Programme Advisory Board
Brian Kristensen
Port Director - Commercial Port of NEOM
With over 30 years of experience in shipping, Brian has held senior leadership roles at Maersk Line in South Korea, China, India and Singapore. He also served in Thailand, USA and Denmark, before joining Bahri Liner in KSA. Brian joined Oxagon in 2022 and drives commercial interest at Port of NEOM.
Cris Partridge
Managing Director Myrcator Marine & Cargo Solutions FZE
Cris Partridge is the owner of Myrcator Marine & Cargo Solutions FZE based in the UAE.
Cris has worked across the Arabian Gulf since 2001 and since 2009 has been permanently based in Abu Dhabi. Myrcator MCS specialises in major marine casualty and fatality investigations, expert witness services, project cargo supervision, vessel inspections and S&P services.
Cris started his career as a deck trainee and reached the rank of Master. His seagoing experience in both global and region-specific trading includes general cargo and container ships, cape-size bulk carriers, lighthouse tenders, OSV / AHT including DP operations, coastal vessels, capital and aggregate dredgers, passenger and freight Ro-Ro, heavy lift, multi-purpose RTW cargo ships and research vessels. In 2004 he was awarded an MSc in Maritime Operations.
Cris has experience as an in-house Master Mariner / Investigator with an international law firm. Cases there involved subsea ploughing and trenching disputes; speed & consumption claims; cargo damage; allision and collision claims; groundings and ice navigation.
Cris has worked in the MENA region since 2001 and has been resident on Abu Dhabi since 2009. He worked with International Marine & Engineering Consultancy in their Middle East offices reaching the position of Regional Director. During 12+ years with them he was involved in a number of high-profile major accident investigations / litigations for P&I Clubs and international law firms. Cris has extensive MWS project management experience on large offshore construction projects and has extensive experience of supervision for project cargoes. He sits on the advisory board for Breakbulk Middle East and moderates topical panels and educational sessions at this annual event.
Contributing regularly to industry publications as well as authoring two books on MARPOL Annex VI, he regularly has articles published about ongoing developments and incidents in the marine industry. Cris regularly presents at internationally attended conferences on a number of subjects including seafarer welfare.
Cris has been a continuously accredited OVID inspector since the program was introduced in 2010 and is a Member of the Society of Marine Warranty Surveyors. He is also an accredited PRI assessor for the CMMar program and an accredited ISM – MLC – ISPS Internal Auditor.
A Board Member of the British Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi, Cris is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners and a Freeman of the City of London.
Denis Bandura
Managing Director BBC Chartering UAE
Denis Bandura currently holds the position of Managing Director for BBC Chartering based in Dubai, UAE. Denis began his career in Shipbroking for many different companies before joining BBC Chartering in 1999, based in Leer, Germany. In 2003, Denis came to the Middle East as part of BBC’s efforts to build up new infrastructure in project cargo and has been based in the Middle East ever since.
Ioannis Metaxas
Logistics Director Petrofac
Ioannis Metaxas is the Logistics Director of Petrofac’s Engineering and Construction (E&C) business unit, the business’s EPC unit. At Petrofac he focuses on assisting his teams providing projects and clients with optimal solutions mitigating risks and focusing on schedule and cost. Prior to his role in Petrofac he spend 12 years with major international EPC firm Archirodon, assuming Procurement and Logistics roles, eventually leading the Global Logistics team, a journey that took him from Europe to North Africa, the Middle East and CIS countries.
Ioannis began his career more than 2 decades ago in contract logistics within various industries including FMCG, Retail, e-commerce, high-tech and fashion.
He holds a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical & Automotive Engineering from Bradford University and a MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Cranfield University in the UK and resides in Dubai.
Mohammad Jaber
CEO Combi Lift Projects MEA
For the past 23 years, Mohammad Jaber has used his skills to serve the logistics and transportation industry. MJ has wide experience working in agricultural logistics, project logistics, Marine logistics and the oil and gas sector within the UAE, MEA region & globally. He joined Agility Abu Dhabi in 2006 managing several internal operational departments, and since 2011 he was appointed as Chief Operating Officer & VP projects MEA, Mohammad Jaber reappointed in DSV Abu Dhabi as Managing Director for Air & Sea.
On 16 August 2021 DSV has acquired Agility’s Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) business. The combined company became an industry leader in global transport and logistics – now from a position as one of the top 3 global forwarding companies. DSV provides global supplier services, fulfilling customer needs for transport and logistics, targeting extensive growth and being among the most profitable in the industry.
Sue Donoghue
CEO DHL Global Forwarding Saudi Arabia
Sue Donoghue is a seasoned logistics professional, having accumulated more than twenty eight years of experience in the industry. She started her career in 2006 as a receptionist for a project forwarder working her way up to a Senior Project Manager, managing multiple projects. She joined the DHL family in 2006, first as Head of Industrial Projects in London and in 2012, became Global Business Process Manager for the organization, taking on the role of Global Head of Operations in 2016.
In 2018, she took the opportunity to move to Saudi Arabia where she was Project Director and since 2020 has been CEO of DHL Global Forwarding in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Vanessa Welch
Managing Director V3 Consulting
Vanessa Welch is a forward-thinking leader and strategist with over 30 years of experience transforming businesses and advancing strategic relations across various sectors related to maritime and logistics. As the Managing Director of V3 Consulting, she delivers solutions that drive growth, leveraging new tech and AI systems to optimize operations and elevate organizational performance on a global scale.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and a Strategy MBA candidate, Vanessa has collaborated with multinational shipping and logistics firms to redefine corporate planning and business development. Her approach is rooted in progress and adaptability, enabling businesses to thrive amidst constant change.
Vanessa’s guiding philosophy, "disruption is constant, and progress is essential," underscores her commitment to creating impactful strategies and enduring partnerships. Recognized for her ability to turn complex challenges into actionable strategies, she empowers organizations to achieve sustained success in an ever-changing global landscape.
Vineet Bakshi
Regional Director – Logistics Fluor
Vineet Bakshi works with Fluor’s global logistics and supply chain function. He is a qualified Civil Engineer from Punjab Engineering College and holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. He has extensive experience in designing shipping and logistics solutions for supply chain transformation in projects. Prior to joining Fluor, Vineet has been associated with consulting domain where he worked on technology implementation in the logistics space for energy . Having worked in both Operations and Strategy domains, he is adept at cultivating and nurturing long term relationships with customers by solving their problems and finding the right solutions.
Fluor provides professional and technical solutions that deliver safe, well-executed, capital-efficient projects to clients around the world. For more than 100 years, Fluor has provided engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services that are the essential building blocks of development and progress. With world-class expertise in engineering, technology, supply chain, programme management, and construction management, Fluor is a leader in the global construction industry and is ranked No. 196 on the Fortune® 500 list. Fluor’s 41,000 employees active in over 60 countries provide deep experience in engineering, technology, supply chain, programme management, and construction management. Fluor has the knowledge and reach to tackle tough challenges, delivering projects on time, within budget, and with an outstanding HSE record.
Yasser AlYassin
Vice President, Global Projects & Industry Solutions MEA DSV
With a 17-year career in projects logistics, Yasser embarked on his niche journey at ALE Middle East in 2008 as a Projects Manager. Rapidly ascending through the ranks, he made significant contributions to the specialized field of engineering projects logistics. Holding diverse positions, including Head of Projects & Operations for MENA & Caspian regions, Country Manager for Oman, and General Manager for KSA.
In 2020, Yasser transitioned to Petrofac, a leading global EPC entity. Taking charge of global logistics, he immersed himself in comprehensive supply chain solutions, gaining valuable experience into the intricate logistics of engineering, procurement, and construction projects.
Rounding up his experience, Yasser recently took on the role of Head of Projects Logistics for DSV Middle East and North Africa. Drawing on his extensive experience, he spearheads the growth in the MENA region, with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and engineered solutions in project logistics. With this strategic approach he aims to firmly establish DSV as a key player in the projects logistics industry.
DSV was Founded in 1976, DSV initially handled contracting haulage and deliveries for independent trucking companies. In 1989, a strategic shift toward international transport began with key acquisitions. The major turning point occurred in 2000 when DSV acquired DFDS Dan Transport Group, expanding its global network and entering new market segments.
Subsequent acquisitions, including J.H. Bachmann in 2005, Frans Maas in 2006, and ABX LOGISTICS in 2008, solidified DSV's presence in Europe, South America, and globally across all continents. The acquisition of UTi Worldwide Inc. in 2016 and joining forces with Panalpina Welttransport in 2019 elevated DSV to the world's fourth-largest transport and logistics company.
In 2021, DSV further strengthened its global position by acquiring Agility’s Global Integrated Logistics business (GIL), becoming a global top-three player in transport and logistics. Throughout its history, DSV's strategic acquisitions and expansions have shaped it into a powerhouse in the industry.
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