Capt. Yasser Hashem is the Director of Fleet Personnel at Bahri Ship Management. Capt. Yasser is a highly proficient master mariner and an ex-marine/harbour pilot with over two decades of sailing experience. He heads the Fleet Personnel Department and oversees the Manning, Scheduling, Training, and Performance of over 4,000 seafarers.

Capt. Yasser holds a Master license and a PhD in Maritime Law and Governance. His role plays a big part in keeping the fleet operation smooth and transforming the company’s vision into reality. He has been among the Saudi Arabia delegates in international events including the International Maritime Organization.

Capt. Dheeraj Sharma is the Director of Business Development for ABS, for the Middle East and Africa and is based in Dubai.

Dheeraj joined ABS in early 2022. Prior to this, Dheeraj spent almost a decade at the United Arab Chemical Carriers (UACC) as their General Manger/Owners Representative at their head office in Dubai overseeing the daily running of the 26 tankers and office teams in Singapore, Mumbai & Hongkong. Before coming ashore, he sailed for 17 years with NOL Singapore, Kuwait Oil Tankers (KOTC) and World-Wide Shipping as Master on Shell & BP-chartered vessels.

Dheeraj is qualified Master Mariner from the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, holds an MBA in Oil and Gas Management and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London. Having worked for shipowners, managers and oil majors in marine operations, safety, commercial and new building departments, Dheeraj brings a wealth of commercial shipping experience and an owner's perspective with him.

Abdulaziz Higgi is the General Manager at Faisal M. Higgi & Associates Co. Ltd., a prominent company specializing in Custom Clearance, Ship Chandelling, and Ship Agency services. With a wealth of experience and expertise in the maritime industry, Abdulaziz oversees strategic operations and ensures the company's continued success in providing exceptional services to clients.

Nick Rich was appointed Director Fleet Management in 2023 after fulfilling a variety of roles within Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) since he joined in 2009. Nick sailed for 13 years, achieving a senior deck officer position before transferring ashore, working as Shore Captain, Marine Superintendent and Safety Manager before joining BSM. As Director Fleet Management, Nick’s primary focus is the effectiveness and efficiency of ship management, including implementation of new regulations, the introduction of new tools and technology to support ship operations and constant review and improvement of working practices on board and within the fleet teams, working closely with LPSQ, Crewing and HR Shore to achieve this.

Mohammed A. Al-Habib is Regional Executive Director, Climate Technology Solutions for Baker Hughes, which encompasses carbon capture, utilization & storage, hydrogen, emissions abatement, and clean power solutions. In this role he is responsible for leading the strategy in Middle East and Africa region, playing a critical role in identifying partnerships and commercial opportunities with key accounts and new energy customers.

With over 18 years of experience in the energy and industrial sectors, Mohammed has covered multiple roles including sales & marketing, commercial, services, and business development. Prior to his current role, Mohammed was Downstream Account Executive for Saudi Arabia, where he managed long-term strategic partnership with SABIC, positioned Baker Hughes portfolio with Saudi Aramco and led multiple strategic initiatives in the region.

Mohammed holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Systems Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia.

Mr Jamil Al Ali graduated in 1990 as a Marine Engineer from South Tyneside College, UK after completing his engineering cadetship sponsored by Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC). He sailed onboard all classes of vessels within the KOTC fleet, serving onboard products tankers, VLCC and Gas carriers during his tenure at sea, sailing up to the rank of Chief Engineer before joining KOTC Head office as technical Superintendent in 2002.

He has held various managerial positions in KOTC Head Office spanning from fleet engineering group manager to managing the Fleet new building group and has developed a vast experience in the tanker and gas carriers segments throughout his vast career.

He was often recognized for his key role in ensuring the KOTC fleet was maintained to the highest industry standards and has often received prestigious industry awards such as Tanker Operator of the year etc.

He has headed the Kuwait delegation at the IMO MEPC meeting in London and represented Kuwait at COP 23 – Shipping Initiative in Bonn, Germany.

After a very successful 30 years career at KOTC, Jamil Al Ali is appointed as Head of Regional Commercial & Business Development for the Middle East Region within the Marine and Offshore Division of Bureau Veritas.

Ms. Hind Alhelal is a professional Marine HR professional with more than 5 years of experience driving positive outcomes within the maritime industry. By leveraging her expertise in marine training & development, performance management, and compliance, she empowers both individuals and organizations to achieve their full potential.
Ms. Hind currently serves as a Senior Seafarer Affairs Officer at Transport General Authority. In this role, she manages all seafarer-related tasks and delivers insightful workshops to marine company representatives.

Ms. Hind holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Prince Mohammed bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia. Demonstrating a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, she actively supports the advancement of women in maritime leadership roles through her membership in the Association of Women in the Maritime Industry (AWIMA).

Her dedication is further underscored by her recent participation in the Women in Maritime Conference held in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, Ms. Hind received a prestigious "Best Wishes for the Future Endeavor Award" for 2023 from her former Company CEO, recognizing her outstanding achievements. Furthermore, she was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her contribution to the success of an Offshore Hook-up Project Contract.
In recognition of her leadership potential, Ms.Hind was nominated for the Leading for a Results Program Cohort 28 by INSEAD, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, and Prince Nora University (2023).

A testament to her success, Ms.Hind was recently selected by the Transport General Authority to share her inspiring story in the maritime sector through a short video.

Siji Sidharthan holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Cochin University with 15 years of experience in Non-destructive Examination. He specializes in NDT consulting, field services, procedure validations and commercialization of novel NDT techniques. His area of interest includes metallurgy and corrosion, nonlinear ultrasonics, signal processing for advanced imaging. He holds PCN Level 3 and ASNT NDT Level 3 in UT, PAUT, TOFD, RT, MT, PT, VT. He is also an Authorized Inspector as per API 510, 570, 580, 571.

Miss Shahd Alomayrini is a distinguished legal professional with a remarkable career in maritime law. One of the few Saudis in this specialized field, Miss Shahd brings a unique perspective honed through both private practice and public service.

Miss Shahd's journey began with academic excellence, earning Second Honors in Law from Princess Nora University. Her passion for applying legal knowledge was evident during her participation in the prestigious Arab Moot Court competition. Further solidifying her foundation, Miss Shahd gained practical experience as a Legal Consultant Trainee at an international law firm, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Saudi legal system.

Driven by a specific interest in maritime law, Miss Shahd joined Bahri, a prominent Saudi shipping company. As a Legal Associate, she meticulously reviewed shipping agreements, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), and various other contracts. Her keen eye for detail ensured all legal aspects were thoroughly addressed. Miss Shahd's expertise encompassed a broad range of maritime-related legal issues, including shipping regulations, commercial law, government procurement, labor law, and capital market law. She adeptly assessed legal risks, provided insightful advice, and excelled in problem-solving through settlements, conflict resolution, contract negotiations, and dispute management.

Currently, Miss Shahd leverages her expertise as a Policy Specialist at the General Transport Authority. In this pivotal role, she directly shapes the regulatory landscape of Saudi Arabia's maritime sector. Miss Shahd's analytical skills shine as she drafts maritime regulations, negotiates amendments with stakeholders, and assesses international treaties. Her in-depth knowledge empowers her to provide clear legal explanations and meticulously review local laws, ensuring their positive impact on the shipping sector. Miss Shahd proactively identifies areas for improvement, recommending amendments based on emerging trends and stakeholder needs. Her dedication to a robust and efficient regulatory environment is instrumental in propelling the continued growth of the Saudi Arabian shipping industry.

Miss Shahd Alomayrini embodies the spirit of a new generation of maritime law leaders in Saudi Arabia. Her unwavering commitment to the highest legal standards, coupled with her progressive approach, positions her as a key player in shaping the kingdom's maritime future.

Jasmin is a dual qualified English and German Solicitor and has been specializing in marine insurance law since the start of her career in 1997. She studied law in Hamburg and maritime law in Southampton and gained valuable experience in international law firms in Hamburg and London in the respective marine insurance departments.

After three years of working in the city of London, she moved to Dubai in 2002 and joined a leading marine insurance broker as legal counsel for the Middle East. She established an excellent network within the maritime community and developed her legal skills further by handling marine insurance claims, from salvage, collisions, wreck removal to cargo claims and personal injury. This gained her the reputation as one of the most experienced marine insurance experts in the region who has been ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers Global consistently as a leading expert.

In 2005 Jasmin established Fichte & Co LLC, one of the leading law firms in the Middle East, with the support of the shipping community. The company has since grown to one of the largest full-service law firms and represents not only ship owners, P&I clubs, insurers and re-insurers, trading houses but also numerous clients from a variety of sectors and industries. She publishes frequent articles on diverse subjects of marine insurance, shipping, and transportation law and regularly works closely with the UAE Federal Transport Authority and the Dubai Government.

Nooshin Rahmani is the Managing Director of Ruby International Maritime and Legal Consultancy. She is a highly accomplished lawyer with over a decade of experience and an exemplary track record of delivering excellence, working with clients within the maritime, shipping, and energy industries. Nooshin has extensive experience in handling complex disputes and advises a broad variety of national and international clients, including government and private sectors. She provides broad global counsel to energy leaders and successfully led negotiations and drafting of suppliers and strategic partnership agreements, including agreements between international private individuals and government entities. She possesses wide knowledge in diverse legal domains, including legal and business consultancy for maritime and energy projects, commercial agreements, banking issues, corporate investment, and financial consulting. Her main expertise is in ship financing and investment in energy projects.
Nooshin often participates in webinars, conferences, and publications, showcasing her expertise in legal, dispute resolution, business advisory, and key issues on enforcement of contracts.

After graduating from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Mr. Zhou directly joined China Classification Society Headquarter as the project coordinator, mainly focus on offshore drilling rigs and wind turbine installation units. His participation definitely motivates the rugulation formulation togetehr with development of the offshore wind industry and offshore fish farming. He was sent to CCS Dubai Branch as the regional business development manager in 2021. By taking the good chance of decarbonization, Mr. Zhou has been collobrating together with the local companies closely to gain the good reputation for CCS. With his dramatic efforts, the Dammam office and Doha office were set up as the sucessfully marketing work.

Rob is a dispute resolution partner in HFW's leading shipping practice in the Middle East, where he has a particular focus on offshore marine, international trade and marine insurance.

As English qualified lawyer, Rob has been based in the Middle East since 2006 and now predominantly resides in Saudi Arabia where he has been advising on claims since 2011. Rob has advised on some of the region's largest and most complex marine claims and insurance disputes, gaining extensive experience litigating before the courts in Saudi Arabia, including the SAMA Insurance Disputes Committee, as well as before both domestic and international arbitration forums.

Rob has been recognised for several years by Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and Who's Who Legal as a leading shipping lawyer in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

After an outstanding career in Saudi Aramco, rising from a cadet to becoming a Marine Superintendent, Turki joined National Maritime Academy as its Managing Director.

With expansive expertise in Sub-Sea Diving, Commercial Shipping Operations, Oil & Gas Transportation and Pollution Control, Turki brings a wealth of experience to Maritime Education and Training.

A graduate of South Tyneside College, Turki, at the very early time in his career, realized the potential and power of education in transforming lives and business ecosystems. With a determination to support Saudi Vision 2030, Turki believes that Education is the main pillar in driving Saudisation through marine industry.

Turki has forged strong relationships with some of the best Maritime Training and Shipbuilding organisations in the world bringing a range of ready-made training solutions to the Kingdom. These partnerships allow Turki to shape the future of next generation Saudi Maritime workforce with transferable world class skills that are so essential to the Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous world.

Turki is passionate about the future of Maritime training and a firm believer of strategic investment in Maritime training, a view that he promotes at every industry or governmental engagement.

During his spare time, Turki supports several charities and works with the underprivileged to help them in realising the human potential through intrinsic motivation and self-endeavour. A quality that Turki imbibed from his father that he remains forever indebted to.

Ibrahim Al-Saeed is an accomplished and highly capable Senior Executive Leader with a wealth of experience leading the definition and execution of innovative strategies that have, improved revenue, transformed performance, and delivered sustainable profitability, having launched, led, and grown a successful ship building, maintenance, and repair organization from concept to reliable revenue. With a strong engineering and maritime background coupled with broad experience in finance and accounting, he is an award-winning, results-driven professional who easily adapts to new markets and environments, building robust, engaging, and respectful relationships with key stakeholders, and encouraging effective collaborations across teams and market sectors.

Currently, Ibrahim is General Manager & Director – Transport & Logistics at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment, managing the T & L sector including Maritime, Aviation, Rail & Road, and Logistics segments, from originating opportunities, identifying and contacting potential investors, to developing proposals and closing deals. He develops relationships with investors to help and support them on their investment journey, assisting them in resolving challenges such as finance, seeking partners, regulatory change etc. through research and following national strategies. In this role he has secured deals with a total investment value of SAR 12b across 3 projects including expansion of the main port’s container terminal, establishment of a fabrication yard to build offshore platforms, and investment in Jizan’s seaport and city.

Prior to this, Ibrahim was Managing Director of High Seas Marine & Industrial Services Co. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ali A. Tamimi Group. He established and developed a Marine Services company including Vessels Charter, Offshore Project (Hook Up and SCADA), Ship Building and Repair Yards, Shipping Agency, and Ship Chandler. During this time, he managed ship building projects working in Malaysia as well as the UAE, Abu Dhabi, to deliver some of the best boats working in the Gulf Sea – the company now owns 8 Crew boats to support ARAMCO Projects

With a Master of Engineering in Construction & Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mechanical Engineering from King Fahd University, Ibrahim’s career started in engineering as a Mechanical Technical Advisor with GE MEELSA (Middle East Engineering Ltd) before moving to Ali A. Tamimi Trading Co as General Manager of their Industrial Services Division.

As well as these significant commercial successes, Ibrahim is also well respected in the field of sports, having participated in the management of Al Salam Club between 2011 and 2021 as a member of the club’s Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Supervisor of Individual Games, and Head of the Board of Directors.

Adil Zobair, Vice President at Sedres Maritime Co. Ltd., is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in the maritime industry. In his current role, he oversees the operational and financial performance of Sedres Maritime, ensuring the highest level of service delivery through efficient project planning. Adil maintains strong relationships with clients, EPC contractors, sub-contractors, and local authorities, staying updated on major upcoming and ongoing projects.

With an MBA in Logistics & Supply Chain from SP Jain Singapore, Adil brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his position. His project experience includes notable ventures such as Rawabi offshore catering projects, various Desal & Power Plant projects, KJO offshore projects, and McDermott & Aramco's other EPC projects.

Over the past five years with Sedres Maritime, Adil's leadership and keen understanding of logistics have been instrumental in driving the company's growth. His dedication to excellence and strategic vision make him a valuable asset in the maritime industry.

Khurram is a partner based in the Middle East with specialist knowledge of the KSA, UAE and the UK markets. He primarily specialises in dispute resolution with a particular focus on the maritime, transportation, oil & gas, international trade and ports/terminal sectors, as well as general commercial litigation. Additionally, he brings extensive expertise in non-contentious matters within these sectors and provides general corporate advice to clients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

With over two decades of experience, Khurram provides advice to shipowners, charterers, terminal/port operators, logistics companies, P&I Clubs, traders, offshore operators/shipowners, governmental bodies and various other local and international companies. He advises on a wide range of disputes relating to debt recovery, charterparty, commodities sale and purchase contracts and COA disputes including seaworthiness, off-hire, withdrawal from hire, safe port/berth, early redelivery, off-spec bunkers, as well as ship arrests, general average, groundings, collisions/allisions and cargo claims.

Before his current position, Khurram worked at a prominent international law firm, initially in Dubai and later relocating to Riyadh to establish and lead their shipping practice. Following this, he was recruited by another top-tier international law firm to assist with their expansion into the Saudi market and spearhead their operations in the country. Earlier in his career, he worked at a major International Group P&I Club, advising its members, primarily Korean shipowners (with whom he still maintains close ties) on FD&D and P&I claims. Additionally, he held a position as a part-time law lecturer at the University of Westminster in the UK.

Clients benefit from Khurram’s extensive experience in managing disputes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the High Court in London and Courts throughout the UAE. He also represents clients before various arbitral institutes including LMAA, ICC, LCIA, DIAC and AAA. He has also provided advice on matters concerning other GCC jurisdictions and numerous jurisdictions globally.

In addition to his contentious work, Khurram drafts amends and reviews various maritime contracts such as sale and purchase agreements for vessels, commodities, terms and conditions and bills of lading (house and NVOCC) for major maritime and logistics companies/freight forwarders throughout the region, as well as terms of use and concession agreements for ports/terminal operators.

Khurram has a proven track record in supporting international businesses on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, establishing himself as a trusted advisor for businesses pursuing opportunities in the Saudi market. Leveraging his substantial experience in corporate work, he has successfully advised numerous clients through complex legal matters.

Khurram regularly delivers papers on Maritime Law at major industry events and also delivers bespoke training sessions to his clients.

He is a member of the Bar Council and Law Society of England & Wales and Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. He was awarded the Sir Thomas More Bursary by Lincoln's Inn whilst reading for the Bar.

Khurram is recognised as a 'Recommended Lawyer' in the Legal 500 2023 Guide for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation.

With extensive expertise across various sectors of the shipping industry, Aloka is a seasoned professional adept in Liner, Tramps, NVOCC, Offshore, and Tanker agency operations. Currently serving as Vice President at Kanoo Shipping, a division of YBA Kanoo Company Limited in Saudi Arabia, he leads the development and execution of business plans aligned with corporate objectives. He is also actively engaged in pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a research focus on Leadership Agility challenges and opportunities.

Before his current role, he held prominent positions including Shipping Manager at Kanoo Shipping Abu Dhabi and Deputy General Manager at Hayleys Advantis Ltd. With a strong educational background including an MBA in International Business and Entrepreneurship and membership in the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (U.K.), he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

Dr Madhu P. Pillai is a Project Management specialist with close of 4 decades of broad-based Oil & Gas, Petrochemical and Power industry experience in Operations and Project Management with a geographical spread of India, Nigeria, USA, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He has been associated as Project Director and Advisor with leading Multi-National EPC organizations.

Dr Pillai is an Electrical Engineer with MBA (International Business) and Ph D in Strategic Project Management. Holding multiple professional certifications, he is also a Fellow of many leading international organizations.

Dr Pillai serves on the Director Board of International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC), head quartered in Australia and Water Air and Food Awards (WAFA), Denmark. He is the Honorary Global Ambassador for World Project Management Forum (WPMF) and Advisor to Center for Public Policy Research (CPPR), India.

Dr. Pillai had earlier served on the Director Board of Association for Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACEI), USA as its Vice President for all international regions.

Dr Pillai has spoken at more than 40 International events; and Chaired few.

33-year experience with Saudi Aramco, Vela International Marine Ltd, and Bahri.

Khalid Alhammad joined Saudi Aramco in 1990 as an Instrument Repairman and was sponsored by the company in 1992 to complete his Electrical & Electronics engineering degree from Oregon State University. In 1997 he became an Operations Engineer at Ras Tanura Terminal Department working in the Onshore and Offshore facilities. In 2002 Khalid left Aramco and joined Vela sailing on its fleet for two years gaining experience and knowledge in ship's operations.

In 2004 Khalid moved to South Korea and worked on Vela's newbuilding projects as an Inspector, progressing to Site Manager covering the newbuilding of four Product Tankers and ten VLCC's.

Khalid returned to Vela's head office in 2011 as Technical Manager for dry-docking and projects. In 2014, he became Vela's Fleet Manager and moved over to the same position after the merger with Bahri. He progressed through the ranks to become Fleet Director, subsequently to VP Fleet Management, and now the President of Bahri Ship Management.

Eng. Essam M ALAMMARI, a distinguished leader in maritime transport, currently serves as the Deputy for Maritime Transport at the Transport General Authority. With a rich background and experience, Essam has been instrumental in shaping the maritime sector in Saudi Arabia.

After graduating with high honors from the French Naval Academy, Essam holds a master's degree in Naval Engineering and Naval Science, along with significant service in the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. Throughout his career, he has held various strategic roles, from Information Officer to Military Attaché, contributing to the Kingdom's global vision and diplomatic relations.

Essam's dedication extends beyond his professional duties. His commitment to advancing the maritime industry's future is evident through his contributions to international organizations like the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and regional projects.

As the acting Deputy for Maritime Transport, Essam continues to drive forward Saudi Arabia's ambitious 2030 vision and its National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of shipping in the region and beyond