Speakers for 2011

Aashim Mongia, Managing Director, West Coast Marine Services

Aashim Mongia is a world class yachtsman having won several World Championship and Asian Games medals. He has turned his passion for the water into a profession and now runs West Coast Marine Yacht Services Pvt. Ltd. - a fully integrated marine company that manages more than 50% of the pleasure craft in India. Handling visiting superyachts since 2000, his company is the only one in India recognised by AYSS. He also serves as Rear Commodore of the Royal Mumbai Yacht Club and is on the Indian Marine Federation Boat Show committee. He has been recognised by the Govt. of India with several awards including the Arjuna Award, Shivaji Chattrapati Award and Yachtsman of the Year.

Andrew Harvey, Marine Conservation Scientist

Andrew Harvey is a Marine Conservation Scientist, avid diver, and ocean lover. Until recently he was the Conservation Advisor to Komodo National Park, Indonesia under a program of The Nature Conservancy. He is the founder of MantaWatch—a startup non-profit that is applying emerging social technologies to «crowdsource» manta ray monitoring and conservation—and is an advisor to Taman Bacaan Pelangi (Rainbow Reading Gardens)—a social project to establish children›s libraries in remote areas of Indonesia. He doesn›t sail (yet).

Andy Tweedy, Captain, Hye Seas II

Andrew Tweedy currently holds the “Certificate of Competency” of “New Zealand Offshore Master” with associated “STCW-95 Endorsements”. He first started as a sailing instructor, moved onto commercial fishing, cargo vessels and ending up on private / charter super yachts. Over his 20 years of experience, he has clocked over 100,000 n-miles around the globe. He is now Captain of the super yacht “HYESEA II” (based in Singapore). The sea has always been his passion.

Arthur Tay, Chairman, Singapore Superyacht Association

Bart Kimman, Managing Director, Northrop and Johnson

Bart’s passion has always been ocean sailing and in 2004 he started Asia Yacht Services which since has developed to a leading yacht brokerage in Asia. He subsequently formed Northrop and Johnson Asia. Previously he had a career in banking which culminated in the post of CEO in Hong Kong for AMRO owned merchant bank Pierson. In 1989 he founded a financial services company which through acquisitions in the 1990’s grew to being the largest independent trustee company in Asia with offices in 32 countries around the world.

Charlie Dwyer, Captain, Yacht Yanekee Too

Charlie was born in Newport RI and raced small boats with and against his family for years. He was asked to join the Courageous Americas Cup Team In 1984 and then moved on to the “Eagle Team” for “The Cup” races in Perth 1987. He was part of the world Match racing circuit for a few years before joining the Three time Maxi World champion yacht Longobarda. In 1993 he became the skipper of the 37 meter S/Y Yanneke Too and has skippered her around the world Eight times. Charlie has spent many years sailing the waters in and around Asia and is an expert in the area.

Christophe Hoaureau, Hunt Deltel

Christophe Hoaureau - 32 years Old. Born and bred Seychellois. Educated in the UK at the University of the Solent. He has been employed since 2001 as Business Development Manager for Hunt, Deltel & Co. Ltd with overall responsibility for Eden Island Marina, Seychelles› premiere Superyacht facility. Christophe has been dealing with Superyachts visiting Seychelles since 2003. He is a founding member and the Chairman of the Seychelles Sports Fishing Club, the body responsible for organising all game fishing tournaments in Seychelles.

Cilian Budarlaigh, Director, Indo Yacht Support

MCA Master (3,000tons Unlimited) superyacht captain with 13 years experience professional racing & cruising the Med, Caribbean, USA and Asia. Has spent last 5 years opening up Indonesia to visiting superyachts. Doctorate degree in Intl Trade & Finance and founding partner of Indo Yacht Support (which is now expanding throughout Asia as The Yacht Support Group). Has been instrumental in setting up the Indonesia Superyacht Association; consulting the Indonesian Government on their new Maritime Tourism Law; and set up the Bali Superyacht RDV which is developing into the Charity RDV Series.

Colin Dawson, Manager, Expat Services

Colin Dawson is a specialist yacht insurance broker with over 20 years experience in the marine insurance markets of Asia and London. Based in Hong Kong since 1994 he has specialised with yacht insurance for the past 14 years. Looking after a regional and global client base Colin uses international and local insurers for yachts of all sizes and uses. Also a keen sailor he is seen regularly at the region’s regattas and is a founder of the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association.

Erwin Bamps, Chief Operating Officer, Gulf Craft Inc

Erwin Bamps is managing the daily operations of the holding group Gulf Craft, with its core business in motor yacht and leisure craft construction for worldwide export, under a variety of brands, Majesty Yachts, Oryx and Silvercraft. Working subsequently in Japan, Belgium, Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, he has chosen to be part of organizations that are multicultural and multinational, with global ambitions. With a strong engineering background, he considers people and negotiation skills to be his biggest assets to create & grow brands, and to improve bottom-line profitability. Gulf Craft is continuing its expansion into the Superyacht business and its currently extending its fleet.

Jean-Jacques Lavigne, Executive Director, Singapore Superyacht Association

Jean-Jacques Lavigne, Executive Director, Superyacht Singapore Association, General Manager, ONE15 Luxury Yachting, Business Development Manager, SUTL Group Jean-Jacques is a recreation and lifestyle industry professional with over 15 years of experience in Asia. He is also their first SSA Executive Director since the Association’s inception and has helped grow the superyacht industry across Asia.

Jan-Maarten Boissevain, Sevenstar Yacht Transport

Jan Maarten worked for the Spliethoff Group since 2000 as a cargo broker. When the Spliethoff Group fully integrated Sevenstar Yacht Transport into their shipping group Jan Maarten moved to Sevenstar in 2002. Since then Sevenstar has grown from 6 employees to a worldwide operating yacht transport company with 26 employees and offices / agents worldwide. Jan Maarten is a passionate offshore sailor/racer. Sailed over the last 12 years several offshore races (RORC races) in the UK, France and the Netherlands onboard an S&S 41.

Jean-Michel Ketrgoat, French International Liaison Officer, IFC

Lt Cdr Jean-Michel Kergoat enlisted as a crewman in the French Navy in 1974. He was commissioned as an “International Relationship” officer in 2000. Lt Cdr Jean-Michel Kergoat has had a wide range of experience in multinational operations including participation in peacekeeping operations, exercises and serving as a staffer in joint service. Apart from spending 17 years at sea, Lt Cdr Jean Michel also participated in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, the Balkans, Africa and the Gulf. He served in the NATO Staff in Portugal as Second Officer of the French Military Mission (MMF COM JCLISBON) (2004-2007). His last assignment was J3 Staff Officer at Inter-Army Joint Staff – Operations and Training (EMIA-FE) during which he was deployed in Chad (2008) as part of the EU forces. He also served as a member of the EU Staff between 2007 and 2009. The officer is also a qualified Communication Information Systems (National and International), Info management and NATO CBRN/ FP expert.

Mauro Boni, Pacific Yachting Line Manager, RINA

Mauro Boni currently holds the position of Asia Pacific Yachting line manager within RINA. He is responsible for all the technical, operational and business activities relevant to yachts in the area. Having graduated in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Genoa, he joined RINA in 2005.
In 2005 he worked in Genoa and Viareggio offices as surveyor onboard of passenger vessels and Yachts. Between 2006 and 2007 he worked in Hong Kong office assigned mainly to new building projects of yachts and commercial ships with the title of Senior surveyor. Between 2007 up to the end of 2009 he worked as project manager of all the major projects of Yachts in Asia and acting as coordinator of the area.

Olivier Benoist, Aptic Asia

Olivier Benoist is a naval engineer/designer with a unique knowledge of the regional marine constructionindustry and of ethnic boating traditions. He manages Aptic S.A., an investment company dedicated to developing cruising and resort destinations in Southeast Asia and currently building a 120-foot wooden schooner for the charter cruise market.

Richard Skinner, Director, Orchid Office

Richard Skinner is a Director of the Orchid Group with responsibility for the commercial operations of the group in the Middle East and Asia. He has many years experience in the management of significant capital assets in various regions of the world. The work which the group does is focused on managing and maintaining the security of owner, crew and yacht through a range of risk management strategies. The current hot issue of piracy and combating this threat is a major part of company’s operations and many of the yachts which transit through the Indian Ocean region benefit from the expertise of the Orchid yacht security teams.

Richard Morris, SuperyachtBase Australia

Richard Johnson, Philippine Superyacht Association

Richard Johnson, Phillipine Superyacht Assocation Capt. Richard Johnson is the Managing Director of Falcon House Limited and Chairman & CEO of the Philippine Superyacht Association. He has over 30 years experience in the Australasian Maritime Industry with the past 14 years residing in Asia. Richard has held senior positions of responsibility including Trade & Shipping Consultant, Buyers Representative (Bulk Cargo), Marine Surveyor and Ships Master

Stefan Hansen, RSIS

Lt Cdr Stefan Hansen joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1993 in the Naval Control of Shipping (since renamed Maritime Trade Operations) branch. In his career, he has served as Head of Department (Maritime Trade Operations), Naval Control of Shipping Duty Officer and Divisional Officer. Lt Cdr Hansen has operational experience as a Civil Military Liaison Officer and United Nations Military Observer. Lt Cdr Hansen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy and a Bachelor of Laws degree. He obtained both degrees from the University of Auckland.

Tony Allen, Hill Dickinson

Tony Allen has practised as a “yacht lawyer” for more than 20 years. He heads the Hill Dickinson yacht team, a group of 15 lawyers serving exclusively the superyacht sector. Acting for owners, yards, brokers and others in the large yacht supply chain, Tony has a reputation as one of the leaders in this field. He maintains an active involvement in industry bodies such as Superyacht UK and the British Marine Federation. He is also an experienced sailor and participated in the last amateur Whitbread Round the World Race, some years ago now! Hill Dickinson are based in the UK and opened an office in Singapore in 2008, handling all types of marine legal work.

Tork Buckley, BBCL

Tork Buckley became a professional captain in 1989 commanding motor and sailing yachts from 47 feet to 66m in many sea areas. He is a UK MCA Master Yacht <3000gt and has also acted as an Owner’s representative. He is now the Editor of The Yacht Report magazine, and a consultant on new construction, build and refit specifications and other superyachting matters. The design construction and operation of yachts, ships and other floating vessels is an abiding passion.