Speakers

a

Speakers


Opening Speakers:


Gustavo

Gustavo Abdiel Aguilar Miranda

Gustavo Abdiel Aguilar Miranda's career has had central axes among them, namely: the maritime sector, public administration and teaching. Devoting his efforts to the development of Panama in institutions such as the Panama Maritime Authority. He is currently doing a PhD at Newcastle University researching the LGBTIQ+ population within the maritime sector.

Twitter: @GAguilar0584

Linkedin


Nick Morgan

Nick Morgan

Nick Morgan is an ethnographer and political discourse analyst working on contemporary society in Colombia, Venezuela and Panama. His focus is on the experience of historically excluded groups and their attempts to gain both recognition and access to spaces of political participation, with particular emphasis on questions of race, class and gender. He is currently the Director of the Centre for Latin American Studies at Newcastle, where he supervises Gustavo's PhD project alongside Stephen Seely.


Tim Stew

Tim Stew

“Tim Stew has been British Ambassador to Panama since October 2021. He was previously British High Commissioner to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from the end of July 2015. Mr Stew joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1988. Most recently he was Head of the FCO department leading reform and conflict policy in the Middle East & North Africa since the Arab revolutions of 2011. During his career he has covered a range of different roles, including serving previously in the region as Deputy High Commissioner to Belize and other postings to Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt. Tim Stew was appointed MBE in 1996, for his contribution to British foreign policy during the conflict in Bosnia”


Dr. Asif Altaf

Dr. Asif Altaf

Dr. Asif has been working as the Global Well-being Program Coordinator in the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) since 2006. ITF represents 19 million transport workers including around half a million seafarers. Dr. Asif is responsible to develop policies and programs and to provide technical support to ITF’s affiliates for implementing well-being programs. Before joining the ITF, he worked for number of international organizations and developed/implemented different reproductive and occupational health care programs.


Panel 1 Speakers:


Frank Maier

Frank Maier

Born in Germany in 1959, diplomat and connoisseur of history and the English language. In 1988 he entered the Diplomatic Academy in Bonn, Germany and from there he has held diplomatic posts in the embassies of Abdijan, London, Santiago de Chile, Kigali, Tallinn, and Harare. He has worked at the German Foreign Office, at the Bonn and Berlin offices. He currently works as Deputy Head of the German Embassy in Panama.


Nathan Eckstein

Nathan Eckstein

Nathan Eckstein is the Human Rights Officer at U.S. Embassy in Panama. He has been a U.S. Foreign Service Officer since 2021. Before that, Nathan worked as a fellow in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. A native of Chicago, Nathan has an A.B. and M.P.A. from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.


Barry Bristman

Barry Bristman

Barry is the First Secretary (Political) of the Canadian Embassy in Panama since July 2021, having previously held the position of the head of the political program in Trinidad and Tobago and Bangladesh. He was also a member of the Canadian delegation to the UN, serving on the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly in 2012. He holds a BA and MA in History from the University of Calgary and did postgraduate studies in Political Science at Tel-Aviv University.


Panel 1 Moderator:


Maria Gabriela Frias

Maria Gabriela Frias

Maria has a degree in psychology and is a certified coach. She has more than 10 years of experience as an audiovisual producer. In 2017, she began human rights activism with the Convive Panama Foundation, beginning as a volunteer and later as Director of the “Hacer Comunidad” programme, among other responsibilities, of the delegation for the Pride March. After serving as Project Manager for the Convive Panama Foundation, she is currently Director of Programmes, coordinator of the Pride Connection Panama programme and business network.


Panel 2 Speakers:


Dr. Asif Altaf

Dr. Asif Altaf

Dr. Asif has been working as the Global Well-being Program Coordinator in the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) since 2006. ITF represents 19 million transport workers including around half a million seafarers. Dr. Asif is responsible to develop policies and programs and to provide technical support to ITF’s affiliates for implementing well-being programs. Before joining the ITF, he worked for number of international organizations and developed/implemented different reproductive and occupational health care programs.


Isabel Lecanda

Isabel Lecanda

Isabela has a Law Degree from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. To date, she is responsible for the Labour Legal Management of Jugos Del Valle-Santa Clara, a company that is part of the Mexican Coca-Cola industry. Additionally, she participated as Technical Advisor of the Mexican delegation of employers for CONCAMIN (Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States) in the 110th Conference of the International Labour Organization held in June 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.


Edgar Díaz

Edgar Díaz

Edgar Díaz is the Regional Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Previously he was General Secretary of the Aviation Industry Union (SIELAS) in Panama and joined the ITF in 2011. Edgar has participated in tripartite tables in international organizations as well as innumerable collective bargaining processes, and in processes arbitration in dispute resolution. His objective is to achieve recognition and tools for unions to that they can reach better agreements on behalf of the workers.


Panel 2 Moderator:


Jesus Jimenez Garcia

Mr. Jesus Jimenez Garcia

Jesus Garcia is a labour relations professional. He is responsible for providing training courses to the trade union movements of Latin America and to facilitate their technical and trade union performances in the processes of national and social dialogue, and Decent Work Country Programmes.

PhD in Economics from the 'Complutense' University of Madrid. Actuary Degree in Actuarial and Financial Sciences UCM (1991). Doctoral thesis entitled 'Social Security, poverty, and informal economy in Latin America' (1999), rated at par cum laude unanimously


Panel 3 Speakers:


Anyès Nauwelaerts

Anyès Nauwelaerts

Anyès Nauwelaerts is a senior legal advisor at the Directorate-General Shipping (DGS) at Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport since 2011. She started working at DGS after having obtained a master's in law (University of Antwerp) and a master's in international relaitons and diplomacy (University of Antwerp and University of Copenhagen). Specialized subjects are the MLC convention, the human element, insurance conventions, certifiaciton and maritime legal and policy questions in general.


Khanssa Lagdami

Dr. Khanssa Lagdami

Khanssa Lagdami is the ITF Seafarers Trust Assistant Professor of Maritime Labour Law and Policy at the World Maritime University (WMU). Her strengths lie in maritime labour law, the future of work in the maritime sector, and maritime security. She is currently involved in significant research projects on the impact of new and emerging technologies on seafarers. Dr. Lagadmi holds a Phd in maritime Law from Nantes University and a Master in maritime management affairs from university of Perpignan in France.


Laura

Professor. Laura Carballo Piñeiro

Professor Carballo Piñeiro teaches Private international law at the University of Vigo where she has also been appointed Dean of the newly created Faculty of International Relations. She is admitted to practice as a lawyer. Her areas of expertise include private international law, international litigation, international insolvency and maritime law. A fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and her research published in 2015 by Springer at the Hamburg Studies on Maritime Affairs Collection edited by the International Max Planck Research School for Maritime Affairs at the Hamburg University.


Panel 3 Moderator:


Anamae Ortiz

Anamae Ortiz

Anamae Ortiz is currently a partner at De Castro & Robles in the Republic of Panama. She previously served as Senior Associate from 2015 to 2019 and has worked there since 2006. She focuses on transportation law, cargo claims, collision, charter party claims, and maritime personal injury. Anamae has a Masters Degree in Maritime Law from the University of Nottingham and has been admitted with the Panama Bar Association since 2009.


Presentation Speakers:


Jesus Jimenez Garcia

Mr. Jesus Jimenez Garcia

Jesus Garcia is the Activity Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean in the ACTRAV department of the International Training Centre of the ILO. He is responsible for providing training courses to the trade union movements of Latin America and to facilitate their technical and trade union performances in the processes of national and social dialogue, Decent Work Country Programmes, and in ILO meetings.

PhD in Economics from the 'Complutense' University of Madrid. Actuary Degree in Actuarial and Financial Sciences UCM (1991). Doctoral thesis entitled 'Social Security, poverty, and informal economy in Latin America' (1999), rated at par cum laude unanimously


Mikel Otxotorena Fernandez

Mikel Otxotorena Fernandez

Sociologist and consultant on gender and masculinities. Master's in Equality between women and men, Master's in international co-operation. He has worked in and for different public administrations, non-profit organisations, and international organisations

His professional career has been forged, mainly, in international development co-operation and equality between women and men. In the last 20 years, his main work theme has been the construction of equality, working on masculinities.


Panel 4 Speakers:


Alex Walster

Alex Walster

Alex is the Head of ESG at Navigator Gas in London. He has just over 20 years of experience in the maritime industry, including several years at sea as a deck officer. Having worked with several ship owners and managers around Europe, he is an experienced maritime professional and an expert in occupational health and safety, risk management, ESG and sustainability.

Alongside his day job, Alex is a postgraduate research student working on his doctorate in ESG communication in the maritime industry. He has successfully completed two master's degrees, a diploma in occupational health and safety and a diploma in business continuity and management.


Lee Clarke

Lee Clarke

With a career in the maritime industry spanning 20 years, including roles both onboard and onshore, Lee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his roles. Prior to joining Isle of Man Maritime, Lee worked in several ‘at sea’ roles for Bibby Ship Management before becoming their Cadet Training Manager. In 2016 he joined V.Group as their UK Cadet Training Manager. In 2020, he joined the award-winning maritime tech business, Tapiit Group, as their Content and Delivery Manager.


Keir Gravil

Keir Gravil

Keir is a naval architect and works as the Commercial Marine Business Manager for Frazer-Nash Consultancy in London, UK. Keir has over 18 years’ experience within the maritime industry having started out as an engineer cadet. After gaining his Engineer Class III/1 certificate of competency and working on chemical tankers and container ships, Keir graduated from Newcastle University with an MEng degree in naval architecture.

Keir's LinkedIn


Dominador III. Carunungan

Dominador III. Carunungan

Dom is an active Seafarer from the Philippines. A scholar of the International Mariners Management Association of Japan (IMMAJ), he recently graduated at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP). As a student he was able to lead AMOSUP MAAP Youth— a youth led organization focused on improving welfare of cadets and young seafarers from the Philippines. He is also a researcher with published work at the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) - Student Session. As the official representative of the Associated Marine Officers and Seaman’s union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), he will be representing the large number of Filipino seafarers worldwide.


Panel 4 Moderator:


Samirah Armengol

Samirah Armengol

She has a degree in Economics and Business Administration, a master's degree in Project Management and Social Investment and a second master's degree in Social Sciences in Gender and Development. She is a business consultant, advisor for United Nations System organizations. In addition, She is founder and president of the first Lesbo Feminist organization in Panama, CIMUF - International Coalition of Women and Families. Creator of the first socio-political Leadership School for dissident women, the "Escuela Cimufiana para Desobedientes". Since 2017 she is Executive Director of World Pride Panama.


Panel 5 Speakers:


Dr. Momoko Kitada

Dr. Momoko Kitada

Dr. Momoko Kitada is a former seafarer and serves as full Professor at World Maritime University. She has 18 years of research experience in gender issues in the maritime and ocean sectors. Dr. Kitada is leading several research projects, such as Empowering Women in the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development; and Transport 2040 Future of Work among others. She is a certified ILO’s Participatory Gender Audit facilitator and a certified Monitoring and Evaluation expert.

Dr. Kitada's LinkedIn


Jessica Fenn-Samuelsen

Jessica Fenn-Samuelsen

Jessica has been a full-time trade union official in the Cruise and International Ferry Section of the Norwegian Seafarers' Union since 2016. Before that, she was lead on global projects in the Dockers Section at the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Her current roles involves case handling, ship visits and training for the union's seminars for cruise ship workers. She is responsible for communications and equalities in the team. The Norwegian Seafarers Union is an active member of the ITF's Women's Committee.


Beatriz Torrez

Beatriz Torrez

Since 2005, Beatriz has started her professional career in the field of logistics and multimodal transport, beginning his first steps as part of the commercial department of a cargo agency, knowing the logistics needs of importers and exporters, not only in Bolivia but also in Latin America. She is currently the founder of companies in Panama, including a cargo agency and an Integral Logistics corporation in which she holds the position of CEO.


Panel 5 Moderator:


Pau Gonzalez Sanchez

Pau Gonzalez Sanchez

Co-Founder of Hombres Trans Panamá. He co-founded PFLAG Panama (Association of Parents, Family, and Friends for Diversity in Panama). He is Executive Assistant in Real Estate Company - Philip James Realty and The Panama Link. Additionally, he is Property Manager - Company iPanama Management Inc., and medical interpreter for hospitals in the US - Company Voyce Global.


Panel 6 Speakers:


William Vega

William Vega

William Vega has a Law Degree from the University of Costa Rica with a Master's Degree in Human Rights from the University of Valencia (Spain). He has more than 15 years of experience in the defence and the promotion of human rights. He is a Human Rights Officer at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.


Nils Haupt

Nils Haupt

“Nils Haupt, born in 1963, has been Head of Corporate Communications at Hapag-Lloyd since the end of 2014. After studying in Frankfurt am Main, he began his career at the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson in Frankfurt. He then worked for many years as a television editor and television producer at Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. He has been in the PR industry since 2000. At Hapag-Lloyd, as Senior Director Corporate Communications, he is responsible for global internal and external communications and marketing communications. In addition, he is part of the executive board of the Hapag-Lloyd Foundation."


Ginger Garte

Ginger Garte

Ginger Garte, is Environmental & Sustainability Director, Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub. She is a protector of the planet, a sustainability advocate armed with over 30 years of maritime experience. In her current role, she is part of the Lloyd’s Register’s Maritime Decarbonization Hub team. She is dually seconded to Lloyd’s Register Foundation Resilience Rising Resilience4Ports Innovation Lab. Ginger obtained her Geological Science degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.


Martyn Illingworth

Martyn Illingworth

Martyn has had a career that has been dedicated to human rights, having worked for public bodies, not-for-profits, and for the UN. He is now Head of Operations at Human Rights at Sea, a charity dedicated to preventing, detecting, and remedying human rights abuses at sea.

Martyn's LinkedIn

Panel 6 Moderator:


Iván Chanis

Iván Chanis

Iván is a graduate of a master's degree in public policy (MPP) from the School of Government of the University of Oxford. He holds an LL.M. (Master of Laws) from New York University (NYU). He is a lawyer Magna Cum Laude from Universidad Santamaría La Antigua (USMA), with studies in International Relations and Diplomacy. President and founder of Fundación Iguales Panamá, an organization with the mission of eliminating discrimination due to sexual diversity, establishing, and strengthening programmes for promotion, and defense of Human Rights.