Conference Speakers 2017

Director General

Federal Transport Authority-Land & Maritime

Chief Executive Officer

Abu Dhabi Ports

Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi is the CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, the owner, operator developer and regulator of Abu Dhabi’s maritime infrastructure and industrial zones.

As CEO, he develops and directs the strategy and operations of Abu Dhabi Ports’ portfolio of assets and activities, and has successfully driven the transition from a project-focused organization to fully operational, customer focused ports and industrial zones business.

A strong, determined and entrepreneurial leader, he leads Abu Dhabi Ports’ role in the government objective of diversifying the non-oil and gas economy while fulfilling the national goal of empowering Emirati talent.

Al Shamisi is an experienced maritime executive with more than 18 years industry experience, used to demonstrating industry leadership across the region and internationally. He joined ADPC in 2008 and has held key leadership positions including Executive Vice President for the ADPC Port Unit, where he was instrumental in restructuring the Ports Unit and rationalizing its assets.

He oversaw the completion and commissioning of the first phase of Abu Dhabi Ports’ flagship port, Khalifa Port and of its adjacent Khalifa Industrial Zone. He served as a Board Member and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Terminals, resigning on his appointment to the role of CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports. He is currently a Board Member of Etihad Airways and an Advisory Board Member of Wollongong University, Australia in Dubai.

Al Shamisi holds an MBA and Graduate Certificate of Management from the University of Tasmania, Australia and was awarded Young Personality of the Year at the Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards 2012. He is currently Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Cruise Development Committee.

He also holds an advanced Diploma of Applied Science (shipmaster) and was awarded the Australian Maritime College’s Baird Publication Prize for Best Performance in Navigation studies and a Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence.

Director Commercial

DP World – UAE Region

Abdulla Bin Damithan joined DP World in2001 as a graduate trainee, and, has since grown rapidly to the position he is today as Commercial Director in the UAE Region. His rise matched the transformation of DP World from a regional port operator to a global marine terminals operator.
In his capacity he managesall commercial related aspects at Jebel Ali, Fujairah, Mina Rashid and Mina Al Hamriya. Abdulla is actively involved in strategic and business development initiatives. He is also serving as an active Board Member not only for UAE Region but also in other DPW terminals globally.

Mr.Bin Damithan has found a unique identity with DP World over the years. He was a key member of the commercial team in the journey of success that saw DP World UAE Region’s throughput rising more than 5 times in the last decade.

Under his supervision, the Commercial Department grew rapidly withJebel Ali playing a vital role as the premier gateway connecting more than 140 ports across the globe.Mr.Bin Damithan is closely involved in the business strategy behind Jebel Ali Port’s on-going capacity expansion plans, including the new state of the art container terminals, T3 and T4. Beyond Jebel Ali, Abdulla looks after the ultra-modernHamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal at Mina Rashid.

In recognition of his leadership skills at a young age, Bin Damithan was nominated for Dubai Government Excellence Programme under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

A firm believer in leading his team by example, Abdulla Bin Damithan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the US, and has obtained a Graduate Diploma in Maritime & Port Management from the National University of Singapore.

Deputy CEO

Kuwait Oil Tanker Company

Ali Shehab Ahmad is a graduate from South Tyneside College (Marine College) in United Kingdom.He sailed as a Chief Engineer on-board KOTC vessels and spent considerable time at sea before being assigned on-shore at KOTC Head Office. His experience at sea, saw him lead the Fleet Personnel Group before being assigned as Manager of the critical New Building Projects Group

He is currently the Deputy CEO of KOTC,holding charge of the Fleet Directorate which includes all operational matters for Fleet which include the Fleet Marine Operations, Engineering, Personnel, New Building Projects, the Marine Agency Branch and the LPG plants in Kuwait.

Prior to this, Mr. Ali Shehab was the Manager for Fleet New Building Projects, and was largely responsible for KOTC Fleet Renewal plans as well as inducting modern environment-friendly technologies on-board all the vessels.

While stationed at Ulsan, Korea from2005 to 2007, as KOTC Site Manager at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), he was awarded the Ulsan Honorable Citizenship by the Ulsan City Mayor in Oct 2007.

He also serves as a distinguished Chairman and Board Member in KOTC subsidiaryshipping companies. He is also the Chairman of the DNV-GL Middle East Technical Committee – which is the No.1 Classification Society in the world, and a member of ABS – SouthEast Asia and the Middle East Technical committee.

As a leader, he has always placed great trust and faith in the inherent capabilities of his colleagues. He has always encouraged them to explore and develop and reach to their maximum potential, while being a fully supportive leader.

Managing Director and Group CEO

Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC

Chairman of the Board-DDW-PaxOcean Asia Pte Limited. Chairman of Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries. Chairman of the Federal Committee for the review and update of the maritime commercial law.

Khamis Juma Buamim was appointed as the Executive Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World in May 2010 and has successfully led the organization through its restructuring during a global financial crisis. His leadership and direction have been instrumental in the company being able to acquire several pioneering projects on a global scale. This leadership has seen the company move from close to financial failure, create major synergies, recognize potential and place the organization firmly on a path driven to sustainable profitability and growth.

An oil and gas industry veteran, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Regional Clean Sea Organization (the Gulf oil industry organization). Prior to joining RECSO, he was with Conoco and ConocoPhillips for 26 years in various management positions, including Vice President of Dubai Petroleum Company (DPC), a ConocoPhillips affiliate company in the United Arab Emirates.

He is also the Chairman of the Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries and the Federal NTA committee for the review and update of the maritime law and member of the advisory board of the Emirates Classification Society, TASNEEF.

He has also served as the Chairman and CEO of Dubai Drydocks and Dubai Maritime City, the Secretary General of the UAE Oil & Gas Human Resources Group, led the Dubai Petroleum Management Incident Command System, was a Member of International Human Resources Management and Advisor to the Gulf Career Development Forum, Secretary General of the Dubai Government Oil Spill Task Force, the Crisis Management Team of Dubai and the Region and Senior MENA region Advisor-Global Energy.

He holds a Degree in Business Management and Economics and a higher accreditation on the International Human Resources Management from the UK and has various outstanding accomplishments and certification including the National Management Certification in Incident Command Systems from Texas – USA.

H.E. Khamis Buamim received the Maritime Personality of the Year Award at MarineBiz TV International Maritime Awards 2013, Seatrade Maritime Excellence Award Middle East & Indian Subcontinent Awards 2013, Best Manager of the Year Award from the Europe Business Assembly’s Socrates Awards 2014, and an Award for Excellence in Shipyard Management for Offshore Services at the 1st International Maritime Club Golden Helm Excellence Awards 2014. He has also recently been awarded the World Leader Business Person Certificate for his leadership of DDWMW by the World Confederation of Business & was recognized with the “Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award” by Lloyds List for his contribution to the in an exemplary & profound manner and for his distinguished service to the maritime sector in the UAE, his role in reviving the legacy shipbuilder & helping to instill new energy into the Dubai & UAE maritime scene. In 2015 he was recognized by Tanker Shipping & Trade of London as being among the top 50 most influential people in the tanker industry worldwide

Chief Financial Officer

Abu Dhabi Ports

Adel Al Wahedi is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In his role, he leads all the financial and accounting operations of Abu Dhabi Ports.

Mr. Al Wahedi has more than 18 years of experience in designing and implementing financial frameworks and boasts extensive expertise in numerous finance areas, from financial control, strategy and business process to treasury, planning and corporate performance.

Mr. Al Wahedi started his career in the Finance Department of Etisalat (Emirates Telecommunications Corporation) where his responsibility quickly grew so he took up various leading positions in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan.

Mr. Al Wahedi’s next station was Dry Docks World (DDW), a company specialised in shipbuilding, ship repair and offshore services. At DDW, he took up the role of CFO and supervised all financial matters of the company’s branch in Dubai, as well as its subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia.

Before joining Abu Dhabi Ports in Feb 2014, Mr. Al Wahedi worked as CFO for Petrofac Emirates, where he was responsible for all finance functions and in charge of enterprise risk management and corporate governance.

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.

Managing Director


Infrastructure and Transportation. Corporate & Institutional Banking, Standard Chartered

Jacob joined Standard Chartered Bank in May 2012 and is currently based in Dubai, covering transportation clients across Middle East, Africa and Asia. Prior to joining Standard Chartered, he was with Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong focusing on Transportation and Diversified Industrials

He has over 14 years of investment banking experience in Europe, Middle East and Asia including stints with Merrill Lynch , Morgan Stanley, ABG Sundal Collier and Lehman Brothers. Jacob has a Master of Science – Majors in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Stockholm School of Economics

Key transactions include:

• US$ 550m refinancing of Topaz Energy & Marine
• Structured finance transactions for numerous airlines, including Emirates, Etihad,
• Qatar Airways, AirAsia and MAS
• Structured finance transactions for maritime clients including UASC, Miclyn and ICTSI
• US$ 500m Sukuk bond for Garuda
• US$ 913m UK EF Sukuk for Emirates Airline
• US$ 75m equity investment by SCPE in Topaz Energy & Marine
• US$500m Sukuk bond for Flydubai
• US$ 490m sale of Jaya Holdings to Mermaid Marine
• US$ 350m High Yield Bond and Bridge Financing for Topaz Marine
• Financial advisory for Garuda Indonesia
• Rights issue for Tiger Airways
• RMB bond for Dalian Port
• Acquisition of Friede & Goldman by China Communications Construction Corp.
• IPO of China ITS Co Ltd
• USD 1.4bn Tianjin Port Restructuring
• COSCO’s USD 4.8bn acquisition of dry bulk shipping assets from its main shareholder
• Multiple financing and M&A transactions for China Merchants Group across the transportation sector
• Mermaid Maritime rights issue
• Asset injection of Titan Quanzhou Shipyard into Titan Petrochemicals
• Pre-IPO capital raising advisory for Greater China airline client
• Eni and Enel’s USD6bn acquisition of Russian oil and gas assets in the Yukos bankruptcy proceedings
• Sale of Welltec to Summit Partners
• Aborted potential acquisition by China Mobile of Milicom
• De Lage Landen’s acquisition of Telia Finans
• Coller Capital’s acquisition of Bure’s Nordic Capital fund stakes
• Sale of Jotex to PPR Group
• Sale of Respons to Eniro

Acting/Chief – Commercial and Strategy Officer – Ports

Abu Dhabi Ports

Ross joined Abu Dhabi Ports in 2016 as Vice President of Commercial and Business Development in the company’s Ports
Unit. In that role, Ross was responsible for the Sales, Business Development and Customer Service departments. In January 2017 Ross was appointed Acting Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer, responsible for the functions of Corporate Commercial and Strategy, Quality and Excellence, as well as Business Process and Business Intelligence.

Over the past 16 years, Ross has been specialising in leading and managing sales revenue, commercial process and commercial strategy across multiple sites and market sectors having worked for leading international companies in the industry such as the Peel Ports Group and American President Lines (APL).

At Abu Dhabi Ports, Ross primarily focuses on driving the growth of the company, delivering an enhanced customer experience and setting the corporate governance of the commercial function.

Ross is a holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business and Languages from Plymouth University. He has also obtained the Executive Management Diploma from Singapore Management University (SMU) and an Executive Master of Science in Maritime Economics and Supply Chain from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

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.

Head of the Energy & Marine segment

National Bank of Fujairah

Bora Bariman is Head of the Energy & Marine segment with National Bank of Fujairah. The remit of the team covers energy infrastructure, oil trading and bunkering, energy related marine finance. Previously he was an oil and gas banker in London with Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland.  He started his career in finance with natural gas production and distribution companies in the US. He has been active in arranging project finance, reserve based lending, and structured commodity finance. Mr. Bariman received a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government where his work focused on finance and regulation of large scale infrastructure.

Partner

Watson Farley & Williams (Middle East) LLP

Andrew has a wealth of experience in cross-border asset and project finance, with particular emphasis on the marine transportation and offshore sectors. He has represented clients including lenders, agent banks, lessors, lessees and owners on the financing of ships, shipping related assets (such as container boxes) and offshore assets. He also represents shipping companies in relation to non-contentious commercial shipping matters, including sale and purchase, newbuilding contracts and resales, transaction joint ventures and strategic alliances, charters and other contracts of employment for ships, shipping related assets and offshore assets.
Andrew is co-author of the FFABA Forward Freight Agreement and Freight Option Agreement and has been involved in advising on a number of disputes relating to freight derivative transactions. He is also consulting on updating the rules and regulations of Federal Law No. 26 of 1981 ‘Maritime Law’ and was recently featured in Seatrade’s UAE Special Report 2016.

CEO

Islamic P & I Club

Amir Hossein Mosadeghi was born on the 8th August, 1977, in Tehran. He obtained his Master’s degree in System Analysis Engineering in 1995. Amir started his career by establishing an IT company providing total solutions to different types of companies until 2000. Shortly after that he joined the Islamic P&I Club as IT Manager and after 2 years of direct experience he was appointed Deputy CEO.

Since 2004, when Islamic P&I Club inaugurated its regional office in Dubai, he has been stationed in Dubai, acting as IPIC regional manager, expanding the company’s market through Middle East. In addition, he is supervising the IPIC Jakarta office, responsible for South East Asian markets and the Islamic P&I Club’s next office in Istanbul, Turkey.  All claims are handled by the IPIC claims handling department which is based in the Dubai office as well as underwriting-related matters.

In June 2016, he is appointed as the Club Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors.

Director

LUKOIL Marine Lubricants DMCC

TMS Woman in Shipping Award – June Manoharan, managing director, Lukoil Marine Lubricants

 

 

A senior executive with over 20 years of experience, June is presently a Director at one of the largest marine lubricant organisations in the world, Lukoil.  During her career June hasn’t just broken the proverbial glass ceiling. She has shattered it. In a largely male dominated industry, her determination and appetite for challenges has proven her sceptics wrong. Time and time again.

 

June came to the Middle East in the early 1990s, initially working for BP in both Oman and Dubai.  Then in 2010 she was approached by Lukoil to set up a marine lubricants operation in the region. She has not looked back since. She currently oversees the Lukoil Marine Lubricants business for the Eastern Hemisphere, which stretches from Africa to Australia. Having set up offices in Middle East, Hong Kong, Singapore and representative offices in South Africa, India, Japan and China, the company has recently ventured into Australia as well.

 

With June at the helm, Lukoil now enjoys an impressive 50 percent marine market share in the Middle East and 12 percent overall globally.

 

An active member of the WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association), June is also a big supporter of Mission to Seafarers.

Senior principal Consultant

DNV GL

An internationally experienced professional Maritime Expert, with over 48 years’ experience in shipping and is well versed in dealing with Politicians and Government departments. Extensive experience at sea, a qualified Master Mariner with command experience followed by a career in ship management, culminating in the position of Director Fleet for P&O Nedlloyd.

Present position working for DNV GL as a senior principal Consultant in the Dubai office.

For the past ten years, has worked with DNV GL’s management consulting arm, utilising his years of unparalleled maritime expertise with a focus on safe operations, cost reductions and latterly safety culture having worked directly with over 30,000 seafarers across multiple shipping segments.

Prior to Joining DNV GL, was the Chief Executive Officer of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, reporting directly to the Secretary of State for Transport. At the MCA was accountable for all Maritime matters, within UK territorial waters and up to 200 miles offshore

General Manager

Al Safina Security

Kateryna Yakunchenkova – General Manager of Al Safina Security, a Maritime Security Company with its presence in Greece, Singapore and UAE providing the below services as:

* Maritime Security

* Exclusive Yacht Security Services

* Cyber Security

* Oil&Gas Security

* Land Security

A co-partner and co-shareholder of a Trading Group of Companies that is involved into refined oil products trading worldwide with its premises in Hong Kong and Latvia.

An active member of WISTA and MIEVOM Group under UKMTO patronage. An author of multiple articles dedicated to the counter-piracy measures at High Risk Waters and Global Security Issues of the 21st century. Cyber effect on currently automated vessels and oil rigs systems.

2012 – Operations Executive at Al Mina Group of Companies.

2010 – 2011 – Operational and Project Manager in Mestex Shipping.

2009 – up to now – Activist and Co-founder of the Ukrainians Seamen’s Relief Fund

Co-founder of the Seamen’s relief Fund in Ukraine. Close work with Mass Media and drawing attention of the authorities to the problem of the seafarers rights at the sea. The Fund was founded after the successful release of the Ukrainian seafarers from the piracy captivity on the vessel “Ariana”. The initiative was supported by the ex-Ukrainian prime-minister Sergei Tigipko.

Education:

2008 – 2009 – Practice in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Consul Assistant in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2004- 2009 – Magister of Political Sciences. Faculty of International Relations/ Social Sciences Institute; Odessa National University

2008 – School of Young Politician, Ukraine, Kyiv

2006 – Attendance of the International Conferences in Germany, Hamburg/ Greece, Athens / Poland, Warsaw dedicated to the Coalition Politics and Policy; Domestic Effects of Immigration; Transitions to Democracy; Combating Piracy in the HRA( 2011, 2012);

2005 – Summer Studying in the University of Crete, Iraklion. Section of Political Sciences and Social Studies

1993 – 2004 – Gymnasium 5

Executive Officer

Maersk Trade Finance

Sinan Ozcan has over 17 years of experience working in key positions across various industries, focused on the areas oftrade & structured finance solutions, credit &treasury management and business development.

He currently serves as Senior Executive Officer within Maersk and heads the Maersk Trade Finance organization in UAE.

Previously, he was Regional Director at UK Export Finance (the British export credit agency), in charge of business development, originating trade & project finance transactions and covering Europe, MENA and Central Asia.

Prior to UKEF, Sinan was Head of Trade Finance & Financial Services at CNH Industrial, one of the largest capital goods manufacturers globally, where he covered various responsibilities and regions, including Africa, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Before CNH, Sinan held the position as auditor at VakifBank.

Sinan holds an MBA degree from Philadelphia University and obtained Master’s degree in Banking & Entrepreneurship from the joint program of Venice & Udine Universities in Italy.

Sinan speaks English, Italian, Turkish, French and German.