As Genoa’s COO, Laurie is instrumental in driving Genoa’s growth to new levels. With a singular vision on future success, she is continuously identifying, planning, and then delivering high-impact products and services at the front line of the industry.

Laurie brings deep business acumen and vast industry expertise to her current leadership role overseeing a team of over 200 professionals in North America. With over 20 years of experience in the marine engineering sector, she has worked on some of Canada’s largest defence contracts.

Laurie has an uncanny ability to get to the heart of a client’s issue, to present it with clarity, and to inspire new ideas and approaches from the team around her.

Laurie holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from Memorial University. She is a Designated Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), a Project Management Professional (PMP) and an active member of several professional associations, including Chair for the Canadian Atlantic Section of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME).

When she’s not helping to blaze a bright path forward for Genoa, you’ll find Laurie spending family time and making memories at the cottage in rural Newfoundland.

Tyler is a seasoned geoscientist and innovator at ExxonMobil, boasting over 20 years of industry experience. He has successfully delivered a diverse and valuable portfolio of upstream projects. Tyler holds degrees in Environmental Science and Geology from Western University, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Calgary and has worked for the Royal Ontario Museum and the Geological Survey of Canada on significant research projects and expeditions. 

Since joining Imperial Oil in 2008 and transitioning to ExxonMobil Canada in St. John’s in 2010, Tyler has held various managerial and technical roles, both domestically and internationally. He has spearheaded global-scale initiatives on technology application strategies and portfolio management workflows, ensuring long-term value delivery. In his current role, Tyler is dedicated to fostering collaborations that enhance capability and capacity development within the local energy technology ecosystem.

Dr. Randy Billard is President and CEO of Virtual Marine. He is the original founder of the company and has been with the company since it started in 2004 and was the Chief Technology Officer until January 2021. He is a P. Eng, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland, with expertise in small vessel motion and wave modeling. He has a Ph.D. in Engineering from Memorial University with a research concentration in measuring human performance in simulation-based training programs.  His research has included human factors studies to assess the effectiveness of simulation-based training programs, measurement of learning and skill retention in marine training programs, and studying AI methods to increase trainee competence and operational readiness.  

Randy is currently responsible for introducing Virtual Marine’s dual-purpose small vessel and ice simulation technologies to users in global defence, oil and gas, energy, and ferry markets.  Randy is also on the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association and TechNL, and he has focused Virtual Marine as a strong ecosystem partner in Atlantic Canada

Sales Director Canada 
Maritime Simulation, Kongsberg Maritime 

Owen Brine has pursued a career in the maritime industry since 1992 when he was selected as a Naval Officer with the Royal Canadian Navy. In his current roles at KONGSBERG, he draws upon his distinguished 30 years of active naval service; including four NATO deployments conducting operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. 

Among other Navy roles, he was assigned to National Defence Headquarters where he led the defence Human Systems Integration team in the design of the Combat Management System for the Halifax Class warship. He continues to serve as a Commander in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves, where he has notably held Command appointments and is presently mentoring at Canadian Forces College on institutional leadership, Command, and Operations Planning. 

Owen capitalizes on his extensive military leadership and management experience in managing accounts and supporting client needs. Since joining KONGSBERG Owen has led the Canadian team in managing the Royal Canadian Navy contract and international defence tenders. He has also been extensively involved in the development of Instructor Station design, naval, and navigation features in K-Sim Navigation. 

Neil Chaulk, CEO of Solace Power, spearheads the company's pioneering wireless power technologies for the telecom, automotive, and industrial automation sectors. With more than 30 years of experience, Neil adeptly bridges technical innovation with strategic business development. Under his guidance, Solace Power actively collaborates with leading entities in the telecom and automotive industries to harness wireless power for practical, high-value applications. 

Previously, Neil served as VP of Business Development at Verafin, a global leader in financial crime detection solutions, where he played a pivotal role in the company's exponential growth before its acquisition by Nasdaq for $2.75 billion USD. Prior to Verafin, he was the founder and CEO of ICAN, a software development company specializing in navigation and communication applications for the defense, maritime shipping, and surveillance markets. Neil's vision and leadership at ICAN culminated in the company's successful acquisition by Netherlands-based HITT Traffic. 

Neil holds positions on several boards and is an active investor in numerous technology firms. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication Systems from Memorial University. 

Commodore Keith Coffen is a native Newfoundlander, former Air Cadet, and former soldier of the Communications Reserve. Commissioned in 1995, he trained as a Naval Combat Systems Engineer and served aboard Canadian ships and submarines, including HMCS REGINA, HURON, ONONDAGA, and WINDSOR.

Throughout his career, he has focused on delivering and sustaining equipment solutions that protect Canadian Armed Forces personnel and support global operations. His roles have included national and international assignments in fleet support and major defence projects.

Commodore Coffen holds degrees in Engineering, Business, and Defence Studies, and is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, the US Naval Postgraduate School, and the Canadian Forces College. He is a certified DND Level III project manager.

He is a proud husband and father of two young adults.

PRINICIPAL IRB/ITB CONSULTANT

Melanie De Young is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the aerospace and defence industry. Currently serving as the Principal Industrial Regional Benefits (IRB)/Industrial & Technological Benefits (ITB) Consultant at InnovConsultants, an operating unit of InnovMarine Inc., Melanie has a proven track record in contract management and ITB programs.

Melanie's career highlights include launching InnovConsultants in October 2024, winning the Innovator Employee Award for InnovMarine in 2023, and being featured in WINGS Magazine's Top 20 Under 40 inspiring young leaders in July/August 2022. She also serves on the Industrial Participation Association of Canada (IPAC) Board of Directors, where she is the current Chair of the Government Relations Committee. Melanie holds a Professional Logistics Designation from The Logistics Institute and a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) from Dalhousie University.

Renowned within the Canadian defence sector, Melanie actively participates in trade shows and events related to business development. Her extensive knowledge of the ITB policy spans both large and small Canadian companies, and she excels in forging strategic relationships and partnerships that enhance business value and ITB credits.

melanie.deyoung@innovconsultants.com

Melanie De Young | LinkedIn

Chief Executive Officer, Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador

Dave Finn (M. Eng.) is an engineer with over 30 years of experience in applied research, strategic management, consulting and business development.  Dave is a graduate of Memorial University where he completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Naval Architecture and a Masters in Ocean Engineering.

Dave joined Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador in 2006 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer. Energy Research & Innovation facilitates and manages R&D and innovation activities on behalf of the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas industry.

Dave has extensive experience building strategic collaborative relationships in the offshore and ocean technology industries. He currently serves on the National Research Council of Canada’s Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre Advisory Board, the Clean Resources Innovation Network (CRIN) Steering Committee, and Memorial University’s Engineering and Applied Science Advisory Council.

Matin is a seasoned engineer specializing in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) at Transport Canada, with a current focus on cyber security for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and other emerging transportation technologies across Canada’s network.

Previously, he served as a Solution Architect and Systems Engineering Manager at Canada Post, where he led the development and implementation of advanced operational systems, leveraging machine learning and AI to drive efficiency and accuracy. Matin has successfully managed projects exceeding $40 million and ensured cyber-resilient operations across distributed networks with over 1,200 assets. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and an M.A.Sc. in Intelligent Transportation Systems, and is an active member of the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers (CITE), the Canadian Transportation Research Forum (CTRF), and several other research collaborations.

Mr. Fraser is currently a Senior Policy Advisor with the Legislative, Regulatory and International Affairs branch of Transport Canada, Marine Safety and Security.

He joined Transport Canada in 2009 where he remains responsible for a variety of domestic and international Arctic shipping efforts, including the implementation of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Regions (Polar Code), and as Shipping Expert Group Co-Chair within the Arctic Council’s Working Group on the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME).

Mr. Fraser holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Mount Allison University and a graduate degree in Marine Management from Dalhousie University. He is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Mr. Stephen Green has undergraduate degrees in Physics and graduate degrees in Civil Engineering and Meteorology, plus holds numerous offshore certifications. Mr. Green is the Director of Research & Development for PALaerospace.  He has 25 years of experience in the oil & gas, arctic and research & development sectors. 

He is a member of the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). NSERC funds visionaries, explorers and innovators who are searching for the scientific and technical breakthroughs that will benefit our country. NSERC - Stephen Green

In addition, Mr Green is part of the Department of National Defence Advisory Board (DAB), which provides independent and expert advice to the Canadian Department of National Defence on key topics relevant to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian defence strategy. 

Mr. Lee Hedd, Future Business Director for BMT in the Americas, is a Naval Architect and Business Development professional with over 30 years of experience in marine design, R&D, and strategic management. He oversees business development, sales, and marketing as BMT expands into markets like commercial, energy, government, security, and military.

His expertise spans marine design, construction, and in-service support for commercial and government vessels. He has pioneered concepts for innovative marine vehicles designed for extreme conditions and integrates traditional methods with advanced simulations to drive innovation in the marine industry.

Mike Howley has worked in commercial financing, technology commercialization programming, and international business development with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Global Affairs Canada.  Recent experience includes Co-Chairing Pan-Atlantic sector teams for Oil and Gas, Mining, and Energy Innovation to develop plans and projects through the Atlantic Canada International Trade and Investment Strategy.  His role has included working with CISMaRT since 2016 given their position in advancing industrial supply chain technologies and related opportunities for the local marine and energy sectors.

Mr. Howley has completed both Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration degrees at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

With nearly 30 years of experience in both the private sector and federal government, Steve has a strong background in innovation, strategic planning, and international business development. Holding a Bachelor of Commerce and MBA, he has worked with leading companies such as Nortel in the technology sector and INTECSEA (Worley) in the oil and gas sector, as well as cutting-edge startups in wireless power electronics and mobile communications software.

Currently a Senior Analyst with the Atlantic Regional Office at ISED Canada, Steve helps drive innovation in through policy work and stakeholder engagement. Steve was previously the Senior Innovation Advisor with Innovation Canada in the province and has held senior roles driving R&D and business development with several local technology SMEs.

Mike has been actively engaged in Canadian and international higher education for over 22 years. In 2017, Mike began his current with College of the North Atlantic where he leads the College’s Office of Applied Research and Innovation and its teams of researchers, technicians and administrative staff. Prior to this role, Mike was the Director of Applied Research with Lethbridge College where he supported industry engagement and R&D activity overseeing projects ranging in scope from aquaponics, water quality and environmental science to virtual reality, irrigation, early childhood education and the scholarship of teaching and learning that involved dozens of industry partners.

Before joining Lethbridge College, Mike was the founding Chair of the Office of Applied Research at College of the North Atlantic’s Qatar campus where he led the growth of applied research activity from very humble origins into a vibrant and industry-engaged enterprise. He negotiated contracts, sub-awards and technical service agreements with institutions from 14 different countries, established an externally funded research chairs program, organized international roundtable forums on applied research between Canada and Qatar and co-chaired one of the largest TVET conferences ever organized (Global Innovators 2013 – in partnership with UNESCO) with delegates from 43 countries.

In addition to his work in research administration, Mike has experience teaching at the college and university levels. He holds undergraduate degrees in English and Education from Memorial University, a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Dan McGreer is a Professional Engineer in BC and an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia in the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME) program where he teaches courses on Ship Design. Before that Dan worked for over 30 years as a Principal Naval Architect at Vard Marine. He has been involved in all aspects of ship design such as preliminary concept development, contract design, ship performance assessment, computational fluid dynamics, marine system design and ship model testing and trials. Dan graduated in 1983 from the University of British Columbia in Mechanical Engineering with a Naval Architecture Option. Dan has worked on numerous ship design projects while at Vard Marine including managing the design of the Chilean Antarctic Vessel, the Canadian Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker, the Canadian Navy Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, and the NZ Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels.

Dan is also very active in the Association of BC Marine Industries (ABCMI) and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME).

M.A.Sc., P.Eng., FSNAME

Jon Mikkelsen is a Professor of Teaching of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. He is the Director of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering established to support the shipbuilding industry in Canada. His teaching responsibilities include Naval Architecture, Engineering Design, and Marine Engineering. His scholarly and professional activities are primarily focused on the areas of Naval Architecture/Ocean Engineering, Sustainable Fishing Gear Design, and Engineering Education. Jon is active in several professional organizations and has recently served as technical chairperson of the Ocean, Offshore, and Arctic Engineering Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and has been elected as a Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Jon is a strong supporter of extra-curricular design activities and serves as faculty advisor for several UBC student teams including UBC Sailbot, UBC Supermileage, and UBC Human Powered Submarine Team.

Director General
Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering

Dr. David Murrin is the Director General of the NRC's Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre. He has dedicated his career to studying the impacts of water on infrastructure and communities. The work that he leads for Canada is critically important since the implications of climate change are severe and widespread, especially for our oceans, coasts, and rivers.

Dr. Murrin’s experience heading influential federal labs, industry and not-for-profit R&D organizations has been invaluable in bringing people together to collaborate towards a common interest. His leadership has resulted in advancing regulations in harsh marine environments, developing tools for Arctic navigation, contributing to national guidelines for sustaining coasts and waterways, and training many Canadian highly qualified personnel.

Before joining the NRC in 2018, Dr. Murrin held increasingly senior roles in the energy industry, where he was responsible for strategic growth planning, research and development strategies for major infrastructure, mergers and acquisitions.

Dr. Murrin pursues collaborative relationships nationally and internationally, and is engaged in international and national committees on Ocean engineering and science. He holds undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral degrees in Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering, at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

In 2012, Dr. Murrin was presented the Early Accomplishment Award from Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2024, Dr. Murrin was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in recognition of his outstanding achievements in engineering, his impact on society, his profession and his peers, as well as his exceptional leadership in engineering practices.

Mr. Oldfield is a Principal Naval Architect with Vard Marine Inc. with 18 years’ experience in hydrodynamic performance analysis, contributing to vessel designs and research initiatives.

His work has involved a wide variety of vessel types and a corresponding variety of design features, performance requirements, and phenomena. He uses a variety of tools like CFD, potential flow, empirical methods, and model- or full-scale data.

For more unique problems, he develops customized methods either with these tools or through new code development. Some examples include:

Ship-ice interaction
Linear and nonlinear seakeeping
Various roll reduction devices
Moonpool run-up
Slamming
Maneuvering

Mr. Oldfield completed a B.Eng. in Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a M.A.Sc. at the University of Toronto.

Dan is the ABS Technology Manager in the ABS Harsh Environment Technology Center (HETC). Dan grew up in a small mining town in Labrador, where winters can be very cold and harsh. If a ship could go there in February, it would need a Polar Service Temperature (PST) of 39.8°C. For comparison, Barrow, Alaska’s (the northern most tip of the state) lowest PST is 38.1°C. Yes, Dan did the math.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering, as well as an engineering master’s degree in Ice Mechanics.  Both degrees are from Memorial University in St. John’s, NL.
 As of June, he is in his 23rd year with ABS, working as a Surveyor in Canada for the first decade, he witnessed ships getting damaged and struggling with low temperature environments. In 2012, he took his knowledge and experience to the HETC, where he specializes in winterization, ice-classed machinery, and the Polar Code. 

Dan supported many of the discussions that happened during the Polar Code’s development, including the temperature analysis that resulted in the Polar Service Temperature definition. In 2017, Dan authored the original ABS Process instructions for the Polar Code implementation, has led many owners/operators through their Polar Code operational assessments, offered limited support through their PWOM development, assisted ABS review engineers doing the PWOM reviews, and assisted surveyors who were tasked with survey and certification of the ships.

Now, as a manager in the HETC, he is involved in many projects that utilize his unique skillset and experiences. This includes managing projects to develop new guidance for winterization, further development of the ice class requirements, helping shipping companies comply with the Polar Code, and establishing critical scenarios for icebreaker design specifications.
Dan also serves on technical committees for the development of international standards, such as the recent ISO/DIS 24452, for which Dan was one of the main authors.

Shane Peddle holds a diploma in Software Development and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over two decades of experience leading high-visibility programs across both private and public sectors. As a Senior Program Manager, he has successfully delivered complex, multi-million-dollar initiatives spanning technology, infrastructure, and organizational change.

Shane is known for aligning executive vision with scalable, cross-functional delivery frameworks and for bringing strategic clarity, operational discipline, and leadership excellence. His core strengths include portfolio governance, strategic planning, stakeholder alignment, and risk mitigation. He also serves as a trusted advisor on digital transformation, helping organizations navigate change and drive measurable impact.

Paul is an Advisor and Co-Founder of Audyse Technology, a tech start-up in St. John’s, and operates his own Executive Advisory Consultancy, focusing on strategy, innovation, and economic development. His clients include CISMaRT, private businesses, governments and not-for-profits.

He was recognized in 2020 as Economic Developer of the Year by the Economic Developers Association of NL. He was previously the Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer of Genoa, and CEO of techNL, and led the Technology and Innovation practice at The Conference Board of Canada in Ottawa.

He has presented on innovation, economic development, and strategy in places that include Israel, Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston, and has been an Expert Witness to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.

He is active on several Boards, including CMHA-NL, Genome Atlantic, was Chair of the Digital Technology Committee of The Health Accord in NL, and was Co-Chair of the Atlantic Canada ICT Committee (ACOA-ATIGS).

He resides in St. John’s with his wife and two children, with an active volunteer life.  

Dr. Wei Qiu is Professor and Head of Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering at Memorial University. His research is in the area of marine hydrodynamics and its applications to ships and offshore structures. He has led numerous projects involving marine industries and government agencies.

Dr. Qiu has served in many international organizations, including the Chair of the ITTC Ocean Engineering Committee, a member of the ISSC Environment Committee, and a member of the joint ISSC-ITTC Committee. He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) and the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). He also serves as the Chair of the Interim Board of the Canadian Network for Innovative Shipbuilding, Marine Research and Training (CISMaRT).

Bethany Randell is a project engineer with the Centre for Applied Ocean Technology at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University. She proudly serves as assistant editor for the Journal of Ocean Technology. Bethany has been engaged in the ocean technology sector since she was 14 through various robotics competitions, including FIRST LEGO League and the MATE ROV competition. She was a member of Eastern Edge Robotics while completing her Bachelor of Engineering at Memorial University and competed internationally with the team 5 times.

Upon graduating, Bethany turned her hobby into a career when she was hired by Kraken Robotics as an electrical engineer. She worked on many of Kraken’s products, including the KATFISH, and was named lead electrical engineer of their AUV program. Under the guidance of several of Kraken's talented engineers, Bethany achieved her Professional Engineer status in 2021.

After 8 years at Kraken, Bethany moved to the Marine Institute. She has since flown an ROV in Norway from her office in Holyrood, Newfoundland, is working on establishing Canada’s first Marine Autonomous Test Zone, is the technical lead for MI’s Remote Operation Centre. Her areas of interest include marine robotics, autonomous and remotely operated vehicles, printed circuit board design, and the intersection of marine biology and engineering.

Kelley Santos is the Director of The Centre for Applied Ocean Technology, located at The Launch, the Fisheries and Marine Institute’s and Memorial University’s state of the art living lab and ocean innovation centre, based in Holyrood, NL. Her leadership provides invaluable support to industry, researchers, students, and stakeholders in a unique operational field environment where she collaborates with highly skilled engineering and technical teams, facilitating access to research focused on ocean mapping, habitat delineation, forecasting, modelling, management, and operational decisions, providing ideal conditions for industry, academia, and other stakeholders to come together and collaboratively implement leading initiatives.

For 15 years, Kelley’s work with Memorial University of Newfoundland has focused on the development and management of multidisciplinary research initiatives that connect the talents and abilities of academic and student researchers with the innovation and ingenuity of the public and private sector. Her work with the Marine Institute supports initiatives that leverage the talents and capabilities of Canada’s oceans communities and the adoption of technology in the ocean sector.  She holds a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University and a Masters of Marine Studies from Memorial University.

DeepStar Director, Chevron Corporation 

Shak Shamshy is a seasoned professional in the energy industry, with 30 years of experience in various technical and management roles. He is currently the DeepStar Director in Chevron and the chairman of the Board of DeepStar, a global offshore technology development consortium. He has worked on a wide range of technologies and projects, from subsurface to surface, from exploration to production, and from conventional to alternative energy sources. He has also received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions. 

Career Highlights 

As the DeepStar Director in Chevron, he leads the technology development effort for Chevron's offshore operations via collaboration and coordination among the 11 global energy companies and 10 plus energy and technology service companies that comprise the DeepStar consortium. 

As the chairman of the Board of DeepStar, he coordinates the strategic direction and governance of the consortium, which aims to advance the technologies solutions for the offshore industry, especially in the areas of subsea, drilling & completions, flow assurance, fixed & floating offshore production systems, autonomous operations, and greenhouse gas emission and carbon abatement. 

Prior to his current role, he worked in Chevron Technology Ventures' venture capital team, where he evaluated emerging and disruptive technologies that could improve the performance and sustainability of Chevron, both onshore and offshore. 

Education and Recognition/Technical Services 

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree, a Master of Science degree, and an MBA. 

He is a member for two OTC (offshore technology conference) committees: one for SPE (society of petroleum engineers) and the other for SEG (society of exploration geophysicists), where he reviews and evaluates hundreds of OTC papers annually. 

P. Eng.
Head, School of Ocean Technology
Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

Joe Singleton, P.Eng., is the Head of the School of Ocean Technology at the Marine Institute of Memorial University. He started his career as a process engineer in the domestic and overseas manufacturing sector with General Electric and JDS Uniphase before joining the Marine Institute (MI) in 2003.

Joe’s career at MI began as a design engineer for the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development in the School of Fisheries. During that time he has been awarded patents for machinery used in the fish processing industry. His time at the School of Maritime Studies mainly consisted of teaching mechanical engineering courses. A shift to the School of Ocean Technology was catalyzed by the completion of a master’s degree in Oceans and Naval Architecture Engineering based on the development of an autonomous moored profiler system, and further reinforced through providing engineering support to several ocean technology-based projects with the Centre for Applied Ocean Technology.

Joe is also the regional coordinator of the Newfoundland and Labrador Regional MATE ROV competition. He also mentors Eastern Edge Robotics, a highly accomplished Explorer class MATE ROV team based at the Marine Institute/Memorial University.

Captain David (Duke) Snider is CEO and Principal Consultant of Martech Polar Consulting Ltd., providing global ice navigation services and support for polar shipping, research, and expedition logistics. A Master Mariner with over 40 years at sea, he has operated in ice-covered waters across the Arctic, Antarctic, Baltic, Great Lakes, and Eastern Canada, and holds advanced Polar Waters certifications.

A former Canadian Coast Guard Regional Director, he remains active at sea and is widely recognized for his expertise in ice navigation, standards development, and safety. He authored Polar Ship Operations (2nd ed., 2018) and has contributed to numerous feasibility studies, papers, and legal cases. Captain Snider has received multiple honors, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Maritime Museum of BC’s Beaver Medal.

He is Past President and current Vice Chair of The Nautical Institute, where he also chairs the Ice Navigator Working Group and represents the Institute at the IMO on polar navigation matters.

Dr. Zhigang (Kevin) Tian is the marine program lead in the Deepwater Infrastructure group at ExxonMobil, responsible and overseeing new technology development and qualification for deepwater projects and operations. Kevin obtained his bachelor’s degree from Dalian University of Technology and Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 2010. During his 15 years of research and industry experience, Dr. Tian has delivered four deepwater semisubmersible designs and their mooring systems in Gulf of Mexico (now America). He is the concept owner, shipyard engineering manager, and installation technical lead of an innovative mooring system for the Congo FLNG Marine XII project in Africa. Kevin has more than 20 publications in top journals and leading conferences and two patents.

Dan Vyselaar is the Director of Engineering and Asset Management at Atlantic Towing.  In this role Dan is responsible for vessel newbuilding’s and innovation projects as well as asset reliability programs and vessel drydocking’s. Dan Vyselaar is a registered Professional Engineer with Engineers and Geoscientists New Brunswick and has a Masters of Applied Science specialized in Naval Architecture from the University of BC and an executive MBA from Ivey Business School.  Dan has spent half his career in ship design and shipbuilding, and the latter half of his career at Atlantic Towing in vessel operations.   

David Walker is a Vice President, Global Government Services at ABS.  He is responsible for helping ABS fulfill its not-for-profit mission to serve the public interest as well as the needs of our members and clients by promoting the security of life and property, and preserving the natural environment.

ABS Global Government Services focuses on the needs of government clients with military or other public fleets as well as research, development, and demonstration programs that ABS undertakes with government agencies on a wide range of maritime innovation topics.  Additionally, David is the ABS lead for the US Center for Maritime Innovation for the US Maritime Administration.  ABS is the Secretariat working to establish and operate the Center for MARAD. The Center engages a wide range of research partners, industry organizations, interagency partners, and maritime stakeholders in leading innovative projects for a safer, more efficient, and more competitive U.S. Marine Transportation System.