Building resilience in a changing world
A key hub for global shipping and marine fuels. The event will bring together bunker buyers, suppliers, traders, and other maritime professionals to discuss the industry’s most pressing issues.
18 May - 21 May
InterContinental Miramar, Panama
A key hub for global shipping and marine fuels. The event will bring together bunker buyers, suppliers, traders, and other maritime professionals to discuss the industry’s most pressing issues.
MWA Headline Conference
Programme details are updated regularly and are subject to change as new speakers are confirmed and themes developed.
If you feel you could make a significant contribution to the programme, please email Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes at [email protected] or call +44 1295 814455 to discuss this further.
Registration and Exhibition Opens
This high-powered opening session will set the scene by focusing on dynamic geopolitics, world trade, international maritime regulation and the importance of Panama and the Panama Canal, both regionally and globally.
Moderator: Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, CEO and Founder, ship.energy
CEO & Founder
ship.energy
Joint CEO, Shipping Innovation | Director, Maritime UK
Llewellyn began his career in the oil industry in 1980, working both as a journalist and as oil broker in London and New York, with Petroleum Argus, Eperon Petroleum, Albion Oil, Petroleum Intelligence Weekly and OPEC Listener, before joining MRC Business Information Group in Oxford – which later became Lloyd’s List Intelligence after MRC’s acquisition by Informa – where he rose to Managing Director before leaving in May 2003 to establish Petrospot Ltd.
He is a Founding Member of the International Bunker Industry Association, which he helped create in 1993 and has organised conferences, seminars, training courses and multiple other events in 35 countries around the world and attended events as a journalist or conference speaker in a further dozen countries.
Llewellyn is co-creator, co-founder and co-owner of the biennial London International Shipping Week, whose first edition took place in September 2013 and has become one of the largest maritime events in the world.
Llewellyn was born in Abergavenny, Wales, in 1957 and lives in Oxfordshire.
Secretary-General
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Arsenio Dominguez was elected the tenth IMO Secretary-General in July 2023 and began his initial term in December 2023.
Mr. Dominguez gained his first degree in naval architecture at Veracruzana University, Mexico. He later went on to pursue an MBA at the University of Hull, as well as an executive qualification in International Law and European Politics at Birkbeck University, both in the United Kingdom.
He has worked in his native Panama, first within the Panama Maritime Authority and subsequently as Ambassador of Panama to IMO, where he chaired at various times the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the Technical Committee of the 29th Assembly, and the Maritime Security, Piracy and Armed Robbery Group,
In 2017 Mr. Dominguez joined the IMO, first as Chief of Staff, followed by Administrative Director – leading the Organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. Directly prior to his election in July 2023 as Secretary-General, he was the Director of the Marine Environment Division.
His initial term as IMO Secretary-General, approved at the 33rd Assembly in December 2023, will be for a period of four years from 2024 to 2027.
British Ambassador to Panama
Greg Houston was Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Bogota from February 2018 to April 2020. He was previously Political Counsellor in Rome and has spent much of his career working on European Union related issues with postings in Brussels and as Head of EU Strategy at the FCO in London.
Greg studied International Relations at the University of Bath.
2018 – 2020 Bogota, Deputy Head of Mission
2013 – 2017 Rome, Political Counsellor
2011 – 2013 FCO London, Head of EU Strategy
2007 – 2011 UK Representation to the EU in Brussels, First Secretary, EU Budget
2007 UK Representation to the EU in Brussels, Press Spokesperson
2005 – 2006 UK Representation to the EU in Brussels, Second Secretary, Tax and Customs
2005 Joined FCO
British Ambassador to Panama
The Ambassador represents His Majesty The King and the UK government in the country to which they are appointed. They are responsible for the direction and work of the Embassy and its Consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Panama
Sander Cohen is a diplomat employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since August 2023, he has been Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Panama.
Prior to that, he was Head of International Cooperation, Trade and Foreign Policy in the Permanent Representation to the EU, also held the position of Deputy Director of Communications of the Ministry, Deputy Head of Mission in Brussels, and Private Secretary of the Minister for European Affairs. He worked twice in the Directorate for European Integration, and also held two positions in Geneva: in the Permanent Representation to the United Nations, and in the Cabinet of the Executive Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees.
2023-present
Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Panama
2018-2023
Brussels/ Head of International Cooperation, Trade and Foreign Policy, Permanent Representation to the European Union.
From 2010 to 2014, Sander Cohen served in Brussels as Deputy Head of Mission. Prior to this, between 2014 and 2018, he held the role of Deputy Director of Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague. From 2006 to 2010, he worked in The Hague as Private Secretary to the Minister for European Affairs, following an earlier position from 2003 to 2006 as Head of the Justice and Home Affairs Unit within the Directorate for European Integration.
Between 2000 and 2003, he was based in Geneva as Special Adviser to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, having previously worked from 1997 to 2000 in Geneva on Humanitarian Policy at the Permanent Representation to the United Nations. His career began from 1994 to 1997 in The Hague within the Directorate for European Integration, focusing on EU Foreign Affairs.
Administrator
Panama Canal
Ricaurte Vásquez Morales was appointed Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority for a seven-year period starting September 2019.
Dr. Vásquez is a Panamanian economist with an extensive and successful professional career of 50 years in the government sector and in private companies in financial, economic and administrative management.
Within the public administration he has held prominent positions such as: Minister of Finance and Treasury, Minister of Planning and Economic Policy as well as of Economy and Finance in 2004. He was the first non-US Chief Financial Officer for the Panama Canal and later Deputy Administrator and President of the Board of Directors. In the private sector, his experience covers banking at Chase Manhattan Bank, mining development with Rio Tinto Zinc in the development of the Cerro Colorado copper project. More recently at General Electric with regional responsibilities and covering Gas-to-Power initiatives in Latin America, retiring in 2015 to carry out his professional practice with SIGMA Management Advisors Corp.
Ricaurte Vásquez holds a Ph. D. and M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic, a M.E. from North Carolina State University and a B.S. from Villanova University. He has been a professor of Economics and Finance in Panama and abroad. His professional experience is complemented as a university professor of Economics at Florida State University, at its headquarters in Panama
This session will take a close look at Panama, from an economic and operational perspective, examining developments in the Panamanian maritime and energy sectors, from de-risking the Panama Canal with better water management, building new container transshipment terminals, planning an intra-oceanic gas pipeline, creating a regional trading and logistics hub, populating the new cruise terminal, and growing the marina and superyacht sector.
Moderator: Silvia de Marucci, Business Development Manager, IME Marine Group
Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A
Business Development Manager
IME Group
Silvia Fernández de Marucci is a senior executive in the maritime and logistics sector, with over 30 years of experience at the intersection of global trade, infrastructure, and strategic development.
She built her career at the Panama Canal Authority, where she led market research and customer relations, playing a key role in shaping commercial strategy, including market segmentation and the introduction of differentiated toll structures. She also contributed to positioning the Canal for emerging segments such as LNG and to advancing the understanding of its environmental impact.
Silvia has also been actively involved in Panama’s broader logistics and maritime strategy through her work with PROPANAMA, supporting the promotion of the country as a global logistics hub.
She currently serves as Business Development Manager at IME Group, an international provider of independent marine and cargo inspection, certification, and technical services, where she focuses on strengthening global partnerships and expanding the company’s footprint.
She has also contributed to academia as a university professor in graduate programs in maritime economics and shipping business.
With a unique combination of analytical depth, industry insight, and academic experience, Silvia brings a strategic and forward-looking perspective to today’s discussion.
General Director of Planning
Ministry of Economy and Finance of Panama
Rodolfo Sabonge began his career soon after he graduated as Mechanical Engineer in the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. His first jobs were as industrial engineer in the electronics industry in the US. After four years working in the U.S., he moved to Panama. In 1979 he started working in the Panama Railroad, until he left to the private sector. He was Assistant to the President of Panama´s Cement Group INCEM. In 1986 he started working as Project Engineer in the Locks Division of the Panama Canal Commission. In 1993 he moved on to the Office of Executive Planning as Industrial Engineering Supervisor. In 1995 he was appointed Chief, Transition Planning Division, and in 1997 he became Marketing Manager. In December 1999 he was appointed Director, Corporate Planning, position which was later converted to Executive vice president of Planning and Business Development. He retired in 2013. Since then, he developed his own consultancy firm, and worked in the academia, as researcher, professor, and vice-chancellor of Research, Graduate Studies, and Extension of Panama´s International Maritime University. In the year 2020 he was selected as Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, intergovernmental organization with 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members, based in Trinidad and Tobago. His term for four years ended last December 31st. He is currently the Director General of the National Planning Directorate of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Panama.
Deputy Administrator and Chief Sustainability Officer
Panama Canal Authority
Is a marine engineer who graduated from Texas A&M University at
Galveston, United States (1985), and holds a master’s degree in Economic
Engineering from Universidad Santa María La Antigua in Panama (1996).
She has complemented her education with executive development
programs at INCAE Business School (2000) and The Kellogg School of
Management (2006).
With more than 40 years of service at the Panama Canal, she has held a range of leadership roles. In 2012, she was appointed Executive Vice President for Engineering and Program Management, leading the execution of the Canal Expansion Program. In 2019, she assumed the position of Vice President for Transit Business, overseeing all Canal operations.
Since January 1, 2020, she has served as Deputy Administrator of the Panama Canal, and in 2024 she was designated Chief Sustainability Officer, leading the integration of sustainability into the Canal’s corporate strategy. Under her leadership, the Panama Canal has strengthened its commitment to responsible water resource management, decarbonization, climate resilience, and the sustainable
development of the Canal Watershed. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her technical and managerial leadership and for advancing gender equity in sectors traditionally dominated by men. She has delivered presentations at national and international forums on engineering, sustainability, and empowerment.
She served on the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Panama Foundation (2017–2023). She is a member of the Association of Women Directors of Panama and the International Women’s Forum (IWF), and has been a juror for the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (since 2018).
She was recently elected as an International Member of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering (2025).
This panel session will look at international developments through the eyes of top-level maritime lawyers. It will examine the short- and long-term impact on shipping, bunker and energy markets – and on individual economies – of sanctions, tariffs, trade restrictions and other disruptive activities that are currently attracting attention locally, regionally and globally.
Moderator: Steve Simms, Principal and Owner, Simms Showers LLP
Panelists:
Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A
Principal and Owner
Simms Showers LLP
J. Stephen (‘Steve’) Simms is Principal of Simms Showers LLP. He chairs the International Bunker Industry Association’s (IBIA) Legal Working Group and is Legal Advisor to SEA/LNG.
Simms Showers is one of the world’s most active law firms working in the area of bunker trader, broker and supplier representation.
Steve Simms was selected for the U.S. Department of Justice, Honor Law Graduates Program and was a federal prosecutor and Editor‑in‑Chief of the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business at Northwestern University School of Law (Chicago). He holds an M.A. in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a B.A. in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University.
He is the husband of his wife of 33 years, Denise, and Dad of daughter Alison and son John, and of Benson, the Coton de Tulear (the royal dog of Madagascar, somewhat removed from actual royalty).
Commercial and Maritime Litigation Attorney
Simms Showers LLP
Gary Murphy is a Partner of Simms Showers LLP. His practice concentrates in complex civil litigation for both defendants and plaintiffs, businesses and individuals, including maritime and intermodal transportation litigation and casualty claims, government investigations, and maritime regulatory and environmental compliance.
Mr. Murphy is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander with four years of underway experience on Coast Guard cutters. As a Coast Guard attorney, he served as the Deputy Office Chief in the Coast Guard Office of Claims and Litigation, where he developed Coast Guard legal positions for complex defensive and affirmative civil lawsuits valuing $10.9 billion across the spectrum of Coast Guard operations.
He also worked as a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice where he defended and brought affirmative actions on behalf of U.S. agencies including OPA-90 cost recovery actions, Jones Act seaman claims, breach of contract allegations, and maritime casualties/Federal Torts Claims Act suits.
Mr. Murphy is experienced in criminal matters as a former military prosecutor and defence attorney and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Former Chairman
US Federal Maritime Commission
Louis Sola brings nearly two decades of public and private sector leadership in transportation, trade, infrastructure, and maritime policy. He is a former Chairman and Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission and was nominated by two different U.S. Presidents. Sola was in the room for key decisions on U.S. tariff policy and played a central role in international trade and port modernization strategy.
In addition to his federal service, Sola previously served as a Florida State Commissioner, where he led initiatives on transportation, economic development, and infrastructure investment across the state. His work at both the state and federal level gives him a unique understanding of the regulatory landscape and the intersection of local and global commerce.
Sola is also a seasoned maritime entrepreneur. He is the founder of Evermarine, a leading yacht brokerage firm specializing in luxury vessels across the Americas. With decades of experience as a licensed yacht broker, he has represented major international brands and negotiated complex, high-value transactions throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
At the FMC, he led major initiatives to stabilize supply chains, reduce port congestion, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness in global shipping markets. He earned bipartisan recognition for his crisis leadership during COVID-19 and oversaw critical reforms affecting ocean carriers, ports, and intermodal logistics providers.
A decorated U.S. Army veteran, Sola is fluent in Spanish and has deep expertise in Latin American markets, LNG infrastructure, and cargo and cruise industry development. His global network and cross-sector experience make him a trusted advisor to clients navigating complex regulatory and political environments.
Sola holds a degree in Accounting and International Finance from the University of Illinois, providing a strong foundation in both fiscal policy and global market dynamics.
Managing Partner
Venetucci Maritime
Francisco J. Venetucci is a partner at Venetucci Maritime, a law firm based in Argentina. He holds an LL.M. in Maritime Law from the University of Southampton and brings over a decade of experience handling a broad range of international maritime disputes and proceedings. His practice spans both court litigation and arbitration, where he has successfully represented shipowners, charterers, suppliers, and other stakeholders in complex shipping matters, including groundings, salvage operations, collisions, oil spill incidents in the Paraná River, charterparty disputes and cargo claims related to grains and by-products.
Francisco is a sophisticated litigator who has been involved in more than one hundred ship arrest proceedings. He has extensive experience in bunker quality and quantity claims, as well as in recovery actions based on maritime liens.
Adrian Tolson, Owner, 2025 Marine Energy, Chairman, International Bunker Industry Association
Owner
2050 Marine Energy
Adrian Tolson is the owner of 2050 Marine Energy and is widely recognized as one of the shipping industry’s leading marine energy experts. With more than 35 years of experience, he has both detailed knowledge and unique insight into the bunker supply chain and its many related infrastructure developments.
2050 Marine Energy was formed in late 2022 to provide commercial insight to all stakeholders in the marine fuel supply chain navigating the disruption of this decade and future transformation. This new venture comes as Adrian leaves his role as Insight Lead at BLUE after more than decade of close cooperation with brand and communications consultancy. He will continue to act as a Strategic Advisor to the company, working with specific existing clients and providing consultancy on marine energy trends.
Adrian has led numerous global business development projects across the marine energy sector. This includes assisting ship owners and physical suppliers on future fuel procurement and supply strategies; the development of bunkering infrastructure projects for existing and alternative fuels; as well as working with the financial and investment community on the opportunities in the future marine energy landscape.
Adrian’s experience spans leadership roles with some of the industry’s largest marine fuel suppliers, including Chemoil Energy, where he was responsible for successfully driving the company through to IPO; and as Vice President and General Manager of OW Bunker where he established its physical supply operation in the USA.
Elected to the board of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) in 2020, Adrian is currently its Treasurer and Chairman of the IBIA’s Americas Regional Board.
This session will begin with a global and regional overview of the bunkering sector, looking at changing trading patterns, tightening profit margins and the impact on daily operation of international developments. It will then look more closely at fuel quality trends, bunker pricing, credit and risk, digitalisation and efficiency.
Moderator: Christopher Aversano, Partnership Lead, Maritime Operations, Wood Mackenzie
Fuel quality in the Americas
Wajdi Abdmessih, Founder and President, Seahawk Services Inc.
Bunker Pricing
Thomas Sosnowski, Associate Director, Global Marine Fuels, OPIS
Digitising bunker procurement
Kenneth Zhati Juhls, CEO, AuctionConnect
Digitalisation and Efficiency
Claudia Beumer, Owner, C4 Fuel
Designing fuel systems to operate greener fuels
Kenneth Thorup, Sales Director, Fleet Client Relations, Fueltech A/S
Working with BIMCO Bunker Terms
Thomas Damsgaard, Head of Americas, BIMCO
Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A
Partnership Lead, Maritime Operations
Wood Mackenzie
Christopher Aversano is the Partnership Lead for Maritime Operations at Wood Mackenzie, a global leader in energy and commodity analytics. With nearly 30 years of experience in maritime shipping and digital transformation, he focuses on building strategic data partnerships across the bunkering, shipping, and trading communities.
Prior to joining Wood Mackenzie, Christopher was a Principal Product Manager at Veson Nautical, where he led product strategy for SaaS solutions used across the commercial shipping sector. He is also the host of The Last Dinosaur, a podcast that explores the intersection of maritime, technology, and innovation.
Christopher brings a commercial mindset, deep operational knowledge, and a passion for connecting industry players to accelerate smarter, data-driven decisions across all sectors in the maritime space.
Founder and President
Seahawk Services
Wajdi Abdmessih is the founder and the president of Seahawk Services, with 30 years of experience in Marne fuel blending, testing, and troubleshooting problematic fuel.
Seahawk Services is a leading provider of marine fuel services, specializing in bunker fuel inspection, testing, and biofuel blending. With a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and technological innovation, Seahawk Services has established itself as a trusted partner for shipping companies seeking reliable, high-quality fuel solutions. Leveraging 30 years of industry expertise, the company is at the forefront of biofuel blending, driving carbon reduction, and promoting eco-friendly practices within the maritime sector.
Seahawk Services’ commitment to excellence and extensive network of reputable suppliers ensures seamless fuel procurement and delivery for vessels worldwide. As a dedicated advocate for sustainable fuel technologies, Seahawk Services continues to lead the industry in delivering efficient, environmentally conscious marine fuel solutions tailored to the evolving needs of its global clientele.
Associate Director, Global Marine Fuels
OPIS
Tom Sosnowski is Associate Director, Global Marine Fuels for OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. Tom has more than 15 years of experience in the heavy fuels markets and currently oversees bulk and bunker fuel pricing for the Americas.
In the past, Tom has been certified in ship chartering by the Law Society of England and Wales. Tom is a graduate of Gettysburg College, where he earned a BA in Communications.
CEO
AuctionConnect
Kenneth Juhls leads the company’s ambition to modernize bunker procurement through greater transparency, efficiency, and digital innovation. He brings more than 25 years of experience across the shipping, trading, and technology sectors, with a strong track record of delivering commercial results and driving strategic development.
In addition to his role at AuctionConnect, Kenneth chairs the Digitalization of Bunkering Working Group and serves on the European Board of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), contributing to the advancement of digitalization across the global bunkering industry.
Director
C4fuel BV
With an educational background in Chemical Engineering and a proven track record in the bunkering industry, Claudia has a wide experience on both conventional and alternative fuels. From her first role on selling Mass Flow Meters, throughout her position in LNG Cargo Handling Systems and the commercial leadership for a barge operator, bunkering has always been at the core of all her activities. All that experience in different aspects of the bunkering industry and the continuous focus on alternative fuels, came together in December 2023 in her own company; C4 fuel.
C4 fuel was established to support maritime stakeholders in better understanding and embracing the changes in the maritime industry from both a technical and commercial perspective. In addition, Claudia represents SGMF as Membership and Communications Manager. Claudia has always been active in several associations, from SGMF at the start of her maritime career, to the NEN working group (methanol bunkering standard) and since April 2023, also as a board member for IBIA (The International Bunker Industry Association), for which she was recently re-elected. Within IBIA, she also acts as the Chair of the Bunkerlicense and MassFlowMeter Working Group and as a member of the Future Fuels Working Group.
This session will look at shipping’s energy transition, as well as progress to date on the shift to alternative fuels, with a sharp focus on projects that are already underway in the Americas which will facilitate the supply of new energy sources. Speakers will review shipowners’ and ports’ strategies in relation to the adoption and provision of new fuels, and how the bunker sector is responding to this. They will also discuss the landscape for onshore power supply and how the demand for new fuels might impact the position of large – and smaller – bunkering ports.
Moderator: Sean Lalani, CEO, Exaltus Energy
The shipowners’ perspective:
Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A
Global Operations & Key Account Manager
Bureau Veritas VeriFuel
Argyrios Schoinas commenced his career at Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) as a bunker surveyor, where he developed foundational knowledge in fuel quantity assessment and maritime operations. Since joining Bureau Veritas’ Marine Fuel Services (VeriFuel) in 2016, he has demonstrated progressive responsibility and technical proficiency. Initially focused on organizing and coordinating bunker fuel-related inspections across various ports in the Americas under the VeriFuel program, his role was expanded in 2018 to encompass global operations, culminating in his appointment as Global Operations Manager for Marine Fuel Services.
Throughout his professional career, Argyrios has presented at several bunker industry conferences, conducted specialized seminars, and authored publications on quantity surveys, industry best practices and “Tricks of the Trade” for marine fuels. His comprehensive knowledge of the field has proven instrumental in assisting shipping companies identify and mitigate operational and financial risks while implementing cost reduction strategies in bunker operations.
Argyrios holds a strong academic foundation with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, obtained in 2011. He has further advanced his qualifications with a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree from the same university and a Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical Process Engineering from UCL, UK.
CEO
High Ambition Climate Collective
Allyson Browne is Founder and CEO of High Ambition Climate Collective (HACC), a nonprofit accelerating climate action in the energy sector with a focus on ports and shipping. An expert in renewable energy and climate policy, Allyson leads initiatives that connect innovation, policy and community-driven solutions to decarbonize critical infrastructure. Her previous roles include Climate Campaign Director at Pacific Environment, where she led the Ports for People campaign to eliminate port and ship pollution; Director of Regulatory Affairs at SRECTrade; Chief of Staff, Energy & Environment, Newsom for California; and as a consultant on energy strategies for cities and emerging industries.
Florida Program Manager
Environmental Defense Fund
Ali DySard is a strategic policy and program leader advancing clean transportation and decarbonization in Florida. Her work focuses on port electrification and medium- and heavy-duty fleet transitions. She works with ports, public and private-sector partners, and local and state governments to develop policy and economic solutions that make fleet electrification practical, scalable, and cost-effective while reducing emissions and strengthening community resilience.
Head of Specialised Products
Peninsula
I have been in the shipping and bunkering industry since 2008, where I have worked in various companies before finally joining Peninsula in 2017.
Within Peninsula I have led trading teams across Northern Europe and the US.
My current role, as Head of Specialised Products, focuses on various projects, but especially the expansion of our global biofuel offering and associated products, along with our Risk Management Solutions including our derivatives sales.
I hold a degree in Supply Chain Management from Copenhagen Business School.
Venue: Terraza del Pacifico, 5th Floor, InterContinental Miramar Panama
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