The organisers of the Palma International Yachting Forum have unveiled the line-up of chairpersons, specialist contributors as well as plenary session adjudicators. These “stars” will lead yachting industry professionals in three days of topical interaction and networking. The event will be held in May, alongside the Palma International Boat Show 2013.
The task of Lead Adjudicator will be shared by two talented women. The first, Brussels-based Mirna Cieniewicz, current Secretary General of the European Boating Industry, and joining her, Kate Mentink, a lady of local renown who juggles roles as board member of Mallorca’s ruling Partido Popular with responsibility for European Residents, Vice President of the Commission for European Issues and Assistant Director of the Centro Baleares Europa (Balearic Centre for Europeans) within the Balearic Government. Adjudication will be second nature for these formidable individuals.
Amongst the Palma International Yachting Forum’s specialist contributors are John Wyborn, Training Director of Bluewater Yachting, a man with his finger firmly on the pulse of latest regulations and qualifications in the industry, Andy Roy, Chairman of the Isle of Man Yacht Forum, a chartered accountant by profession who has been a sailor all his life and spoken extensively on everything yachting in particular matters of VAT and, David Capps, Chairman of Jersey Maritime International, an association which represents a number of marine-related Jersey-based firms on an international scale.
Joining the line-up are Jaime Veiga, Senior Project Officer from the European Maritime Safety Agency, an EU agency charged with reducing the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution from ships and loss of life at sea, Ken Hickling, Global Manager Business Development for paints and coatings company Akzo Nobel and President of the International Superyacht Society (ISS), Robert Aldous, Managing Director of marine safety equipment specialists Fireboy-Xintex Ltd and Lynn Walker, Marine Operations Director of Safezone International Ltd, flame-proofing experts for the superyacht market.
Forum organiser Peter Franklin says of the line-up, “We have divided the Forum into three highly relevant themes – crew, technical and administration – and have handpicked the leading industry lights to share their insight and latest developments. Throughout the three day Forum we will cover the Maritime Labour Convention and its application both onboard and in the shipyard, tax and pensions, crew insurance, coatings and antifoulings, fire and safety onboard, yacht ownership structures and finance, taxation and customs plus a special session dedicated to a Superyacht Outreach Project – how best to communicate the job creation and revenue generation afforded by the superyacht industry. Whilst topics may be detailed and complex, the atmosphere will remain informal with plenty of time for questions and plenary sessions. This Forum will be the ideal season opener, a must attend.”
The Palma International Yachting Forum runs from 1 to 3 May 2013, concurrently with the 30th Palma International Boat Show of 1 to 5 May. Outside of Forum session hours, delegates will be able to avail themselves of networking lunches, cocktail receptions and a paella dinner. A Forum highlight will be a friendly one-day golf competition at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Puntiro Golf Course on Saturday 4 May as well as the chance to experience a unique “Rib, Ride ‘n’ Rotor” Rally on Sunday 5 May.
