Programme

08:00
Okapi Rooms
08:00 – 09:00

Registration and refreshments

09:00
Okapi Rooms
09:00 – 09:10

Welcome to the IMCA Global Summit 2026

Moderator
  • Susannah Streeter Susannah Streeter Host
Okapi Rooms
09:10 – 09:30

Session 1: Global offshore outlook - What's next?

David Linden, Executive Director at Westwood Global Energy Group, will give an expert perspective on the changing outlook for global offshore energy markets, the evolving needs of offshore developers, and the challenges and opportunities that this will create for the marine contracting industry. 

Speaker
Okapi Rooms
09:30 – 10:05

IMCA 2030 - Raising Standards. Empowering People. Sustaining the Future

IMCA’s President Hugo Bouvy, Board Member Cinthya Lopes and CEO Iain Grainger will discuss how IMCA will chart a course for 2030, defining how IMCA will bring Members together to advance technical excellence and global standardisation, champion a safe, skilled, and diverse workforce, and support sustainability and operational efficiency in line with IMCA’s new 2030 strategy, which will be unveiled at the two-day conference.

Speakers
  • Cinthya Lopes Cinthya Lopes Director / IMCA Board Member, Simwave BV
Okapi Rooms
10:05 – 10:15

Welcome to Antwerp

10:15
Okapi Rooms
10:15 – 11:00

Refreshment break and exhibition

11:00
Marble Hall
11:00 – 12:15

Session 2a: What we can learn from industries that chose people

Moderator
Speaker
Gorilla Rooms
11:00 – 12:15

Session 2b: Preventing the next Serious Injury or Fatality (SIF): from insight to action

Serious injuries and fatalities remain one of the most important challenges facing offshore marine contracting. This session will move from insight to action, exploring where SIF risk is emerging, how leading companies are responding, and what practical steps can make the greatest difference offshore. Short member presentations will consider critical controls, meaningful KPIs, leadership, human factors and frontline engagement, before a panel discussion asks what really prevents serious harm in practice. Audience input will help identify the SIF risks IMCA should prioritise and the practical guidance, tools and insights members need to support future prevention.

Moderator
  • Mark Holmes Mark Holmes Safety & Security Manager, IMCA
Speakers
  • Eric Annand Eric Annand Group Health and Safety Director, Subsea7
  • Derek Hibbard Derek Hibbard Chairman of the Global HSSE&Q Leadership Team, Fugro
  • Francisco Maffei Francisco Maffei Head of HSEQ Offshore Construction, Saipem
Darwin Hall
11:00 – 12:15

Session 2c: Navigating change: EU and IMO policy developments

This session will explore the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape shaping maritime decarbonisation, with a focus on key developments at both EU and IMO level. It will examine topics such as the expansion of the EU Emissions Trading System to shipping and progress on the IMO’s Net Zero Framework, including emerging global measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bringing together policymakers and industry leaders, the discussion will highlight areas of convergence and divergence between regional and global approaches, assess implications for the offshore sector, and consider how regulatory alignment and a pragmatic approach can deliver effective change.

Moderator
12:15
Okapi Rooms
12:15 – 13:15

Lunch and exhibition

13:15
Okapi Rooms
13:15 – 13:55

Keynote Session: AI in Offshore

Speakers
  • Saravan Penubarthi Saravan Penubarthi Chief Technology Officer, AIQ
  • Marius Five Aarset Marius Five Aarset CEO, Miros
13:55
Okapi Rooms
13:55 – 14:00

Movement break

14:00
Marble Hall
14:00 – 15:00

Session 3a: From entry to impact: what the next generation really needs

Hosted by the IMCA Next Generation Network, this interactive workshop will bring together early-career professionals and experienced industry leaders to explore how different generations view the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the marine contracting industry. Through facilitated discussions in mixed-experience groups, participants will share perspectives on key topics [including AI and automation, the energy transition, maritime security, offshore survey, decommissioning, diving, marine biodiversity, circularity in supply chains, lifting and rigging, and other themes emerging from the summit programme. The session will provide a platform for open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration between current and future industry leaders. Key insights from each group discussion will be shared with the wider audience, highlighting common themes, differing viewpoints, and practical takeaways for the industry as it navigates a rapidly evolving landscape.

Gorilla Rooms
14:00 – 15:00

Session 3b: Offshore security in a changing threat landscape

Offshore security risks are changing quickly. Geopolitical instability, GNSS jamming and spoofing, and the growing use of drones are creating new challenges for offshore marine contractors. This session will explore what these threats mean in practice, using current security insight and operational examples from offshore construction and sensitive operating areas. Panelists will show how companies can prepare for, adapt to, and recover from security disruption, and where IMCA can best support members through shared learning, practical guidance, and coordinated industry action.

Moderator
Speakers
  • Nicolas Krmic Nicolas Krmic Group Security Director – Corporate HSSEQ, Subsea7
  • Olivier de Gestas Olivier de Gestas Corporate Security Advisor, Subsea7
  • Rolinda van Zanten Rolinda van Zanten Manger QHSE. DPA/CSO, Van Oord
Darwin Hall
14:00 – 15:00

Session 3c: DP in offshore wind: beyond position keeping

Competence, access, and operational performance: dynamic positioning operations within offshore wind farms

Speakers
  • Cinthya Lopes Cinthya Lopes Director / IMCA Board Member, Simwave BV
  • Mark Paalvast Mark Paalvast Managing Director, MO4
  • Jaimie Daelman Jaimie Daelman VDAB
  • Jannie Scholtz Jannie Scholtz Mackay Marine
15:00
Okapi Rooms
15:00 – 15:30

Refreshment break and exhibition

15:30
Marble Hall
15:30 – 17:00

Session 4a: Shaping the future of offshore survey: IMCA Guidance and workforce development

Two spotlight sessions highlighting the IMCA Offshore Survey Division’s technical guidance alongside initiatives inspiring new entrants and strengthening the survey talent pipeline.

Moderator
Speakers
  • Gordon Brown Gordon Brown Andrews Survey, Survey Manager
  • Michiel Van de Munt Michiel Van de Munt Survey Manager, Allseas
  • Kate McCubbin Kate McCubbin Oceaneering
Gorilla Rooms
15:30 – 17:00

Session 4b: Getting the deal right: contracts and insurance in offshore wind

This interactive session will hear from developers, contractors, insurers, and law firms to identify the challenges faced by offshore wind projects in achieving contracts that provide a fair return - and share of risk - for all parties. The pros and cons of existing forms of contract and those under development from FIDIC, LOGIC, and BIMCO will also be discussed. 

Speaker
  • Katy Heidenreich Katy Heidenreich Supply Chain and People Director, OEUK
Darwin Hall
15:30 – 17:00

Session 4c: The end game: offshore wind decommissioning in practice

Speakers
  • Ellemijn Rog Ellemijn Rog Heerema
  • Sam Long Sam Long CEO, Decom Mission
17:00
Okapi Rooms
17:00

Close of day 1

19:00
Okapi Rooms
19:00 – 22:00

Gala Dinner and Awards

(Horta & Art Noveau Hall)

09:00
Okapi Rooms
09:00 – 09:30

Registration and refreshments

09:30
Okapi Rooms
09:30 – 09:35

Welcome to day two

Moderator
  • Susannah Streeter Susannah Streeter Host
Okapi Rooms
09:35 – 09:55

Senior Politician

09:55
Okapi Rooms
09:55 – 10:00

Movement

10:00
Marble Hall
10:00 – 11:15

Session 5a: Mental fitness in offshore diving

Moderator
  • Bill Chilton Bill Chilton Diving Manager, IMCA
Speakers
  • Abbie Coutts Abbie Coutts Occupational Health and Wellbeing Lead, TechnipFMC
  • Stu Cowie Stu Cowie Diving Supervisor, TechnipFMC
  • Tim Wakefield Tim Wakefield Founder & CEO, Dead Calm Seas Marine Services
  • Dean Barden Dean Barden Operations Director, Blu Subsea
Gorilla Rooms
10:00 – 11:15

Session 5b: From ROV simulation to live operations: training, remote intervention and the future of subsea operations

Moderator
Speakers
  • Felix Horn Felix Horn CEO, Pale Blue
  • Darren Shannon Darren Shannon Senior Manager, Oceaneering
  • Nayef Salem Alshhehi Nayef Salem Alshhehi Team Leader, Subsea Integrity (Operations), ADNOC Offshore
Darwin Hall
10:00 – 11:15

Session 5c: Lifting and Rigging

Moderator
  • Laura Lombardi Laura Lombardi Managing Director, Usha Martin
Speakers
  • Rieno Graveland Rieno Graveland Heerema, Senior Specialist Cranes
  • Alex Weijts Alex Weijts Product Director for Cranes, Huisman
  • Cees van Veluw Cees van Veluw Product Diector for Cranes , Huisman
11:15
Okapi Rooms
11:15 – 11:45

Refreshment break and exhibition

11:45
Marble Hall
11:45 – 13:15

Session 6a: From policy to practice: designing offshore for a changing workforce

Moderator
Speakers
  • Renata Cortes Renata Cortes CBO Grupo
  • Gina Panayiotou Gina Panayiotou
Gorilla Rooms
11:45 – 13:15

Session 6b: Beneath the surface: evolving practices in commercial diving

Moderator
  • Bill Chilton Bill Chilton Diving Manager, IMCA
Speakers
  • Rushaa Qaiser Rushaa Qaiser Marketing Manager, SmartDives LLC
  • Øyvind Loennechen Øyvind Loennechen Convenor ISO TC 67/WG 16 Underwater Operations, ISO - International Standards Organisation
  • Dr Jean Yves Massimelli Dr Jean Yves Massimelli Occupational Medicine and Diving Medicine Specialist, French Health Service
  • Simon Binstead Simon Binstead Subsea7
  • Rolf Røssland Rolf Røssland CEO, NUI
Darwin Hall
11:45 – 13:15

Session 6c: Closing the loop: how circular collaboration enables decarbonisation and supply‑chain resilience

Moderator
Speakers
  • Dr Manuel Braun Dr Manuel Braun
  • Phil LeBlanc Phil LeBlanc Director of Business Development, ECOncrete
13:15
Okapi Rooms
13:15 – 14:15

Lunch and exhibition

13:15
Marble Hall
13:15 – 14:15

NGN Lunch

14:15
Okapi Rooms
14:15 – 14:25

Reflections on the last 2 days

Okapi Rooms
14:25 – 14:35

Ask IMCA

Okapi Rooms
14:35 – 15:25

Keynote Session - Chris Jewell

Speaker
  • Chris Jewell Chris Jewell Keynote speaker
15:25
Okapi Rooms
15:25 – 15:30

Wrap and close

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