Houston Conference 2024

Jan Hagen Andersen P.E.

Business Development Director, Regional Director for Maritime Decarbonization, DNV Maritime

Jan Hagen Andersen has over 30 years of experience in the maritime industry with a broad technical knowledge and business development understanding.  After graduating from engineering college in Norway, he completed a Bachelor and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.  He then joined Trans Marine Propulsion Systems, Inc. in 1991, a marine engineering and service company in Seattle with a focus on marine propulsion and ship machinery systems.

In 2005, he joined DNV in Norway in the Machinery Section of Maritime Technical Advisory.  The advisory group in DNV provides consultancy and non-class support services to ship owners, shipyards, manufacturers, designers, and other stakeholders.  In 2010 he moved to DNV Maritime in Houston, Texas and is currently in Business Development and the Regional Director for Maritime Decarbonization. The role focus on maritime energy transition, energy efficiency, environmental compliance, and supporting maritime clients.  He has been engaged with several projects and studies on alternative fuels and new technologies for ships and offshore units. He is a member of the SNAME M-16 Panel on Propulsion Shafting and is on the North America Marine Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA) Board of Directors.

Antony DSouza

Regional President, DNV Maritime

Antony DSouza is a Regional President and the Country Chair of DNV North America, based in Houston, Texas.

Driven by the purpose to safeguard life, property, and the environment, and with a vision to be a trusted voice, Antony is an expert in assurance, risk, and project management. He actively collaborates with governmental, business, and community leaders, industry coalitions, and academia to find solutions to global transformations, including decarbonizing the energy and maritime industries. A believer in technology as an accelerator for transformation, he consistently promotes research, innovation, and digitalization to decarbonize the world.

Antony has a proven track record of success in leading international businesses for over two and a half decades, achieving success through diverse teams. Currently, he manages DNV's operations spanning from the Arctic to Antarctica in the Americas region.

As a mechanical engineer, Antony holds a master’s degree in engineering management and has also graduated from business administration program from IMD, Switzerland, and digital transformation programs from the University of California Berkeley and INSEAD, France. Antony has been conferred as a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia (FIEAust) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (FRINA).

Dr Nimi Abili Ph.D, MBA, MSc, BEng, CEng, CMarEng, Fellow

Chairman, IMarEST Houston (US Gulf Coast) Branch , IMarEST

Dr. Abili is an Internationally Experienced Chief Subsea Executive, Digital Technology Leader, and Management Advisor, accomplished in operating commercially within the Energy industry. He is a dynamic and proactive Energy Transition Adviser and Engineering Project Consultant, who excels at developing low carbon solutions to accelerate clean energy, with 22 years of expertise in delivering optimal outcomes across the energy value chain.

Dr. Abili is actively involved in decarbonization projects, new energies, offshore & Onshore renewable wind, CCUS, hydrogen, electrification, deepwater field developments, intelligent operations, cutting-edge green technology innovations, value engineering, techno-economic strategies, digital engineering, strategic business development, financial risk management, policy formulations, and management of multi-disciplinary teams in the offshore energy industry. Throughout his career, he has overseen the completion of multiple CAPEX projects valued at over $12 billion in growth opportunities and cash flows.

He holds a PhD in Energy & Power (Offshore Engineering) and MSc in Subsea Engineering from Cranfield University, England; an MBA in Oil and Gas at Middlesex University London, England; and a BEng in Electronic & Electrical Engineering (Hons) at the University of Sunderland, England. He has professional working experience with Major IOCs, NOCs, including Shell and Eni International, Schlumberger, and top management consulting. Dr. Abili is Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Marine Engineer (CMarEng) and a Fellow of the Institute of Marine, Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) in the UK.

Dr. Abili has published several international journals and made major international offshore conference presentations, including Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC), Deep Offshore Technology (DOT) International Conference, Offshore West Africa (OWA) Conference and Subsea UK, as a Thought-Leader and Speaker, where he bagged 3 international industrial 'Best Awards', and has been a reviewer for top international journals, including Journal of Marine Engineering & Technology (JMET) of the IMarEST. Dr. Abili is the current Chairman of the IMarEST Houston (US Gulf Coast) Branch.

Dr Faye Gerard

Energy Transition Director, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP)

Faye joined IOGP in November 2023 as Director of the Energy Transition Directorate.

Faye is seconded from bp, and will be based at IOGP’s Houston office. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tuskegee University.

She has worked in the oil and gas industry for 32 years, and at bp for the last sixteen. Her previous roles at bp include Senior Federal Government Affairs Director, Vice President of Low Carbon and Sustainability at bpX Energy (an onshore oil and gas production subsidiary of bp), and other leadership roles in environmental engineering, projects, HSE, regulatory, and safety and operational risk management. Faye began her career at Marathon Oil Company, where she held process engineering and leadership roles in HSE, diversity, and public/community affairs over sixteen years.

She has three children, and her interests include philanthropic planning, reading, volunteering, and traveling. She serves on several University advisory boards and as
a board member of various community and civic organizations. In her free time, she enjoys writing and giving presentations on leadership and STEM.

Jorge Peña Alarcón

Director of Data & AI, Microsoft

As a visionary leader in the realm of Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI), Jorge Peña Alarcón stands at the forefront of innovation at Microsoft. As the Director of Data & AI, Jorge's expertise in engineering and operations is pivotal in leading organizations in adopting and transitioning to cloud native digital platforms. His strategic approach integrates data analytics and artificial intelligence to enhance business value, particularly within the Energy sector.

Jorge's leadership is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to driving tangible business outcomes for executive clients. His experience spans over a decade in technology and energy operations, with a rich background in Aerospace, Oil and Gas, Mining, and Utilities industries. His proficiency in enterprise software development, sales, go-to-market strategies, and business development has been instrumental across various vertical markets.

A specialist in IT-OT convergence and Automation Industries, Jorge's academic foundation in Aerospace Engineering, with a concentration on Advanced Analytics and Propulsion Engines from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, empowers him to innovate in digital transformation initiatives with a unique blend of technical acumen, industry insight, and unwavering focus on achieving operational excellence.

Truls Richardsen

Regional Offshore Manager, DNV Maritime

Truls Richardsen, a Master of Science in Naval Architecture, currently serves as the Regional Offshore Manager for DNV Maritime in North America. Currently, Truls oversees offshore classification services from Suriname to the Arctic, encompassing various offshore sectors, including traditional oil and gas, renewables, offshore floating infrastructure, and marine aquaculture. He is a key advocate for Digital Transformation in Offshore Classification, driving efficiency through innovative digital solutions.

Truls’ expertise spans over a decade, specializing in fleet in-service and asset integrity management. He is widely recognized for his commitment to innovation and operational efficiency in the offshore industry, complemented by his leadership skills honed during his service as an Army officer in the Norwegian Army.

Rajnish Kelkar

Vice Chair, IMarEST Houston (US Gulf Coast) Branch

Rajnish Kelkar is a Houston, TX based Maritime executive. He has international experience in management, operations, assurance and safety roles in Oil, Gas, Energy and Maritime industries. He is currently the Global lead for Environmental, Energy and Regulatory Programs at Excelerate Energy, Texas, USA, where he is engaged in various new FSRU terminal development projects and in managing environmental, energy management & global maritime regulatory compliance programs and initiatives in the FSRU fleet and Regas Terminals.  Prior to this he was the Marine Projects Manager for the Jordan Cove LNG Marine export terminal in Coos Bay Oregon.  His main accountabilities were to lead the marine team and manage the JCLNG project marine interfaces and budget by working with the EPC contractor, the local, National & International stakeholders, Government Agencies, LNGC Owners/Operators, and other contactors.

After completing his Marine Engineering training at the Indian Maritime University, Rajnish served on large ocean going tankers, initially with Chevron Shipping Corporation, USA before joining Vancouver based Teekay Shipping Ltd., where he rose to the rank of a Chief Engineer. In his career till 2009 with Teekay, he also served in various management roles ashore in Teekay’s Vancouver (Canada) based headquarters. During this time, he was accountable for Fleet Performance Management, Maintenance Management, Condition, Risk and Reliability Improvement programs, Maritime Safety and Legislation, Oil Spill and Emergency Response and various Safety, Quality and Environmental programs, projects, and budgets for a fleet of over 150 vessels (oil, product, and LNG).

From 2009 to 2016 Rajnish was the Director, Maritime and Global Shipping HSSE, Asset Integrity and Risk Management at BG Group in Houston, TX. In this role he was the Functional Head of Maritime, HSSE, and process safety disciplines, with an accountability to provide leadership, SME input and assurance for all maritime activity across BG Group globally. This role spanned over marine operations in 10 different BG locations, projects and countries and covered ~150 different sites/assets including 28 LNG Carriers, 8 terminals, 10 oil and DP Shuttle tankers, 100+ offshore vessels including LSVs and tugs/barges.

Rajnish is a Chartered Engineer and holds a Class 1 Marine Engineering Officer international license equivalent to a BS degree in Marine Engineering. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (FIMarEST-UK) and the Vice Chair of its US Gulf Coast Branch. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (FIE) and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s in business administration (project management) from the Henley Business School, Oxfordshire, UK.

His passions outside of work include travel, raising funds for local charities, theatre, and music.

Peter Wallace PE, CEng, CMarEng

Principal Engineer, Lloyds Register

Peter Wallace, PE, CEng, CMarEng is Principal Engineer in the Maritime Performance Services--Applied Technology Group of Lloyd’s Register, based in Houston Texas.  He is a practicing naval architect working in the technology development, risk, and regulatory spaces in maritime and offshore in such topics as decarbonization, dynamic positioning, and structural digital twins.  Peter holds a BSc in naval architecture and marine engineering from Webb Institute of Naval Architecture and an MBA from Tulane University.  Peter is a Member of Corporation at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and an Executive Committee member of the IMarEST Gulf Coast Branch.

Greg Trostel

Global Industry Development Manager, Rockwell Automation

Greg has over thirty years of experience in the energy industries and is currently a global industry development manager for Rockwell Automation, leading the Floating Production Initiative for both Rockwell and Sensia.

Greg started his career as a coop student with MW Kellogg based in Houston, and spent a combined 13 years with Kellogg/KBR in several engineering disciplines before moving into international sales.  His time there was marked by several international assignments with a focus on joint venture partner development.

Greg also spent significant time in technology & software development within the industry, which include sales development work at Aspen, AVEVA, Meridium and PAS. 

Before joining Rockwell, Greg was involved in global project pursuit and strategic account management with Puffer/Emerson, including an international assignment covering the Middle East / Africa world area.

Greg has a Chemical Engineering degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of Houston.

Blaine Mathieu

CEO, Pratexo

Blaine is a former software company founder, Gartner analyst, and multi-time C-level executive at both public tech giants and private enterprise software and Industrial IoT startups. Over the course of his career, his work has taken him across North America, Europe, and Asia, and his passion for AI, IoT, and edge computing has also made him a sought-after speaker at dozens of global industry events. He is currently CEO at edge-to-cloud platform company Pratexo.

Ahmed Sami

Data and AI Architect , Microsoft

Data and AI Architect with over 25 years of experience in designing and implementing data and AI solutions using Microsoft Azure and open-source technologies. An expert in data modeling, data integration, data lake, cloud computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. I have a proven track record of building deep technical relationships with senior IT executives and growing data platform share in large or highly strategic accounts. I have demonstrated the ability to adapt to new technologies and learn quickly. The biggest project I took part in was FIFA 2024 in Qatar where I was the Data lead for one of the projects called Smart Stadiums which was a big IoT and Data Analytics project connecting all tournament stadiums. I'm a 20-year Microsoft Certified Trainer.

Andrew Ginter

VP Industrial Security, Waterfall Security Solutions

At Waterfall Security Andrew leads a team of experts who work with the world's most secure industrial enterprises. Before Waterfall, he led the development of high-end industrial control system products at Hewlett-Packard, of IT/OT middleware products at Agilent Technologies, and of the world's first industrial SIEM at Industrial Defender. Andrew is the author of two textbooks on industrial / OT cybersecurity, a co-author of the Industrial Internet Security Framework, and a co-author of the UITP report on cybersecurity requirements in rail system tendering. He co-hosts the Industrial Security Podcast and contributes regularly to industrial security standards and best-practice guidance.

Dr Paul Jukes PhD, CEng, CMarEng, FIMarEST

Director of Engineering, Pond & Co

Obtained a Honours Degree in Mechanical and Structural Engineering (BEng Hons), a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and a Doctorate in Structural Engineering (PhD). 

Over 25 years of experience in the Oil & Gas industry.  Previously the Group Managing Director for MCS Kenny, a Division of wood (formerly Wood Group).  Currently the Director of Engineering for Pond & Co. in Houston.

Joined the IMarEST as a Graduate Member in 1998, Member and a Chartered Engineer in 1999, and became a Fellow in 2005.  Honorary Secretary for the South East England Branch (SEE) of IMarEST (1999-2005) and Chairman for the ‘IMarEST Young Members Network’ (2005).  Past Regional Co-ordinator for the Young Marine Professional (YMP) (1999-2002), and judge for the SET Awards (2003-2005).  Previously Chairman of the Houston Gulf Coast Branch (2006 – 2012).  Council Member (2010-2013).  Board of Trustees (2007-2012).  Obtained President’ Commendation Award in 2006.

Coauthor of the ‘Encyclopedia of Maritime and Offshore Engineering’ jointly with Carlton, J., and Sang Y, Wiley Books, March 2018.