You are the Eyes of the Sea

Ignace Van Meenen began his career at Deutsche Bank AG with executive roles in corporate finance in Germany and the US. In 1999, he became group financial director of RAG AG (now Evonik Industries). He later served as CFO and executive board member at Bertelsmann/RTL Group and DIC Group. In 2011, he became CEO of Rickmers, an international logistics/shipping firm. In 2019, he joined MPC Capital AG's executive board, focusing on real estate, renewable energy, impact investments, and shipping, overseeing ESG and sustainable investing.

Since 2020, he is the founding Chair of the Eyesea. In 2022, he became Co-CEO of GFOS GROUP, a German mid-tier software company specializing in Workforce Management, MES, Security Software, and IT infrastructure.

With 25+ years in private wealth and maritime sectors, Raphael excels in people and operations management. An entrepreneur and former cruise line voyager, he spent 15 years at V-Ships managing 8,000 crew and 60 shore staff. In 2013, he became CEO of a Monaco Family Office overseeing luxury assets, including the 69m M/Y SALUZI. Since 2016, as FRASER's 5th CEO in 70+ years, he's driven record yacht sales, expanded the fleet to nearly 100, opened five offices, increased staff by 13%, and led the Azimut/Benetti acquisition by MarineMax. Raphael is LYBRA President and heads MYBA's Communications Committee. He is also an Ironman champion and father of two, driven by growth and giving back.

I have worked in the maritime sector for just over ten years, and the good news is that you are not alone if you are looking to do something about maritime pollution. There are millions of us. Those with access to the coast and vastness of the seas have a unique role to play. You can be the eyes of the ocean. You can document and record what is going on. No one else is in a position to do this, and together we can drive change.

FIMarEST, FRINA, FNI, FCILT, FIMarE(I).

As Vice President for Emerging Opportunities, Nakul drives corporate venturing across internal venture building, external partnerships, and investments in early-stage maritime startups. He champions bridging industry expertise with new technology and promotes Open Innovation to address maritime challenges through ecosystem collaboration and flexible equity and non-equity structures.

With nearly 30 years in maritime, Nakul brings extensive international experience in commercial operations, management, marine engineering, and seafaring. Active in maritime VC, he serves on multiple startup boards and advisory boards, and mentors global incubators and accelerators.

He is a Fellow of several marine and logistics institutes, a member of maritime innovation and digital committees, and an advisor for the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore MINT Fund.

I have worked in the Maritime Industry for over 16 years with a special interest and knowledge in Protection & Indemnity Insurance (P&I) and Defence Insurance (FD&D).

Liability Insurance plays a vital role in international shipping and we feel a unique professional connection to the wellbeing of our oceans. I play an active role in the development of Eyesea because I strongly believe in the simplicity of it and the opportunity that comes from results we get.

Only the maritime industry can map the pollution deep in our seas and oceans. Crews and sailors feel passionate about their work and the waters they sail and therefore I am confident that our user friendly platform will be successful in collecting the right data.

Nick Topham was appointed Managing Director of BSM Germany in 2018. He is a qualified Marine Engineer with 20 years of experience in the shipping industry, specialising in container vessels, bulk carriers and chemical tankers.

Prior to joining BSM, Nick held senior positions including Technical Superintendent, Technical Manager, and ultimately Fleet Director at Borealis Maritime. Nick earned his Marine Engineering certification from Liverpool John Moors University.

As one of Eyesea's founding members and the first of the large ship managers to join our mission, BSM has been key to the success of Eyesea.

Steve brings more than 24 years of maritime leadership experience spanning operations, regulatory frameworks, maritime intelligence, and environmental innovation.

Prior to joining ABS Wavesight, Steve served as VP of Shipping & Offshore Solutions at Pole Star Global, where he led strategic expansion across the globe. He has also led global commercial development and GTM strategy for real-time emissions monitoring technology.

His background includes senior roles at the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR).

Steve's roots in maritime operations run deep, with 15 years managing offshore drilling operations aboard some of the most advanced vessels in the industry. He holds a B.S. in Marine Transportation and an MBA. An active advocate for ocean conservation and sustainability, he serves on the board of Eyesea and advises Bennu Climate, a firm accelerating climate-smart shipping solutions.

I have managed to live 90% of my life on islands, work my entire career in the marine industry, and have spent a large amount of my free time on, in, or under the water. The ocean will always be a major part of my story. Our oceans also play the most important part in the balance of our environment, and they have never been in worse shape. I am very proud to be involved with Eyesea, where we have an opportunity to bring technology, knowledge, will, and drive together to make a difference to our oceans.