A stellar line-up of high-profile speakers, including Sir Michael Bibby, the former managing director of Liverpool maritime giant Bibby Group, will descend on Liverpool Town Hall. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool will welcome some of the biggest names in the UK’s powerhouse £37bn maritime sector in June when a major national conference comes to the city.

A stellar line-up of high-profile speakers, including keynote speaker Sir Michael Bibby, the former managing director of Liverpool maritime giant Bibby Group, will descend on Liverpool Town Hall on Thursday, June 13, for the Maritime Exchange.

Organised by and in association with industry body Mersey Maritime, the event has been developed in response to the Government’s Maritime 2050 report that sets out the long-term strategy for the UK maritime sector.

It will address the key themes raised in the Government’s Maritime 2050 report including trade, technology and innovation and people and skills. Each theme will be examined by an industry-leading speaker and panel and the aim is to provide insight and practical applications to businesses throughout the conference.

Helen Kelly, managing editor and head of communications at Nautilus and former editor-in-chief at Lloyds List, will chair the conference and the full line-up of speakers is as follows:

• Sir Michael Bibby – president, UK Chamber of Shipping
• Laura Marquis – head of strategy and partnerships, Department for Transport
• Lesley Batchelor OBE – director general, Institute of Export
• Sarah Kenny – chief executive of BMT and vice chair of Maritime UK
• Debbie Cavaldoro – head of strategy, Nautilus 
• Tim Morris – chief executive of UK Major Ports Group
• Asbjorn Kops – head of products (UK and Ireland), Maersk
• Sarah Thompson – regional security advisor, Chevron Global Security
• Alex Lawson – director of hedging, Western Union Business Solutions
• Cdre Rich Harris – Commanding Officer of HMS Raleigh
• Chris Rowland – managing director, MDS Transmodal
• Terry Weston – chief executive, The Engineering College
• Raal Harris – managing director, KVH Videotel
• Clive Hickman – chief executive, The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)
• Tom Davenport – operations manager, Bibby HydroMap
• Alan Tinline – head of environment, ABP
• Cpt Andrew Stacey – exercise director, Royal Navy

Chris Shirling-Rooke, chief executive of Mersey Maritime, said: “As we get closer to our departure from the EU and embark on a new trading relationship with the rest of the world, the future of the maritime sector has never been more important.

“This is why the Government’s Maritime 2050 report is of such huge importance and it is vital that we, as a sector, come together to help shape our industry over the coming decades as we navigate revolutionary changes in global trade and the transformational impact of rapid technological innovation.

“It is fitting the Maritime Exchange should be held here in the Liverpool city region where our sector is worth almost £4bn and where we have built a cluster that is recognised as the most successful and dynamic in Europe.”

The conference is free to attend for businesses operating in and supporting the maritime industry, to find out more and register your interest in attending visit, click here.