Speakers

Pottengal Mukundan, Director, International Maritime Bureau (IMB) – UK

IMB’s main task is to protect the integrity of international trade by seeking out fraud and malpractice, identifying and investigating frauds, spotting new criminal methods and trends, and highlighting other threats to trade.

The key responsibilities of the EUNAVFOR are to help deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery and ultimately to protect vulnerable shipping.

The NSC collect and process merchant shipping factual and movement data and develop an accurate shipping plot of relevant merchant ships, advising of potential risks and identifying possible interference with maritime operation.

Following a short career in the Ministry of Defence Mark went in to the world of publishing, working for Today newspaper then the Daily Mail where he spent over 12 years in a sales and marketing role which culminated in the position of Financial Sales Manager.

In 2002 Mark left publishing to go and work in Auckland, New Zealand for the British America's Cup team - GBR Challenge. Unfortunately the Swiss won that year's cup which meant that he was out of a job, but the Royal Navy came to the rescue!

Since 1989 he had been a member of the Royal Naval Reserve. For the first 12 years he was a seaman officer - operating on the bridges of Fast Patrol Boats, Offshore Patrol Vessels, Minesweepers, Frigates and Destroyers. In 1999 Mark became a member of the Royal Navy's Media Operations Specialisation - as a result he was called up in 2003 and saw action in Kuwait and Iraq as part of the military media team.

After the conflict he decided to stay with the Royal Navy and was employed in a variety of roles, including being the Royal Navy's spokesman at the Ministry of Defence and heading up their web strategy.

In 2006 Mark left the navy and joined Lloyd's Marine Intelligence Unit as their Marketing Manager, shortly afterwards he was promoted to Marketing Director. In 2009 he joined Maritime & Underwater Security Consultants and is currently their Head of Marketing and Sales. He is also a ISPS Company Security Officer.

He has provided commentary on maritime security in many publication and TV channels including Al Jazeera the BBC and is regularly invited to speak at conferences around the globe

When not working, he spends a lot of time sailing with his wife, children and dog Bedlam aboard his renovated 1965 sloop. Mark also plays a bad round of golf and skis as often as he can. He loves the outdoors, especially participating in expeditions - recent ones have included two to the Arctic and one to Mount Kilimanjaro. He is also still a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve.

Shishir Upadhyaya, Research Fellow, National Maritime Foundation – INDIA

Currently studying the evolving maritime threat scenario in the Indian Ocean Region and its impact on the regional security. Cdr Upadhyaya has served in a number of positions in various operational, training and staff billets of the Indian Navy.

Graeme Gibbon Brooks, Dryad Maritime Intelligence Service