Conference Speakers 2019

Director General
Federal Transport Authority - Land & Marine

With his Engineering back ground and diversified experiences due to long serving in different government positions and active participation in areas such as urban planning, city management, development programming, development control, municipal services, municipal codes and regulations and project management. Some of his outstanding achievements are establishing an advanced digital mapping and GIS in Al Ain, Al Ain Master Planning 2000 and 2015, Al Ain Computerized Data Management System, as well as Abu Dhabi International Building Codes, and Abu Dhabi Real Estate Regulations.

To mention some of the key positions, he worked as DG of Al Ain Town Planning, Undersecretary of Al AIn Municipality, Undersecretary of AbuDhabi Department of Municipal Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi General Service Company (Musanada).

CEO
ADNOC Logistics & Services

Capt Abdulkareem Al Masabi is leading ADNOC Logistics & Services, an ADNOC company formed in 2017 from three ADNOC Group companies (ADNATCO-IRSHAD AND ESNAAD).

Before assuming his current role in April 2018, Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi was the Executive Vice-President of the Ports Unit at Abu Dhabi Ports, where he was responsible for all of Abu Dhabi Ports’ day-to-day operational activities.
Prior to this role, Al Masabi was the Vice President at Khalifa Port. He joined Abu Dhabi Ports as Senior Operations Manager in 2009 with over 11 years’ experience in the shipping and ports industry.

Before joining Abu Dhabi Ports, he was marine operations manager with the National Gas Shipping Company, an ADNOC Group company. Before that, he was a senior marine superintendent with Gulf Energy Maritime. For the eight years before that, he was with NGSCO, where he rose through the ranks on board the company’s LNG/oil tankers, from third officer to master/chief officer, where he provided operational leadership for the ports’ growth. While there, he led the Khalifa Port to being named Port of the Year in 2014 and 2015. He also was recognized as the Outstanding VP/ EVP at the Abu Dhabi Award of Excellence in 2017.

Capt Abdulkareem graduated from South Tyneside college from UK as a Master Mariner in addition he has an executive Masters in Business Administration, business Administration and management, general (2013-1014).

CEO
Abu Dhabi Ports

Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi is the Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Ports, the operator and the manager of commercial and community ports within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, as well as Fujairah Terminals and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD).

In his role, he oversees the development of Abu Dhabi Ports’ portfolio of assets and activities as well as direct their strategy and operations. Under his leadership, the transition from a project-focused organisation to a fully operational, customer focused ports and industrial zones business (KIZAD) has been a remarkable success.

A strong, determined and entrepreneurial leader, he leads Abu Dhabi Ports’ role in supporting the government’s objective of diversifying the non-oil and gas economy.

Al Shamisi is an experienced maritime executive with almost 20 years of industry experience, working to ensure Abu Dhabi Ports continues to hold a prime position in the region’s commercial maritime whilst boosting the profile of Abu Dhabi globally.

He joined Abu Dhabi Ports in 2008 and has held key leadership positions within its portfolio, which include the Executive Vice President for the company’s Ports Unit, where he was instrumental in restructuring this unit and rationalising its assets. He also oversaw the completion and commissioning of the first phase of Abu Dhabi Ports’ flagship port, Khalifa Port and of its adjacent Khalifa Industrial Zone.

During his management, Abu Dhabi Ports won more than 40 prestigious local and international awards, including five categories of Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance 2017 which granted the company the Main Award.

Al Shamisi is a Board Member of Abu Dhabi Marine Operations & Services Company (ADMOS), Etihad Rail DB, the Federal Transport Authority - Land & Maritime, and MAKE A WISH Foundation UAE. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees to the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre. He is currently the Chairman of KIZAD Board of Directors, and has served as a Board Member and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Terminals and as a Board Member of Etihad Airways. He has been recently appointed as the Vice Chairman of Arab Sea Port Federation.

Al Shamisi holds an MBA, an advanced Diploma of Applied Science (shipmaster) and a Graduate Certificate of Management from the University of Tasmania, Australia.

He has received the Peter Morris Prize from the Australian Maritime College’s (AMC) for his significant contributions to the maritime industry, as well as being awarded the AMC Baird Publication Prize for Best Performance in Navigation Studies, He is also the recipient of the Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence. In 2012, Al Shamisi was also named the Young Personality of the Year at the Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards. Recently, he came in the first position of the 2018 Logistics News ME 25 CEO Powerlist in the Middle East

Acting CEO
Kuwait Oil Tanker Company

Ali Shehab Ahmad is at present the Acting Chief Executive Officer at Kuwait Oil Tanker Company
(KOTC). In this role he is responsible for all fleet operational matters, including engineering,
personnel, newbuilding projects and marine agency. During a distinguished career with the
company Ali Shehab has been responsible for KOTC’s fleet renewal plans as well as introducing
modern, environment-friendly technologies onboard all KOTC vessels. As well as serving as
chairman of a number of KOTC subsidiary companies, Ali Shehab is also the chairman of the
DNV-GL Middle East Technical Committee and a member of ABS – South East Asia and the
Middle East Technical Committee.

CEO
Emirates Ship Investment Company LLC

Chris Peters Joined Eships in May 2009 and took over as CEO in March 2017, having previously been the CFO. Chris joined Eships from GE Commercial Finance and was previously at Nordea Bank, having almost 20 years banking experience, of which the last 13 years were directly in shipping/offshore finance. Chris attained an MBA from Cass (formerly City University) Business School London, majoring in Finance and Strategy. He has worked on multiple senior debt and project finance facilities as MLA and has overseen several shipping IPO facilities. Whilst at GE he was responsible for structuring and negotiating several equity acquisitions from a shipping fleet to a shipping bank. As CEO, Chris is directly responsible for the implementation of the shareholders strategy for the business ensuring not only the financial targets are met, but met, whilst upholding the groups commitment to safety and good corporate governance.

Assistant General Manager
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC)

Mr. Zhang Wei has served as Assistant General Manager of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Dubai (DIFC) Branch since June, 2017. He joined ICBC in 2001, and had previously served in several positions including Deputy Director of Global Finance Department and Deputy Director of Corporate Banking Department in Head Office.
Mr. Zhang Wei is specialized in project financing and syndicated financing, especially in fields such as energy, resources, transportation, project contracting, and equipment manufacturing. He plays key roles in several regional projects of great influence. He led the syndicated facility of USD 690 million for Emirates National Oil Company, and the syndicated facility for Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Company. His professionalism is also highly recognized in the syndicated facility for Hassyan Energy Phase 1 P.S.C. project.

Mr. Zhang Wei obtained a Master degree in Business Administration from Tsinghua University and a bachelor degree in international finance from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

CEO
International Shipping & Logistics

Master Mariner with 16 years of sailing experience on various types of ships (Bulk Carrier, Tanker and Container vessels). Rich commercial and operating experience in shore-based Shipping of more than 15 years, a total of more than 30 years of experience in Shipping. Was instrumental in starting third party operating business in TMILL (Joint venture of Tata Steel, NYK and Martrade) under ISL brand and creating a strong brand in the global shipping arena. A highly-driven leader with strong techno-commercial acumen, Capt.Patnaik is continuously looking at striking the right balance between the changing business environment, stakeholder value and customer expectation. Focus and passion have been his strong foundation.

Under his able guidance ISL has also ventured into many projects such as the Indian coastal container & RO-RO trade, Inter- PG aggregate trade, Liquid Cargo trade, provide last mile logistics solution to customers in India & Towage and harbour services .With a vision to expand and enhance the business in the dry bulk transportation , the company under his leadership has acquired a gearless 74,461 Dwt Japanese built Panamax vessel in 2018.
All of this was possible by developing and nurturing talent, high level of innovation and dynamism.

Capt. Patnaik is an active participant at various Marine/Logistics Seminars & Conferences. He has been a speaker at several of these seminars wherein he has shared his vast knowledge with the maritime & logistics industry on various related topics. The most recent being at the ‘Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2019’.

Vice President- Financial Strategy
Abu Dhabi Ports

Vice President-Financial Strategy, Bobby Varghese, is responsible for the Corporate Finance. Financial Budgeting, Planning and Performance function for Abu Dhabi Ports and its subsidiaries. He has been with Abu Dhabi Ports since November 2014, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He reports to the Chief Financial Officer of the company.

He has over 20 years of experience in the Shipping, Logistics and Ports industry. The major part of his core experience has been in Supply chain and freight forwarding business, while working for the DHL Exel supply chain solutions group and AP Moller Maersk group in India and the Middle East.

Until August 2014, he was the CFO of Ports Development company, the company which is developing King Abdullah Port (KAP), located in the King Abdullah Economic city, near Jeddah, KSA.

Prior to this, he was the CFO of The Port of Salalah, based in Salalah, Oman. Port of Salalah is a world class transshipment hub in the West Central Asia Region. Situated right at the major East-West shipping lanes, Salalah enjoys an attractive strategic location in the heart of the Indian Ocean Rim and caters to some of the world’s largest ocean going vessels.

Prior to this assignment, he worked as the CFO of APM Terminals Mumbai (APMT) based in Mumbai, India. APMT Mumbai is the largest container terminal in India handling close to 2 Million TEUs annually.

Bobby is a Chartered Accountant (India) and a Certified Public Accountant (USA). He is also a Certified Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma. He also holds a Diploma in Terminal Management from the Lloyd’s list of London.

CEO
Global Marine Transport Capital LLC

Andrew J. Simmons is the Chief Executive Officer of Four Wood Marine Advisors Ltd (“FWMA”) and has supervisory responsibility across structuring and underwriting activity of Global Marine Transport Capital’s (“the Company”) senior secured lending activity, as well as overseeing internal risk management activities for the Company.  He serves as a member of the Four Wood Marine Advisors Credit Committee as well as a member of the Four Wood Marine Advisors Management Board.

Mr. Simmons joined Four Wood Marine Advisors in October 2014 and has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, with particular expertise in shipping finance dating back to 1973.  He is well-known and widely respected across shipping finance markets globally, having served in key C-Suite roles for publicly traded companies and high profile organizations in Europe and the Middle East for many years.  Previously, Mr. Simmons served as Chief Financial Officer of StealthGas Inc., one of the largest publicly-traded LNG carriers in the world (2005 – 20011), Vice President & Head of European Sales for Inchcape Shipping Services, UK (2011 -2013), Head of Credit Reports for Lloyd’s List Intelligence (2011) and Director of Shipping Finance for Heath Lambert in Dubai and Bahrain (2002 – 2005).  Prior to joining FWMA, most recently Mr. Simmons served as CFO and Treasurer of SuperEco Tankers Ltd (2013- 2014), a well-known transport concern out of Piraeus, Greece.

Regional Head
North Star Asia Maritime Pte. Ltd. (NSAM)

CEO
Tomini Group

Nitin Mehta is a passionate business leader and CEO of Tomini Group having previously served as CFO.
He joined in 2013, and during this period he has led the Group through significant revenue and geographic growth.
Extensive experience in diverse markets with a profound knowledge of finance and proven advisory skills allow Nitin to provide solutions by getting all stakeholders together to achieve common objectives.
Leading the Group’s core business interests in shipping and diversifications into other industries including classic cars, Nitin also oversees Tomini’s fleet under construction and manages over USD 300 million of assets.
Nitin believes in keeping things simple and attributes his success to mutually respectful relationships, which he has built over his extensive career. He is driven to uphold the highest level of ethics, credibility and transparency through a diverse and holistic range of competencies he has gained over the last 23 years across multiple geographies.
Prior to joining he held several executive positions for a number of banks including Standard Chartered Citibank and Mashreq bank. Nitin holds an MBA.

Managing Director
StormHarbour

Managing Director
McQuilling Shipping Services DMCC, Dubai

Hari as he is known in commercial circles is a master mariner having sailed in command of crude/chemical and CPP tankers. He offers a unique blend of sea and shore- extensive, international and multinational work experience in a wide range of shipping sectors which include marine operations, training, auditing, crewing, QHSE, commercial operations, chartering, sale & purchase, projects and strategic business development. Cultivating on his commercial acumen, he has spent over a decade cementing his position in the commercial world of shipping. He has had the privilege of working in the commercial department of very large ship-owners, thereby bringing tremendous experience and insight into the role he is in today. Highly respected for his work ethics and commercial knowledge, Hari set up McQuilling Dubai in 2012 as the MD. McQuilling Partners is a privately owned marine services company and is seated on both the International and Asian Baltic Exchange tankers panels. In addition to its regional presence in Dubai, Mumbai and Delhi, the group is headquartered in New York with offices in Singapore, Athens, Caracas, Houston, Lima Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro. For the past three consecutive years, McQuilling has been named among the top ten shipbrokers in the world by Lloyd’s List. McQuilling Shipping Services DMCC, Dubai was awarded ‘The Marine Broker of the Year 2018 by The Maritime Standard’ for the third consecutive time. Amongst the gamut of services provided by the group is freight brokerage across all segments, sales and purchase, FFAs, financial services, commodities and consultancy. Hari is today a partner in the group, and is also the MD of McQuilling India. He is also elected to the board at Mcquilling Partners Inc and is a certified auditor by DNV. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered shipbrokers, and was the recipient of the Global Tanker chartering award. He lectures regularly to aspiring students on Tanker chartering/markets/ship management. In addition, he is the chairman of the Nautical Institute UAE Branch. Hari has authored several papers that have been published in various maritime publications.

CFO
ADNOC Logistics & Services

Chris Thomas holds 35 years of experience in the shipping and banking industries. During his career he was the CFO of 3 US listed shipping companies and realized 3 successful IPOs. Chris Thomas was located in Athens from 1994 to 2011, where he assumed the roles of CFO in various private and publicly listed shipping companies.
In addition to his roles as CFO, Chris Thomas spent a total 15 years as both a commercial and investment banker in London. Chris Thomas has also spent time working in Dubai and Denmark working in the areas of restructuring.

Director- Shipping, Aviation & ECA Financing
Faber Capital

Vice Chairman
EMAC

Executive Partner at law firm Hadef & Partners, Richard Briggs is a recognised leader in commercial dispute resolution in the UAE and has practised contentious business law in the UAE for most of his career. His areas of specialisation are in the litigation and arbitration fields, particularly with reference to maritime, trade and insurance law in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East area.

Prior to working at Hadef, Mr Briggs trained with Clifford Chance in London and Dubai, later joining another UAE law firm as a partner. He graduated from the University of Warwick (LLB) and the College of Law, Guildford (United Kingdom). He is a member of the Law Society and a Practicing Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He is also a member of the International Bar Association and World Jurist Association. Richard is the ICC FraudNet member for the UAE, Middle East Regional Coordinator for the Inter-Pacific Bar Association and former Vice Chair of the IBA Maritime Committee.

Vice President – Marine & Energy (International)
Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company

Mr. Nabil Ben Azzouz currently holds the position of Vice President – Marine & Energy (International) at Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC). Joined ADNIC in November 2014. He is responsible for of the underwriting of facultative reinsurance business related to the Marine and Energy lines of business within the International Division. He’s also responsible of developing our portfolio of business from North African markets. Mr. Nabil handled different positions in ADNIC for more than 8 years. Before that his last position in ADNIC was Senior Manager – Aviation & Offshore Energy Underwriting.

Nabil Azzouz has a Master Degree of Insurance Law as well as a University Diploma of Insurance from the Institute des Assurances de Lyon, France. In addition, Nabil has a Bachelor Degree of Economics from Economics and Management University, Tunis. Nabil has also a Diploma of Insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute, London (Dip CII)

Partner
HFW

Tien specialises in asset and international shipping finance including acting for financial institutions (including commercial and development banks), international corporations and shipping companies in relation to the financing, chartering, newbuilding and sale and purchase of ships and superyachts including Islamic finance techniques.

Tien has also gained considerable experience in handling ship and ship mortgage registration on a number of registries, bareboat registration, negotiation of charterparties, sale and purchase agreements, shipbuilding contracts and refund guarantees, as well as a wide variety of ancillary commercial arrangements seen in the maritime industry.

Tien has over 6 months experience with the in-house legal team of Standard Chartered Bank in Dubai working on security and transaction structuring for the leveraged and trade finance teams.

Tien has authored the Shipping Finance Chapter UAE for Getting the Deal Through from 2015-2018.

Tien is Ranked in Band 2 Chambers Global in Shipping for his banking work.

Chambers Global UAE Shipping 2018 says Tien Tai retains a formidable presence in the area of UAE shipping finance law. He leads the finance team in some of its largest matters, including several sophisticated, cross-border transactions. In addition to finance, he is also highly adept in corporate shipping matters. Market sources speak very highly of his shipping finance expertise, remarking that he is a "very responsive lawyer who gives good advice and takes time to understand the business and the context."

Partner
Stephenson Harwood

A banking and finance expert in the Dubai office with a particular focus on asset and structured finance, Nijoe is well known for using his broad experience of complex, cross-border transactions and developing innovative structures specialising in the maritime and aviation sectors. Clients value his highly commercial and pragmatic approach.

Nijoe's experience in the Middle East consists of portfolio (maritime and aviation) acquisitions and disposals, complex loan (bilateral and syndicated) financings, Islamic financings, operating and financing leasing transactions. He advises all major national and international lenders, investors, lessors and operators around the world on financing structures involving the maritime and aviation industries.

He has worked on path breaking aviation matters involving reputed names from the domestic and international aviation industries. He is reputed in the market for his work involving complex multi-jurisdictional security structures for aircraft components and spare parts - leasing and financing.

Nijoe's client base also consists of reputed UAE family houses, businesses, government al departments and high net worth individuals whom he also advises on all aspects of UAE corporate and commercial law. This includes but is not limited to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and on project finance matters.

Prior to joining Stephenson Harwood, Nijoe was the legal advisor to the maritime department of Department of Transport for the Government of Abu Dhabi. He is also a frequent guest lecturer to the Hamburg School of Business Maritime, teaching students business related issues regarding Islamic finance and the shipping industry.

Ship and offshore finance

Petrochemical trading company

Advised a large petrochemical trading company in the UAE in acquisition of their shipping fleet of tankers with transactions worth over US$50 million.

Large UAE Bank

Advised a large UAE Bank on a complex vessel lease finance transaction worth US$265 million for a super specialised derrick lay vessel.

Leading offshore services company

Advised a leading offshore services company in structuring senior and mezzanine finance for acquisition of a fleet of offshore supply vessels.

Banking and financial services regulations    

Basel III obligations

Advised one of the largest international Chinese banks on their Basel III obligations under the UAE Central Bank.

DFSA regulatory advice

Advised large Chinese bank based out of the Dubai International Financial Centre on their compliance with the Dubai Financial Services Authority’s (DFSA) regulations.

International Islamic finance

Advised DIFC based bank on their participation in an international Islamic finance transaction and their compliance under DFSA regulations.

Corporate

Leading educational group - M&A deal

Advised a leading school operator in their acquisition of an American curriculum school in the UAE of a deal amounting to UAE Dirhams 55 million.

UAE business establishment

Advised one of the world's leading lubricants manufacturer on their establishment in the UAE and structuring their man power related issues.

UAE professional services company acquisition

Advised the largest facilities management organisation in their acquisition of UAE based professional services company in a transaction worth UAE Dirhams 12 million.

Aviation finance

Aircraft fleet acquisition

Advised a leading private aircraft owner and operator in the acquisition of their fleet of 22 fixed wing and rotary aircrafts.

Complex hybrid aircraft financing

Advised a large UAE bank on complex hybrid financing involving aircraft engines and components in a multi-jurisdictional transaction amounting to over US$200 million.

Large aircraft components financing

Advised UAE bank on aircraft components financing for large international aircraft components financier in transactions valued at over US$100 million.