Energy transition, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and the development of the next generation of maritime leaders at the heart of “Maritime Innovation Outlook: Resilience and Future Readiness”. 

Bringing together distinguished representatives of the international maritime industry and academia, the “Maritime Innovation Outlook: Resilience and Future Readiness” event took place on Friday, 6 November, at the V.Ships Amphitheatre in Piraeus. The event was organised by the Imperial College Alumni Association of Greece (ICAAG) in collaboration with Imperial College London. 

The event built on the dialogue initiated during Posidonia 2026 through an earlier Imperial College London initiative, co-organised by ICAAG. 

The organising team comprised Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis, Dr Matthew Maheras, Dr Laura Benzonana and Sofia Skevofylaka from ICAAG, working closely with Prof. Evina Katsou, Dr Ilias Giannakeas and Dr Vasileia Vasilaki from Imperial College London. 

Held under the auspices of the British Embassy Athens, the event highlighted the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of global shipping, with particular emphasis on decarbonisation, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, operational resilience, and the development of new skills and leadership capabilities. 

The event brought together distinguished Imperial College London alumni who now hold leadership positions across the international maritime industry and academia. 

Opening remarks were delivered by Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis, President of ICAAG and Professor at the National Technical University of Athens (Imperial MSc Management Science); Dimitris Patrikios, Managing Director of V.Ships Greece & Med Cluster (Imperial MSc Management Science); and Katharina Arnold, Counsellor at the British Embassy Athens. 

The keynote addresses were delivered by Prof. Nigel Brandon, Vice-President (Corporate Engagement) of Imperial College London, and Dr John Coustas, Chairman and CEO of Danaos Corporation (Imperial MSc & PhD). Their contributions set the stage for a broader discussion on connecting academic research, technological innovation and maritime business. 

Session 1: From Technological Innovation to Practical Implementation 

A central highlight of the event was the panel discussion “Future-Ready Shipping: Navigating the Energy, Digital and AI Transition”, moderated by Dr Matthew Maheras, Chief Information Officer of Metrostar Management Corp., President of AMMITEC and Board Member of the Imperial College Alumni Association of Greece (Imperial MBA). 

The panel brought together Prof. Nigel Brandon, Vice-President of Imperial College London; Evangelos Fragkoulis, Head of Ship Design & Technology at the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping; Dr Panos Theodosopoulos, CEO of ERMA FIRST (Imperial PhD); Apostolos Poulovasilis, former Regional Director EMEA at Lloyd’s Register and Director of the School of Maritime Studies at BCA (Imperial BEng); and Noya Charmanidou, Senior Consultant, Operational Excellence & Digital Advisory at Lloyd’s Register (Imperial EMBA Candidate). 

The discussion explored the impact of the energy transition on maritime business models, the opportunities presented by digitalisation and artificial intelligence, and the importance of effective governance, collaboration and skills development. 

Particular emphasis was placed on moving beyond technological experimentation towards the practical implementation of innovation. The challenge facing shipping companies is no longer simply the adoption of new technologies, but their safe integration into day-to-day operations, the creation of measurable business value and the preservation of human oversight in decision-making. 

Developing the Next Generation of Women Maritime Leaders 

A dedicated session, “Developing the Next Generation of Women Maritime Leaders”, highlighted the collaboration between Imperial College London and the Asian University for Women, aimed at advancing education, skills development and female leadership within the maritime industry. 

The session featured Prof. Evina Katsou of Imperial College London; Dr Ilias Giannakeas, Digitalisation Lead within Imperial College London’s Resilience & Sustainability research group; Søren Sass, Nordic and European Director of the Asian University for Women Support Foundation; and Vivi Kolliopoulou, President of WISTA Hellas. 

The session was chaired by Dr Laura Benzonana, Chief Operating Officer of Health4Crew and Treasurer of the Imperial College Alumni Association of Greece (Imperial BSc, MRes & PhD). 

The initiative underscored the importance of collaboration between universities, businesses and professional organisations in creating greater opportunities for education, professional development and the advancement of women into leadership positions across the international maritime sector. 

Strengthening Collaboration Between Academia and the Maritime Industry 

The continuation of this initiative in Athens demonstrates the opportunities for stronger connections between academic research and the practical needs of the maritime industry. It also highlights the active role of the Greek Imperial College alumni community in promoting knowledge, innovation and international collaboration. 

In his closing remarks, Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis reiterated the importance of maintaining an ongoing dialogue between universities, businesses and maritime professionals. 

The event concluded with a networking reception, providing an opportunity for further exchange of ideas and the development of new collaborations. 

The event was held under the auspices of the British Embassy Athens, with the sponsorship of V.Ships and POLYGREEN, and the support of the Young Executives Shipping Forum (YES Forum). 

Imperial College Alumni Association of Greece (ICAAG)