Manager in the port and maritime sector with over thirty years of experience and international leadership in container terminal management, logistics projects, and infrastructure innovation.

He has led major operations in Italy and abroad, including Gioia Tauro, Cagliari, and Tangier.

He currently serves as President of the Port System Authority of the Sardinian Sea (Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare di Sardegna).

Ricardo Batista is Head of the Climate Action and Clean Air Section at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where he leads the Organization's work on the implementation and further development of international measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and improve air quality. In this role, he supports Member States in advancing the IMO's climate agenda, including the implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy and the development of the IMO Net-Zero Framework.

A Naval Architect and Marine Engineer by training, Ricardo brings more than 25 years of international experience spanning regulation, policy development, ship design and operation. Before assuming his current role, he served in the IMO Maritime Safety Division, where he acted as Secretary of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) and led technical work on the safety of decarbonization technologies, nuclear power for ships, Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), Goal-Based Standards (GBS), intact stability, ship structures and underwater radiated noise.

Prior to joining IMO, Ricardo worked at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, on the development, negotiation and implementation of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, one of the European Union's flagship measures to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used by ships. Earlier, at the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), he provided scientific and technical support to the European Commission on ship safety and sustainability, with particular emphasis on alternative energy systems, electrification and fire safety.

Ricardo's professional background also includes experience with a classification society, a shipyard and service at sea as a marine engineer.

Dario Bocchetti (47, mechanical engineer) is currently Director of Grimaldi Group Corporate “Energy, R&D and Decarbonization” which include the divisions with task related to Energy and Bunkering, R&D and Innovation, Decarbonization and New Buildings.

He is vice-president of CSA (Clean Shipping Alliance), member of the board of Igoumeinitsa Port Authority, member of the board of MARTE Scarl, technical advisor of Maltese delegation at IMO MEPC (Maritime Environmental Protection Committee), President of Energy Saving and Environment ALIS sub-committee, Chairman of EU ETS Revenues and Ship Finance ECSA Working Group (European Community Shipowners’ Associations), member of ESSF (European Sustainable Shipping Forum) and member of the GIA (Global Industry Alliance) at IMO (Intenational Maritime Association).

Maltese lawyer and politician currently serving as the Minister for Sustainable Mobility, having been in charge for the Transport sector since January 2024. Elected first to Parliament after contesting the 2022 general election and successfully reelected as an MP in the 2026 general election. Initially appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds before assuming the current ministerial role.

A graduate of the University of Malta (Doctor of Laws, 2007) and De Montfort University, Leicester (LL.M. in Sports Law, 2014), combining a strong legal background with extensive experience in public administration, maritime, aviation, infrastructure, land transport, sports governance and industry and European affairs.

Prior to parliamentary career, worked as a lawye and also served as Vice President and Head of the Legal and Football Governance Department of the Malta Football Association (MFA), establishing and leading the Association’s Legal Department. Subsequently worked for UEFA in its disciplinary and integrity departments.

Contributed to several national policy and governance initiatives and legislstion, particularly in the creation of Malta-in-Motion, enhanced public transport by sea, and the construction of major infrastructural projects, such as the Msida Creek Prior to that was responsible for the modernisation of Maltese football, being responsible for its transition from an amateur sport to an actual industry.

From 2007 to 2012, served as Mayor of Gzira.

Alessandro Furnò is a veteran automotive supply chain executive who serves as a Board Member and the VP / Global Hed of After Sales, Purchasing & Supply Chain at Leapmotor International (51:49 a joint venture between Stellantis and Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor).

Based in Turin, Italy, Furnò was appointed to this role when the joint venture officially launched, bringing over a decade of high-level supply chain expertise from legacy Stellantis group and also from his previous experience as a business strategy consultant at Accenture.

With exclusive rights to export, sell and manufacture Leapmotor products outside of China, Furnò has been the chief architect behind the JV’s supply chain deployment, built as a unique China-Europe operational model, leveraging China’s highly efficient, vertically integrated ecosystem and Stellantis manufacturing footprint and logistics capabilities. Finally resulting in one of the most aggressive, cross-continental integration model in the global automotive landscape

Furno’s previous appointments:

-SVP at Stellantis he served as Global Head of Parts & Services Supply Chain - Leading end-to-end supply chain strategy and execution of double-digit billions business, also merging of 

-FCA, PSA and OV Supply Chain operations and obtaining synergies from transforming global footprint.

-VP at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles EMEA Head of Parts Supply Chain -Leading overall supply chain operations of parts and services business

-VP at Fiat Chrysler NAFTA Supply Chain Engineering - Delivering the North American distribution network expansion to address the growth of the Mopar business.

He holds a degree in Computer Science with additional qualification on AI and Economics. 

Mr. Davide Gariglio, Attorney-at-Law, who had served as Extraordinary Commissioner of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea Port System Authority since 14 June 2025, was appointed President by Ministerial Decree No. 236 of 12 November 2025 issued by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

A legal professional holding a Law degree with honours, admission to the Bar, and a Master’s degree in Maritime, Port and Logistics Law, he brings over thirty years of experience in the legal, political and managerial fields. He has held senior executive positions in both the public and private sectors, particularly in transport, logistics, ports, energy and public services.

He has extensive expertise in regulatory analysis and institutional relations with the Government, Parliament and high-level stakeholders. As an attorney and consultant, he has advised trade associations and contributed to the drafting of regulatory provisions and legislative reforms. He has led mergers, reorganisations and growth strategies in complex companies.

During his parliamentary experience, he promoted structural reforms and managed innovative projects, including in crisis situations. He has chaired boards of directors and benefit corporations, including innovative start-ups in the technology and healthcare sectors.

Emanuele Grimaldi was born in Naples (Italy) in 1956.

After finishing at the “Nunziatella” military high school, he studied at Naples Federico II University and obtained a Degree in Economics and Commerce summa cum laude in December 1980.

Immediately after graduating, he started working at the Grimaldi Group, founded by his father Guido and uncles in the late 40’s. During his career, he has held various executive positions, both in Italy and abroad and in different business sectors.

Within the Group’s structure, Emanuele Grimaldi has gradually taken charge of the Euro-Mediterranean short sea services and Motorways of the Sea network, thus contributing significantly to their remarkable development over the last 20 years.

Today the Grimaldi Group comprises six main shipping companies. Together they own over 130 vessels, while there is an order book of over 20 more. The fleet – consisting of Ro/Ro, PCTC, multipurpose and Con-Ro vessels as well as passenger ferries – is the core of a vertically integrated logistics chain which also includes port terminals, transport companies and subsidiary branches in more than 25 countries.

Within the framework of trade associations, Emanuele Grimaldi’s commitment to the development, sustainability and safety of shipping has been remarkable. By way of example, he made major contributions to the EU’s State-Aid guidelines, the introduction of Port State Control, double hulls for tankers, the black box and the creation of the European Maritime Safety Agency.

Emanuele Grimaldi is Past Chairman of ICS (International Chamber of Shipping). In addition, he is Past President of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations 2001-2003), Board Member and Past President of the Italian Shipowners’ Association (2013-2017), Vice President of the Malta International Shipping Council, Board Member of Rina SpA.

With regard to his Group functions, he is President & Managing Director of Grimaldi Euromed SpA, Managing Director of Grimaldi Group SpA, Board Member of Grimaldi Deepsea SpA, Chairman of Finnlines Plc, President of Minoan Lines S.A., President of Trasmed GLE S.L., President of Malta Motorways of the Sea Ltd and Board Member of Atlantic Container Line A.B., Chairman of Heraklion Port Authority S.A.

During his career he has won a number of awards assigned by trade associations, the media and customers. In 2018 he was made a Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland

for his valuable contribution to the Finnish maritime industry. In 2023 he received the Medal of the Most Blessed from the Greek-Catholic Church of Ukraine while in late 2025 he was appointed as Honorary Member of the National Order of Merit of Malta.

Emanuele Grimaldi is also President of the Grimaldi Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organization established in Naples in 2007 by him and supported by the Grimaldi family as well as the Grimaldi Group. It is the leading private family foundation in Central and Southern Italy in terms of funds distributed.

Eugenio Grimaldi holds a degree in Business Administration, specialising in Logistics and Transport, from the University of Naples, and is a graduate of the ECG Academy’s Certificate in Automobile Logistics Management programme. He is Head of Short Sea North/South Lines at the Grimaldi Group, where he oversees national cabotage routes and connections between mainland Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, Tunisia and Malta, contributing to the development and expansion of the Motorways of the Sea network across the Mediterranean and Adriatic.

He serves on the Boards of Directors of several companies, including Grimaldi Catania, Grimaldi Marangolo Terminal Catania, Marittima Spedizioni and Grimaldi Palermo Euro Terminal, and is a member of Confitarma’s Short Sea Shipping Committee. In recognition of his extensive expertise in logistics and transport, he was appointed a Reserve Officer in the Italian Air Force, with the rank of Lieutenant.
He was also awarded honorary citizenship of the City of Palermo.

SOCIAL COMMITMENT

Alongside his professional activities, Eugenio Grimaldi is actively involved in social and philanthropic initiatives. He is a member of the Grimaldi Foundation – Philanthropic Organization, serves on the Board of Directors of the Santobono Pausilipon Foundation, which supports one of the leading paediatric hospitals in Southern Italy, and is Chairman of the “ALIS per il Sociale” Commission, supporting initiatives dedicated to the Third Sector and social responsibility. In this context, he was also recognized by Fiera di Verona as a pioneer for bringing, for the first time within a trade-fair event, an entire pavilion dedicated to the Third Sector.

Born in 1969, Philippe developed an early interest in ferries and ro-ro shipping as the son of a master mariner who commanded ferries on the Ostend-Dover line. His childhood passion, expressed through collecting data and travelling across Europe to study ships and ports, led him to study maritime logistics management and pursue a career as a specialist maritime writer and industry analyst.

In 1994, Philippe began an association of more than 25 years with Swedish publishing house Shippax, travelling extensively and interviewing many leading ferry industry decision-makers. This included almost five years as editor-in-chief of Shippax’s publications and lead moderator of its annual Ferry Conference. In September 2021, he decided to discontinue the cooperation to focus fully on his own consultancy activities.

He runs C&MORE, an independent consultancy providing market intelligence, analysis, and strategic insight to ferry and ro-ro industry stakeholders, including shipbrokers, shipyards, and ferry operators. Since 2022, AXSMarine has been one of its principal clients. Among other ro-ro and ro-pax-related responsibilities, Philippe compiles and writes the monthly AXSRoRo B2B newsletter. AXSMarine was acquired by Signal Ocean, part of Greece-based The Signal Group, earlier in 2026, while Philippe continues to operate fully independently through his boutique consultancy.

Philippe is also an Associate Senior Advisor to an international PR and PA agency specialising in transport public relations and public affairs. His work includes writing columns and regulatory updates for Interferry, the association representing the ferry industry worldwide. He also contributes to specialist maritime publications and wrote a commemorative book for P&O Ferries in conjunction with the introduction of its next-generation Dover-Calais ferries, having previously written one for TT-Line.

Through decades of research, travel, and dialogue with decision-makers, Philippe has built an extensive international network and a reputation as a respected ferry and ro-ro industry analyst. He has been a member of the DNV Ferry Committee since 2013, reporting on ferry safety incidents and related trends worldwide.

Thomas A. Kazakos is the Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), having previously served as Director General of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC), the representative National-Member Association of Cyprus at ICS, since 1995.

Throughout his last tenure, he actively participated together with successive CSC Board Members (currently, Mr. Themis Papadopoulos) at the ICS Board, contributing in shaping the Association’s strategy on all regulatory, operational, and legal issues concerning the international shipping industry.

Thomas studied at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B) and a Master‘s Degree in European and International Trade Law (LL.M)

Thomas began his professional career at the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation prior to joining the Cyprus Shipping Chamber. Internationally Thomas has represented Cyprus on the board of ICS and the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) in addition to being an Administrative Board member of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

Professor Maximo Q. Mejia is an accomplished global leader and scholar in Maritime Governance, Policy, and Administration. With over three decades of professional and academic experience, Professor Mejia is a passionate international advocate for the promotion of safe, secure, sustainable, and efficient shipping on clean oceans.

Professor Mejia was appointed by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as the eighth President of the World Maritime University (WMU), a university established within the framework of the IMO and a global centre of excellence for maritime and ocean education, research, and capacity building. He is the first President from Asia and the first President who is a graduate of WMU. As the Chief Executive Officer, Professor Mejia oversees and directs the academic programmes, operations, and administration of the University.

Professor Mejia held various positions at WMU, as Director of the PhD Programme, Head of the Maritime Law and Policy Specialization, and Nippon Foundation Professor of Maritime Governance, Policy, and Administration at WMU. He also served as Associate Academic Dean and has been a resident Faculty member since 1998. During his tenure at WMU, Professor Mejia spearheaded the further development of the WMU PhD programme in Maritime Affairs ensuring a cutting-edge curriculum and a growing number of doctoral students. Professor Mejia is author/co-author of more than 70 published articles and book chapters and the editor/co-editor of 12 books. His multi-disciplinary research and teaching include maritime policy, maritime law, maritime labour law and policy, human factors, safety, and security-related issues.

Aside from senior leadership roles within WMU, Professor Mejia served as Administrator/Director-General at the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) from 2013 to 2016, heading the government agency responsible for integrating the development, promotion, and regulation of the maritime industry in the Philippines. From 1988 to 1998, he progressively held various positions in the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard including Deputy Chief of Staff for Navigational Safety and Deputy Executive Director of the Multisectoral Task Force on Maritime Development. In 2013, Professor Mejia was included in the Lloyd’s List 100 Most Influential Persons in the Shipping Industry. He served on several senior diplomatic assignments including Head of Delegation of the Philippines to IMO meetings (2013 -2016), Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines to the Inauguration of the Expanded Panama Canal (2016), and Chairperson of the 31st ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group (2016).

Professor Mejia earned his PhD from Lund University, Sweden, Master of Science from the World Maritime University, Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, Tufts University, and Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy. Professor Mejia is fluent in Filipino, English, and Swedish and has a knowledge of Spanish and Chinese. He is married to Rebecca Hayes Mejia, with whom he has three children and three grandchildren.

Luigi Pacella Grimaldi is Automotive Intercontinental Director of the Grimaldi Group, which he joined in 2017. Alongside his executive responsibilities, he serves as a Board Member of companies within the Group, including Grimaldi Shipping Agency Shanghai, Grimaldi India Shipping Agency, Grimaldi Belgium, Central European Terminal and Logistic and Marittima Spedizioni. He also holds Board positions in companies outside the Group, including RedFish LongTerm Capital and Innovative-RFK.

Before joining the Grimaldi Group, he worked as an analyst at Welton Hazz Group, a Shanghai-based shipping and financial investment company and subsequently at Mediobanca in London, within the Corporate Debt Capital Markets team.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Bocconi University in Milan and a Master in International Management from IE Business School in Madrid, complemented by a Double Degree at Tongji University in Shanghai.

Matteo Paroli is a highly experienced maritime and port-sector professional, with a distinguished career spanning some of Italy’s leading Port System Authorities.

A law graduate, he has built his professional career by developing deep expertise in maritime and navigation law, port planning, and the governance of integrated logistics systems.

He previously served as Secretary General of the Port System Authority of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, overseeing the ports of Livorno, Piombino, Portoferraio, Capraia and Rio Marina, and, before that, as Secretary General of the Port System Authority of the Central Adriatic Sea, covering Pesaro, Ancona, San Benedetto del Tronto, Pescara and Ortona.

In these roles, Paroli led several initiatives aimed at administrative innovation, digital transformation and infrastructure development, combining strategic vision with strong institutional and managerial skill.

Earlier in his career, he held senior positions at other Italian ports, where he distinguished himself for his ability to coordinate complex planning and management activities, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability and the international competitiveness of port facilities.

Since 25 July 2025, Paroli has served as President of the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea.

Since 16 June 2026, he has also served as President of Genoa Airport.

Morena Pivetti is a professional journalist, active since 1984, specialising in economics, infrastructure, transport and logistics.

Between February 2001 and January 2018, she was part of Il Sole 24 Ore Group, Italy’s leading publishing company in the fields of economics and finance.

Since 2018, her professional activities have combined freelance journalism, with contributions to various magazines and publications, and consultancy assignments for public institutions, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, private organisations and companies.

From February to October 2022, she served as a consultant to Italy’s Ministry of Sustainable Infrastructures and Mobility for the development of its strategic 10-year Transport and Logistics Plan, coordinating the committee responsible for organising and drafting the Plan.

Her recent consultancy experience also includes assignments for Confindustria and other business organisations, alongside roles as facilitator and coordinator at events, workshops and roundtables focused on infrastructure, transport and logistics.

More recently, various regional authorities have appointed her to plan, manage and chair their Regional Logistics Summits, while Fiera Milano has engaged her in connection with the Transpotec and Logitec Exhibition.

Athanasios Porfyris is a Civil Engineer with a master’s degree in Port Organization, Operations, Development and Management and more than 20 years of professional experience in infrastructure development, construction management, and renewable energy projects.

Since 2019, he has served as Chief Executive Officer of Igoumenitsa Port Authority S.A. (IPA S.A.), leading the strategic development, modernization, and operational management of one of Greece's key gateway ports. Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in major public and private infrastructure projects, as well as in the development of renewable energy investments.

His areas of expertise include port management, transport and logistics, infrastructure development, strategic planning, sustainable growth, and renewable energy.

Ugo Salerno is Executive Chairman of RINA, having led the company as CEO from 2002 to 2023 and as Chairman from 2012 to 2023, overseeing its international growth and transformation.

A naval and mechanical engineer, Salerno built extensive experience in the shipping and logistics sectors, holding senior executive positions such as CEO of Coeclerici Shipping. He has also held prominent international industry roles, including Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) and member of the TIC Council Global Board, further strengthening his expertise in maritime and industrial sectors.

In 2025 he was appointed President of the National Federation of the Cavalieri del Lavoro.

Frank Schnelle has led ECG as Executive Director since the end of 2024, representing a diverse group of vehicle logistics providers across Europe and working to advance the interests of the finished vehicle logistics sector.

With more than 30 years of experience in finished vehicle logistics across all transport modes, Schnelle began his career at EH Harms, a pioneer in the sector based in Bremen, Germany.

He later spent several years at Bremen-based BLG Logistics before joining Hyundai Glovis Europe in 2009. There, he played a key role in establishing and expanding the company’s finished vehicle logistics operations in Europe, including the strategic development of its asset base and logistics network.

At ECG, Schnelle focuses on the major challenges shaping the future of vehicle logistics, including capacity, changing production and trade flows, new technologies, efficiency and the availability of skilled labour. A key priority is closer collaboration between logistics providers and OEMs to improve capacity utilisation, strengthen supply chains and support the transformation of the sector.

Per Håvard Siljan Hjukse is a senior executive with more than 20 years of experience from finance, business development, and executive leadership roles within KONGSBERG.

He has held several senior positions in Kongsberg Maritime and KONGSBERG, including EVP Finance, Vice President Finance & Treasurer, and roles within corporate business development and finance management.

He assumed his current role as EVP Propulsion & Handling in 2023.

Justin Stares, founder and editor of Maritime Watch (maritimewatch.eu), has written about the maritime industries and international trade for more than 25 years while based in London, Argentina, Brazil, Italy and now Brussels, the EU capital, where he specialises in the intersection between industry and European legislation.

He has covered the shipping industry for Lloyd's List and TradeWinds, and has written on politics and current affairs for media across the English-speaking world, including The Guardian, The Telegraph and the New York Times.

He is author of 'The Moon at the Bottom of the Well', the true story of an Italian shoeshine boy who became a photo-reporter during the Vietnam war, and co-author with Bianca D'Antonio of 'Grimaldi Armatori', a study of the Naples-based shipowning family.

With 20 years of leadership experience across global logistics companies including DHL, DSV, Geodis, JAS, SF Express, and Tin Nghia Logistics, Thu Le has built extensive expertise in international logistics.

As CEO of SF Express, a major Chinese logistics conglomerate, she played a key role in establishing SF Express operations in Vietnam.

She currently serves as Director of Global Logistics at VINFAST, a Vietnamese multinational automotive manufacturer.

Her responsibilities include integrating logistics solutions for the import of materials and spare parts for manufacturing and after-sales services, as well as the export of finished vehicles and E-scooters from factories to markets worldwide.

She also oversees the establishment of logistics operations across overseas markets, including:

- Europe

- North America

- Middle East

- Africa

- Asia Pacific

This includes stockyards for VDC (Vehicle Distribution Centers) and warehousing for PDC (Parts Distribution Centers).

Born in Madrid in 1975, Ana Núñez is a naval and oceanic engineer and since 2006 she has been part of the Corps of Naval Engineers of the State.

In her professional career, between 2012 and 2016 she was head of the stability and freeboard service at the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGMM). From March 2016 to June 2020 she was deputy deputy director and in June 2020 she held the position of deputy director general of safety, pollution and maritime inspection at the DGMM.

In addition, she has been president of the maritime fishing sector working group of the national commission for safety and health at work since 2016 and a member of the board of directors of the Maritime Rescue Society since 2020 and of the Governing Council of AESA since September 2024.

Prior to all these responsibilities, between 2006 and 2009 she held the position of maritime safety inspector in the maritime captaincy of Castellón and from January 2009 to April 2012, maritime safety inspector in the captaincy of Cádiz.