Speakers and Moderators

Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri

In October 2020, Admiral Surasant was promoted to the capacity of Deputy Director of Office of Policy and Plans where he has been tasked with a more overarching responsibility of assisting the Office in helping formulate and update strategy, policy and plans for the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in engaging in immediate and future projected security environments. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in October 2024.

In regard to the spokesperson-related capacities, Admiral Surasant has continually been part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces spokesperson team, in conjunction with his regular appointments, since 2009 when he was first appointed Assistant Spokesperson, and later Deputy Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in October 2018. He now serves as Spokesperson of Ministry of Defence since July 2025 till present.

Charlotte de Jong

Charlotte de Jong is Director of Business Development APAC at The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.

Based in Southeast Asia, Charlotte leads a regional team responsible for establishing strategic partnerships and multi-stakeholder consortia that enable the deployment and scaling of river cleanup solutions across the Asia-Pacific region. Her work focuses on bringing together governments, corporates, philanthropic organizations, and local operators to unlock impactful, large-scale environmental programs.

With a background in Civil Engineering and extensive experience in business development across APAC, Charlotte combines technical understanding with strong commercial and diplomatic acumen to drive complex collaborations in diverse and rapidly evolving markets.

Fahaz AK

Fahaz AK is a marine and energy technology professional with over 15 years of experience at ABB, spanning Engineering, technical project delivery & regional sales across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, India, Australia, and New Zealand.
Based in Singapore, Fahaz currently leads regional sales initiatives for ABB’s short-distance shipping segment, focusing on vessel electrification, propulsion systems, and shore charging infrastructure. He has been directly involved in several first-of-a-kind projects for ABB, including the world’s first maritime Megawatt Charging System (MCS) deployment for Auckland Transport’s Mission Electric programme — one of the most significant milestones in ferry electrification globally.
His career at ABB spans technical project management, product responsibility for digital marine solutions including ABB Ability™ Remote Diagnosis System, cyber security, and marine advisory services — bridging deep engineering expertise with commercial strategy.
Fahaz holds a Bachelor of Technology in Applied Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering (University of Calicut, India) and an Executive MBA at ESSEC Business School (France), Mannheim Business School (Germany), and alongside a Diploma in Strategy and Leadership from the French Ministry of Higher Education.

Björn Antonsson

As the Regional CEO for Asia Pacific at Candela, Björn is spearheading the company’s expansion across the dynamic region and driving the adoption of electric hydrofoiling boats and ferries. With extensive experience in technology, automotive, and finance, he has a strong track record of leading market expansion and business transformation. He has held senior executive leadership roles across Europe and Asia with blue chip companies such as BMW as well as with start-ups, driving innovation and strategic growth. At Candela, Björn is focused on accelerating the shift to sustainable waterborne mobility, working with governments, hospitality leaders, and maritime operators to introduce zero-emission transport solutions to markets in Asia-Pacific.

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.

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.

Robert Blažinović

Robert Blažinović was born in 1984 in the Republic of Croatia. He graduated in 2007 from the Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management at the University of Rijeka, earning a Master’s degree in Economics. He continued his academic development at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Rijeka, where he completed a postgraduate specialist programme in Controlling. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral programme in Media and Communication at the University North in Koprivnica.

He began his professional career in the hotel industry, holding various operational management positions. He later transitioned to the public sector, where for more than a decade he has been engaged in shaping the industrial and entrepreneurship policy of the Republic of Croatia. In 2016, he joined the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, initially serving as Head of the Industrial Policy Sector. He was subsequently appointed Director of the Directorate for Industry, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, and later Director of the Directorate for Entrepreneurship and Crafts. In these roles, he led the development and implementation of public policies aimed at strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, enhancing industrial competitiveness, and fostering innovation. He actively participated in the work of international organisations such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and numerous European Commission expert groups.

Since February 2025, he has served as President of the Management Board of Jadrolinija, the national shipping company of the Republic of Croatia. In this capacity, he is responsible for the company’s strategic and operational management, long-term planning, and financial sustainability, with a particular focus on digital transformation, fleet development, and the green transition.

Throughout his career, he has served as a member of the supervisory boards of several state-owned companies, including Narodne novine d.d., 3. Maj Shipyard d.d., Đuro Đaković Group d.d., Hrvatska brodogradnja Jadranbrod d.d., 3. Maj 1905 d.o.o., Agencija Alan d.o.o., and Petrokemija d.d.

He is strongly committed to the concept of lifelong learning and brings well-developed leadership, communication, and organisational skills to every role he undertakes. He particularly excels in complex environments at the intersection of economic policy, innovation, and public administration.

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. 

Worawit Chanchayanon

Worawit Chanchayanon is the Chief Operating Officer os Thai Smile Bus Ltd., which operates the Thai Smile Boat service.

Neil Chapman

Neil Chapman is Operations Director at Red Funnel, responsible for the safe, reliable and efficient delivery of ferry operations across the Solent, operating more than 500 services each week. He leads with a strong focus on operational excellence, customer experience and team performance, working closely with colleagues and partners to ensure consistent service delivery while driving continuous improvement in performance, resilience and customer outcomes.

With over 30 years’ experience in transport, logistics and service delivery within the aviation sector, Neil brings a strong operational and customer-focused perspective to his role. He previously led a passenger hovercraft company on the Isle of Wight for more than a decade, overseeing both commercial performance and day-to-day operations.

Neil is a strong advocate for the vital role ferry services play as a lifeline for island communities. He is equally committed to supporting the tourism and hospitality sectors, recognising their importance to regional connectivity and wider economic growth.

Watchara Chiemanukulkit

Bio and photo to come.

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.

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.

Surachet Dejkajornrittha

Mr. Surachet Dejkajornrittha is Chief of Ship Inspection Division of the Ship Standard Bureau in the Thailand Marine Department.

In November 2016, building upon his extensive field experience, he transitioned to the Ship Standards Bureau at the central headquarters. For nearly a decade in this role, he has conducted comprehensive ship surveys and audits to ensure total alignment with both national standards and international maritime conventions. This unique combination of deep field-level practice and high-level regulatory oversight equips him with a 360-degree understanding of ship safety, surveying methods, and maritime law.

Mr. Surachet joined Marine Office 5 (Trang) under the Marine Department as a Ship Surveyor. Over the next 18 years, he expanded his expertise by serving across various strategic regional marine offices, including Phangnga, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Ranong. Operating within Thailand’s primary maritime transport and tourism hubs, he gained profound, hands-on experience in inspecting a wide array of vessels, with a specialized focus on passenger and fishing vessels. Furthermore, he was deeply involved in Flag State Implementation (FSI) and policy execution for many years, ensuring strict compliance with maritime safety regulations at the local level.

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.

Tommy Ericson

Tommy is the Founder and Director of the Aus Ships Group, headquartered in Brisbane, Australia.

With qualifications in Naval Architecture and Business, and a background spanning high speed commercial vessel design, construction and operations through to maritime advisory and regulatory positions in government, Tommy has developed a multi disciplinary business to provide Design, Build and Maintain solutions to the commercial and luxury maritime sectors.

The Aus Ships Group secured the fleet replacement contract with the Brisbane City Council in 2019, designing and constructing 10 x 27 metre high speed low wash Generation 4 double decker City Cats over the last 6 years.

The group has designed the UK’s first all electric passenger ferry which is now entering service for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers on the River Thames in London.

ASG is also is in the detailed design & construction stage for Australia’s first fully accessible, commercially compliant electric passenger ferry, and supported the hydrogen powered vessel demonstration trial in Brisbane in 2025 with Trade & Investment Queensland and Yanmar Japan.
With a focus on practical, robust, commercially viable and efficient de-carbonisation solutions, the Group is strategically positioned to provide compelling end to end solutions for its clients.

Paul Gannaway

With more than 40 years of experience in the maritime industry, Paul Gannaway has built an exceptional career spanning ferry operations, vessel construction, maintenance, and marine engineering.

As CEO of BatamFast and the Asianfast Group, Paul leads one of the region’s most established ferry operators, overseeing operations across Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Under his leadership, the company continues to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient passenger ferry services while investing in operational excellence and long-term growth.

Drawing on decades of industry expertise, Paul has played a pivotal role in strengthening the company’s reputation and positioning BatamFast as a trusted leader in Southeast Asia’s maritime transport sector.

John Garner

John has over forty-five years’ experience at sea and ashore and has spent over thirty years in the ferry industry, moving ashore in 1994 with Stena Line. John was Fleet Director of P & O Ferries Ltd, from 2004 -2019 and had full responsibility for all maritime aspects of the fleet.

As founding director of JG Maritime Solutions Ltd, John has provided advice to three ferry newbuild projects, new business development projects as well as conducting the surveys of ten ferry operators for the Inmarsat report.

John is a former Interferry Director, the current chair of the Interferry Regulatory Committee and provides regulatory liaison on behalf of Interferry in the LASH FIRE project.

John is chair of Lloyds Register Technical Committee, a member of the Supervisory Board of the UK Chamber of Shipping, a Fellow of the Nautical Institute, a Chartered Master Mariner, a Fellow of IMarEST and a Chartered Marine Technologist.

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.

Ronny Øksnes

Ronny Øksnes is an Advisor at the Norwegian Seafarers’ Union. He also serves as Chair of the ITF Ferry Task Force and Chair of the NTF Seafarer & Fishery Section. Beginning his career with Color Line and with extensive shipboard experience on ferries, Ronny has become a leading advocate for fair working conditions, a level playing field, and strong leadership in the global ferry industry. Ronny regularly contributes to international industry discussions and spoke at ShipPax last year on the topic of **Crewing and Gen-Z**, focusing on future workforce expectations and the need to adapt leadership, training, and organizational culture to attract and retain the next generation of seafarers. He firmly believes that well-trained seafarers in safe, inclusive workplaces deliver better service and stronger safety outcomes. Looking ahead, Ronny remains committed to raising safety standards, promoting sustainable practices, and fostering supportive work environments to help the ferry sector thrive.

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.

Marco Pavoncelli

Marco Pavoncelli is Chief Commercial Officer at E-Dea and has over 20 years of international experience in the maritime industry. He has led commercial initiatives and strategic projects with ferry operators, ports, and shipbuilders, supporting the delivery of complex technology programmes and long-term business partnerships. His work focuses on helping operators modernise their services while balancing operational, commercial, and customer needs.

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.