Gabriel Raicu
Rector, Constanta Maritime University
President, Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence – MARCYSCOE
Professor Raicu academic and managerial activity is focused on maritime education, digital transformation, cyber resilience and the integration of emerging technologies into the maritime sector.
He has played an active role in advancing maritime cybersecurity education and research, supporting the development of specialized training programmes, cyber range-based exercises, and international cooperation initiatives in partnership with European and global stakeholders. Through MARCYSCOE, he contributes to strengthening the link between academia, industry, public authorities and security organizations in addressing the evolving cyber challenges affecting ports, shipping, logistics and maritime critical infrastructure.
Professor Dr. Raicu is also involved in European and international projects dedicated to cybersecurity, resilience, innovation and maritime digitalization, with a particular interest in artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation, quantum communications and future-oriented maritime education. His work promotes a multidisciplinary approach to building a safer, smarter, and more resilient maritime ecosystem.
Taner Albayrak
Prof. h.c. Dr. Capt., Piri Reis University
EU Projects Coordinator, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Maritime Business Management Dep.
Prof. Dr. Capt. Taner ALBAYRAK (BA (Marine Sciences and Int. Relations), MA (Management and Political Sciences), PhD (Marine Sciences and Management – Maritime Business Management and Maritime Policies), habilitation Strategic Management; is a graduate of Naval Academy, Naval War College and Armed Forces War College, qualified as a line officer (both deck and engineering). He served 33 years in the Turkish Navy mostly in operations and education and training management duties at different ranks and seniority and served as Commanding Officer of a frigate and Commodore of a naval division. He also served in NATO Headquarters, UN Peacekeeping Missions, and as a Defence Attaché at the Turkish Embassies abroad.
Following his retirement from the Navy, he worked as Head of Vocational Programmes, Head of the Navigation Engineering Department, and EU Projects Coordinator at TUDEV (Turkish Maritime Education Foundation established by the Chamber of Shipping) Institute of Maritime Studies for Merchant Navy before his present post at Piri Reis University.
His various awards include an honorary professor degree from the Romanian and Bulgarian Naval Academies, the NATO Medal for international peacekeeping missions, the Oceangoing Unlimited Master Certificate, and the ACF/ICF (American Coaching Federation and International Coaching Federation) Executive Coaching and Mentoring Certificate.
He is presently a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Maritime Business Management Department and teaching Management and Organization, Maritime Business Management, Leadership Skills, Maritime Business Ethics, Marine Pollution and Environment Protection, Maritime Policy and Security, and advanced topics in Maritime Management at bachelor, master and PhD levels. As the EU Projects Coordinator, he has managed 23 EU Projects and presently the Project Manager/ Coordinator of the EU Alliance for Innovation Project GREENPORT.
Mihai-Cristian Gherghe
Head of Operations at Eastship Air & Sea
Mr. Mihai-Cristian Gherghe is Head of Operations at Eastship Air & Sea, a Constanta-based freight forwarding company, specialized in Asia-Europe trade lanes, where he holds P&L responsibility and leads end-to-end operations.
He brings over 16 years of experience in international logistics, with senior roles at Gebruder Weiss, DB Schenker, CEVA Logistics and Delamode Romania. His expertise covers sea freight (FCL and LCL), air cargo, rail, and multimodal transport solutions.
At Eastship, he drives international partnership development, geographic expansion across CEE and the integration of digital and AI-powered tools into freight forwarding workflows. He is also completing an Executive MBA at Bucharest Business School (2026).
Cristiana Stancu
Surveyor, DNV Maritime – Certification of Materials and Components (CMC) & Fleet in Service (FiS), Alumna of Constanța Maritime University (BSc, MSc)
Ms. Cristiana Stancu is a Surveyor with DNV Maritime, working across both Certification of Materials and Components (CMC) and Fleet in Service (FiS) operations. She specializes in technical assessment and certification of materials, welding processes, and machinery components under DNV rules, as well as international standards.
With professional experience as a former Maritime Officer on VLCC and offshore vessels, she brings operational insight to class verification, compliance assessment, and vessel condition evaluation throughout the ship’s lifecycle.
Her work at DNV is strongly connected to key industry transformations, including decarbonization technologies, green energy solutions, digitalization of survey processes, and the growing importance of cybersecurity in maritime operations. She is actively involved in supporting safe, efficient, and future‑proof technical solutions as the sector transitions toward low‑carbon fuels, data‑driven decision‑making, and increased automation.
An alumna of Constanța Maritime University, Ms. Stancu represents DNV at MariLog Trends 2026, contributing perspectives on how classification, innovation, and regulatory development collectively support a resilient and sustainable maritime industry.
Fabian Lambert
Assistant Head of the School of Maritime Studies at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Fabian Lambert is Assistant Head of the School of Maritime Studies at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. A graduate of the Marine Institute’s Nautical Science program and a Master Mariner, Fabian spent his early career working in the offshore energy sector, employed in global operations aboard seismic research and platform supply vessels. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Post-Secondary Education and a master’s degree in Maritime Management.
From joining the Marine Institute in 2008 to 2015, Fabian was a teaching member of the Nautical Science faculty and played a key role in developing maritime education and industry training programs in collaboration with regulatory and industry partners. Since 2015 he has been in a senior academic administrative role as Assistant Head of the School of Maritime Studies.
Fabian currently co-represents the Institute on the Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) and is the past Chair of the Canadian Association of Marine Training Institutes (CAMTI). He is actively involved in advancing distance, online education standards for seafarer certification in Canada.
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.
Ghiorghe Batrinca
Associate Professor, Constanța Maritime University
Associate Professor Gheorghe Bătrînca is an academic and maritime transport specialist at Constanța Maritime University, with extensive expertise in shipping, port logistics, transport economics, and risk management. His academic activity focuses on the operational, commercial, and regulatory dimensions of maritime transport, with particular attention to ship operations, port services, multimodal transport, and international logistics chains.
He is also a non-executive member of the Board of Directors of the National Company “Maritime Ports Administration” Constanța, contributing to the strategic governance of Romania’s main maritime port infrastructure and to the development of port-related policies and institutional priorities.
Through his teaching and research, Associate Professor Bătrînca contributes to the professional development of future specialists in maritime business, logistics, and transport management. His work combines theoretical analysis with practical industry perspectives, supporting a clear understanding of how maritime transport systems function in an increasingly complex global trade environment.
His areas of interest include maritime commercial practices, transport documentation, liability regimes, port and shipping services, and the management of operational and contractual risks in international transport. He is actively involved in promoting maritime education and in connecting academic knowledge with the professional needs of the shipping, port, and logistics industries.
Ana Maria Hohan Negru
Country Manager | Romania & Moldova | Air Cargo & Logistics Expert
With over 21 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.
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.
Adrian Găureanu
Head of Department – Romanian Naval Authority
Adrian Găureanu is a maritime professional with over 20 years of experience in naval engineering, maritime operations, and regulatory compliance. He currently serves as Head of Department – Naval Product Approval and Market Surveillance within the Romanian Naval Authority, where he contributes to technical and administrative activities related to maritime safety, environmental protection, and the implementation of European maritime regulations, including EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime. He also represents the Romanian Naval Authority at the International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
His scientific and professional interests include maritime engineering, sustainable maritime transport, environmental compliance, vocational education and training, offshore operations, and the digitalization of maritime operations.
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 17 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
An experienced Trainer and Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years of expertise in the transport industry, Daniel Mărgărit provides comprehensive instruction to individuals and companies owning commercial fleets. His career includes also a background in freight forwarding, where he developed strong commercial skills and a deep understanding of international logistics.
Specializing in road transport regulations, vehicle operation and driver best practices, he combines technical knowledge with hands-on industry experience. He is dedicated to enhancing road safety, ensuring regulatory compliance and empowering transport professionals to achieve excellence.
Claudiu Marcu
Managing Director, Beyond Insurance
Mr Claudiu Marcu is a seasoned professional with over 18 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.
Costel Stanca
Coordinator, Maritime Training and Innovation Centre of Excellence
Professor Stanca has more than 30 years of academic and research experience, a significant part of which has included academic management responsibilities.
His areas of expertise cover maritime transport analysis, as well as the implementation of integrated management systems in this sector and in education, including current management standards such as ISO 42001 related to artificial intelligence.
His experience as General Director of the Constanța Port Administration strengthened his connectivity with the business community in the field, contributing to the development of its relationship with the academic environment.