Speakers and Moderators

Bud Darr

Charles “Bud” Darr is President and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the global trade association that represents the world’s most prestigious ocean, river, and specialty cruise lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community; and a widespread network of stakeholders, including ports, destinations, and ship developers, as well as a range of leading product and service providers to the cruise industry.

As President and CEO, Bud is responsible for leading the organization’s work as the foremost authority and voice of the industry across the association’s five operating regions, including North America, Europe, Australasia, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Bud joined CLIA as president and CEO in February 2025—returning to the association, having previously held the post of Senior Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs from 2010 to 2017.

Prior to his return to CLIA, Bud served as Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs at MSC Group for nearly eight years. A highly respected and recognized expert in the maritime world, Bud’s leadership of CLIA comes at an important time for the industry as the cruise sector builds on a strong and responsible growth trajectory.

His accomplished maritime experience includes serving six years in the United States Navy (1983 to 1989) and in the U.S. Navy Reserve while at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (1989 to 1993), where he graduated with honors in the Marine Transportation program and received his Merchant Marine License as a Deck Officer. He then served 17 years (1993 to 2010) with the U.S. Coast Guard in a variety of roles, including Deputy Chief of Maritime & International Law. He also represented the United States as a delegate to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the Assembly, Committee, Sub-Committee, and Working Group levels, and served in capacities as head of delegation, advisor, and elected Chairman.

Bud is an associate member of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA) and over the course of his career has built outstanding relationships with leaders across the global cruise industry, including cruise lines, ports, shipbuilders, service providers, and travel trade professionals. He is especially passionate about safety and sustainability and is an active member of the broader maritime community through his work with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, UK Chamber of Shipping, Liberian Shipowners Council, SEA-LNG, Society for Gas as Marine Fuel, World Shipping Council, IMO World Maritime University, Cruise Safety and Sustainability Forum, and the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI).

He began his education in Submarine Nuclear Engineering and obtained his formal undergraduate education at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. During his service with the U.S. Coast Guard, he studied law and graduated with high honors from The George Washington University Law School.

Isabelle Ryckbost

Isabelle Ryckbost has been Secretary General of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) since August 1, 2013. Before taking up this role, Isabelle had been working as Director of the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) and Senior Advisor of ESPO for four years.

She studied Law (University of Namur and KULeuven) and European Law (UCL Louvain). Before joining EFIP, she worked in EU Public Affairs for almost 20 years. After a short period at the European Commission (DG Agriculture), she worked in an EU Public Affairs consultancy. In 1994 she started working in the European Parliament, as a political assistant and between 1999 and 2009 she was the political assistant of Dirk Sterckx, where she was mainly active in transport and port-related fields. She is co-author of the handbook “Zo Werkt Europa” (1st edition 2007, 2nd edition 2010, 3rd edition 2015).

Shelvy Arifin

Shelvy Arifin is the Corporate Secretary of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero),where she has been instrumental in advancing the company’s strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and corporate governance.

Her impactful leadership earned her the Top Spokesperson Award from Humas Indonesia in 2022 and BestCorporate Secretary 2024 from The Iconomics, a leading media in economy. She holds a Communication degree from University of Indonesia—one of Indonesia’s top universities—andadual MBA from Universitas Indonesia and Grenoble University, France.

Götz Becker

Götz Becker is CEO of the FRS group of companies (Förde Reederei Seetouristik GmbH & Co. KG).

FRS looks back on a shipping history of more than 150 years. Today, the shipping company is one of Europe’s leading ferry specialists, having grown from a regional ferry operator to an internationally active business group operating 55 vessels with more than 2,000 employees worldwide.

FRS, with its headquarter in the north German city of Flensburg, has a portfolio that comprises of 16 vessel-operating-subsidiaries located in northern and southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and North America. FRS carries on numerous national and international ferry and catamaran lines around 7.9 million passengers and 2.1 million vehicles every year. Nowadays FRS owns, manages and operates a varied fleet of conventional ferries, double-ended ferries, water taxis, six solar powered passenger boats and a broad variety of high-speed catamarans. FRS has operated in total more than 20 different High Speed Crafts (HSC) half of which were built under the order of FRS.

Götz has been with FRS since 1994, CEO since 2005. In 2015, he joined the Operators Policy Committee of Interferry, and served as chair. He is also on the DNV•GL committee. Götz has been member of the Interferry Board of Directors since 2016.

Greta Bédard

With a career of more than 40 years in the maritime sector, Mrs Greta Bédard is now the first woman to hold the position of President and Chief Executive Officer at the Société des traversiers du Québec. This graduate of the Institut maritime du Québec as Navigation Officer completed a Master of Business Administration and is also a certified corporate director. Mrs. Bédard’s experience was developed in various spheres of the maritime division and public service, from founding two worker cooperatives to several management positions in operations and capital assets. Her sense of ethics and strategic vision of the maritime industry are amongst her many merits.

Claes Berglund

Claes Berglund is a senior executive in the shipping industry. As a Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Stena and active in many shipping organizations, he is a major influencer of shipping policy in Europe and globally. He holds a Bachelor in Science and is an officer in the Royal Swedish Navy (reserve). Before coming into the shipping world 15 years ago he had 12 years in road-based transport and third party logistic services.

Stena AB has activities within ferries, tankers, ports, offshore drilling, ship management, real estate and other investments. The group has a €4 billion turnover, 15,000 employees and operates more than 160 vessels worldwide. Stena is active in the challenge of finding sustainable energy sources for the shipping industry and has among other things introduces the world’s first methanol ferry.

Luca Carrà

Luca Carrà is the Product Manager for Automation and Cyber Security at RINA Marine Consulting. With over two decades at RINA, Luca has specialized in automation system type approval, onboard testing, risk analysis, and cyber security services for a wide range of ship types, including passenger vessels, gas carriers, and offshore units. From 2021 to 2024, he was based in Fort Lauderdale, supporting owners and shipyards with additional class notations, technology qualifications, and cyber security initiatives. Today, Luca leads the development of RINA’s automation and cyber security service portfolio, focusing on regulatory alignment, digital transformation, and operational resilience. He holds an Electronic Engineering degree from the University of Genoa and is an active member of the IACS Safety Digital Transformation Panel.

Matteo Catani

Matteo Catani is the Chief Executive Officer of GNV, a leading Ferry Company in the western Mediterranean Sea. 

Prior to this he served as Director of Sales and Business Development (2014 – 2016), leading sales, marketing and development activities, as Strategy and Business Development Manager (2011 – 2014) heading planning, forecasting, pricing and revenue management as well as Business Planning and Analysis Manager (2007 – 2010).  He had previously held different business planning related positions within the Danone Group (2004 – 2007) a multinational company leader in the food-and-beverage Industry. 

Matteo holds a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Genoa and an MBA from The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business, US, Illinois. 

Sean Collins

Sean Collins has been at the helm of Thames Clippers since the inception of the business in 1999. At that time they operated one boat with a capacity of just 62 that served three piers and employed two people. Today, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers carries over 5.2 million passengers and employs over 500 people. The business operates 24 vessels, including three hybrids and has a further two fully electric vessels under construction (cross river passenger/cycle ferry and light freight vessel).

Under Collins’ leadership, the business has attracted external investment including AEG who held a majority shareholding from 2006 to 2022 and most recently Northleaf Capital Partners who are committed to help drive the business growth with a focus on improving environmental sustainability. A commercial partnership was entered into with Uber in August 2020 for the naming rights to the brand.

With a keen focus on training and development, Collins has instilled a people-first vision at Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. The business has an in-house training academy and 76% of the Captains of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers vessels have worked their way up through the business. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers have a female population of 31%. By 2026 it is expected that Thames Clippers will have about 15% female captains, in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Collins began his career aged 16 in 1984 when he was apprenticed to the Company of Watermen and Lighterman and is a third-generation Waterman. This includes serving as a Royal Waterman since 2008. During his career on the River Thames Collins has worked as a Captain on passenger vessels and tug boats. Collins has also been National Rowing Champion and represented Great Britain at an international level, including the World Rowing Championships.

Heather Combs

Heather Combs is the CEO of Ripple Operations, where she leads the company’s mission to revolutionize Crew Success in the maritime industry. With decades of experience as a global executive, Heather has built a reputation for driving growth through the strategic alignment of product development with market strategies, encompassing sales, marketing, business development, and operational functions.

Heather’s expertise spans B2B professional services, SaaS, and technology solutions, with a proven track record of scaling businesses through organic growth, mergers, acquisitions, and integration. Her technical acumen and passion for solving complex challenges have fostered innovation and operational excellence across the organizations she leads.

A champion for workforce readiness and lifelong learning, Heather is committed to the transformative power of digital technologies in creating meaningful change. She is steering Ripple Operations to become the leading partner for cruise and ferry operators, delivering solutions that streamline operations, enhance crew management, and support the industry’s ongoing digital transformation.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Heather is a dynamic leader who balances her demanding career with raising five daughters, exemplifying resilience and adaptability.

Mike Corrigan

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 to his position of CEO of Interferry extensive executive experience in the ferry industry, most recently as the CEO of BC Ferries, one of the world’s largest ferry operators. During Mike’s tenure with BC Ferries, the company became recognized as a world leader in safety and operational excellence, set record earnings levels, invested $2 Billion in ships and terminals, and established itself as an employee-centric company earning top employer recognition.

Shari Corrigan

Shari joined Interferry in January 2016 and is responsible for the administration of finances, annual conference planning and is the Executive Sponsor for the Domestic Ferry Safety program. Her careers in the US and Canada as an investment professional, economist, teacher and economic developer provide a solid foundation of skills which support Interferry’s mission.

Shari holds a Masters degree in Applied Economics from Western Michigan University (USA) and a Post Degree Diploma in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo (Canada). She is the proud recipient of numerous awards for excellence in teaching both nationally and internationally.

Panos Dikaios

Panos Dikaios is the CEO of ATTICA GROUP, one of the leading ferry operators worldwide, based in Greece. He joined the Group in 2012 and from 2013 until 2023 he served as the Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Dikaios is also a member of the Board of Directors of ATTICA GROUP as well as its subsidiaries.

He has more than 20 years of experience in shipping finance and investment banking. Prior to joining ATTICA GROUP, he held the position of Shipping Manager at the Investment Bank of Greece, responsible for financing and investment banking services to the maritime sector.

Mr. Dikaios is also an elected member of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, Board of Directors.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in maritime studies from the University of Piraeus in Greece, and an MBA from the RSM Rotterdam School of Management, in Netherlands.

Oluwadamilola Emmanuel

Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel is a versatile leader with over 15 years of experience in operations management, revenue growth, and environmental sustainability. As General Manager of LASWA, he has overseen the completion of key ferry terminals, the upgrade of over 20 jetties, and integrated the UN’s SDGs into the agency’s operations, leading the strategic development and management of water transportation across Lagos State.

Notable achievements include establishing the first Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre in West Africa and introducing the Cowry Card payment system for seamless transport integration on the Lagos waterways. His leadership has attracted significant foreign investments and partnerships from the British and French Government, driving infrastructural development on the Lagos waterways.

A graduate of the University of Lagos and the University of Hull, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel is a proud alumnus of the African Leadership University − Public Sector Fellowship committed to community development and spearheading several CSR initiatives.

A visionary leader, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel is passionate about leveraging innovative solutions to connect communities, foster economic growth, and ensure environmental sustainability.

Antonio Errigo

Antonio Errigo currently holds the position of Deputy Director General of ALIS – the Logistics Association of Sustainable Intermodality. Within this organization, he also serves as the Coordinator of the ALIS Europe Department and Head of International Relations. A registered journalist, since November 2021 he has overseen the editorial coordination of ALIS Magazine, while also actively contributing to the journalistic activities of ALIS Channel. Representing ALIS, he is a member of the Executive Board Committee of SeaFocus International (Finland), the Regional Council for Road Haulage and Logistics of the Sicily Region, the Technical Operational Group “Interactive Labs for the Mediterranean Academy of Transport and Logistics”, and the Board of Directors of the ITS Foundation for Sustainable Mobility and Transport in Catania. He is also a full member of the Executive Committee of ONTM – National Observatory for the Protection of the Sea. In his professional career, he has worked as a lecturer at Italian training institutes and business schools, as well as at the Escola Europea Intermodal Transport in Barcelona. From 2013 to 2015, he collaborated with the European Programming Office of the Port System Authority of the Central Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (Civitavecchia, Fiumicino, and Gaeta), seconded on behalf of the Port Authority and the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to the Permanent Representation of Italy to the European Union in Brussels. There, he supported national transport experts during both the Greek and Italian Presidencies of the EU Council, dealing with all aspects of EU legislative policy. His duties included preparing and managing meetings of the European Ministers of Transport and Infrastructure, in coordination with the Mertens Group and under the guidance of the Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative.

Maria Garbarini

Maria Garbarini is the Head of Passenger Ships Excellence Centre at RINA Services S.p.A. With a decade-long tenure in a ro-ro shipping company, she specialized in overseeing new building, conversion, and engineering projects, as well as managing funded innovative projects. Transitioning to RINA in 2018 as a passenger ships engineer, Maria focuses on implementing cutting-edge products and value-added services in the passenger ships sector. She actively contributes to RINA’s Decarbonization Committees, dedicated to exploring alternative fuels, new technologies, and operational strategies to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, Maria leads a team that provides a unique source of expertise to the cruise and ferry industry, concentrating on energy transition and safety considerations. Maria holds a degree in Naval Architecture and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Genoa and is a Member (MRINA) of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

Seamus Murphy

Seamus Murphy is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), which operates SF Bay Ferry service throughout the region.

Prior to joining WETA, Murphy spent over a decade overseeing external affairs and strategic communications for the San Mateo County Transit District (District), which operates the Caltrain commuter rail system and SamTrans bus service. As the District’s Chief Communications Officer, Murphy led efforts to secure funding for transformative projects including the $2 billion Caltrain Electrification Project. He was also responsible for passing state legislation that paved the way for voter approval of revenue measures creating over $200 million/year in new transportation investment for improvements and services throughout the Peninsula.

Murphy has been recognized as a leader focused on building strong coalitions that can effectively advocate for solutions to the industry’s most pressing challenges. He is a recipient of Mass Transit Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” award and is a key player in local, regional, state and national efforts to sustain, improve, and expand public transportation for all who depend on it.

Pino Musolino

Since July 2025 he is the CEO of Alilauro SpA. Before he has held the position of President of the Port Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (ports of Civitavecchia, Fiumicino, and Gaeta) from December 2020 to July 2025. Since February 2023, President of MEDPorts, the association representing European, North African, and Middle Eastern Mediterranean ports. Previously served as President of the Port Authority of the Northern Adriatic Sea (Venice and Chioggia) from 2016 until December 2020. Holds almost two decades of experience in international shipping, having worked extensively in UK, Antwerp and Singapore, both in private consultancy firms and in-house for shipping companies. Born in Venice, graduated in Law from the University of Bologna with a specialization in Maritime Law. Completed a Master degree LLM in International Commercial and Maritime Law at the University of Wales (Swansea), followed by a Certificate in International Politics at St. Antony College, Oxford, and a Certificate in Business Sustainability Management at Cambridge. Currently, he is also Adjunct professor in Sustainable Economics at the University of Tuscia and a lecturer in Maritime Law at the University of Bologna

Anne Sophie Sagbakken Ness

Anne Sophie is a Consultant in the Environment Advisory unit of DNV’s Maritime Advisory department. She specializes in decarbonization strategies for the shipping industry, with a focus on alternative fuels, emissions reduction, and regulatory readiness. Anne Sophie holds a Master’s degree in Marine Technology from NTNU (2021), with a specialization in Marine Systems Design.

Since joining DNV in 2021, she has contributed to key modeling tools, simulating future fleet decarbonization and ship technoeconomic analysis and has worked on projects ranging from onboard carbon capture to port emissions analysis and future fuel assessments. She is also a core contributor to DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 and an active participant in the Green Shipping Programme.

Anders Ørgård

Anders Ørgård is the Chief Commercial Officer and majority shareholder of OSK Design, where he has played a central role in shaping the company’s evolution over the past two decades. Educated as a naval architect at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), he combines a solid technical background with strong commercial insight, both of which have been decisive in OSK Design’s growth.

Originally founded in 1966 by Ole Steen Knudsen, OSK was acquired by Ørgård in 2003. Since then, he has overseen its transformation from a traditional naval architecture consultancy into an international, innovation-driven design house that combines ship design, marine engineering, and user-focused solutions.

In 2016, Ørgård stepped down as CEO to dedicate himself more fully to OSK’s commercial strategy, international growth, and client relations. His leadership is characterized by a strong emphasis on understanding clients’ business models and ensuring that OSK’s designs are not only technically sound but also aligned with operational needs, sustainability goals, and passenger experience.

He has been committed to driving OSK’s adoption of innovative technologies, introducing advanced digital tools, 3D modeling, virtual reality, and AI into the design process. This shift has modernized how OSK Design develops vessels, enabling optimization in areas such as hull performance, stability, energy use, and lifecycle costs.

Today, Anders Ørgård continues to guide OSK Design’s commercial development and strategic direction, reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in sustainable, future-ready ship design.

Christopher “Chet” Pastrana

Christopher Pastrana founded the CAPP Group of Companies involved in the trading of bulk raw materials for the cement industry. In 2002, he ventured into tug and barge operations. In the same year, he started Philharbor Ferries and Port Services and Archipelago Philippine Ferries which connects the major Philippine Islands with RoRo service. He has since expanded into ship management, ship repair, port operations and maritime training.

“Chet” is currently the President of the Philippine RoRo Operators Association, an organization of shipowners closely collaborating with the government with the goal of improving and strengthening its niche in the maritime industry. He holds a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from the Asian Institute of Management, has completed the Executive Leadership Program at MIT, and he holds the rank of Captain in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Andrea Piccione

Andrea is a Mechanical Engineer with many years of international business experience within different Companies. Graduated in 1999 at Politecnico di Milano, starts his career in different industries (STMicroelectronics, Linde Gas, Linde Material Handling), before joining Volvo Penta in 2006. Since 2018, Head of Marine Sales for the Italian market, after different roles in the Swedish Headquarters (Sales Project Manager) and in Italy (Service Engineer, Key Account Manager). Deep knowledge of energy transformation, production processes and marine propulsions. In 2024 takes the role of responsible for the full Marine Business for Italy, Croatia, Slovenia and Malta.

Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram

Mrs. Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram is the Chairperson of Chao Phraya Express Boat Co., Ltd., Chao Phraya Tourist Boat Co., Ltd., and the Supatra Group of companies. Supapan oversees the operations of these companies, which has a fleet of over 90 vessels and transports over 12,000,000 passengers a year along the Chao Phraya River.

Chao Phraya Express Boat is currently in the process of modernizing its fleet by replacing wooden boats with aluminum catamarans.
Supapan received her B.A degree from American University in Washington DC, and an EMBA from Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. She has received numerous awards including “The Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World “ in Vancouver, 2005 and “ASEAN Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs” from Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council in Hanoi, Vietnam 2015. She is also active with leading roles in various organizations. Supapan was the President and founder of The Thai Boat Association, her most recent position is an Advisor to the President of the President of the National Assembly of Thailand.

The Supatra Group of Companies celebrate our 100th Anniversary of river transportation this year.

Drew Pirrit

Drew Pirrit is an experienced Marine Engineer and Technical Manager with a strong background in road transport fleet service and operational management. He has a proven track record of helping ferry operators reduce excess systems and improve efficiency across their technical operations.

With a clear understanding of the needs of both crew and shoreside management, Drew works closely with clients to strike the right balance in managing fleet operations, compliance, and personnel. His approach is practical, hands-on, and focused on building systems that work in real-world conditions.

Drew is particularly focused on identifying fuel savings and reducing carbon emissions through smart, data-led analysis. By applying well-designed analytical tools, he helps operators uncover opportunities to lower costs and operate more sustainably.

As Director of Tiller Technical, Drew continues to support operators across the ferry sector in building cleaner, more connected, and more efficient technical systems.

Luke Pretlove

Luke Pretlove is a naval architect with over 20 years’ experience in high speed ferry design and aluminium shipbuilding. Luke is based in the UK and heads up Austal’s Technical Services team, which is focused on decarbonisation, advanced hull forms, motion control, hydrodynamics and data science.

Marte Radmann

Marte Radmann is CDO at Telenor Maritime, a world-leading mobile and connectivity supplier specializing in the maritime sector. With extensive experience in digital transformation at sea, Marte Radman is passionate about bridging the gap between technology and operations, driving a more collaborative and innovative ferry industry.

We look forward to the opportunity to share our insights and contribute to the advancement of ferry connectivity and digitalization.