Tech Talk '25 - Introducing our Experts
- British Superyacht
- Oct 7
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 9
On Thursday 16 October 2025, the superyacht industry will gather at the Harbour Hotel & Spa, Southampton for Tech Talk ’25 – a technical conference designed to spark discussion, share insight, and showcase the very best in superyacht innovation.
STOP PRESS: An important and exciting announcement will be made during the event about the future of British Superyacht Tech Talk
Main Event Sponsors MDL MARINAS | LIIONTEK | PRAXIS | TWW YACHTS | DNV
From cutting-edge innovation to sustainability breakthroughs, AI and digitalisation, and the evolving regulatory landscape, Tech Talk ’25 will bring together leading voices who are shaping the future of large yacht operations, design, and technology. This year’s agenda has been built around the challenges and opportunities facing the superyacht industry.
Our line-up of expert speakers represents the very best in their fields – innovators, thought-leaders, and technical specialists who are not only advancing today’s solutions but also pushing boundaries for tomorrow. Across keynote sessions, technical panels, and interactive discussions, they will provide delegates with practical takeaways and forward-thinking perspectives to apply in their own organisations.
Over the coming days, we’ll introduce each of our guest speakers in more detail, sharing their backgrounds, expertise, and what you can expect from their sessions at Tech Talk ’25.
Introducing Derek Munro - NOx
The Nuclear Option!
As a child I was raised in Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. My parents are British.
My father was a Project Manager with the World Bank and my mother a Business Owner and Manager.
I studied Agricultural Economics at MasseyUniversity, New Zealand.
Since 1988 I have been involved in the Yacht / Superyacht Industry as a Captain, Engineer or Owners Representative for New Build projects.
I believe that my diverse upbringing, educational experiences and good luck to have sailed around the world all benefit me in my job as a Project Manager and mediator between a shipyard and the Client purchasing and operating the vessels I oversee on their behalf.
Introducing Jonathan Lee - Sentini Marine
The Digital Safety Officer in Your Pocket
Jonathan Lee is a key member of the Sentini Marine team, bringing extensive experience in maritime operations, compliance, and digital solutions for the yachting and commercial shipping sectors. With a strong focus on safety management systems, regulatory compliance, and innovative onboard technologies, Jonathan works closely with clients to streamline their operations and support efficient, scalable fleet management.
Known for his practical approach and deep industry knowledge, Jonathan plays a central role in coordinating installations, client onboarding, and strategic project planning, ensuring Sentini Marine delivers a consistently high level of service across its global operations.
Introducing Jo Assael - Tech Talk '25 Chair
As the Ambassador for Technical & Regulatory Affairs at British Superyacht, I am dedicated to advancing the technical and regulatory landscape within the superyacht industry. In this role, I collaborate closely with industry leaders, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders to ensure compliance with the latest standards and best practices. My responsibilities include providing expert guidance on technical innovations, regulatory developments, and sustainability initiatives, facilitating knowledge sharing through industry events and bulletins, and promoting excellence within the superyacht sector.
British Superyacht, a sector-inclusive membership organization, brings together businesses that contribute to the superyacht industry, offering support, guidance, and networking opportunities to enhance market exposure and growth. By leveraging my expertise and passion for collaboration, I aim to drive positive change and support the industry's continuous improvement and innovation.
Introducing Gabby Lazaridis - BOAT International
Global Superyacht Market Update
Gabrielle Lazaridis is the Business Editor at BOAT International Media, the leading luxury lifestyle publisher for the global superyacht industry.
Based in London, she covers the business, economic, and strategic developments shaping the sector, and regularly interviews key industry figures for the latest market updates.
Her work appears across BOAT International’s print and digital platforms, including BOATPro and the BOAT Briefing podcast, where she provides insight into the forces driving the superyacht world.
Introducing Phil Noad - Cayman Registry
'Ask the Flag' Session
Phil is a chartered engineer and member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and has been in the maritime industry for over 25 years. During this period, he has worked for a ship builder, Classification Society, cruise ship companies, superyacht consultancy firms and two Flag State maritime authorities. He has been with Cayman Registry since 2005 and is currently their Deputy Global Director for Safety & Compliance.
Having spent the majority of my career in shipbuilding, covering a diverse portfolio of ship types (i.e. warships, merchant ships, cruise ships and superyachts). As a chartered engineer, I have a keen interest in project and contract management, innovation, quality, consistency, and transparency to ensure all stakeholders, particularly the ship or yacht owner have an enjoyable new build experience.
Cayman Registry currently has around 280 newbuild super yacht projects across 70 shipyards, which is credit to the excellent team of specialist surveyors and relationships we have established over the last 25 years. Our 900+ annual surveys of yachts provide a great feedback loop to the designers on such matters as manning levels, function, performance and ergonomics. I am happy to cover any regulatory matters from legislation (safety and environmental), seafarer welfare, enforcement to flag state investigations.
Introducing Giedo Loeff - Feadship
Alternative Fuels from Research to Reality
Giedo is a Naval Architect driven by a passion for complex challenges and emerging technologies. He started his career at the MARIN institute, gaining a strong foundation in maritime research, before initiating Feadship’s R&D department to turn ambitious ideas into
tangible innovations.
Today, as Head of Innovation & Strategy at De Vries Group, one of Feadship’s founding members, he combines long-term vision with practical steps to guide the future of yachting. With a collaborative mindset and curiosity for new possibilities,
Giedo works to connect people, ideas,
and industries to push boundaries and bring meaningful innovation to life.
Introducing Tom Shaw - Stingray Marine Technology
AI in Practice - Onboard Performance Management & Efficiency
I like to start with three defining statements:
• Full Time Job 1 - Dad of 3 children
• Full Time Job 2 - Entrepreneur and owner of 2 businesses - Austin Elliot & Stingray Marine Technology
• Full Time Job 3 - Active Offshore sailor - Performance Yachting
My background is technical business analysis within Ministry of Defence (MoD). For the last 7 years I have built and own an IT Cloud Transformation and Data Management Company within Security Cleared environments. We currently have circa 60 people working across MOD and their extended partnerships supporting on data and information strategies as well as technical delivery.
An ex-rugby player, I spend a lot of my free time in the mountains with my children and recently scaled Mont Blanc (not with the children). If I am not in the mountains, I can be found sailing around the globe on a carbon fibre performance race yacht. One of my biggest and most recent achievements was winning our class in the 2021 Rolex Fastnet and coming 2nd overall. I am also part way through my Helicopter PPL.
My family motto is "life is the adventure" and so Stingray Marine Technology has been created with the ideology that my next adventures combine my hobbies with my work. Passion and expertise is my recipe for success.
Introducing Charlotte Hill - Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
AI in Practice - Legalities & Consequences of using AI in your business
Charlotte, a Partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, is an experienced commercial disputes lawyer. She advises on a broad range of cross-border disputes across a number of commercial and business sectors, including financial services, company disputes, corporate insolvency and civil fraud.
She leads PMC’s digital asset team, having specialist expertise in emerging technologies, including cryptocurrency and blockchain disputes, and advising clients about the developments in AI.
In 2023, Charlotte won the esteemed title of ‘Woman of the Year – FinTech/Crypto Innovation – UK’ at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards, for the impact of her work in the sector. She was also named on Innovate Finance’s Women in FinTech Powerlist 2023 and was most recently listed in Citywealth’s Top 50 Fintech, TMT and AI Lawyers in 2024.
Find out more about more about Penningtons Manches Cooper - Click Here
Introducing Prof Adam Sobey - The Alan Turing Institute
AI in Practice - Yacht Design (with Bill Edwards)
Adam Sobey is Mission Director for Sustainability at The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s National AI and Data Science Institute, Chair of Data-Centric Engineering in the Maritime Engineering Group at The University of Southampton and a project scientific advisor at Simula Research Laboratory, Norway.
He also acts as a Non-Executive Director at Theyr Ltd, a Voyage Optimisation Software provider to the marine industry, and AQ Live, providing data/AI assurance. His research focuses on the development of Reinforcement Learning, Evolutionary Computation and Machine Learning in the context of engineering applications, predominantly for emissions reductions. His AI research started with his PhD into Yacht Design, sponsored by British Marine.
More details on the programme of work can be found by clicking here
Introducing Bill Edwards - Olesinski
AI in Practice - Yacht Design (with Prof Adam Sobey)
Head of Research and Development at Olesinski, Bill Edwards has 20 years of experience in Computer-Aided Engineering and Naval Architecture. He leads Olesinski's R&D programme, focusing on leveraging AI/ML to streamline exploration in the design process.
Over the past two decades, Bill has been involved in many of Olesinski's key projects, contributing to their innovative approach to yacht design.
Bill lives in Cowes on the Isle of Wight with his young family.
For more about Olesinski's work, click here
Introducing Andy King FRINA CEng - Houlder Ltd
SY Bayesian – Naval Architects View of MAIB Interim Report
Andy King FRINA CEng is the Director of Stability & Statutory at Houlder, a naval architecture design and engineering consultancy based near Portsmouth. At Houlder, Andy leads a team of Naval Architects, focusing on all aspects of design and engineering on new and existing yachts and other vessels.
Prior to joining Houlder, Andy was the Deputy Global Lead for stability at Lloyd’s Register and was a lead responder for their emergency response service. During his career, Andy has worked on a variety of yacht stability projects, specialising in solving stability compliance issues and supporting stakeholders.
Andy has been closely involved in stability criteria development, both at IMO and via supporting the Red Ensign Group on stability updates. Over the past year, Andy has been teaching the Stability for Yacht Masters (up to 3000GT) course and working closely with those onboard to increase their stability knowledge.
Andy also comments on yacht stability for major yachting publications and has had an article online for Superyacht News and an article in print for ‘How to Build It’. Outside of work, Andy is a keen runner and follower of Formula 1.
For more information about Houlder Ltd, click here
Come an join other superyacht professionals at the British Superyacht Tech Talk '25 and enjoy great speakers, topic topics and excellent networking and collaboration. Get your tickets now.
