Chaired by: Ken Hickling

Director, Sherpa 63

Catrin Bassett

BM Composites Distribution Manager

Catrin has a background in commercial sales and marketing in the music industry and was Commercial Director of EMI Records in London and also an International Manager in Europe and South East Asia.  She has also worked in Business Coaching with companies in Paris and Madrid including Nespresso, Clarins and the European Central Bank.  She joined BMComposites recently to help expand the existing product distribution business with Gurit and other brands and co-ordinate marketing across the company.

James van Bregt

Yacht Agent and Editor (for Yacht Guides), Estela Shipping

James spent a 30-year career in the City of London’s commodities markets and co-founded a successful publishing business, sold to Thomson Reuters in 2008. As a freelance business copywriter, James moved to Mallorca in 2016 and wrote Estela’s second annual edition of ‘The Y Yachting Itineraries’, joining the yacht agency full-time in 2018. He is the editor of The Y and is responsible for Estela’s social media and communications. During the season, he becomes one of the agency’s operational team, working to support captains and crew when visiting the Balearics.

Pat Bullock

Network Marine Consultants

Fiona McCarthy

Charter Broker, Fraser Yachts

Fiona hails from Dublin, Ireland, and grew up sailing in Dublin Bay and the Northern Loughs. She read Chemical Oceanography at Southampton University before she embarked on her career as an Oceanographer in Bermuda.

Her passion for yachting soon took her out to sea again, and she went on to work on yachts (predominantly sailing yachts) for 15 years as Chef, Mate and Purser. This has given Fiona an extensive knowledge of yachts, chartering from an operational perspective as well as many fantastic cruising areas including the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, East Coast USA and Pacific Mexico.

She has since worked ´onshore´ at yacht builders and as a charter broker with FRASER YACHTS.

Jens Oomes

Invisible Crew

Joost Goverts

Sales Broker & Managing Director, Northrop & Johnson

Northrop & Johnson Managing Director and Senior Broker Joost Goverts has, with Simon Turner, co-managed the development of the Palma office into a globally renowned brokerage for sailing superyachts. Joost’s passion for sailing has been a significant factor in his rise to one of the leading sail superyacht brokers in Europe. It is, however, his fundamental belief that world-class brokerage professional services are built on a deep understanding of the process of yacht transactions that attracts clients for both sail and motor superyachts.

Since 2002 Joost has been a central figure in Palma’s yacht brokerage community, and he has been Co-Managing Director of Northrop & Johnson Spain since 2007. His clients look to him to leverage this experience and his proven ability to defend his client’s interests during the peaks and troughs of the market and economic cycles.

Natascha Weber

Senior Charter Broker/Charter Manager at Northrop & Johnson Spain

Juergen Koch

Fraser Spain

Juergen Koch started as a Yacht Broker with Camper & Nicholsons in 1984. Five years later he was hired by the Lürssen Shipyard to build up their sales and brokerage department. Luerssen Yachts Spain became later Koch, Newton & Partners, which developed into one of the world’s top companies with a reputation second to none. In 2006 the company was purchased by Merrill Stevens. However, after Merrill Stevens gave up all yacht services and brokerage activities, Juergen and his team in Palma de Mallorca joined Fraser in 2009 for their vast global presence and fully integrated spectrum of yacht services.

Alejandro Bonet Templeton

Nautica Legal

Alejandro Bonet Templeton studied Law at the University of Salamanca (Spain), with specializations in International Private Law in Lithuania (Mykolo Romerio University of Vilnus) and Corporate and Private International Law in Santiago de Chile (Pontificia Universidad C., Santiago de Chile.).

He is partner in Nautica Legal, leading its brand expansion in the Balearics Islands from Ibiza, specialized in Maritime Law within the yachting sector, assisting in matters related to purchase of yachts and berths, charter licensing in the Balearics and litigation and pioneer in Ship Arrest in relation to berth and contractual liabilities.”

Begüm DOĞULU

Owner / Managing Director, Begüm Yachting

Franc Jansen

JMS Yachting

Peter Murray Kerr

Director, PMK Yachts & Moorings

Peter Murray Kerr is the Director of Port de la Rague (West of Cannes) and is the Secretary General of UPACA, the federation of marinas along the south-eastern coast of France from the Italian border to Camargue, including the ports of Monaco. Peter is also an independent consultant in the marina sector, specialising in berth and marina valuations as well as marina business planning.

Before his involvement in marina management, Peter has had various roles in the yachting sector, in brokerage, charter, yacht management and of course yacht berth brokerage. As he believes the future of the superyacht industry depends greatly on a better understanding and better collaboration between the senior and younger generations of yachting professionals, Peter has been one of the founding members and presidents of Young Professionals in Yachting Monaco (YPY Monaco).

Malen Llompart Gual

Marketing & Commercial, Alcudiamar

Malen Llompart Gual, born in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), studied International Hotel Management at the University of the Balearic Islands, but headed towards the nautical world, by joining Alcudiamar in 2003. Since 2013, she has held the position of Marketing Director coordinating commercial and communication campaigns, defining strategies, creating projects and monitoring events.”

Pedro Pestano de Silva

Marosa VAT

Pedro Pestana has 11 years of experience in VAT compliance in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

He participated in the set-up of big4 compliance centres in London and Singapore. He is the author of a comprehensive manual on European VAT compliance and several articles about European VAT. Over the last 4 years, Pedro has helped businesses in the yachting industry with their VAT recovery and VAT compliance obligations in Italy, France and Spain.

Veronica Saavedra

Garrigues Law Firm

I am a senior associate of the law firm Garrigues a leading firm in the legal and tax practice with 32 own offices worldwide in 13 countries.

I am a solicitor with an Executive Master’s degree in Business Law and I have 12 years of experience in taxation, having specialized in the taxation of the superyachts and the yachting industry. I have extensive experience regarding the taxation in Spain of superyachts sailing in Spanish waters as well as in relation to the taxation of charter activities in Spain along with the personal taxation of the crew.

Having completed part of my studies at the University of Exeter in the UK, I maintain close ties with English-speaking clients.

I am a member of the Balearic Islands Bar Association”.

Vicky Farrow

Managing Director, Quintessence Yachts

Vicky Farrow is an experienced Sales Director with over 15 years in the marine industry working with some of the best-known luxury motorboat brands.

She began her career with Windy boats whilst working for Berthon. From there she moved to work with Princess, Sunseeker then onto Fairline and was a consultant for various other luxury motorboat brands. She has worked in Dubai, Qatar, South of France, Spain and the Seychelles to name but a few, where her luxury motorboat experience was further strengthened by selling Atlantis, Azimut, Benetti and Ferretti yachts.

Having grown up on the water – she owned her first boat at just six years old and by the time she was in her teens, she was teaching watersports, sailing and powerboating. Never one to shy away from helming, Vicky is a more than competent skipper and her boating experience has proved invaluable in her work.

Vicky’s passion for sales coupled with her love of boats has taken her all over the world and her goal is to utilise her expertise to drive the business forward globally with Quintessence Yachts.

Craig Barnett

Sales & Marketing Manager, Triton Submarines

Two decades as an Editor-in-Chief of yachting publications provided Craig with a wide-aspect view of the yachting sector. It took just one submersible dive in The Bahamas however to convince him his future passion and profession lay with Triton Submarines as International Sales Manager. Undoubtedly a niche but rapidly growing sector, Triton’s remarkable submersibles have been employed in a wide variety of scientific, exploration, documentary and record-setting expeditions. Seeking to replicate the immersive level of engagement one experiences in a Triton, Craig’s goal is to provide Owners and industry professionals a valuable insight into vehicles that provide access to the very engine-room of our planet.

Richard Booth

Superyacht Tenders & Toys & Toys

Richard has over 16 years experience in the industry and heads up the yacht tender sales and oversees the project management of tender builds. Richard has a background as a yacht captain and also working as a bosun on board super yachts running a large chase boat. He has worked at SYTT for over 5 years and has a vast amount of expertise in yacht tenders, specialising in custom builds. He is able to guide clients through the whole sales process,  help match the right tender for a clients needs, negotiate contracts, specifying the vessel and overseeing the builds. Superyacht Tenders and Toys are independent tender specialists and are able to assist at any level on any new projects. Our reputation in the industry is second to none, with over 100 new tender builds under our belt we have a proven track record selling and project managing some of the most highly specialised yacht tenders in the industry with a wealth of experience to match.

Jonathan Turner

Superyacht Aviation

Jonathan spent 17 years flying helicopters in the Royal Navy and is now the director of MAST Consultancy, a company specialising in delivery of maritime aviation consultancy and training to the superyacht industry.  With a wealth of experience operating helicopters around the world, MAST helps superyacht clients to operate helicopters, safely and efficiently.

Rene Bremer

Account Manager Superyacht, AkzoNobel

René Bremer (1960) was born in a coating-family running a decoration company and paint shop at home.

Following an education specialized in coating-chemistry; René started his path in the laboratory of a coating manufacturer in the Netherlands back in 1982.

Over the years most of his path was focused to sales in Deco and  Aerospace Coatings; the latter one mainly focused on Russia, The Middle East and the Gulf region.

Since 2017 René started in the Yacht Industry as area sales manager, followed in 2018 as Sales Manager Super Yacht.

His entire work career, of which the last 26 years with AkzoNobel, is colored by paint and coatings.

Richard Jennings

AkzoNobel

32 years Industry knowledge in Both Marine engineering and paint systems, previous positions held as Painter & applicator, operations manager, production Manager & Paint Manger. The later position being held with Sunseeker International, prior to Joining Akzonobel in 2013 as a Global technical service representative , carrying out training, product testing and vessel inspections under an RMCI qualification. From 2015 to date Technical service manager for Yacht division Akzonobel.

Oscar Siches

Yacht Harbour Expert

With navy school background and as offshore racing and cruising yachtsman, Oscar Siches has broad experience in the boating industry having skippered sail and power yachts in the Med and the Caribbean, both for private and charter clients.

Partner and manager during 15 years of two marinas in Palma de Mallorca Oscar is consultant for design and operation of marina projects in various countries, and designer of customized marina elements.

He is a Certified Marina Manger and Certified Marina Professional, and member of ICOMIA’s Marinas Committee, member of PIANC Recreational Navigation Committee, Spanish expert in yacht harbours at the ISO organization and founding member of the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association and the Global Marina Institute, where he served 6 years as director.

In the last 12 years Oscar has been speaker at more than 25 marina conferences in 12 countries. He is one of the main contributors to Marina World magazine and his articles are published in other international publications.

Kenny Jones MBE

EVP Operations, IGY

Kenny Jones is currently the Executive Vice President – Global Operations for Island Global Yachting (IGY) a US based company.  IGY currently own and operate 17 facilities in 10 countries and have a vast portfolio of retail, food and beverage, and commercial properties.  Before IGY, Kenny was the Operations Director for the one of the largest marina operators in Europe, responsible for every facet of the group’s operational portfolio and performance. He joined the industry as a Marina Manager, in 2003. To date, Kenny has managed over 30 marinas and 18 boat yards in over 18 different countries and cultures.  Prior to joining the industry Kenny served over 20 years in the British Army, as one of the Senior Maritimes Operations Officer for amphibious operations. During his service in the British army, Kenny was awarded the Member of the British Empire Medal (MBE) and other accolades.

Onur Ugan

CMM Operation Director, Turkey D-Marin

Onur has started his career working in a commercial 256-meter vessel as third officer. He completed his military service as second lieutenant. He then started working in the marina sector as dock master at Port Göcek Marina in 1999. He worked as berth master, senior berth master, front office chief, front office manager, boatyard and front office manager respectively. He was appointed as Marina Manager after Port Göcek Marina was owned by Doğuş Group in December 2010.

Apart from marina management duties of D-Marin Göcek, Onur also started working as Operations Director of D-Marin marinas in Turkey since February 2018. He is responsible for overall business performance and sustainability of D-Marin marinas in Turkey including; marinas operations, budgeting, staff trainings, customer relationships, investments decided by BOD, improvement of the business and service quality of the marinas, new ideas and business development opportunities offerings to management.

Onur is passionate about the sea and the environment. He has a Diving Licence, Class III Master Captain Licence, IRC Measurer Licence. He is currently the vice president of Chamber of Shipping Fethiye Branch. He is the local representative of Cruising Association, Swedish Crusing Club and Kreuzer- Abteilung. He is the vicecomodore of Göcek Yacht Club, President of Göcek Culture and Tourism Assocation.

Onur graduated from Fishery Faculties at Ege University in İzmir. He lives in Göcek with his beautiful twins.

Tony Browne

Porto Montenegro

Tony is a former superyacht captain with 10 years’ experience at sea, two circumnavigations of the globe and over 80,000 nautical miles of sailing under his belt to ports all over the world where he developed his interest in marinas.

Taking his experience of the varying standards of worldwide marinas, over the last 12 years, Tony has managed the Porto Montenegro Marina team from design and construction development, through to the ongoing operational aspects of this industry-leading Superyacht marina.

Caroline Navarro

Yachting Specialist, Caroline Navarro Yachting

Dr Spike Briggs MD

Medical Director, MSOS

Dr Spike Briggs CEng FRCA is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia in the UK. He originally graduated with a degree in civil engineering, worked in the offshore industry for over ten years (including being at Piper Alpha in 1988), and then entered Medical School. He has sailed all his life, including a round the world yacht race in 1996. For the past twenty years, he has been involved in providing medical advice for many yacht races, including the Volvo Ocean Race and the America’s Cup. He is an advisor to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the UK, and is lead author of the latest edition of the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide. He has also written several other books on remote healthcare at sea and on land. He is a member of the Medical Commission for World Sailing, organising the medical aspects of international competitive sailing, including the Olympic Games. He is the owner and managing director of Medical Support Offshore Ltd, which provides support for superyachts, racing and leisure yachts, and commercial shipping worldwide.

Nick Stael von Holstein

European Sales Manager, MSOS

Extensive experience in the yacht & marine industry with focus on Safety – Medical & Diving Safety Consultant in the Superyacht market, Sales & Marketing Executive, Former Yacht Captain & Diving instructor based in Mallorca, Spain.  Dive Instructor for 30+ years. Passionate diver and lover of the ocean and marine realm.

Paul Clark

Labour and Economic affairs attaché, British Embassy in Madrid

Paul Clark is currently the Economic and Labour Affairs Attaché at the British Embassy in Madrid. Prior to joining the Foreign and Commonwealth office, Paul worked for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and has also worked as a Policy Advisor for HM Treasury. Paul holds a B.A in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford and a Master’s degree in International Trade, Finance and Development from Barcelona’s Graduate School of Economics.

Miguel Angel Serra

Socio / Partner, Albors Galiano Portales

Miguel Angel Serra is partner and head office of the Palma office at Albors Galiano & Portales, the Spanish leading legal firm in shipping law for many years (Chambers&Partners). He is solicitor, economist, master degree in Tax Law, lecturer in Tax law at Balearic Islands University, lecturer in the Master’s Degree in Taxation at the Balearic Islands University (UIB) and also lecturer at the renowned Eserp business school.

Miguel Angel is a renowned expert in taxes, mainly in the areas of yachting and real state. He has advised in many domestic and international projects to Spanish and foreign companies, yacht owners (private and commercial), yacht managers, associations, marinas, shipyards, crew, etc.

He is also tax and legal advisor of ANEN, the Spanish National Yachting Association, regular speaker and moderator at the main conferences, yacht shows and yachting forums in Europe and America and has regularly articles published in the national and international press and specialized tax publications. Member of the Spanish Bar and Economist Associations.

Diego Colon

CEO, Astilleros de Mallorca & President of Balearic Yacht Destination

Joan Gual de Torrella Guasp

President of Port Authority, Palma

Peter Firth

Production Department, Atlante Group