Speakers -

Fleet Director, Maritime Corporation

Mr. Zalachoris has been Fleet Director at Status Maritime Corporation for the past four years. He is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer with an MSc in Shipping Finance in the United Kingdom.

Managing Director Chian Marine P.C., Lecturer in Shipping Operations, Maritime Consultant, Business Development Manager Noatum Maritime

Captain Tsouris was born in Chios in 1964 and graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy of Oinoussae (Chios) in 1983 (Master License obtained May 1996).
Clinical Professor from Industry at the University of Piraeus- MSC in Shipping Management (in English), from October 2018 to 2025
He is the writer of an E-Book under the Title of: “How to be a Dry Bulk Operator”, “Container Trade Principals and Practices” for BCA College, and also “Axiomarikos Asfaleias Ploiou” – SSO for the Merchant Marine Academies under the auspices of Eugenides Foundation.
As of October 2019, Lecturer at Metropolitan College (Cargo and Port Operations- Bridge Management-Human Element-Health – Safety on board Ships), Ex Operations Manager in Shipping companies, Ex Secretary-General B’ of the PAN-HELLENIC MASTERS AND MATES UNION 2008-2015, Ex Member of the Board of Directors of Greek Merchant Navy Retirement Fund (NAT as of January 2012 to December 2015), Ex Member of the Board of Disciplinary Committee of the Greek Merchant Navy 2008-2024.
Also, as Coordinator and responsible for the execution of various programs with other European partners, “ Sail Ahead” and “ Stress prevention Activities” under the auspices of PEPEN. Established additionally two (2) European programs, during his Presidency in Chios Marine Club, “Seafarers Mental Health” and “Blue Schools”.

Learning & Development Manager at Maersk Training Academic Course Director and Program Leader at Lloyd’s Maritime Academy

Dr. Bakouni is the Learning and Development Manager for Maritime at Maersk Training. She has worked across versatile roles in Human Resources & Training, HSEQ, and Operations in ship-owning, ship/crew management companies, and class societies, thus combining a practical understanding of how the maritime industry operates with expertise in people management & development.
Alongside her industry role, she is an Academic Course Director for Lloyd’s Maritime Academy, focusing on Maritime HR & the Programme Leader for the MSc in Shipping Operations (with Middlesex University). She teaches HR related topics at the University of Essex/Aegean College, and at other private institutions.

Deputy Dean (Education), Warsash Maritime School

Matthew Stewart is a leading figure in maritime education, known for advancing global standards in professional training, curriculum innovation, and transnational programme delivery. As a senior academic leader, he has shaped major institutional developments across the UK and international maritime sectors, strengthening the alignment between regulatory requirements, industry expectations, and modern pedagogical practice.
Matthew’s work spans educational innovation, digital and simulation-enhanced learning, and the design of future-focused maritime curricula that prepare learners for an increasingly complex technical landscape. He has led significant organisational change initiatives, embedding quality assurance, academic governance, and continuous improvement across multi-site and cross-border delivery environments. With extensive experience in transnational education, Matthew has established and managed international partnerships, built academic capacity in emerging maritime regions, and ensured consistent standards across diverse cultural and regulatory contexts. His leadership is characterised by strategic clarity, operational pragmatism, and a commitment to elevating the global maritime education ecosystem. Matthew is widely recognised for his ability to translate complex educational challenges into actionable, sector-shaping solutions.

Chief Operating Officer - Crossworld Marine

Makram brings over 18 years of expertise in Advertising, Marketing, and Brand Strategy — spanning Automotive, FMCG, and Luxury sectors across the United Arab Emirates — to his role as Chief Operating Officer of the Crossworld Group.
The grandson of a Russian sea Captain, the pull of the sea was never far. In late 2020, that calling brought him home to Greece, where he joined Crossworld with a mandate to help reshape and future-proof the Group’s services for shipping’s next chapter. His distinctive lens through which to view an industry stems from the combination of a customer-centric commercial mindset, multi-cultural fluency and formal training with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (Piraeus, 2020–2021).
Makram currently serves as Crossworld Group COO with a broader operational remit. He heads cross-functional efforts to streamline and scale the Group’s operations, drive strategic alignment across its business units, and spearhead its Digital Transformation agenda: bringing modern systems, data-driven processes, and a forward-looking operating culture to an industry at an inflection point. Makram’s conviction is simple: shipping’s competitive edge tomorrow will be built on the decisions -operational, digital, and human- made today.

Co-Founder of Oriani and Health4Crew

Philip Nielsen is a co-founder of Oriani, a company that works with innovative digital vendors from across the world to accelerate digital transformation for leading shipping companies. Also, he is a co-founder of Health4Crew, which helps safeguard seafarers by combining proactive healthcare with smart technology. Previously, he led the global expansion for Orca AI and Avikus – the digital startup of HD Hyundai, driving the adoption of computer-vision and autonomous navigation systems. Philip is from Denmark and lives in Greece, while he has completed postgraduate studies in Business and Management from Bristol Polytechnic in the United Kingdom.

Speakers

OFFICIAL ORGANIZER

Metropolitan College