Baltic Exchange and TradeWinds present

International Shipbroking Forum

London / 11 September 2019

 
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Speakers

Put your questions to a hand-picked panel of shipping’s most experienced and knowledgeable individuals, learn and challenge their business strategies and discover what makes them tick.  Among the speakers, you will hear from:

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Stefan Albertijn
Chairman
Baltic Index Council
Stefan Albertijn (43) first joined the Baltic Exchange in 2005, becoming FMIUG chairman in 2009-2010 before joining the Baltic Board in 2012 and being appointed as Baltic Index Committee Chair in 2016. Stefan joined Deutsche Bank AG in 1999 holding various corporate and investment banking positions in Germany and Belgium before joining ADM's Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH shipping department in 2005, becoming its Global Head of Risk Management in 2010. In 2015 he founded Ocean Finance & Consulting BVBA (Oficon), a niche consultant in risk management for the shipping and agri-industries as well as a physical handysize and panamax operator specialised in grain and steel cargoes. He was a guest lecturer in ship finance at Hamburg University between 2009-2015 where he also co-founded the Hamburg Financial Research Centre. Furthermore he is a member of various shipping, financial and grain trading associations in Belgium and Germany. Stefan studied economics at the Universities of Antwerp and Konstanz and has authored various publications on ship finance and financial derivatives.
 
John Banaszkiewicz
Managing Director
FIS
John Banaszkiewicz co-founded FIS in 2002, growing the company into one of the world’s leading freight and commodity brokers, with operations in the United States, Dubai, India, Singapore and China. He previously spent 11 years at Cargill International in a variety of roles, notably as freight and grain trader in the ocean freight department. His determination and diligence in building liquidity in the multi-billion dollar FFA market, attracting clearing and encouraging dialogue between users and brokers, are unquestioned among his peers. He is Chairman of the FFA Brokers Association and sits on the Baltic Index Advisory Committee. John graduated with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from Newcastle Upon Tyne University in 1986. He is married to Tracy, with four children and lives in London. He is a Director of Burnley Football Club, now firmly established in the English Premier League, and has also set up a sports-focussed University in the UK and China. He enjoys travelling, golf and reading.
 
Nico Borkmann
Director & Executive Board Member
Braemar ACM Shipbroking
1982-1985 Trainee Shipbroker at Frachtcontor Junge & Co., Hamburg , Germany 1985-1987 Junior Tanker Broker at LQM Inc., New York 1987-1990 Tanker Broker at Frachtcontor Junge & Co., Hamburg , Germany 1990-1999 Director Tanker Broking at Frachtcontor Junge & Co., Hamburg , Germany 2000-2006 Tanker Broker, ACM Shipbroking Ltd., London 2006-2014 Director Tankers, Partner, ACM Shipbroking Ltd., London 2014 - Director & Executive Board Member at Braemar ACM Shipbroking Ltd.,UK additional Shipping engagements 2006-2011 Non-Excecutive Board Director Omega Navigation Inc. NASDAQ listed 2011-2013 Chairman of the Board of Omega Navigation Inc. NASDAQ listed 2005-2019 Director of Wordscale Assoc. Ltd, London 2019- Chairman of Wordscale Assoc. Ltd, London2 2005-2019 Director of London Tanker Brokers Panel Ltd., London 2019- Chairman of London Tanker Brokers Panel Ltd., London 2016- Chairman of Recap Manager Ltd., London
 
Julian Bray
Editor-in-Chief
TradeWinds
Julian Bray is Editor-in-Chief of TradeWinds, the shipping business news publisher which since its launch 25 years ago has become a reference point for decision makers in the industry. During a career in business journalism, he has won awards for both reporting and editing and built a track record of product innovation having lead numerous newspaper, magazine and website launches and relaunches. In addition to his specialist knowledge of maritime commerce, he has also been a Correspondent for the Reuters news agency, written for national newspapers and magazines, and made television and radio appearances. Away from the office, a love of the natural work often takes him to wild and mountainous regions to walk, cycle, climb and watch wildlife with family and friends. He also has a passionate interest in politics, culture and music.
 
Ami Daniel
CEO
Windward
Ami has been building organisations for two decades. First, there was a community center aimed at promoting coexistence. Then came an NGO to inspire troubled teens. He served as a naval officer for some 10 years, before going on to set up Windward in 2010. Since then, he’s grown the company into a global leader in maritime risk analytics with offices in Tel Aviv, London, Washington D.C and (soon) Singapore. Along the way, the company has partnered with governments, the United Nations, Frontex, marine insurers and compliance teams across the maritime ecosystem. Ami holds a BA in Law & Business from Tel-Aviv University. He's won multiple accolades, including the Ilan Ramon Award for Excellence and the President's Award for Social Good. In his other life, he volunteers as a children’s entertainer: he’s especially adept at making swans and bears out of balloons.
 
Richard Fulford-Smith
Managing Partner
Affinity Shipping
Richard started his career with Blue Funnel / Elder Dempster attached to the London based McGregor Gow & Holland , in house brokerage . After a spell in the tanker business his main job was the disposal of the old liner ships as the company attempted to move into bulk shipping . That was not a comfortable transition for any of the old style empire serving liner companies and by 1976 he sought a move away . He joined the competitive brokerage shop of Eggar Forrester to learn more about the bulk businesses and the role of Greek and Scandinavian. ship owners becoming ever more prominent . After only nine months he moved on to J E Hyde & Company, ( house broker to Bibby Line) to open up a competitive desk. Five years later he joined SSY , in the sale and purchase competitive team, managing it successfully through the difficult 1980s. At the very bottom of the terrible market in 1986 he oversaw the purchase of a large block of bulk carriers for the emerging Russian state companies . He accumulated significant Hong Kong, Chinese and Greek bulk S&P business and was approached by Clarksons to head the sale and purchase team in 1992 after that company had suffered a notable decline in its business He became Managing Director of H Clarkson & Company in 1999, sat on the board of Clarkson plc for a few years and acted as CEO of Clarkson plc 2004-08. During that period Clarkson doubled In size with his vision for acquiring key personnel attracted by a very transparent profit share inventive scheme . He oversaw many well planned and executed acquisitions which created a broader coverage than CLK’s strong dry bulk and Tanker roots . Work to grow the Research base with Dr Stopford and the creation of powerful Gas and Chemicals teams transformed the company and expanded his base of knowledge . Many shipbuilding deals , combined with some major corporate deals contributed to the build up of a USD 500 million forward order book , by the time of his departure . He left Clarkson In the summer of 2008 pursuant to a significant difference of opinion with the Chairman of the Board on how to settle a Russian legal challenge . After a year on the sidelines of shipping he joined forces with PLATOU in Oslo to pursue a shared ambition with Peter Anker on how to fund shipping through capital markets . He built an international shipping team from the london base , including particularly a focus on shipbuilding and LNG / Tankers and a continuing service to many quality shipowners . The fledgling company in London , PLATOU LLp , grew and was notably successful in helping create the Oslo investment banking presence and a large quantity of new construction work for its clients , many of which were introduced and handled in London . Such was the success of the combined venture together with the highly regarded Norwegian base of offshore and Scandinavian business , that CLK agreed to buy PLATOU . With the proceeds from the sale of the stock , Richard and his colleagues established Affinity (Shipping) LLP . It was formed on 2nd January 2015, following the management buyout of RS Platou LLP and its associates , since when it has continued to grow robustly despite the challenging market . Affinity now has offices in 13 different locations worldwide and a staff of close to 200.
 
Ben Gibson
Head of LNG Derivatives
Affinity Shipping
Benjamin Gibson is Head of LNG Derivatives for Affinity (Shipping) LLP. He recently executed the world’s first LNG FFA trade using The Baltic Exchange’s LNG routes as the settlement. Benjamin joined Affinity in 2018 to establish the LNG Derivatives desk which provides brokerage of LNG and natural gas derivatives to clients across the whole LNG value chain. Prior to joining Affinity Benjamin set up an LNG business at a commodity futures firm and has been an active broker in the dry bulk FFA market. He has an MA in English Literature from Cambridge University.
 
Jonathan Herbst
Global Head of Financial Services Regulation
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Jonathan is the firm’s Global Head of Financial Services Regulation and joined the London practice as a partner in October 2002. He was previously Head of European Law at the UK Financial Services Authority from 2001 to 2002. Jonathan is a leading practitioner in the field of UK and EU financial services law and regulation focussing on markets and derivatives issues. Jonathan is a leading commentator on Brexit and co-authored a report for the Financial Services Forum on regulatory equivalence which was extensively referenced in a number of publications including Financial News, Reuters, FT Financial Adviser and City AM. Jonathan also gave evidence to the House of Lords EU financial affairs sub-committee inquiry on the impact of Brexit on financial services.
 
Martin Hjelle
Head of Technology
Western Bulk
M.Sc. - Industrial Economy and technology Management with specialization in AI and Operations Research. Started at Western Bulk December 2017. Have previously worked: • as a production engineer producing oceanographical sensors (typically used in large harbors) • as a software developer automating and simplifying the very same process as I was previously part of • as a business consultant helping many companies with defining and implementing digital strategy, teaching them how to innovate and how to handle and prepare for disruption Martin started in Western Bulk late 2017 and are rather new to shipping. He has previously worked as Business Consultant helping many companies defining and implementing their digital strategy, teaching them how to innovate and how to handle and prepare for disruption.
 
Mark Jackson
CEO
The Baltic Exchange
Mark Jackson was appointed the CEO of the Baltic Exchange in February 2017. He originally served on the board of the Baltic Exchange from 2004 to 2012 and as its Chairman from 2009. Mark has over 37 years of shipping industry experience having started his shipping career as a trainee in 1981 in Sydney, Australia. Mark first traded freight derivatives in 1987 and extensively used FFAs as part of a physical trading strategy. The London headquartered Baltic Exchange is an international provider of benchmark rates for the bulk shipping industry and as a membership organisation has over 650 shipowning, chartering and shipbroking companies who adhere to a code of conduct. The Singapore Exchange acquired the Baltic Exchange in 2016 and Mark is focused on building its London presence and broadening its Asia footprint.
 
Brian Nixon
Managing Director
Lavinia Bulk Ltd.
Brian was born in Dublin and is married to Christine with 2 children and now lives on the South coast of the UK. Brian graduated from the University of Plymouth in 1995 with an Honours Degree in Maritime Business and Law and in 1996 graduated from City University London with a Masters Degree in International Shipping, Trade and Finance. In 1996 Brian worked as a trainee in London and Singapore for APL/NOL container Line and then in 1998 worked with OOCL in London. In 1999, Brian moved into the dry bulk freight markets working for Cargill as a freight trader in London then Geneva, Hong Kong and finally Singapore. In 2006, Brian moved to Morgan Stanley Commodities and set up the physical dry freight trading desk with the main focus being on the supramax, panamax and the cape sectors to complement the banks involvement in freight derivatives. In 2013, Brian left Morgan Stanley to setup Lavinia Bulk Ltd as the Managing Director of the office based in London. Lavinia bulk is the chartering and commercial arm of the Laskaridis Shipping/Lavinia Corp’s dry bulk fleet and is separate from Lavinias reefer business based in Hamburg and the tanker business based in Athens. The dry bulk fleet comprises of 48 bulk carriers ranging in size from Ultramax upto Newcastlemax. We stay close to the S+P markets and also trade small volumes of freight derivatives. The London office now totals 5 employees. Brian is a member of the Baltic Exchange and other interests include sailing, rugby and golf.
 
Mark O'Neil
CEO
Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd
Mark O'Neil is the President of Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd. A maritime lawyer by profession, as a Partner with Stephenson Harwood LLP and Reed Smith LLP for 17 years, Mark headed up international law firm Reed Smith LLP's German Shipping Team, and also co-lead the firm's Offshore Department. His clients included Ship Owners, Charterers, Insurers, Management Companies, Banks, Oil Companies and Offshore Contractors worldwide with a particular focus on the German, Scandinavian, Greek, Dutch, South American and Cypriot markets. He therefore has an in-depth knowledge of the shipping, ship management, banking and offshore sectors. Mark chairs and/or speaks at numerous maritime and banking conferences and seminars worldwide. He is a passionate advocate of performance Optimisation within the shipping and ship management industry and regularly speaks on this matter together with the related topic of digitalisation.
 
Emanuel (Manu) Ravano
CEO
IFCHOR
After a career as professional ski racer Manu studied at the Graduate Institute of International Relations in Geneva by completing a major in International Monetary Economics. Thereafter he did various internships in Grain trading houses and subsequently started in IFCHOR as early as 2002 where he covered various roles, from back to front office (Capesize Chartering). He is still actively broking whilst managing IFCHOR as its CEO since 2012. IFCHOR notably expanded during the past decade and offers today dry and wet bulk chartering (to both transactional and industrial clients), sale & purchase, research advisory services. It has been recently diversifying in Marine Capital and Marine Technology advisory. IFCHOR has earned the trust of its clients by providing a service based on integrity, discretion, intelligence and professionalism for over 40 years. The company is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland with a network of 12 offices in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and the USA, and employs as of today more than 170 persons.
 
Chris Reilly
Managing Director
BRS Futures
Graduated from Oxford University in 1976 with an Honours Degree in Modern Languages (German and French) and started his shipping career on the Clarksons graduate trainee course. After spending 5 years at Clarksons in dry cargo chartering, he moved to SSY in 1981 and joined their Mineral Team, whose main focus was the burgeoning steam coal market. He remained there for 17 years, the last 6 of which were as a Partner in the firm, before resigning in 1998. Since 1999 he has been with BRS, as head of the London office and a Partner since 2002. Today Chris is head of BRS London and managing director of the BRS derivatives-broking subsidiary BRS Futures. He is also the current Chair of the shipbrokers’ association Competitive Shipbrokers Ltd (CSBL) and has just completed 3 years of service as a member of the Baltic Index Advisory Council. Age 65 (born 1953), married with 4 children and 11 grandchildren.
 
Viral Shah
Head of Freight Trading
RWE Supply & Trading
Graduated from CASS Business School in 2008 with a Masters in Mathematical Trading and Finance, following a Bachelors in Computer Engineering from the Mumbai University in 2007. Viral joined RWE in 2009, and after spending two years as a risk control analyst he moved to the Coal & Freight Trading team. He worked on spot chartering as well as period markets in all vessel classes from supramax to capesize between 2011 and 2015. Since April 2015, Viral has been head of the Dry Bulk Freight Trading desk at RWE Supply & Trading. He manages a team of more than 20 traders and operators, which controls a fleet of 60-70 vessels carrying 40-45 million tonnes of cargo. He is currently a member of the Baltic Index Council and has also served as a member of the Baltic European Advisory Council.
 
Kristian Sørensen
CEO - Global Head of Shipbroking
Fearnleys
Kristian Sørensen was appointed Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of Astrup Fearnley AS on March 31st 2019. Since 2016 he is also serving as the CEO of Fearnleys AS, the shipbroking arm within the Astrup Fearnley Group. Kristian started his career as intern and later shipbroker with Lorentzen & Stemoco from 1998 to 2004 before joining Norwegian shipbroking house Inge Steensland AS (Steem1960) in 2004. He worked with Inge Steensland AS for 11 years during which he also moved to Singapore in the years 2010 to 2013 to head up Inge Steensland Singapore Pte Ltd. On his departure from Inge Steensland AS in 2015 he held the position as Global Head of Gas department. Kristian holds an MSc and MBA from The Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).