Speakers
Maritime Industry Australia Ltd (MIAL) is delighted to announce our speakers for the 5th Maritime Decarbonisation Summit.
Browse the programdriving the conversation
See who’s speaking at MIAL’s 5th Maritime Decarbonisation Summit 2025
Please note that confirmed panelists will be added to each session as details are received. (Last updated 10 April 2025)
The Honourable Kim Beazley AC
The Honourable Kim Beazley AC was the 33rd Governor of Western Australia (2018-2022).
Prior to being installed as Governor, Mr. Beazley dedicated almost three decades to a career in Federal Parliament, representing the WA seats of Brand and Swan. In 2009, Mr. Beazley was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the Parliament of Australia through contributions to the development of government policies in relation to defence and international relations, and as an advocate for Indigenous people, and to the community.
Mr. Beazley was a Minister in the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments (1983-1996) holding, at various times, the portfolios of Defence, Finance, Transport and Communications, Employment Education and Training, Aviation, and Special Minister of State.
From 1995 to 1996, Mr. Beazley was Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1996 to 2001, and 2005 to 2006. Mr. Beazley served on parliamentary committees, including the Joint Intelligence Committee and the Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee.
After his retirement from politics in 2007, Mr. Beazley was appointed Winthrop Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at The University of Western Australia. In July 2008 he was appointed Chancellor of the Australian National University, a position he held until December 2009.
Mr. Beazley took up an appointment as Ambassador to the United States of America in February 2010. He served as Ambassador until January 2016.
Mr. Beazley is currently Chair of the Perth USAsia Centre Board, Board Member of Luerssen Australia, Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Advisor to Lockheed Martin Australia, Chair of the Council for the Australian War Memorial and Advisor to TG & Associates.
Awaiting details for confirmed panelists.
Jenny Ruffell Smith
Senior Logistics Expert, MMMCZCS
Jenny has 18 years’ experience in various roles across the shipping and logistics sectors and holds degrees in Maritime Studies and Shipping and Logistics. She is currently seconded to the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS), on behalf of Swire Shipping, where she worked on sustainable maritime decarbonisation projects.
David Bartnik
Head of Innovation, Svitzer Australia
David has been Head of Innovation at Svitzer Australia since 2018, where his focus is on implementing digital solutions to improve operational efficiency and overseeing the company’s decarbonisation strategy in Australia. David’s previous career spanned the consulting, technology, energy and finance sectors, and he has over twenty years’ experience in positions of increasing responsibility with a range of blue-chip organisations, including Schlumberger, McKinsey, Enron and Westpac.
Awaiting details for confirmed panelists.
Jonathan Abrahams (chair)
Head of Maritime Advisory, DNV
Jonathan is the Head of Maritime Advisory in Australia and India, and has spent 16 years with DNV working in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania. Another (complementary) role Jonathan holds is that of DNV’s Regional ESG/Sustainability Practice Lead and, apart from delivering at a client level ESG-related services (including reporting), has regularly presented at conferences in Asia-Pacific concentrating on the implementation of holistic sustainability strategies at a company level integrating the needs of regulators, cargo owners, employees and the general community.
Saul Cannon
CEO, Port of Melbourne
Saul joined Port of Melbourne in November 2021 and brings to the role over 25 years of commercial, strategy, finance, legal and corporate governance experience. Most recently, Saul was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at global logistics provider, Toll Group. Prior to Toll, Saul spent nearly a decade at ASX-listed Asciano Limited, which then owned the Patrick ports and Pacific National rail businesses. Saul holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law (with honours) and is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School in Boston.
Vicki Watson
CEO, The Aotearoa Circle
As Chief Executive for The Aotearoa Circle, Vicki is helping drive systems level change to restore nature and ensure enduring prosperity in Aotearoa for future generations. Vicki has private sector experience spanning three decades that focuses on building organisations from scratch, forming and executing strategies, creating structures and workplace cultures that last, reaching ambitious funding or revenue goals, coordinating large scale events, and collaborating with leaders to achieve positive outcomes for our communities and Aotearoa.
Paul Hodgson (chair)
Executive Director Regional Futures – Energy Transitions, and Director of the Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy at CQ University Australia
In addition to his substantive roles, Paul is also Chair of Queensland Manufacturing Institute and Vice Chair of the Hydrogen Flight Alliance. Prior to joining CQUniversity last year, Paul was Interim CEO of a bid for a Scaling Green Hydrogen Cooperative Research Centre, developing a 10-year $213m research and training program with the support of 97 partners from 12 countries.
