President of the Regional Government of Madeira

Strategic Partnerships and Business Development

Arribatec Marine

Caterina Cerrini has professionally grown in the field of the ICT applied to the maritime sector.

She is currently dealing with business development projects at Arribatec Marine, with a focus on accelerating digitalization, shifting to a more sustainable economy while engaging on impactful innovation.

Her experience is based on building up partnerships, networking and communication projects in the maritime industry, with a particular dedication on driving the change towards the shipping modern transformation processes.

Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs

Period in office: 2022-03-30 until the current date

José Maria Costa was born, Mozambique in 1961. He graduated in Chemical Engineering from the Porto Higher Institute of Engineering in 1985. He was a senior worker at the Viana do Castelo Shipyard (1986 - 1994). Deputy Mayor of Viana do Castelo (1994 to 1997) and Councillor (1998-2009). Mayor of Viana Castelo (2009-2021). Chairman of the Alto Minho Intermunicipal Community – CIM- (2013-2021). Member of the Committee of the Regions (2014-2021). Member of the Territorial Coordination Council (2014-2021). Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Group for Local Coastal Action - North (2013- 2017). Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gil Eannes Foundation (2010-2021). Chairman of the Executive Council of the Atlantic Cities Conference (2017-2021).

Chairman of the Board of the Atlantic Axis Association (2012-2014). Chairman of the Board of the General Meeting of Águas do Norte (2018-2020).  

Representing the Viana do Castelo municipality, he was member of the governing boards of Resulima; Vianapolis; Polis Litoral Norte; Águas do Noroeste; and a member of the corporate bodies of the Association for the Collaboration between Ports and Cities – RETE (2013-2017).

President

Sines Port Community / A4S Association for Shipping 

Jorge d’Almeida graduated from the Portuguese Naval Academy and holds an MS degree in Naval Engineering from MIT and an MBA in finance from New York University. He has been engaged in wide-ranging projects in the maritime sector, including the launching of the Sines mega-container terminal, where he served as Managing Director. Presently, he is the president of the Sines Port and Logistics Community. He recently co-founded “4Shipping”, an association that promotes the Blue Economy in Portugal.

CEO

Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd

Kim is CEO of Anemoi Marine Technologies, a London based supplier of green technology to the maritime industry. The technology, Rotor Sails, help to reduce harmful emissions and drive a more sustainable future for commercial shipping, which is becoming an increasingly important issue as the industry moves to decarbonise.

Kim was educated at the Fanø Marine Academy, where he was certified as a Master Mariner and went on to be a Chief Officer for a large ship management company. He then turned his focus to the commercial aspects of the industry, retraining at Aarhus University and moving into sales, business development and Chief Executive roles in Marine, Oil and Gas. Kim specialises in business expansion, strategic development and opportunity identification, and applies his Marine background to take a hands-on approach to leadership.

Nordic Region General Manager

Yilport Holding Inc., Sweden

Eryn Dinyovszky has over 20 years of experience in management and business development of ports and terminals from various companies in 6 countries. She currently works for Yilport as the Regional General Manager for the Nordic, based in Sweden. Eryn holds a B.S. degree in Marine Transportation from California Maritime Academy and a MBA in Shipping, Offshore, and Finance from BI Norwegian School of Management.

Lawyer

CF - Maritime Legal Services

Cátia Fernandes is the founder of CF - Maritime Legal Services, a law firm specialised in maritime law. With almost two decades of background in the maritime law and ship finance area, she has vast experience in providing services to international companies in the maritime sector.

Cátia acts as legal advisor in relevant cross border transactions on behalf of international shipowners, banks and leasing entities. More specifically, Cátia provides legal assistance in matters related to ship registration, maritime guarantees and privileges, with particular emphasis on ship mortgages. She actively intervenes in complex credit facilities and financing structures secured by mortgages registered in Madeira.

Cátia also assists clients in other shipping related matters including regulatory, crewing, labour, tax and social security matters.

Cátia often participates in seminars and conferences on maritime law and has also been involved in several projects and legislative initiatives concerning maritime-related issues in Portugal.

Cátia Fernandes (catiafernandes.pt)

President, CEO

SDM - Sociedade de Desenvolvimento da Madeira, S.A.

Roy Garibaldi joined SDM - Sociedade de Desenvolvimento da Madeira 30 years ago and is today CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Being involved for 30 years in the implementation, promotion and development of the International Business Centre of Madeira, Roy Garibaldi has participated as a speaker at numerous national and international conferences and seminars on attracting foreign investment, international tax planning and ship registration. Fluent in four languages, he is also an auditor for the National Defense Institute and a member of the I.T.P.A. - International Tax Planning Association.

Managing Director

Scope Group

Ralf Garrn is an expert and thought leader with more than 20 years of experience in the credit rating and risk management industry. As Managing Director at Scope Group, he supports the development of ScopeOne, a digital credit intelligence platform, helping investors, arrangers, advisers, issuers and other market participants utilizing the benefits of Scopes' credit and ESG intelligence ecosystem. Currently Ralf focusses on the roll out of Ship Review, a part of ScopeOne assessing and monitoring a global fleet of more than 70.000 vessels on decarbonization, sustainability and safety.

Managing Partner

EUROPEAN MAR GmbH

Dr. Albrecht Gundermann has more than 20 years experience in the Shipping Industry. Before he became Managing Partner at EUROMAR, he was founder and Managing Director of LISCR Deutschland GmbH and he spent several years as Vice President of Global Shipping at Commerzbank AG. He studied law at the Universities of Freiburg and Würzburg and served as Assistant to Saxonian Prime Minister Prof. Biedenkopf and as Assistant to the President of Israeli High Court of Justice, Prof. Aharon Barak.

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.

Director General, Europe

CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)

As Director General of CLIA in Europe, Marie-Caroline Laurent is leading industry engagement with EU Institutions, European countries, and the wider cruise community in support of policies and practices that foster secure, healthy, and sustainable cruising.

Marie-Caroline is a transport policy expert who, prior to joining CLIA in November 2021, has worked in leadership roles at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for nearly a decade, including serving as Assistant Director for EU Affairs.  Her roles included providing strategic advice to governmental agencies on travel and security innovation.  

Previously, Marie-Caroline worked in policy development for the Association of European Airlines, where her responsibilities included policy development and representation of the airlines’ interest in the field of aviation security, as well as insurance policies, border controls and passenger data.  

She has also served as a parliamentary adviser at the European Parliament and as senior policy officer at the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU.

Chairman

Ernst Russ GmbH & Co

The Board of EISAP is chaired by Mr. Robert Lorenz-Meyer. 

Born in 1962, Mr Lorenz-Meyer is a graduate of St. Gallen University with more than 25 years’ experience in the shipping industry. He is Chairman of Ernst Russ GmbH & Co, founded in 1893, and one of Germany’s most established shipping companies.

Between 2009 and 2011 Mr. Lorenz-Meyer served as President of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). With more than 2,200 members, Copenhagen-headquartered BIMCO is the world’s largest international shipping association.

Executive Member of the Board of Directors

Port of Sines and the Algarve Authority

Duarte Lynce de Faria is Professor at the Navy Academy (Escola Naval), at the Maritime Academy (Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique) and at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (Universidade Nova de Lisboa). 

He holds a PhD in Corporate and Maritime Law from the University of Lisbon (Universidade de Lisboa), a PhD in Private International Law from the University of Extremadura (Spain), a Master in International Law from the University of Lisbon (Universidade de Lisboa) and a specialization in Shipping and Ports Management from the University of Lisbon (Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão). 

The main topics of his research are the jurisdiction of Portuguese maritime areas, maritime transport law and civil liability in shipping.

He is currently an executive member of the Board of Directors at the Port of Sines and the Algarve Authority, with responsibility in the areas of safety, quality, environment, pilotage, maritime operations and human resources.

NUNO MENDÃO

Secretary-General

EISAP - European International Shipowners Association of Portugal

Nuno Mendão is the Secretary-General for EISAP since October 2019 having lived since then one of the most challenging and exciting periods for the shipping industry.

He has a degree in Business and Management Administration and has more than 20 years of professional experience in managing and advising companies to navigate the seas of innovation and transformation. Nuno is an expert in corporate public awareness and reputation building.

Managing Partner

EUROPEAN MAR GmbH

Jörg Molzahn is founder and Managing Partner at EUROMAR. He has 20 years of experience in the Shipping Industry.

Before joining EUROMAR, he was Senior Vice President at LISCR LLC - Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry and Managing Director at LISCR Deutschland GmbH. Jörg graduated at the University of Applied Science in Elsfleth. He sailed on board for various shipping companies such as Hartmann, Ernst Jacob, Deutsche Afrika Linie and Sea Cloud Cruises and worked ashore as a Superintendent for the shipping company Baco-Liner GmbH.

Executive Director Greece & Middle East

EUROPEAN MAR II, LDA & COMANDITA - GREEK BRANCH

Executive Director of the Greek branch of “EUROMAR” with headquarters in Pireaus, acting on behalf of international shipowners for matters related to the International Shipping Register of Madeira (MAR), and Legal Counsel of European Mar II Lda. & Comandita.  

Managing Director of Marítimos Manning Portugal, a company that provides industry-leading manning services to shipowners and ship managers. 

Founder and President of WISTA Portugal, an Association affiliated with WISTA International that aims to promote gender equality and the sustainable development of the national maritime cluster and Portugal’s’ Blue Economy through a network of professionals at a national and international level. 

Vice-President of the Board of Directors, of EISAP - European International Shipowners Association of Portugal, which represents most of the shipowners with vessels registered under the Portuguese Flag.

Managing Partner

Alantra Partners, S.A.

Nicholas has over 15 years of Maritime Finance and Investments experience, including asset management, equity and debt capital markets and trading. Prior to joining Alantra, he was a Managing Director at StormHarbour where he co-headed the Shipping Investment Banking practice. Prior to that Nicholas headed the family office of a Greek HNW with primary investments in Shipping, Greek and US Real Estate and Agriculture. His previous roles include heading Z Capital’s Distress PE shipping efforts, and Heidmar Inc’s (Morgan Stanley Commodities) Corporate Finance and Trading.

Mr. Petrakakos expertise focuses on the origination, structuring and execution of complex debt and equity transactions with a focus on the maritime & offshore industry, including restructurings, mortgage and lease financing, and structured equity products among others. Apart from the maritime sector, his focus has been on Renewable Energy, Hospitality and Agriculture.

Nicholas holds an MBA with distinction from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an MSc in Ocean Systems Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MSc/BSc in Computer Engineering and Informatics from the University of Patras, Greece.

Founding and Managing Partner

SRS Advogados

Pedro Rebelo de Sousa, Founding and Managing Partner of SRS Advogados, is considered a benchmark in Finance and M&A. 

Pedro advises domestic and international clients on significant banking and finance matters, as well as structuring and executing big ticket M&A transactions.

With more than 40 years of experience, Pedro has a unique banking and finance background having been a senior officer in international investing banking in São Paulo and New York, and also as Chairman/CEO of a Portuguese bank.

Partner

Ince Germany Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Christian Reinert is a partner in the Hamburg office of the Ince network, a global network of law offices with a special focus on the maritime industry.

Christian assists clients now for over a decade on all aspects of corporate and loan restructurings, often involving multiple jurisdictions. He also represents their interests in insolvency proceedings and handles enforcement actions, including ship arrests. Furthermore, he advises on shipping related regulatory issues, including money laundering, data protection and economic sanctions and embargos.

As the market for ship financing more and more diversifies, Christian increasingly deals with capital markets regulation for clients seeking alternative ways of financing. 

A further part of Christian’s work concerns renewable energy. Having been involved from the early days of Germany’s offshore wind industry, Christian advises a broad client base, including contractors, wind farm owners, shipyards and ship owners. As a keen Portuguese learner, he is a member of the firm’s German Portugal and Latin American Desk. 

Communications Director

APS Ports of Sines and Algarve Authority

Graduated in Portuguese & English Literature and Postgraduated in Marketing & Communication, works at the Port of Sines’ Communication Department, being advisor to the Board of Directors especially in the field of corporate affairs and public relations and also a member of the port’s task force on sustainability, alternative fuels and energy transition.

Head of Department ‘Sustainability & Technical Assistance’

European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)

Ms Manuela Tomassini is a lawyer by education, specialised in Maritime, EU and International Law. After her degree at the Libera Universita’ Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (LUISS) in Rome, she attended the Italian “Scuola Nazionale dell’Amministrazione”. In 1994 she joined the Safety of Navigation Division of the Italian Ministry of Transport.

She held different positions within the Department of Maritime Transport of the Ministry, with responsibilities in the fields of maritime safety, EU and International Affairs. From 2000 until 2007 she worked as Transport Attache’ at the Italian Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU. In September 2007 she started working in EMSA as Policy Advisor and Head of the Bureau of the Executive Director; in 2011 she was appointed Head of Department A ‘Corporate Services’. In November 2014 she was appointed Head of Department B ‘Safety and Standards’. Since January 2020 she holds the position of Head of Department 1 ‘Sustainability & Technical Assistance’

Head of Shipping

Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG

Philipp Wuenschmann is Head of Shipping at Berenberg. He has around 20 years of experience in the industry, of which 6 years at Deutsche Schiffsbank, where he was responsible for a shipping loan portfolio of up to roughly USD 9.0 billion. Before joining Berenberg he was managing director at Erck Rickmers shipping group and responsible for business development, among others. In this role he initiated and structured various shipping projects, arranged the debt and equity financing, and assisted with their asset management as managing director following successful realisation of the projects.

Head of Legal and Compliance

COVANTIS SA

Milijana Zaric, LL.M, is qualified lawyer with 15 years of legal experience both as in-house counsel and within private practice. She is currently acting as Head of Legal and Compliance and Company Secretary at COVANTIS SA, a Swiss based joint venture created by six biggest commodity trading companies (ADM, Bunge, Cargill, COFCO, LDC and Viterra) to develop a digital platform aimed at modernizing post-trade execution processes. At COVANTIS, Milijana oversees legal and compliance matters of company’s Swiss and international business operations. She advises on commercial, data protection, mergers and acquisitions, business development, governance, and compliance matters.

Prior to joining COVANTIS in May 2020, Milijana served as legal counsel at ADM International and held several in-house and consulting roles within internalization organizations in Geneva. Milijana is also acting as Secretary of WISTA Switzerland.

Ms Zaric holds a law degree from University of Novi Sad, Serbia, Certificate in Transnational Law from Duke University, North Carolina and Master in laws (LL.M) from University of Lausanne.