The MAR TEAM
CARLEEN LYDEN WALKER
Carleen is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) where she specializes in identifying, developing, and implementing strategic marketing and communications programs that increase the visibility and effectiveness of NAMEPA, as well as the development of educational resources promoting marine environment protection. She develops strategic alliances between industry, regulators, conservation groups, and educators to preserve marine environments.
Additionally, she has more than 40 years of experience in marketing and communications in the commercial maritime industry. She serves as Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Marketing & Communications, is Chief Evolution Officer of SHIPPINGInsight, Founder of CARIBMEPA, the Co-Founder/Executive Director of the Consortium for International Maritime Heritage, and the IMO Maritime Ambassador. In 2010, she was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the United States Coast Guard and in 2014 a Public Service Commendation for her work on World Maritime Day and AMVER, respectively. Ms. Lyden Walker graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Political Science and History (minor in Economics), studied Accounting at Cornell School of Business Administration, is a trained facilitator and media trainer, and held a USCG Captain’s license.
James A. Watson IV
Rear Admiral James Watson retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in June 2012 after assignment to the Department of Interior as Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. He had been Director of Prevention Policy for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington DC since July 2011, where he had been responsible for Seaport Security Assessments, Boating Safety, Commercial Vessel Safety and Security, Ports and Cargo Safety and Security, Maritime Investigations, and Quality Traveling Inspectors. Prior to this he was the Deputy Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command and the Atlantic Area’s first Director of Operations with operational assets that include 147 cutters, 97 aircraft and 1,106 boats in 26 Sectors east of the Rocky Mountains. In April 2010, Rear Admiral Watson was deployed to New Orleans to help direct the Gulf of Mexico oil spill following the MODU Deepwater Horizon disaster. He served as Federal On-Scene Coordinator from June 1 to July 14, 2010.
Rear Admiral Watson was promoted to flag rank in 2007. His first flag assignment was to establish the Prevention Policy Directorate which he managed until June 2009. He served as Chief of Staff of the Seventh Coast Guard District in Miami FL from 2006 to 2007. From 2004 to 2006 he was Chief, Office of Budget and Programs, Coast Guard Headquarters.
Rear Admiral Watson is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1978 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Marine Engineering. In 1985 he earned two Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture from the University of Michigan. In 2001 he graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces with a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies. Rear Admiral Watson has been a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers since 1978. He was recognized as the International Propeller Club of the United States “Southeast Region Person of the Year” in 2004. His personal military awards include the Distinguished Service Award, five Legions of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, and six Coast Guard Commendation Medals.
Rear Admiral Watson continued public service until September 2013 as Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, where he was responsible for implementing a new organization with new authorities for permitting and inspecting all offshore oil and gas exploration and production in the U.S. He retired from American Bureau of Shipping in 2022, after being SVP for the Government Sector and President of the Americas Division where he oversaw hundreds of surveyors and marine engineers who provide classification and certification services for thousands of marine and offshore vessels and structures. Rear Admiral Watson recently stepped down from the National Academy of Sciences Marine Board after 6 years, and the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Safety Board after 3 years.
RICH MASON
A 20+ year veteran of technology titans such as AT&T, Lucent Technologies’ Bell Labs, and Honeywell International, Rich Mason possesses deep expertise in the fields of cyber, corporate, and connected product security. His last corporate post was as Honeywell’s Global Vice President and Chief Security Officer (CSO), and prior to that, he held the role of Honeywell’s first Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Honeywell is a Fortune 100 conglomerate with a market cap over $100B and over 130,000 employees in 120 countries. Honeywell Global Security achieved a number 1 global ranking in the Industrial and Manufacturing sector during his tenure.
An engaging communicator, demonstrated practitioner and creative thinker, Rich is well-respected among his peers in the cyber, information, and physical security domains. He is vocal about how the practical application of theory should be present at all layers of an organization, and passionately challenges the idea of 'tick box' (vs actual) security. An ardent supporter of entrepreneurial thinking, Rich has been pivotal in the growth of a range of startups (in the U.S. and globally) as an investor and mentor, while actively serving on committees, review panels and Boards.
CAPT. ANUJ CHOPRA
Captain Anuj Chopra is an international executive, enterprise risk manager, and big data champion who has successfully forged client relationships in the maritime industry for more than three decades. His deep experience developing ethical, customer-focused EQ & SQ cultures has led him to conclude high-value contracts with some of the largest shipping companies in the world. Captain Chopra cofounded ESGplus LLC, an international consulting firm focused on bringing resiliency, efficiency, and independent board advisory to clients invested in the global maritime supply chain. ESGplus promotes sustainability, increased safety standards, and reducing the environmental impact of the maritime industry. Captain Chopra guides ESGplus as a diversity- focused company, providing client value by promoting exemplary, transparent customer solutions for a sustainable and resilient maritime supply chain.
Before his time at ESGplus, Captain Chopra spent nearly a decade as a Vice President of RightShip, negotiating high-level due diligence and compliance agreements in developing business across Americas increasing business revenue by 5x and operational efficiency by 3x in 5 years. Prior to his time at RightShip, he served as the President of Anglo-Eastern Houston, with direct oversight of vessels visiting US ports, risk evaluation, and government relations. Captain Chopra began his seafaring career as a deck cadet, working his way up to Captain. He has commanded large bulk carriers and tankers and holds a Commonwealth Extra Masters Certificate of Competency, Shipping Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India, and ACUE Certification.
Captain Chopra currently serves as a Fellow of The Nautical Institute (Chairperson of the U.S. Gulf Branch), an Ambassador for the Sailor Society, Advisory board member of the Houston Maritime Center and on the Board of Directors at the Houston International Seafarers Center. He was the immediate past President of the Industry Advisory Board for the Supply Chain & Logistics Technology Degree at the University of Houston, and he has served as a lecturer or teacher for more than 32 years. Captain Chopra is also a Board Member and Treasurer of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) and a member of NOAA’s Federal Advisory committee titled Hydrographic Services Review Panel. He continually mentors’ students and professionals in the maritime supply chain and is an Adjunct Professor for the Supply Chain & Logistics Technology Program at the College of Technology, University of Houston. He is the Co-Author and Assessor for NAMEPA’s ESG Maritime Sustainability Passport Program, and runs a monthly ESG101 class on the maritime supply chain.
NISHAN DEGNARAIN
Nishan Degnarain is an economist and founder of ExO Mesh, an innovation advisory and investment firm based in Silicon Valley focused on ‘ocean moonshots’ that leverages new technologies and novel business models to transform the health of our ocean especially for coastal and island communities. He was formerly elected Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council between 2012 and 2018, setting the oceans agenda each year for world leaders at Davos, and helped establish WEF’s new Special Initiative on the Ocean based in San Francisco and supported by some of the highest profile Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, such as Salesforce’s Marc Benioff.
Nishan was instrumental in brokering WEF’s Tuna Traceability Declaration at the UN Ocean Conference in 2017, the largest public-private commitment at the Conference, with 50 companies with over $150B revenues committing to full traceability of tuna by 2020. He helped establish Sustainable Ocean Alliance’s accelerator and venture capital program, and sat on SOA’s Investment Committee. He is an advisor to several major ocean innovation funds and an advisor to the X-Prize’s Ocean Health Prize. He has held a series of international board and executive positions in the public and private sectors. He was formerly in the UK Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, and was also with McKinsey and Company.
Nishan holds degrees in Economic Development from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and the University of Cambridge.
He has won several awards, including being recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He recently authored Soul of the Sea in the Age of the Algorithm, highlighting how the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ can radically transform ocean governance and restore ocean health.
JONATHAN KEMPE
Jonathan is an author, entrepreneur, technologist, lecturer, and industry analyst. He has accrued a diverse array of skills over a long and exciting career in small business, large corporates, not-for-profits, and the technology, education, media, and Australian Defence Force sectors. Jonathan currently resides in New Zealand and founded Source Consulting to engage with local and international businesses.
Jonathan speaks and lectures in universities and conferences across the world on a range of topics: Maritime strategy, satellite communications, cybersecurity, and global supply chain trends including transformational technologies and digitisation. Jonathan has contributed to Australian, US and regional strategies for technological integration, supply chain resilience and trade facilitation, is certified in Maritime Cybersecurity through the Lloyds Academy, and recently wrote a comprehensive online maritime cybersecurity course for an international seafarer training institute.
With the scars to prove it, Jonathan is well versed in the complexities - trials, victories, and failures - that founders, business owners and senior decision-makers commonly face. With a passion for generating creative and unique insights, Jonathan loves working alongside like-minded entrepreneurs, and seeks to re-imagine the future through pragmatic and creative ideation.