Managing Director, Larsens Marine Surveyors & Consultants Ltd

Allan Larsen is a Chartered Engineer with 30 years of experience in the marine industry. He spent 15 years at Bureau Veritas as a ship surveyor and Head of Section for Casualties, Damages, and Repairs. Allan holds certifications in ISO9001, ILO-MLC, ISM, ISPS, and other systems. Now Managing Director of Larsens Marine Surveyors & Consultants Ltd, Allan serves the maritime legal, insurance, and training sectors as a surveyor, auditor, and expert witness.

Academic Lecturer

Agnieszka Ason is an experienced LNG industry professional and a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES).

Agnieszka holds Polish and German law degrees and has extensive experience (as counsel and expert) in international energy disputes, including major pipeline gas and LNG price review negotiations and arbitrations in European and Asian markets.

Academic Lecturer

Dr. Anand M. Hiremath is a Civil Engineer and holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) India.

He spent six years carrying out extensive research and prepared a doctoral thesis on: Integrated Risk Assessment Framework for Development of Best Practices in Ship Recycling.

Marine Author and Consultant

Andy is a naval architect, boatbuilder, shipyard manager and technical author with forty-five years’ experience in the marine industry.

He has managed and consulted on marine projects in: England, Denmark, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Austria, China, Scotland, Germany, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Gibraltar, USA and Singapore.

Head of Governance, Risk & Internal Audit Services (Director)

Before joining Mazars, Dr Koutoupis served as a Senior Manager within the Internal Audit Services department of PricewaterhouseCoopers, responsible for the Financial Services Internal Audit Assurance & Consulting Services for more than ten years.

He has also been a Professional Trainer in Corporate Governance, Business Risk Management and Internal Audit related topics.

Academic Lecturer

André’s seagoing career formally began (he left school with almost 6 months sea time!) with Cunard Shipping Services Ltd. where he served as a deck officer in various ranks, gaining experience of a wide variety of vessels.

Before becoming a Pilot, André was Master of high-speed ferries, initially hydrofoils, then mono- and multi-hull ro-ro/passenger vessels. He emigrated from the UK to the USA in January 2004, leaving the London Pilotage Service where he was a first class Marine Pilot.

Associate Professor, Maritime Environmental Management

Dr. Anthony Gallagher is an Associate Professor at Southampton Solent University, specializing in maritime environmental management.

He has led international projects on environmental protection and marine pollution. Dr. Gallagher’s research focuses on microplastics and zinc anodes in marine environments.

Marine Engineer & Lecturer

Ayman Alakkawi is a marine engineer with 16 years of experience, having sailed from cadet to chief engineer. He has taught maritime engineering at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and currently lectures at State University New York, specializing in professional mariner courses.

Director at Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law

Professor Soyer is currently the Director of the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law, with a principal research interest in the field of insurance, particularly marine insurance, and also has interests broadly throughout maritime and commercial law.

He is the author of Warranties in Marine Insurance (2001), which won the Cavendish Book Prize in 2001 and was awarded the British Insurance Law Association Book Prize in 2002 for the best contribution to insurance literature.

Chief Engineer

Bharat Hora has over 30 years of maritime experience, having served as a Chief Engineer and held senior management roles in shipyards, ship management, and marine consultancy. He now works independently as a vessel auditor, trainer, and new-building consultant. Bharat is a member of IMarEST and other maritime associations.

Academic Lecturer

Bogdan is a Marine Manager with 'K' Line LNG Shipping (UK) Ltd., and an ex-shipmaster with 20 years of experience on gas carrier types of vessels, of which 13 years on LNG carriers.

Bogdan has a considerable experience with regard to marine and cargo operational matters, particularly those relating to LNG operations.

Ports and Terminals Consultant

Budha Majumdar is an experienced ports, shipping, and logistics professional with decades in port and terminal management. He has worked in marine operations, corporate planning, and education, and now consults globally. Budha brings his wealth of experience to training future port professionals.

Marine Consultant, Eagle Lyon Pope Ltd

Captain Cliff Brand is a marine consultant with extensive experience in the fishing industry, merchant navy, and maritime safety. He has served as Maritime Administrator for Gibraltar and Harbour Master for Harwich Haven Authority, and now consults on marine safety and port operations.

Legal Consultant

Dr. Constantina Sampani holds an LLB from the University of Athens and an LLM from the University of Kent, specializing in International Commercial Law. Her focus areas include transportation, finance, and dispute resolution. She is an expert in commercial dispute settlement through arbitration and litigation and is a frequent lecturer on international shipping law.

Marine Consultant, Eagle Lyon Pope Ltd

Captain Cliff Brand is a marine consultant with extensive experience in the fishing industry, merchant navy, and maritime safety. He has served as Maritime Administrator for Gibraltar and Harbour Master for Harwich Haven Authority, and now consults on marine safety and port operations.

Legal Consultant

Dr. Constantina Sampani holds an LLB from the University of Athens and an LLM from the University of Kent, specializing in International Commercial Law. Her focus areas include transportation, finance, and dispute resolution. She is an expert in commercial dispute settlement through arbitration and litigation and is a frequent lecturer on international shipping law.

Academic Lecturer & Head of Curriculum

David started his career as a marine surveyor with Lloyd’s Register, based in various locations in the Far East, Europe and Scandinavia, before returning to London where he co-founded Lloyd’s Register’s customer training arm, Marine Training Services (LR MTS). David led the development of learner-focussed, engaging training, and acted as a trainer for many programmes. He also led the development and mentoring of other trainers around the world.

Academic Lecturer

Dr. Evi Plomaritou is an Asst. Professor (in Chartering & Shipping Marketing) at the Department of Maritime Transport & Commerce of Frederick University (Cyprus). Since February 2011 she has been working as Shipping Consultant at Lloyd's Maritime Academy (UK).

Marine Surveyor

Gemma Hancock commenced her maritime career in 2002 as a marine engineer cadet and subsequently served at sea as a marine engineer officer for 12 years.

Gemma’s extensive seagoing career then led her ashore and into her first shoreside position, spanning seven years as Technical Superintendent. As Technical Superintendent, she gained further experience in ship management, operations, safety and compliance to relevant class and statutory requirements.

Academic Lecturer

Gwynne has over thirty-five years’ experience in warehouse management and logistics. He began his career with BRS a forerunner of Exel Logistics which later became part of DHL. He then went on to work for Dawson Group, Lane Group, Nedlloyd Districenters and DHL. Roles included Business Development Manager, Regional Manager, National Sales Manager, Customer Services and IT Manager.

Academic Lecturer

Ian has been involved in the shipping industry for many years in various capacities with P&O Cruises, Deep Sea Seals, Hamworthy (now part of Wärtsilä) and the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA). More recently he has been running his own consultancy and research business focusing on fuel oil quality and bunkering, acting as an expert witness in bunker disputes as well as presenting at conferences around the world.v

Legal Consultant and Independent Trainer

Dr. Iliana Christodoulou-Varotsi is an expert in maritime and EU law, serving as a legal consultant and trainer. She is a member of the Athens Bar Association and has a strong academic background, contributing to international legal education. Iliana is an accredited mediator and the author of several publications on marine pollution and maritime law.

Academic Lecturer

Jason is a Naval Architect – Marine Engineer and a Naval Officer. He graduated top in his class in 2001 from the Hellenic Naval Academy and he served onboard naval ships as an Engineer Officer for 10 years. In 2011, he earned an MSc in Mechanical Engineering and a Naval Engineer Degree from MIT. He is a NACE Certified Coating Inspector and the Head of 'Salamis' Naval Base Coating Department. Jason has more than 5 years of experience in training young professionals, naval engineers, and students/ naval cadets.

Managing Director, JDass Ltd

Captain John Dickie has 40 years of maritime industry experience, with 20 years at sea from cadet to command.

He has managed marine operations and served as an ISM Code expert. John now runs JDass Ltd, providing bespoke maritime training and consultancy services.

Learning & Development Manager

Dr. Bakouni is a highly experienced Learning and Development Manager within the Simulation Division of Maersk Training, with a versatile professional background in Human Resources, specialized in L&D, specifically within the Maritime industry for over a decade.

Dr. Bakouni's research interests lie in the ethical dimension of leadership and its psychological impact on employees.

Associate, Azur Offshore

Dr. John Preedy is an expert in offshore oil and gas with 28 years of experience at BP. He has worked on field development projects and innovative resource recovery techniques.

Since leaving BP, he has consulted for major clients on deepwater studies, technical reviews, and offshore technology audits, specializing in subsea robotics and environmental assessments.

Managing Director, Logistics & Supply Chain Training Consultancy

Kevin Robinson is a seasoned logistics and supply chain professional with over 20 years of experience. As Managing Director of his own consultancy, Kevin specializes in global cargo operations and supply chain management, delivering expert training and development programs.

Academic Lecturer

Konstantinos Mentzelos is an experienced Lieutenant with a history of working in the military industry. He is a Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture professional with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) focused in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Academic Course Leader

Maria’s maritime career was sparked by curiosity from a young age when sailing on merchant tankers with her folks in the 1990s, as well as helping at shipyards during her teenage years of early 2000s. Being onboard Oil Tankers, Parcel Chemical Tankers, Offshore Support Vessels, and witnessing the construction of a Residential Cruise Ship, was part of life at sea and shore, and overseas Global School Programming and International Education.

Director at NauticaLex

Marie is a former Merchant Navy Officer, qualified both as an Engineer and a Deck Officer, with twenty years of maritime industry experience.

After few years at sea, she specialised in legal and environmental matters and worked for various stakeholders in the industry, such as Class Societies, Training institutes or the International Maritime Organisation.

Ship Broker at Sentosa Ship brokers

Mathias joined Sentosa Ship Brokers in Singapore at the end of 2018. After more than 12 years as a ship owner, he has now set a new path within the shipping community as ship broker. Recently he has worked for Navig8 since 2011, with times in Singapore, Dubai and London. His experience is spanning Europe, the Middle East, and South East Asia.

Founder & Managing Director, Shipping Strategy Ltd

Mark Williams is the Managing Director of Shipping Strategy Ltd, a maritime consultancy. He has over 20 years of experience in shipping markets and is a recognized leader in the tanker industry. Mark has held senior positions with companies like HSBC and Braemar Shipping Services and frequently appears in media outlets such as the BBC.

Senior Analyst & Markets Editor

Michelle Wiese Bockmann is a London-based energy commodities and shipping editor/analyst employed as a Senior Analyst, Lloyd's List Intelligence & Markets Editor at Lloyd’s List. She has more than 20 years’ experience across three continents covering the global maritime and oil and gas sectors.

Academic Lecturer

Mike joined his first tanker as cadet soon after his 17th birthday and served at sea until gaining command. Soon after he began his career ashore as a ship inspector during the early years of OCIMF's SIRE program. Subsequently he moved into fleet technical management as the Designated Person Ashore required by the ISM Code which led to a move into law, where he qualified as a solicitor in 2002.

Marine Consultant, Trainer & Author

Mike Wall is a highly experienced marine consultant with over 40 years in the shipping industry. His background spans seagoing service, teaching, and ship management. Mike writes training modules for shipping-related diplomas and regularly delivers seminars to shipping organizations. He is a Fellow of IMarEST and an accredited mediator.

J. Kouroutis & Co. Ltd. Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers

Nicholas G. Berketis is Manager of J. Kouroutis & Co. Ltd. Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers, Piraeus, Greece a company specializing in Marine Insurance intermediation.

His research area is Marine Insurance with emphasis into areas of Piracy, Fishing Vessels, Ferries, etc. This research has been presented in professional and academic conferences and published in journals and the press.

Naval Architect & Engineer

Octai Dersamet has worked in shipping for over 30 years, specializing in engineering, project management, and naval architecture.

With an MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Octai has held senior roles in shipping companies, managing fleets and working for Lloyd’s Register. He is a fellow of RINA and IMarEST, bringing extensive industry expertise.

Master Mariner, Maritime Accident Investigator and Principal, SafeShip.ca

With over a decade as a marine accident investigator, Capt. Drouin has extensive experience in marine investigations of all sorts such as groundings, fires/explosions, collisions and vessel related fatalities. He has attended IMO and has published articles in several marine related publications. Capt. Drouin is the Principal of SafeShip.ca, a company dedicated to making ships and their crews safer. He is a graduate of the Canadian Coast Guard College (1981), is a Master Mariner and member of the Nautical Institute.

Owner and Principal Consultant at Ports & Logistics Advisory

Dr. Peter de Langen is the owner and principal consultant of Ports & Logistics Advisory, based in Malaga, Spain and established in 2013. Peter de Langen is part-time professor at Copenhagen Business School and held a part-time position as professor Cargo Transport & Logistics, at Eindhoven University of Technology, from 2009 to 2016, From 2007 to 2013, Peter worked at Port of Rotterdam Authority (PoR), department Corporate Strategy as senior advisor. From 1997 to 2007, he worked at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR).

Academic Lecturer and Professor at Aarhus University

René's areas of research comprises contract law, contract management and proactive management and proactive law. He has authored chapters in The International Contract Manual (Thomson Westlaw, 2013) and the IACCM Contract and Commercial Management – The Operational Guide (2011) as well as numerous other articles and books.

His professional experience includes having worked in the Danish Ministry of Business and Economic Affairs and in Law Firms. At the moment, he acts as an arbitrator and as a consultant to companies and public procurement organizations on how to implement best practice contract and commercial management.

Academic Lecturer

Dr. Norton holds a Master's Degree in Maritime Law, and a Doctorate in Shipping Finance. He is currently a lecturer in constitutional law and bank regulation at Cardiff Business School. He previously worked in a Japanese finance house in London in the capital markets, specialising in swaps and new bond issues.

For the past few years Dr. Norton has lectured extensively as a guest lecturer in the West Indies in the fields of maritime law, ports policy, and shipping finance.

Academic Lecturer

Dr Theodosis (Theo) Mourouzis is a cryptologist and information security professional with strong interests in both academia and industry. He holds a BA/MA in Mathematics and a MSc in Pure Mathematics (PART III - Number Theory Group) from University of Cambridge, a MRes in Security Science and a PhD in Information Security with Specialisation in Cryptography from University College London.

He is a recipient of the 1st award in the UK Cyber Cipher Security Challenge in 2013 and he has represented Cyprus four times in Balkan & International competitions in Mathematics.