Regional maritime conference unveils 2015 speaker line-up

35 global experts head to UAE capital as biennial Offshore Marine & Workboats conference presents most expansive agenda to date

20 September 2015: Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats Middle East - the region’s leading event for the workboat and offshore marine industries – has announced the speaker line-up for its 2015 event, which takes place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 5-7 October.

A total of 35 international experts representing all aspects of the industry will headline the three-day conference agenda, which provides a platform for maritime professionals to discuss the latest techniques to address the increasingly multifaceted offshore marine projects taking place in a variety of remote and shallow water locations and the broad range of complex onshore projects to support this. 

“This year’s event once again brings the region’s key decision-makers together for a frank and thorough evaluation of the industry as it stands today. We welcome an interactive three days of discussion and debate, and our speaker line-up for this year will offer a rounded collection of global experts who each have invaluable insight to bring to the table, that will hopefully get our delegates thinking as well as inspire and educate them in their own business environment,” said Vanessa Stephens, Managing Director, Middle East & Indian Subcontinent, Seatrade.   

Eminent speakers include Dr Naji Abi-Aad, COO of Beirut-based oil company, Petroleb. His 30 years’ experience has seen him involved in extensive consultations, conferences and oil and gas studies. He has also served in senior advisory roles to the Qatar government and is the author of over 80 reports and studies on Middle East energy issues, as well as a book on security of petroleum supply from the region.

Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding Company CEO, Dr Khaled Al Mazrouei, a firm advocate of entrepreneurship as a path to economic prosperity, will also address the 200 expected delegates. Dr Al Mazrouei’s diverse experience in the transport sector includes senior airport operational management roles and he was also the founding president of a UAE based special interest group established to support the implementation of green initiatives in the aviation, logistics and transport industry.

A recognised international expert in the field of shipping market research, Maria Bertzeletou, Senior Shipping Analyst with Greece’s Golden Destiny shipbrokers, will share her industry insight garnered from more than eight years microeconomic and macroeconomic market analysis. A go-to industry resource for international media such as Bloomberg and Thomson Reuter’s, she is also a familiar face on Greek television where she presents a weekly shipping review for the SBC economic and business channel.

Issues facing industry growth in the region will be addressed by several speakers including Arnstein Eknes, Segment Director – Special Ships, Business Development, DNV GL. With more than 20 years experience in numerous technical and management positions, Eknes is an expert on regional and international cultural, regulatory and operational variations.

Maritime and aviation finance expert Nijoe Joseph, from Stephenson Harwood Middle East, advises international and local companies on corporate, commercial, trade and transportation laws in the GCC and India. He will deliver a unique perspective on finance hot topics for the maritime sector, drawing on his experience in high profile financings involving including advising quasi-governmental organisations on the construction and financing of marine and offshore vessels, rigs and other specialised maritime assets.

Drewry Maritime Advisors consultant and certified marine engineer Suchint Miglani will bring Asia-wide insight to the conference line-up, having worked in various capacities across different shipping and logistics-related companies for over a decade. A specialist in areas such as offshore shipping and asset valuations of sea-going vessels, he is intimately familiar with the petroleum logstics sector, thanks to hands-on experience on board crude oil tankers with Singapore’s AET Ship Management.

Finally, the importance of arbitration in the shipping industry will be tackled by Rania Tadros, Managing Partner, Energy & Shipping for Ince & Co. An acknowledged expert in the energy and offshore support service industry, she is closely involved with key players in the offshore support services arena.

The 2015 chapter will build on the success of the 2013 event, which generated US$850 million in onsite orders; welcomed almost 5,000 participants (a 46% increase over 2011) from 54 countries, 211 exhibiting companies and increased its floor space by 8% to nearly 4,000 square metres. The 2015 showcase has already sold 90% of the 4,680 square metres of exhibition space reserved this year, signing up nearly 200 exhibitors to date.