Nor-Shipping will launch its new Blue Economy exhibition hall to the industry with a series of ‘Blue Talks’ featuring leading figures and businesses from the maritime, ocean industry and political arenas. Individuals including Craig McClean, the Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US Department of Commerce), Nina Jensen, CEO, REV Ocean, Claire Jolly, OECD’s Head of Innovation Policies for Space and Oceans, and Thina Saltvedt, Senior Advisor, Group Sustainable Finance, Nordea Bank, will be joined by a diverse array of companies to deliver intelligence on the huge potential, and challenges, facing commercial developments within the ocean space.
Careful growth
For its 2019 outing, Nor-Shipping has reimagined the 1300 sq. m Hall A at its Lillestrøm exhibition centre as the Blue Economy Hall. This ‘intimate, inspiring and interactive’ space has been conceived to highlight and accelerate ocean business practices and players that balance commercial growth with careful, sustainable resource use.
It is, according to Silje Bareksten, Nor-Shipping’s Head of Sustainability and Technology, a crucial objective that demands the best talent, innovation and expertise the industry has to offer.
Challenge and opportunity
“The ocean will be key to catering for the growing demands of our global population, but without judicious management increased business activity will only add to the pressing environmental concerns we already have,” Bareksten comments. “The Blue Economy Hall is all about starting a conversation, and enabling action, on how we can unlock value while safeguarding, or even improving, our ocean environment.
“That is obviously a huge challenge, but by bringing together a diverse array of ambitious, expert stakeholders in one place we can provide a unique platform for knowledge sharing, strategic planning and cross industry collaboration. We think that represents a huge opportunity too… and the Blue Talks are a central component in realising that.”
Action epicentre
The Blue Talks programme will be running from 12.00 on Tuesday 4 June, following directly on from Nor-Shipping’s new Ocean Leadership Conference (formerly the Opening Conference), and throughout the day on Wednesday 5 June and Thursday 6 June. In addition, ‘Think Tank’ sessions will allow delegates to delve deeper into specific issues and disciplines relating to ocean development, with interactive round table discussions featuring key businesses and leading authorities. All activity will be conducted in Hall A.
Businesses and organisations taking part in both the exhibition and talks include Inmarsat, Port of Rotterdam, NTT Security, Corvus Energy, MeteoGroup, International Windship Association, and a host of other players representing the fields of research, operational optimization, IoT, business clusters, and political institutions, amongst other spheres.
Engaging issues
“Our aim here is to cover as many of the most relevant areas, and actors, as possible,” says Bareksten. “The Blue Talks will help set the agenda for what lies ahead, opening up a stage for leading minds to discuss themes – including leadership, digital disruption and sustainable growth – that are central to successful, responsible development.
“Collaboration and communication will be vital to capturing future potential and that is, in essence, what the Blue Talks are all about. We look forward to seeing as many delegates as possible in both the hall and participating in discussions. It’s going to be a thrilling conversation.”
The talks on Tuesday 4 June will take the format of presentations and interviews, with high profile individuals discussing important areas of expertise. Wednesday and Thursday’s Blue Talks will last an hour each, with presentations, panel discussions and ‘one-to-one’ chats.
Nor-Shipping 2019 takes place in Oslo and Lillestrøm, Norway, from 04 to 07 June 2019. The exhibition and associated programme of networking, knowledge and collaborative activities is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors from across the globe.
For full details of the activity programme, including Blue Talk details, please click here
