Category Archives for "Speakers"

Maritime Lead Campaigner
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

Kulsoom Jafri is a dedicated advocate for workers’ rights in the global maritime industry, working alongside ITF-affiliated trade unions to secure fair working conditions. Her campaigns focus on key issues such as just transition, equality, health and safety, and supply chain organising, ensuring that seafarers and inland navigation workers are protected from exploitation. The ITF challenges shipping employers and authorities to uphold higher standards, while holding states and international regulators accountable for employment protections. Through her work, Kulsoom fights to reshape an industry often marked by inequality, pushing for systemic change that prioritizes dignity and justice for maritime workers worldwide.

Associate Professor
Barcelona School of Nautical Studies – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain

Claudia Barahona-Fuentes is an associate professor at the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), where she participates in different school management committees and where for ten years (2007-2017) she also developed different internationalization tasks as Vice-Dean of International Relations. At present, she is the gender equality officer among whose tasks there is the management of the Commission for Gender Equality. She is also actively engaged in teacher training courses and activities for mainstreaming gender in teaching at the university.

Her research interests encompass, among others, gender mainstreaming in Maritime Education and Training (MET) and the role of women in the maritime sector. She holds a PhD in Gender Mainstreaming in Maritime Education and Training (MET) from the UPC (2023) and she is also a member of the research group SOCSTEM, which aims to promote the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines from their social side. Hence, she has participated in different gender mainstreaming projects at her university and has coauthored different articles and guides to mainstream gender in teaching and research. Last year, she received the 27th UPC Award for Quality in University Teaching 2024 for the coordination of a project to incorporate the gender perspective competence in maritime studies.

Lecturer (Research/Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management)
World Maritime University

Dr. Kathleen Auld Yildiz joined the World Maritime University in September 2021. She is a lecturer within WMU’s Master of Maritime Affairs programme on Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management, and the Project Officer for the CAPFISH Project, which aims to build knowledge and capacity to combat IUU fishing in developing countries and small island states. Before joining WMU, Dr. Auld Yildiz held Research Assistant positions in the field of environment and trade at the University of Melbourne and University of Cape Town, while completing her LLM and PhD degrees.

Prior to starting her LLM, she completed legal articles in Cape Town and is an admitted Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa. Dr. Auld Yildiz’s research focuses primarily on sustainable fisheries and trade. Her particular research interests include IUU fishing, socio-economic aspects of fishing and ocean governance, and fisheries subsidies.

Managing Director, Unlocking Oceans Economy
Founder, Global Maritime Youth
Womaritime Experts

A trailblazer in the maritime industry, Captain Londy is dedicated to unlocking Africa’s ocean economy. With over 16 years of experience, her background spans Maritime Studies, serving as a former ship navigational officer, and earning an advanced dredging qualification from the Netherlands IHC she further assumed an industry-shaking role as a former Executive Maritime Compliance Manager for the national port authority South Africa. Londy is now a Managing Director at UOE (Unlocking Oceans Economy) and Founder of Global Maritime Youth, all of which continues to echo her well-known title “The BLAQMERMAID”

For her array of impactful work, Londy is globally recognised with multiple awards, including the Forbes 30 Under 50 honoree and Paris’s Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award, amongst many others. Currently seating as a non-executive board member for Mercy ships south Africa, Londy serves on various boards in the blue economy and influential organizations like Mercy within leadership, women, and youth spheres ensuring continuous development of Africa’s maritime professions through advocacy, training, and awareness as well as strengthening the competitiveness and employment creating potential for Africans..

As a leader, mother, and wife herself, Londy’s journey has equipped her with the ability to focus on providing sustainable tools for:

• Corporates – To lead diversity and inclusion.
• Women – Mentors women to thrive and assume captaincy of their lives.
• Youth – Her zest for a colourful life is so contagious the youth gets cultivated to reach for the endless horizons, particularly when it comes to self-employment, creating opportunities under Unlocking Oceans Economy and Global Maritime Youth initiatives.

As seen on her most visited talks like the World Maritime University “Claim Your Captaincy” , Forbes Leading Women Africa with her piercing phrase “I chose not to be Rose from the Titanic, I chose to Captain the Titanic” and through her popular TEDx Talk “Anchors Aweigh, No Rest for The First” This Blaqmermaid sure is making waves on land.

Senior Researcher & Head of the Research Unit Maritime Health and Technology
University of Southern Denmark

Lisa Loloma Froholdt is a Senior Researcher and Head of the Research Unit Maritime Health and Technology, at the University of Southern Denmark. Originally from New Zealand, she has lived in Denmark for many years, developing an extensive career bridging international organizations, the maritime private sector, and higher education. With a Ph.D. in Maritime Human Factors and a background in psychology, she has dedicated her work to understanding the human element in shipping, focusing on mental health, safety, and well-being at sea.

Dr. Froholdt has held key positions across academia, international organizations, and the maritime industry, including at the World Maritime University (a UN institution), The Copenhagen School of Marine Engineering and Maritime Technology, and the private maritime sector. Her research addresses critical issues such as seafarers’ psychological well-being, maritime health and safety, and gender diversity in shipping.

She has led and contributed to numerous international research projects, including collaborations with the IMO, WHO, and ILO, securing significant funding for studies on workplace bullying and harassment, psychological safety, and seafarers’ mental health. Notably, her research on bullying and harassment at sea directly contributed to changes in Danish maritime safety law. A recognized expert in her field, she serves on editorial boards, advisory committees, and policy initiatives, actively shaping the future of maritime health and safety, and human factors research.

Technical Adviser to the Managing Director
National Agency of Maritime Affairs (ANAM)

At 32, I returned to my studies, pursuing International Relations at a Parisian institution and earning a diploma. A year later, I obtained a Master’s in Law, Economics, and Management, focusing on Development Project Management in Africa. This enabled me to assess UNDP actions for Senegalese rural women.

In 2010, I joined the National Agency of Maritime Affairs (ANAM-Senegal) as Head of Studies, Planning, and Strategies. In 2013, I attended the World Maritime University in Malmö, earning a Master of Science in Maritime Affairs, specializing in Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration. By 2016, I became Deputy Director of Maritime Safety and Marine Pollution Prevention at ANAM, overseeing vessel administration and ensuring maritime safety, pollution control, and a viable blue economy in Senegal.

In 2017, I was elected Vice-Chair of the INTERPOL Fisheries Crime Working Group (FCWG), tackling transnational environmental crimes in the fisheries sector. During this time, we launched the “Law Enforcement Femmes Network” to support female professionals in maritime enforcement agencies.

I’ve contributed to various UNODC initiatives and consultancies, including the “Rotten Fish” guide to combat corruption in the fishing industry and dialogues on gender in maritime law enforcement.

Currently, I lead the “Réseau des Femmes pour le Développement Durable,” a network focusing on gender equality, poverty reduction, and the implementation of SDGs, with a focus on women’s empowerment in sectors like health, education, peace, security, and sustainable economies.

Since December 2020, I have served as Technical Adviser to the Managing Director of ANAM, coordinating strategies and tasks as assigned by the General Director.

Manager for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) & Maritime Welfare
South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

Sibusiso Rantsoabe is a Manager for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) & Maritime Welfare at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). He manages a national Unit, the OHS & Maritime Welfare Unit within SAMSA with a mandate across different functional areas: i.e.

1. Maritime Occupational Health and Safety compliance regime
2. Seafarer Welfare (C188 & MLC)
3. Verified Gross Mass of packed containers (VGM) compliance regime
4. Marine Environmental Protection

He has over 24 years in the maritime industry with 10 years having been spent at the South African Maritime Safety. He is a South African delegate at the IMO’s Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG GHG) and the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) as well as the ILO Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC, 2026. He has interest and passion in the following topics: marine environmental protection, sustainable development, seafarer welfare, occupational health and safety, human rights including equality, diversity, and inclusivity. He holds an MSc in Maritime Affairs with WMU majoring in Marine Environmental and Ocean Management.

Researcher, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) – Denmark
Gender Equality Consultant, IOC-UNESCO

Dr. Ellen Johannesen is an interdisciplinary marine social science researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA – Denmark) and a gender equality consultant for the IOC-UNESCO. She holds a PhD in Maritime Affairs with a focus on gender equality in ocean science from the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden. A graduate of the Empowering Women for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development programme hosted at the Global Ocean Institute, generously sponsored by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

With over 15 years of experience at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), has worked extensively in intergovernmental ocean governance at the science-policy interface. Including leading the development of the ICES gender equality plan. Her work aims to advance an ecosystem-based approach to marine conservation and restoration through international collaboration and coordination.

Dr. Johannesen is dedicated to mainstreaming gender equality and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in ocean science and governance. She actively contributes to initiatives linked to the UN’s Ocean Decade and World Ocean Assessment III, focusing on gender equality, equity and inclusion, citizen engagement and knowledge transfer in ocean protection and restoration, and marine ecosystem-based management.

Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Director-General for Multilateral Strategy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico

Aureny Aguirre O. Sunzais a Mexican career diplomat with 34 years of experience in the bilateral and multilateral fields.

She currently serves as Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, and as Director-General for Multilateral Strategy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.

She majored in International Relations at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and has a Master degree in High Command and National Security at the Naval Higher Studies Center (CESNAV).

During her diplomatic career, she has served in diverse areas at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the North American Unit (2021-2023), the Directorate-General of Protocol (2007-2011); Asia-Pacific (1990-1994); and International Organizations (1987-1989). She has been posted at the Mexican Diplomatic Missions in the United Kingdom (2019-2021); Hong Kong (2011-2015); Belgium (2002-2006); Israel (1997-1998); and Canada (1994-1997).

At the multilateral level, she has been Representative of Mexico before international organizations, namely the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC); the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO); the International Coffee Organization (ICO), the International Sugar Organization (IOA), and the International Whaling Commission (2015-2021); and has served at the Mission of Mexico to the European Union (2002-2006).

Within this framework, she was appointed Vice Chair of Committee 2 of the 31st IMO Assembly (Dec 2019) and second Vice Chair of the 1992 Fund Assembly and member of the Board of Appeals of the IOPC Funds.

She has outstanding leadership in promoting a gender equality agenda, in line with her country’s feminist foreign policy, being a promoter and founder of the IMO Gender Equality Network. She is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the World Maritime University, and Honorary Member of the Women’s Network of Maritime Authorities of Latin America (Red MAMLa).

Director
Novikontas Maritime Training Centre

Mãrcis Žabovs is the Director of Novikontas Maritime Training Centre, leading the way in training seafarers from around the world. Dedicated to equipping maritime professionals with up-to-date skills, Marcis places a strong emphasis on soft skills, recognizing their critical role in effective teamwork and psychological safety.

With extensive experience facilitating workshops for shipping companies, Mãrcis specializes in enhancing shipboard interaction within diverse environments. Passionate about introducing new training approaches, Marcis is committed to shaping resilient, adaptable, and skilled maritime teams.