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Singapore Maritime Foundation Gathers Industry Leaders to Navigate Complex Global Outlook and Foster Sector Cohesiveness at the SMF New Year Conversations 2026

January 13, 2026
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Singapore, 13 January 2026 — This evening, more than 250 industry leaders representing the public and private sectors across Singapore’s diverse maritime ecosystem attended the SMF New Year Conversations 2026. Mr. Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport, graced the event as Guest-of-Honor and delivered the opening address.

Panel Discussion on Market Outlook, Risks and Opportunities

A highlight of the SMF New Year Conversations 2026 was a panel that discussed the outlook for the year ahead amid volatility and risks. The distinguished panelists and moderator were:

Panelists

  • Mr. Jan Dieleman, President, Cargill Ocean Transportation
  • Mr. Rolf Thore Roppestad, Chairman of IG Group and Chief Executive Officer, Gard
  • Mr. Nicholas Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Lloyd’s Register
  • Ms. Harvonne Yap, Vice President, Products Freight Trading, Shell
  • Mr. Jeremy Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Swire Shipping

 

Moderator
Mr. Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman, BW Group

 

Quote by SMF Chairman

“Through platforms such as the annual New Year Conversations, the Singapore Maritime Foundation brings the industry together and provides an avenue for senior leaders across the ecosystem to connect, take stock of the industry’s developments, and share insights. As a trusted partner to both the public and private sectors, SMF will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to drive collective action on strategic priorities such as building the talent pipeline and enhancing Maritime Singapore’s competitiveness,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation.

Mr. Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport, delivers the Opening Address.
Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation, welcomes industry leaders to the SMF New Year Conversations 2026.
Mr. Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman, BW Group, moderates a panel discussion on market outlook and amid volatility and risks. The panelists comprise industry leaders Mr. Jan Dieleman, President, Cargill Ocean Transportation; Mr. Rolf Thore Roppestad, Chairman of IG Group and Chief Executive Officer, Gard; Mr. Nicholas Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Lloyd’s Register; Ms. Harvonne Yap, Vice President, Products Freight Trading, Shell; and Mr. Jeremy Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Swire Shipping.
The SMF Board ushers 2026 in with a New Year toast.

                                                                                                                                    –END–

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About the Singapore Maritime Foundation

Established in 2004, the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) fosters public-and-private sector collaboration, promotes Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC), and develops a talent pipeline and skilled workforce to position Maritime Singapore for continued growth. For details, visit www.smf.com.sg.

Media Contacts

David Lee
davidlee@sgmf.com.sg
+65 9119 8044

Joshua Ong
joshuaong@sgmf.com.sg
+65 9011 6304

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Mr. Lars Kastrup

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LINES

Mr. Lars Kastrup is the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd (PIL).

Prior to joining PIL, Mr. Kastrup was CEO of NOL/APL, and subsequently assumed the role of Executive Vice President, Strategy and M&A at CMA CGM Group. A veteran in the global shipping industry with over 30 years of experience, Mr Kastrup’s other roles include Executive Vice President of Assets at CMA CGM Group heading up CMA Terminals, CMA Ships, Container Logistics as well as regional carriers such as MacAndrews, OPDR and Mercosul; as well as Vice President at AP Moller-Maersk.
Mr. Kastrup complemented his tertiary education with leadership and management training at Penn State University and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Angeline Teo

MANAGING DIRECTOR & HEAD, GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION & OFFSHORE, OCBC BANK

Ms. Angeline Teo is the Managing Director and Head of Global Transportation and Offshore, Global Corporate Banking at OCBC Bank which focuses on the maritime, aviation, land & port ecosystems.
Ms. Teo has spent over three decades in maritime finance. Prior to OCBC, Ms. Teo was working at ING Bank, ABN Amro and DnB in Singapore focusing on maritime and offshore.
Ms. Teo graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Business Administration.

Mr. John Martin

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GARD SINGAPORE

Mr. John Martin began his career in London in 1989 with Richards Hogg Lindley Average Adjusters, and qualified as a Fellow of the UK Association of Average Adjusters in 2000.
At RHL he worked in their offices in Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In 2003 he joined Gard Hong Kong, as a claims handler. Mr. Martin also worked in Gard Japan, and in 2014 he moved to Singapore to set up the Gard Singapore office.
Besides running Gard Singapore, Mr. Martin also heads the P&I and H&M claims units and is the Senior Claims Representative for Gard in Asia.

Mr. Cyril Ducau

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EASTERN PACIFIC SHIPPING

Mr. Cyril Ducau is the Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte Ltd, a leading shipping company headquartered in Singapore for the past 30 years.

He is also currently the Chairman of Kenon Holdings Ltd and a member of the board of directors of Gard P&I (Bermuda) Ltd. and of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation Limited, which was established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. He was previously Head of Business Development of Quantum Pacific Advisory Limited in London from 2008 to 2012 and acted as Director and Chairman of Pacific Drilling SA between 2011 and 2018.
Prior to joining Quantum Pacific Advisory Limited, Mr. Ducau was Vice President in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley & Co. International Ltd. in London between 2000 and 2008.
Mr. Ducau graduated from ESCP Europe Business School (Paris, Oxford, Berlin) and holds a Master of Science in business administration and a Diplom Kaufmann.