Health. During his time as the Minister of Health, he held Bermuda's first 'Health Financing Summit' and unveiled Bermuda's 'National Health Plan Consultation Paper'. In July of 2017, Minister DeSilva was appointed as Minister of Social Development and Sports and in November 2018, was appointed as Minister of Tourism and Transport - where he proudly serves today. Minister De Silva was educated at Boaz Island Primary School and Saltus Grammar School. He also attended Bermuda College where he studied Business Management and later Accountancy & Bookkeeping. Minister De Silva later went on to become the President and CEO of Island Construction Services Ltd. A keen sportsman, he is a Life Member of Watford Sports Club, Somerset Bridge Recreation Club, St. David's Cricket Club, East End Mini-Yacht Club and the Bermuda Athletic Association. His sporting achievements include representing Bermuda in Track & Field (cross country), snooker and golf. Minister DeSilva and his wife are the proud parents of two children and four grandchildren. | |
| Gianni Del Signore Chief Financial Officer Pangaea Logistics Solutions Mr. Del Signore serves as Chief Financial Officer of Pangaea Logistics Solutions, a NASDAQ listed dry bulk owner and operator with a fleet of approximately 45-60 vessels in the Supramax, Panamax and Handymax segments, of which 21 are owned or partially owned. Pangaea is a leading owner and operator of Ice Class 1a dry bulk vessels worldwide. Mr. Del Signore oversees the Company’s finance, accounting, and reporting functions, as well as Information Technology. Prior to being appointed CFO, Mr. Del Signore served as Controller of the Company since joining in 2010. Prior to Pangaea he served in the Assurance Service practice at Ernst & Young from 2005-2010. Mr. Del Signore is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). He earned an MBA from Bryant University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from Providence College. | |
| Boriana Farrar Vice President American P&I Club Boriana Farrar is a Vice President, Counsel and Business Development Director of Americas at Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., managers of American P&I Club in New York. She handles a variety of P&I claims with focus on personal injury crew and passenger claims and casualties. Previously, Ms. Farrar was working at a leading New York maritime law firm Hill Betts & Nash LLP. There, as a partner in its maritime practice, she had responsibility for conducting a broad range of litigation in the area of maritime disputes in both federal and state court, including matters involving: personal injury, maritime casualties, breach of contract and various other insurance defense disputes. | |
| Michael Frith Advisor Registrar of Companies Michael is a former partner at a major offshore law firm, with 20 years experience in the corporate sector. He has been heavily involved in the development of the economic substance regime in Bermuda, and currently advises the Registrar of Companies for that purpose. Michael also sits as an independent director on a number of Bermuda companies, and currently serves on the Economic Substance Task Force and the Insurance Advisory Committee, assisting in advising the Bermuda Minister of Finance in relation to the economic substance regime and the insurance industry, respectively. | |
| Jeanne Grasso Partner Blank Rome Jeanne M. Grasso is a partner at Blank Rome LLP, and Vice Practice Group Leader of the Maritime and International Trade Practice Group. Jeanne focuses her practice on maritime and environmental law for domestic and international clients. She regularly counsels owners and operators of vessels, charterers, cargo owners and facilities on maritime and environmental issues, including ballast water, air emissions, and coastwise trade. Her practice involves counseling on all aspects of maritime and environmental regulatory compliance related to U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, Maritime Administration and U.S. Customs & Border Protection matters; internal and grand jury investigations; defense of administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement actions; and pollution incident response. | |
| Jeremy Grose CEO Standard Club Jeremy Grose has been chief executive of the Standard Club since 2014. He started his career with the P&I club in 1991 as a claims executive, having graduated with an LLB(Hons) from King's College London and an MSc (Economics) in Sea Use Law, Policy and Economics from the LSE. His time with the club has involved roles in claims, underwriting and business development, including a period of deployment for the club working in Athens. He sits on the board of the Standard Club and all its major subsidiary companies, and is a member of the senior executive team of Charles Taylor PLC, a UK publicly listed insurance management services business which has run the club since 1884. | |
| John Hadjipateras President & CEO Dorian LPG John C. Hadjipateras serves as Chairman of the Board and as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hadjipateras has been actively involved in the management of shipping companies since 1972. From 1972 to 1992, Mr. Hadjipateras was the Managing Director of Peninsular Maritime Ltd., in London and subsequently served as President of Eagle Ocean. He has served as a member of the board of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, of the Council of Intertanko and has been a member of the Baltic Exchange since 1972 and of the American Bureau of Shipping since 2011. He also served on the Board of Advisors of the Faculty of Language and Linguistics of Georgetown University and is a trustee of Kidscape, a leading U.K. charity organization. He was a Director of SEACOR Holdings Inc., a global provider of marine transportation equipment and logistics services, from 2000 until 2013. | |
| Brian Holdipp Senior Associate MJM Limited Brian Holdipp has been practising corporate law for more than 20 years. His practice encompasses many areas of general corporate and commercial law, with expertise in securities, M&A, corporate restructurings, corporate redomiciliations and cross-border financing (with a specialism in aviation and ship finance). He also advises on partnership and regulatory law including on compliance with Bermuda’s recently introduced economic substance legislation. Brian has practised in Bermuda and in the Singapore office of another leading offshore law firm, and has also acted as legal consultant to the Bermuda Monetary Authority where he advised on proposals to regulate the corporate service provider industry and to enhance enforcement powers across the insurance investment business, trusts and banking sectors. Brian is ranked by Chambers Global and IFLR1000. | |
| Nils Hoy-Petersen CEO Clean Marine Education: Naval architect and business administration Work experience: From 1982 to 1993 Technical superintendent and technical director in Osco Shipping AS. From 1993 to 2010 Technical superintendent, technical director and managing director in Torvald Klaveness & Co AS, the ship management entity in the Klaveness Group. 2010 and to date: CEO in Clean Marine AS | |
| Joe Hughes Chairman & CEO NAMEPA/Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. Joe has served as Chairman and CEO of the managers of the American Club, an International Group mutual, for twenty-three years. Joe also oversees the activities of Eagle Ocean Agencies, Inc., an affiliate of SCB, which operates the Eagle Ocean Marine and Eagle Ocean America insurance facilities. In addition, he is a director of American Hellenic Hull Insurance Company, Ltd., a Cyprus-based underwriting investment of the American Club. Having graduated from Oxford University, Joe qualified as a barrister specializing in maritime commercial law before commencing his career in marine insurance. Prior his arrival in the United States, Joe worked for other P&I clubs in the United Kingdom and Norway, latterly serving as chairman of the global marine practice of Jardine Insurance Brokers in London. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Joe is chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), a director (and former president) of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey, a former chairman of the Association of Average Adjusters of the United States, a director of New York Maritime, Inc. (NYMAR) and a member of the National Cargo Bureau. Joe also serves on the classification committee of the American Bureau of Shipping, and the North American advisory committee of Lloyd’s Register. | |
| Vincent Lai CEO Landbridge Holdings Vincent Lai has over 20 years of extensive experience in shipping and finance. He joined Landbridge Holdings Limited in January 2017 as Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for running the Group’s shipping business and funding port and energy projects. Prior to joining Landbridge Group, Vincent worked with Wah Kwong Maritime Transport for over 8 years and served as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer. Before he joined Wah Kwong in 2008, he held senior positions in COSCO (HK) Shipping and PricewaterhouseCoopers with focus in shipping IPO, financing and audit exposure in China business. Vincent holds a professional qualification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. | |
| Tim Protheroe Chief Executive North America Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore Based in Houston, his hometown, Tim joined Bureau Veritas in March 2019. He leads the development and delivery of all products, services, and activities for Marine & Offshore in North America. Tim started his career as a deck officer and is a master mariner. After coming ashore, he spent 25 years with Lloyd’s Register in roles of increasing seniority, most recently as President for LR Americas. His career has involved roles in consultancy, operations, and business development and sales before taking up senior management responsibilities. With 40 years of maritime and offshore experience, he brings significant leadership bench-strength, industry knowledge and management expertise to the BV team. | |
| Lars Rhodin Managing Director The Swedish Club Mr Rhodin joined The Swedish Club in 1986 and served at its Hong Kong office from 1988 to 1991. Between 2003 and 2008, he held the position as Deputy Managing Director, prior to his appointment as Managing Director in July, 2008. Lars Rhodin is an active member of industry organisations, such as the International Group of P&I Clubs’ Committees and Working Groups, IUMI (International Union of Marine Insurance) as member the Nominating Committee and Det Norske Veritas, DNV. He serves on the board of directors of the Swedish Sea Rescue Society. Mr Rhodin holds an L.L.M., Master of Law, from University of Lund, Sweden and an MBA from University of Gothenburg, School of Business, Economics and Law. | |
| Victor Richards Director Conyers, Dill & Pearman Victor Richards is a Director in the Corporate department in the Bermuda office of Conyers Dill & Pearman. His practice includes all aspects of Bermuda corporate law, with a particular focus on shipping and aircraft matters. Victor advises banks, owners, private equity firms and other corporate entities on all aspects of shipping and aircraft registration, finance and transactional matters including debt financings, restructurings, bond issues, IPOs and securitizations. Before joining Conyers in 2010, Victor spent five years training and working in London, where he gained experience working in project and asset finance. | |
| Francis Richardson CEO Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority Mr. Richardson joined the Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority as the Chief Executive Officer in April 2018. He previously worked within the Bermuda Government Civil Service and held posts including Director of Marine and Ports and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Development & Transport. Prior to the Civil Service, Mr. Richardson spent over eight years working at sea as a marine engineer on various types of ships engaged in international trade and ascended. Mr. Richardson holds a Master’s Degree in Marine Operations and Management and a Class 1 Marine Engineering Certificate of Competency, he is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and is currently a member of Lloyds Registry (United States) Advisory Committee. | |
| Dieter Schwampe Partner Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein Admitted to the German Bar in 1985, joined Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein in 1985; legal clerkship in Hamburg (1981-1984); PhD in law (1983–1984); advice in all areas of insurance and reinsurance, especially marine insurance law (drafting of terms, cover issues, legal representation, recourse actions ) and maritime law (collision, grounding, salvage, general average, pollution, charter parties, bills of lading,), and transportation law (road, air, inland water ways), regularly appointed as arbitrator; more than 100 lectures and presentations at national and international events; Professor of Law at the University of Hamburg in the field of maritime insurance law and transport law. Studied in Konstanz, Bonn and Hamburg; legal clerkship in Hamburg (1981-1984); PhD in law (1983–1984); appointment as Professor of Law by the President of the University of Hamburg (2013 | |
| Gary Vogel CEO and Director Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. Mr. Vogel has served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. since September 2015. Prior to joining our Company, Mr. Vogel was Chief Executive Officer of Clipper Group Ltd., one of the world’s leading privately-held ship owning and operating groups. He was also a Partner and served as a Director of Clipper Group, Ltd. Mr. Vogel previously held the positions of co-Chief Executive Officer of Clipper Group Ltd. and Chief Executive Officer of Clipper Bulk, a division of Clipper Group Ltd., which he joined in 2000. Before Clipper, Mr. Vogel was President of Van Ommeren Bulk Shipping (USA), Inc. Mr. Vogel graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation as well as a U.S. Coast Guard Unlimited Tonnage 3rd Officers License. Subsequently, he served as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Mr. Vogel currently serves on the Board of Directors of Ship Finance International and the Lloyd’s Register North America Advisory Committee. He is also a former Board Member of the American Institute for International Steel. | |
| Ray Waid Maritime Lawyer Liskow & Lewis Ray Waid is a maritime lawyer and veteran-naval officer focused on helping companies in the marine and energy sector. Ray represents clients through all phases of litigation and in government investigations. He also provides clients with legal advice on maritime and environmental regulations and assistance in transactional matters, such as vessel sales, charterparties, and service agreements. Vessel owners, operators and others involved in the marine and energy sector rely on Ray's advice and aggressive advocacy. They turn to him because he has the unique experience of operating a vessel at sea combined with a successful and diverse practice devoted to admiralty and maritime law. Ray’s experience is vital in the high-pressure environment immediately after marine casualties, when companies need a lawyer to quickly identify the legal issues, know what questions to ask, and what actions to take in order to put companies in the best position. This same experience makes him a highly effective advocate in marine and energy cases involving personal injury, property damage, and economic loss. As a full-time maritime lawyer, he has successfully handled the gambit of cases, including collision, allision, cargo, pollution, salvage, and injury cases. | |
| Mark Whatley Senior Managing Director Evercore Since joining Evercore, he has helped to develop a global, industry leading Transportation and Infrastructure investment banking franchise and has primarily focused on the shipping and aviation industry verticals. At Evercore, Mr. Whatley has advised on many large corporate M&A transactions, and global business and capital structure restructurings. In addition, Mr. Whatley continues to advise clients on capital raising transactions and has extensive capital markets experience representing clients on over 50 public and private transactions for equity, equity-linked and high yield, including providing structuring advice on many of the existing shipping Master Limited Partnerships. Mr. Whatley began his career at Merrill Lynch & Co. and joined Evercore in 2009. While at Merrill Lynch, Mr. Whatley helped develop the Gaming, Leisure and Transportation Group into a market leader of advisory and underwriting services across industry verticals. Over his 15+ year career he has advised on over 150 successful transactions aggregating more than $85 billion in transaction value. Mr. Whatley is a Board Member of The 52nd Street Project, a NYC non-profit organization, he is the 2019-2020 Chairman of New York for McCombs Council, a leadership program focused on increasing University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business alumni engagement, and a Member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. | |
| Jerome Wilson Partner Appleby Jerome Wilson is a partner and member of the Corporate department in Appleby´s Bermuda office. His practice includes, but is not limited to advising on complex shipping matters, ship financing and other general matter. Jerome is recognised as a ´Next Generation Lawyer´ in the Banking, Finance and Capital Markets category and recommended in the Corporate and Commercial category by Legal 500 Caribbean. Jerome is also ranked as a ´notable practitioner´ by IFLR1000. Jerome is a member of the Bermuda Bar Association. | |
| John Woods Partner Clyde & Co. John Woods co-leads the Clyde & Co U.S. marine team where he concentrates his practice in maritime law and insurance and reinsurance litigation and arbitration. His clients include U.S. and foreign insurers, who he represents regularly in the areas of maritime hull, liability, cargo, pollution, war risk, loss of earnings and environmental claims. John has significant experience in cases involving shipbuilding contracts, third party marine liability, cases involving oil spills, hazardous substance discharges and OPA and CERCLA claims. He has extensive litigation experience and has handled litigations involving major maritime casualties and claims in courts across the U.S., and has counseled clients involved in litigations in foreign courts. He has argued appeals in the New York appellate courts (including the New York Court of Appeals) and five of the U.S. Courts of Appeal. In addition, John represents clients in arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. He also serves as an arbitrator and mediator. A graduate of Tulane University School of Law (JD 1980) and Middlebury College (AB 1976), John is the former Chairman of the Average Adjusters Association of the United States, a former member of the Board of Directors of the Maritime Law Association, of which he is the current Chair of the subcommittee on Hull and P&I Insurance, and the former Chair of the New York Bar Association's Admiralty Committee. | |
| Lois Zabrocky President & CEO International Seaways Inc. Lois K. Zabrocky has been President and Chief Executive Officer of International Seaways, one of the largest tanker companies worldwide since 2016. The Company owns and operates a fleet of 46 vessels including 13 VLCCs, 2 Suezmaxes, 6 Aframaxes/LR2s, 12 Panamaxes/LR1s and 7 MR tankers. Through joint ventures, it has ownership interests in 4 LNG carriers and 2 Floating Storage and Offloading Service vessels. Before assuming leadership for International Seaways, Lois served as Senior Vice President for the predecessor company’s International Flag strategic business unit with P&L responsibility for commercial management and oversight of fleet operations. Previously she was Chief Commercial Officer, with responsibility for international flag crude, products and gas businesses. | |
