MSAR 2025 Speakers
The speaker lineup for Maritime Search & Rescue 2026 is currently in development. In the meantime, you can explore the full roster of 2025 speakers, showcasing the world’s foremost experts in maritime rescue, emergency coordination, and lifesaving operations at sea.
The 2025 programme introduced a highly experienced range of speakers — including SAR commanders, coast guard leaders, rescue operators, engineers, and industry innovators — all dedicated to strengthening international collaboration and operational excellence in maritime emergency response.
Covering key themes such as coordinated multi-agency operations, emerging rescue technologies, training and simulation, communication systems, and survivability planning, the 2025 agenda provides valuable insight into the tools, strategies, and protocols that safeguard lives in challenging maritime environments.
Stay tuned for the release of the 2026 speaker lineup, and join the ongoing conversation shaping the future of global maritime search and rescue.
Brian Johnson CBE
(retired) Chief Executive Officer at Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Orlando Max Avis
SAR Outreach Manager, SOS Mediterranee
Commander Chris Baldwin
Senior Rescue Element Commander and Operations Officer, NATO Submarine Rescue System
Martin Cauchi Inglott
Director, CRIMARIO
Heidi Clevett
Head of Technical Infrastructure, HMCG
Bjorn Gunnarson
Project Manager, Iceland ICE-SAR
Caroline Jupe
CEO, IMRF
Kari Loukkaanhuhta
Head of programs and Policies Unit, Frontex – European Border and Coast Guard Agency
Pete Lowson
Head of Operational Procedures, HMCG
Roland Mckie
IMO representative and SAR Advisor, IMRF
Matthew Mitchell
Founder, IASARC
Lord Simon Stevens
MCA Chair, MCA
Kamil Woźniakiewicz
Mission Coordinator, Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service
Steve Wills
Project Manager, IMRF
Sam Williams
HMCG Programme Change Manager, HMCG
Mike Tipton
Professor, Extreme Environments Laboratory, University of Portsmouth, UK.
Admiral Viktor Sudarev
Director of maritime Search and Rescue Service, Maritime Search and Rescue Service
Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Peter Sparkes
Chief Executive, RNLI
David Scott
UKSAR UAS Operations Manager, Bristow Helicopters Ltd
Captain Matthew Schanck
Chairman, Maritime Search and Rescue Council
Helen Peterson
Head of Vulnerability reduction and Shock Engineering, UK MOD – Submarine Delivery Agency
Lars Samuelson
Chief Executive Officer, Swedish Sea Rescue Society
Rimo Timm
Head of Sales & Marketing, Baltic Workboats AS
Per Haavardtun
Associate Professor- Department of Maritime Operations, University of South-Eastern Norway
Captain Elias Zachariassen
Manager, MRCC Tórshavn
Mark Hirst
Lead Avionics Engineer, Cannon Technology
Douglas Gardner
Air SAR Mission coordinator, Canadian JRCC Halifax
Joseph Abeyta
Director of Business Development, TeledyneFLIR Maritime Inc. / Raymarine
Karl Birgir Björnsson
CEO and Co Founder, HEFRING Marine
Commander Nick Samuels
Head of UK SMERAS, UK SMERAS
Lieutenant Chris Moody
Deputy UK SMERAS, UK SMERAS