Event programme
Monday 17 November 2025
Hong Kong Conference and Exhibition Centre
N101 Meeting Room
Building Resilience, Driving Growth & Investment
08:00-08:45 Registration
08:45-09:00 Welcome and Opening Keynote Remarks
Paul Chan Mo-po, GBM GBS MH JP, Financial Secretary, The Government of the Hong Kong SAR
Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman, International Chamber of Shipping
Angad Banga JP, Chairman Hong Kong Shipowners Association, Hong Kong SAR; COO, Caravel Group, Hong Kong SAR
Moderator: David Shukman, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics, United Kingdom
09:00-09:45 Geopolitics and Trade Realignment
(Moderated Ministerial/Industry panel discussion)
In an era of volatile trade dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and shifting alliances, the global rulebook for commerce is being rewritten. Tariffs are being wielded as strategic tools, and new alliances have become a priority in navigating uncertainty and building resilience. This session explores how private/public partnerships are critical to sustaining
global maritime trade, enabling the industry to scale, innovate, and withstand disruption.
Key questions for the panel:
• How are shifting geopolitical alliances impacting global trade flows and what is the impact on risk management, routing and insurance?
• How will new trade blocs and alliances reshape shipping?
• How can tariffs and other trade measures be balanced to deliver economic stability and growth?
• What role can public-private partnerships play in building resilience to global shocks?
Moderator:
• Peter Foster, World Trade Editor, Financial Times, United Kingdom
Panellists
• Hon. Dr Chris Bonett, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, Republic of Malta
• Carl-Johan Hagman, President & CEO, NYK Group Europe; Chief Officer, Japanese Shipowners’ Association, Europe District Branch, United Kingdom
• Rolf Thore Roppestad, CEO, Gard, Norway; Chair International Group of P&I Clubs
• Brian Wessel, Chair, Consultative Shipping Group; CEO Danish Maritime Authority, Denmark
• Caroline Yang, CEO, Hong Lam Marine, Singapore
09:45-10:15 Networking Break
10:15-10:20 Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General, IMO (by Video)
10:20-10:35 Fireside Chat
What is the geopolitical and economic impact of the recent decisions taken at the IMO?
David Shukman, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics, United Kingdom in conversation with:
Hing Chao, Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Ltd, Hong Kong SAR
10:35-11:20 Building Resilient Supply Chains
In today’s volatile and unpredictable trade landscape, this session will examine how global supply chains are being rewired and what this means for shipping volumes, port infrastructure, and risk management.
Key questions for the panel:
• What are the emerging risks to supply chains and what are the strategies that can be put in place to mitigate them?
• How are ports balancing the need for efficiency, sustainability and resilience amid changing demands?
• How can shipping, ports and governments collaborate to enhance supply chain resilience?
• Should shipping be considered a global critical infrastructure?
Moderator: Peter Tirschwell, Vice President for Maritime & Trade at S&P Global Market Intelligence, USA
Panellists:
• Arjun Batra, Executive Chairman, Drewry, Singapore
• Dr Gaby Bornheim, President, German Shipowners’ Association; ICS Vice Chair, Germany
• Nick Brown, CEO, Lloyds Register, United Kingdom
• Moses Cheng Mo-chi GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman, Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board, Hong Kong SAR
• Andreas Enger, CEO, Höegh Autoliners, Norway
11:20-12:05 Financing a dynamic and resilient maritime economy
Access to finance is critical for building a dynamic, and viable maritime economy. This session explores current trends in capital availability and how financial markets are responding to the sector’s needs for innovation, growth and transformation.
Key questions for the panel:
• How can investors and industry better manage the risks from the competing demands of geopolitical uncertainty, security tensions and industry transformation?
• As traditional sources of finance retreat, who and what is filling the gap?
• What is the outlook from the maritime insurance perspective?
Moderator: Nick Shaw, CEO, International Group of P&I Clubs, United Kingdom
Panellists
• Angad Banga JP, Chairman Hong Kong Shipowners Association, Hong Kong SAR; COO, Caravel Group, Hong Kong SAR
• Kenneth Lam JP, Founder & CEO SeaKapital, Hong Kong SAR
• Ines Lam, Associate Director, Asia Economics, HSBC, Hong Kong SAR
• H.E. Even Tronstad Sagebakken, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Kingdom of Norway
12:05 Closing Remarks
Mable Chan JP, Secretary Transport and Logistics, Hong Kong SAR
12:15 Close of Conference