LATEST SPEAKER INTRODUCTION IN LINKEDIN
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KEY NOTE SPEAKER introductions
Erik Eklund, Director General of the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket), appointed on 10 June 2024 by the Swedish Government. Erik Eklund’s background in naval architecture, earned at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, provides him with a deep understanding of ship design, navigation systems, and maritime operations.
Before taking the helm of Sjöfartsverket, Eklund held senior leadership roles at Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency), developing expertise in regulatory oversight and national transport policy. He also served in operational roles earlier in his career within Sjöfartsverket, giving him direct experience with the challenges of maritime infrastructure management. In addition to his public-sector experience, Erik Eklund led innovation initiatives at Candela Technology AB, a Swedish pioneer in electric hydrofoil vessels.
Charlotte Røjgaard is the Global Marine Fuels Director at Bureau Veritas, leading VeriFuel’s team of experts.
Charlotte has a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark and an executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics from Copenhagen Business School.
Having spent 15 successful years with MAN Energy Solutions where she began her career, she moved to Singapore to enhance the technical capabilities at DNVPSeventually rising to Technical Director. Joining Bureau Veritas’ VeriFuel team in 2015 as Global Technical Manager, she has been instrumental in strengthening the company’s expertise in marine fuels whilst successfully launching and establishing VeriFuel as a well-recognised global brand. Charlotte represents Bureau Veritas’ VeriFuel at conferences and sits on numerous key industry committees, including ISO 8217 (products from Petroleum, synthetic and renewables sources) and ISO 6583 (methanol) while also using her expert knowledge and experience advising international working groups and authorities on industry trends such as endemic fuel cases. In May 2024, she joined the CIMAC board as VP of working groups and since November 2024, she has chaired IBIAs newly formed European Regional Board.
Sanna Sonninen has served as Maritime Director at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) since October 2024. Prior to this role, she served as Pilotage Director at Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd, and also acted as Chief Executive Officer of Ice Advisors Ltd. She has previously held positions at Traficom’s predecessor agency, the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi), as well as at the Finnish Maritime Administration, including senior management and development roles. Before joining the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) as a researcher in 2001, she worked for nearly ten years as a deck officer on Finnish merchant vessels, including tankers and RoPax vessels. Her career thus combines extensive seagoing experience with long-standing expertise in maritime administration, regulation, research and leadership. Sanna Sonninen holds qualifications as a Master Mariner and a Master of Science (Technology). She is currently a doctoral researcher at Aalto University.
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Ansis Zeltins has a Bachelor's degree from Latvian Maritime Academy in Maritime Transport and a Master's degree in Business Administration from University of Salford (United Kingdom).
As the CEO of the Freeport of Riga since 2017, Ansis Zeltins has been involved in the maritime industry for 20 years now, representing the country at various international maritime industry forums such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), Member of the Board of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the Head of the Shipping Working Group of the Council of Europe. Member of the Board of the Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) since 2018,Member of the Board of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) since March 2022. Ansis Zeltins has served as Vice-Chairman of the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) since November 2022 and was elected Chair of ESPO in November 2024. Ansis Zeltins has the qualification of a chief mate on ships of 3000 BT and above.
Moderator introductions
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Dr. Lisa Drake has focused on addressing global, environmental problems in the shipping industry throughout a career that spans academia, government, and the private sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Ohio State University (USA) and master’s and PhD degrees in oceanography from Old Dominion University (USA). As a post-doctoral student and faculty member, Lisa conducted research on organisms in ships’ ballast water and biofouling. She boarded >100 commercial ships to collect samples. Next, Lisa taught marine science at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Afterwards, she led an interdisciplinary research group of scientists and engineers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. This work was largely funded by federal agencies, and the results influenced national policy as well as the U.S. position in international policy arenas. Next, she was the Americas Manager for Marine Field Services & Monitoring at SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certification company. She and her colleagues on the global team developed new services and coordinated with 40 SGS Affiliates working in >600 ports to help shipowners, port operators, and coastal managers meet compliance requirements and decarbonization goals. Recently, Lisa founded Drake Marine Environmental Services. This boutique firm provides tailored consulting, technical support, and strategic advisory services to the maritime industry. In each of the roles she has held, Lisa has recognized the critical function of science to inform policymaking, and has served as a Technical Advisor on various delegations to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as a member of ballast water and biofouling working groups convened by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and is the founder and Past President of the Society for the Study of Marine Bioinvasions. Finally, she is a member of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Environmental Committee and Co-President of the Florida (USA) chapter. More information is available on her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-drake-phd/
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Gary McCracken is a Master Mariner and Senior Marine Consultant with over 30 years of global experience in marine operations, pilotage, marine assurance, terminal management, and alternative fuel solutions. He has worked extensively across the energy sector in the UK, Angola, Nigeria, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Arabian Gulf, holding senior roles with Chevron including Marine Manager, Senior Marine Advisor/Pilot, and Marine Process Authority.
He currently provides specialist consultancy and training through GHK Marine and Management Consultants Ltd, and is a Senior Advisor at SeaFocus, supporting clients in port operations, alternative fuel readiness (IGF), tanker operations, stability, and safe marine project execution. Known for his hands-on expertise, strong safety leadership, and ability to mentor and develop teams, he delivers practical, commercially aligned solutions for ports, terminals, and maritime energy operations.
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Ella Parviainen is a member of HPP’s Logistics team, specialising in shipping, transportation, logistics, international trade, trade sanctions, industry, as well as transportation related emission regulation and technology law. She has previously gained experience by working for a publicly listed industrial company and international shipping company.
PANEL SPEAKER introductions
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Elina Andersson is MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management and a secretary general of Finnish Marine Industries, a co-operation forum for high-technology maritime solution providers, leading marine equipment manufacturers, turn-key suppliers, designers, software and system providers as well as shipbuilding, ship repair and offshore yards. The association is a branch association of Technology Industries of Finland and a member of SEA Europe.
Jean-Benoit BENSOUSSAN
Marine & Offshore Industry Director - Dassault Systèmes.
Jean Benoit BENSOUSSAN graduated from ENSTA Bretagne as a naval and offshore engineer in 2012. He joined TechnipFMC in Oslo as a Rigid Pipeline Engineer to work on large and complex Oil & Gas projects, from design, fabrication to installation of offshore vessels. After more than 6 years in pipeline engineering and driven by the ambition to expand his role, Jean Benoit completed an MBA from ESCP Business School in 2019 before moving to GTT as a business developer to promote LNG as a fuel solution for container ship owners.
He joined Dassault Systèmes in October 2022, where he successively served as Marine & Offshore Industry Business Strategy Specialist and then Sales & Strategy Manager. Since January 2026, he has been appointed Marine & Offshore Industry Director, leading the overall industry team and driving Dassault Systèmes’ strategy and customer engagement across the global marine and offshore ecosystem.
Stefan Breitenbach is a Senior Project Leader with over 15 years of experience in European funding programmes, maritime logistics, and sustainable transport solutions. As Head of the Project Department at Port of Hamburg Marketing, he leads international EU-funded initiatives focused on modal shift, transport decarbonisation, and sustainable energy deployment across freight transport chains.
His expertise spans strategic project acquisition, stakeholder management, and hands-on implementation - from developing successful project proposals to coordinating multinational consortia involving public authorities, industry partners, and associations. Stefan is particularly skilled at building strong European stakeholder networks, translating policy objectives into operational projects, and leading interdisciplinary teams in complex international environments.
He holds a background in maritime logistics and business administration and is a certified PRINCE2 Practitioner.
Nelson Chow stands at the forefront of business transformation in Asia as both the President of the Institute for Supply Management – Hong Kong Branch (ISM-HK) and the leading Partner at Argon & Co. With over twenty years of experience, his expertise spans operational excellence, margin enhancement, supply chain risk management, sustainability and digital transformation across both multinational and local organizations.
He has served 50+ clients worldwide and managed 100+ strategic projects across sectors including Automotive, FMCG, Food & Beverages, Luxury & Fashion, Private Equity, Retail & E-commerce, Power & Utilities, Life Sciences, Transport & Logistic, Trading and Industrial. Nelson Chow is passionate about nurturing the next generation of business and digital talents, highlighted by his roles as a Professor of Practice in the Global Supply Chain Master Program at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Chair of Program Advisory Committee at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong. He has enriched his academic credentials with Executive programs from prestigious institutions including The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Stanford, and Cambridge.
As President of ISM, he has led multiple company visits in Greater Bay Area for corporate and individual members, including visits to Tencent, BYD, the Qianhai Authority, and Yantian International Port.
He, representing ISM-HK, has recently co-organizing the Supply Chain, Procurement and Logistics Theatre with ReThink HK 2025. A sought-after speaker, Nelson recently spoke and moderated the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC), HK Disneyland Supplier Diversity Symposium, Standard Chartered Supplier Diversity Conference, ESG Xchange, Suzhou American Chamber Manufacturing Conference, Annual ASEAN Procurement Innovation Summit, Digital Procurement Transformation, Luxury Symposium, Asia Retail Arena, Asia Pacific Procurement Congress, World Finance Forum, Smart Supply Chain and Logistics Asia, Asia Digital Supply Chain Summit and ProcureCon Asia.l Board.
Hannu Kallio is the CEO of the Port of Naantali and an experienced executive with a strong background in port operations, industrial safety, and risk management. He has led complex infrastructure and logistics organizations through change, combining commercial thinking with a deep understanding of safety, resilience, and operational continuity.
Before becoming CEO, Hannu Kallio worked in senior operational and safety leadership roles in the port sector and the chemical industry, where he was responsible for safety management systems, regulatory compliance, and crisis preparedness in high‑risk environments. His experience spans daily operations, long‑term investment decisions, and board‑level strategic work.
Hannu is particularly known for his practical approach to leadership: translating strategy, risk awareness, and preparedness into concrete actions that improve performance, safety, and trust across organizations. He works closely with management teams, boards, and public stakeholders in environments where reliability and resilience are critical. In his speaking engagements, Hannu Kallio focuses on safety leadership, organizational preparedness, decision‑making under uncertainty, and the realities of leading critical infrastructure in a changing world. His style is direct, analytical, and grounded in real operational experience.
He is a Master of Science in industrial management and Engineering.
MBA Hanna Korvenpää has served as Managing Director of Kuehne+Nagel Finland since 2018 and, in addition, as Managing Director of Kuehne+Nagel Estonia since 2024. Prior to her appointment as Managing Director, she held the position of Sales Director within the company.
Korvenpää has extensive and diverse experience in the logistics industry, gained through a wide range of roles over the years. Alongside her executive responsibilities, she is pursuing a DBA at UBIS Geneva. In addition, she is actively involved in positions of trust within the logistics sector at the Finland Chamber of Commerce, the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce, and the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK).
Mrs Laura Langh-Lagerlöf is the Managing Director and co-owner of the Finnish company Langh Group Oy Ab and its daughter companies, shipping company Langh Ship Oy Ab and green tech manufacturer Langh Tech Oy Ab.
Laura has a master’s degree in Economics & Business Administration from Åbo Akademi University and she has since an early age been involved in the family business. Thanks to the excellent knowledge in the maritime industry and the good business sense, Laura has led the shipping company successfully and has accomplished significant growth in the fleet. In addition to being a ship owner, Laura has from the start been a very important actor in the development of Langh Tech’s scrubbers, and has thereafter continued to drive the company to constantly look for new areas to innovate. Nowadays Langh Tech develops several kinds of green tech for vessels, including SOx scrubbers and thereto related water treatment systems, ballast water treatment systems, carbon capture and batteries, which have combined been sold to over two hundred vessels.
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Mika Laurilehto
Deputy CEO, Chief Technology Officer, Rauma Marine Constructions
Mika Laurilehto is a highly experienced shipbuilding professional with deep expertise in naval architecture, marine engineering, and ship design. As Chief Technology Officer at RMC, he drives technological advancements in complex vessel construction, including defense ships, icebreakers, and ROPAX ferries.
With over 20 years in shipbuilding, he has held key leadership roles, including Vice President of Design at MV Werften and Managing Director at Deltamarin. His extensive background in ship design, engineering, and innovation ensures RMC remains at the forefront of modern maritime technology, delivering advanced, high-performance vessels to meet evolving industry demands.
Jussi Lehtinen
VP, Sales & Projects
Born 1981
M.Sc. (Tech.) in Naval Architecture (2006)
VP, Sales & Projects at Helsinki Shipyard since Aug.2024.
Previously various positions at Evac Group 2018-2024, latest position as VP Project Sales & Sales Support 2022-2024.
Project Manager and Technical Manager at Helsinki Shipyard 2014-2018 for multipurpose Icebreaker projects.
Area Sales Manager at Marioff Corporation 2011-2014.
Project Manager at Marioff Corporation 2008-2011.
Production Planner at Helsinki Shipyard 2007-2008.
Thesis Trainee at Wärtsilä Ship Power 2006
Tracy Jin - Business Development Manager, Port of Esbjerg
Tracy Jin is a Business Development Manager at Port of Esbjerg, one of Europe’s leading ports within offshore wind logistics and a growing hub for multimodal transport and energy transition.
At Port of Esbjerg, Tracy works at the intersection of global trade, logistics, and strategic partnerships, with a particular focus on strengthening connectivity between Northern Europe and international markets. She is actively involved in developing new logistics corridors, attracting international shipping lines, and supporting trade and import/export initiatives, most recently within aquatic products logistics and supply chains linking Scandinavia to China.
With a strong international background and cross-cultural experience, Tracy Jin brings a global perspective to port development and trade facilitation. She is passionate about building sustainable logistics ecosystems and positioning smaller, specialized ports as key players in the global supply chain.
Tracy JIn is also engaged in industry dialogue on energy transition, intermodal connectivity, and the evolving role of ports in supporting green infrastructure, including offshore wind and emerging CCS initiatives
Blasco Majorana – Line Manager, Finnlines
Blasco Majorana is a senior logistics executive with 20 years of experience in the European RoRo shipping and logistics sector, specializing in fleet operations, intermodal network development, and sustainable transport solutions. He currently leads the North Sea Business Unit at Finnlines, overseeing a multipurpose RoRo fleet, P&L performance, and key customer relationships. Originally from Italy and educated in Business Administration at the University of Naples Federico II, with a Certificate in Automobile Logistics Management from the ECG Academy, Blasco is fluent in Italian, English, and Spanish. He has extensive experience serving the automotive and forestry industries, managing multinational teams, and developing strategic partnerships across Europe. Blasco is also a member of the Extended Board of Management of Finnlines.
Vesa Martinen - VP Cargo, port of Helsinki
Passionate maritime man, leader and advisor of maritime businesses around northern hemisphere.
While finalizing M.Sc. in Naval Architecture he joined Silja Line in 1997. There he got acquainted with CapEx projects, sale & purchase of vessels and ship management. After the Nordic work culture, he moved to Florida, heading Deltamarin engineering consulting for global cruise lines and North American maritime clientele. Then he joined Aker Yards to create and lead the growth of global consulting engineering & conversion business. That was followed by a shift to Wärtsilä along with “scrubber” initiative, where he was leading Environmental Services and then took a role as senior leader of Marine Lifecycle Solutions.
After corporate life, he worked on assignments in change management from 2013. First as MD for Turku Repair Yard in Finland, followed by structural business in Nordics, Cruise ship public spaces project management in Japan, Advisor in digital businesses at Cruise & Ferry, Logistics IoT scale-up leadership and finally as shipyard General Manager in UK. He has experience from board of Finnish Marine Industries, SeaEurope, SRC Group, Eniram and from several advisory committees.
Since summer 2023 Vesa Marttinen has served as VP, Cargo in Port of Helsinki. He is also a member of board at Port of Loviisa and Finnish Waterways Association.
Jyrki Ranki – Business Development Director, COSCO Specialized Carriers B.V
Jyrki Ranki is seasoned professional in forest - and logistics industry. He has extensive experience in maritime transport and port operations. He has long-term experience in building and managing the forest industry's supply chains and logistics network entities. He has also been responsible for logistics procurement in the forest industry sector, with an emphasis on maritime logistics. Jyrki Ranki has worked in several factory projects and has been responsible for the development of logistics infrastructure in Finland and abroad.
In 2025, he moved from the forest industry to the maritime logistics sector. Currently, he works for Cosco Shipping Specialized Carriers, where he is responsible for the development of the shipping company's forest industry business in Europe. Jyrki has served as the chairman of the boards of several stevedoring companies and is currently a member of the board of the international IFPTA (International Forest Product Transportation Association).
Niclas Seligson is a highly experienced Master Mariner and maritime professional with over 30 years at sea.
Since 2006 he has worked for Finnlines and he spent 17 years as a captain, including serving as captain of Finnlines’ M/S Finnstar on the Helsinki–Travemünde route. On 1 July 2025, he transitioned ashore, taking on the role of Sea Personnel Manager, Finland at Finnlines. In this position, he leads a team on land and oversees more than 800 Finnish-flagged seafarers. Across his career, Niclas has built deep operational expertise — not only from navigating sea routes but also in organizational leadership. He draws on his firsthand knowledge of shipboard life to guide personnel development, foster well-being, and strengthen cooperation between shore and sea teams. In addition to his role at Finnlines, Niclas serves also as a Senior Advisor at SeaFocus International. In this capacity, he mentors emerging maritime talent, supports strategic projects, such as future maritime safety initiatives, and helps bridge the gap between technical expertise and leadership in shipping. His leadership philosophy centres on combining operational excellence with empathy, ensuring the seafarers he leads are not just capable but also supported and motivated.
Olli Soininen, Head of Programs, Fintraffic Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), Finland
Olli Soininen is the Head of Programs at Fintraffic Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), where he leads strategic programs shaping the future of Finland’s maritime traffic management and digital maritime ecosystem. In this role, he oversees the development and implementation of major initiatives that enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of maritime operations while aligning Finland’s maritime infrastructure with international regulatory and technological developments.
With more than 20 years of experience in maritime systems, operations, and process development, Olli Soininen has extensive expertise in Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), maritime digitalization, and integrated information services for ports and shipping. His work focuses on transforming strategic visions into operational capabilities, particularly in areas such as maritime data sharing, Maritime Single Window (MSW) services, Just-in-Time (JIT) port operations, and the implementation of e-Navigation services based on the S-100 framework. He leads and contributes to national and international initiatives that support the development of interoperable maritime data ecosystems in line with evolving IMO and EU digital maritime policies.
Olli Soininen is also actively engaged in international maritime cooperation through the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). He serves as Vice Chair of the IALA Digital Technologies Committee (DTEC) Working Group 2 on Emerging Technologies, where he contributes to advancing the understanding and application of new technologies that will shape the future of maritime navigation services and vessel traffic management.
Prior to joining Fintraffic, Olli served in the Finnish Navy, where he held several senior roles in systems engineering and capability development, culminating in his position as Chief of Systems Development. In this role, he led the modernization of surveillance and command-and-control systems and contributed to multinational interoperability programs, including cooperation within NATO frameworks.
Olli’s professional focus combines strategic program leadership, technological innovation, and international collaboration. He is particularly interested in the future of maritime operations, digital transformation, and the role of emerging technologies and data-driven services in enabling safer, smarter, and more sustainable maritime logistics.
Reko-Antti Suojanen serves as Senior Ministerial Advisor at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland. He oversees and leads the trilateral Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, ICE Pact, on behalf of the Finnish government as a designated National Coordinator for Finland. ICE Pact aims to enhance collaboration between Finland, Canada and the US, as well as with allies and partners. The initiative focuses on collective capacity to design, produce, and maintain arctic and polar icebreakers, as well as other capabilities, by increasing information exchange, industrial collaboration, and operational know-how.
Mr. Suojanen’s extensive previous experience provides him with a deep understanding of Arctic needs, technological development, and industrial capabilities within the global shipbuilding market.
Prior to his work at the Ministry, he was the CEO of Aker Arctic Technology Inc. for ten years. Earlier in his career, he was involved in arctic issues, shipbuilding, and the development and design of icebreakers. He held various roles, including R&D Manager, Project Director/Manager, and Designer. His work experience spans Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Turku and Helsinki, as well as Aker Yards, before joining Aker Arctic Technology in 2005.
In addition to his industry positions, he has been actively involved in the national association Finnish Marine Industries, serving as a Board Member and steering research and development activities related to Arctic issues.
He currently holds board memberships in several companies and marine- related associations. For the past 25 years, Mr. Suojanen has been at the forefront of Arctic technology and capability development, both for industrial applications and governmental purposes. His contributions span from research and development to practical applications in the marine industry, including shipbuilding, offshore applications, and vessel operations.
Mr. Suojanen holds a Master’s Degree in Naval Architecture from Helsinki University of Technology, which he obtained in 1997.
E-mail reko-antti.suojanen@gov.fi Tel. +358 40 073 8123
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Andres Uusoja
CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Estonian biggest railway company Operail.
Andres Uusoja leads commercial strategy, business development, sales, and customer service for one of the most ambitious railway players in the Baltic region. Across more than twenty years of experience in international logistics, he has developed expertise spanning maritime, aviation, road transport and terminal operations - positioning him at the forefront of evolving supply chain trends.
Under Andres Uusoja leadership, Operail and Operail Repairs (locomotive and wagon maintenance and repair) are both strengthening their role in as a important player connecting Finnish cargo flows to Black, North and Adriatic Sea regions by rail.
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Liina Vahala
Head of Product Development
Meyer Turku
Head of Product Development at Meyer Turku Shipyard with a foundation in Naval Architecture. Leading early phase research and development at Meyer Turku from initiating impactful projects to identifying right technologies for reaching the targets and ambitions. Best results stem where traditional engineering principles blend to multidisciplinary expertise and cutting-edge technology.