John Tucker
Coordinator of Programs and Instructor, School of Maritime Studies, Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland
John Tucker is an experienced educator and engineer with a background in mechanical and ocean engineering. He has taught at the Marine Institute since 1999, specializing in mechanical engineering and technology education, with a focus on innovative distance learning methods.
A recipient of Memorial University’s President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, he is recognized for integrating digital tools to enhance STEM education. Prior to academia, he held roles in the oil industry and government, bringing practical insight to his teaching.
Iuliana Badea
General secretary of the Freight Forwarders Association of Romania (USER)
Mrs. Iuliana Badea is the General secretary of the Freight Forwarders Association of Romania (USER), where she actively promotes sustainable logistics, digital transformation and professional education, while fostering collaboration between freight forwarders, authorities, and NGOs.
She is very involved in the education sector, and considers it to be a main pylon of the industry, therefore she has developed the freight forwarding courses, following the FIATA Standards. She also developed the occupational standard for the „international freight forwarder” profession in Romania, which will be ready soon.
As USER’s general secretary, she also leads strategic initiatives to align the freight forwarding sector with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, her leadership reflecting a strong commitment to advancement and innovation in the freight forwarding industry.
Laurențiu Chiotoroiu
Professor, Jade University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Prof. Dr. -Ing. Laurențiu Chiotoroiu is a professor of Mathematics and Marine Engineering in the Dept. of Maritime and Logistic Studies at Jade University of Applied Sciences, Germany. His academic focus includes green ship design, energy efficiency technologies, maritime decarbonization, air pollution from ships and optimization of students’ performance in mathematics through multimedia technology. His main research work emphasizes sustainable maritime technologies and innovation in maritime education. He is an active member of scientific committees of international journals in Indonesia, Turkey, Romania and Croatia.
In terms of teaching and didactic activity, he teaches courses at under- and postgraduate level in applied mathematics, marine engineering, ship theory, as well as optional courses in ship’s mechanics for inland navigation. Based on student’s evaluation, he has been a finalist several times and once in 2020 he’s been awarded “Jade Teaching Award – Teacher of the Year”. As part of the marine engineering course, he organizes semesterly field trips to German companies or invites experts to hold guest lectures. Outside Jade University, he has been invited to hold guest lectures in countries such as Latvia, Finland, Croatia, Indonesia or to take part as an academic expert in selection boards (Ireland).
On an administrative level, he is the coordinator of International Relations for the Department of Maritime and Logistic Studies, being delegated as Jade University’s contact person in relations with international associations, such as IAMU, IMLA. In addition, he serves as the person responsible for Erasmus+ mobility projects within the department and plays a key role in organizing international academic programs, such as summer schools.
Ana Maria Negru
Country Manager | Romania & Moldova | Air Cargo & Logistics Expert
With over 20 years of experience in the airfreight and logistics industry, Mrs. Negru has built and led commercial and operational teams across multiple companies, including R-BAG Air Cargo, FedEx, Agility, and Kales Airline Services. Currently, she serves as Country Manager for Romania & Moldova at R-BAG Air Cargo, overseeing strategic planning, sales, operations, and business development. Her background combines legal, commercial, and operational expertise, supported by academic credentials in law, economics, and communication.
She has successfully managed tenders, implemented new business models, and led the first COVID air charter from Otopeni Airport. Passionate about aviation and people, she is also actively involved in mentorship, student engagement, and industry events.
Emilian Stere
General Manager, CMA CGM Romania
Emilian Stere currently serves as General Manager of CMA CGM Romania, bringing with him a wealth of experience across the global maritime and logistics sectors. His distinguished career has evolved from operational seafaring roles to senior leadership positions, including Asia Regional Manager for Project Cargo and Director of Operations for the Asia–North Europe trade lane.
With a strong foundation as a maritime officer, Mr. Stere has held key offshore and shore-based roles, demonstrating a consistent trajectory of professional advancement and expertise in complex, multinational maritime operations.
Niculae Iancu
Vice-President of the Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, Constanța Maritime University
Dr. Niculae Iancu brings over 30 years of experience in international military cooperation, strategic planning, and security policy. His expertise spans NATO and EU security frameworks, defence research, and intelligence education.
A former Rector of the National Intelligence Academy in Bucharest, Dr. Iancu has played a key role in shaping Romania’s national security and intelligence education. He currently lectures on cybersecurity policy, security and strategic studies, diplomacy, and global affairs at several Romanian universities, contributing to the development of future leaders in security and defence.
At CMU, he leads initiatives in maritime cybersecurity research, training, and policy development. He is also actively involved in regional and EU-supported projects, including collaboration with the European Security and Defence College and the organisation of several premier conferences.
Claudia Niculae
Sea Container Shipping & Logistics
Claudia Niculae is a logistics and transportation expert specializing in sea freight, adept at managing complex project cargo, including overweight and oversized shipments. Her expertise spans road, rail, river, air, and sea transport, efficiently handling import and export operations across various modes. She has successfully completed logistics chains for heavy-load projects, coordinating services for major players in the heavy industry market across Romania, Europe and Worldwide.
In her role as Commercial Site Manager, Claudia Niculae fostered a positive social climate, upheld company values, and enhanced its image in the job market. She also represented the Board in front of local employees, institutions, and potential partners, while effectively transmitting Board strategies to on-site projects.
With over 16 years as Regional Sales Manager for the Black Sea, she developed the market for containers, managing fleets and facilitating imports across Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Hungary, and parts of Turkey and CIS. Renowned for her decision-making and interpersonal skills, she brings to her daily work over 27 skills gained in the 30 years of experience in sales and management, ensuring seamless integration of all involved services.
Daniel Mărgărit
Trainer
Experienced trainer providing comprehensive training on road transport regulations, vehicle operation, and driver best practices to individuals and fleets, enhancing road safety and compliance.
Ana Maria Soroiu
Business Development Manager at Europrim Group
With extensive experience in freight forwarding and logistics, Mrs. Ana Maria Soroiu is Business Development Manager at Europrim Group.
She is involved in education and professional training, being a trainer for IATA Cargo course.
Sorin Creața
IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) Instructor
Sorin Creața is an experienced IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) Instructor and air freight specialist with over 20 years in the field. Currently, he is developing and delivering comprehensive DGR courses aligned with IATA standards at Regional Air Support.
In parallel, he has extensive hands-on expertise in air, sea, and road multimodal transportation, specializing in time-critical shipments, project logistics, customs brokerage, and worldwide door-to-door delivery solutions.
His background includes managing cargo operations, coordinating flight handling, and supervising operational teams to ensure compliance with safety regulations and operational excellence.
Claudiu Marcu
Managing Director, Beyond Insurance
Mr Claudiu Marcu is a seasoned professional with over 17 years of experience in the insurance and financial services sector. As Managing Director of Beyond Insurance, he is dedicated to developing innovative strategies and solutions in risk management and client advisory. His background includes extensive work in business development, consultancy, and leadership.
He holds a degree in Law and has continued to strengthen his expertise with international certifications, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Business. Mr Marcu is also an active member of the business investment community, contributing to forward-thinking approaches in finance and technology.