Conference Speakers 2022 backup

CEO

ADNOC Logistics & Services

Capt Abdulkareem Al Masabi is leading ADNOC Logistics &
Services, an ADNOC company formed in 2017 from three ADNOC
Group companies (ADNATCO-IRSHAD AND ESNAAD). Before assuming
his current role in April 2018, Captain Abdulkareem Al
Masabi was the Executive Vice-President of the Ports Unit at
Abu Dhabi Ports, where he was responsible for all of Abu
Dhabi Ports’ day-to-day operational activities. Prior to
this role, Al Masabi was the Vice President at Khalifa Port.
He joined Abu Dhabi Ports as Senior Operations Manager in
2009 with over 11 years’ experience in the shipping and
ports industry. Before joining Abu Dhabi Ports, he was
marine operations manager with the National Gas Shipping
Company, an ADNOC Group company. Before that, he was a
senior marine superintendent with Gulf Energy Maritime. For
the eight years before that, he was with NGSCO, where he
rose through the ranks on board the company’s LNG/oil
tankers, from third officer to master/chief officer, where
he provided operational leadership for the ports’ growth.
While there, he led the Khalifa Port to being named Port of
the Year in 2014 and 2015. He also was recognized as the
Outstanding VP/ EVP at the Abu Dhabi Award of Excellence in
2017.

CEO
ASYAD Shipping and Drydock Services

Dr. Ibrahim Al Nadhairi has undergone extensive executive training at INSEAD and is a UK qualified chief engineer with MBA and Ph.D. in Shipping and Logistics. Over 20 years of experience in leadership, business development, performance improvement, and change management.

Assigned as CEO of Oman Shipping Company and Oman Drydock Company working with the new
management in alignment with the ASYAD Group’s strategy to offer integrated and highly
efficient shipping services in a comprehensive marine offering that meetsthe Group’s aspirations of providing global markets with end-to-end logistics solutions.

Executive Director, Container Terminals

DP World UAE

Esam Khoori is the Executive Director of Container Terminals – DP World UAE; taking under him are four (4) Container Terminals with a total capacity of 24.1 million TEU and average throughput of 14 million TEU.

He joined DP World in 1995 as a Graduate Trainee in Mina Rashid’s Technical Department. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, he held key senior positions in Engineering, Procurement & Material Management and Container Terminal Operations.
Esam is a graduate of Aeronautical Engineering from Higher College of Technology in 1994. He successfully completed the Dubai Leadership Development Program from Wharton Business School in the United States and the Global Business Consortium program from the London Business School.

CEO, Maritime Cluster & SAFEEN Group
AD Ports Group

Global Tanker Segment Director
Lloyd’s Register

Nikolaos Michas currently has the role of Global Tanker Segment Director for Lloyds Register based in Dubai since June of 2022.

Before joining LR, he was working for another classification society for a period of 16 years. The last five years he was based in Greece with the role of Southeastern Europe and Middle East Regional Tanker Segment Director, he was also responsible for the management of Key Accounts and business development in the region.

He has also worked for the same Classification society in China for a period of 11 years in various areas in new construction roles, as well as in operational management roles. As a surveyor and site manager at various shipyards for a variety of newbuilding projects. Later as District Manager in north of China responsible for all operations at the district. In his last three years, he was based in Nanjing as QHSE & production Manager for central China having overview of newbuilding projects at over 20 shipyards.

At the beginning of his career, he worked as sea-going engineer and later as superintendent Engineer in shipping companies in Greece.

He holds a master’s degree of engineering for marine engineering and naval architecture from University of Newcastle upon Tyne as well as a 3rd engineer certificate and degree form Merchant Marine Academy in Greece.

He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Hertfordshire.

Mayor of Sparta, President of Capital Partners and former Deputy Minister of finance & foreign affairs
Greece

Mr. Petros Doukas has a Ph.D. in Economics from New York University. He studied Economics and International Relations at George Washington University (Bachelor of Arts), Management and Fiscal Relations at Columbia (MBA) and Economics at New York University (MA and Ph.D. in Economics). From 1979 to 1985 he worked as an Economist and Currency Analyst for Citibank in New York, and also as Foreign Exchange Exposure Management Advisor, Foreign Exchange Dealer, and Money Market Dealer. In 1986 he took over as Citibank Investment Banking Country Head and Country Treasurer for Greece, and in 1990 also took over as Country Head for the Institutional and Corporate Banking sectors. From August 1992 to October 1993 he was Deputy Minister of Finance in the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis, with the Public Debt and Public Assets among his responsibilities. In 1994 he returned to Citibank, and in 1996 he founded Capital Partners SA., which deals mainly in strategic partnerships and company takeovers and mergers. In March 2004 he was elected deputy for the Precinct of Attica and was appointed Deputy Minister for the Economy and Finance, Head of the General Accounting Office. His responsibilities included the formulation and implementation of the Budget, Central Government Debt & Operations, Government Security Auctions, Public Trusts, Loans and Bonds, the Public Corporation for Moveable Assets, Subsidy Programs and Management of Public Funds, the State Bursar’s and Payments Office (State Treasury), Fiscal Relations with the EU, Fiscal Validation of the Ministries, Prefectural Governments and Legal Entities under Public Statute and Civil Servants Pension Funds. In September 2007 he was re-elected MP for Attica and appointed Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy.

Director ,
Drewry Maritime Research

Navin has 18 years of extensive experience in various domains of maritime research and advisory. He has undertaken several research and advisory projects related to port development, port expansion, port traffic estimation, vessel valuations, offshore oil & gas, and offshore shipping projects. His area of expertise includes gas and offshore shipping. He has extensive knowledge of asset markets, exploration activities & shipping. Navin has advised multilateral financial institutions and shipping companies on financing and market entry strategies. Navin has an MBA from IMT, Ghaziabad. He is a keen observer of proliferation of technology, big data, and data analytics in shipping and maritime space.

Business Development Director Middle East & Africa
DNV

He is a Marine Engineer who started his career at sea and after sailing as a Chief Engineer joined DNV in 1995 at Bahrain. He started out as a Surveyor and a Lead Auditor for Quality and Safety Management system and later relocated to Singapore. As a Project Manager for Conversions in Singapore he was amongst the pioneers involved in shuttle tanker conversions & LNG Ships Life Extensions. He subsequently took on the role of Country manager for Indonesia & after a successful assignment there relocated back to Singapore. He established the Singapore Service Center where, as a Senior Principal Surveyor and Lead Auditor he streamlined customer support & enhanced efficiency by providing a single point of contact for all operational issues.
He relocated to Dubai late last year and took up his present role.

Chief Maritime Officer

IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry

Leadership Role

Mr. Bonnett joined the London office of International Registries, Inc. and its affiliates (IRI) in April 2010 as Safety & Technical Manager, in January 2018 he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Technical, and then in April 2022 he was promoted to Chief Maritime Officer. In his role as Chief Maritime Officer, he is responsible for oversight of the Maritime Services Group, which supports the Republic of the Marshall Islands Registry’s fleet of more than 5,200 vessels. Prior to joining IRI, Mr. Bonnett was employed by Lloyd’s Register (LR) since 1997 where he contributed in a multitude of roles including ship design and information systems, plan approval of ship structures, surveying of existing and newly constructed vessels, and business development within LR’s Asian market. Mr. Bonnett worked in South Korea for over nine years before moving back to LR’s London office in 2009 as a senior specialist concentrating on business improvement and planning. Mr. Bonnett earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Marine Technology with Honours in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding, from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Group CEO
Monjasa

The Chief Executive Officer of the Monjasa Group, Anders Østergaard co-founded the company back in 2002. Today Monjasa is a leading global partner in the oil and shipping industries with offices in Europe, Americas, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The company employs around 500 personnel in its core business, which includes trading and supply of marine fuels, oil trading, terminal operations, agency, and shipowning. In 2018 the company’s revenue reached US$ 2 billion, with more than 4 million tonnes of fuels supplied across over 600 ports worldwide.

CEO
Tristar Maritime Logistics

Chris Peters Joined Eships in May 2009 and took over as CEO in March 2017, having previously been the CFO. Chris joined Eships from GE Commercial Finance and was previously at Nordea Bank, having almost 20 years banking experience, of which the last 13 years were directly in shipping/offshore finance. Chris attained an MBA from Cass (formerly City University) Business School London, majoring in Finance and Strategy. He has worked on multiple senior debt and project finance facilities as MLA and has overseen several shipping IPO facilities. Whilst at GE he was responsible for structuring and negotiating several equity acquisitions from a shipping fleet to a shipping bank. As CEO, Chris is directly responsible for the implementation of the shareholders strategy for the business ensuring not only the financial targets are met, but met, whilst upholding the groups commitment to safety and good corporate governance.

COO
ASYAD Shipping Company

Operating Partner (Infrastructure) Essar & Managing Director

Essar Ports

CEO
Islamic P&I Club

Amir Mosadeghi has served as General Manager of the Islamic P&I Club since 2015, having joined the
mutual insurance company in 2004 as IT manager. Amir has been based in Dubai since 2005, playing a key
role in expanding the company’s market in the Middle East while also supervising its Jakarta office, as
well as the recently opened representative office in Athens. Throughout these years, all the claims
handled by the Club, as well as underwriting-related matters, have been managed under his direction
from Dubai. In October 2017 at The Maritime Standard Awards Amir was named Young Person in
Shipping within the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent regions.

Partner
Stephenson Harwood

A banking and finance expert in the Dubai office with a particular focus on asset and structured finance, Nijoe is well known for using his broad experience of complex, cross-border transactions and developing innovative structures specialising in the maritime and aviation sectors. Clients value his highly commercial and pragmatic approach.
Nijoe’s experience in the Middle East consists of portfolio (maritime and aviation) acquisitions and disposals, complex loan (bilateral and syndicated) financings, Islamic financings, operating and financing leasing transactions. He advises all major national and international lenders, investors, lessors and operators around the world on financing structures involving the maritime and aviation industries.
He has worked on path breaking aviation matters involving reputed names from the domestic and international aviation industries. He is reputed in the market for his work involving complex multi-jurisdictional security structures for aircraft components and spare parts – leasing and financing.
Nijoe’s client base also consists of reputed UAE family houses, businesses, government al departments and high net worth individuals whom he also advises on all aspects of UAE corporate and commercial law. This includes but is not limited to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and on project finance matters.
Prior to joining Stephenson Harwood, Nijoe was the legal advisor to the maritime department of Department of Transport for the Government of Abu Dhabi. He is also a frequent guest lecturer to the Hamburg School of Business Maritime, teaching students business related issues regarding Islamic finance and the shipping industry.
Ship and offshore finance
Petrochemical trading company
Advised a large petrochemical trading company in the UAE in acquisition of their shipping fleet of tankers with transactions worth over US$50 million.
Large UAE Bank
Advised a large UAE Bank on a complex vessel lease finance transaction worth US$265 million for a super specialised derrick lay vessel.
Leading offshore services company
Advised a leading offshore services company in structuring senior and mezzanine finance for acquisition of a fleet of offshore supply vessels.

Banking and financial services regulations
Basel III obligations
Advised one of the largest international Chinese banks on their Basel III obligations under the UAE Central Bank.
DFSA regulatory advice
Advised large Chinese bank based out of the Dubai International Financial Centre on their compliance with the Dubai Financial Services Authority’s (DFSA) regulations.
International Islamic finance
Advised DIFC based bank on their participation in an international Islamic finance transaction and their compliance under DFSA regulations.
Corporate
Leading educational group – M&A; deal
Advised a leading school operator in their acquisition of an American curriculum school in the UAE of a deal amounting to UAE Dirhams 55 million.
UAE business establishment
Advised one of the world’s leading lubricants manufacturer on their establishment in the UAE and structuring their man power related issues.
UAE professional services company acquisition
Advised the largest facilities management organisation in their acquisition of UAE based professional services company in a transaction worth UAE Dirhams 12 million.
Aviation finance
Aircraft fleet acquisition
Advised a leading private aircraft owner and operator in the acquisition of their fleet of 22 fixed wing and rotary aircrafts.
Complex hybrid aircraft financing
Advised a large UAE bank on complex hybrid financing involving aircraft engines and components in a multi-jurisdictional transaction amounting to over US$200 million.
Large aircraft components financing
Advised UAE bank on aircraft components financing for large international aircraft components financier in transactions valued at over US$100 million.

President & CEO
DIABOS Global

Leadership experience for 15+ years in the shipping and logistics domain
Fellow of the esteemed Institute of the Chartered Ship Brokers, London (FICS)​
Global C​ level Consultative Sales, Cross cultural Marketing; for core shipping and digitisation projects in shipping. ​
UNCEFACT expert volunteer Group 4 – electronic documentation

Current Position
President and CEO

A JM Baxi group company – from Sep 2020 to date

Diabos is a global service provider for Niche services in port cost optimisation for Vessel owners and operators. We are based out of Dubai and have a team of 120+ cost experts who operate out of our processing centres in Pune and Mumbai. We manage Post fixture services, Call estimation tools and the entire range of disbursement accounting services with supporting cash management services. We are on route launch of a new SaaS suite for our stakeholders. At the moment 40% of our clientele are from the Tanker segment.

Previous Roles​

CMO, Portall Infosystems Pvt Ltd.,

A JM Baxi group company – from June 2018 to Sep 2020

Portall is a digital disruptor playing a strategic and critical role in India’s digitalisation journey, creator of the Indian PCS1x, NLP, and several other niche and strong IT products for process improvement, ecosystem creation, and digital transformation.

SGM Global Business Development – iInterchange Systems Pvt ltd., (Oct 2014 to July 2018)

A Niche provider of software products and solutions to the container shipping and logistics industry. The company is 15 years old and enjoys a small but elite customer base including CMA CGM, SEACO, BEACON, JTS, GOODRICH, TRANSWORLD, SINOTRANS, etc.,

Aspinwall and Company LTD.,

1996 – 2014

GM – Shipping and Logistics

Aspinwall is a public Limited company established in 1836 and is a respected and well known company in India. Gained a very wide swathe of knowledge with some excellent maritime brands. Headed the sub agency division of Maersk and Safmarine for 6 large ports. Container, Iron Ore and Liquid bulk Stevedoring, Forwarding and multimodal logistics with Damco/Maersk Logistics. Port Agency – for BTL, Ben Lines and Shreyas. PNL and Principal relationships

1995-1996

Atlas Fisheries Pvt Ltd.,

Sales and International marketing.

Learnt the ropes of seafood export and international marketing from the view point of the Indian exporter. Assisted with negotiations with seafood buyers and shipping lines, sales contracts, claims avoidance and dispute resolution

1990 -1995

Teledirect Informatics Pvt Ltd., (Kompass-EU)

Branch head Cochin, Coimbatore, District Sales Manager, Chennai. Internet based global B2B directory.

Education​

FICS, London

Fellow of the prestigious Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers since 2007, upon successfully passing all qualifying examinations in a single attempt.

Tutorship Pieter Von Gelder Prize

Winner of the Award for highest marks secured worldwide in ‘Liner Trades’ in MICS PQE

General Management in Shipping course

Bachelor of Business Management, PSGRK College, Bharthiar University- Coimbatore

Rankholder in the University examinations, top of my college.​
Served as General​ Secretary and President​ of the College Union

SSC, Grade 12, CBSE BOARD – Commerce stream – Kendriya Vidyalaya, Visakhapatnam

Secured Top Marks in the board examinations that year; 1​ st in the school.

Associations : WISTA INDIA, ICS-LONDON

Causes : volunteer expert – UNCEFACT for working group 4- electronic trade

Interests – Reading, travelling, equal opportunity groups, support groups for traumatised families, Animal and Nature preservation

General Manager
Al Safina Security

Kateryna Yakunchenkova – General Manager of Al Safina Security, a Maritime Security Company with its presence in Greece, Singapore and UAE providing the below services as:

* Maritime Security

* Exclusive Yacht Security Services

* Cyber Security

* Oil&Gas Security

* Land Security

A co-partner and co-shareholder of a Trading Group of Companies that is involved into refined oil products trading worldwide with its premises in Hong Kong and Latvia.

An active member of WISTA and MIEVOM Group under UKMTO patronage. An author of multiple articles dedicated to the counter-piracy measures at High Risk Waters and Global Security Issues of the 21st century. Cyber effect on currently automated vessels and oil rigs systems.

2012 – Operations Executive at Al Mina Group of Companies.

2010 – 2011 – Operational and Project Manager in Mestex Shipping.

2009 – up to now – Activist and Co-founder of the Ukrainians Seamen’s Relief Fund

Co-founder of the Seamen’s relief Fund in Ukraine. Close work with Mass Media and drawing attention of the authorities to the problem of the seafarers rights at the sea. The Fund was founded after the successful release of the Ukrainian seafarers from the piracy captivity on the vessel “Ariana”. The initiative was supported by the ex-Ukrainian prime-minister Sergei Tigipko.

Education:

2008 – 2009 – Practice in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Consul Assistant in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2004- 2009 – Magister of Political Sciences. Faculty of International Relations/ Social Sciences Institute; Odessa National University

2008 – School of Young Politician, Ukraine, Kyiv

2006 – Attendance of the International Conferences in Germany, Hamburg/ Greece, Athens / Poland, Warsaw dedicated to the Coalition Politics and Policy; Domestic Effects of Immigration; Transitions to Democracy; Combating Piracy in the HRA( 2011, 2012);

2005 – Summer Studying in the University of Crete, Iraklion. Section of Political Sciences and Social Studies

1993 – 2004 – Gymnasium 5

Head of Regional Commercial & Business Development for the Middle East Region
Bureau Veritas

Mr. Jamil Al Ali graduated in 1990 as a Marine Engineer from South Tyneside College, UK after completing his engineering cadetship sponsored by Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC). He sailed onboard all classes of vessels within KOTC fleet, serving onboard products tankers, VLCC’s and Gas carriers during his tenure at sea, sailing up to the rank of Chief Engineer before joining KOTC Head office as technical Superintendent in 2002.

He has held various managerial positions in KOTC Head Office spanning from fleet engineering group manager to managing the Fleet new building group and has developed a vast experience in the tanker and gas carriers segments throughout his vast career.

He was often recognized for his key role in ensuring the KOTC fleet was maintained to the highest industry standards and has often received prestigious industry awards such as Tanker Operator of the year etc.

He has headed the Kuwait delegation at IMO MEPC meeting in London and representing Kuwait at COP 23 – Shipping Initiative in Bonn, Germany.

After a very successful 30 years career at KOTC, Jamil Al Ali is appointed as Head of Regional Commercial & Business Development for the Middle East Region within the Marine and Offshore Division of Bureau Veritas.

CEO
Fast Freight, DMCC

An established leader in the shipping industry with a proven track record and over 25 years of experience, Vishavdeep was appointed CEO of Fast Freight Dubai, an Aetheon Group company, in March 2021. His role is to establish Fast Freight as a leading tanker owner and operator, improving financial performance by maximising revenue and rationalising operating expenses. Prior to joining Fast Freight, Vishavdeep was CEO of Dubai-based Khayo Shipping, establishing the company in the GCC region, and he also spent over ten years as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Womar Logistics in Singapore.

Director
Seamaster Maritime

Mr. Ramee Rashid is at the helm of his family group of companies, based out of Dubai – United Arab Emirates, Seamaster Maritime L.L.C. Graduating from Durham University in the United Kingdom with honours in 2009, he started his shipping career serving a large FSO conversion project in the Dubai dry-docks. He then joined his father Mr. Rashid Al Heddi at Seamaster Maritime L.L.C. in 2010, learning the ins and outs of the maritime industry, rapidly gaining knowledge. Ramee helped expand the group by opening the office in Sohar – Oman, making it the first office outside of the UAE. With the experiences gained, he took over the reins of the family group in 2018, and has continuously improved along with the guidance from his father and his peers, elevating the company’s profile and international recognition. Now the organisation boasts 6 offices, 4 crew/supply vessels with another on the books, and a growing team. Investments in the company is still at the forefront, with the current aim to digitalise the company with new systems and work methods, bringing it into a new age.

Global Director of Special Projects and Services
DNV

Ali Shehab is the DNV Global Director of Special Projects and Services where his role to streamline the regional and global ongoing projects and services, as well as development of market share and strengthen the position of DNV in the Maritime and Oil & Gas Industries. Before assuming this position in July 2021, he was the former Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), the Maritime Transportation arm of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), after having serving there for almost 36 years in various positions of the Company, including 7+ years as Deputy Chief Executive Officer Fleet Operations where he oversaw KOTC’s Oil Tanker Fleet Operations, Marine Agency, and the main Gas Filling Branches that supply domestic and industrial LPG to the whole of State of Kuwait.

He is a marine engineer professional educated in the South Tyneside College north of England in the United Kingdom, trained and worked on KOTC vessels as a seagoing Marine Chief Engineer from 1985 to 2001, after which he operated fleet vessels in the capacity of Technical Superintendent and further developed in his carrier to General Superintendent and later assumed various managerial positions for Fleet New-building Group, as well as, Fleet Personal Group of the Fleet Operations Directorate, including 3 years as Site Manager at Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan Korea in 2005 to 2007, overseeing the construction of the fleet new tankers. His mid-level management development was from 2005 to 2013 during which he was involved and managing the company crucial tanker fleet development for 26
tankers of different types and sizes, built to the latest industry requirements, digitally ready and designed eco-friendly.

In July 2013 he was placed in the higher management position in the capacity of Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Fleet Operations and then in addition to this role, he assumed the position of Acting Chief Operating Officer in June 2018 till he reached by his retirement time with KOTC in Feb 2021 completing almost 36 years of service. During his senior position role with KOTC, he focused on the development of KOTC position in the Maritime and Oil & Gas Industries, and primarily for KOTC to continue being a leader in the safe transportation of hydrocarbons by sea, in addition, he focused on the development of KOTC employees both on ships and onshore.

He is an active individual who has been involved in various executive roles and positions primarily in the maritime industry, nonetheless, he also actively involved in the oil and gas industry where he assists individuals and organizations to excel in their business and provide them with opportunities of collaboration and growth.