The maritime industry currently faces significant opportunities and challenges, arising from evolving global trade patterns, technological advancement and growing concerns on sustainability issues.

Amidst this backdrop, MPA Academy, the training arm of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and the Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI) jointly launched the Advanced Maritime Leaders Programme (AMLP) in April 2015 during the 10^th Singapore Maritime Week 2015.  Held between 16 and 20 April, this high-level programme is the first global leadership programme designed for senior maritime officials and deputies heading maritime and port administration in their respective countries, and aims to equip them with the skills and knowledge to effectively lead and transform their organisations in an increasingly complex and globalised environment.

Singapore Management University (SMU)’s International Trading Institute, or ITI@SMU, was privileged to partner with the MPA Academy to develop and deliver it to 13 senior maritime officials from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East and Oceania.

The five-day leadership programme, which included peer-to-peer sharing and learning, panel discussions, case studies and crisis communications exercises, with a focus on transformational leadership, was led by Professor Annie Koh, SMU’s Vice President for Business Development and Practice Professor of Finance.  Professor Koh is also the Programme Director of the AMLP.

[Left photo: Prof Annie Koh moderating a panel discussion “In Conversation with Transformational Leaders in the Maritime Industry” with maritime leaders.  (L-R) Prof Annie Koh, Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Mr Patrick Phoon, Mr Jakob Bergholdt and Ms Tan Beng Tee; Right photo: Prof Koh delivering the programme.]

Participants of the programme also gained practical insights from prominent industry leaders who shared their thoughts and expertise on leadership, as well as global maritime trends and challenges.  The latter included Professor Stavros Tsolakis, MPA Visiting Professor of Maritime Economics at SMU and Vice President, DST Shipping Group; and Mr Kwan Chee Wei, HCLI’s Chief Executive Officer.

Professor Annie Koh said, "Beyond training and developing a pipeline of local maritime talents through SMU's undergraduate Maritime Economics Concentration, SMU is very honoured to partner MPA Academy and HCLI in designing this maritime-focused leadership programme for senior maritime-sector decision makers globally.  The AMLP will lead to an alumni of global maritime leaders who are connected as a community of learners, to bring about transformative leadership and change for the industry.  This is imperative given the highly uncertain and complex global environment that we are facing."

Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, said, “In today's fast-changing and challenging environment, new leadership skills are necessary to stay ahead of the industry. We are excited and proud to introduce the AMLP, the first global maritime leadership programme of its kind that leverages on peer-to-peer learning to enhance the leadership skills of senior maritime leaders to transform and take their organisations to the next level.”

[Featured photo: Senior maritime leaders from Bahrain, Egypt, Guyana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa and Tunisia who form the inaugural cohort of the Advanced Maritime Leaders Programme.  Front row, 1st and 2nd from right: HCLI CEO Mr Kwan Chee Wei and SMU Prof Annie Koh.  Back row: 4th to 6th from left: Dean of MPA Academy Captain Khong Shen Ping; MPA Chief Executive Mr Andrew Tan; and Guest-of-honour Mr Pang Kin Keong, Permanent Secretary, Singapore Ministry of Transport.]