• Age: 53
• Master Mariner
• Studied in KV schools , Pre at TS Rahaman Started as Deck Cadet with Damodar Bulk Carriers , tool command on MOL vessel. Worked 6 Years in office in various responsibilities.
• Founder and CEO of VR Maritime Services Pvt Ltd.
• Ex National Shipping Board Member
• Works for Human Rights at Sea.
• Married , wife , 2 Kids (Both in M Tech Naval Architecture course)

Capt (Dr) Rajesh Tandon is a distinguished maritime professional with extensive experience in ship management, seafarer development, and industrial relations. After 8 years of service as a Master he moved ashore and has since consistently worked to enhance seafarer employment opportunities for Indians as well as making it a respected profession globally.

Capt. Tandon's notable career began with the Shipping Corporation of India, where he became a Ship Master in 1983. He later joined V Ships in 1988, serving in various leadership roles, including Managing Director of V Ships India, where he significantly expanded seafarer employment. Capt. Tandon was instrumental in establishing V Ships' offices in India and led various initiatives in training, industrial relations, and compliance with international maritime regulations. As Global Director of Industrial Relations and Seafarer Development for V Group, he negotiated collective bargaining agreements and focused on crew welfare.

He has served as Chairman of the International Maritime Employers' Council (IMEC) and represented the employers groups in international conventions, contributing to policy formulation. Capt. Tandon has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Varuna Award which was awarded to him on occasion of National Maritime Day in 2019. More recently he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by AMET University at their annual convocation function in November 2023.

Currently, he is the CEO of the Foreign Owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association (FOSMA), passionately continuing his commitment to the maritime sector.

Sam Walker is the Chartering Manager at Pertamina International Shipping, where he oversees the commercial management and day-to-day management of the company's shipping operations in the Middle East. With over 15 years of experience in the maritime industry, Sam has established himself as a seasoned leader with a deep understanding of logistics, supply chain management, and international shipping regulations.

Before assuming his current role, Sam held various key positions within the shipping industry, demonstrating his expertise in optimizing vessel performance, managing fleet operations, and implementing cost-effective logistics solutions. His strong leadership skills and commitment to excellence have consistently driven operational efficiency and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Sam holds a Bachelor's degree in and Masters Degree from Cass Business School. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver results in dynamic and competitive environments.

In addition to his professional achievements, Sam is passionate about sustainable shipping practices and is actively involved in initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of maritime operations.

Animesh Gupta is a visionary leader and a highly respected figure in the Indian industry for last 32 years. In the steel and power industry for last 14 years.
As the President & Group CLO of Jindal Steel and Power, he has been instrumental in shaping the company's strategic direction and driving its growth through innovative initiatives and strategic partnerships from X to 2X in less than a year & strategised enabikity for 4X by 2030.
With over 32 years of experience in the industry, Animesh has developed a unique understanding of the complexities and challenges of the supply chain specifically in Petrochemical, steel and power sector. He has a proven track record of success in driving business growth, improving operational efficiency, and building high-performing teams. Lately his focus has been on TOC initiatives to drive multiple fold growth for the organisation.

Animesh is a sought-after speaker and has addressed various conferences and seminars on topics related to the complete supply chain efficiency for steel and power industry, including sustainability, innovation, and leadership. He is a strong advocate for the adoption of clean energy technologies and sustainable practices in the industry. Animesh's expertise and insights are highly valued by industry peers, customers, and partners alike.
He has been partnering the Goldratt Research Labs USA for turning around the distressed supply chains, which he has successfully adopted in JSPL too.

Rajiv Jalota is a Master of Science in Chemistry from Lucknow University. He joined Indian Administrative Service in 1988 and his currently working in the rank of Secretary to GoI. Rajiv belongs to Maharashtra cadre of IAS and worked as CEO of Zilla Parishad, Osmanabad; District Collector of Yavatmal and Latur districts in his initial years. While in service Rajiv completed his Maters in International Development Policy from Duke University, USA.

On his return from USA, Rajiv worked as Managing Director, SICOM followed by a full stint as Chief Executive Officer of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). He also served as Commissioner of Employment and Self Employment of Maharashtra State, before joining the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai as Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects). In the Municipal Corporation Rajiv handled Finance and Budget, Slum Sanitation Water Supply and Sewerage Management and Assessment and Collection Department. He introduced the Capital Value System in Property Tax in Mumbai. Rajiv worked as Commissioner, Sales Tax for Maharashtra from January 2015, and was part of National Law and Policy making process of GST till he demitted office. He successfully implemented GST in Maharashtra State. Rajiv was awarded with the PM Award for excellence in Public Administration in 2017 as part of a group, which worked for bringing GST to reality. Rajiv had tenure of more than five years in GST. He was also responsible for managing the Corona Control Room of Maharashtra State. He was heading the Higher and Technical Education department of Maharashtra State, wherein he was involved in preparing the Implementation Plan of National Education Policy 2020 before joining the Mumbai Port Authority. Presently, he is Chairperson of Mumbai Port Authority and Indian Ports Association. Rajiv is instrumental in developing the largest International Cruise Terminal of the country at Mumbai Port, chairing a Committee for enhancing and improving Urban Water Transport in Mumbai Harbour and representing India in the Quad Shipping Task Force.

Advocate Rahul Varma (Ex Master Mariner) is the founder of Ally Maritime and Legal Services (AMLS) with an aim of providing one window solution for maritime and legal services. He heads and gives strategic direction to alliances of AMLS.He is a practising lawyer of Mumbai & Goa High Court. He has 29 years of experience in Maritime industry including 13 years at sea and 16 years ashore in senior management roles effectively implementing ISM/ISPS/MLC/ISO in the company and on ships, business development, training, claims management and ship recycling consulting. He specializes in providing consulting to Ship Management and Logistics companies to ensure compliances, improve management of the company, vetting of contracts, manage claims & insurance matters, crisis media management and mentor the staff to work efficiently. He has been invited by various forums as lecturer, speaker and mentors young talents towards a focused and passionate career path. He was hired as a Senior Non-Key Expert by Giz International Services to study the status of Maritime Labour Convention in ASEAN Countries as part of E-READI project.

Dr. Anand Hiremath is a Civil Engineer and holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati), India. He spent six years carrying out extensive research and prepared a doctoral thesis on: Integrated Risk Assessment Framework for Development of Best Practices in Ship Recycling. Dr. Anand Hiremath was awarded Doctorate Degree in the year 2016 for his research work on Ship Recycling by the IIT Bombay, India. In addition, he has a diploma in Industrial Safety and is qualified Lead Auditor for ISO 45001:2018, ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015. He is also a DNV certified Hazmat Expert (IHM specialist). He has also completed International General Certification course from NEBOSH UK.

He is a certified GRI Standards 2021 reporter. AccountAbilityAA1000: Stakeholder engagement practitioner, Sustainability Practitioner and Associate certified sustainability assurance practitioner

Dr. Anand Hiremath has been with GMS for the last eight years as a Green Recycling Specialist, based in Bhavnagar, India, where he works closely with select yards ensuring compliance with the guidelines of the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. He is the Chief Sustainable Officer at GMS. Dr. Anand is in-charge of project execution at ground level. Dr. Hiremath is also the Course Director for the Ship Recycling course offered by the Lloyd’s Maritime Academy, London.

Dr. Anand has participated in several projects on Green Ship Recycling, including the European Union FP6 funded project (DIVEST) and has conducted a study on Preventive Technological Interventions for Improving Environmental Attributes of Ship Recycling (Green Alang Initiative) funded by the Gujarat Maritime Board, Government of Gujarat, India. Dr. Hiremath’s research has been published in scientific journals in USA, Europe, UK and India. Dr. Hiremath published the first practical handbook on ship recycling, entitled: “The Green Handbook: A Practical Checklist to Monitor the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships”.

Under his supervision, more than 100+ IHM surveys were conducted & 120+ end-of-life vessels (of different types) were successfully recycled. He is a certified Social Auditor and Responsible steel auditor as well empaneled lead auditor with Indian Register of Shipping for ISO, HKC-SOC and EUSRR independent verifier projects.

Krishnan is a seasoned professional in the areas of Supply Chain, Logistics, Commercial Shipping and Education.

He is currently the Strategic Adviser for Transworld group, UAE/India for Tankers and Liquid cargo logistics. He is the International Vice Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and heads the Global Digitalization project. He is also a Member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UAE Steering Committee, Customs & Trade Facilitation Commission. Krishnan’s career spanning 4 decades includes Bharat Petroleum Corporation, India, Shell Petroleum in Dubai and Singapore, Aurora Tankers / IMC group, Singapore, Fusion group of companies in Dubai & India and Petrochem Middle East, Dubai.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (FICS) U.K, a trainer for ICS, NAFL Dubai, Maersk Training, Dubai Shipping Agents Association (DSAA) and Bahrain Shipping Agents Association (BSAA). He has equal experience in academics as Academic Advisor at Maritime institutions and Adjunct faculty at S.P.Jain School of Global Management, IMBA, India and UPES Dehradun, India.

Rajnish Khandelwal is President in the JM Baxi Group of companies. He heads the Ship Agency Division handling Hazardous cargoes through Parcel tankers and ISO Tank Containers. He is also involved in handling Class 7 shipments, LPG and LNG ships. He has been an active participant in committee meetings in the international forum on Emerging Clean Fuels for Ships, including LNG, Ammonia and Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

He holds a Post Graduate degree in Shipping Management from the World Maritime University, Malmoe, Sweden and has over 3 decades of experience in the Indian Shipping Industry.

Shri Niteen M Borwankar is a Marine Engineer from DMET Kolkatta. He has worked in difference capacities on Merchant vessels. Subsequently, he joined National Institute of Ocean Technology (Department of Ocean Development) and was involved in various scientific Projects. In 1999, he switched over to Port Sector under Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, New Delhi and has vast Port experience as he had an opportunity to work in Cochin Port, Kandla Port, & Mumbai Port. Presently, working in JNPA as Chief General Manager (M&EE) & CEO  JNPA-SEZ.

Currently the General Manager, Far East at Njord, a Green Tech business under Maersk Tankers, working to accelerate cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions in the Maritime sector. Was previously looking after Sales in the SEAP region at the Performance Management Unit in StormGeo, which is a very similar earlier role in the Digital Solutions and Innovation ECO space at DNV. Prior to this was Head of GL Systems Certification and Head of GL Academy in South Asia. Before joining GL was the Vice President (Technical) with Aquarius Services, an associate of Anglo Eastern Ship Management, a Ship Surveyor, Lead Auditor & Global Lead Tutor with Lloyd’s Register, Country Manager-India with ABS Quality Evaluations, Quality Manager with ARI-Simulations and a sailing Chief Engineer with Great Eastern Shipping Company. Am a Fellow of RINA, IMARE and a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineers. With over 38 years of Industry Experience, my daily dose of fresh ideas stems from the philosophy that ‘Enjoy What You Do and Do What You Enjoy’

Dharmendra Gangrade, is an accomplished Global Shipping & Logistics professional with experience spread over 2 ½ decades in the diverse sectors comprising EPC, Oil & Gas, Chemicals, FMCG, Retail and Automobile. He strongly believes in Deliver MORE from LESS approach and advocates technology must be engaged to achieve this.

Presently, Dharmendra is Head of Logistics Management Center for Larsen & Toubro Limited (known as L&T) and is leading shipping & logistics function for L&T’s multiple diverse businesses based at global Head Office at Mumbai.

In past, Dharmendra has successfully led and managed complex shipping & logistics operations with large MNCs and Indian companies including global EPC company Technip Energy, Germany based global leader in Chemicals BASF, makers of Fevicol, FeviKwik and Dr. Fixit brands Pidilite, India’s largest private sector enterprise Reliance Industries in Retail & Petroleum division and in Automobile sector with Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Dharmendra is a subject matter expert and thought leader on the topics of global Shipping & Logistics and has been regularly invited to share his thoughts in many global conferences and top Business Schools worldwide including USA, UAE, Singapore, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, Malaysia among others.

Also, Dharmendra is a member of Editorial Advisory Board for a world renowned shipping magazine published as ’BREAKBULK’ of Hyve Group, UK. He is also a member of WEF’s ( World Economic Forum, Davos) Task Force alongwith few other experts WEF’s Moving India initiative of Niti Aayog, “Igniting India’s transition to zero emission road freight”.

In addition, Dharmendra is Chairman of Disaster Aid India and a Board member of global body Disaster Aid International, UK which extends support for humanitarian and disaster relief program for community in need across the globe. Further, he has led various community service projects under the aegis of Rotary International in various capacity including its President for a local Rotary Club in Mumbai.

Capt. Binesh Kumar Tyagi has taken over as Chairman and Managing Director of Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. with effect from 03.09.2022. Capt. B. K. Tyagi also holds the charge of Chairman and Managing Director of Shipping Corporation of India Land and Assets Ltd. (SCILAL) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd (ICSL) w.e.f. 03.09.2022 and was erstwhile heading the Liner and Passenger Services Division as Director (L&PS), since 08.01.2021.

Capt. Tyagi also held additional charge of Director (T&OS) from 01.05.2021 to 18.05.2022, Director (P&A) from 01.12.2022 till 28.02.2023, and additional charge of Director (L&PS) from 03.09.2022 till 02.09.2023. In addition, he is also on the Board of North of England Protecting & Indemnity Association Ltd (now NorthStandard Limited) and India LNG Transport (ILT) Company No. 1, 2, 3 & 4. Capt. Tyagi is also serving as Director on board of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and Indian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA).

Capt. Tyagi is an IIMA alumni and also a member of various professional bodies like ICS (London), Nautical Institute London, Institute of Directors and a fellow member of CMMI, CILT and NMIS. Capt. Tyagi is also appointed as Chairman and Member of ABS India National Committee, Member of the South Asia Committee of DNV GL, Lloyd’s Register South Asia Advisory Committee and Indian Committee of ClassNK.

In his distinguished Shipping career spanning over 34 years, he has held many responsible appointments, both Afloat and Ashore. After graduation, Capt Tyagi joined SCI in 1990, as Trainee Nautical Officer (TNOC). He served on board various ships, in different ranks, including as Master. In 2004, he was absorbed ashore, wherein he served at various Management level positions and performed Technical, Vetting, Chartering, Training, Marine HR, Liner, Passenger, Inland Waterways, offshore and S&P functions.

He is a well-rounded shipping professional with qualification & experience in Ship operation, Navigation, Chartering, General Shipping Management, Port Development & Management and Law.

Capt. Tyagi has also been felicitated by various National and International Institutions in the industry, in which latest additions are as follows:

• ‘Life Time Achievement’ Award at the 18th edition of ShipTek Awards, Kochi in May’ 2023
• ‘The Maritime Standard Editor’s Choice Award’ during the 10th Anniversary Edition of The Maritime Standard Awards, Dubai in Nov’ 2023
• ‘Business Leader of the Year ‘CEO of the Year – PSU’ award at Mumbai in Feb’ 2024
• ‘CMD Leadership Awards’ at Governance Now 10th PSU Awards, New Delhi in Mar’ 2024.