ESG Shipping Awards

Kostas has a long-term vision for the industry and an organisation’s role in it, and as a leader and manager he likes to think both strategically and operationally. Kostas enjoys challenging the status quo, introducing organisational improvements and innovations to progress a business and revamp it internally and externally.

Kostas is passionate about sustainability, ESG, and innovation, having worked for over 20 years in the shipping industry and energy before that, and on varying topics from maritime policy, environmental soundness and decarbonisation to market dynamics and intelligence. His background ranges from engineering and operations research to business and corporate responsibility.

He holds the position of Director / Secretary General of INTERCARGO since Oct. 2016. During his time, the Association’s membership has more than doubled to currently bringing together 250 forward thinking companies from 30 countries in uniting and promoting quality dry bulk shipping.

J.A.A.J. (Jan) Fransen, born 19 March 1958 in The Netherlands, always has been interested in shipping. So logically he choose for a career at sea and served in the Dutch merchant navy for about 12 years. Due to the recession in the Dutch maritime sector in the eighties, he became involved with Vessel Traffic Management systems with the Dutch Ministry of Transport and finally with the Port of Rotterdam. From his position as Traffic Manager and Casualty Officer with the Port of Rotterdam, Jan became acquainted with the ISO 9000 and 14000 systems, ISM and ISRS (International Safety Rating System) as well as auditing these systems. From here he became involved with the set-up of the Green Award Scheme and was employed by the Green Award Foundation since 1994. First Certification Manager and since 2005 Executive Director.

Apart from Green Award Jan is also active within the Environmental Ship Index program as well as within Equasis.

In the opinion of Jan Fransen, schemes like Green Award contribute to motivation and differentiation in Quality Shipping. The market mechanism (>175 incentive providers granting benefits for Green Award certified vessels (inland and ocean)) created by Green Award will result in a preference for Quality Tonnage on the charter market and elimination of substandard tonnage. Sustainable developments in maritime transport will be achieved. The UN-SDG’s are like a compass for his and the team course towards the future.

Elisabeth Vishnevskaja, CFA, is Head of Fixed Income at the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). As part of the Guidance team, she is responsible for the development of practical tools for PRI’s signatories relating to fixed income responsible investment practices. Elisabeth has a long-standing career in financial markets, with experience in both sell-side and buy-side institutions. She has hands-on experience incorporating environmental and broader ESG considerations in investment portfolios and she has keenly participated in the evolution of ESG solutions over the past few years.

Elisabeth holds a Masters Degree in Asset Management from Université Paris Dauphine – PSL, she is a CFA^® charter holder, and holds the Certificate in ESG investing from the CFA Institute.

Sascha has previously worked as Vice President Environment and Sustainability for CLIA on whose behalf he had worked within the European Sustainable Shipping Forum on the implementation of Fuel EU Maritime for the Cruise Sector. One of the key projects launched during this tender, was the alignment of the cruise operators to invest into a combined ocean and river study. Together with CLIA, IGRC, DNV, Ricardo and RINA, the biggest ever research was launched to outline the pathways for fuel and onboard technology infrastructure for the next decade within cruise.

In April 2024, he joined one of CLIA’s partners, United Waterways – the largest white label operator on the waterways, where he now holds the position of CEO. Sascha is also the Vice President of the European River Cruise Association.

In his earlier career, he worked as Vice President, Nautical Operations and has had several roles within hotel operations, and learning and development, for Viking Cruises. Before working in the cruise sector, he held the position of Senior Consultant Brand Protection for Richey International with responsibility for Asia and the US. Formerly, Sascha worked for leading hotel brands, namely Marriott, Intercontinental and Hilton in Russia and Central Europe. His cruise experience also includes roles onboard Seabourn Cruise Line and Cunard.

Sascha holds a Doctorate in Business from Nottingham Trent University, an MBA from Oxford Brookes University and an Executive Master Environmental Policy Making and International Negotiations from IHEID Geneva.

Michael Lund serves as the Deputy Secretary General, overseeing key aspects of BIMCO’s operations. His primary responsibilities include membership development and engagement, shipping market analyses, coordinating training activities, and managing offices in key global locations such as Singapore, Shanghai, Houston, and Athens. 

Originally from Denmark, Michael Lund earned a Master of Science in Economics degree from Copenhagen University in 1992, with a specialization in international trade and politics. His professional journey began with roles in Danish government administrations, contributing to World Trade Organization (WTO) and EU council negotiations. In 1999, Michael transitioned to the shipping industry, joining the Danish Shipowners’ Association. During his tenure in Copenhagen, he focused on tonnage tax, trade policy, and other pertinent issues.

In 2003, he moved to Brussels, representing shipowners and concentrating on regulatory developments within the EU. Michael returned to the Association’s headquarters in 2007, dedicating his efforts to addressing Greenhouse Gas issues. In December 2007, Michael Lund embraced the challenge and opportunity of joining BIMCO, drawn by the prospect of working in an international shipping environment. BIMCO is working on a range of ESG topics and has established an ESG Network among its members.

Dr. Tafsir Matin Johansson is an Assistant Professor (Research/Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management) at the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden. Prior to that, Tafsir served as Research Associate at WMU where he has held office since 2013. Tafsir is a policy analyst with a Ph.D. in Maritime Affairs from WMU, and an LLM in Maritime Law from the University of Lund, Sweden. His duties at the GOI include ocean governance and policy research, teaching and developing innovative statistical models to better assess drivers and indicators relevant to ocean research agenda.    

Tafsir has published extensively on maritime and ocean issues including: techno-regulatory dynamic governance, Arctic governance, vessels of concern, corporate social responsibility, marine pollution, climate change, conflict management and trust ecosystem, and Brexit and fisheries.

Tafsir has worked on or led a number of multidisciplinary projects, including: regulatory development projects funded by Transport Canada(Government of Canada) since 2014, as well as those funded under the Canadian Government’s Oceans Protection Plan covering critical topics, e.g., oil spill intervention, abandoned vessels and derelicts, ISPS Code, marine medical certificate for seafarers, maritime security, underwater noise, ballast water management, anchorage management and oversight in public ports, GHG emission reduction measures and environmental policy frameworks, and aquaculture of salmonids. In addition, Tafsir has served as an in-house researcher on projects funded by International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU), the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) and the Danish Shipowners’ Association.

Currently Tafsir serves as a CO-PI in a European Union Horizon2020 Programme funded project titled “Overcoming Regulatory Barriers for Service Robotics in an Ocean Industry Context” (BUGWRIGHT2; GA 871260).

Dr. Aspasia Pastra has been appointed Assistant Professor on Research/ Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management at the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) in Malmö, Sweden. To date, she has been involved in a number of State-of-the-Art Regulatory Projects and has published extensively in the fields of maritime policy, ocean technology, and decarbonisation. She has also worked for many years in Greek shipping companies and organisations.

 Dr. Michael Ierides is an experienced Secretary General with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry.

Skilled in Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Issues, Sustainable Business, and Biodiversity. Strong business development professional with a DEUGS B, Licence, DEA, Doctorat focused in Biochemistry from Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier.

From Sept 1992 he serves CYMEPA (Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association) as Secretary General. He is Visiting Lecturer at Frederick University, teaching ‘Management of the Sea Environment’. From April 2009 – December 2011 he served as Dean & Secretary General Managing Director at MAST (Magellan Academy of Shipping & Transport). At QMS Maritime Training Center of K.C.Lyrintzis Group he serves as Agent and Representative & Organising Maritime Teaching.

Professional Organisations: Member of Academy of Sciences (Cyprus), Member of the Biochemical Society (UK), Member of Cyprus Quality Association, President of the Cyprus Blue Flag National Jury and former National operator of the Blue Flag in Cyprus, Cyprus National Operator for Eco-Schools, Former Treasurer and Board member of the Foundation for Environmental Education, Member of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber PR Committee and Chairman of the Educational Activities Committee, Treasurer of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (affiliated to the Travel Foundation (UK), Consultant to the Cyprus Government at the International Maritime Organisation, Honorary Secretary of the Tsavliris Cultural Foundation, Steering Committee Member of INTERMEPA (International Marine Environment Protection Association), Member of the Board of the Cyprus Foundation of the Sea – CY-FOS, Deputy Chairman (elected) Parallel House of Parliament for the Environment, Ecology-Sustainability and Health.

Awards: The 2005 – ECO-Q Quality Services Award – awarded by the Greek Quality magazine “Eco-Q” for the
Environment, Sep. 2006, Award for outstanding work on environmental issues by the Hellenic Bank on account of the
introduction of the Eco-Schools programme to Cyprus, Sep 2008., The Cyprus Tourism Organisation Award for outstanding work on environmental issues on account of the introduction of the Blue Flag and Green Key programmes to Cyprus, Sep 2008

Publications: 1985 Triacylglycerol increase in plasma very low density lipoproteins in
cyclophosphamide-treated rabbit: relationship with cholesteryl ester transfer activity Biochimica Biophysica Acta 0836 Issue 3 pages 376 – 384
1985 Cholesteryl ester transfer protein – Size of the functional unit determined by radiation inactivation FEBS Letters 3145, 0193 Issue 01 pages 59-62

Mrs Dafne Anghelidis is the owner and General Manager of Agencia Maritima Intercontinental S.R.L. ARGENTINA

Graduated in the University of Merchant Marine in Buenos Aires, Argentina, her diploma is Licencee in Shipping Business. Her professional career started with the attendance of break bulk shipments. Later on she continued her career in the reefer transportation industry as chartering manager of a Dutch shipping line, Seatrade Groningen, in Buenos Aires, being in charge of freight negotiations with fruit, beef and fish exporters. Five years later, she was hired by Maersk Line in Argentina to develop the containerization of reefer cargo, turning the fish and fruit shipments from reefer break bulk into containers. After 16 years of employment in Maersk Line, she became General Manager of the family company Agencia Maritima Intercontinental S.R.L. Shipping Agency, developing the Logistics Division of perishable cargo and the attendance of vessels as ship owners representative.

In 2014 she joined WISTA Argentina, in 2016 she became the Secretary General of WISTA Argentina, in 2019 she was elected president of WISTA Argentina, in 2022 she was elected EXCO member of WISTA International.