Keynote Speakers

Patrycja Enet is a senior advisor in integrated ocean management, systemic climate change actions and Triple Planetary Crisis nexus. She draws on over 20 years of experience in maritime policy, planning and sustainable management of marine and coastal areas. She has held several influential positions in these fields, including at the United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat Adaptation Programme and at the Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Management Group. In the blue economy domain, she specializes in ocean planning and building resilience of the marine and coastal areas for advancing ocean-based climate action and sustainable development. For the last 6 years, Ms Enet has been the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) focal point at the European Commission’s MSP Assistance Mechanism and the European Blue Forum  for conveying the sustainable blue economy development in the European Union (EU).  She is currently sharing her experience in Malta where she leads the works to create a holistic and umbrella framework for coherent adaptation policy and planning with integrated knowledge and governance for climate change in the project, Climate-MATCH,  funded by the EU Technical Support Instrument (SG REFORM) upon requests of the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works (MTIP) and the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness (MEEC)

Aykut I. Ölcer, Professor Dr, naval architect and marine engineer holding the Nippon Foundation Professorial Chair in “Marine Technology and Innovation” at the World Maritime University (WMU). He is currently the Director of Research of WMU as well as the Head of Maritime Energy Management Specialization (MSc program). He served as the Editor-in-Chief of WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs (JOMA) and Book Series between February’17 and February’19. Prior to joining WMU, he worked at Newcastle University (England), University of Strathclyde (Scotland) and Istanbul Technical University (Türkiye) within the fields of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He played an important role in Newcastle University’s first international branch in Singapore to help the University achieve its objectives in teaching/learning and research activities in the UG and PG programs of Marine Technology. For many years, he has conducted research independently/jointly and collaborated with other researchers, academics and students all over the world, in particular from Europe and Asia. Dr Ölçer was involved in numerous EU funded FP5, FP6, FP7, Horizon 2020 and EU Horizon projects and IMO projects as well as IAMU and regional projects in Scandinavia. He currently leads the research priority areas, namely ‘Maritime Energy Management” and “Marine Technology and Innovation”, at WMU.

Irini Papanicolopulu, Professor, Dr, British Academy Global Professor of International Law at SOAS University of London, where she conducts research and teaches in international law and the law of the sea. She holds a PhD in international law from the University of Milano and has previously worked at the University of Oxford (UK), the University of Glasgow (UK), and the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy). Professor Papanicolopulu is a Visiting Professor at Catolica University (Portugal) and St. Gallen University (Switzerland) and has delivered guest lectures, seminars and conferences presentations in numerous Countries around the world. She is the Chair of the ILA Committee on Protection of People at Sea, the Vice-Chair of COST Action CA23103 Blue Rights, and a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Interest Group on the Law of the Sea of the European Society of International Law. Professor Papanicolopulu has advised states, international organisations, civil society organisations, and business actors on issues of international law, the law of the sea, human rights law, and environmental law. 

Ioannis Filippopoulos, Dr, “technology architect”, a “team leader”, an information systems and a digital transformation specialist with a passion and exceptional aptitude for working with computers combined with an astounding academic background in computer and software engineering (PhD) and business management (MBA). He also teaches and researches innovative systems and platforms and specializes in Geographical Information Systems. For more than eight years, he has been specializing in the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Blockchain platforms in the shipping industry as CIO at a top-performing maritime company (Angelicoussis Group). Today, he is expanding the research activities to other industries as an Assistant Professor at the University of Limassol.

Dario Bocchetti, mechanical engineer, currently Head of Grimaldi Group Corporate “Energy Saving, R&D and Ship Design Division” which has the function and task related to Energy, Performance, R&D, Innovation, Decarbonization Compliance and Design of New Ships. He is president of Energy Saving and Environment ALIS sub-committee, member of the executive committee of CSA (Clean Shipping Alliance), member of the board of MARTE Scarl, member of ESSF (European Sustainable Shipping Forum), technical advisor of Maltese delegation at IMO MEPC (Maritime Environmental Protection Committee), member of the executive committee GIA (Global Industry Alliance) at IMO (Intenational Maritime Association), member of the Board of IPA (Igoumeinitsa Port Authority).

David Kerr is a seasoned EU and international transport expert with a strong background in maritime operations, regulation, and policy development. He has held key positions in the European Commission, the European Maritime Safety Agency, and the Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU. His expertise lies in EU policy development, particularly in the areas of maritime safety, port security, and emissions reduction. He has played a significant role in shaping EU legislation in these areas, including his involvement in the Erika safety packages following the 1999 oil tanker disaster. Throughout his career, David has demonstrated a unique ability to navigate the complexities of EU policy development, balancing technical expertise with political acumen. His skills in negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making have been instrumental in his success.

Simone Borg -Professor, LL.D, LL.M. (Int law), Ph.D (IMLI), is an academic at the University of Malta, a visiting professor at the IMO International Maritime Law Institute and lectures at various Universities abroad. She set up the Environmental law and Resources Law Department also within the faculty of laws and was its Head for more than ten years. Prof. Borg is also a diplomat and practices international law as legal adviser to the Maltese government, specializing in international law and policy relating to climate change, ocean governance and Law of the Sea as well as biodiversity conservation. She has been Malta’s ambassador on climate action since 2011 and chairs the National Climate Action Council. Prof. Borg is the Chair of the governing board of the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, a Fellow of the Institute for Sustainable Energy, both of the University of Malta, a Fellow of the Sustainability College in Bruges and a member of the Board of Governors of the International Ocean Institute. In 2017, during Malta’s tenure of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, she chaired the EU working party on climate negotiations. She is currently the Special Representative on Climate Action during Malta’s tenure of the Organization for the Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe, chairpersonship in 2024. Prof Borg is a member of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, its sub-committee on the oceans and has authored various publications on both ocean governance and climate change. In 2017, she received the French National Order of Merit for her work as a diplomat on climate action and was recently awarded the Inspirational Leadership Award by the British High Commission in Malta for her work on climate action and in 2022 received Malta the Medal for Service to the Republic of Malta, also for her work in Malta and abroad on climate action.

 Karmenu Vella, Mr graduated in Architecture and Civil Engineering from the University of Malta and later obtained a Master of Science in Tourism Management from the University of Sheffield. During his political career, he has been appointed Minister for Public Works, Minister for Industry, and Minister for Tourism twice. In 2014, he was appointed European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries. During his term in office, Mr. Vella addressed some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time and thus helped improve the well-being of our citizens and our planet. Under his leadership, the European Union adopted and implemented in full the Circular Economy Action Plan, adopted new rules to reduce single-use plastic products, updated the EU’s waste legislation, and stepped up action to improve air quality across Europe and to make concrete progress in halting the decline of the EU’s biodiversity. During his mandate, Karmenu Vella also developed a leading international role for the European Union in the field of ocean governance, promoted the blue economy through increased investment, and worked to improve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of fisheries in Europe and around the world.

Murat Sümer Dr- LL.B., MA., Diplomacy Academy – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Türkiye); Master of Laws (LL.M.), IMO International Maritime Law Institute (Malta); Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Maastricht University Faculty  of  Law - Institute for Transnational Legal Research (the Netherlands).  The Nippon Foundation Lecturer in International Maritime Law (2019–present); Academic Coordinator of IMLI`s Master`s Programmes (2022-present); Coordinator of the Course on the Law of Ports (2020-present); Coordinator of the Course on Peaceful Settlement of Maritime Disputes and Delimitation of Maritime Boundaries (2022- present); Supervisor of Maritime Legislation Drafting Projects and Dissertations/Research Projects, IMLI (2019-present); External Examiner for the Faculty of Law, University of Malta (2019-present); Visiting Fellow, Ankara University National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law - DEHUKAM (2019-present); Lecturer in the International Fisheries Law Training Course organised in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (2021-present); Visiting Lecturer, International Ocean Institute (2022-present); Moot Court Competition Organizer, IMLI (2021- present); Moot Court Judge, The Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea (NILOS) (2022).

Andrew Mallia served for 25 years as a maritime officer in the Armed Forces of Malta before retiring in 2018. During his service, in addition to postings in operational and staff billets, he deployed overseas on EU and FRONTEX missions and graduated from the German Naval Academy, US Naval War College and the USCG SAR School. He has now established himself as an Independent Maritime Security and SAR Consultant and has carried out tasks for various UN bodies including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) as well as the European Union. Andrew has lectured in the framework of various academic programmes at the University of Malta including the Masters of Law and MA in Ocean Governance.  He is a graduate of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) with an Advanced Diploma in Public International Maritime Law and holds an MA in Maritime Security from Coventry University. He is currently engaged in the MA Strategic Studies programme at University College Cork. Andrew is an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute and also of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council.

Tonio Sant, Professor Ing. is a professor within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Malta.  He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the same University, following which he worked in the local aircraft maintenance and manufacturing sectors. He later pursued his doctoral studies in wind energy at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.  His lecturing topics at include fluid mechanics, turbo-machinery, energy conversion and maritime hydrodynamics.  With a background in energy and maritime engineering, Tonio is dedicated to addressing key technical and economic challenges in offshore energy systems which play a crucial role in the transition to a low-carbon future. He has led and collaborated on multiple research initiatives in the fields of offshore wind energy, floating marine structures and energy storage. His recent initiatives focused at enhancing the feasibility and performance of subsea energy storage technologies. He co-founded the University spin-off company FLASC B.V. which is currently developing a marine-based long duration energy storage solution based on hydropneumatics to address issues arising from the intermittent supply of power from offshore wind farms and other renewables. 

 Ruben Cuschieri, Ing. graduated in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from the University of Malta in 1992.  Since then, he has been involved in various roles, running multinational companies operating in engineering services and industrial products.  In 2021 he assisted in the setting up of an innovative company, R3Vox Ltd to develop, manufacture, support and sell hydrographic survey systems to a global customer base.  The product range includes an all-new type of hydrospatial survey system called the Voxometer™.   The introduction of the Voxometer™ represents a drastic shift in the way hydrographic surveys are done and in the type of data that will be acquired. Ing. Cuschieri has been a Council Member of The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise & Industry since 2019 and Chairperson of the Manufacturing and other Economic Group since 2023.  The enhancement of technology, research and innovation among local industry and collaboration with academia, are on his forefront in his activities within these roles.

Anastasia Kiritsi, Prof.Dr., FFIETI, FPAE, FRSA. Is a distinguished academic and industry expert with a multifaceted career spanning over a decade across Europe and the Middle East. Her PhD focused on the use of Artificial intelligence in Airports and Ports as smart multimodal hubs of the future. She is an Associate Professor of HR, Business, and Leadership at Gisma University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. Her research interests include Energy transition, Green Shipping, Clean Transportation, Project management, Tourism, Cross cultural marketing. She is the General Secretary of the Board of Governors  of International Engineering and Technology Institute (IETI). Prof Kiritsi is part of the Editorial Board at Zurich Business and University Professor and Researcher in Germany, UK & Qatar at Gus Global Education systems. She is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce, an CTI International Advisor (Doha, Berlin, Athens, New York, Bengaluru, Hong Kong) and Executive Secretary General of South-South Biodiversity Science Project, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation. She is an Advisor for the Doctoral Think Tank Working Committee, China International Association for Promotion of Science and Technology Research Fellow, Higher Inclusive Education Resources Center, Wuhan University of Technology.

Claudia Vella Casagrande is the Secretary General of the Malta International Shipowners' Association (MISA) - the national association representing shipowners and bareboat charterers of Malta registered vessels. She leads the association's Secretariat and represents it locally, in European fora in particular in the various committees of the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) and internationally in particular in meetings of the International Chamber of Shipping ( ICS).   She is a lawyer by profession, having specialised in European law. Claudia has over 20 years of experience in EU and international advocacy, negotiations and policy making representing both the Malta government and the transport industry in a variety of fields. She thus has an extensive network in the EU and international institutions and stakeholders including social partners. Her previous roles include, two postings at the Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union, as Employment and Social Affairs Attache and subsequently  as Climate Attache, Director for Social, Fiscal and Legal Affairs at the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and Director Europe Affairs at Einride (a Swedish company offering connected, electric, and autonomous heavy trucks). She is a member of WISTA International's Technology Committee and previously served as a Board member of WISTA Sweden. Together with some other women in the industry, she is hoping to help set up a national WISTA committee in Malta again.

Antonella Vassallo is the Managing Director of the International Ocean Institute (IOI) at its Headquarters in Malta since 2014, and an ex-Ufficio member of the IOI Governing Board. In this capacity, she is responsible for the management and administration of IOI and the global network of IOI centres under the direction of the IOI Governing Board, This includes the coordination and expansion of global IOI capacity building, training and education programmes in line with the strategy of the IOI, as well coordinating the IOI Ocean Academy, the IOI’s global ocean literacy programme. Antonella has an academic background in Chemistry and Biology with specific experience in environmental appraisal, the aquaculture and nutrition of finfish.

Darrin T Stevens is currently occupying the post of Director Environment & Resources within the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), where he is handling various issues related to Biodiversity and Nature Protection, Waste Management, Ambient Quality, Water and Marine aspects, Desertification and Land Degradation, Environmental Data Management and Monitoring and environmental issues linked with Genetically-Modified Organisms, with particular reference to the implementation and coordination of the National Strategies and Plans linked with these aspects and related EU and multilateral environmental treaties,, including, amongst others, the EU Marine Framework Directive and selected aspects within the EU Water Framework Directive, the EU Habitats Directive, the Nature Restoration Regulation and Natura 2000,  and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. He is also the Maltese national focal point for a number of international multilateral biodiversity treaties under the European Union, Council of Europe and United Nations, and is also author of a number of publications, and was actively involved with various environmental NGOs.

 Michelle Borg is a geographer and marine resource manager by training, with thirty years of experience in spatial policy development and environmental management. She developed the first national policy framework on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) which was adopted by the National MSP plan. She also spearheaded the transposition of both the EU MSFD and MSP Directives in Malta. Her experience in the national implementation of the EU Climate Change dossiers provides invaluable insight to her work on MSP. Michelle has gained considerable experience in strategic policy making and currently heads the Green and Blue Development Unit within the Planning Authority entrusted with the implementation of the EU MSP Directive and ICZM Protocol, the implementation of the SEA process and mainstreaming of climate action within spatial planning.

Captain  Fritz Farrugia is a Master Mariner by background. He has completed his studies at the Warsash Maritime Academy, United Kingdom. Specialised on board LNG/C. Capt. Farrugia has been employed within the Ports & Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta since 2015, having joined as Deputy Harbour Master and since 2023 he has been acting as Chief Officer and Harbour Master within the same Directorate.