Speakers 2013
Giorgio O. ARENA
61 years old, naval architect / mechanical engineer started his activity in the design department, at the naval division of FINCANTIERI in Genoa, and was appointed Program Manager four years later. In 1986 he moved to Trieste as Assistant Manager of the Corporate Commercial Director) of the same company. Three years later, again in Genoa as Director of Auxiliary Vessels, he started the lucky activity of the fast ferries with the “53 knots Destriero”, followed by ten mono-hull units. Back to Trieste as Director of Merchant Ships Business Unit, he signed 26 new building contracts in 26 months, of bulk-carrier, ro-ro, container, reefer vessels, etcetera. Purchasing Director for five years with a purchase portfolio of 1,2 billion Euro/year, relating to the activities of six yards, building cruise and ro-pax vessels. From 2004 Executive Vice President of the Merchant Shipbuilding Business unit, he is leading the commercial activity of FINCANTIERI into the ferries market.
Ivan BACH
Ivan Bach started his career with A P Møller – Mærsk Line as Marine Engineer in 1984 and served on tankers and container ships powered by diesel and steam propulsion plants. From 1989 did Ivan serviced and commissioned Aalborg Boilers across the globe. His serviced both land and marine based boiler plants. In 1994 Ivan accepted a managerial role at the Silkeborg CHP Plant (Denmark’s largest CHP Plant). He successfully oversaw operations of two General Electric LM6000PB Gas Turbines and a single ABB Steam Turbine. Ivan began working for Kværner Energy in 1998. Kværner Energy was acquired by General Electric in 2000 and Ivan has been with General Electric since. He has held several positions within General Electric – Customer Support, Warranty Management, Six Sigma, and Business Development before accepting his current role as sales manager. Ivan has held the role as Program Manager since 2010 and was a part of the team the sold the first LM2500 Dual Fuel Gas Turbines for marine propulsion to Buquebus. Ivan has two daughters, and lives in Silkeborg, Denmark.
Erik CHILÒ
Erik Chilò is Regional Manager North Europe at Cavotec SA. His background experience include automation and robotics, telecommunications, intermodal transport and bulk handling. He works today at Cavotec with focus on airports, ports and maritime terminals, mining and tunneling equipment and general industrial automation. Mr. Chilò has in the last 7 years been deeply involved in the shore connection implementation in different ports in North Sea and Baltic Sea. He holds a MSc in Industrial Engineering from Linköping Institute of Technology.
Keith CONDON
Keith Condon leads a group of business leaders committed to the re-establishment of a ferry service between Nova Scotia and the NE USA. In his private business he is President and CEO of Tri-Star Industries Limited, a world-class ambulance and specialty vehicle manufacturer. Mr. Condon has developed successful markets in over thirty countries in the Middle East, Caribbean, South America and Europe. His export achievements are rooted in building long-term customer relationships founded on trust, and to a business model built on ensuring customer satisfaction. Mr. Condon is a former Chairman of the Nova Scotia Trade Council, a mentor to the export industry in Nova Scotia and frequent contributor to seminars of trade officials and exporters interested in tackling global export markets. He serves on the board of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters and is the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University.
Helen DEEBLE
Helen is Chief Executive of P&O Ferries Division, which consists of P&O Ferries, a major European ferry operator, and P&O Ferrymasters, a logistics and freight management company. Combined turnover is £1 billion per annum and the Division employs circa 4000 staff in various locations across Europe, including over 2000 seafarers.
P&O Ferries operates up to 25 passenger and freight ships across the English Channel, Irish Sea and North Sea, carrying 9 million passengers and transporting 2 million freight units a year.
In April 2011 Helen was appointed Vice-President of the UK Chamber of Shipping and became President of the Chamber in April 2012.
She is also a board member of Interferry, the trade association which represents ferry operators globally.
Prior to her appointment as CEO, she was Chief Operating Officer, leading the business through a period of major organisational and operational change, as the advent of low cost airlines and competition from rail began to change the shape of the ferry industry. P&O Ferries is recognised in the industry as a high quality operator, focused on customer service and safety, and providing a vital part of the strategic transport network of the UK.
Her first shipping role was with Stena Line UK, whom she joined in 1993, becoming Finance Director in 1997, moving to the industry joint venture P&O Stena Line in 1998 as Chief Financial Officer. Before joining the shipping industry, Helen held various finance roles with a UK high street retailing group, after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant.
She was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Year Honours list 2013 for services to the Shipping Industry.
Dimitrios I. DIMITRIADIS
Mr. Dimitris I. Dimitriadis holds a BSc in Business Administration- Finance from the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, an MSc in International Transport form Cardiff University of Wales, an MSc in Economics & Political Economy from the London School of Economics & Political Science and a Post graduate Diploma in Conflict Crisis Management Resolution from the University of Aberdeen.
In 2001, he worked in the Council of the European Union in the Directorate- General Transport Policy primarily involved in Maritime & Aviation Regulations & Directives.
In 2002 he was appointed as Advisor to the Chairman & CEO of Piraeus Port Authority S.A. for the company’s financial re-engineering, IPO Listing, Container & Car Terminal operations management, ISPS Code and security measures during the Olympic Games of 2004.
In 2004, he joined the Ministry for Rural Development & Food as an Advisor of the Minister for the revision of the Common Agricultural Policy in EU level, the coordination of the 3rd Community Support Framework Programs and the implementation of the bio-fuels EU directive.
Since December 2006 he is in XRTC Business Consultants and currently holds the position of Director in Investment Banking and Advisory services. He is responsible for portfolio management, deal origination and underwriting, structured finance, project financing as well as private- public partnerships strategy development. Moreover, he has extensive experience in distressed assets restructuring, evaluation and management, corporate workouts and restructuring experience for equity and debt facilities as well as M&As and LBOs deals structuring and development as well as advisory Services. From March 2011 he has been appointed also as Executive Director in the Board of Corinth Canal Co (AEDIK). He has a strong academic record and he is member of various professional groups.
Håkan ENLUND
Håkan Enlund graduated from the Technical University of Oulu in Mechanical Engineering. His career started 1981 with the performance yacht builder Baltic Yachts. Within the Hollming group he was the key person in establishing the new Technology Division, where he took on the management responsibility for the deep-sea submersible research vessels project. Mr Enlund has presented a number of scientific reports and papers in the field of lightweight engineering/construction and its application in shipbuilding. In 1994 he joined the shipyard again, now Finnyards, holding a position first as Project Manager and later Sales Manager for the fast ferry activities and from 2005 as Vice President, Sales, with STX Finland. From September 2007 he is a member of the Rauma Shipyard´s Management Team. In 2011 he was nominated Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for the Rauma Shipyard. STX Finland, Rauma Shipyard, specialises in ferries, small cruise vessels, multipurpose icebreakers, research vessels and naval craft.
Mr Enlund was appointed member of the DNV Ferry Committee in 2000 and elected its chairman since May 2003. He is also a board memeber of Interferry since 2006.
Christian FUNCK
Christian Funck, 39 year, German born, Danish citizen
M.Sc. International Marketing & Management + CEMS
2000-2001 Executive assistant - Shell Denmark
2001-2005 Marketing & Administrative Manager - FRS Iberia (Spain)
2005-2008 Consulting & Due diligence studies & Start ups
2008-2008 Managing Director - National Ferries Companies Oman (NFC – operated by FRS)
2009-2009 Consultant & Business Development - Austal Ships Pty Ltd (Europe)
2010-2010 Consulting & Due diligence studies & Start ups
2011- Managing Director – FRS Iberia & FRS Maroc (Spain & Morocco)
Peder GELLERT PEDERSEN
Executive Vice President, DFDS Group
Peder Gellert Pedersen joined the DFDS Group in 1994 with responsibility for developing the group’s Ro-Ro activities to and from the Baltic countries and Russia.
Today, as an Executive Vice President, Peder Gellert Pedersen leads the DFDS Group’s Shipping Division, including Passenger Shipping and operation of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax vessels in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Channel and in the Mediterranean Sea.
The shipping activities include both shipping routes and operations of large Ro-Ro terminals. The Shipping Division employs approximately 5,000 people and has a turnover of about DKK 8 billion.
William GIBBONS
Director, Passenger Shipping Association
Williams Gibbons has been director of the PSA since April 1994. Since that time he has worked to actively promote the UK cruising industry to UK holidaymakers and the travel trade, through the PSA’s Association of Cruise Experts (ACE) and generic PR Campaign. Since 2003 the PSA has been coordinating further PR activity, to promote travel by ferry.
The PSA is the trade association for cruise and ferry companies based in the UK. Currently the PSA has 43 Cruise brands, 14 Ferry and 90 Associate Members. In 2004 Bill was involved in setting up the European Cruise Council (ECC), of which he is currently Membership Director.
Emanuele GRIMALDI
Managing Director, Grimaldi Group. President of Finnlines, President of Minoan Lines, President of Malta Motorways of the Sea, Grimaldi Logistica España, Salerno Auto-Terminal. Vice-President of the Malta International Shipping Council. Board member of Atlantic Container Line, European Community Shipowner Association (ECSA), Confitarma (Italian Shipowner Association).
Since 1986, Mr Emanuele Grimaldi is Managing Director of Grimaldi Group, a company who is at the centre of a remarkable development in the Roll on / Roll off maritime transport. Most recently Grimaldi Group also became a driving force of the Motorways of the sea and Short Sea Shipping concepts by deploying a fleet of modern ships operating on international routes.
In the latest years Mr Emanuele Grimaldi was deeply involved in the expansion of Grimaldi Group on international level, paying constantly attention towards sustainable models of maritime transports.
Mr Emanuele Grimaldi has Degree in Economics and Commerce taken “summa cum laude” at the University of Naples in December 1980.
Antonius HEUER
President, Fidelio Cruise Software GmbH
Antonius (Tony) Heuer began his career in the mid 1970’s in the hotel sector, working in a wide range of positions. His key experience in hotels at this time, which included purchase management, credit control and food and beverage management, provided a solid grounding and prepared him for rapid developments in the design of software for hotel, and later, cruise industry applications.
In 1995 Tony set up Fidelio Cruise Software GmbH as a subsidiary of Micros Fidelio Software and, once he had his own company, Tony’s key objective was to focus his software experience on designing tailor-made applications for the world’s cruise industry.
Since its inception, Fidelio Cruise has built a vast wealth of knowledge and expertise while serving a worldwide client base in the cruise and ferry sector. The company is nowadays at the forefront of cruise industry software developments and leads the way in passenger handling, consolidated fleet management, materials management, points of sale, mobile applications, safety and security systems, dining-room management and crew management.
Jane JENKINS
Miss Jane Jenkins CEng, MSc, FRINA studied as a naval architect and holds the current position of Lead Specialist at the Passenger Ship Support centre - PSSC (Lloyd’s Register Group Ltd.). Jane’s work has focussed on new construction ferry projects over the last few years where development in alternative fuels has become a favourable approach for meeting increasing local environmental standards. Jane has also been heavily involved with supporting the requirements of Safe Return to Port. These bring a variety of challenges from short journey to large International cruise ferry design. As well as acting as a focus point for dealing with all aspects of new construction projects, Jane has extensive experience in dealing with statutory standards and has actively participated with the development with the latest SOLAS2009 probabilistic survivability requirements.
Chris LAMING
Chris Laming is communications director for P&O Ferries, responsible for all aspects of the company’s external and internal communications activities. A journalist by training in both newspapers and lifestyle magazines, he began his PR career as a junior press officer with Townsend Thoresen in 1986, just 10 months before the Herald of Free Enterprise tragedy at Zeebrugge. That “baptism by fire” stood him in very good stead, however, and he has put the experience he gained to very good use in managing many crises, issues and incidents in the intervening years at Sealink British Ferries, Stena Line and P&O.
Michael MCGRATH
Chief Operating Officer, Stena Line
American born Michael McGrath has been living in Europe since 1987. After graduating from the Gothenburg School of Business he spent 10 years with TNT Express Worldwide working with commercial and general management. Since 1996 he has been employed within Stena Line both as a Freight Director and Area Director for Irish Sea and currently he is Chief Operating Officer for the group.
Bruce PETER
Bruce Peter is Reader in Design History and Theory at The Glasgow School of Art. Being half-Danish and half-Scottish, he has been travelling on passenger ships since childhood and has since made modern ship design his long-term research interest. His mission is to document the substantial but often hidden contributions made by modern ships to our experience of the contemporary world of mass production, mass distribution, mass consumerism and leisure. He has published several substantial books on cruise and ferry design and he contributes regularly to ShipPax publications. His most recent publication ‘Dansk Linjefart’ (Nautilus Forlag, 2011), however, focuses mainly on container shipping. A graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, The Royal College of Art and the University of Glasgow, his PhD examined modern architecture and design in leisure environments. He is also a keen maritime photographer and collector of Scandinavian contemporary art and furniture.
Guy PLATTEN
Chief Executive, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd
Guy was appointed Chief Executive for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) in August 2007. CMAL is wholly owned by Scottish Ministers and currently owns 31 ferries of varying size and 24 harbour facilities throughout the west coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary. They act as Harbour Authority at a number of these ports. The Company is charged with the long term management of these assets including vessel replacement and harbour development. CMAL is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the assets remain fit for purpose and serve the ever changing needs of the diverse communities within the islands and mainland. The assets are made available to an operator, currently CalMac Ferries Ltd, who then provide the lifeline ferry service.
Before joining CMAL Guy was Director of Marine Operations for the Northern Lighthouse Board and was responsible for the NLB fleet, Oban port facility, 24 hour monitor centre and providing navigational advice regarding the provision of Aids to Navigation around the coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man. He started his career at sea in the Merchant Navy in 1982 serving with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. After gaining his Master Mariner Certificate he moved to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution as an Inspector of Lifeboats, latterly as Inspector for Scotland. He also served 3 years with the Ministry of Defence as a Salvage Officer. As a Salvage Officer Guy was closely involved in the project to remove oil from the sunken battleship HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow as well as undertaking routing salvage operations including the refloating of a grounded type 23 Frigate in Oslo Fjord.
Roman POERSCH
Born on 22nd April 1972 in the South of Hamburg, Roman Poersch holds a master degree (Diploma) in Economics from the University of Hamburg. He also studied at the Universities of Amsterdam Singapore. Additionally, Mr. Poersch holds a bachelor degree in Geophysics from the University of Hamburg.
Before becoming managing director/ owner of Wilhelm Borchert GmbH, Mr. Poersch worked as senior advisor and member of the management team for the strategic transport consulting company BMT Transport Solutions (2003-2010). Previously, he gained professional experiences throughout the freight forwarding and warehousing industry.
Since early 2000 Mr. Poerschhas been engaged in a number of advisory jobs in transport and logistics. As senior consultant he was responsible for market and business development studies, forecasts, risk assessments, SWOT and other analyses. He gained substantial experiences in project management and (public) finance/ investment support for the transport industry.
Mr. Poersch has mainly been engaged in Europe; projects also covered the Middle East, China, Southeast Asia, and the US. Amongst his clients have been port authorities, terminal operators, shipping lines,land transport companies, shippers and governmental bodies as well as equity firms.
Sean POTTER
Sean is 48 years old, an engineer by trade, and has spent all his working life in the transport and shipping industry sector. His early experiences included working within the logistics sector as a client to DFDS, then as a competitor with a LoLo Container Line on the North Sea, gaining both management & practical operational experience in land and sea transport.
In 1991 Sean joined DFDS Tor Line UK as part of growing commercial team responsible for sales in the Scandinavian market moving quickly to European Sales, he became Sales Manager in 1999 & UK Sales Manager in 2000. Sean was subsequently promoted to board director with his role being Agency & Sales Director UK in 2006. His key area of responsibility being the DFDS North Sea routes operating from Immingham, Harwich, Tilbury, Felixstowe, Rosyth and Newcastle, whilst supporting and influencing the operational and commercial needs of the respective markets. In more recent months Sean has contributed in the integration of DFDS Tor Line and Norfolkline organisations to form the company, DFDS Seaways. In September 2010 Sean was promoted to Managing Director of DFDS Seaways PLC with UK responsibility for activities on the North Sea.
Hans ROOD
Rood has more than 20 years of experience from the international travel trade, and was previously president of Hurtigruten’s US office in New York. He has experience from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Cunard/Seaborn, Holland American and Windstar Cruises. Rood has been an active participant in the development of sales strategies, brand building and international sales methods, and has gained broad recognition in the tourist industry. He has a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Amsterdam and an MBA in tourist marketing from New York University. Rood is a Dutch citizen and resident in Oslo, Norway.
Jan-Erik RÄSÄNEN
Global Business Manager, Marine Energy Solutions – ABB Marine & Cranes
Jan-Erik graduated as B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering in the year 1994.
Jan-Erik joined ABB in Finland 1996. He has held several management positions in the Process Industry area. Jan-Erik moved to ABB Marine in 2009. He brought with him an extensive knowledge from the land based Industry, where Energy Efficiency and Energy Management is taken for granted by customers.
Since late 2011, Jan-Erik has global responsibility for all energy efficiency related business at ABB Marine & Cranes Service. The focus area is on improving the efficiency on vessels in operation, introducing both ABB technology solutions as well as operational advises based on performance monitoring.
Home base for Jan-Erik is in Helsinki, Finland.
Claudia SCHLIPSING
Claudia Schlipsing is Director in the Maritime Industries department of KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH which holds a lending portfolio in shipping of EUR 14.2 billion. Her team takes responsibility for international clients and their financings starting with documentation and throughout the entire lifetime of a transaction.
Born in 1974 Claudia studied at the University of Hohenheim ( Stuttgart) as well as Copenhagen Business School and holds a Master Degree (Diploma) in Economics and Business Administration. She joined KfW in 1999 as a trainee. Apart from working with the strategy team of the company for a couple of years Claudia spent most of her carrier in ship finance with experience in acquisition, structuring, execution and transaction management.
Ole-Kristian SIVERTSEN
Ole-Kristian Sivertsen is Senior Vice President of Business Development and Sales at Maritime Communications Partner (MCP), Telecom front-runner and now the #1 onboard communications provider worldwide.
An expert in onboard revenue generation, mobile technology and business innovation, Ole began his career in IT consultancy and quickly moved into IT management, sales, business development, sales management and Senior-level Executive positions. He has 20+ years of Sales and Management experience with companies such as Citrix, RES Software, Alcatel, WM-data and Sun Microsystems. Since 2004 he has also successfully headed a Management Consulting company focused on Interim Management, M&A Support, Coaching and Sales Development. Ole offers his deep knowledge of business and the onboard communications industry as an accomplished and dynamic speaker at cruise, ferry, offshore and maritime events and conferences. In his presentations, Ole shares real-life examples that bring ideas to life, delivering take-aways that immediately translate into action and powerful results.
John SOMERS
John Somers is a Senior Corporate Policy Analyst with the Government of Nova Scotia, Canada. Now with the Office of Policy and Priorities, he is a former Executive Director of Tourism for the province. He is currently managing the provincial government’s efforts to re-establish the ferry link between Yarmouth Nova Scotia and the United States.
Bo-Lennart THORBJÖRNSSON
After gaining a B. Sc. in Ba and Econ at Lund University in 1972, he joined Lion Ferry AB, and was three years later promoted to Marketing Manager. In 1978, he became International Passenger Manager for Lion Ferry’s five European routes and markets. In 1981, he moved to DFDS Helsingborg as Line Manager and became after two years Managing Director of DFDS in Hamburg, Germany, where restructuring led to the company becoming profitable again. Continuing with DFDS, at HQ Copenhagen, in 1984, he became Group Director and head of DFDS Seaways’ six European routes. In the year 2000, he was appointed CEO and Managing Director of DFDS Group Executive Board, again based in Copenhagen. After seventeen years working away from his family Monday-Friday, he decided to leave DFDS and instead work as a Management Consultant based in Halmstad. BOLT CONSULTING, founded in 2002 and fully owned by Bo-Lennart is, with his European senior advisory team a major management adviser to the ferry shipping industry. Bo-Lennart has also experience as chairman and board member of several European shipping and travel companies. Finally, Bo-Lennart is the co- founder and organiser of the annual “Ferry Shipping Conference” onboard.
Wilco VAN DER LINDEN
Wilco van der Linden is Director of Business Development in Wärtsilä Ship Power Solutions for the Merchant, Cruise and Ferry industry. He is involved in innovative solutions in this segment, such as LNG and hybrid-electric powering, advanced propulsion and condition-based maintenance systems. Wilco graduated as a naval architect in the Netherlands in 1978 and held various positions in design, project engineering and sales in the Dutch shipbuilding industry. From 1995 to 2003 he was the Commercial Director of Van der Giessen-de Noord shipyard, at which time many successful Cruise Ferries, passenger- and merchant ships were built. Wilco is a member of the DNV Ferry Committee. He is also chairman of the Interferry Regulatory Committee and has been a delegate at IMO-MEPC sessions since 2009.
Ruben WANSINK
Ruben Wansink, working for Saint-Gobain since 2003, is Marketing and Business Development Manager for Saint-Gobain Marine Applications, this group consists of 8 international Saint-Gobain companies that cooperate with Halton from Finland. This innovative group is a supplier of high performance building materials for the shipbuilding, oil and gas marine industry. Ruben was born in The Netherlands and raised at the Algarve coast of Portugal on the family camping site, here the basis for travelling, multiple cultures and the ocean was born. Graduated as Engineer in Building Management at the University of Engineering and Science, in Tilburg, The Netherlands. He started his career at Vetrotech Saint-Gobain, as fire engineer for the Fire resistant safety glass department and quickly moved on as global sales manager marine.
The Saint-Gobain group was founded in 1665 and has consistently demonstrated its ability to invent products that improve quality of life. As one of the top 100 industrial groups in the world, Saint-Gobain continues to deploy its technological know-how, often in partnership with the most prestigious universities and laboratories. Saint-Gobain is has a large commitment to innovation, for example 20% of Saint-Gobain products did not exist five years ago.
Oliver WEISS
Partner Ince & Co LLP
A University of Cambridge graduate and working in the City of London since 1974, Oliver has been a partner with well-known maritime lawyers, Ince & Co LLP, since 1983. He has represented ferry interests in their newbuilding projects and dealt with disputes concerning the marshalling at traffic terminals, competition issues, delayed delivery of newbuildings, whether conventional ferries or fast craft.
Oliver managed Ince & Co’s Piraeus office and therefore has a deep understanding of the world’s largest shipowning community. Further complicating matters is that he is half French and bilingual. Whilst possibly confused at Twickenham, he has an understanding of the different approaches to legal problems under these conflicting legal systems.
Erik ØSTERGAARD
Erik Østergaard is CEO of the Trade and Employers Organization Danish Transport and Logistics (DTL) representing around 2.300 Danish transport and logistics companies.
Erik Østergaard has more than 30 years of experience in senior management positions in the shipping-, ferry- and transportation industry. Erik Østergaard has previously worked for Scandlines AG, Danish State Railways, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BR Marine Consult A/S and Shipping Company Knud I. Larsen I/S.
Originally trained in shipping, Erik Østergaard later studied international economics and management at some of the worlds leading business schools such as IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland and Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago, USA from where he earned a degree as Master of Business Administration.
Erik Østergaard has held and holds office as a non-executive chairman or board member of a number of companies in the shipping and transportation sector, numerous government committees and boards of trade organizations.
In 2004 Mr. Østergaard was bestowed the Knights Cross of the Order of Dannebrog
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