Charting the future of maritime: A century ahead

Eleanor is a Partner in the Shipping Offshore team at Wikborg Rein London. Eleanor joined Wikborg Rein in 2017, having previously worked at HFW since 2008. Eleanor advises on contracts and disputes concerning trade and transport, with a particular focus on energy commodities and shipbuilding. This includes advice on UK regulatory matters for clients within these sectors. Eleanor is ranked for shipping and commodities work by Chambers and Legal 500, which notes that she "is a star – super-responsive and a client favourite".

Aleksander has worked for the broader Yara group since 2016, starting in the Industrial segment for the Environmental Solutions business unit, then managing the Animal Nutrition Business unit (350 MEUR revenue). He has also worked on strategic projects in Supply Chain and Strategy & Business Development. Prior to joining Yara, Aleksander worked four years as Director for Sales & Business Development for the Store Norske mining company in Svalbard. He has also worked for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global management consultancy. Aleksander holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts from Oxford University

Bhuvnesh Kumar Dogra joined Union Maritime in 2012 as Head of Technical and has over 25 years of experience in the shipping industry. Before joining Union Maritime, he worked at a number of leading ship management companies globally, including Anglo Eastern, Wallem & Univan.

Tonje Hagen Geiran's professional journey spans significant roles, notably at the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Heidelberg Materials Norway, and her present position at Wikborg Rein. As a distinguished maritime sustainability expert, Tonje's wealth of experience includes profound insights into climate law, emissions trading, renewable energy projects, and ESG activities. Her leadership in integrating climate considerations into renewable energy assessments during her tenure leading the "Energy Section" in the Department for Nature Management highlights her strategic acumen. Notably, her role as Sustainability Manager at Heidelberg Materials Norway showcased her commitment to advancing ESG initiatives and her pivotal involvement in the CCS at the Brevik cement facility. Now at Wikborg Rein, Tonje offers invaluable counsel encompassing EU legal intricacies, sustainability strategies, climate risk assessment, and diverse projects in emissions, renewables, and carbon capture, reinforcing her reputation as a thought leader in maritime sustainability.

Charlie is a pioneering advocate for sustainable shipping, leveraging research to achieve zero-emission goals. Holding a PhD and graduating with honors, he's a distinguished graduate with a passion for real-world impact. As a member of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Energy Storage and its application, and his research partially sponsored by Shell Shipping and Maritime, Charlie's expertise in future fuels, particularly hydrogen, is recognised. Recently joining Lloyd's Register's Maritime Decarbonisation Hub as a Decarbonisation Analyst, Charlie is poised to steer the maritime industry toward greener waters. His commitment to decarbonization, paired with his research acumen, solidifies his role in transforming shipping into a cleaner, sustainable domain.

John Kaare Aune joined Wallem in July 2019. John is a qualified Naval Architect with a degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He spent more than six years with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD), where he represented Norway on several EU expert committees and several different IMO Committees. Before joining Wallem, John was Regional Director, Safety and Compliance at the Cayman Registry, overseeing global commercial services in addition to registration in the Asia-Pacific region. He also served as the executive secretary to the Cayman Islands Ship-owners Advisory Council playing a key role in the growth of the Cayman Registry.

Aoife is the founder and CEO of Opportunity Green. A lawyer and economist with deep environmental expertise, she founded Opportunity Green to realise her vision of working closely with governments, other NGOs and industry around the world to seize on the opportunities that come with solving the climate crisis.