Speakers 2026
Frederik ERDMANN
Moderator and contributing correspondent Shippax
Frederik Erdmann is a Shippax correspondent since 1996 and professionally involved with shipping since 1999 when he joined the German port agency network, Sartori & Berger, on a vocational training program. After his graduation as Shipbroker & Liner Agent and subsequent studies of Business Administration, Frederik held various positions with Sartori & Berger until 2010. After a period of working for the Flensburg Chamber of Commerce, he belonged to the management team of Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei, a leading German domestic operator, from 2015 to 2021, with responsibilities among others for Safety/Security as well as for Environmental and Quality Management. He then became self-employed under the brand of Frederik Erdmann Maritime Consulting, specialising in Passenger Ship Management, Quality and Environmental Management, Risk & Resilience Management, Emergency Management, related crew education/training as well as all aspects of Dangerous Goods Transportation. Frederik is a permanent visiting lecturer at the Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, teaching in the Maritime Transport, Nautical Sciences & Logistics as well as the Ship Operation Engineering degree programs. He regularly contributes to maritime business publications in the UK, Scandinavia and Greece, and is a member of the Tourism Committee as well as the Transport & Infrastructure Committee of the Flensburg Chamber of Commerce. After a decade of activity in municipal politics, June 2023 saw Frederik being elected Mayor of Rügge, the municipality which he is living in. His professional involvement in the shipping sector is complemented by a genuine passion for maritime history and ferry design, with a particular focus on ships built between the 1950s and the 1980s. His private collection encompasses ferry-related literature, numerous technical documents of ships, as well as a collection of ship models. Other interests of Frederik include motorcycling and, somewhat more exceptional, agricultural aviation.
Alan LAM
Co-moderator and correspondent and analyst Shippax
Based in Hong Kong and Austria, Alan Lam is a freelance journalist and maritime transport business researcher. He has been collaborating with Shippax since 2010, regularly contributing articles to both its monthly and yearly publications. He also writes for other shipping publications worldwide and compile customised market reports for investors, lenders, and suppliers.
Tobias BILLSTRÖM
Former Swedish minister for foreign affairs, migration, deputy speaker of parliament, entrepreneur and advisor
Tobias has been active in politics for more than 20 years in various roles, including Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Migration, and Deputy Speaker of Parliament in Sweden. He has extensive experience across multiple levels in Sweden, Europe, and globally, and currently serves as Director of Strategy and Government Affairs at the Swedish defence technology company Nordic Air Defence. Tobias Billström has also been active as an entrepreneur and advisor, focusing on lectures and training in geopolitics and leadership.
Diego CARIDE
Business Development Director, Marine Division, Ingeteam
As Business Development Director for Ingeteam’s Marine Division, he leads the company’s global strategy in the maritime sector. With a long-standing background in the naval sector and almost a decade of experience within Ingeteam, including leadership roles such as Managing Director of Ingeteam China and Business Unit Director of former Marine Systems Division, plays a key role in the Company´s international expansion by building strategic partnerships and engaging with clients worldwide. His expertise focuses on developing innovative, efficient, and reliable solutions for propulsion systems on electric and hybrid vessels, driving the transition toward a more sustainable maritime industry.
Matteo CATANI
CEO GNV
Matteo Catani, born on November 8th, 1978, was appointed CEO of Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) in 2016. Previously he served GNV in different positions, lastly as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer.
Mr. Catani joined GNV in 2007 after previous experiences within the Danone Group, a multinational company leader in the food-and-beverage industry, where he had held different business planning related positions.
In GNV Mr. Catani has assumed roles of growing responsibility, ranging from finance and controlling to revenue management and business development, and then getting commercial and marketing executive responsibility.
Mr Catani is board member and treasurer of AssArmatori, Italian Association of Shipowners, where he coordinates the Short Sea Committee, and member of the Comité Directivo (Executive Committee) of ANAVE, the Spanish Association of Shipowners. He is a member of the Stakeholder Adivsory Committee at various Italian Port Authorities, as a representative for the Shipowners and the Shipping Industry. He also serves different educational bodies and international associations related to the shipping sector.
Mr. Catani holds a bachelor's degree in Economics at The University of Genova and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) at the The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Giorgio CAVIGLIA
Global Business Development Manager GF Piping Systems
Giorgio Caviglia is a Naval Architect and Global Business Development Manager with more than ten years of international experience in the maritime industry. His career combines engineering expertise with a strong focus on innovation and strategic commercial development, supporting shipowners, shipyards, and technology partners in adopting safer, more efficient, and sustainable solutions.
After contributing to the development of next-generation electric propulsion technologies at Sealence, Giorgio joined GF Piping Systems, attracted by the company's strong innovation culture and its investment in breakthrough solutions such as HEATFIT, the cutting-edge fire-resistant plastic piping system. At GF, he leads global business development for the merchant marine segment, helping customers address complex technical challenges and assess the ROI of new technologies, retrofit strategies, and fleet improvement programs.
Robert CLIFFORD
Chairman Incat
Robert Clifford, founder and Chairman of the Incat group of companies has been credited with pioneering the world’s high-speed vehicle/passenger ferry industry.
Over more than five decades he has steered Incat to progress from boats to small commercial ferries through to very large ocean-going vehicle carrying wave piercing catamarans for which Incat is now world renowned.
The vessels delivered to date operate on marine distillate or LNG however Incat’s research team now focus on low emission fuels with the goal of zero emission vessels.
Mike CORRIGAN
CEO Interferry
Mike Corrigan is CEO of Interferry, the trade association that represents the worldwide ferry industry. Mike’s focus leading Interferry is to ensure that it continues to be the voice of the worldwide ferry industry in matters of safety and operational best practices, is the industry’s voice with regulatory agencies such as IMO, and that the trade association’s value continues to grow for existing and new members. Mike brings extensive executive experience in the ferry industry, most recently as the CEO of BC Ferries, one of the world’s largest ferry operators. Before joining BC Ferries, he held various senior management roles at WestCoast Energy’s operations across Canada. Mike holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Victoria where he was awarded the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award for the business school.
Elvir DZANIC
CEO Wallenius SOL
Elvir Dzanic has been CEO of Wallenius SOL since 2023, a Swedish shipping company pioneering sustainable RoRo and container transport in Northern Europe. He holds a degree in shipping and logistics and an Executive MBA, and previously served as CEO of the Port of Gothenburg. With broad international experience, he is a strong advocate for innovation, digitalization, and green transformation in global maritime logistics.
Magne EKERUM
Chief Design Officer Seat Innovation
Magne Ekerum is an industrial designer, innovation adviser, and business developer with more than twenty years’ experience as a professional in the automotive, maritime, and business consulting sectors. Magne has been working with Seat Innovation since 2008 and is now Chief Design Officer, responsible for innovation, strategy, and design.
Frederik GERHARDT
Lead Naval Architect RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden)
Educated in Germany and New Zealand, Frederik has more than 20 years of experience in naval architecture and fluid mechanics.
Since 2022 he has been responsible for developing RISE's new business area of Wind-Powered Ships.
Thomas P. ILLES
Maritime business consultant and university lecturer
Owner/CEO thilles consulting GmbH
Thomas P. Illes is a maritime business consultant, university lecturer and one of the most internationally recognized analysts and commentators in the field of passenger shipping and ocean tourism.
With over 30 years of professional involvement in the sector, he combines deep industry knowledge with a holistic and differentiated perspective that takes social, economic, ecological and socio-political dimensions into account.
A former contributor to Shippax publications, Thomas is the owner and CEO of thilles consulting GmbH, providing strategic consulting, benchmarking and communication expertise to ferry and cruise operators, shipyards, suppliers, and public institutions.
He lectures on economics, management, communication, design and tourism at several universities, moderates industry panels and conferences, and is a frequent guest on television and radio programmes.
Known for his constructive-critical, evidence-based approach and his ability to bridge analytical rigour with communicative clarity, Thomas belongs to the select group of maritime experts who are equally trusted by academia, media and industry – a recognised voice helping shape the future dialogue of passenger shipping.
Nikias IOANNIDIS
Business Development LMG Marin
The connection to sea and to the ferry world started at a very young age for me.
My "Greek summers" always included good Cycladic time...and ferries always were the first step to the Islands.
30 years on, I managed to turn this childhood affair into a job that is also a passion.
At LMG Marin I am mostly in charge of identifying markets, developing relationship with partner shipyards and ultimately to promote the LMG Marin brand in the ferry industry.
Before stepping in to the ship design industry I worked for 7 years within the line management of French container carrier CMA CGM.
Kristian LIND
Chief Technical Officer OSK Design
Kristian Carøe Lind (b. 1966) Graduate Aarhus Tech (Building Techniques) 1989, Helsingør Teknikum (Naval Architect) 1994.
Various positions at proud Danish shipyards: Burmeister & Wain, Aarhus Flydedok and Aarhus Værft, now all bankrupt. “It was not me, I have nothing to do with that…” Lind claims!
In between shipyard closures Lind also worked within consultancies. Two periods at renown Knud E. Hansen A/S – the later period stationed at Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Ltd. (GSI) during the construction of VISBY and GOTLAND for Gotlandsbolaget in 2000-2003.
Since 2006 partner and CTO of OSK Design, operating from the Aarhus branch office with a strong focus on design of passenger ships.
Euan LONMON
Director Grendi
Euan Lonmon is a board member of Gruppo Grendi and a co-founder of ProCargo Line, a ro-ro shipping initiative between Italy and Tunisia. He has extensive experience in maritime transport, logistics, and tourism, including senior roles with companies such as Corsica Sardinia Ferries. He also advises on strategic growth and operational expansion for Grendi and is involved in technology and travel-related ventures.
Christophe MATHIEU
CEO Brittany Ferries
- Born in 1968 in France. Married 2 children
- Master degree in Business Administration at University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne
International Executive Program INSEAD Fontainebleau 2005
- Joined Brittany Ferries in 1992 in Plymouth (UK). Various roles in UK including accounting, operations and marketing.
- In 1997, responsible of setting up the Revenue Management department.
- In 1999, transfer to BF headquarters in Roscoff (France) as Group Business Controller.
- In 2006, promoted to Strategic Planning Director.
- In 2009, promoted to the Executive Board, as Deputy CEO, in charge of Strategic and Commercial Affairs.
Responsible for Group Revenue (Pax, freight, onboard sales), fleet strategy and port negotiations.
- Since April 2016 : Chief Executive Officer
- Chairman of Interferry since October 2020
Pierre MATTEI
CEO and Owner of Corsica Ferries group
Graduated at ESSEC Business school Paris and holds a Master in Econometrics.
He spent all is career in the group. Started in the Finance department, then CFO and CEO since the late nineties.
He became owner of the company founded by Pascal Lota in 2017 together with members of the top Management.
Dan MIKKOLA
Managing director Godby Shipping
Born Finland, 1965
Master of Science in Business and Economics, Turku, 1991
Studies in Maritime Law, Oslo, 1992
Employed in Godby Shipping since 1990
Managing director Godby Shipping since 2000
Board member Finnish Shipowners' Association
Chairman of the board football club IFK Mariehamn
Proud father of 3 children Anna, William and Vanessa
Bruce PETER
Professor of Design History at the Glasgow School of Art
Bruce Peter is Professor of Design History at the Glasgow School of Art. He has a life-long interest in merchant ship design and passenger shipping operation and has written extensively on these subjects. His latest maritime publications are a history of the Danish liner, ferry and logistics company, DFDS, and a history of Tor Line, which DFDS purchased in 1981. He is also currently working with colleagues in Finland on a history of Finnish shipbuilding, has written for the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) a book about the design of the Kappel propeller and is assisting the Victoria & Albert Museum in London to curate an exhibition about ocean liner travel.
Marcus RISBERG
CEO Viking Line
Marcus Risberg (born 1975) assumed the position of CEO of Viking Line on 3 November 2025. He previously served as CEO of Destination Gotland, a position he held since March 2021. Marcus has extensive experience in the passenger ferry industry through a long career with Silja Line and Tallink Grupp. Between 2015 and 2021, he held the position of Managing Director at TallinkSilja AB. Prior to this, he worked in the industry in various finance roles, including Chief Controller and Finance Director at Silja Line, and later at TallinkSilja between 2002 and 2008.
During a six-year period, he left the industry and worked in IT and telecom, with positions at Nokia and Microsoft. In 2014, his interest in shipping grew strong again, and he decided to rejoin TallinkSilja as Sales Director.
Marcus grew up on Åland, where the passenger ferry sector is a natural and integral part of everyday life.
Johan ROOS
Director of Regulatory Affairs, Interferry
Johan Roos is the Director of Regulatory Affairs for the trade association Interferry. He holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Between 2011 and 2019 he ran the Interferry Brussels office and currently oversees all of Interferry’s involvement with the International Maritime Organization and the European Union. Johan works in close relation with the European Community Shipowners Association, the International Chamber of Shipping and other maritime interest groups.
Tiina TUURNALA
CEO of the Finnish Shipowners’ Association
The Finnish Shipowners Association represents the needs of shipowners in industrial and labor market policies both nationally and internationally.
Tiina has over 20 years of experience from leading positions within transport sector. Tiina began her career with the Finnish Maritime Administration in the early 1990's. Before joining Finnish Shipowners, Tiina served as Deputy Director General of the Finnish Transport Agency in charge of the traffic and Information Function. She was responsible for national road- railway- and vessel traffic management, icebreaking services, nautical charts and hydrographic surveys and functions related to the development of digitalization and intelligent traffic.
In 1998 she graduated with a MSc.(Engineering) from the Helsinki University of Technology majoring in geographic information technologies.
Tiina has extensive experience with national and international representations, including e.g.; Europeans Shipowners ECSA, International Chamber of Shipping ICS, Seafarers' Pension Fund, and National Treasury Insurance Sector Advisory Board, IALA Council; Finnish Forestry Industry Development Centre Tapio Supervisory Board etc.
Tiina has been awarded the Knight of Order of the White Rose of Finland, the Finnish Border Guard Cross of Merit, and the Military Cross of Merit. Tiina has been selected as Aalto University Alumni of the Year in 2019.
Oier URRUTIA MADARIAGA
Key Account Manager, Marine Drives & Automation, Ingeteam
As Key Account Manager for Marine Drives & Automation, he is responsible for managing strategic client relationships and business development within the marine sector. His work focuses on delivering advanced propulsion and automation solutions that enhance vessel performance, efficiency, and sustainability. With solid experience in both technical and commercial roles, he plays a key part in strengthening Ingeteam’s position as a leading partner for electric and hybrid marine systems.
Zhou ZHIYONG
Vice President Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI)
After graduated from Harbin Engineering University in 2003, Mr. Zhou Zhiyong joined Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) as a Naval Architect.
He worked for the general arrangement and stability in the very beginning. Before focusing more and hull lines development and CFD since 2009, he finished several ship designs including Ropax Ships. Later he developed series of hull lines development procedure and CFD technology coupled with parametric model to further optimize the hull lines. He also led to establish the hydrodynamic team of SDARI and related software system. Now this team ensures SDARI to be competitive and efficient considering ship design's key performance.
In 2014, he became the director of R&D Department. Together with the team, he strengthened fundamental technology to improve ship designs' competitiveness. As well, he was very active to comply with the coming rules and regulations with the real acceptable technology solutions. Many designs developed by R&D Department were awarded by RINA's Significant Ships and/or Shippax.
In 2019, he became SDARI's Vice President in charge of business development. Much focusing on promotion of SDARI's technology, designs and experienced team, he is very successful to achieve the stable high market share of SDARI. Now promoting SDARI and its independent designs to more owners is his task with highest priority.
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