Category Archives for "Speaker"

Xiaojie Zhang

Director
Technical Cooperation Division
International Maritime Organization

Before joining IMO Secretariat, Mr. Zhang had worked for the Ministry of Transport, China from 2012–2020 as the Counsel/Deputy Director-General, Department of International Cooperation and previously as the Director of Bilateral and Regional Cooperation and Director of International Organizations and Multilateral Affairs of the same department from 2002 to 2012. Mr. Zhang had overseen many bilateral and regional transport cooperation activities between the Government of China and countries in Asia and Pacific, Latin America, Africa and Europe. He had been in charge of China’s participation in many international activities, with a focus on transport-related international organizations and other multilateral/regional cooperation. He had served as the Chair of Government Group for the High-level Tripartite Working Group on Maritime Labour Standards, the Preparatory Technical Maritime Conference, and the 94 th (Maritime)Session of the International Labour Conference. From 2015, he had been the Head of the Chinese delegation to the IMO’s Council, Maritime Safety Committee and Marine Environment Protection Committee. Mr. Zhang was the elected Chair of the IMO Council from 2017 to 2020, before joining IMO Secretariat.

Andrew Stephens

Executive Director
Sustainable Shipping Initiative

Andrew has a truly international background in the maritime industry, working as Chief Operating Officer for leading companies such as Wilhelmsen Ships Service and Wallem Group before joining the Sustainable Shipping Initiative as Executive Director in August 2018.

In his time at SSI, Andrew has overseen an expanded work programme that looks to address systemic sustainability issues in shipping, from seafarers’ rights to sustainability criteria for marine fuels to the role of circular economy principles in shipping. He has also overseen a period of increased diversity in SSI membership, including the Port of Vancouver becoming the first port member (November 2022), and the addition of human rights expertise through NGO member the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) (January 2022).

In his role as Executive Director, Andrew regularly represents SSI at events and works to raise widespread awareness of the need for a systemic sustainability transition for the shipping sector. This has included speaking at COP, the Our Ocean Conference, London International Shipping Week, among others. He is based in the UK.

Alumita Talei Sekinairai

Ocean Voices Fellow
The University of Edinburgh

Alumita Talei Sekinairai is originally from Fiji and is currently with The University of Edinburgh as an Ocean Voices Fellow doing research on developing guidelines for integrating traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge to improve Ocean Management Practices.She is also the the President of the newly developed youth group “iTaukei Women in Conservation” and has recently graduated with a Master’s of Science in Maritime Affairs from the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden. Her thesis focused on understanding human impacts on the marine environment in Fiji and is the first Option for Delivering Ecosystem-Based Marine Management (ODEMM) Conceptual Model in Fiji to have been created. Alumita has also attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change and Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from The University of the South Pacific. 

Alumita has worked with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, WWF-Pacific, The Uto Ni Yalo and Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) doing projects and research in ocean, environment, maritime and climate change. She has consulted for The Asia Foundation addressing human rights concerns within the fisheries, maritime and business sectors in Fiji and Talanoa consulting with Sustainable Tourism in Fiji. She was also part of the Fiji delegation in the Resumed session for BBNJ IGC5 and was selected to be part of the first ever regional workshop on Young Pacific Leaders in Marine Sustainability that was held in Hawaii in November 2022.

Alumita is a Sasakawa Peace Foundation Fellow under the Nippon Foundation at the World Maritime University Alumni 2021 and was a part of the Student Council as the Specialisation Representative (OSGM). 

Weimin Ren

Director of the Transport Division
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Mr. Weimin Ren joined the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) as Director of the Transport Division in 2018, and currently also serves as Chair of the Steering Committee of the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF).

Prior to joining the ESCAP, Mr. Weimin Ren served as Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Transport, China. He began his career in 1989 with the ministry and took senior management positions at Director General level starting from 2009. During his time working at the Ministry of Transport, China, Mr. Ren dealt with a wide range of economic, technical and legal issues of the transport sector at regional and multilateral platforms and was deeply involved in the negotiations on China’s accession to the WTO, the implementation of regional transport connectivity initiatives, and the development and adoption of a number of international maritime conventions, such as HNS, Ship Arrest, and STCW 2010 Amendments. Mr. Ren is currently leading his team in ESCAP Secretariat to promote sustainable transport development in Asia and the Pacific, and guiding UNRSF to address global road safety issues.

Mr. Ren is the first graduate of the World Maritime University (WMU) who took maritime transport liberalization as the research topic of his dissertation in 1995, the year when the WTO was established with a mandate on the liberalization of trade in services. 

Mr. Weimin Ren holds a Master of Science in General Maritime Administration and Environment Protection from WMU, and a Bachelor’s degree in Maritime Law from Dalian Maritime University, China.

Alina Prylipko

Curriculum Manager Nautical Science
Fleetwood Nautical Campus, Blackpool and the Fylde College (United Kingdom)

Alina Prylipko is the Curriculum Manager in Nautical Science at Fleetwood Nautical Campus of Blackpool and the Fylde College, one of the leading nautical schools in the United Kingdom. 

At her current position, she is responsible for a range of higher educational programmes leading to deck Officer of the Watch and Chief Mate certification, and for the development and implementation of future-focused curricula for maritime professionals. In addition to her managerial role, Alina teaches maritime law and researches the application of sustainable development in the maritime industry in general, and in seafarers’ education in particular.

Leading to a PhD award, Alina’s current research is dedicated to the social pillar of sustainable development, stakeholders’ relationships, and the role of seafarers. Alina believes that the paradigm of sustainable development has important theoretical and practical values, and that is essential for understanding and addressing current global issues. 

Alina is proudly Ukrainian, and her professional career includes positions in key maritime governmental agencies, such as the Maritime Administration of Ukraine. Also, she was involved in consultancy on legal, environmental, and social issues related to various aspects of sustainable development.  

Alina holds a LLM in International Public Law and a MSc in Maritime Education and Training. She is currently enrolled to a PhD programme at the World Maritime University.

Alina is a working mother, residing in the UK with her children and seafarer husband, which allows her to appreciate the wider social context of seafaring career and lifestyle.

Kentaro Nishimoto

Professor of International Law
Tohoku University

Kentaro NISHIMOTO is Professor of International Law at the School of Law, Tohoku University and Arctic Environment Research Center, National Institute of Polar Research, Japan. At Tohoku University, he is the vice-director of the Center for International Law and Policy and is currently in charge of the English-taught LL.M. program on the law of the sea. He received his Ph.D. in Law from the University of Tokyo with the thesis “Territoriality and Functionality in the Historical Evolution of the Law of the Sea.” His research has focused on the international law of the sea, including issues such as the history of the law of the sea, sustainable development of ocean resources, and the settlement of maritime disputes. His ongoing research projects especially focus on the BBNJ Agreement, legal aspects of Arctic ocean governance, and the revision of the International Health Regulations. His recent publications include a co-edited book on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) in Japanese (Shigeki Sakamoto, Kimio Yakushiji, Toshiya Ueki and Kentaro Nishimoto (eds.), New Developments in the Law of the Sea on Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (Yushindo, 2021)) and a chapter on Japan and the Polar Region in The Routledge Handbook of Polar Law (Routledge, forthcoming). He has advised the government of Japan in various capacities, including as an advisor to the Japanese delegation to the BBNJ PrepCom and BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference and as a member of the Advisory Board on the Extension of the Continental Shelf.

Cecilia Müller Torbrand

CEO
Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN)

Cecilia leads Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), a global business network working toward the vision of a maritime industry free of corruption that enables fair trade to the benefit of society at large. She was one of the front drivers for MACN establishment in 2011. MACN has under Cecilia’s leadership grown significantly, won multiple awards, and is considered to be one of the pre-eminent examples of collective action to tackle corruption.

Cecilia is an experienced anti-corruption expert with 15 years of expertise in the compliance field. She has multinational experience within shipping and trade and has been responsible for anti-corruption efforts globally; trained management and Captains worldwide; implemented whistle blowing systems; rolled out country-specific anti-corruption campaigns, and conducted risk assessments, audits, and misconduct investigations. She has led and initiated public private partnerships to tackle corruption globally including Nigeria, Egypt, Ukraine, India and Argentina. She has been awarded “Compliance Officer of the Year” by the C5 Women in Compliance Awards and is a regularly invited anti-corruption expert by various stakeholders e.g., UK House of Lords and Transparency International.

Cecilia is a member of the B20 Task Force for Integrity and Compliance and is a member of World Economic Forum’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative. She is a guest lecturer at the World Maritime University and International Anti-Corruption Academy.

Jesus A. Menacho Pierola

Director of Surveys, Audits and Port State Control Inspections
Maritime Authority of Peru

Captain Jesus A. Menacho Pierola has worked for more than 20 years at the General Directorate of Captaincies and Coastguards – Maritime Authority of Peru and currently serves as Director of Surveys, Audits and Port State Control Inspections. Prior to this, he held the positions of Chief of Staff at Coastguard Operations Command, Director of International Affairs and IMO, and Director of Policies, Regulations and Integrated Management Systems. He also has vast experience in seafarer matters, having served as the Head of the Seafarers Department within the Directorate, as well as a Maritime Inspector and International Instructor of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006).

He has further experience as an IMO IMSAS Auditor, Flag State Statutory Inspector, Port State Control Officer, and ISPS/ISM Lead Auditor. He has been designated by the Director-General of Captaincies and Coastguards – Maritime Authority of Peru as part of the list of competent persons maintained by the IMO Secretary-General pursuant to section A-I/7 of the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code, and he led the team of Auditors in preparation for the EMSA Audit to Peru, on compliance with the STCW Convention. He also acts as the National Focal Point of Peru to IMO Projects GloFouling and GloLitter Partnership Projects.

He has a wealth of teaching experience, including lecturing on Maritime International Affairs and IMO issues for more than 15 years in different nautical academies and universities and acting as Professor of the Special Course on “Naval Surveillance Operations at Sea” at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law of San Remo (IIHL). The IMO recognises him as an International Trainer and External Consultant under the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) and is an Instructor and Expert Consultant of the Regional Cooperation Operational Network of Maritime Authorities of the Americas (ROCRAM).

Maja Markovčić Kostelac

Executive Director
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)

Ms Maja Markovčić Kostelac took up the position of Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on 1 January 2019. She is responsible for the running and development of the Agency under the oversight of its Administrative Board.

Starting out as a maritime lawyer, she has subsequently gained long-standing experience in the maritime field in both the public and private sector.

Prior to joining EMSA, Ms Markovčić Kostelac was State Secretary for Croatia’s Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. Her duties entailed developing strategies, policies and legislation in the area of maritime transport, maritime safety, security and environmental protection. In this role, she also led the Croatian delegation in a range of international forums at the United Nations, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

During her time at Croatia’s Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure she held a number of positions, including Director of the Maritime Policy Directorate. She also served as Director of the Croatian Shipowners’ Association (Mare Nostrum).

Since joining EMSA, Ms Markovčić Kostelac has established the Agency’s five-year strategy (2020-2024) and organises its implementation. She has led EMSA’s work on a range of strategic and operational issues, including the maritime dimension of the European Green Deal, the development of enhanced digital solutions for national level administrations and relevant authorities, and the provision of support at international level to the European Commission and Member States at the IMO.

Olajobi Makinwa

Senior Adviser on Africa
UN Global Compact

As Senior Adviser on Africa, Olajobi Makinwa is the overall coordinator for the implementation of the UN Global Compact’s Africa Strategy 2021-2023, leading its flagship programmatic offerings, the Global Africa Business Initiative and the Africa Business Leaders Coalition. Furthermore, Ms. Makinwa leads high-level interactions with Governments to strengthen relations and enhance understanding of the UN Global Compact. She aligns priorities of Governments and regional inter-governmental bodies with key directions of the work of the UN Global Compact. 

During her tenure as Chief of Transparency & Anti-Corruption, Ms. Makinwa successfully led the development of numerous UN Global Compact projects on transparency and anti-corruption, notably the Siemens Initiative Project on Collective Action in the fight against corruption.

Prior to joining the UN Global Compact, Ms. Makinwa was the Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa. Previously, she served as a Legal Officer with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Kenya, and with the UNEP Regional Office for Europe in Switzerland.

Ms. Makinwa has consulted for various UN Agencies as well as the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa. She is also a member of the International Bar Association and the American Society of International Law.

Ms. Makinwa holds a law degree with honours (LL.B Hons) and a Master of International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. She was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Ms. Makinwa completed further postgraduate studies in Business Leadership at the University of South Africa.