Her leadership style is rooted in empathy, precision, and a deep respect for maritime tradition. Katerina is also a strong advocate for crew welfare, human element integration in vetting regimes, and empowering the next generation of maritime professionals.
Mr Thanos Mytilinaios is the HR Manager at Piraeus Port Authority (PPA/OLP-COSCO Shipping). He holds a degree in Economics and a Master’s in Human Resources Management. He began his career in London, where he worked on the development of innovative e-recruitment and career management applications.
Upon returning to Greece, he actively participated in the establishment of Citizen Service Centres (KEP), and later worked on various staffing, evaluation, and HR development projects as a Business Consultant. For the past 15 years, he has held senior HR leadership roles at the Athens Euroclinic Group, as well as in the pharmaceutical industries DEMO and FAMAR.
Capt. Spyros Kyriakopoulos is a maritime professional with nearly 13 years of experience across various domains of the shipping industry, including Health, Safety, Quality, Environment (HSQE), Marine Operations, Crew Development, and Training.
He has actively participated in numerous industry working groups—particularly in the tanker sector—focusing on human behavior and its impact on maritime safety. To date, he has trained more than 2,000 maritime professionals on a wide range of HSQE and shipping-related topics. He holds a Master’s degree in Shipping Management and a National Diploma in Geopolitics and Strategy.
A former Master Mariner of the Hellenic Navy, Capt. Kyriakopoulos currently serves as the Training Manager at Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd. and the Danaos Assessment and Training Center.
Capt. Sokratis Tigkos is a graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy of Hydra.
He began his seafaring career as a Deck Cadet and advanced to Chief Officer, eventually earning his Captain Class A diploma in 2020.
Upon transitioning ashore, he initially served as a Marine Superintendent before taking on the role of Crew & Marine Manager. Until recently, he also held the position of Designated Person Ashore (DPA), overseeing crew management, safety, and marine operations.
He is currently joining a leading dry bulk shipping company as Crew Manager.
In addition to his core responsibilities, Capt. Tigkos acts as a consultant on maritime affairs and regularly contributes articles to a nautical magazine, covering various industry-related topics.
Optimum Ship Services Ltd & Optimum Marine Management (Affiliate of Scorpio Group)
Capt. George Vasilakis began his seafaring career in 1988 and has accumulated over 31 years of experience in the shipping industry. He is the Managing Director of Optimum Ship Services and Optimum Marine Management and brings a wealth of shore-based experience in Technical Fleet Management and Commercial Operations, combined with extensive sea-going expertise as a Master on OBO carriers, oil, and chemical tankers.
Capt. Vasilakis is committed to continuous self‐development and maintains a strong focus on operational excellence and business innovation.
He holds a Master’s degree in Maritime Economics and Law from Cardiff University (UK) and is a multilingual professional with broad international exposure.
Captain Panagiotis Nikiteas is a maritime professional with 36 years of extensive experience in both seagoing and shore-based sectors of the shipping industry. His expertise spans across management, marine operations, vetting, crewing, safety, quality, environmental protection, energy efficiency, security, health, auditing, surveying, incident investigation, and training.
Throughout his career, he has worked with a major Classification Society and with highly reputable shipowners and managers in key maritime hubs such as Manila, Dubai, and Singapore, gaining valuable insights into multicultural working environments. He holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education, a Master’s degree in International Shipping (with distinction), and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Shipping and Transport Management. He is also a graduate of the Hydra Merchant Marine Academy (with distinction) and currently a PhD candidate at EUC.
In addition to his current role as HSQE Manager / DPA / CSO at Maran Dry Management Inc., Capt. Nikiteas serves as Chairperson of the Dry Bulk Center of Excellence and the Human Element Maritime Enhancement Tool (HEMET) project.