Foiling design is shifting from pure speed to usability and accessibility. From CFD simulations to prototyping, designers are exploring how to scale foilers for broader markets, while balancing trade-offs in cost, safety, and ease of use.
Breakthroughs in hull design and advanced composites are delivering lighter, faster, and more stable foilers, yet questions remain about recyclability and long-term costs.
This session explores how these innovations can shape the future of foiling and their potential path to mainstream production.

Oliver Pendleton, Moderator: Luigi Francesco Minerva, Romain Cachia, Hugo Kerhascoet, Gerben  Schonebaum

Next-generation foiling design

Head of the Design Office

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.

President

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

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)

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

Henk de Vries was born in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in 1958. After high school he studied business economics at the VU Amsterdam, following which he worked as business consultant in various sectors. He joined Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw and Feadship in 1987 as sales manager and became director/shareholder in 1996. Together with cousin Tom de Vries and later joined by Rob and Roderick de Vries they expanded the family business to its current size, with seven operating companies and over 1200 employees. 
 De Vries still is a completely family-owned company and owns 50% of Feadship. Henk retired in April 2025 as CEO. Henk is now a member of the supervisory board and remains an ambassador for Feadship.
 In 1998 Henk was Co-Founder and chairman of the Board of the Water Revolution Foundation. The Water Revolution Foundation is the first independent, international, science-driven, non-profit organization started from with the superyacht industry that is taking the lead to neutralize its ecological footprint and preserve the world’s precious  oceans.
 Henk lives in Amsterdam with his wife and has a son.

Former Feadship Director/ CEO Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw

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

Founder

Jean-François Cuzon is the founder and CEO of Pixel sur Mer, a leading company providing advanced technological solutions for competitive sailing, yachting, shipping, defense, and aeronautics. With more than 25 years of experience in ocean racing and a world championship title in the 470 class (1999), he has long combined high-level athletic performance with engineering expertise. He also brings over 20 years of experience in engineering, embedded electronics, and complex onboard systems.
He graduated from INSA in 2001 after completing a dual curriculum in elite sports and engineering. After his studies, he joined Michel Desjoyeaux’s Mer Agitée team, contributing to major offshore racing projects. He later became part of the Areva Challenge team in Valencia for the 32nd America’s Cup, working as a systems and navigation engineer during the early Louis Vuitton Cup regattas.
In 2008, he founded Pixel sur Mer with the ambition of bringing innovative, data-driven technologies to professional sailing and beyond. Today, Jean-François also sails aboard the Wally V, continuing to blend technical excellence with his passion for navigation.

CEO & co-founder

Simon first joined Bluewater as a Yacht Manager in August 2019, bringing with him an extensive maritime background. Beginning his career on the River Thames at just 17, he went on to become a Captain for five years before working as a scuba instructor in Thailand. His passion for the sea led him to the superyacht industry, where he gained invaluable experience as Second Officer on a 90 m vessel.

Fleet Manager

Pia Lou Velema is the officer for New Projects and Partnerships at the Water Revolution Foundation. With a background in climate law, governance, and sustainable development diplomacy, she focuses on driving collaborative initiatives that accelerate the maritime sector’s transition towards environmentally just practices.

My role at Trinnov is Technical Sales Manager for Europe. I specialise in our High-End product range of Home Cinema and HiFi Processors. I work with our distributors to grow their business by providing; staff and dealer training, calibration assistance, first line technical support.

Technical Sales Manager

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

Founder & Principal Designer

Managing Director

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.

Maciej Rynkiewicz has been a Standards Developer for ABYC since 2019. An integral member of the ABYC Standards and Compliance Department, Maciej works directly with the Project Technical Committees (PTCs) responsible for creating and updating the ABYC standards. Maciej is also a member of ISO/TC 188 where he is working on ISO electrical standards. He also manages hands-on testing to see what can go right, and wrong, with boat electrical systems. A long-time boater, Maciej is a Certified Marine Technician with credentials from ABYC, NMEA, and Abaris as well as a skipper and certified sailing instructor.

Standards Developer

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

Oliver Heer is a Swiss German professional offshore sailor who competed in, and finished the 2024 Vendée Globe, a solo, unassisted, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.
From Zurich, Switzerland, Oliver transitioned from a career in international management to pursue his dream of professional sailing, establishing himself in the world’s toughest offshore races. He is known for his extraordinary resilience, leadership, and focus in extreme environments.
Beyond racing, Oliver uses his platform to promote sustainability and tackle climate change.

Professional Offshore Sailor

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

Corporate Communication manager

With a background from DNV Kristoffer is now leading the compliance work at Candela

Director of Quality and Compliance

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.

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

Head of Vessels

Michael Short is Vice President of Marketing Operations and Residential at Crestron, a global leader in AV, control, and automation technology. With over 15 years of strategic marketing leadership, Michael oversees global marketing operations across product, PR, digital, and marketing systems—ensuring consistent brand execution and measurable impact across international markets.
He also leads Crestron’s residential marketing division, driving adoption of Crestron solutions and supporting growth across key verticals including hospitality, design-build, and marine. His continued leadership in the Marine Channel has helped establish Crestron as the AV and control technology leader in the superyacht sector, delivering innovative onboard experiences and integrated control solutions.
Michael’s career spans both large corporate environments and agile start-ups, where he has built and led high-performing teams through periods of rapid growth and transformation.

Vice President Global Marketing Operations & Residential

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-Vice Chair

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

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.

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).

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

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

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.

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

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

Kevin M. Williams is a dynamic leader in the recreational boating industry, driving innovative B2B and B2C marketing strategies as the Vice President of North American Marketing for the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Discover Boating consumer brand across the U.S. and Canada. He leads the development of cutting-edge, data-driven campaigns that meet the evolving needs of both consumers and businesses. Kevin plays a pivotal role in expanding the boating sector by empowering association members and forging deeper emotional connections with traditional, next-generation, and diverse consumer segments, all while promoting the vibrant boating lifestyle.
A passionate advocate for inclusivity, Kevin also serves as a board member for Together Outdoors, where he champions efforts to make recreational activities more welcoming to all communities.
Before joining NMMA, Kevin was the Head of Multicultural Marketing and Diversity & Inclusion for BMW of North America, LLC., where he spearheaded campaigns for BMW, MINI Cooper, and BMW Motorrad, while leading diversity initiatives that advanced the company’s supplier diversity and HR strategies. His earlier experience as Executive Vice President at Matlock Advertising & PR saw him elevate BMW’s multicultural marketing efforts and play a key role in securing and managing the MINI USA account.
Kevin's expertise in cultural marketing also includes his tenure at GlobalHue, the largest multicultural agency in the U.S. at the time, where he crafted impactful strategies for clients like Bermuda Tourism and secured a $30 million investment from Verizon Wireless to launch the “How Sweet the Sound” gospel music tour.
Rooted in a lifelong fascination with brand strategy, Kevin’s career began after earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Illinois, Champaign. His early roles at Eastern Airlines and Coca-Cola, where he helped brand Olympic Games properties, laid the foundation for his future marketing leadership.

Vice President, North American Marketing

“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

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

Gerben is co-founder and director at Flying Fish. He graduated on aircraft control & simulation at the faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. He started his career in hydrofoils as chief engineer of the TU Delft Solar Boat team back in 2013. In 2018 he co-founded Flying Fish: a Dutch company that specializes in hydrofoil design, control and simulation of hydrofoil craft and advanced planning systems for fleets of fast vessels.'

Director of Vessev USA

Fabrizio Marabini is an aerospace engineer with more than thirty years of experience in performance technology and high-level sailing projects. After graduating from Politecnico di Milano, he began his career in aeronautics and later joined several America’s Cup teams, including Il Moro di Venezia, Prada Challenge, Mascalzone Latino, Artemis Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand, and Luna Rossa Challenge. Over the years, his work has focused on performance analysis, load monitoring, software development and onboard electronics, following the evolution of sailing from conventional yachts to modern foiling boats.
In 2011 he co-founded FaRo Advanced Systems, a company specialized in instrumentation and control systems for racing sailboats. With the growing relevance of foiling, FaRo has extended its work to both sailing and motor applications, developing integrated mechatronic systems spanning from sensors engineering to data acquisition, from PLC programming to automatic control.
Fabrizio’s experience lies at the intersection of engineering and competition, where innovation is driven by practical needs and constant testing. His perspective connects the technological advances achieved in top-level racing with their potential use in broader marine contexts — exploring not only what can be transferred from racing to production, but also what remains specific to the competitive environment.

Partner

Laura is a former superyacht Purser, with shoreside experience in yacht management, refit, and construction across Europe. After completing a master’s degree in psychology, she joined the ISWAN team in January 2025 as Welfare of Yacht Crew Project Manager, focusing on the development and delivery of collaborative, cross-industry projects addressing key health, safety, and wellbeing issues faced by crew. ISWAN is Secretariat and Project Manager for Changing Tack, the crew welfare think tank under the Superyacht Alliance.

Welfare of Yacht Crew Project Manager

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

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

Brian Benedict is the founder of WIF-Pro, creator of an innovative Water-in-Fuel Detection and Alert System and an ABYC-compliant gasoline clear bowl fuel filter assembly - the first of its kind. A South Florida native, lifelong boater, and Duke University graduate, Brian’s passion for boating led him to develop WIF-Pro after a 2020 family vacation was cut short when his boat suffered water-in-fuel contamination.
Discovering no reliable solutions - and that traditional options like the RACOR WIF sensors were no longer recommended for use in gasoline applications - he set out to engineer a better system. After four years of development, WIF-Pro launched to industry acclaim, earning IBEX Innovation Awards in 2023 and 2024 and the 2025 NMEA Technology Product Award for advancing marine safety and reliability.

Michele J. Goldsmith is Vice President and General Manager of the Soundings Trade Only Group, a leading B2B media brand serving the marine industry, and group publisher of Soundings Trade Only and Soundings publications. With more than 30 years of experience spanning manufacturing, product development, and marketing and sales in both OEM and aftermarket markets, Michele brings deep expertise and insight to many facets of the industry. Her influence extends well beyond her role in media. Michele has served on several key industry boards, including the NMMA, Grow Boating, PAC, and ABYC’s technical board of directors. A champion of innovation and inclusion, she is the founder of the Women in the Industry series of programs and events, has spearheaded initiatives such as “Pitch the Pros,” “Women in the Industry,” and the “1+1 Mentoring Program.” She has been recognized and honored with the 2023 Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award and the 2024 Alan J. Freedman Memorial Leadership Award for her impact and leadership. A lifelong creative and former professional athlete, Michele brings energy, artistry, and a global perspective to everything she does on land or water.

Vice President and General Manager

Frank Hugelmeyer is president and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the leading trade group for recreational boating and the largest producer of boat shows in North America. He’s the board chair and a founding member of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, the Washington D.C.-based coalition of America’s leading outdoor recreation trade organizations, and vice-chair of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations.
Frank has more than 35 years of senior executive experience in the global sporting goods, outdoor recreation, and association management sectors. He’s worked as the chief executive at three of America’s most influential outdoor trade groups and as an executive for leading manufacturers and NYC’s oldest sporting goods retailer.
Prior to joining NMMA in 2019, Frank was president at RV Industry Association and Go RVing. Before that, he was the longtime CEO of Outdoor Industry Association where he led the renowned campaign that defined the economic importance of the $1 trillion outdoor recreation industry for the first time in our nation’s history. He’s also known for joining forces with Utah Governor, Gary Herbert, to establish the country’s first state office of outdoor recreation.
His unique career journey has enabled him to collaborate with the world’s leading outdoor public companies, consumer brands and retailers, a list that includes Nike, VF, Patagonia, Bass Pro, REI, Thor Industries and Winnebago, along with pinnacle marine brands like Brunswick, Yamaha, Polaris among many others.

President and CEO

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

Manager

Yacht designer and Founder

Philip Easthill is the Secretary-General of European Boating Industry (EBI), which represents the European recreational boating and nautical tourism industry. The mission of the association is to advance and represent a sustainable boating and nautical tourism industry #MadeInEurope. Key topics that EBI is working on at a policy level and in cooperation with its members are sustainability, circular economy, tourism, taxation, qualifications, access to finance, and international trade.
He has been in the position since September 2019 and previously worked in Public Affairs and Regulatory Affairs at EU level. With an academic background in Politics and Business Management, he is also an avid sailor and worked in the nautical tourism industry previously. Philip Easthill represents the industry towards the EU institutions, as well as in high-level fora and Expert Groups relevant for the sector.

Secretary General

Owner, development & production

GM Persico Marine

Superyacht Sales Manager

Co-founder

Project Director/Client Representative

Cindy is the CEO and Founder of Floatist, a software company helping fleet operators around the world. With her skills as software engineer, her 5+ years of experience as a skipper and her vision for Floatist she set out to solve the many challenges yacht charter operators face on a day to day basis.

Co-Founder / CEO

Head of Marketing

Technical Manager Fédération des Industries Nautiques & EBI Technical Lead for Global LCA Project

Tijmen Hennekes is a project manager specialising in sustainable forest management, responsible procurement, and resource efficiency. His work centres on helping businesses strengthen performance and resilience through more sustainable and transparent timber supply chains. With experience across tropical forest regions and international trade, Tijmen brings a balanced understanding of how environmental and commercial objectives can reinforce one another.
In the superyacht industry, these insights are increasingly relevant. Tijmen explores how shipyards, designers, and owners can make informed material choices that support credible sustainability goals while maintaining the craftsmanship and quality the sector is known for.
His approach is practical and collaborative, encouraging dialogue between industries that share a stake in responsible resource use. By connecting forest management realities with business strategy, Tijmen highlights how sustainability can enhance trust, reduce risk, and create long-term value across global supply chains.

Project Manager Tropical Forests

With deep expertise in marine propulsion and vibration control, Gian Piero brings a wealth of experience in improving onboard comfort and efficiency. He’ll share insights on how innovation in mechanical systems can support the transition to quieter, cleaner, and more efficient electric vessels.

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

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

General Manager – Europe, Middle East & Africa

CEO Edorado

COO and Founder

Project Manager

Managing Partner

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

CEO/CTO

Director IAMI GUEST

Director | Naval Architect

Programme Director

Clarissa Androsoni is an accomplished business development leader and strategist in the superyacht interiors sector. Based in Hamburg, she serves as Business Development Director at Winkels Yacht Interiors, a division of Winkels Interior Design Exhibition GmbH, where she bridges shipyards, designers, and owner representatives across Europe. With over fifteen years of international experience spanning technical outfitting, production management, and client relations, Clarissa is known for her ability to merge German precision with Italian creativity and a forward-thinking commercial mindset.
She is the founder of the Smart Interiors Horizon (SIH) committee under the Water Revolution Foundation, driving sustainability and innovation in yacht and luxury interiors through research, partnerships, and education. Beyond her corporate role, she also founded Clarissa Androsoni Consulting, advising shipyards and interior stakeholders on complex projects and sustainable value creation.
Clarissa’s work sits at the intersection of design, manufacturing, interior processes, and strategy. Her current projects include developing multi-stakeholder initiatives for circular interiors and launching new ventures in sustainable owner-supply products. Highly active on the international yacht circuit, she combines deep technical understanding with an entrepreneurial vision dedicated to shaping a more conscious future for luxury craftsmanship.

Business Development Director, Winkels Yacht Interior

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

ICOMIA

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