Over the years, technology has advanced dramatically - but perhaps even more significantly, the expectations of owners and guests have evolved. Today, seamless control and intuitive interaction are no longer luxuries - they’re essential.
From touchscreens to keypads, voice control to full automation, the user interface has become a defining element of the onboard experience. In this panel discussion, we’ll explore how these interfaces and experiences have changed, what’s driving innovation, and where the future is headed.
On stage some of the most experienced AVIT system integrators in the market to join us for this conversation. Together, we’ll dive into the latest developments, share insights from real-world installations, and discuss what’s next for user experience at sea.

Nikusia Kooijmans, Moderator: Michael Short, Maurizio Minossi, Peter Aarts, Daniel Kerkhof

Crestron Electronics - How user interfaces and user experiences onboard have evolved – and what’s next

Electronic Engineer and MBA, cofounder of Videoworks and Itworks; dealing with innovation projects about AI (ML/generative), UX and SDN

CEO/CTO

Founder

Loris has been a driving force at GREENBOATS for over five years, beginning his career as a Boatbuilder and quickly transitioning into a Business Developer role.
His expertise spans a broad range of demanding projects, from custom applications within the yachting industry to high-performance manufactoring for IMOCA Offshore racing. In these roles, he was instrumental in the successful integration of sustainable natural fibers into structural components.
Today, Loris leverages this comprehensive knowledge to consult with clients across various industries, beyond the maritime sector. His primary focus is on demonstrating practical and effective ways for these businesses to integrate natural fibers into their own products, successfully combining high performance with sustainability.

Boatbuilder/Business Developer

Peter Byford is the Chief Technical Officer at RAD Propulsion, where he leads all technical aspects of product development and oversees the execution of complex engineering projects.
Since joining RAD, Peter has played a key role in the design and development of the company’s full range of innovative electric propulsion systems, helping to position RAD at the forefront of sustainable marine technology.
Prior to joining RAD Propulsion, Peter was Head of Electrical Systems at L3Harris Technologies, where he led the design and delivery of advanced marine robotic systems. Earlier in his career, he gained extensive experience in the automotive sector, working with several major OEMs and race teams. He also spent over a decade in web development and online database systems, delivering digital solutions for blue-chip clients.
Peter holds a first-class degree in Automotive Engineering and brings a combination of technical depth, cross-industry experience, and leadership to his role.
https://brandfolder.com/s/tzksggvms7c5vrmq84q795x

CTO at RAD Propulsion

Ben Stein is editor of Panbo.com covering marine technology. He also writes a monthly Getting Technical column for Soundings Trade Only and serves as electronics editor for Power & Motoryacht. Stein chairs the NMMA’s Innovation awards at IBEX and co-chairs the awards at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. Additionally he is a member of DAME design awards jury at Metstrade. After 15 years in financial services technology, he left the corporate world to pursue his passion in boating. Stein is the current president of Boating Writers International, a USCG 100-Ton Master, and ABYC certified marine electrical technician.

Editor at Panbo.com

Ellen Bradley serves as Chief Brand Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the leading trade group for recreational boat, marine engine and accessory manufacturers in the U.S. who drive more than $230 billion in annual economic impact and support an estimated 100 million Americans who go boating each year.
 Ellen is responsible for the NMMA brand, deploying marketing and communications strategies that continuously elevate the association’s voice and reputation as the leader in connecting the recreational boating industry with policy makers, boating consumers and stakeholders.
 Ellen oversees NMMA’s market expansion work through Discover Boating, helping welcome more people to enjoy the benefits of life on the water and fueling a commitment for doing so in an increasingly sustainable way. Recently, Ellen led the team in revitalizing the industry’s Discover Boating brand with a new visual identity and omni-channel strategy, resulting in the launch of the successful “See You Out Here” campaign, attracting more than 6 million next generation and current boaters to the Discover Boating community and connecting nearly 2 million of them with boat manufacturers and dealers to explore boat ownership. In under two years, the new strategy resulted in Discover Boating moving from a $6-7 million six-month marketing campaign to a year-round brand experience valued at nearly $30 million. In 2024, Ellen and her team were the architects behind the global marine industry’s Propelling Our Future education campaign on behalf of more than 50 marine industry trade associations worldwide. The campaign harmonized global boating industry stakeholders, bringing one voice and successfully educating policy makers and boating consumers on the portfolio of propulsion technologies shaping the industry’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
 Additionally, Ellen leads NMMA Business Intelligence, the association’s strategic data science and research that powers the industry’s most comprehensive insights. As the hub for industry, consumer and economic data and trends, NMMA Business Intelligence shapes some of the most important decisions in recreational boating. Prior to becoming Chief Brand Officer, Ellen rose within NMMA from Vice President of Marketing Communications to Chief Communications Officer. Ellen took on these roles after joining NMMA from Harpo, Inc., where she drove communications for Oprah Winfrey’s entertainment properties and foundation. Earlier in her career she held strategic communications and brand marketing positions on both the agency and client-side including representing entertainment and consumer brands, government agencies, and trade associations spanning Hilton Hotels, the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Coca-Cola, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing. 
Ellen has been recognized by PRWeek as a Woman of Distinction (2024), Boating Industry Magazine Woman Making Waves (2019), Boating Industry Magazine 40 Under 40 (2007, 2017) and Association Forum, 40 under 40 (2015). She currently serves on the boards of directors for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and Chicago-based A Giving Heart Foundation and is a member of Step-Up Women’s Network, a non-profit mentoring program for young girls. Ellen graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children and can be found boating on Lake Michigan during the city’s beloved summer months and going for long runs along its beautiful lakefront trails.

Chief Brand Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Robert Newsome is the Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President of Operations for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), responsible for overall organizational operations, alignment of strategy in support of the recreational marine industry, membership and member engagement, human resources, technology, the Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) program, and product certification (NMMA Certified) programs for boats, yachts, PWC, marine oils and boat trailers.
Robert is the past Chairperson of the National Safe Boating Council, serves on the Board of Directors of the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) and the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA), and on the National Safe Boating Advisory Committee (NBSAC) by appointment of the Secretary of Homeland Security.  He has extensive experience in representing the marine industry in standards development and safety issues through numerous committees of ABYC, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Robert has authored and presented on numerous industry, economic, boating experience and safety topics prevalent to today’s recreational marine industry, and serves as a spokesperson for the Discover Boating program.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bradley University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame.  Today, he continues his education on operational and technology strategic excellence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 
Robert is an avid power boater, fisherman and a life-long sailor on Lake Michigan and the lakes of the Midwest.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) & Senior Vice President of Operations

Luigi is senior project manager in the Ships department (Division Yachts) at MARIN. He graduated with a MSC Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from University Federico II of Naples (Italy) in 2012, and has been working in the Netherlands at MARIN since 2013 as a project manager concerning powering and seakeeping aspects (involving design advice, hull form optimization, performance predictions with CFD and/or model testing). Luigi has a deep interest into the ship design from a multidisciplinary point of view and into the possibilities of continuous integration of innovations in the ship design itself. Most of the free time is still spent in the water with watersports such as kitesurf, kitefoiling and sailing.

Senior Project Manager

Project Manager

Partner

Superyacht Sales Manager

Ludovico Ruggiero is an Industrial PhD candidate at Politecnico di Milano, conducting his research in collaboration with Sanlorenzo S.p.A. His work, aligned with the Water Revolution Foundation's YACHT 2030 framework, focuses on developing strategies and tools to effectively integrate Life Cycle Design principles and embed sustainability from the earliest stages of yacht design.

PhD candidate

Editorial Director

Rupert Robinson is a strategic architect with three decades of experience designing sustainable-finance mechanisms that drive systemic transition across entire value chains. He structures blended-finance vehicles and carbon-market frameworks that mobilize public, private, and philanthropic capital to fund large-scale decarbonization.
A former senior leader at Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) and RSBG SE, Rupert designed transition funds and national-level impact vehicles aligning institutional and DFI capital behind coordinated climate strategies.
A recognized pioneer of Micro-Carbon Financing, he creates mechanisms that transform everyday operations into perpetual climate-finance flows. His work spans infrastructure, real estate, sports and entertainment, marine logistics, and industrial transition—embedding financing directly into commercial systems to make sustainability self-funding.
As an Independent Sustainable-Finance Lead, Rupert now advises governments, investors, and industry coalitions on catalytic instruments, blended-finance frameworks, and outcome-linked models that make systemic transition both investable and enduring.

Finance Strategist

President IEMA

Sylvie Ernoult – Show Director, Cannes Yachting Festival Celebrating her final year leading one of the world’s premier yachting showcases, Sylvie has shaped the international stage for luxury and performance brands.

Show Director

Fabio Bignolini is the Co-Founder and CEO of nlcomp®, an Italian cleantech startup developing recyclable composite materials for the marine industry. A lifelong sailor, Fabio helped create rComposite®, a thermoplastic-based technology enabling circularity in high-performance products. Under his leadership, nlcomp® has launched award-winning sustainable boats like the ecoracer prototypes and the Grand Soleil Blue for Cantiere del Pardo, earning recognition from World Sailing, European Yacht of The Year and the Boat Builder Awards.

Co-Founder and CEO

Lucy Greenhill is a seasoned leader in the travel, lifestyle and entertainment industries, with a 15-year track record of building, scaling and transforming brands, including leadership roles at Bundl (Ticketmaster's travel packaging partner), Day 8 Experiences (The Yacht Week), and Ibiza Rocks - driving strategy, commercial growth and operational excellence across multiple global markets.
As Chief Operating Officer at Bundl, she led major international expansion and forged partnerships with some of the world’s most iconic entertainment brands. Previously, as Commercial Director at Day 8 Experiences, Lucy oversaw product innovation, revenue growth and global team leadership across a portfolio of travel and event brands. Earlier in her career, she built the Ibiza Rocks travel division from scratch into one of Europe’s largest youth travel operators - setting new benchmarks in the industry along the way.
Lucy brings deep expertise in strategic leadership, operational scale-up and commercial strategy - paired with a strong background in yachting holidays and hospitality.
Now, as Co-Founder of Nautica Collective, she’s applying that experience to reshape modern yacht travel. Driven by a passion to create something different, Nautica blends comfort with connection, and curated adventure with a community-first spirit - offering a new kind of sailing experience for today’s traveller.

Co - Founder of Nautica Collective

Aaron Porter is the editor of Professional BoatBuilder magazine produced by IBEX in Brooklin, Maine. He worked as a professional sailor, rigger, and newspaper journalist before joining the ProBoat editorial team in 2005. He has served on the ABYC board and advisory committees for boatbuilding industry training and education programs and is a regular host and moderator for educational seminars at IBEX and Metstrade.

Editor

Clay Crabtree is the Senior Director of Public Policy for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and serves as Co-Lead of the Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Team, where he coordinates advocacy on issues central to the recreational marine industry, including manufacturing, innovation, international trade and tariffs, tax policy, and environmental protection. With nearly 15 years of policymaking experience across Congress, federal agencies, and industry, he works closely with the industry to maintain a forward-looking advocacy strategy, ensuring consistency between federal, state, and global policies. He has been at the forefront of industry efforts to anticipate and address legislative and regulatory challenges, representing NMMA in Washington, D.C., California, and internationally on trade and environmental policy. Appointed by the U.S. Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce to the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, he also advises on public-private partnerships that strengthen recreational boating in the U.S.

Senior Director of Public Policy for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)

Eric serves as President and CEO of IMTRA Corporation, a leading manufacturer and importer of quality solutions and products for the marine, energy and transportation markets. Eric joined New Bedford, MA-based IMTRA in 1988 and served in roles in product management, marketing and operations before being appointed COO in 2012 and CEO in 2014. Eric was responsible for engineering the employee-led/ESOP buyout of IMTRA which is now a 100% employee-owned company.
Eric is active in marine industry governance through his role as a board member and incoming chair of the audit committee of the National Marine Manufacturers. He also acts as the state captain for Massachusetts for the ESOP Association’s New England Chapter. A lifelong boater, Eric grew up sailing on the waters of Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts. He attended Westminster School (Simsbury, CT) and graduated from Bates College (Lewiston, ME) with a BA in Mathematics. Eric is very active in his community with a focus on philanthropic activities including his role as Trustee of the Braitmayer Foundation. He lives in Fairhaven, MA and is an active golfer, boater and tennis enthusiast.

President and CEO of IMTRA Corporation

Barrow International has been delivering cost effective, specialised, high impact marine marketing distribution results, nationally and internationally, for over 35 years. Directed by sales and marketing expert David Barrow, Barrow International has become a leading export business development agency in the commercial and leisure marine sector.  With past and present clients including Tylaska Marine Hardware, Spectra Watermakers, Sulnox Group PLC fuel saver additive, Anchoright Anchor chain marking system amongst others.  Some of the business have carried on becoming market leaders in their sectors.
Whether you’re a fast-growing business entering the international marine market, or a mature business aiming to launch your product or service into the marine industry, Barrow International has the expertise, contacts and influence to ensure your product or service is properly launched to a global audience of influential marine professionals. 
Combined with our consultancy service, Barrow International has an exclusive and unrivalled marine industry database, which is acknowledged by industry professionals as one of the best contact databases available.  It includes some of the highest-level decision-makers in the sector, in 25 different categories from yacht designers and manufacturers, to equipment manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, agents, retailers, and related service and equipment suppliers.

Owner

Emily Caroe is the Communications and Purpose Director for Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing. A PR, communications, and sponsorship expert with over 25 years of experience at agency, rights holder, and brands, Emily leads multinational and multichannel communications campaigns across adventure, sport, and purpose. After leading the comms for a team in the 2017-18 Ocean Race, Emily was inspired to learn more about the power of sport to create positive impact for people and planet.

Communications and Purpose Director

CEO & Co-Founder

Director of Vessev USA

Senior Researcher

Tim Barnes has more than 40 years of experience in sales and sales management for consumer and professional product companies. The last 18 years have been with Kaleidescape as VP North America Sales for 14 years and the past 4 years as VP International and Marine Sales. Prior to Kaleidescape, Tim spent 23 years in various sales roles at Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc. including VP of Field Sales for professional markets.

VP International & Marine Sales

Jennifer Johnston Smith is the Commercial Director and co-founder of SHADOWCAT, the premier bespoke-only developer of award-winning Yacht Support Vessels. She has been instrumental in shaping the SHADOWCAT platform around a philosophy of flexibility of purpose, enabling each vessel to serve exploration, science, and conservation as effectively as luxury support.
She helped conceive Sustain, an early concept for sustainable, purpose-driven operations at sea, and continues to lead innovations such as SHADOWCAT’s latest designs featuring dual helipads, full hangar facilities, and accommodation for up to 26 mission personnel. A recognized advocate for sustainable yachting, Jennifer collaborates with global organizations to align private yachting with marine research and environmental advancement.

Commercial Director

Ollie has over 15 years experience working with leading brands in the marine industry, specialising in the development of products that minimize environmental impact.
A sustainability strategist, LCA practitioner, and impact-oriented problem solver, Ollie’s journey in marine innovation is driven by a passion for challenging the status quo and uncovering solutions that truly reduce the marine industries impact.
Since 2022, Ollie has led the MarineShift360 project, delivering lifecycle assessments across a wide spectrum of marine products, offering clients insights that translate into real-world, low-impact solutions.
Ollie founded Marine Futures in 2024 to make a measurable difference in the marine industry, uniting his comprehensive understanding of product development with a commitment to sustainable progress.

Director

Alasdair Reay is the CEO of HPI Verification Services Ltd., a notified body appointed by the European Commission to certify under the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) & Pressure Equipment Directive (PED). The company has been recording boat compliance details in their own 'CEproof' software for thirty years. This represents a treasure trove of data for mining by anyone who has need of it.
Reay, a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects in UK, began his career with Lloyds Register and after a brief spell with ABS, moved into small craft compliance. Reay is the author of the award-winning CEproof software, sits on numerous ISO and ABYC standards committees.

Andrea Tetto – Director, Marine Business Planning, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit Driving Yamaha’s strategic marine operations, with expertise in market intelligence and operational resilience.

Director Marine Planning

Thins 30 years extrem sailor, thins 2003 IMOCA Open60 Skipper, two times Vendee Globe, several more extrem sailing projects and thins 2009 company owner to develop composite materials which are fully sustainable and recyclabel.

JEC Group is a non-profit organization entirely dedicated to promoting composite materials and fostering their applications globally.
Publisher of the JEC Composites Magazine, the industry’s reference magazine, JEC organizes several events around the world, including JEC World, the leading international exhibition dedicated to composites and their applications, which takes place annually in Paris. JEC media, events and digital channels connect a global community of professionals from the composites industry and beyond, to enable knowledge transfer, create networking opportunities, and highlight innovation.

President

Peter Wallbank is the Co-Founder and Technical Director of August Race Group, a UK-based manufacturer of premium marine surface-care and protection systems established in 2013. With nearly three decades of experience in the chemical industry, he specialises in bespoke formulation development for high-performance and environmentally responsible cleaning technologies.
Peter is an active Member of the Nautical Institute and serves on the ICOMIA Sustainability Committee, contributing to international dialogue on sustainable product standards and responsible practices within the global leisure marine sector.

Co Founder and Group Technical Director

Amy has worked in Sustainability in Sport with a primary focus on the sailing industry. Having had both inhouse and consultancy roles including being a driving force in the IMOCA Class LCA project as part of 11th Hour Racing Team. She is now focussed on her work as part of consultancy Foxall Munro, a transatlantic team who advocate for bold visions of the future and the paradigm shifts that are needed to get there. They are solution-oriented, and action-driven co-creators who use cultural levers and human togetherness to create positive impact.

Director, Foxall Munro & Sustainability Commission Advisor, World Sailing

Nick Bigeau’s hands-on experience from over 18 years of boatbuilding and aerospace gives him a unique perspective as founder and CTO for the Canadian cleantech startup Resolve Composites. Having a deep passion for the understanding of materials and their use, Nick has acquired an extensive knowledge of end-of-life reuse possibilities with innovative resins and recycling technologies. This material exploration has led him to invent a novel recycling method for composite materials (ReceTT). In a cross-industry collaboration with Siemens Gamesa, Resolve Composites were able to downstream material from wind turbine blade to boat, validating the potential of their ReceTT technology.

Founder and CTO

A recreational craft professional for over 40 years, Craig has proven hands on knowledge of global standards, the engineering, manufacturing, and compliance requirements. Skilled in leadership and collaboration in both domestic and international committees, Craig demonstrates a thorough understanding of how the standards and certification processes work and have evolved over time. For over three decades, Craig has served the marine industry in multiple roles, including VP, Director, Chairperson, Convener, Expert and Member of executive committees, technical committees and boards. Craig holds a Master’s Compliance Specialist Certification from Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology and is an ABYC Master Technician. He is the current Chairperson of ISO TC 188 standards for small craft and is the VP of Standards and Compliance for the ABYC.

Vice President, Standard and Compliance

Gary Reich is the editor-in-chief of Soundings Trade Only. A former liveaboard sailor, he has worked in the marine industry for 35 years, with 25 years spent in marine publishing for titles such as Waterway Guide, Soundings magazine, Anglers Journal, Power & Motoryacht and others. He lives in Annapolis, Md., the "sailing capital" of the United States.

Editor-in-Chief

After initially starting his career in project freight forwarding aged 18, Kim Hollamby soon switched to the marine industry by joining a motor boating magazine, inspired by his family’s connections to boating. His next career step was to become part of the start-up team for a new title called Motor Boats Monthly. He became its editor three years later, a role he held for 11 years. 
 
Kim was invited to take on Group Editorship for the globally renowned business to business publication International Boat Industry and publisher for the marine portal ybw.com before serving as digital director for IPC/Time Warner in the UK. There he became responsible for the development of more than 70 websites for the company’s brands including Yachting World, Practical Boat Owner and Motor Boat & Yachting. 
 
After a few years working away as a company director in the education and information technology sectors, Kim returned to his first passion. Today his partnership business serves in several capacities for small and large marine companies around the world, including people and business development, marketing, communications and events. Kim spearheaded several initiatives to encourage participation in boating for his national marine trade association and currently serves on the committee of the British Marine Trades Association. 
 
As keen boating participants, Kim and his wife have owned everything from small sailing dinghies and kayaks to 14m motor yachts, including two Dutch built steel motor cruisers. In 1999 Kim undertook a 4500-mile circumnavigation of the UK with diversions to the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Ireland, calling in 147 harbours over six months.
 
Kim’s relationship with Metstrade dates to the turn of the Century. He collaborates with the show team on several initiatives including the world-renowned DAME Design Awards and IBI Metstrade Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement. He blogs regularly on the Metstrade portal, plays an active role in the development of Metstrade’s Young Professionals Club and leads the tour programme.

Principal

CEO Edorado

With a long experience in strategy and international business development for B2B technical products and equipment, I have the pleasure to promote and market the WATTALPS battery packs since 2022. The unique immersion cooling technology of WATTALPS batteries provides the highest level of safety, enhanced performance and lifetime in various markets like marine, construction, mining, port equipment, heavy trucks, off-highway and racing cars.

Sales & Business Development Director

Project Director/Client Representative

Rowan Gyde, co-founder of 'Aotearoa Ocean Racing', New Zealand's newest national sports team, taking on The Ocean Race 2027 and Director of Kaha Marine, specialist commercial strategy consultancy for marine companies.

Co Founder

Dawn Riley is one of the best-known sailors in the world and is a member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame, the International America’s Cup Hall of Fame and the State of Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. The only person to achieve this. She has raced in four America’s Cups, wining one and two Whitbread Round the World races.  
A past president of the Woman’s Sports Foundation, Dawn is a much sought-after motivational speaker. She is currently executive director of the Oakcliff Sailing, a non-profit training and coaching center in Oyster Bay NY. Oakcliff offers unique programs from corporate teambuilding to a tuition based residential program for athletes who want a career in the marine industry.  Through these programs, Oakcliff is helping America regain its leadership position in the sport and Building American Leaders Through Sailing.

Executive Director

Founder and CEO of Boatscribe, a global yacht rental metasearch engine, and FleetRank, a fleet analytics and dynamic pricing platform. His work bridges technology and yachting, helping the industry become more transparent and efficient.

Founder & CEO at Boatscribe

Suzanne Blaustone initiated her manufacturing career in Chicago in the 1980s and was among the first women selling hotroll steel bar direct to US forging operations, before moving into chemical coatings in 1991 for automotive, electronics and general industrial sectors.  
Arriving in the UK in 1997, she expanded international sales for US exporters of polyurethane coatings and intermediates before transitioning to the role of CEO at Barton Marine Equipment in 2014. 
In 2020, she expanded Barton’s sales impact when opening Barton US LLC in the state of Virginia to supply Barton equipment in North America.  
Suzanne remains passionate about the growth of manufacturing sectors in the UK and EU and focusses on sales expansion through product innovation, exporting, business partnering and optimising distribution networks.

Chief Executive Officer

Content Director

Chair, Vice President, Environmental Compliance & Marine Technology

Henrietta Roslund is the CEO and Co-Founder of MOXSEA, the leading whitelabel SaaS platform engineered specifically for boat clubs and boat-sharing businesses. Her vision for MOXSEA was sparked by her own hands-on experience running a boat club in Mallorca. She founded the company to simplify complex operations and drive a more efficient, accessible, and sustainable future for the nautical industry.
Beyond MOXSEA's growth, Henrietta is a prominent voice shaping her personal brand as a female leader in the marine sector. She leverages authentic storytelling and education to spotlight the enormous opportunities within boat sharing, from evolving ownership models to the substantial environmental and community value it delivers. Through her writing, public speaking, and industry engagement, she is a passionate advocate for greater inclusion, innovation, and transparency in the marine space.

Andrew Semprevivo has been working in the marine industry since he was thirteen. What started out as a summer job at his local marina turned into a lifelong passion for boating. Between the local marina and his tenure at Seakeeper, Andrew served as International/West Coast Sales and Project Manager for the Viking Yacht Company.
Andrew joined Seakeeper in 2008, just as the company was bringing their gyros to market and led the charge in developing the company’s global customer base as well as its first-class global sales and support network. Since joining Seakeeper, he has held various positions from Inside Sales Manager to VP of Sales and Marketing. Andrew was promoted to President & CEO in April of 2018.
Andrew’s love of boating is not limited to his work! He is passionate about fishing and enjoys spending his free time on the water in both New Jersey and Florida with his family.

President & CEO

Enya Gibbs is studying for a Bachelors degree in Sports Technology at Loughborough University and is currently completing a year in industry as a Junior Product Design Engineer at Spinlock, working on their protect, sense and control ranges. Alongside her engineering career, Enya is a qualified Race Coach, Dinghy Instructor, and Senior Instructor, combining her technical knowledge with hands-on experience in performance sailing. She also serves as the UK Mentee Lead for The Magenta Project, supporting diversity and professional development across the marine industry.

Junior Product Design Engineer

CEO Advisor, Saudi Red Sea Authority & Vice-President, Water Revolution Foundation

“There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” Ratty’s words from The Wind in the Willows capture the heartbeat of our next panelist. Growing up on the water, he turned a childhood spent exploring marinas in a jon boat into a lifelong passion, some might say an obsession, for everything marine. After launching into a successful career in real estate and entrepreneurship, he followed a mid-life epiphany and transformed those skills into a dream career in the Marine Industry spanning nearly 30 years. When he’s not studying the lines of yachts or walking the docks, he’s an adventure seeker, world traveler, and devoted father navigating the joyful chaos of raising two children.

Head of Industry Sales and Partnerships

Jochen grew up at the Ammersee (Lake Ammer), Germany’s sixth largest lake, located southwest of Munich. Sailing dinghies and participating in all types of water sports quickly became some of his main hobbies from an early age.
As a young adult he acquired an engineering degree in wood technology (Dipl. Ing. (Fh)) from the University of Applied Sciences in Rosenheim. To further round out his academic career he achieved a Masters Degree of Science at Oregon State University with a focus on production management and strategic marketing.
With degrees in hand he worked for a good decade as a consultant in the automotive and marine industry for two boutique consulting firms located in Munich. The various and international projects mainly in the field of development, production and quality has truly given him a broad view across industries. His passion for boats and the marine industry lead him to the position of product manager for sailing yachts at Bavaria Yachts. He became VP quality and later SVP product development and global service at Torqeedo, the world leader in electric boat propulsion.
Today Jochen is working as a marine consultant in partnership with Seaman Consultants.

Marine Consultant

Hugo Kerhascoët is a PhD engineer specialized in high-performance sailing and real-time control systems. For more than 15 years, he has operated at the intersection of control theory, embedded software, and performance analytics, always with one foot in the engineering lab and the other on the racecourse. His technologies have been deployed in over 100 round-the-world races and contributed to multiple wins and records across offshore and foiling campaigns.
His expertise includes advanced autopilot design, embedded control architectures, sensor fusion, and data-driven performance optimisation for both racing yachts and commercial foiling craft.  Today, through we.deploy(science), he develops real-time optimal control systems based on digital twins and model predictive control (MPC), pushing the next wave of autonomy in competitive sailing. He also spent three years inside an America’s Cup team, working across performance, design, and mechatronics groups to turn complex engineering into competitive advantage.
Alongside his technical work, Hugo has co-founded several innovation-driven companies in the marine tech ecosystem, bringing ideas from concept to reliable, field-proven systems.

Président

Born in 1961, Mario Caponnetto is a naval architect and fluids dynamicist whose life has been shaped by his love for the sea. A former international regatta winner, he pursued Naval Engineering at the University of Genova, later becoming a researcher and lecturer in hydrodynamics and CFD. His career spans over 30 years of high-level design work for shipyards and 10 America’s Cup campaigns, earning two victories with Oracle Team USA, a Louis Vuitton Cup and a Prada Cup. In 2016, he co-founded Caponnetto-Hueber SL in Valencia, today a global reference in CFD and performance innovation.

Engineer

Managing Partner

Since 2019 I head the dedicated global Crestron Marine department. From this department Crestron works with the dealers active in this space as well as oversees the contacts with all other parties involved in the marine and superyachting space.
During my study I already worked with AV equipment for live events and entertainment, and from there I got involved with Crestron products and technology already very early in my professional career. Being always curious and in love with technologies this triggered me to start working with these solutions in all kinds of applications.  
After spending some years at Crestron in different positions I am now dedicating all my efforts on leading the Crestron Marine department. This gives me the opportunity to use my experience and skills to further develop this truly inspiring market. Superyachts are the pinnacle of technology, and this industry has the unique possibility to really drive innovations.

Joey Meen is Director of the IAMI GUEST Program and President of the Superyacht Alliance for Professional Standards. With over four decades in the yachting sector, she has shaped global training standards and professional development pathways. Her career includes senior roles with RYA, MCA, and 15 years at the PYA. Joey founded the internationally recognised GUEST Program, now delivered by more than 36 accredited providers worldwide. She continues to champion crew education through industry collaborations, working groups, and global yachting events.

Director IAMI GUEST

A writer, photographer and video presenter with 35 years experience in the superyacht industry, Justin Ratcliffe is known for his professional, no-nonsense journalism that informs the reader while offering genuine insight into the people and processes at hand. He is currently Editor of the technical magazine How to Build It and Associate Editor of Superyacht Times.

Editor How to Build It Magazine

Farouk Nefzi is the Chief Marketing Officer at Feadship, one of the most prestigious yacht builders in the world. With over 30 years of experience in luxury branding, Farouk has been instrumental in transforming Feadship into a global "lovemark," recognized for its unparalleled craftsmanship and exclusivity. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the maritime sector, having led Europort and METSTRADE to become the most profitable maritime platforms globally and establishing the Netherlands as the premier destination for yacht building.
As a board member of the Superyacht Life Foundation, Farouk has contributed to enhancing the reputation of the superyacht industry by focusing on purpose, craftsmanship, and employment stories. His passion for sustainability extends beyond yachting, as seen in his founding of Sidi, a Fairtrade initiative connecting Tunisia and Europe. Farouk's work is driven by a commitment to creating brands that inspire and make a positive impact on global communities.

Chief Marketing Officer

Meg Reilly is a circumnavigator and sustainability leader who blends expertise in communications, leadership, and sport diplomacy to drive global impact. She left her Madison Avenue career to pursue her dream of circumnavigating the globe in the 2013-14 Clipper Round the World Race — and won. Today, she helps international brands, events, governments and NGOs build sustainable strategies and inclusive communities, drawing on her MBA from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Meg currently serves as the Marketing Chair for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, and leads global sustainability projects across the industry with consulting agency Foxall Munro.

Project Development

Áine Denari serves as Executive Vice President and President of Navico Group, and Chief Technology Officer for Brunswick Corporation, dual roles that she has held since 2024. Her Navico Group responsibilities include leading numerous industry-leading brands that serve the marine, RV, specialty vehicle and industrial markets. Some of the many brands that make up Navico Group include: Attwood, B&G, Blue Sea Systems, C-MAP, Lenco, Lowrance, Mastervolt, RELiON, Simrad and Whale. In her CTO role, she is responsible for advancing Brunswick’s technology strategy, including ACES, Boating Intelligence and maintaining Brunswick’s position of technology leadership in the marine industry.
Denari was previously President, Brunswick Boat Group from 2020 to 2024, where she had responsibility for the largest global boat portfolio in the recreational marine industry, which consists of 18 boat brands globally.
Prior to joining Brunswick, Áine spent 25 years in a variety of executive positions within the automotive and industrial industries, as well as in leadership positions at major global consulting firms.  From 2014 to 2020, Áine was Senior Vice President at ZF AG, a global automotive Tier 1 supplier, where she most recently led the Automated Driving / Advanced Driver Assistance Systems business. Previously, Áine worked in strategy consulting in Europe and the US with consulting firms McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company, and spent time in various engineering and strategy roles with Ford Motor Company and Ingersoll Rand.
Outside of her role at Brunswick, Áine currently serves on the Board of Directors of Masco Corporation, a global manufacturer of products for the home improvement and new home construction markets; Áine is also an NMMA Executive board member.
Áine holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, completed the Stanford Executive Program, holds Advanced Engineering degrees from Purdue University and University of Detroit Mercy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from University College in Dublin in Ireland.

President, Navico Group and Brunswick Chief Technology Officer

Marina Palumbo Cardella is Project and Policy Officer at the European Boating Industry (EBI), where she leads work on circular economy and sustainability across the recreational boating sector. Her activities focus on key topics such as end-of-life management of boats, the recycling and reuse of composite materials, and the development of circular business models within the industry. She follows EBI’s work in relevant expert groups and EU-funded projects, including initiatives that promote green skills, new materials and sustainable practices in boatbuilding. Being a sailor herself, and passionate about the maritime industry and European cooperation, Marina works to strengthen the sector’s voice in EU policymaking and foster collaboration across industry and institutions.

Project and Policy Officer

Born in 1962.  President of Dometic Marine Segment since 2018.                    
Eric Fetchko is currently in his 39th year working at the company that is today Dometic Marine, starting his lengthy boating industry career in 1986 as junior engineer at Teleflex, which was acquired by SeaStar Solutions before being acquired again by Dometic Group in 2017.   In essence, he has worked with the same company for 39 years with four different owners. 
Eric Fetchko has literally dedicated his professional life to supporting the boat building industry, making boats better, safer, and more reliable, and providing boating enthusiasts around the world with a more enjoyable experience on the water.  As a passionate and experienced boater, he has found the ideal position. Fetchko holds 24 U.S. Patents, but in the last 15 years has enjoyed watching Dometic’s talented young engineers flourish and take the company’s product engineering to levels even he couldn’t have imagined.
Eric Fetchko’s dedication to the industry he loves includes serving for many years on the Board of Directors for Dometic’s former NHK joint venture in Japan, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Canada, and ongoing work with the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) to help develop important safety standards. He has presided over some of the industry’s most significant technical achievements over the years, including many winners of the NMMA Innovation Award in a range of product categories.
Eric Fetchko’s contributions to the industry were recognized in 2024 when he was selected as Mover & Shaker of the Year by the editors of Boating Industry Magazine.
He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1985 and earned an MSAT (Management Skills in Advanced Technology) from Simon Fraser University.  Striving to be a lifelong learner, Fetchko has taken more than 30 courses in Technology and Business over the last 39 years to assist him in growing in his roles.

Director of Sustainability

With over 25 years of experience managing luxury yachts, supporting new-build projects, and overseeing procurement and operations for UHNW families, Katy Jeffcoate has seen how fragmented systems and lost information make managing inventories inefficient, costly, and increasingly complex. That experience led her to start building IntusHQ to address a problem she knew needed solving.
As IntusHQ evolves, it is clear that the global transfer of wealth and the rise of tech-native family offices are reshaping expectations. Katy recognised the need for a smarter, more connected way to manage inventory, whether across estates and yachts or within personal collections of art, cars, or jewellery. IntusHQ is being built to meet that need, providing clarity and control for families, collectors, and their teams as they manage assets of every scale.

Founder of IntusHQ

Jarrod Seymour brings over 26 years of experience at Garmin, spanning multiple product segments including outdoor, automotive and marine. 
With a strong foundation in both electrical and software engineering, he has led product design teams for more than 20 years. Jarrod has played a pivotal role in Garmin’s marine segment since 2013 and was named Marine Business Segment Leader in 2018. Driven by a genuine passion for marine electronics both personally and professionally, Jarrod’s leadership fuels ongoing innovation and strategic growth within Garmin’s marine business.

Garmin Vice President and Marine Segment Leader

Scott Berry is the Vice President of Engineering Standards for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) with more than 24 years of experience in the recreational marine industry. With the association since 2018, Scott manages the NMMA certification programs, domestic and international standards development, risk management publications and technical support. He currently serves on the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Tech Board, numerous project technical committees, and as Chair of the Thermal Appliance PTC, in addition to serving on various International Organization for Standardization (ISO) working groups and the Board of Directors of the International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI).

Vice President of Engineering Standards

Marie‑France MacKinnon is the Executive Director of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Canada, the voice of the country’s recreational boating industry. She leads the association’s strategic direction, public affairs, and government relations work, with a particular focus on advancing market access, industry competitiveness, and regulatory modernization.
A seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in public affairs, communications, and advocacy, Marie‑France has held senior leadership roles across both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining NMMA in 2023, she was Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at the Canadian Meat Council, where she secured landmark federal policy wins that reshaped agri-food workforce and immigration strategies.
Fluent in both official languages and based in Ottawa, Marie‑France is widely recognized for her results-driven approach, coalition building, and ability to influence public policy on behalf of Canada’s business and trade sectors.

Executive Director, NMMA Canada

Cheryl is the Managing Director for Le Boat, part of the Marine Division of Travelopia and owned by KKR.
 She began her career in travel at just 16, rising quickly through the ranks to become Retail Trading Director in 2001 and Managing Director of the First Choice Retail Group in 2004. In 2007 she joined Sunsail as Managing Director and later became COO for TUI Marine, which included The Moorings, Sunsail, Footloose and Le Boat, in Florida. After four years in the sunshine, Cheryl returned to the UK to lead Le Boat, a role she continues to love with passion. Today, she also sits on the Board of Travelopia.
 A passionate boater herself, Cheryl enjoys life on the Thames from her riverside home with her own dock and dayboat. She loves welcoming new customers and watching them grow in confidence on the water, as well as reconnecting with those who return year after year. With over 55 years of experience, Le Boat has grown into the world’s largest self-drive boating company on inland waterways and rivers. Under Cheryl’s leadership, the business has expanded across the Atlantic, opening two bases and launching 32 boats in Ontario, Canada. She also introduced the Horizon fleet in 2016 and most recently unveiled Liberty in 2025, the company’s most luxurious boat to date. Cheryl’s vision inspired the new creative platform We’re on Le Boat, which celebrates the boating community and invites newcomers to discover the freedom of the waterways.
 Today, Le Boat operates the world’s largest fleet of over 900 self-drive boats across more than 33 departure bases in nine destinations. Its holidays offer everything from action-packed adventures to slow-paced escapes. For those who want to cruise more often, the Le Boat Ownership Programme makes it possible to own a Horizon or Liberty boat with none of the hassle while enjoying up to eight weeks of boating each year across its full network.
 She is proud to invite everyone to join the Le Boat community and discover the magic of boating.

Managing Director at Le Boat

General Manager – Europe, Middle East & Africa

Editor in Chief

Head of the Design Office

Dr. Mike Peasgood is a serial entrepreneur and technology leader with a track record of building companies at the forefront of innovation. After earning his PhD in mechanical systems engineering from the University of Waterloo, Mike co-founded Aeryon Labs, where he helped pioneer the development of advanced unmanned aerial systems. Aeryon grew into a global leader in industrial-grade drones before its acquisition by FLIR Systems in 2019.
 
Building on that success, Mike founded ENVGO to bring aerospace-level engineering to the water. ENVGO is delivering hydrofoiling control technology and AI-enabled navigation systems that make boating cleaner, safer, and higher-performing. Its flagship NV1, a 25-foot electric hydrofoiling cruiser, demonstrates the thrill and efficiency of “flight over water,” while the company also partners with leading boat manufacturers to accelerate the industry’s transition to sustainable performance.

Christophe Bourillon has been the CEO of the PYA since 2021. He has 30 years of experience in senior management, public affairs, and crisis communication at the national and international levels. He has founded and led various industry associations, such as Wind Europe. He has also driven other organisations through major transformations, including the World Nuclear Association, the European Biofuels Association and the World Federation of Science Journalists.
 
He has managed government relations campaigns for the oil and gas, nuclear, and other industries. As an accredited expert to the United Nations, he participated in the negotiations of the UN Convention on Climate Change for more than 15 years

Co-founder

Christian Bolinger, BEng. (Hons), born in 1971, Managing Director of List General Contractor.  
After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with a focus on Yacht and Powercraft Design in England, the Swiss citizen began his professional career in 1997 by establishing his own engineering and design consultancy, specializing in the design of ships and yachts. In 2010, he advanced to become Managing Director of a Dutch shipyard.  
In 2016, Christian joined List General Contractor GmbH as Head of Sales & Service, where he played a key role in successfully completing numerous yacht and residential projects. Since November 2020, he has been a member of the company's executive board, overseeing Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Project Calculation.  
Christian is also Managing Director of Cohrs Werkstätten GmbH and Riederle Werkstätten GmbH, both of which are subsidiary companies of List General Contractor.

Managing Director

Matthew Zimmerman is CEO of <a href="https://www.farsounder.com">FarSounder</a>. He founded the company more than 24 years ago. Since its inception, he has driven the technical development and vision of FarSounder. His focus is on growing the company’s reach and developing an expert design and implementation team capable of translating customer needs into best-in-class commercial products. He has a passion for marine safety and for the sustainability of the ocean ecosystems. With these goals in mind, he leads the FarSounder team in the effort to create safer oceans by enabling FarSounder users to contribute to Citizen Science initiatives including whale conservation, ocean trash mapping, and crowdsourced bathymetry and through participating in the Whale and Vessel Safety Taskforce and in the IHO’s Crowd-Sourced Bathymetry Working Group (CSBWG).

Dr. Julia Riedmeier is an internationally renowned luxury brand strategist, advisor, and author, as well as the founder of Code \ Luxe (est. 2021), a luxury studio that uniquely combines strategic advisory with an academy for luxury brands and professionals. Since 2010, she has been continuously exploring, analyzing, and contributing to the global luxury market. Since 2016, she has been teaching luxury brand management, currently in Munich and Monaco. In addition, she is actively involved in non-profit initiatives such as “World Boating Day” and the collective “Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting”, for which she serves as an ambassador.

Founder & CEO

Business Development Coordinator & Technical Project Manager

Andrew Boswell is the CEO of BlueGrid, a software and data company accelerating marine electrification. Based in Nova Scotia, Canada, and active across North America and Europe, BlueGrid delivers AI-enabled intelligence for vessel, port and electric grid operators to optimize the financial and environmental benefits of going electric. This starts with the data to inform transition decisions and then unlocks the operational value of vessel-to-grid. He brings an entrepreneurial mindset and global experience shaped by senior leadership roles in international firms, startups, and a range of volunteer roles.

Having grown up by the Mediterranean Sea, Guillaume has always been an avid sailor, enjoying both competitive sailing and holiday trips with his children and wife on the family sailboat. After studying business administration in Europe, the US and Japan, he joined the Ford Motor Company where he held positions in Sales, Finance, Marketing and Business Development in Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, managing teams globally. He then founded his own consulting firms, first in New Caledonia and then in Switzerland, with a focus on business development and restructuring businesses across a variety of industries, including cleantech and waste management. His passion for sailing, his extensive network in the nautical industry, and his awareness of the lack of a viable solution for recycling the fiberglass hulls of end-of-life sailboats led him to co-found Composite Recycling in 2021.

Co-Founder

With a career built at the intersection of technical expertise and commercial leadership, Philip Aikenhead has spent more than a decade helping companies push the boundaries of advanced composite construction. As Gurit’s Head of Sales for EMEA, he leads regional growth and guides customers through complex technical challenges.
His background ranges from managing marine sector sales and advising on composite applications to building components for elite racing teams. This blend of practical, hands-on experience and strategic sales leadership gives Philip a unique perspective on both the technical and business sides of the industry.

Head of Sales

Technical Director

Jaime has held the role at World Sailing, since January 2020. He leads the organisation’s work on equipment regulation, measurement and certification, and offshore safety and standards worldwide.
Throughout his tenure, Jaime has championed innovation and fairness in sailing by introducing advanced technologies such as 3D scanning of foils to ensure that races are determined on the water rather than in the boat-park. He has also overseen the expansion of self-certification programmes for sails, and the implementation of a Universal Measurement System, aimed at reducing cost barriers and improving global consistency for sailors and manufacturers alike. With a strong focus on technical integrity, sustainability and a level playing field, Jaime brings a wealth of experience to discussions on equipment rules, class management and offshore standards.

Director of Technical & Offshore

Gerben Visser is the Founder and CEO of Aquator Marine, a company that builds software for the yachting world. Having spent years around boats, both racing and cruising, Gerben saw how much the industry could benefit from better digital tools. Today, Aquator Marine helps yacht managers, shipyards, and owners simplify day-to-day operations through modern, intuitive technology. Gerben is passionate about bringing innovation, transparency, and efficiency to an industry that still runs largely on spreadsheets and emails.

Corporate Communication manager

ICOMIA

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