Luke Ravenscroft is the Senior London Dry Bulk Analyst at Clarksons PLC, the world’s biggest
shipping services provider. Luke joined Clarksons in early 2022 and sits alongside the
shipbroking team, providing bespoke market analysis to the company’s broad client base
(including ship owners, charterers, and investment funds). Prior to this, Luke worked for another
London-based shipbroker for four years on the dry cargo markets. Luke is an accomplished
public speaker, presenting on dry bulk markets and environmental regulation at company
seminars and industry events including LME week in London, Fastmarkets Middle East Iron &
Steel Conference in Dubai and the Clarksons Annual US Gulf Conference.
Simon Ward, Director of Sale and Purchase at URSA Shipbrokers, Piraeus. He started his shipping career in Liverpool and worked for HSBC Shipping Services in
London and Greece. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, he is an examiner and teaches at the Greek branch and globally online. He also lectures at BIMCO, is a supporting member of the LMAA, and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Piraeus, as well as a guest lecturer at other institutions worldwide.
Tim Aquino applies Maritime AI expertise to enhance sanction detection and streamline process improvements across the maritime sector. With hands-on experience, Tim has helped operationalize risk detection for Energy majors, Commodity Traders, trade financiers, ship owners, and government agencies. Beyond maritime, he led JP Morgan’s Global Due Diligence Quality Assurance team, as well as fourteen years in the National Guard as a Company Commander and Brigade Intelligence Officer. Tim’s translation of military-grade technology into actionable insights has bolstered compliance programs in multiple sectors.
Captain Shri Madiwal oversees the port authority’s land and marine operations, trade development, health, safety, emergency management, and port and supply chain optimization. Shri is an integral part of the executive leadership team, driving digital transformation to enhance efficiency and reliability within the supply chain. Shri is a certified Master Mariner—the highest internationally recognized level of seafarer qualification available. He also holds a master of business administration degree from Simon Fraser University.
Alex focuses on expanding and strategically implementing technology and analytics within the commercial side of shipping. He is currently developing a series of case studies exploring AI-driven innovation and decision-making in maritime markets. With more than eight years of experience in chartering prior to joining Signal Ocean, Alex now leads the company’s business development activities across the Americas.
Ashley previously worked for commodity trading house Cliveden Trading AG based out of Zug, Switzerland for 5.5 years before moving back to Vancouver and joining Capstone Copper Corp. Ashley has been with Capstone for 7.5 years now and in her role as Vice President, Concentrate & Metal Sales she is responsible for over 2.5 billion in annual sales for all products produced from Capstone’s four operating mines globally with annual production totaling approx. 750,000 dmt of Copper Concentrates, 42,000 mt of Copper Cathode and 300,000 lbs of Molybdenum Concentrate. Over 500,000 mt of product is sold CIF where she is also responsible for all of the inland and overseas logistics.