Printed Programme WISTA Conference 2017 - DEFINITIEVE VERSIE

37 TH WISTA INTERNATIONAL 

AGM & CONFERENCE 

FUTURE-PROOF 

MARITIME SOLUTIONS 

3 - 6 October 2017 

ROTTERDAM

consulting engineers & marine surveyors 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU NOTE TO OUR SPONSORS 

WISTA is thankful to all parties mentioned 

below for their sponsorship. Without their 

highly appreciated contribution we wouldn’t be 

able to make this event a success. 

We greatly value their commitment that enables 

us to provide to you the 2017 Conference. 

Their generous support in underwriting this 

event, promotes WISTA’s mission to support 

women in the maritime industry worldwide with 

networking and development opportunities. 

The 37 th WISTA International AGM & Conference is sponsored by: 

Loyal 

Insurance 

Brokers 

The Marshall Islands Registry 

www.register-iri.com 

USA 

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WELCOME TO ROTTERDAM 

by Michon-Jolân Bullen 

President WISTA the Netherlands 

Welcome to the 37 th WISTA Conference. It is with 

great pleasure that we welcome all our WISTA 

sisters to the beautiful city of Rotterdam, a 

world-class business metropolis, with a port 

that is among the biggest worldwide and serves 

as the gateway to Europe. 

It is with honour, passion and pride that 

we organize the WISTA 2017 Conference to 

emphasize once more the strong, professional 

networking organization that WISTA is. 

Looking forward to sharing experiences about 

mentoring, sharing knowledge, building 

networks and business relationships with not 

only our 140 strong and ambitious Dutch WISTA 

members, but with all of you coming from all 

continents. 

Yours sincerely, 

Michon-Jolân Bullen 

“Such an honour to welcome you all to Rotterdam” 

Michon-Jolân 

3

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME 2017 

FUTURE-PROOF MARITIME SOLUTIONS 

TUESDAY 3 RD OF OCTOBER 2017 

09:00 - 17:00 hrs ExCo meeting 

Location: RDM Campus Congress Centre Rotterdam 

Dresscode: Business casual 

- ExCo Members only - 

19:00 - 22:00 hrs NWA Presidents’ Dinner 


- WISTA Presidents only - 

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WEDNESDAY 4 TH OF OCTOBER 2017 

08:30 - 10:00 hrs NWA Presidents’ Round Table Discussion - part I 

Location: Mainport Conference Room 



10:00 - 10:30 hrs Networking Coffee break - sponsored by 

10:30 - 12:00 hrs NWA Presidents’ Round Table Discussion - part II 




12:00 - 13:00 hrs Networking Lunch - sponsored by 

Location: Restaurant Down Under at The Mainport 


13:00 - 15:00 hrs WISTA Annual General Meeting - part I 



15:00 - 15:30 hrs Networking Refreshment break - sponsored by 

15:30 - 18:00 hrs WISTA Annual General Meeting - part II 



19:30 - 21:30 hrs Welcome reception - sponsored by 

Location: Maritime Museum Rotterdam 

Dresscode: Cocktail Party attire 

Opening Toast - sponsored by 

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THURSDAY 5 TH OF OCTOBER 2017 

08:30 - 08:45 hrs Official Opening by Michon-Jolân Bullen 



08:45 - 09:15 hrs PREPARING THE NEW GENERATION FOR THE FUTURE 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry President World Maritime University (WMU) 

09:15 - 10:45 hrs MARITIME SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE 

“Developing Ships for the Future by Bridging the Gap between Design and Operation” 

Speaker: Bas Buchner - Marin 

“Family values & endless ambition” 

Speaker: Rose Damen - Damen Shipyards Group 

“Carrousel Rave Tug: a game changing tugboat” 

Speaker: Leendert Muller - Multraship B.V. 


11:15 - 12:45 hrs THE CLEAN WORLD OF THE FUTURE 

“A plastic free sea starts here” 

Speaker: Ramon Knoester - Recycled Islands 

“Below the surface: where ocean and technology meet” 

Speaker: Marjolein van Noort - Our Oceans Challenge 

“No change no progress” 

Speaker: Wiebbe Bonsink - HEBO Maritiemservice B.V. 

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THURSDAY 5 TH OF OCTOBER 2017 



14:00 - 15:30 hrs STAYING AHEAD IN PORTS 

“Staying ahead in ports” 

Speaker: Patrick Verhoeven - International Association of Ports and Harbors 

“Innovation hub Rotterdam; ecosystem approach to maintaining the smartest port” 

Speaker: Marjolein Boer - Port of Rotterdam 

“The Port and the Court” 

Speakers: mr. Pauline van Schouwenburg and mr. Christine Sikkel - Rotterdam District Court 

15:30 - 18:00 hrs ROTTERDAM HARBOR TOUR BY BOAT WITH GUIDE 

Location: Departure from Mainport on foot 

Dresscode: Business casual - sensible shoes 

Welcome drink after boarding - sponsored by 

Networking Coffee Break aboard - sponsored by 

19:00 - 01:00 hrs Gala Dinner - sponsored by 

Location: Hulstkamp Gebouw Rotterdam 

Dresscode: Black Tie 

Transfer by boat to Gala location 

Departures at 19:00 and 19:30 hrs - same boarding location as afternoon 

Gala Dessert - sponsored by 

The Marshall Islands Registry 

www.register-iri.com 

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FRIDAY 6 TH OF OCTOBER 2017 

09:00- 10:30 hrs THE WORLD OF BIG DATA 



“Think Big (Data), Act SMART” 

Speaker: Marije Ruysch - Aviso Instruments B.V. 

“From big data...to cyber security” 

Speaker: Pino Spadafora - Rina Services S.p.A. 

“For a nerd you are really commercially minded” 

Speaker: Joyce Bliek - Rotterdam Logistic Lab 


11:00 - 12:30 hrs NEW TECHNOLOGIES FACING THE INDUSTRY 

“Blockchain beyond the hype: real use cases in shipping and supply chain” 

Speaker: Aljosja Beije - Bescope 

“Innovation is about people” 

Speaker: Nataly Katan - Vopak 

“Erik Thun’s answer to new challenges: the next generation Eco-Ships” 

Speaker: Henrik Källsson - Erik Thun AB 

12:30 - 12:45 hrs Closing Remarks by Michon-Jolân Bullen 



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FRIDAY 6 TH OF OCTOBER 2017 

13:30 - 17:00 hrs CITY TOURS & ACTIVITIES 

13:30 - 16:30 hrs RDM CAMPUS TOUR 

Location: Departure from the Mainport Pier 


Whether you’re an innovator or simply interested in education, technology or the port, a 

guided tour of RDM Rotterdam is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. This impressive 

location – where workers once built massive steamers like the SS Rotterdam and submarines 

launched from the slipway – has been transformed into the port’s premier innovation hotspot. 

Here, educational institutions, researchers and private-sector players work together on 

innovations that contribute to a ‘smarter’ port. It’s definitely something to have seen and 

experienced! 

13:30 - 17:00 hrs KINDERDIJK TOUR 

Location: Departure from the Mainport Pier 


For nearly a thousand years, the Dutch have been clever in dealing with the water that 

surrounds them. The sustainable blend of nature and technology used to keep Kinderdijk dry 

is so uniquely valuable that the area and its windmills were granted UNESCO World Heritage 

status. From now on, the whole world can come by to experience what we have achieved here! 

Visitors come from all across the world to experience this unique piece of history for 

themselves. Since Kinderdijk is a monument to the history of humankind, we were officially 

included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Now, we stand shoulder to shoulder with 

some of the most famous and most amazing places on earth. The story of Kinderdijk is now a 

genuine part of world history, kept safe for future generations to visit and experience. 

13:30 - 16:00 hrs ART & ARCHITECTURE TOUR 

Location: Departure from the Mainport Lobby 


The Art & Architecture tour runs through the centre of Rotterdam, from the brand-new railway 

station Rotterdam Centraal to the spectacular Market Hall. 

Along the way, you will see outstanding buildings and beautiful works of art that have been 

added to the city over the past 75 years. For after the bombardment of 14 May 1940, a new 

modern city was built. Right from the start, art enjoyed a prominent place. 

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ORGANIZING COMMITTEE 

EVENT PLANNERS 

From left to right: Connie Roozen (C&B More), Sylvia Boer (Damen Shipyards), Michon-Jolân Bullen (Loyal Insurance Brokers) 

and Thea Pelupessy (MF Shipping Group) 

Vanessa Jager and Caroline Verhoeve (QCites) 

MODERATOR 

Aldith Hunkar is a self-proclaimed global freestyle multi-media journalist, with 25 years of 

experience in mainstream media and over 14 years in journalism for national TV news in 

the Netherlands. She started her television career as the presenter of Children’s News in 

1994 and moved on to become the first camjo (camera journalist) in the Netherlands for 

the regular news in 2000. Between 2000 and 2007 she made reports and anchored daily 

news bulletins. 

In 2007 Aldith continued as an independent journalist; she moderates (international) 

conferences, is a debate leader and writer and makes audio / visual productions with 

emphasis on equal rights, equal opportunities and social cohesion. Her ex-pat days in 

her youth and the fact that she lives in the Netherlands AND Jamaica have broadened her 

horizon. Aldith is an independent thinker, loves travelling and has an open mind and an 

adventurous spirit. 

Aldith Hunkar (Hunk-Art) 

10



SPEAKERS 

ALJOSJA BEIJE - BESCOPE 

Aljosja Beije MSc. has over 20 years’ experience of IT in relation to finance and logistics 

systems development and implementation in the Far East, Middle East and Europe. 

Founder of BeSCOPE Solutions, a supply chain and technology consultancy and interim 

management firm. 

When the term smart contracts was first introduced in the summer of 2014, its relevance 

and potential for logistics and supply chain management was immediately clear to me. 

Since then, I have been actively involved in development of blockchain based logistics 

solution, strategic consultancy on blockchain and quartermaster for a dedicated 

blockchain and logistics fieldlab in the City of Rotterdam. 

Blockchain could be the foundational technology that integrates the physical flow with the 

financial and informational flow in a wide range of industries, such as financial services, 

logistics, telecoms and commodity trade, enabling new business models and more 

efficient transactions. 

JOYCE BLIEK - ROTTERDAM LOGISTIC LAB 

Turning digital strategy into business reality #makeithappen 

In 2015 as Commercial Director for Containers & Breakbulk, I experienced that there was a 

growing need for digital products with the customers at the Port of Rotterdam. 

I therefore started an Innovation Lab to find out what that digital product for our 

customers could be: by failing fast, frequent and cheap. Two of the products from the Lab 

are now in a scale–up phase and we are turning digital strategy into reality. 

A digital change not only for the Port of Rotterdam but also for me as a person going from 

infrastructure to agile, data science and blockchain. 

Best compliment I got last month “For a nerd you are really commercially minded” 

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SPEAKERS 

MARJOLEIN BOER - PORT OF ROTTERDAM 

Building momentum, creating opportunities and ensuring commitment for innovation; 

that is what being an Innovation Manager at worlds smartest port entails. On a daily basis 

Marjolein aims to foster innovation at the Port of Rotterdam, both internally for the port 

Authority as well as outside in the port itself. 

With a background in international business and innovation, a passion for ports, maritime 

and the desire to multiply energy in these fields, Marjolein has become an ‘intrapreneur’ 

at the port - actively linking the right people, corporates and start-ups to create game 

changing innovations together. 

At the WISTA 2017 Conference, Marjolein will share how Port of Rotterdam maintains 

the smartest port and contributes to the flourishing ecosystem of the innovation hub 

Rotterdam. 

Motto: Innovate. Accelerate. Make it happen! 

More information on The Smartest Port @ www.portofrotterdam.com/en/businessopportunities/smartest-port 

WIEBBE BONSINK - HEBO MARITIEMSERVICE 

Wiebbe Bonsink (36), married with 2 children was born and raised in the Netherlands. He 

grew up in a hardworking family. With humble beginnings, his dad started HEBO with just 

one tugboat. At a young age Wiebbe dived straight into his father’s business. 

His hardworking ethics and ability to persevere thru anything, is what gave Wiebbe his 

drive and vision to expand the family business into its current state. In 2009 Wiebbe 

became the CEO of HEBO. He has since transformed HEBO into Europe’s market leader in 

oil spill response and inland waterways salvaging. Furthermore they are active in heavy 

lifting and special transports. 

One of HEBO’s key advantages, is that they have their own R&D department which allows 

them to develop their own tools and vessels to provide the best and correct solutions for 

each job. 

12



SPEAKERS 

BAS BUCHNER - MARIN 

Dr. Bas Buchner studied at Delft University of Technology and graduated in 1991. He 

joined MARIN and was responsible for many model test and simulation projects related 

to mooring, platform response, offloading analysis and wave impact loading. Dr. Buchner 

specialised in the topics of extreme waves, green water loading and wave impacts. 

Whilst completing his PhD on the subject of ‘Green Water Loading on Ship Type Offshore 

Structures’ (2002), he was Manager of the MARIN Offshore Department from 2000 to 

2010. And if that isn’t enough yet, Dr. Buchner was Visiting Professor at the University 

of Newcastle upon Tyne and has authored more than 50 papers in the field of Offshore 

hydrodynamics. 

Since 2011, he is President of MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) being the 

largest independent maritime research institute in the world. 

In 2016 Dr. Bas Buchner was the chairman of the project ‘Blueprint 2050, the maritime 

world beyond the horizon’ in which the Dutch maritime industry developed a future vision. 

MICHON-JOLÂN BULLEN - LOYAL INSURANCE BROKERS B.V. 

When Michon-Jolân, at the age of 21, was employed as a temporary worker at an insurance 

broker in maritime insurances, she immediately knew she had found her passion. The 

ships, the technology, the people and the international character, it all came together and 

fitted her like a glove. After having gone through an extensive learning programme and 

seeing all aspects of the insurance business as well as learning and understanding more 

about the people owning the ships, she is now proud co-owner of Loyal Insurance Brokers 

B.V. which is situated in Groningen. Making sure her customers have nothing to worry 

about in case of an accident or occurrence is still her daily passion. 

Loyal 

Insurance 

Brokers 

She joined WISTA the Netherlands in 2010 and became a part of WISTA’s extensive 

network. After joining the board of WISTA the Netherlands in 2013 she became president in 

2016. The last year, together with all the other members of the board, she has, with great 

pleasure and dedication, worked very hard to organize the 37th International Conference 

in Rotterdam and she is confident that this year will be another fantastic, educational, but 

especially networking experience! 

13



SPEAKERS 

ROSE DAMEN - DAMEN SHIPYARDS 

Non-Executive Board Member Damen Shipyards Group, Commercial Director for Amels, 

Damen SeaXplorer and Damen Yacht Support. 

Rose Damen is a Non-Executive Director and shareholder at the family-owned Damen 

Shipyards Group. The leading builder of workboats and high speed craft worldwide, this 

year Damen celebrates 90 years since the Damen brothers founded their first shipyard in 

the Netherlands. 

Today Damen is a group of 50 companies in 28 countries, and with 9,000 employees. 

Damen delivers over 200 ships annually from a diverse portfolio of vessels including 

advanced naval ships and complex offshore construction vessels. Damen stands out for 

its long-term commitment to maritime innovation and cooperation with partners and 

independent research organisations. 

Before joining Damen Shipyards full-time in 2014, Rose earned an MBA from INSEAD, with 

a focus on entrepreneurial management and she holds a degree from Erasmus University. 

Rose also heads Damen’s yachting division – which includes Amels, Damen Yacht Support 

and SeaXplorer. 

DR. CLEOPATRA DOUMBIA-HENRY - WORLD MARITIME UNIVERSITY 

Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry is President of the World Maritime University in Malmo, 

Sweden. She holds a Ph.D in International Law from the University of Geneva, two LL.M and 

an LL.B degrees. She is also a Barrister-at Law. She has received a number of honorary 

awards for her contributions. She has worked for over 29 years with the International 

Labour Organization as a lawyer and in senior management positions, including for more 

than 10 years as Director, International Labour Standards Department. 

Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry was instrumental in the development of the Maritime Labour 

Convention, 2006 which replaced more than 68 ILO maritime instruments and in laying the 

ground for a strategic review of all other ILO Conventions and Recommendations more 

broadly. 

She previously worked as Professor, International Law Graduate Institute of International 

Studies, Geneva, Switzerland; Visiting Professor at the World Maritime University, Malmo, 

Sweden; Visiting Professor at International Maritime Law Institute, Malta; Lecturer in Law 

at the University of the West Indies, Barbados; and lawyer at the US-Iran Claims Tribunal 

in the Hague, Netherlands. Dr Doumbia-Henry has published extensively on a wide 

range of subjects including on carriage of dangerous goods by sea, maritime labour law, 

International Labour Standards, environmental law and international trade. 

Dr Doumbia-Henry is married with two children. She is a Dominica and Swiss national. 

14



SPEAKERS 

HENRIK KÄLLSSON - ERIK THUN AB 

Born in Lidköping, Sweden in 1981, Henrik Källsson is a 3rd generation member of Erik 

Thun AB, a shipowning company founded by his grandfather in 1938. 

The core business of the Thun Group today is still ship owning now with vessels in four 

categories; dry cargo, self-dischargers, cement and tankers from 10000 tons down to 

4000 tons. The other business areas are leasing and purchase/sale of aircraft, port agency 

and charcuterie. 

After studies in economics at Lund’s University, it became clear for Henrik that his future 

was with the family business and he joined the company in 2007. His responsibilities are 

self-unloaders, new building projects, aviation, charcuterie and port agency. 

In 2013 he was appointed deputy managing director of the Thun Group. 

Henrik is also board member of the Swedish Shipowners’ Association and chairman of the 

association’s Tank & Bulk section. 

NATALY KATAN - VOPAK 

As an Innovation Manager at Vopak I contribute to the digital transformation of our 

company. By implementing new technologies at our terminals around the globe current 

and future challenges are tackled. 

My experiences in my current job, in innovation consultancy and being a former employee 

of Port of Amsterdam help me to accelerate the innovative power of our industry. In 

the end technology is just a mean and people generally don’t like change, which makes 

innovation a very interesting playing field. 

15



SPEAKERS 

RAMON KNOESTER - RECYCLED ISLAND FOUNDATION 

Addressing the plastic pollution in our seas and oceans, Ramon has become one of the 

professionals to approach this environmental disaster locally and effectively. Retrieving 

marine litter in ports and finding durable re-use of the plastic waste as building material 

for new floating nature landscapes. Initiating Recycled Park Rotterdam to capture plastic 

waste in the local harbor and preventing it from entering the North Sea. 

Within the Recycled Island Foundation Ramon is fighting the further growth of marine 

litter in all possible ways with harbor clean ups, the development of passive litter traps, 

education and awareness programs, recycling floating debris and the realization of 

floating parks. 

In Rotterdam already three passive litter traps are installed to retrieve the floating debris. 

With the retrieved litter the construction of the world’s first Recycled Park has begun in 

the Rotterdam Rijnhaven. 

Ramon is founder and board member of the Recycled Island Foundation, principal 

architect at WHIM architecture and initiator of Recycled Park. After graduating in Built 

environment and Architecture Ramon started his own office, which gives him the freedom 

to stretch the possibilities of modern architecture and marine design. 

LEENDERT MULLER - MULTRASHIP TOWAGE & SALVAGE 

Leendert Muller is managing director of Multraship Towage & Salvage, a leading Dutch 

towage and salvage company, part of the Muller Maritime Group, with a history of more 

than 230 years in shipping. 

Leendert has spent over 30 years working in the towage and salvage industry and is a 

certified Marine Master and acting senior Salvage Master. 

Leendert has been part of Multraship management for more than 23 years; first as Deputy 

Director from 1994 until 1999 and since 2002 as the company´s Managing Director. 

He is former president of the International Salvage Union (ISU) and a member of the 

ISU Executive Committee. Further, he is also a member of the Board of the Royal Dutch 

Shipowners Association (KNVR) and of the Dutch Transport Law Association (NVV). In June 

of this year he was elected as Chairman of the European Tugowners Association (ETA) at 

its Annual Meeting. 

16



SPEAKERS 

MARJOLEIN VAN NOORT - OUR OCEANS CHALLENGE 

Over the last 12 years Marjolein has worked in the field of the interaction between 

governments and business. Holding a masters degree in Economics, she has assessed 

numerous business cases in various markets. 

During her work at the Ministry of Finance she dealt with various political and financial 

topics such as privatization of state owned companies, setting remuneration policies 

and developing new financial instruments for the export credit insurance. She left 

the government to work for Royal IHC which gave her valuable insight in the need for 

innovation in a highly competitive and global environment. Sustainability, creation of 

a new financial institute to fuel export and plastic and seaweed harvesting were a few 

of the topics she addressed. She is currently busy setting up ‘Buro de dansende wolf’ 

together with a business partner. The company will focus on seizing cross-sector business 

opportunities, facilitating entrepreneurs and developing an ongoing stakeholder dialogue 

between companies, NGOs and governments. 

Marjolein is a board member of the Our Oceans Challenge, member of the ‘Kernteam 

export en promotie’ of the top sector water and a member of the valorization panel 

‘Developing socially responsible innovations’ of the TU Delft and the Rijksuniversiteit 

Groningen. 

MARIJE RUYSCH - AVISO INSTRUMENTS B.V. 

Marije Ruysch-Koster is partner at Aviso Instruments in the Netherlands. She is 43 years 

old, married with two kids, and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from 

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. 

Marije started her career as a Sales Trainee at Coca-Cola Enterprises. After a few years she 

went on to work as Marketing-Sales Manager at Nyenrode Business Universiteit. Marije 

continued her career in the Maritime Industry where she has been working for the past 

10 years. Firstly 9 years as Director at Ruysch International, a family owned business 

established in 1935, that supplies diesel engine spare parts to ship owners around the 

world. 

During her time at Ruysch the economic crisis and the rise of the ‘internet of things’ 

changed the maritime industry in a big way. Transparency increased immensely and the 

rapid technological developments created possibilities that no one ever thought possible. 

These developments increased the complexity on board of ships. Combined with the trend 

that it is becoming more and more difficult to find highly educated and knowledgeable 

crew a business opportunity developed itself. Together with a team of experts in the field 

of dynamic torsional vibrations, software and engines a new product was developed, 

REDS Maritime. A monitoring system that continuously measures the status, health and 

efficiency of a running combustion engine. To accommodate this revolutionary system a 

new company was established, Aviso Instruments. 

17



SPEAKERS 

PAULINE VAN SCHOUWENBURG - ROTTERDAM DISTRICT COURT 

Pauline studied law at Rijksuniversiteit Leiden from 1989 to 1995. She majored in Dutch 

civil law. Pauline became a member of the Rotterdam bar in 1995 and joined the firm 

Trenité Van Doorne, which merged with Simmons & Simmons in 2002. After a few years in 

corporate law she entered the field of trade and transport law. She graduated with honors 

from the Grotius Academy’s Specialist Course in Transport Law in 2000. 

In 2007 she left private practice to become a judge at the Rotterdam District Court. After 

a year’s training she was appointed by the Crown. Pauline is a member of the Court’s 

Maritime Chamber and focuses on (international) maritime, transport and mercantile 

cases. 

Pauline was promoted to the rank of senior judge in 2015. She trains new judges and 

participates in several projects geared towards maintaining and improving the quality of 

maritime judges inside and outside The Netherlands. She initiated the Rotterdam Court’s 

pilot program enabling professional parties to conduct proceedings in English before 

the Court’s Maritime Chamber. Pauline has co-drafted the Rules of Procedure of the 

Netherlands Commercial Court, a specialized English-language chamber of the Amsterdam 

courts. She occasionally lectures to students, foreign lawyers or professionals in the field 

of maritime and transport law. 

CHRISTINE SIKKEL - ROTTERDAM DISTRICT COURT 

Christine studied law at Universiteit van Amsterdam (1987-1993) and Vrije Universiteit 

Brussel (1992-1993). She majored in Dutch civil law. 

Christine worked in the Haarlem District Court for a year. She became a member of the 

Rotterdam bar in 1995 and joined the firm AKD. After a few years in general practice/ 

litigation and labour law she entered the field of transport and insurance law. 

In 2003 she left AKD to become a judge at the Rotterdam District Court. After a year’s 

training she was appointed by the Crown. Christine worked in the Court’s civil and the 

criminal department. Christine returned to the Court’s Maritime Chamber in 2013 and 

focuses on (international) maritime, transport and mercantile cases. She graduated from 

the Grotius Academy’s Specialist Course in Transport Law in 2014. 

Christine was promoted to the rank of senior judge in 2015. She trains new judges and 

participates in several projects to maintain and improve the quality of the Court and the 

Maritime Chamber. 

18



SPEAKERS 

PINO SPADAFORA - RINA SERVICES S.P.A. 

Mr. Pino Spadafora currently serves as Area Manager for North Europe region with RINA 

Services S.p.A, the classification society. 

Pino is living and working in North Europe since 14 years, since then he has been 

successfully working to continually enhance the profile of the group throughout the 

region. 

His current responsibilities encompass both group strategy and external corporate 

development, commercially and technically. In terms of group strategy Mr. Spadafora is 

specifically responsible for translating the group strategy across business streams into a 

group-wide plan and ensuring its consistency with the group’s vision and mission. Working 

closely with the Group’s executive directors and each individual business streams, Pino’s 

role is to identify potential partners for RINA with whom to collaborate to grow and build 

the Group. 

He has acquired a strong experience in fleet management principles, customer service, 

issue resolution and he has also successfully managed customer retention and 

satisfaction. 

PATRICK VERHOEVEN - INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PORTS AND HARBORS 

Patrick Verhoeven is Managing Director of the International Association of Ports and 

Harbors (IAPH), responsible for policy and strategy. The organisation represents about 180 

ports and some 140 port-related businesses in 90 countries worldwide. 

Prior to joining IAPH in 2017, Patrick spent twenty-four years in Brussels representing the 

interests of shipowners, port authorities, terminal operators and ship agents at EU level. 

He started his career in 1991 with the Antwerp-based ship agent Grisar & Velge. 

Patrick holds a PhD in applied economics and a bachelor in law from the University of 

Antwerp. He is assistant professor at the university’s Centre for Maritime and Air Transport 

Management (C-MAT). 

Patrick lives in Antwerp with his wife and three children. 

19

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