At GMBA, our greatest asset is our people. Our marine industry specialists bring a wealth of knowledge across numerous disciplines and countries, offering unparalleled expertise in navigating the complex challenges of the global marine sector.
Global Marine Business Advisors is a group of 22 marine industry experienced professional, located on five continents and seventeen countries. The key focus for GMBA is to provide support for marine industry businesses across a variety of disciplines and sectors.
David has accumulated a wealth of experience across diverse marine industry segments. His professional journey spans leadership roles, from serving as the Director of Sparcraft in the manufacturing sector to his impactful position as a Operations Director at Ancasta. Currently, David is focusing his expertise in B2B with Barrow International, specialising in fostering connections between manufacturers, distributors, and OEMs. In 2022, David was an integral team member in drafting the book “How To Set Up International Distribution Networks” for ICOMIA. His contribution extended further with developing an extensive database comprising 350 potential distributors for new companies to explore.
Renowned for his expansive network, David holds almost legendary status within the industry. His global connections empower him to implement solutions directly or tap into a vast network to identify those who can. David boasts a successful track record of orchestrating distribution arrangements, catapulting numerous clients like Spectra Watermakers, Wave International, and Tylaska Marine Hardware to market leadership. He possesses the acumen to provide a strategic approach for new and established businesses globally.
Additionally, David is a claims expert for insurance companies and clients, specialising in Carbon, aluminium masts, and rigging.
Colin Dawson, with 30 years in marine insurance, started at Lloyd’s and specialised in yacht insurance since 1997. He founded The George Group in 2009 and partnered with Expat Services, leading to the establishment of Expat Marine in 2011. Howden acquired Expat Marine Ltd’s portfolio in 2021, maintaining the partnership.
Colin, a member of RHKC since 1999 and RORC is an avid sailor in offshore races and regattas. For 18 years, he contributed to the San Fernando Race organising committee until 2017, engaging in safety and risk discussions in the yachting world.
Colin takes a keen interest in the yacht industry, being the Founder and later a Chairman of the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association. Colin believes in making an impact and is a Director of the San Fernando Race Foundation, supporting disadvantaged children in the Philippines. He also chairs The Elephant Foundation, which focuses on conservation and education in Hong Kong and Africa.
Boris has spent his entire working life in the nautical business, starting as the manager in a charter company. During the intensive growth in the country, which in 2010 officially hosted a third of the world’s charter fleet, the NCP charter has developed and become the leading Croatian charter company.
By moving to a commercial shipyard as the commercial – technical director, he participated in the transformation from an exclusively naval shipyard into a shipyard specializing in the repair and the maintenance of superyachts.
Boris is also a co-owner of a travel agency specialized in the organization of tailor-made events at sea, nautical team building programmes and sailing regattas. As the director of the project for the development of the first Croatian marina for mega yachts, the Mandalina marina in Šibenik, and as its first director, he introduced new standards and elements in the design of marinas in Croatia.
Since 2005, Boris has been leading an experienced team in marina development, from producing pontoons, marina designs, project management and oversight of the installation of new recreational marinas. He has participated in over 120 marina projects, from development, construction, expansion and even the reconstruction of ports and marinas, in over 14 Mediterranean countries.
Boris is a licensed Yacht-Master, sailing instructor and sailing referee.
Annika brings over 30 years of experience in marketing communications, with 12 dedicated to the marine industry. She served as the marketing manager at Sweboat, Swedish Marine Industry Federation, where she was the primary contact for equipment manufacturers and engaged with the entire industry. Her role extended to managing Sweboat’s brand, member communication, and overseeing various marketing initiatives, including the promotion of boating activities and participation in exhibitions and boat shows.
At Sweboat, Annika played a crucial role as the Project Manager for the Swedish Pavilion at METS for nine consecutive years. Beyond the marine industry, she has worked in diverse sectors, including public and private companies and non-profit organizations. For the past six years, Annika has successfully run her own business in marketing communications.
Drawing on her wealth of experience, Annika is a seasoned marketing manager adept at seizing new business opportunities, gathering relevant facts, and developing market strategies tailored to specific conditions and needs. Based in Stockholm, she is fluent in both Swedish and English, has a working knowledge of German, and is currently learning Spanish.
Albert Willemsen, the GMBA technical expert, is a qualified engineer with significant capability in the superyacht and leisure marine sector. His knowledge on sustainability and environmental matters is legendary and covers diverse areas such as anti-fouling, end–of-life and recycling issues, marina dredging, to name a few. He has decades of experience in governmental relations and has been an active player in the drafting of guidelines and legislation for the sector.
Twenty years leading the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has given Dr. Thomas Dammrich, DBA, a deep understanding the recreational marine industry in North America. With thirty years of experience as a CEO, he is currently advising organizations on business strategy and has broad experience in organizational development, trade and consumer shows, marketing, advocacy, board service, and research. He has done ground-breaking research for the marine industry as part of his Doctoral program.
Dammrich currently serves as a member of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation Board of Directors which he Chaired from 2005 to 2007, as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Management Committee for the Center for Sportfish Policy, is a member of the Board of the Future Anglers Foundation and the Board of Directors of Wintrust Bank and Niven Marketing. Dammrich is a two-time President of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA).
Dammrich has a BA in Economics, an MBA in Finance, an MS in Accountancy, and a Doctorate of Business Administration, all from DePaul University in Chicago. He is a member of the NMMA Hall of Fame, ASA Sportfishing Hall of Fame, Boating Safety Hall of Fame.
Frenchman Godfrey Zwygart is a former captain and chief engineer who spent decades in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. Originally trained in the French Naval Academy he served on both navy and merchant ships and as captain on mega yachts. He moved to Asia in the 80’s as a boat builder in Taiwan, and now specializes in development, management and marketing of world class international yacht marinas and yacht clubs.
In 2010 Zwygart moved to Sanya to build and act as general manager operations of the multi-awards winning Sanya Serenity Marina. The 5 gold anchors platinum marina has been a host twice for the Volvo Ocean Race, as well as the Clipper Race and the youth world sailing championships.
Zwygart then established Marevisio Co Limited, aiming to help marinas and super yachts brands in the Asian region through management consultancy, training, and services. Zwygart has published two books as well as a large number of articles in Chinese and he is a prominent figure in China’s yachting and marine industry.
As foreign expert for the Hainan government, he collaborates with the local government on the development of the Hainan free trade port.
Zwygart is fluent in French, English, Italian and Chinese.
Jean-Michel Gaigné is a long time expert in the yachting sphere and has an extensive knowledge of the European and international marina industry. His career started 40 years ago as organizer of the famous Tour de France à la Voile sailing event after which he changed tack to become the Communications Manager of a worldwide nautical company. He has been developing marina facilities since the early 1990’s.
A prominent representative of the French marina industry, Jean-Michel is a member of the ICOMIA Marinas Group, Chairman of TransEurope Marinas, Member of the advisory board of Global Marina Institute and member of The Yacht Harbor Association Council. Prior to joining GMBA, Jean-Michel was part of the management of Saint-Quay Port d’Armor, a 1000+ berth marina in Brittany, France. He now acts as a marketing, development and innovation consultant for marinas, marine tourism, cruise ships and waterside activities.
Jean-Michel Gaigné CMM is a long-standing expert in the maritime world, and a connoisseur of the activity of marinas, at European and international level. He began his career 40 years ago as organizer of the famous Tour de France à la Voile, before taking over the management of communications for a multinational company in the nautical industry. Since the early 90s, he has devoted himself mainly to the development and operation of marinas.
A major player in the world of French marinas, Jean-Michel is a member of the ICOMIA Marinas Group, President of TransEurope Marinas, a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Marina Institute, and a director of the Yacht Harbour Association. He has just left the general management of Saint-Quay Port d’Armor, a large marina with over 1,000 moorings in Brittany, and now devotes his activities to marketing, development and innovation consulting in the fields of marinas, maritime tourism, the cruise industry and water sports.
With over 25 years of experience in the recreational boating industry, Julie Balzano is a skilled professional with a focus on Global Marketing, New Market Entry, and Event Support. Julie is recognized for her ability to design, implement, and manage innovative programs for small businesses and coordinate impactful international trade events for associations and public-private entities aiming to expand their export sales.
Julie’s collaborative, win-win approach enables her to forge strategic, results-driven alliances. She has successfully organized trade missions, B2B exhibitions, seminars, and conferences, delivering value to high-level government officials, association members, C-suite executives, and business stakeholders. Her export strategies earned the NMMA the prestigious President’s “E-Award” for Export Excellence, acknowledging her significant contributions to U.S. export growth.
Before founding Global Connect Marketing Services, a boutique consultancy, Julie led global brand marketing for two luxury yacht brands at MarineMax, managed high-profile product launches, and spearheaded international market development for numerous small businesses. She is also an expert in LinkedIn strategies, using the platform to foster client growth.
Julie holds a B.S. in Marketing from Rutgers University and served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Central and South America. She has chaired ICOMIA’s Export Committee, is fluent in Spanish, and is currently based in Medellín, Colombia, working as a location-independent consultant. Julie’s expertise and results-oriented approach empower clients seeking strategic growth in the global marine market.
Learn more at GlobalConnectMarketing.com.
Kai is a Dubai based business executive with more than 30 years’ experience in different international businesses, including shipping, oil and gas, import export, real estate, construction, asset management, private equity investment and business consulting. Kai has been member of the board in more than 40 companies and in several of those he has acted as a chairman.
The focus of his work has been in consulting and building up businesses, creating and developing strategies and business plans, monitoring and directing the business operations and in building long term value of the concerned corporations. He combines the understanding of legal and contractual issues with general business understanding. In particular Kai is specialized international negotiations and has a good understanding of different types of industrial contracts.
Kai has lived in Dubai since 2005 and has played a central role in building Middle East business for Marinetek Group, acting as Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Marinetek Middle East and Asia. In this role he has gained an in-depth knowledge of marine related business in the area and has established good network with different actors in the field.
Kai is fluent in English, Finnish and Swedish language. He has a master’s degree in law (LL.M.) from the University of Helsinki and MBA degree from IMD, Switzerland.
Kenta is a dedicated advocate for the yacht industry in his native Japan, where he is the owner and president of Super Yacht Logistics Japan. He is instrumental in streamlining regulations for visiting yachts and promoting the country as a superyacht destination. He is actively involved in the maritime sector as a consultant to recreational boating and the offshore and fishing sectors.
A distinguished member of the renowned private sailing team “Scallywag,” Kenta is a passionate sailor with over 40,000 miles of sailing experience, including five Sydney to Hobart races and three Transpacific yacht races. His dynamic career path reflects a passion for sailing and a commitment to advancing the yachting industry.
With a Master of Business Administration in Management from the University of Miami School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Civil Engineering from Tokai University, Kenta seamlessly merges business expertise with a maritime foundation. He has extensive project management and business development experience, both sought-after skills in the marine sector.
As a young International Management Trainee in a large cement and building material conglomerate, Knut was invited to manage one of their subsidiaries, FJORD PLAST AS, which at the time was one of the largest boat industries in Europe.
Little did Knut know that this would be his lifetime engagement and passion.
After running their operations in the Philippines for a number of years, Knut moved on to become the Managing Director of the Fjord Company and on behalf of Norcem AS, sold it to an outside group.
Eight years later a close friend asked Knut to help with WINDY & DRACO, a project estimated to take 2- 3 years to complete. This “project” has lasted since 1990 and the name of WINDY is today synonymous with the very best of Scandinavian quality.
Knut steered WINDY Through exciting and challenging times with a team of the most competent and passionate co-workers and has left a legacy of respect for conduct and “inside-out-quality” which only the few have had the pleasure of experiencing. Over the years Knut offered his time and services to national marine associations as well as contributing to the European marine organization we have today.
Over the years Knut has offered his time and services to national marine associations as well as contributing to the European marine organization we have today.
After 29 years at the helm of WINDY BOATS AS, Knut is now overseeing the development of his life-long passion, WINDY, as Chairman and Mentor.
Lorenzo is a naval architect and marine engineer who has served over 12 years at RINA, the Italian Class Society, as Head of the Yachting Department and Shipping Certification Department. His technical expertise is renowned and he has lectured at the Universities of Genoa, Milan, La Spezia, Rome, Parma. He also has extensive practical experience as consultant to top firms such as Cranchi, Besenzoni, Bellotti, Foresti & Suardi, Guidi.
He has extensively served the industry on various committees as technical advisor, Secretary General and Chairman. These associations include UCINA (Italian Marine Industry Association), ICOMIA (Technical Committee and Super Yacht Committee) , European Boating Federation, Nautica Italiana, SYBAss (Superyacht Builders Association) and ViareggiofUCINA, the Italian School of Yachting. He also advises CNA-Nautica, the Italian Confederation of marine SMEs and marine shipyard suppliers and Federagenti, the Italian Federation of Shipping Agents, responsible for the Yacht Division.
His experience in event management include the Venice International Boat Show and YARE, the Yacht After Market & Refit Experience in Viareggio. He has worked as Strategic Consultant at the Genoa Harbour Port Authority, at La Spezia City Mayor and at the Ligurian Marine Consortium “1 One”.
MaryAnne has considerable international and domestic business development experience plus strong management skills gained from holding CEO and senior management roles in a variety of industry sectors in both New Zealand and Australia. Most recently as CEO of the Australian Marine Export Group and Superyacht Australia for 12 years she has assisted companies both in the export and super yacht sectors enter and gain exposure in a number of key international markets, worked directly with government departments helping to reduce red tape and working to create the best possible environment for marine industry businesses to survive and thrive.
During her time as CEO of AIMEX and Superyacht Australia Maryanne has served as a board member of the International Superyacht Society, Chair of the ICOMIA exporters committee and been involved in various Australian industry and government working groups. Maryanne holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and Human Resource Management, plus an MBA in International marketing.
Maryanne has a strong focus on assisting businesses grow their bottom line through strong day to day business management, relationship building and development of strategies that drive sales both domestically and internationally.
Piotr Jasionowski is a shipbuilding engineer with 30 years’ experience in the shipbuilding industry.
He gained invaluable experience during his 25 years at the Ostróda shipyard in Poland, which has been a part of the French Beneteau Group since 2001. Piotr’s passion is the industrialization of yacht and boat production processes with a focus on automation and increased efficiency. He is a technical production expert and a pioneer in the industrialization of serial production of boats and yachts in Poland. He also served in numerous management positions, most notably that of managing director and president of the board of “Ostróda Yacht”.
Industry development and government advocacy is close to Piotr’s heart. He is the co-founder of the Polish Association of the Yacht Industry, which in 2001 was transformed into the Polish Chamber of Yachting Industry and Water Sports – POLBOAT. Since its inception, he has been actively working for the development of the yachting industry, serving as a member of the management board of the organization. He served as country representative at ICOMIA and since 2017, he has been the vice-president of the EBI – the European federation of the boating industry based in Brussels.
Piotr is fluent in English, Polish and Russian.
Veda Pretorius is a seasoned strategic consultant with over 18 years of experience in the recreational marine industry. Her expertise spans marketing, communications, stakeholder management, project development, organisational design, and business advisory services.
Pretorius has held esteemed roles such as Managing Director of the South African Boatbuilding Export Council (SABBEX and CEO of the Cape Town Boatbuilding Initiative (CTBi).
Currently, she runs her own destination marketing company, Superyacht Cape Town, while also serving as Chairperson for Global Marine Business Advisors. Through her consulting work, Pretorius has executed online marketing and PR campaigns, conducted SWOT analyses for marinas, performed market research to identify distributors, analysed prospective European distribution partners, provided boat show strategic planning, and facilitated strategic planning and change management for industry associations. She has also organised numerous conferences for the sector.
A skilled negotiator and communicator with strong stakeholder management abilities, Pretorius excels at developing mutually beneficial relationships across all levels of an organisation. Her strategic foresight and talent for persuasion allow her to drive sustainable growth.
Yavuz Sipahi started his illustrious career in the marine sector 52 years ago with a solid career in the Turkish Navy, retiring from active service as a staff commander in 1984.
He started his first boatbuilding firm in the Bodrum region, focusing mainly on the ever popular Turkish gullets. The company expanded to component manufacturing, yacht maintenance and refurbishment projects.
He joined Atakoy Marina in İstanbul as Technical Manager in 1989 where he was able to get first hand experience of marina management and maintenance. Always eager to take on new challenegs, he later left to join BURLA group where he was the General Manager for the Marine Division until his retirement in mid- 2020.
He has been an active part of numerous local and international industry bodies, and has served as board member and President on a number of occasions. His experience includes years of service in DENTUR /YATED, YATEF, ADF, DDD, DTO, TRYIAD in Turkey, ICOMIA.
Yavuz is excited about the myriad opportunities in the marine sector and looks forward to sharing his knowledge and expertise with the next generation of business and industry leaders.
YP Loke is Managing Director of Singapore-based Spinnaker International, a company specialising in technical and advisory services in the recreational marine sector. He is the chairman of the Singapore Boating Industry Association, and a council member on the Singapore MPA (Maritime Port Authority) convened National Maritime Safety at Sea Council (NMSSC). He is a Singapore Tourism Conference Ambassador for the boating sector.
YP is also member of the ICOMIA Marinas Group IMG), and until recently was an ICOMIA vice-president. He is an honorary member of the Hong Kong based Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association (APSA). On the recreational front YP is Vice-President on the General Committee of Raffles Marina, Singapore.
YP graduated in Naval Architecture from the Southampton Institute, UK, and is a CMM (Certified Marina Manager). He also holds an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, UK. He was Asia-Pacific Boating Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2012. He writes the occasional commentary on the state of the boating industry for various boating publications and has been a speaker at several marina and boating conferences worldwide.
Melanie brings nearly 30 years of experience in the marine industry, specializing in coastal nautical tourism. Through her consultancy Innovamarina, she advises tourist boards and marine-based companies, drawing on her extensive background in marinas, charter, and coastal tourism development, including her work with Canary Islands marina group Calero Marinas.
As the current manager of TransEurope Marinas, an association with 80 members across 12 countries, Melanie has successfully led the group’s participation in an EU Horizon project and a JPI Oceans endeavor, focusing on developing marinas that contribute to ocean science. She also drives initiatives in energy and digital transitions within the industry.
Melanie serves on various marine industry committees and chairs the ICOMIA Diversity Committee. A frequent speaker at conferences and boat shows, she has authored the guide “Introduction to Sustainability in Marinas,” compiling insights from scientists, engineers, academics, and sustainability experts to promote sustainable marina development.
Falk Morgenstern brings over 25 years of expertise in the maritime industry, combining legal qualifications with extensive business management experience. As the former CEO of the Baltic Sea Resort, he developed Germany’s first 5-star marina and founded the Marina Network Association (MNA), which he chaired for over 15 years.
Currently, Falk serves as CEO of First Class Yachting GmbH, focusing on high-quality yacht trading, maritime services, and exclusive charters. He is also a consultant for the maritime industry, Marina Certification Manager for IMCI in Brussels, and a member of the supervisory board of the German Federal Water Sports Association.
Falk’s consulting work includes conducting SWOT analyses for marinas, analyzing international sales partners, and creating strategic plans for companies and business associations. His expertise spans marketing, development, and innovation for marinas, maritime tourism, and maritime projects.
A passionate water sports enthusiast, Falk is fluent in English and German, and is currently learning Spanish. He continues to be a renowned expert and adept networker in the maritime industry.
Richard is a Global MBA-qualified marine industry consultant with over 25 years of hands-on experience delivering complex, high-value projects across the GCC and Europe. Specializing in waterfront development, asset management, and strategic advisory, he has become a go-to expert for developers, operators, and investors seeking to navigate the dynamic and evolving marine sector in emerging markets.
Having led major initiatives within giga-projects in Saudi Arabia and launched iconic marine and hospitality assets across the UAE, Richard brings an exceptional blend of strategic vision and operational know-how. His expertise spans marina planning and design, business case development, ESG integration, and net-zero marine mobility solutions.
Renowned for his extensive global contact network across the marine, yachting, hospitality, and infrastructure sectors, Richard regularly connects clients to top-tier operators, suppliers, and stakeholders. His ability to align commercial goals with policy frameworks and local regulations has made him a trusted advisor to government entities, developers, and Tier 1 consultancies alike.
A published author on yachting tourism and urban marine design, Richard is a lifelong sailor and RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, offering both boardroom insight and deep technical understanding of the marine environment. His consultancy approach is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and unlocking long-term value in every project.
Ulrich (Uli) Heinemann, born in Germany, is a renowned marine engineer and yacht certification expert with over five decades of experience, significantly influencing international maritime standards, recreational craft certification, and yacht design. Starting with hands-on boat-building experience, Ulrich pursued formal education at RWTH Aachen University, earning degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture.
At RWTH Aachen, as an Assistant Professor, Ulrich advanced marine safety through pioneering research on yacht structural loads. His tenure at Blohm + Voss GmbH further contributed to innovative developments in ship and offshore structures.
In 1986, Ulrich founded Heinemann-Yacht-Design (now Heinemann-Yacht-Assessment), establishing it as a leading consultancy in yacht engineering and certification. As Managing Director of the International Marine Certification Institute (IMCI), and through influential roles on ISO and CEN committees, he shaped global marine standards significantly.
Ulrich’s professional impact extended beyond certification, holding prominent positions such as Chairman of the ICOMIA Technical Committee, and Technical Board Member of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). As Chairman of the Recreational Craft Sectoral Group (RSG), he notably influenced EU maritime regulations and market surveillance.
His continued dedication to education, complemented by numerous influential publications, underscores Ulrich Heinemann’s enduring commitment to excellence in marine engineering and maritime safety standards.
