Dr. Ehsani received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan before joining the department of Civil Engineering at the University of Arizona in 1982. He pioneered the field of repair and retrofit of civil structures with Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials in the 1980s and has published these findings in numerous professional journals such as ACI, ASCE, Earthquake Spectra, etc.

Dr. Ehsani is a Fellow and Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (FASCE) and a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (FACI). He has served as President of the Structural Engineers Association of Arizona, and he is a registered professional engineer in twenty states. He is also a Licensed Engineering Contractor in AZ and CA.

Professor Ehsani has been featured on major media such as CNN, National Public Radio, the History Channel, and Engineering News Record for his expertise on strengthening of structures, particularly related to earthquakes, terrorist attacks and other potential structural disasters. He has over 20 patents and received the 2014 Arizona Technology Leader of The Year Award and the 2021 AZ Governor’s Innovator of the Year Award. Many of these developments have been supported through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from various government agencies, such as NSF, USDA, EPA, USDOT.

In 2010, Dr. Ehsani left the University of Arizona as a Professor Emeritus to devote his full attention to QuakeWrap, Inc., a company he had founded in 1994 that specializes in repair and retrofit of structures with FRP. Along with its sister construction company, these companies offers turnkey design/build solutions to their international clients. Numerous award-winning projects and creative solutions/products developed to address the clients’ needs attest to the unique capabilities of this company. Among these are several repair projects at the Port of Galveston and ongoing project at the Port of Texas City.

John Donovan serves as the Vice President of Energy and Defense Solutions at Fueltrax, where he provides operational efficiency solutions to vessel owners and international energy partners, ensuring complete client satisfaction and unwavering support for complex maritime operations. A professionally licensed deck officer and former Maritime Operations Officer for the U.S. Department of the Navy, John is a skilled vessel pilot with extensive experience in operational planning, maritime command and control (C2), cross-functional leadership, and contingency management. As a Navy reserve officer, he has been activated and deployed to lead maritime operations and programs for various U.S. Navy units worldwide.

Mathieu Charbonneau holds a bachelor’s degree in urban and social geography from UQAM and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the School of Management Sciences. After teaching at the Collège de Maisonneuve in the geography department, he joined the Association québécoise du transport et des routes (AQTR) in 2004 as technical director. In 2008,he became the General manager of the AQTR training center, TransForm.

In December 2012, Mr. Charbonneau was appointed general director of the Montreal metropolitan logistics and transportation cluster, CargoM. Mr. Charbonneau sits, among others, on various boards of directors, including the Greater Montreal Climate Fund. In 2022, Mr.Charbonneau was chosen by the Government of Flanders to represent Canada in the international Flanders Inspires program on sustainable and innovative logistics. In 2023, he was selected by the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Montreal as part of the visitor’s program for a week on “Smart Cities” in Berlin. In 2023, Mr. Charbonneau was appointed Knight of the Order of the Crown from the Kingdom of Belgium for his contribution to the transport and logistics sector. In January 2024, Mr. Charbonneau joined Airudi, a company that specializes in the development of software solutions powered by artificial intelligence. He is the new Vice-President, General Manager of the transport division.

Brian P. Brammeier Chief Executive Officer and Chief Information Security Officer, Opscura Brian Brammeier is a seasoned technology executive with more than 25 years of experience in business operations, cybersecurity, and strategic leadership. Brian actively participates in various technology, fintech, and biotechnology ventures. Additionally, he lends his expertise to multiple companies in advisory capacities, serving as a board member or consultant. His strategic guidance has proven invaluable in shaping company strategies and fortifying cybersecurity postures. Currently, Brian holds the position of CEO at Opscura, a leading organization that recently secured a series A funding round to expand their Operational Technology (OT) platform, aimed at safeguarding critical infrastructure.

Karl Lander is the Environmental Services Director for Subsea Global Solutions. He has over 25 years of diverse maritime experience, including the past 8 years in the fields of subsea robotics and biofouling management. He is a leader in the development of emerging global industry standards for in-water hull inspection and cleaning, with a focus on robotic and automated solutions, working closely with both the IMO and ISO.

Karl previously served in the US Coast Guard, as a diver, Naval Engineer and Cutterman, retiring as a Commander following over 20 years of service, with almost 10 years at sea.

Robert is the Product Manager for MIS Marine’s Marine Terminal Operations, where he leads the development of innovative solutions designed to optimize terminal performance and mitigate risks. With 35 years of experience in the maritime industry, Robert has a deep understanding of maritime management software, having worked with high-profile companies, driving significant advancements in the sector.

Robert is dedicated to helping customers select the terminal operations system that best suits their unique requirements, helping to achieve greater efficiency and safety.

Gurban Karimbayli is a strategic professional with over 17 years of experience in high-profile local and international organizations. He has a proven track record in project management, corporate communications, strategy development, and international relations. Recognized for his dedication, energy, and business acumen, he is skilled in team leadership and has extensive global and local networks. Gurban specializes in sustainability and green projects, aligning initiatives with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ECO-PORT standards to drive a sustainable future.

At the Port of Baku, Gurban held roles as Head of Public Relations and later Sustainability Manager (2022–2024). Currently, he serves as ESG Advisor to the Port of Baku and Head of the Sustainable Development Department at Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL).

Throughout his career, Gurban has held diverse roles, including senior advisor, program manager, expert, and monitoring and evaluation coordinator, working with prominent organizations such as the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan, Eurasia Foundation, Save the Children, UNDP, Community Action Agency, and PASHA Bank OJSC.

In academia, Gurban served as an instructor at Azerbaijan Tourism and Management University, teaching Effective Business Writing and Project Management. He was also invited as a guest speaker at ADA University to deliver lectures on nonprofit management, effective communication, business writing, and public-private partnerships.

Gurban is a Fellow of the U.S. Department of State’s Edmund S. Muskie Program, recognized for nurturing promising young leaders from the Commonwealth of Independent States. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from New Mexico State University, USA, where he also completed an internship at the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico. Additionally, he earned a Master’s degree from Baku State University (2003–2007).

He is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP®) by the Project Management Institute and is an International Sustainable Business (ISB®) Certified ESG Specialist. He achieved this credential through training by Exponential Education and certification by the International Association for Sustainable Economy (IASE International, London).

April Danos is the Vice President of OD Grant Solutions, LLC (ODGS), a subsidiary of Organizational Development Resource Group, LLC (ODRG) created to support grant recipient and subrecipient customers with grant management and compliance.

As a Senior Grants Subject Matter Expert (SME), Ms. Danos has served the federal, state, local, and private community including the maritime and transportation industry. Ms. Danos was instrumental in developing the Grant Program for Port Fourchon, LA, which is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana and included the development of policies, procedures, and internal controls as it relates to federal grants.

She has 26+ years of maritime experience, including having served as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fiduciary Agent for Port Fourchon/The LOOP Port-Wide Area for over five years managing the full grant lifecycle, where she successfully brought in over $12 million in port security grants for the area. Ms. Danos also managed over 25 grant projects working with local stakeholders including Harbor Police, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, LOOP, and Lafourche Parish Fire District, as well as several tenants throughout the Port.

After retiring from Port Fourchon, LA as the Director of Homeland Security and Technology, Ms. Danos and her team are assisting their clients in building new terminals, assisting with cybersecurity projects and physical security projects as well as clean energy projects. She and her team are currently helping other ports and facilities develop their processes and procedures for Grants Management as well as monitoring their current grants and ensuring they remain compliant.

Geoff Douglass is the co-founder and CEO of Mythos AI, a leader in maritime technology. He oversees the development of high-definition depth mapping systems to optimize port operations and autonomy-aided vessel navigation systems to enhance safety and fleet scalability. Mythos AI’s customers include U.S. ports, shipping companies, and defense contractors, with a notable partnership with LOMAR Shipping to scale autonomous systems across its tanker fleet.

Daniel Yuska has been with the U.S. Maritime Administration for over 20 years. He currently serves as the Director of the Office of Environment and Innovation. Mr. Yuska oversees the Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program, the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation, and domestic and international maritime environmental policy.

Prior to serving as the Director, Mr. Yuska served as Environmental Protection Specialist within the same office. Mr. Yuska helped to develop the Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program and led environmental research and policy focused on vessel and port emissions reductions, energy efficiency, and alternative fuels and technologies. In addition to the development of the META program, Mr. Yuska spent several years leading Agency environmental planning efforts for major port and intermodal infrastructure projects. Mr. Yuska also has served as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the International Maritime Organization for the Air Pollution and Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas working groups.

Mr. Yuska holds an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in environmental and ecological science disciplines and among other relevant work experience, served as a Marine Science Technician in the U.S. Coast Guard.