CONGRESS SPEAKERS

Sarah Allan is a partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper specialising in maritime law and his head of their yacht practice. She has advised on matters relating to events, incidents and related contracts. This specialism followed on naturally from her passion for sailing which she has pursued alongside her legal career. She has spent many years competing in the SB20 class, match racing and sailing dinghies. Whilst now having less time for sailing now she is a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club being on both the general committee and involved with preparations for the Club’s 250th anniversary in 2025.

Christoph is Co-Founder and Managing Director at TYDE, a manufacturer of climate-friendly luxury yachts. Prior to founding TYDE, Christoph launched and built Torqeedo to become the leading company for electric drivetrains on the water. Christoph started his career as a consultant with McKinsey. He holds an MBA and a PhD from Otto-Friedrich Universitaet Bamberg. Christoph serves as an Advisory Board member of SEA.AI.

Born in 1975 in Ivrea, Piedmont, Italy. In 1999 he founded QI COMPOSITES as a spin off of INSTM (National Institute of Material  Science and Technology) to develop NDT in nautical composites. In 2001 he took part in ihs first America’s Cup campaign with Luna Rossa and since then he has been present in all editions. Since 2006 in all the Volvo Ocean Races, at first as suppliers of the individual teams and then as official supplier. Since 2012 supplier of the Ferrari F1 team. Involved in the racing world in most daring projects in search of the limit. Always looking for the cause-effect correlation in the make and propagation of defects in composite materials. Research that is enriched by hundreds of new cases per year thanks to the QI Composite team active in many different sector. Keen sailor and skier Stefano spend his spare time promoting sailing within youngest generations.

Edoardo Bianchi, Olympic sailor on the Tornado in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, graduated in naval and nautical engineering cum laude. In 2010 he designed and built the foiling multihull “Whites Dragons”: a catamaran that flies on the water thanks to two secant wings and rudders also equipped with elevators. The years at Persico Marine give him the opportunity to prove his ability as an engineer, team leader and production manager: here he follows the America’s Cup projects of the one-design foil arm, and the wing of Land Rover BAR, and then manages the construction of the entire Luna Rossa in the next edition of the competition. In 2021 Edo returns to Genoa to give life to another dream: to bring to his city, and to “his” sea, the experience and know-how acquired over years of work in the world of composites, combined with his DNA of sailor and entrepreneur. Thus was born, on the docks of the port of Genoa, Sangiorgio Marine, a shipyard dedicated to racing and hi-tech nautical projects, such as the Class40s for Beccaria, Fornaro and Riva which are causing so much talk about the Italian oceanic sailors, and like BGHSV, the hydrogen supported foiling catamaran that Bluegame has chosen to build here and which will follow the American Magic and L’Orient Express teams during the next Cup.

A passionate sailor in his youth, takes a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Genova. He starts developing CFD codes for propellers, sails, hulls and wings in the late ’80. Alternates professional work in shipyards with university research. Participates in 7 America’s Cup Design Teams, winning twice with Oracle in 2010 and 2013, once the Louis Vuitton Cup in 1992 and the Prada Cup in 2021 as CFD responsible and foil designer.
In 2017, he Co-founded Caponnetto Hueber SL, an Innovation Laboratory and Consultancy specialized in Fluids Dynamics and Efficient Design for the nautical and maritime transportation industries, holding the position of Chief Technical Officer and foil design expert.

Alberto Carmagnani was born in Genoa in 1981 and is graduated in naval engineering.
He has worked in the technical department of one of the world’s largest yacht manufacturers and taught at the European Institute of Design.
At RINA he is responsible for CE Marking and a point of reference in technical discussions with the Italian Administration and the European Commission.

Co-Founder, Sustainable Marine Alliance, Kellie has worked across the spectrum of the sailing industry, from teaching and coaching to Superyachts and Professional Race Teams. Her initial career was in engineering and electronics but, after being confronted by the glaring environmental issues in the marine environment, she did an MBA in the Circular Economy and transitioned into sustainability in 2017. She now manages her own consultancy, Nekton, and in 2022 with Anne-Cecile Turner and Pierre Germeau, she co-founded the Sustainable Marine Alliance (SMA). The SMA’s mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainability by removing silos, increasing collaboration and increasing information flows.

Paolo Dassi holds a degree in aerospace engineering majoring in composite materials and structures. During his carrier he worked on the design, analysis and full scale testing of a broad range of composite structures in a variety of industries ruled by different standards (marine, wind energy, automotive, architecture, aerospace), made both in traditional and sustainable composites. Mainly focussing his efforts in the racing side of the marine industry, he designed and managed the build and testing of many daggerboards and foils for VOR, IMOCAs and America’s Cup yachts, including the America’s Cup one design arm. He is the technical manager of the HSV foiling project for Bluegame, a brand of Sanlorenzo, since its inception.

Business and Innovation Director, Beneteau Group. After an Engineering Degree in Materials Science in 2006 (in Normandy) and a Doctorate in Chemistry in 2010 at the University of Liverpool, Erwan began his professional career at ARKEMA’s research and development centre working on new materials for various fields of application. He then joined the automotive industry (VALEO) to work on several innovative projects for headlight and rear light products. After 7 years and an EMBA from Audencia (French Business School), he decided to join the Beneteau Group in 2019. He has held a number of positions, starting as Head of GRP Materials before moving to a position as Director of Research and Innovation in 2021. In 2022, he also took charge of various sustainability projects for the Group.

Ilaria Gavuglio graduated with honours in Economics from the University of Genoa and is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Auditor. She has many years of experience in accounting, finance, corporate transactions and strategic marketing.
She has held and still holds various positions on the Boards of Directors of medium/large public and private companies in various business sectors and provides corporate and tax consultancy services to medium-sized companies.
In December 2022, she was appointed President of AMT with the aim of consolidating AMT as the fifth largest LPT player in the national scenario, focusing on the many strategic issues affecting the sector, including environmental issues in the context of the development of increasingly sustainable mobility.

Born in Germany in 1953, Ulrich (Uli) is actually Director and Chief Executive at his own Heinemann-Yacht-Design Studio in Aachen, Managing Director of the International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI) and Member of the German Boat- and Shipbuilding Association (DBSV). He was Technical Director of the German America’s Cup Team at 12-m European and Worlds in 1988.

Born in Paris, France, in 1979, Francis Hueber is a Naval Architect who graduated from ENSTA Bretagne.
He has participated in the last 5 America’s Cup and has won it twice with Bmw Oracle in 2010 and with ORACLE Team USA in 2013.
Expert in fluid dynamics, CFD and hydrodynamic design, throughout his career he has specialized in high-efficient, racing, foiling and low-emission yachts and vessels design.
In 2017, he co-founded CAPONNETTO HUEBER, with Hydrodynamics and hydrofoils guru Mario Caponnetto, an Innovation Laboratory and Consultancy specialized in Fluids Dynamics and Efficient Design for the nautical and maritime transportation industries.

Andrea is graduated in Political Science and in Law from Rome’s University “La Sapienza”. European and Italian trademark and design attorney, for the past 20 years has assisted Italian and International clients across all fields of the industry. Active sailor, has assisted clients in this specific area of the industry helping brands to develop a portfolio of intangible assets within the hydrofoil area while leveraging patents in a constructive way and efficient way.

Yanmar Marine International B.V. Global Business Unit Headquarters, marine recreational and high-speed craft. Director Sales and Marketing.
Keen yachtsman with over 20-years of marine propulsion experience. Educational background in mechanical engineering, strategy planning and business development. Committed to decarbonization of the maritime industry, to contribute to an energy-saving society and building a sustainable future.

President of eHP², electric and hybrid powertrain engineering and manufacturing: batteries, electric motors, thermal engines (including hydrogen (ICE H2), transmission, powertrain integration and management for automotive, motorsport, aircraft, marine, off-road and military sectors.

PhD at the Politecnico di Torino Engineering University, he starts his career in transport and urban planning and then joins Confindustria Nautica – Italian Marine Industry Association in 2009, where he establishes a new internal department to manage technical, statistical and research related issues. Dealing at international level with the main institutional stakeholders and marine federations, he currently sits on several working groups: Chair of the ICOMIA Superyacht Division and of the ICOMIA Market Intelligence Taskforce; Vice Chair of the ICOMIA Technical Committee; Member of the EBI – European Boating Industry Executive Committee and of the ISO TC8/SC12 “Large Yachts”.

Member of the German Ship and Boat building Association DBSV, member of the board, member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. Trained Craftsman and Naval architect working in the recreational craft sector. Key experience: Compliance with RCD and design/project management – surveying. HAS Consultant, working for the European Commission, assessing draft international standards. Surveyor and local representative for the notified body HPi Verification Services Ltd.

Born in Carrara on 8 April 1963, he was a member of the Italian national sailing team from 1978 to 1994, participating in the Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (1992) Olympics. He won 10 titles in various classes: 470, Tornado, Soling, Flying Dutchman and J24. In his palmares also three European Championships and three World Championships, in Tornado and Melges 24. Having graduated cum laude in architecture in Florence, in 2004 he founded the Bluegame boatyard, a brand with a strong and distinctive identity, capable of combining sporting performance with inspired design and the most advanced technological research. First with Bluegame and later through his collaboration with Sanlorenzo – from which the innovative SX88 project that bears his signature was born – Luca has introduced a new philosophy to the nautical sector, expressed through a profound focus on technological innovation, unparalleled versatility and a style capable of conveying timeless elegance.

Mark Somerville began his career in New Zealand, building successful race yachts for renowned challenges like Sir Peter Blake’s Ocean Racing and Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup. He then spent over 20 years traveling the world, managing the construction of America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Racing yachts with various high-performance teams. Mark has been involved in every America’s Cup since the late ’80s, totaling 11 events.
His international experience has taken him to New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Brazil, the United States, and Italy. Currently based in northern Italy, Mark serves as the COO of Persico Marine. In his 14 years with the company, he has played an important role in establishing it as a leader in the high-tech yacht market. Over time, Persico Marine has expanded its expertise to include cruising, super-yachts, custom power boats, aerospace, and defense.
Mark is highly respected in the industry, with extensive knowledge across sectors such as manufacturing, technology, B2B strategy, and business development. Mark’s dedication to pushing technological boundaries and problem-solving is matched only by his commitment to mentoring and coaching others to reach their full potential.

John Shehata is a lawyer with broad international experience in supporting Italian and International corporations, private equity and venture capital funds as well as private clients on corporate matters, M&As, and contract negotiations, with a specific focus on sports, media & entertainment. He is a lecturers in sports law and law & marketing and collaborates with the International Master in Media and Communication Management at Polimi graduate school of management

David is a co-founder and board member of Artemis Technologies. A former international hockey player and law graduate from the University of Birmingham, David has a wealth of experience in Sales and Marketing. Having previously worked at IMG and Havas Media, David founded Tyler Sports Management in 2009, representing an impressive portfolio of clients including Mo Farah, Mike Brown, Iain Percy OBE, Christine Ohuruogu MBE, and Allan Wells
MBE. After Tyler Sports Management was acquired in 2014, he joined Artemis Racing to lead the Swedish America’s Cup team’s commercial programme, before co-founding Artemis Technologies. David is also a founding trustee of the Andrew Simpson Foundation.

Kristoffer Uulas is a Senior Consultant at DNV and has over 10 years’ experience from class and advisory services. He has a background as approval engineer for composite structure where he worked towards the navy and yacht segment. Kristoffer has also worked as a surveyor for yacht new buildings and has handled certification for the recreational craft directive. Kristoffer currently works in the Maritime Advisory team, where he works with new technologies that enables decarbonization in the maritime industry.

In 2007, after an early career in corporate private medical insurance in London, Michelle and her family moved to the South of France and her journey with Pantaenius began. Now after 17 years at Pantaenius, Michelle continues to enjoy the challenges that the insurance industry faces in respect of fast-developing new technologies in yachting, environmental considerations, current world conflicts and general market competition. She is responsible for managing the English language Yacht team, including sales, underwriting and administration, looking after the yacht and crew insurance for all size Sailing & Motor yachts, ranging from 10m – 100m+. The Monaco office is the 2nd biggest office in the group, with Pantaenius being one of the leading providers of yacht insurance in Europe.