INEC/iSCSS 2026
Meet our Keynote Speakers
Captain Mo Magzoub OBE FIMarEST
Rear Admiral Rachel Durbin AM, CSC, RAN
Sir Simon Lister KCB OBE FREng
Dr Bas Buchner
Roberto Chiti
Claudia Hessen
Sarah Kenny OBE
Mo Magzoub joined the Royal Navy in 2000 as a Marine Engineer Officer.
His service at sea included appointments in HMS Ocean, Type 22 and Type 23 Frigates. Ashore, he has held roles in DE&S as the Electrical Development lead and in the Aircraft Carrier Alliance.
His time working in MOD London included positions in the Operations Directorate and in Finance and Military Capability, before taking up post in Navy Command where he held the dual role of Maritime Capability (MARCAP) Chief of Staff and Marine Systems Desk Officer.
Capt Magzoub spent several years in Australia as the Naval Advisor in the British High Commission, where he was responsible for the RN-RAN relationship before standing up and holding the post of AUKUS Advisor.
In Spring 2025, Capt Mo returned to the UK and Navy Command Headquarters where he became the Royal Navy Head of Force Development – responsible for the development of the RN Future and Conceptual Forces.
In January 2026, Capt Mo appeared in the 2026 New Years Honours List and was awarded an OBE in recognition for his work in Australia.
Captain Magzoub holds an MA in Military and Defence Strategic Studies, an MSc in Electrical Marine Engineering and an MEng in Mechanical Engineering. In his spare time, he is a committed world traveller and an ardent audiobook fan which he argues is just as good as reading.
Rear Admiral Rachel Durbin, CSC, RAN, grew up in the NSW Snowy Mountains and joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1993 through the Australian Defence Force Academy as a Marine Engineer. She spent her sea-time onboard HMA Ships Westralia, Anzac, Canberra and Perth deployed on operations in the Persian Gulf, conducting exercises in North and South East Asia, fisheries operations in the Southern Ocean and border protection off Northern Australia.
Following promotion to Captain in 2013, RADM Durbin enjoyed strategic roles within the Rizzo Reform Program, Major Surface Ships Sustainment (CASG) and Navy Capability Division. On promotion to CDRE in 2021, RADM Durbin served as Director General Engineering—Navy from 2021–2023. In March 2023 RADM Durbin was promoted to Rear Admiral and assumed the role of Head Navy Engineering. She has also served within the Navy Leadership and Culture Program and Navy Workforce Management responsible for engineering workforce requirements and remediation.
RADM Durbin was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Master in Engineering Management, Master in Arts in Strategy and Management, is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. She is also a graduate of both the Australian Command and Staff Course and the Defence Strategic Studies Course.
Simon Lister became Naval Ships Managing Director on 1 January 2021. He joined BAE Systems as Managing Director of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance in 2017, before being appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of BAE Systems Maritime and Land in April 2020 and since joining the Company he has been a member of the Maritime & Land UK Board.
Prior to joining BAE Systems, Simon enjoyed a successful and interesting career as a nuclear submariner and marine engineer in the Royal Navy, concluding as a Vice Admiral, Member of the Navy Board, Chief of Materiel (Fleet), and Chief Naval Engineer.
Simon is married to Anita and they have three grown up children. Free time is spent propping up a property in Malvern, Worcestershire, sailing around the UK coast, skiing, theatre, and tinkering with old cars that have exceeded their economic life and using them for long distance exploration.
Dr. Bas Buchner was President of MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) from 2011 to 2024. After studying Maritime Technology at Delft University of Technology, he started working there as Project Manager in 1991. In 2002, he obtained his PhD at TU Delft on the topic of green water on ship-type offshore structures. He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Under his leadership as President, MARIN’s Strategy ‘Better Ships, Blue Oceans’ was developed, aimed at sustainability, safety and security of the Maritime sector. Dr. Bas Buchner is now Chairman of the Dutch Maritime Board and Program Director Maritime Uncrewed Systems of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
For his work for the Dutch maritime sector, the King of The Netherlands appointed him ‘Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau’ in December 2024. He was also elected 'Alumnus of the Year 2024' by Delft University of Technology.
Claudia Hessen is a Manager of Regulatory & Integrity at Kongsberg Maritime, leading work at the intersection of regulatory development, product safety, and maritime innovation.
With more than two decades of experience in regulatory compliance and safety within the maritime sector, she specializes in aligning emerging technologies with practical, evidence-based regulatory frameworks that enable safe and sustainable operations.
In her current role, Claudia leads cross-functional initiatives to ensure compliance, risk assessment, and implementation of alternative design solutions, while maintaining strong collaboration with regulatory authorities and international stakeholders.
She has played a key role in pioneering autonomous and remote vessel projects such as ASKO, Yara Birkeland, and Reach Remote—helping navigate complex approval processes and shaping regulatory pathways for maritime digitalisation and autonomy.
Claudia actively contributes to international regulatory development, including engagement with the IMO and support to national maritime authorities, where she helps influence future frameworks such as the MASS Code.
She is passionate about using regulation as an enabler for innovation—driving safety, sustainability, and competitiveness across the maritime industry.
Sarah Kenny is the Chief Executive for BMT; a leading international scientific and engineering technical services business, with deep specialism in maritime. A marine environmental scientist by background, Sarah has worked in maritime science and technology businesses throughout her career.
Sarah has just finished her tenure as Chair of Maritime UK, she is a board member of Maritime London, and a Trustee Director of the National Oceanography Centre. She is also a member of the UK Defence Innovation Advisory Panel, and the National Shipbuilding Office SEG group.
Sarah is proud to be an Honorary Captain of the Royal Navy, an Honorary member of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, and a Younger Brother of Trinity House.
Sarah was awarded an OBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, for services to the Maritime Industry and Diversity.