Nor-Shipping has announced that Andrew Forrest, founder and executive chairman of Australia’s Fortescue Metals Group, will take to the stage for this year’s Ocean Leadership Conference on June 6.

Forrest will join a line-up of speakers and participants that includes: Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics and former chief economist at the World Bank; Guy Platten, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping; Kjerstin Braathen, chief executive of DNB; and Remi Eriksen, group president and chief executive at DNV, among others. The conference, which gathers C-level executives from across the world, will focus on the overall theme of enabling sustainable success through #PartnerShip.

“Andrew Forrest is a true star of the global business scene,” says Knut Erik Dahle, Nor-Shipping head of conference and event.

“He is renowned not just for his staggering success, but also for his relentless ambition, acumen, philanthropy and passion for progress. These strengths are now being focused on supercharging clean energy development, with an array of projects that span everything from ammonia-powered vessels to electric trains, solar power and extensive wind farm developments.”

Dahle adds: “He is an individual with the vision, power and drive to change the world. You could almost say he’s the energy transition personified. It’ll be fascinating to hear his perspectives on how we can work together, in the ocean space and beyond, to empower the green growth we all want to see.”

Towards tomorrow

Forrest’s diverse business interests include Fortescue Future Industries, a leading green renewable energy and technology company, and Squadron Energy. The latter business acquired CWP Renewables, Australia’s largest wind energy company, in December 2022. It is working to deliver a pipeline of 20 GW of renewable energy projects. Forrest has also pledged to provide the seed funding of A$750m ($501m) for the Ukraine Green Growth Fund — a vehicle dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine’s energy and communications infrastructure.

Forrest will be delivering a keynote presentation, as well as taking part in an OLC session titled “Today’s solutions to tomorrow’s problems”. This will see him discussing developments with fellow panellists including Lynn Loo, chief executive, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, and Lasse Kristoffersen, chief executive, Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

Partnering for change

Joseph E. Stiglitz will also present a keynote at this year’s conference, taking place in Studio N, Hall A2 at the main Nor-Shipping exhibition facility in Lillestrøm, with a “big picture” analysis of an increasingly complicated global economic and geopolitical landscape.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an exciting line-up coming together for the conference, which traditionally marks the start of the main Nor-Shipping week,” says Sidsel Norvik, director, Nor-Shipping.

“It’s a testimony to the influence this exhibition has that it attracts participants of this calibre, speaking to an audience that are themselves key business leaders and decision makers from across the globe. This is where knowledge is shared, partnerships take shape, and change happens. It is going to be a stand-out event, in a stand-out week for ocean business opportunity.”

Source: Kilian Munch

‘I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER SEEN SUCH AN EXCITING LINE-UP COMING TOGETHER’
— SIDSEL NORVIK, DIRECTOR, NOR-SHIPPING

Nor-Shipping 2023 runs from June 6-9 in Lillestrøm and Oslo. In addition to the main exhibition and the Ocean Leadership Conference, a range of themed conferences include the inaugural Nor-Shipping Offshore Wind and Offshore Aquaculture Conference, the Second Maritime Hydrogen Conference, and the Fourth International Autonomy Summit.

Entrance tickets have been released, with an early bird discount available prior to May 1. Included in the price is free use of public transport in Oslo (Zone 1) and between the Lillestrøm exhibition centre, entrance to all the exhibition days, access to the After Work @Aker Brygge social scene in Oslo, and entrance to all Technical Seminars and Blue Talks.