conference

SPEAKERS
Captain Christopher Hearn

Captain Christopher Hearn

Marine Institute of Memorial University

Confirmed

Q

Captain Christopher Hearn

Director, Centre for Marine Simulation, Marine Institute of Memorial University

Member of the Nautical Institute (MNI) and current President of the Master Mariners of Canada, Captain Christopher Hearn began his career after graduating from the Marine Institute’s Nautical Science Program. He quickly moved his way through the marine ranks and certification to Master Mariner and obtained command of several types of vessels in the deep sea and subsea sectors as well as operations in the Arctic.

First coming ashore as a Marine Superintendent of operations with companies engaged in subsea cable laying and repair, seismic work, and general cargo operations, he was involved with resolving issues dealing with Flag state and Class and identifying training methods for improving competency among crews.

Captain Hearn returned to the Marine Institute in 2008 as the Director of the Centre for Marine Simulation. The Centre is the largest and most comprehensive marine simulation facility in North America and covers an entire range of training, industrial assistance, and research and development capabilities through the use of simulation technology. CMS’s particular areas of expertise include the modeling and simulation of harsh maritime environments including navigation in ice, simulation of offshore oil and gas operations, and port design evaluation and operational risk analysis.

Captain Duke Snider

Captain Duke Snider

Martech Polar

Confirmed

Q

Captain David (Duke) Snider FNI, AFNI

Captain David (Duke) Snider is the CEO and Principal Consultant of Martech Polar Consulting Ltd, a privately-owned company providing global ice navigation services and support for polar shipping, ice navigation, polar research, expedition logistics support and ice related consulting services. Martech Polar provides Ice Navigators on cargo, research, cruise and expedition ships and private yachts in ice covered waters worldwide. Martech Polar is heavily involved in assisting owners and operators to meet Polar Code requirements through completion of Operational Assessments and Polar Waters Operations Manuals. Martech Polar has been recently recognized by International Transport News Maritime and Shipping Awards 2018 as “Best Ice Pilotage & Navigation Specialists – North America” and by CV Magazine’s Canadian Business Awards 2019 as “Best Polar Ice Navigation & Pilotage Specialists 2019”.

Captain Snider is a Master Mariner with over 40 years at sea, operating many vessels in a broad variety of ice regimes in Arctic and Antarctic Polar Regions, the Baltic, Great Lakes and Eastern North American waters.  He has served onboard Naval, Commercial and Coast Guard Vessels. He retired from Canadian Coast Guard service as Regional Director Fleet Western Region in 2013 to run his own company. He remains active at sea, holding both Polar Waters Advanced Certificate of Proficiency and The Nautical Institute Ice Navigator Level 2 Certification. As a marine consultant he has extensive experience in authoring and contributing to numerous shipping feasibility studies, as expert witness in marine insurance arbitrations and cases as well as marine industry safety and risk reviews.

As an Ice Navigator Captain Snider has been the author of and contributed to many ice regime shipping feasibility studies as well as numerous papers on ice navigation. The second edition of Captain Snider’s authoritative book Polar Ship Operations was published by the Nautical Institute in 2018 is soon to be released in a Spanish edition.  He holds a Bachelor of Maritime Studies degree granted by Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal in 2011 for his many years as a member of The Nautical Institute dedicated to improving safety at sea, with particular focus on improving standards of ice navigation. His honours also include the Canadian Coast Guard Exemplary Service Medal and the United States Coast Guard Antarctic Service Medal. He was recently awarded the Maritime Museum of British Columbia Beaver Medal for outstanding achievements in polar navigation including roles in promoting internationally recognized ice navigation qualifications.

Captain Snider is the Past President of The Nautical Institute and now sits on the Institutes Executive Board. He is Chair of the Ice Navigator Working Group which is tasked with administering The Nautical Institute’s global standard for Ice Navigator Training and Certification Standard. He is a member of The Nautical Institute’s NGO delegation to IMO on matters of ice and polar navigation.

Milton Baron

Milton Baron

International Maritime Organization

Confirmed

Q

Captain Milton Baron

Capt. Milton Baron is a Technical Officer of the Maritime Training and Human Element section, Maritime Safety Division, in the International Maritime Organization (IMO). dealing with training and certification of seafarers under STWC Convention. He is currently responsible for the implementation of technical cooperation programmes related to training of seafarers and fishing vessel personnel and in particular with the implementation of the IMO’s Polar Code Training Programme.  Most recently, he implemented six regional train-the-trainer workshop for seafarers on ships operating in polar waters in the Artic and Antarctic regions.  Capt. Baron is a former officer in the Colombian Navy and was the former Director of the maritime transport control centre at the General Maritima Directorate, Bogota Colombia.

Captain Richard Marriott

Captain Richard Marriott

The Nautical Institute

Confirmed

Q

Captain Rich Marriott

Captain Rich Marriott is an experienced shipmaster and ice navigator. He holds a Master Mariner with 35 plus years of experience at sea on fishing vessels, tugs, government vessels and is an experience ice navigator. Rich is a hawse-piper completing all his trade qualifications by self study starting his career as seaman to his current role as Commanding Officer aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfred Grenfell. Rich was involved in the Canadian Arctic discoveries of Sir John Franklin’s ship’s Erebus and Terror in 2014, 2016, respectively.

Rich is an associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute and is the Chair of Nautical Institute of British Columbia. Rich also servers as Aides-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia – Her Honour Janet Austin. Rich is a true west coaster growing up in Victoria and sailing for most of his career on the BC Coast and Western Arctic.

Lasse Rabenstein

Lasse Rabenstein

Drift Noise GmbH

Confirmed

Q

Lasse Rabenstein

Lasse Rabenstein is a skilled professional specializing in polar and maritime information solutions. With a strong background in geophysics and remote sensing of the cryosphere, he has led various R&D projects and gained hands-on experience in Arctic environments.

As the Founder and CEO of Drift Noise GmbH, Rabenstein has successfully established a profitable business focused on selling environmental consulting services for polar ventures. His expertise in remote sensing and the polar regions contributes to the development of innovative information solutions.

Rabenstein holds a PhD in airborne sea-ice thickness measurements in the Arctic. Prior to establishing his company, he worked as a Lecturer in the Applied Geophysics Group at ETH Zurich, contributing to advancements in geophysical measurement techniques for monitoring the cryosphere.

Lasse Rabenstein continues to make significant contributions to the field, utilizing his expertise in polar and maritime information solutions. Through his entrepreneurial endeavors, he plays an active role in driving innovative solutions for polar ventures, aiming to shape the future of information management in these challenging environments.

John Lloyd

John Lloyd

The Nautical Institute

Confirmed

Q

John Lloyd FNI CMMar

Captain John Lloyd has been Chief Executive of The Nautical Institute since May 2017 having formerly been Chief Operating Officer.  

Previously he was Professor, Maritime Training at the Australian Maritime College (AMC).  In 2014 he inaugurated a new maritime college in Angola following a two-year development programme developed in conjunction with the City of Glasgow College and Sonangol Shipping.

Prior to this he held appointments as: Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu Maritime College in Santo, Vanuatu; and senior posts at Flagship Training Limited and Warsash Maritime Centre.

John is a Master Mariner and served as a Marine Pilot in Namibia from 1994 – 1995.  He is a Master of Business Administration, a Freeman of the (UK) Honourable Company of Master Mariners a Younger Brother of Trinity House and a Chartered Master Mariner.

He travels extensively representing the work of The Nautical Institute and sharing his passion for safer shipping and professionalism in the maritime sector.

His ambition is to grow the membership and influence of The Nautical Institute as the leading professional body for mariners.  In doing so he Chairs the Human Element Industry Group of NGOs from the IMO and works on initiatives to develop the Institute’s contribution to professional standards.

Patrick Marchesseau

Patrick Marchesseau

Ponant

Confirmed

Q

Captain Patrick Marchesseau

Captain Patrick MARCHESSEAU is an experienced shipmaster of 19 years as master, including 12 years in polar region (Arctic & Antarctica). He was born in France, he graduated from the French Merchant Marine Academy of Marseille and he studied as well at the United States Merchant Marine Academy of Kings Point, New York. In 1998, he got the Master certificate of Ocean Seagoing Vessel.

He started his career as officer onboard passenger’s vessel in 1993 and he got promoted as master in 2003.
He is working for PONANT, a French expedition cruise company since 2003.

In 2008, Captain MARCHESSEAU was master of the sailing vessel “LE PONANT”, when she was hijacked by Somali pirates, during one week.
Between 2010 & 2011, he was the captain of the MS “Turanor Planetsolar”, the 1st solar- powered boat ever to circumnavigate the globe.
Sailing as master in Antarctica Peninsula and Svalbard, East & West Greenland, Baffin & Ellesmere Island, North West & North East Passage, he got the Polar Advanced certificate & Qualified Ice Navigator (Transport Canada).

Captain MARCHESSEAU followed the construction in Norway of the PC2 Icebreaker “Le Commandant Charcot” and he is presently master of this vessel.

Captain MARCHESSEAU’s personal awards include the Medal of “Chevalier of the Légion of Honour” & Medal of “Chevalier of the Mérite Maritime ».

 

Courtney Legault

Courtney Legault

Fednav

Confirmed

Q

Courtney Legault

Courtney joined Fednav in 2013. After an initial posting in Risk Management, in 2015 she transferred to the Arctic operations department. In 2020, she was made Manager of Arctic Operations and is responsible for the day-to-day commercial activities of Fednav’s icebreaking fleet. In addition, she manages the bulk carrier export operations for the Baffinland Iron Mines project. Courtney holds an MBA from Concordia University.

James Bond

James Bond

American Bureau of Shipping

Confirmed

Q

James Bond

Based in Ottawa, Canada, James is Director Polar Research and Ice Class Ships with the American Bureau of Shipping. James has worked in the marine and offshore industries for 30+ years, primarily in the fields of structural design and analysis and Rules development and Regulatory oversight. Involvement in Polar shipping and Arctic offshore exploration has been a theme throughout his career. James represented the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) at the IMO on Polar Code, was a member of the IACS project team that updated the Polar Class structures rules, chaired the IACS Expert Group for Polar Code and works with the Arctic Council’s Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) group. James directs work at ABS’ Harsh Environment Technology Center. He is a register Professional Engineer in Ontario, Canada and a Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

Sampo Viheriälehto

Sampo Viheriälehto

ABB Marine Finland

Confirmed

Q

Sampo Viheriälehto, Master Mariner

Sales Manager at ABB Marine Finland

Mr. Sampo Viheriälehto, a Master Mariner, BSc in Nautical Sciences. Viheriälehto currently works as a Sales Manager at ABB Global Marine Propulsion in Helsinki, Finland. In his current position in the ABB Ice Team his responsibilities include the sales and business development of propulsion systems for large high ice class icebreakers and ice-going vessels. Viheriälehto has an extensive experience in icebreaking, ice management and offshore operations. In his previous position Viheriälehto as a Chartering Manager, was responsible for the chartering and sales operations of the Finnish Icebreaker fleet. His most recent operational position was an icebreaking and seismic expedition in North-East Greenland during 2015-2017. During his 15 years of sailing the high seas, Mr. Viheriälehto operated both conventional and Azimuth propulsion icebreakers around the world, in the Arctic and in the Baltics.

 


Sampo Viheriälehto
Sales Manager
Global Marine Propulsion

ABB Oy
Merenkulkijankatu 1
00980, Helsinki, Finland
Phone: +358 50 335 8538
abb.com

Jack Gallagher

Jack Gallagher

Hammurabi Consulting

Confirmed

Q

Jack Gallagher

Jack Gallagher, a Master Mariner, enjoyed a twenty-two year career with the Canadian Coast Guard gathering a broad range of operational and management experience.  For the past twenty-four years Jack has run Hammurabi Consulting, an international practice based in Halifax.  The spectrum of work has included high level policy and legislation development, risk assessment and mitigation, auditing against international standards, development and delivery of bespoke training and operational level guidance.  Captain Gallagher has been an adjunct instructor at the Center for Marine Simulation and a guest lecturer at several universities and maritime schools in Canada, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Youssef Mani

Youssef Mani

Canadian Coast Guard

Confirmed

Q

Youssef Mani

Youssef Mani joined Canadian Coast Guard, Arctic Region as Assistant Commissioner in January 2023.

 Prior to joining the Canadian Coast Guard, Assistant Commissioner Mani held a number of senior management positions in the Canadian Public Service both in the regions and in the National Capital where he demonstrated strong leadership. He has built a reputation for developing programs and designing new business models in a variety of work environments.

Between 2010 and 2017, he held the position of Regional Director for the Quebec Region as well as the position of Senior National Director of Operations for CORCAN – Correctional Service of Canada Special Operating Agency. In 2017, he relocated to Charlottetown, PEI to join the Department of Veterans Affairs as Senior Director Human Resource Strategies and Program Design.

In 2020, Assistant Commissioner Mani was appointed to the position of Director General in charge of HR Operations within the Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Assistant Commissioner Mani is a graduate of the National Security Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. He also holds a Post-MBA in Financial Services from the University of Quebec in Montreal, and an MBA from Sherbrook University and a Lean Leadership Certificate from the University of Ottawa.

Desmond Raymond

Desmond Raymond

Transport Canada

Confirmed

Q

Desmond Raymond

Regional Director Marine Safety and Security, Prairie and Northern Region, Transport Canada

Des Raymond grew up in Newfoundland and has been involved in the marine field since obtaining his Bos’n ticket at 17 in 1988 while a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. After obtaining his diploma in Naval Architecture from the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1996 and starting his career as a naval architect with Zodiac SA du France in Vancouver the day after his final exam, he has worked in both the private and public sectors in the marine, civil engineering, management and executive leadership fields.

Since joining Transport Canada as an executive in 2009 he has served as the Regional Director of Marine Safety and Security for the Prairie and Northern Region (2009-17 and present ), Pacific Region (2016) and Atlantic Region (2021-22) as well as serving as the Senior Advisor and Arctic Liaison for the Oceans Protection Plan (2017-2020) where he was responsible for mobilizing partnerships for 30+ projects throughout Inuit Nunangat and was also a member of the Government of Canada’s negotiation team that partnered with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in negotiating and creating Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area in 2019 – the largest national marine conservation area in the world. At present in his role as RD for PNR region he leads a team of 40+ professionals in ensuring oversight for marine safety and security throughout the Canadian Arctic in partnership with all of Transport Canada’s clients, partners and stakeholders.

Outside of work he is a lucky husband and proud father and artist – both on canvass, on the ice and golf course ☺

Captain Michele Schallip

Captain Michele Schallip

United States Coast Guard

Confirmed

Q

Michele L. Schallip

Captain
United States Coast Guard Captain Schallip is the Commanding Officer of USCGC Healy, the United States’ largest polar icebreaker. She leads the 84-member crew in conducting high latitude oceanographic research in support of national security and international scientific priorities in Alaskan and Arctic waters. Additionally, Healy provides a capable platform for supporting other missions in the polar regions such as logistics, search and rescue, ship escort, environmental protection, and enforcement of laws and treaties. 

Captain Schallip reports to USCGC Healy having served as the Special Assistant to the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. She has completed five afloat tours, including Deck Watch Officer in USCGC Boutwell, a 387-ft high endurance cutter; plankowning Commanding Officer in USCGC Cobia, an 87-ft patrol boat in Mobile, AL; Executive Officer in the USCGC Maple, a 225-ft sea going buoy tender in Sitka, AK, Commanding Officer in USCGC Spar, a 225-ft sea going buoy tender in Kodiak, AK, and most recently as Executive Officer in USCGC Healy. Staff tours include Senior Controller, Seventeenth Coast Guard District (Alaska) Command Center in Juneau, Alaska; Operations Officer, Vessel Traffic Service, Sector San Francisco, CA; Chief of the Executive Staff for the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship (CG-5) in Washington, D.C.; Chief, Waterways Management Branch for the Thirteenth Coast Guard District (Pacific Northwest) in Seattle, WA; and as Special Assistant to the Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

A native of Neebish Island, MI, Captain Schallip is a graduate of Officer Candidate School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University; a Master of Public Administration from Grand Valley State University; and a Master of Arts, with Distinction, in National Security and Strategic Studies, from the U.S. Naval War College. She was a Fellow in the 2022-2023 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Program on Foreign Politics, International Relations, and the National Interest. Captain Schallip is a 1600 gross ton near coastal merchant marine master and has held a commercial license since 1996.

Shane Sadoway

Shane Sadoway

Canadian Coast Guard

Confirmed

Q

Shane Sadoway

Shane Sadoway is the A/Director, Navigational Programs and Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Arctic Region.

Shane is a Master Mariner with over 30 years of leadership experience. His interest in ships began in sea cadets and he became an instructor in the Navy Reserves working on training vessels over an 11 year period. During this time, he completed his degree at Université Laval, majoring in languages. He complemented his studies with a Diploma of Nautical Sciences from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

 His commercial career included roll-on/roll-off, passenger sailing ships, yachts, container ships, tug and barge, and refrigerated cargo ships.  He spent almost nine years with Northern Transportation Company Limited, most recently as the Marine Manager Arctic Operations. 

 From 2015 until 2022 Shane worked for Transport Canada, primarily as the Manager of Marine Safety for Prairie and Northern Region, but also as Manager of Port State Control and Compliance and Enforcement for Pacific Region

Alana Swain

Alana Swain

Transport Canada

Confirmed

Q

Alana Swain

Manager, Marine Safety, Transport Canada – Prairie and Northern Region, Government of Canada

Alana Swain is a graduate of the Canadian Coast Guard College.  She has 20 years of experience working in the Canadian Arctic onboard CCGS Des Groseilliers, CCGS Pierre Radisson, CCGS Amundsen and CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier conducting icebreaking, search and rescue, resupply, and science operations.

In her current roll, she has worked with the Arctic Council’s Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME), and Inuit Associations throughout the entire Canadian Arctic.  Alana leads many files dedicated to increasing safety and service to those living and/or working in the Canadian Arctic.

Captain Andre L. LeGoubin

Captain Andre L. LeGoubin

DNA Marine USA LLC

Confirmed

Q

Captain Andre L. LeGoubin MNM MA FNI

Master Mariner – Underway Ship-to-Ship Mooring Master / Pilot
President – The Nautical Institute
Owner – DNA Marine USA LLC offering expert witness services and consultancy to the Maritime Industry

André is currently employed as a Mooring Master in the lightering trade, undertaking underway ship-to-ship transfers of oil, offshore in the USA and South America, having decided to return to sea in the summer of 2012 after over eight years ashore, working as a Marine Consultant in Houston, Texas.

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

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

In 2009 he achieved a Pass with Distinction, MA Work Based Learning Studies (Marine Accident Investigation), from Middlesex University, London and he was elected a Fellow of the Nautical Institute in the same year. Following on from his research degree, André wrote the book Mentoring at Sea – The 10 minute challenge which was published by the Nautical Institute in December 2012 and in October 2013 he was awarded the British Merchant Navy Medal for services to the maritime industry and The Nautical Institute.

In 2013 on request of some former clients, Andre founded DNA Marine USA LLC to offer his services as expert witness and consultant based on his over 40 year’s experience in the maritime industry.

In July 2022 he was elected President of The Nautical Institute.

André and his Wife live in Florida, USA and have three adult children, all settled in various parts of the US.

David Rivest

David Rivest

Desgagnés

Confirmed

Q

David Rivest

David Rivest is a seasoned leader in the maritime transportation and logistics sector, with a degree in business administration from Bishop’s University – Williams School of Business. He currently leads two divisions of Desgagnés, a maritime transportation and logistics company: Desgagnés Transarctik, which specializes in Arctic shipping and resupply services for community and mining sectors, and Desgagnés Logistik, which provides stevedoring, terminal handling, and value-added services for which Mr. Rivest played a key role in the acquisition and integration stages. He is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of both divisions’ visions, missions, goals, and objectives, as well as building and maintaining strategic partnerships, managing the overall performance, and pursing new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Mr. Rivest has held various senior management positions in the maritime industry before joining Desgagnés in 2019. He worked for QSL, a leading stevedoring service provider, where he participated in organizational transformations, expansion projects, and port terminal management across Canada. He gained extensive knowledge of the supply chains for various industries such as steel, aluminium, paper products, agricultural products, and mining. He also served as the General Manager of Watson Transport, a transportation company that specialized in hauling heavy equipment and over-dimensional cargoes across North America and Mexico. His leadership and management skills are enhanced by his military background as a member of the Voltigeurs de Québec light infantry regiment, combined with over 15 years of experience in business development, operations, and business process improvement.

Mr. Rivest resides in the Montreal area with his wife and son. He is a passionate sportsman who has achieved feats in various sports such as martial arts, kayaking, long distance triathlons, and ultra marathons.

Dermot Loughnane

Dermot Loughnane

Tactical Marine Solutions Ltd

Confirmed

Q

Dermot Loughnane

Dermot Loughnane brings a wealth of maritime expertise, combining 15 years of seafaring experience with 20 years in various shore-based roles within the shipping and oil and gas industries. As a seasoned Master Mariner, he also holds an MBA and a postgraduate diploma in shipping management.

His executive tenure includes leadership roles as Managing Director of Teekay Shipping Australia and CEO of Skaugen PetroTrans, alongside managing Petro Canada’s marine department.

His recent projects included chartering and operating RRS Ernest Shackleton in Canada during 2017 and 2018, aiding the Crystal Serenity’s Northwest Passage journey. Currently, he oversees the operations of MPSV Botnica and MSV Fennica on behalf of Baffinland in support of the Mary River mine project and serves as the principal icebreaking adviser for the Steensby Inlet project.

Loughnane has extensive experience with Arctic operations, both hands-on as an ice pilot and in the management of ice-class vessels. He now leads Tactical Marine Solutions Ltd., a marine management firm adept in designing and evaluating shipping systems, acquiring specialized vessels, and ensuring their safe, economical, and effective management.
Tactical Marine Solutions is dedicated to providing superior solutions for intricate shipping challenges, catering to shipping companies, resource industry marine departments, research institutes, and governmental bodies.

His contribution to the maritime sector is also marked by his past service as a board member of the Australian Shipowners Association, the Australian Maritime Defense Council, and Shipping Australia, as well as his chairmanship at the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.

Captain Tony Patterson

Captain Tony Patterson

Virtual Marine Training

Confirmed

Q

Captain Anthony (Tony) Patterson

Capt. Anthony (Tony) Patterson is the Managing Director, Virtual Marine Training and based in St. John’s, NL.  He is a member of the Canadian delegation at IMO; Chaired the working group that developed Model Courses 7.11 & 7.12, and was the lead consultant for the IMO train-the-trainer workshops for Polar Code instructors.  Most recently, he Chaired the international working group that reviewed the training regime implemented as part of the Polar Code.  Capt. Patterson is a former officer in the Canadian Coast Guard and was the former Director of the Centre for Marine Simulation at the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Alexis Dorais

Alexis Dorais

Fednav

Confirmed

Q

Alexis Dorais

Ice Services, Fednav 

Alexis Dorais is manager of Ice Services at Fednav Limited. A beholder of a Master of Research in geography from Université de Montréal, he has been part of the Ice Service team for eleven years. Alexis’ team supports maritime operations in ice infested waters, including Fednav’s fleet of icebreaking bulk carriers that navigate year-round in Canadian polar waters. He is actively involved in the development of IceNav, an ice navigation system used by many types of vessels operating in icy waters worldwide.

Yumihiko Kobayashi

Yumihiko Kobayashi

MOL

Confirmed

Q

Yumihiko Kobayashi

Yumihiko Kobayashi is a maritime professional with a specialization in research vessel. After studying at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, he began working in 2010 for a company that operate research vessels for the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). His role as a navigation officer and Marine SI provided him with valuable experience in ocean research work.

In 2023, Kobayashi joined Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), where he became involved in JAMSTEC’s Arctic research vessel project. His responsibilities included overseeing construction, preparing for operation, and devising crew training plans.

MOL will operate Japan’s first research vessel with ice-breaking capabilities, a critical asset for JAMSTEC’s Arctic research.

Rob Hindley

Rob Hindley

Aker Arctic

Confirmed

Q

Rob Hindley

Rob is currently Head of Machinery & Structures at Aker Arctic. His role involves coordinating machinery systems, structural, and deck outfitting disciplines as well as consultancy work supporting the practical application of Arctic technology to new, and often novel, ice-going ships. In addition, Rob works in a project management role for early concept and tender design projects as well as acting as structures discipline lead across the design development process.

Previously Rob was Global Principal Specialist for Arctic technology at Lloyd’s Register, where he held overall technical authority for ice class, winterization and implementation of the Polar Code. This included an assignment representing IACS at the IMO during the development of the Polar Code. Rob has worked in Canada, the UK, the Middle East, and in South Korea in roles involving ship surveying, classification rule development and consultancy. He is a Chartered Engineer and holds a master’s degree in Naval Architecture from Newcastle University. He is currently undertaking postgraduate study at Aalto University with a focus on operational risks for Arctic shipping.

In brief:
Rob is currently Head of Machinery & Structures at Aker Arctic. In addition to managing a team of machinery, structures and deck outfitting specialists , Rob works in a project management role for icebreaker early concept and tender design projects as well as acting as structures discipline lead across the design development process.

Captain Maciej Krok

Captain Maciej Krok

Western Marine Institute

Confirmed

Q

Captain Maciej Krok

Captain Maciej Krok is an experienced shipmaster of 26 years as Master. Immigrated to Canada from Poland, where he graduated from Merchant Navy Academy in Gdynia. He holds engineering degree in Sea Transportation and master’s degree in Nautical Studies from the aforementioned institution. His sea going experience includes work on general cargo/semi-container vessels trading between Europe, Middle and Far East. Also work on factory fishing vessels on the west coast of the United States and Bering Sea. Majority of his 39-sea going career Captain Krok was employed by BC Ferries on numerous routes and vessels.

Currently he holds the position of Chief Instructor of Simulated Electronic Navigation at the Western Maritime Institute in Ladysmith, British Columbia. 

Captain Krok is also a certified ISM, ISPS and MLC Lead Auditor.

Russell Davison

Russell Davison

Seaspan

Confirmed

Q

Russell Davison

Russell joined Seaspan in 2016, where he led the design of the Canadian Coast Guard’s Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel, which is currently under construction at Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards. In his current role as Vice President, Planning and Transformation, Russell is responsible for overseeing our critically important planning, scheduling, design-build and production control teams, and further strengthening our capacity for excellence and innovation. Russell is also responsible for our business transformation activities including the Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) team.

Prior to joining Seaspan, Russell was a seasoned engineer and business leader, with more than 15 years of experience in the defence industry across a variety of domains including maritime, land and aerospace. He started his career developing mission systems for military aircraft and has since been involved in the design and construction of land vehicles, surface ships and nuclear submarines.

Russell holds a Masters in Engineering from Loughborough University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering & Technology and a Chartered Engineer.

Commander Dave Barr

Commander Dave Barr

Royal New Zealand Navy

Confirmed

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Commander Dave Barr

Deputy Director Strategic Commitments (Regional), Strategic Commitments and Engagement Branch

Commander Dave Barr was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom in November 1981 and attended Dalriada Grammar School in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.

Dave commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) in July 2007 to begin his second naval career, after serving since September 2000 in the British Royal Navy (RN). During his seven years in the RN, he served in HM Ships COVENTRY, OCEAN, IRON DUKE, SABRE, SCIMITAR, RANGER, EXPLOIT, BITER and QUORN, as well as HM Submarines VENGEANCE, TALENT and TORBAY, the latter two as Navigating Officer.

Dave’s seagoing career in the RNZN commenced with his time in HMNZS ENDEAVOUR, and he has since served in HMNZ Ships RESOLUTION, TE KAHA, TE MANA and AOTEAROA.

Qualified as a Principal Warfare Officer and also a Royal Navy Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, he has  also served on various Maritime Battle Staffs for numerous multinational exercises around the globe.

In 2013 and 2014, he saw Operational Service in the Counter Piracy Task Force CTF 151 as first, the Operations Officer of HMNZS TE MANA in the Indian Ocean, and then in 2014 as the CTF 151 Chief Staff Officer-Operations (N3) role in the RNZN-led CTF 151 Command Team based in Bahrain –  during which time he studied for and obtained via distance learning a Masters of Science in Maritime Operations from Kingston University, London.

In 2018, Dave undertook the Singapore Armed Forces Command and Staff Course where he was placed top international student for his Navy-Term thesis on the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific region, which was recommended for academic publishing.

Promoted to Commander in 2019, Dave has held the roles of Inspector General (Navy), J35 at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand (responsible for New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed around the globe, as well as the COVID-19 response) and Commander of the Auckland-Region COVID-19 Task Unit.

In November 2021 Dave assumed the role of Executive Officer of the ice-capable replenishment tanker HMNZS AOTEAROA during which time the Ship undertook support to the Kingdom of Tonga after the eruption of the HungaTonga-Hunga-Ha’apai Volcano in January 2022. Immediately after, AOTEAROA deployed to the Ross Sea and McMurdo Station for its inaugural resupply mission.

Once the Ship returned to New Zealand, Dave assumed Command of AOTEAROA In March 2022 and deployed for six months to the Indo-Pacific, starting in Hawaii for Exercise RIMPAC 2022, then time in South and North East Asia, culminating in attendance at the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force’s 70th Anniversary Fleet Review in November 2022.

After 19 months in Command, Dave handed over Command of AOTEAROA in Singapore in October 2023 and commenced his current role as Deputy Director Strategic Commitments (Regional) in the Strategic Engagement and Commitments Branch of the New Zealand Defence Force Headquarters.

Dave lives in the Waiarapa Valley near Wellington, New Zealand, with his wife Kelly, and son James. His hobbies include playing golf (with a terrible  handicap), running, reading, amateur writing, cooking, judging American BBQ competitions and walking the family’s dogs, Rosie and Willow.

Tom Ekegren

Tom Ekegren

Steerprop

Confirmed

Q

Tom Ekegren

Arctic Segment Director

Tom Ekegren is a Master Mariner and Executive MBA with broad experience in icebreaking, Arctic, and offshore multi-purpose operations. He has served for several years both onboard icebreakers and in icebreaker management positions, including four years as Icebreaker Segment SVP.

In his current role as Arctic Segment Director at Steerprop, Tom is responsible for developing sales and lifecycle solutions for the company’s Arctic business area. His background gives him a shipowner’s perspective and understanding of future demands in the industry.

Dave Boldt

Dave Boldt

Marine Learning Systems

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Dave Boldt

Dave Boldt is a sales executive with Marine Learning Systems, a provider of software that supports the full breadth of maritime training and assessment, from effective knowledge transfer to live skills assessment. Dave is a licensed mariner who has work globally in many maritime sectors. He has spent his career both on-board vessels (as a navigation officer of various ranks) and onshore (working to improve safety at sea in a training capacity and consulting large sophisticated operators to improve navigation policy and procedures). While with Royal Caribbean, Dave pioneered their bridge-team training program, and was the lead for accident investigation across all brands. He has also helped design, build, and manage a simulation center for the cruise line. He now helps Marine Learning Systems clients transform their approach to learning and assessment.

RAdm Nigel Greenwood

RAdm Nigel Greenwood

Greenwood Maritime Solutions

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Captain Nigel S. Greenwood

 RAdm Nigel Greenwood, RCN (Ret’d), is a 37-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. He holds a BSc in Physics and Oceanography from RRMC and an MA in International Studies (with Distinction) from King’s College London. 

In the course of his military career, RAdm Greenwood served as a surface warfare officer, specializing in Navigation, Air-Control and Anti-Submarine Warfare. He held commands at ship, base, fleet and formation levels. During the 2010 centenary he was the Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. In his final appointment as Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, he was responsible for Canada’s western maritime defences, coordination of joint military response to domestic contingency operations in BC, and Search and Rescue over BC/Yukon and Canada’s Pacific approaches. 

Since retiring from the RCN, RAdm Greenwood has established Greenwood Maritime Solutions as a successful consultancy specializing in maritime risk assessment, security, operations research and emergency response planning. He is a licensed Security Consultant, bringing the strength of Harmonized Threat and Risk Assessment and other risk assessment methodologies to bear on his varied work. Clients to date include the Pacific Pilotage Authority, Transport Canada, the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Recently he has also conducted analytical studies for the Centre for Operations Research and Analysis/Defence Research and Development Canada (CORA/DRDC). 

RAdm Greenwood holds a current license as Master Mariner and is a seasonal Ice Navigator in Greenland/Canadian Arctic waters as an Associate of Martech Polar.

Shelly Chapelski

Shelly Chapelski

Norton Rose Fulbright

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Shelly Chapelski

Shelley Chapelski is the head of the transport industry group and the shipping (maritime) law group at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada.

Shelley’s practice encompasses both transactional and litigation aspects of maritime law. She drafts and advises on a wide range of charter parties, contracts of carriage, towage agreements, moorage contracts, insurance policies and other agreements that arise in maritime and transportation law, including ice pilot (navigator) contracts. She also advises many users and suppliers of marine services on their obligations, rights and liabilities under Canadian maritime law, including on the carriage of dangerous goods and bunkering operations.

Shelley has handled hundreds of casualties, including collisions, terminal damage cases, cargo losses, pollution events and passenger injury and death claims. She has dealt with dozens of vessel arrests and many maritime liens and limitation of liability proceedings.

She has the good fortune of being recognized by her clients and colleagues as one of the leading maritime lawyers in Canada (Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Best Lawyers amongst other ranking agencies).

Shelley is a former President of the Canadian Maritime Law Association and chairs its Marine Insurance Committee. She frequently meets with government representatives regarding the development of maritime law matters in Canada.

Shelley has a particular interest in Canadian Arctic shipping and its unique challenges, having worked with a number of clients who operate in that region.

John Taylor

John Taylor

Steamship Mutual

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John Taylor

John is Head of Loss Prevention for Steamship Mutual. John is a former Master Mariner and prior to joining Steamship Mutual in 2016, he spent 37 years with BP, 19 of which were spent sailing on their oil and gas tankers before coming ashore in 1997, where he was involved in operating BP’s oil and gas terminals, as well as FPSO operations off West Africa. In his role as Head of Loss Prevention at Steamship Mutual, John and his team provide technical support and guidance to the Club’s underwriting and claims teams as well as their global membership. John also sits on the IG Ship Technical Committee.

Chris McGuire

Chris McGuire

McGuire Maritime PTY Ltd

Confirmed

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Chris McGuire

Chris is an experienced Marine Consultant and Ship Broker renowned for delivering top-tier professional services across Australia and worldwide. With a steadfast commitment to risk management in the maritime domain, Chris empowers organizations to identify and navigate potential risks seamlessly.

 Specializing in ensuring maritime risk comprehension and mitigation for global enterprises operating in Australia, Chris brings unparalleled expertise in operational excellence and industry best practices to every project. His approach is marked by pragmatic guidance, meticulous attention to detail, and comprehensive evidence-based strategies, all geared towards optimizing risk management and enhancing operational efficiency.

 Following a seagoing career, Chris has established himself as a subject matter expert in Antarctic Shipping, Bulk cargoes and LNG operations. Chris has cultivated an unparalleled understanding of these industries and is a preferred broker for the Australian Antarctic Division with whom he has had a relationship since 2003.

 Chris utilises his specialised knowledge to offer tailored advice that aligns seamlessly with current sectoral practices, solidifying his reputation as a trusted specialist in maritime consulting and brokerage.

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