Category Archives for "Speakers"

Global Ocean Director
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Minna Epps is the Global Ocean Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN), leading the Union’s global ocean-related work, including programmatic development and delivery of multi-million dollar progammes dedicated to commissioning cutting edge marine scientific research (ocean acidification, deoxygenation and marine heatwaves and how it affects marine biodiversity and ocean health), implementing pioneering nature-based solutions, sustainable blue economy solutions and deploying innovative blended finance mechanisms in partnership with private investors and public funding. Global ocean policy work includes the Head of IUCN Delegations for various Multilateral Environmental Agreements and negotiations, including the recent High Seas BBNJ Treaty negotiation.

Minna champions equitable access and benefit-sharing, strengthens gender inclusion in ocean policy and empowers communities through nature-based solutions. Her expertise in strategic leadership, policy influence, and innovative partnerships makes her a driving force in shaping the future of ocean conservation.

She is the Chair for the Blue Natural Capital funding facility executive committee, the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund, and Chair of the IMPAC International Steering Committee, as well as serving as a strategic advisor to the Blue Action Fund, and appointed advisor to the impact committee of HSH Prince Albert II ReFundOcean together with Monaco Asset Management. She represents IUCN in several high level Ocean networks, including the High Level Panel on Sustainable Ocean Economy advisory network, and is a WEF Friends of Ocean Action Leader.

She brings her experience from IUCN, Marine Stewardship Council, European Commission, United Nations Environment programme, World Trade organisation, and marine conservation NGOs. Minna is a marine biologist with studies from Imperial College, Rhode Island School of Oceanography and UC Berkeley.

CEO and Founder
Ocean Sustainability Club

Capt. Mohammad Feroz Mostafa is a pioneering maritime leader and educator dedicated to fostering sustainability and gender equality in the blue economy. As CEO and Founder of Ocean Sustainability Club, he has been instrumental in empowering the next generation of seafarers by advocating for inclusive, sustainable ocean governance. Established in 2018 at Bangladesh Marine Academy, the club actively promotes awareness, education, and action on marine conservation, gender equality, and environmental responsibility.

With over 30 years of experience spanning maritime operations, academia, and policy development, Capt. Mostafa currently serves as Chief of Nautical Studies at Bangladesh Marine Academy, where he has played a key role in advancing training programs that encourage diversity and inclusion within the maritime sector.
He has also published extensively on maritime sustainability and presented at global conferences. Recognized for his contributions, he has received multiple awards, including the Best Instructor Award and a National Integrity Strategy Practice award. Through his leadership at Ocean Sustainability Club and Bangladesh Marine Academy, he continues to drive impactful initiatives that support a more inclusive and sustainable blue economy.

Instructor at the Maritime Human Factors Unit
Chalmers University

Fredrik Forsmanis working with and developing leadership training for people in high-risk occupations as in the maritime, military, and maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) domain. Fredrik has researched how small teams succeed under adverse conditions in SAR. Today, he is responsible for the leadership training at Chalmers University of Technology for the maritime programs and teaching strategy and organizing at master level. Fredrik has a practical background in the military and maritime SAR.

Professor
Brazilian Naval War College

Dr. Thauan Santos holds a degree in economics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and a post-doctorate in blue economy from the Center for the Blue Economy, USA (CBE/MIIS) and in economics from the Università di Bologna, Italy (DSE/UniBo). He is a professor in the Postgraduate Program in Maritime Studies at the Naval War College (PPGEM/EGN) and coordinator of the Blue Economy Group (GEM).

Trustee and Founder
I Exist Too Charity

Gustavo’s academic journey is distinguished by a strong focus on social, public, and strategic management. He holds multiple master’s degrees, including Sociology and Social Research from Newcastle University (UK), Public Administration from Cornell University (USA), and both Business Administration and Business Logistics from Universidad Interamericana de Panamá. Additionally, he holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering.

With extensive experience across the maritime, public administration, and education sectors, Gustavo has made significant contributions to national development through key roles at institutions such as the Panama Maritime Authority and the International Maritime University of Panama.

Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. at Newcastle University, focusing on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the maritime sector. Beyond academia, Gustavo is the Founder and Trustee of I Exist Too, the world’s first charity dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion in the maritime industry.

Senior Lecturer
St. Andrew’s University

Dr Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood is a leadership, security and development scholar and practitioner specialising in maritime security, marine socio-ecology, and the blue economy. As a Lecturer in Sustainable Futures at the University of St Andrews, her work integrates academic rigour with practical experience to address critical challenges at the intersection of environmental stewardship, maritime safety, security, and socio-economic development.

Her research explores the geopolitical dynamics of the blue economy, maritime security governance, digital technologies in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and the integration of gender perspectives into maritime peace and security frameworks. Since 2023, Dr Okafor-Yarwood has served as the Women, Peace, and (Maritime) Security Advisor (West Africa) for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Maritime Crime Programme. She has briefed the UN Peacebuilding Commission on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and contributed to international reports on gender and maritime security, fisheries and the blue economy.

As a dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Okafor-Yarwood fosters the next generation of leaders through interdisciplinary teaching that bridges theory and practice. Her passion for knowledge sharing extends to her role as the host of the African Geopardy Podcast, a platform amplifying diverse perspectives on Africa’s geopolitical, environmental, and security challenges.

A PEW Marine Fellow (2023–2026), Dr Okafor-Yarwood is advancing research on marine social ecology in Africa. Her project centers on equitable resource management, emphasising the value of local and Indigenous knowledge to promote sustainable fisheries livelihoods.

Through her scholarship, advisory roles, and public engagement, Dr Okafor-Yarwood actively contributes to global conversations on inclusive and sustainable maritime governance and security, driving meaningful change within academic, policy, and practitioner communities.

Innovation coordinator, Diversity coordinator
Swedish Maritime Administration

Cajsa Jersler Fransson, is a Nautical Expert, Master Mariner (2002) and Maritime Sustainability Coordinator (2015). She is a norm-engineer through “Add Gender” and currently works as Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the Research and Innovation Department at the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) where she is leading projects and initiatives on social sustainability on-board, one of which is REDO2, a joint research project on inclusion and diversity as well as psychological- and work environment safety and REDO Academy. Cajsa studied at the Master Mariners Academy and has more than 20 years of experience in shipping, having worked on-board ships (merchant and ro-pax vessels) where she made a career as cadet, AB and mate before working ashore as pilot coordinator. Some of her work has included working with technical projects such as Sea Traffic Management, the Horizon2020 project EfficienSea2 she was responsible for two simulation campaigns of new navigational solutions that involved human factor evaluations. She was a part of the operational work in CEF project STM Validation Project where she worked closely with the ships, helping them adapting new technology and ensuring a safer passage.

Cajsa is one of the key initiators of Fair Winds, a Swedish shipping collaboration that emerged from the #metoo movement, aimed at ending sexual harassment at sea. Since then, she has been fully committed to promoting safe and inclusive working environments on board ships. With her creative mindset and dedication, she also finds time for knitting, a hobby that reflects her dynamic and creative nature. As a respected board member of WISTA Sweden, Cajsa has built a strong network of allies and colleagues, all united in their mission to create a more sustainable and equitable shipping industry, both at sea and onshore.

Project Coordinator
Swedish Maritime Administration

With years of experience in the Swedish Maritime Administration’s equality project (LIST), both internally and externally, Benjamin Malmström has gained solid expertise in creating inclusive work environments and driving strategic change. In his role within LIST, he has led workshops and training sessions, helped build networks for workshop leaders, and contributed to raising awareness of sustainable working environments.

At Redo Academy, Benjamin has worked with external shipping companies to create long-term strategies that address their needs for increased inclusion. With his nautical expertise and background, he has a unique understanding of working conditions at sea and has actively worked on studies, surveys, and regulations to promote proactive equality efforts. A goal-oriented problem solver and fantastic communicator, Benjamin looks forward to continuing to contribute to the work of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion within the Swedish Maritime Administration and other organizations. And on top of all that, he’s a fantastic musician, which gives him a creative and versatile approach to everything he does.

Ms. Sonia Bautista Malaluan was appointed by the President as Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority in December 2023. Before her appointment as Administrator, she was Deputy Administrator for Planning from February 2022. Her extensive professional career at MARINA includes more than 35 years of service in different capacities and units such domestic shipping, maritime manpower, planning, finance and administrative matters and even regional operations. She served as the Philippine Maritime Attache in London, United Kingdom from January 2019 to January 2022. Her primary responsibilities as Maritime Attache include, among others, representation in meetings at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other conventions, meetings & conferences and provide advisory and technical assistance activities to the Head of Mission on matters relating to flag administration, seafarers administration, including fair treatment of seafarers during maritime incidents, those detained on suspicion of maritime crime, cases of abandonment of seafarers and shipyard regulations.

Administrator Malaluan has been a representative or delegate of MARINA to different international fora, including: ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meetings and ASEAN Maritime Technical Working Group Meetings. She also led the successful Philippine hosting of conferences such as Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of the Amendments to the STCW 1978 Convention, now known as the Manila Amendments, the National Forum of Domestic Ships in 2013, the International Conference on Safety of Ships Carrying Passengers in Non-International Voyage in 2015 and the Women in Asia Conference in 2015 and recently the Regional Conference: Seizing Opportunities in for Green Shipping in Asia and the Pacific held in May 2023. As a staunch advocate of women empowerment and equality, she is a member of the Women in Maritime Association, Philippines, former President of WIMAPhil, MARINA Sub-Chapter, and now a member of the Governing Council of the Women in Maritime – Asia (WIMA-Asia).

She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, and a Master of Science Degree in Shipping Management from the World Maritime University in Sweden (SMC 1998).

Professor Anna Petrig holds the Chair of International Law and Public Law at the University of Basel in Switzerland. She was previously a professor at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Anna has been awarded a Ph.D. in the field of the Law of the Sea and Human Rights Law from the University of Basel and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, where she studied as a Fulbright scholar. Anna is a member of the Bar of the Canton of Berne (Switzerland) and of the New York State Bar (USA). Her broad legal experience includes work in private practice, the courts, and the Legal Division of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Her articles and book chapters cover a wide range of ocean-related topics and she is the author of several monographs and textbooks on the Law of the Sea, International Public Law and Criminal Law. She has presented her research at institutions across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Anna has provided expert advice, oral evidence and legal counsel on maritime-related matters to the Swiss Government, the UK House of Lords, NGOs and international organisations, notably on the use of private security on board ships, the protection of underwater cultural heritage, arms trade at sea and human rights at sea. She has been a member of the Swiss delegation and the Delegation of the Comité Maritime International (CMI) to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Anna was sitting as Judge ad hoc for Switzerland on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Cases 27 and 29. Since November 2024 she is a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) nominated by Switzerland. She currently acts as a board member of the Swiss Maritime Law Association and the Swiss Society for International Law. Anna is Co-Rapporteur of the Committee on Protection of People at Sea of the International Law Association (ILA) and is Chair of the EU-fundend COST Action BlueRights (Life, Liberty and Health: Ensuring Universal Protection of Human Rights at Sea).