SPEAKERS

Keynote

Rafael Souza is an Insurance Manager at Equinor, responsible for insurance programs in the US, Canada, and Argentina.

With a comprehensive background in energy, downstream, oil & gas, renewables, and marine insurance, Rafael brings experience both as a risk manager and underwriter. Active in the sector since 2007, he has managed insurance programs and advised on risk and insurance for operations, construction, and decommissioning of large-scale projects and assets. He currently oversees the insurance placement for one of the largest offshore wind energy projects in the US. His professional background includes the implementation of an innovative risk rating system for offshore drilling rigs and FPSOs, which has enhanced safety and operational efficiency.

He is actively involved in standardization and industry associations, serving on committees within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and contributing to the drafting and development of the ISO 31.000 standard. He is also a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) and a mentor with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

Rafael's academic credentials include a degree in Production Engineering and a Postgraduate degree in Maritime Law, specializing in Ship Finance, from London Metropolitan University. He holds an LL.M. (Master of Law) in International Maritime Law from the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden and has completed studies in Wind Energy at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).

Rachel Turk is Lloyd’s Chief of Performance & Strategy, with responsibility for the Strategy and Market Performance functions. She joined Lloyd’s in November 2023 as Chief Underwriting Officer, became Chief of Market Performance in June 2025, and was appointed Chief of Performance & Strategy in May 2026. In this role, she leads the development and execution of Lloyd’s strategy and oversees the technical disciplines responsible for managing the performance of the Lloyd’s market.

Rachel has more than 20 years’ experience across insurance and financial services. Prior to joining Lloyd’s, she spent nearly 15 years at Beazley PLC, holding a range of senior leadership roles, most recently Group Head of Strategy. During her tenure, she led the development of the Group’s strategy and medium-term plan, established its sustainability function, oversaw the business planning process on behalf of the Group, and ran the Lloyd’s Wholesale Management Committee, with additional responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region.

Earlier in her career, Rachel gained significant underwriting experience in US Directors’ & Officers’ liability, with a particular focus on primary layers on technology risks. She also worked as an Equity Analyst at J.P. Morgan Cazenove, covering European small and mid-cap media and internet companies. Rachel is also a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Speakers

Graham has been in the Insurance and Reinsurance industry for almost 48 years.

Originally from London, and having spent decades in the London market, he now resides in Houston, Texas.

He has successfully launched Lloyd's Brokers, Managing General Agencies and a Lloyd's Nameco all of which have enjoyed high levels of trading success and was the youngest ever Chief Executive of a Lloyd's broker at age 29. He has also acted as an arbitrator and expert witness on several high profile reinsurance disputes.

He is Chief Executive Officer of Kemah Capital, a Texas based Managing General Agency which writes multiple business lines in numerous countries.

Graham is one of the best know figures in the London market and, having spent over 20 years as chairman of Lloyd's Football Club, he is now Chairman of the Lloyd's Football Club Matthew Harding Charitable Trust.

Outside of work he enjoys reading, golf and spending time with his six grandchildren.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute and is a Chartered Insurer.

Bari Blanks is a global executive legal leader with over 25 years of experience in the energy sector, serving in senior roles at organizations such as Fugro, CES Energy Solutions, Nexus Program Management Group, Quanta Services, NRG/Reliant Resources, and Devon Energy. Ms. Blanks has overseen legal, risk, and compliance functions across North America, LATAM, and international markets, leading teams through restructuring, M&A, distressed asset acquisitions, and expansion into new regions. Ms. Blanks's experience includes rebuilding and scaling legal teams, implementing transactional and compliance frameworks, directing cross-border acquisitions and joint ventures, and advising on large carbon capture and lower-carbon energy infrastructure projects. She has also managed legal aspects of capital raises, government relations, and crisis response, and has extensive experience negotiating complex transactions in oilfield services, marine construction, and international energy operations. Most recently, she has led the implementation of artificial intelligence tools and processes within project execution and contractual workstreams to enhance efficiency, risk management, and commercial decision-making across complex energy projects.

Laura Block is Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Marine Claims at Ascot Insurance Company, where she leads a team of Ocean and Inland Marine claims adjusters. A maritime attorney by training, Laura began her career practicing Admiralty and Maritime law in New York before moving into marine insurance claims. Since joining Ascot in 2018 as its first U.S. marine adjuster, she has helped build the company’s marine claims capabilities and is known for her technical expertise, collaborative leadership, and strategic approach to complex marine claims.

• Introductory Clause: I’m Courtney J. Broussard, Senior Legal Counsel. I’ve been in the industry since 2009. I’m a Southern gentleman, who has the ability to interact with diverse personalities, has an eye for critical and crucial details, and am a proven problem solver & solutions generator.
• I’ve been blessed to have been in the oil and gas industry for more than a decade and have contracted with the majors, minors, and in-betweens. As part of my role, I help manage litigation, engage supply chain, and negotiate any and all things contractual. I’ve worked in both the public and private sector(s).
• I love learning, building relationships, and causing or creating the occasional laugh. My wife and I consider ourselves foodies, and I’m really confident I’ve never met a biscuit that I wasn’t a fan of. Given the foregoing, I’m pretty active, actually read outside of work, and love a good movie.

Anthony Carroll is a senior insurance executive with more than 35 years of experience in complex property, energy, construction and infrastructure risks. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Senior Broker within Aon’s Global Digital Infrastructure and Construction Property practice, advising clients on data centers, builder’s risk and lifecycle insurance programs. His background combines engineering, underwriting leadership and client advisory expertise. Throughout his career, Anthony has held senior underwriting and executive positions with leading insurance organizations, including FM, AIG, Liberty Mutual and Aspen, where he led specialty marine, energy and construction operations. His experience spans data centers, power generation, oil and gas, renewable energy, heavy industry and large-scale construction, with particular expertise in evaluating technically complex risks and developing integrated insurance solutions from construction through ongoing operations.

Kyle Eddings is the Founder and CEO of New Wave Offshore Energy, an international marine warranty & assurance consultancy supporting offshore operators, contractors, brokers, and underwriters on complex offshore energy projects worldwide. Since founding the company in 2018, he has led its growth into a globally recognized marine assurance provider trusted by organizations including ExxonMobil, Shell, TotalEnergies, SBM Offshore, Saipem, Chevron, and MODEC.

With a background in offshore operations, dynamic positioning assurance, and complex marine transportation and installation projects, Kyle has developed a reputation for execution-focused leadership, technical problem solving, and commercially focused project support in high-risk offshore environments. Under his leadership, New Wave Offshore has expanded across the Gulf of Mexico, South America, West Africa, and Europe.

Kyle is known for advancing practical, risk-based approaches to marine assurance while emphasizing quality, integrity, and long-term relationships. He is passionate about entrepreneurship, global business development, and building scalable organizations that deliver innovative solutions to the offshore energy industry.

Megan Eddings is the Chief Strategy Officer of New Wave Offshore Energy, where she leads global business development, strategic partnerships, and growth initiatives across the offshore energy sector. Known for building trusted relationships and uncovering opportunities in complex, high-pressure environments, she has helped expand New Wave's global footprint and strengthen partnerships with leading energy companies, including ExxonMobil, SBM Offshore, and TotalEnergies.

A graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Chemistry, Megan was named Siemens Rookie of the Year and quickly established herself as a top-performing sales and business development professional. She is also a successful entrepreneur, inventing two products rooted in her chemistry background, before achieving a successful business exit in 2023.

Recognized by Forbes, NASDAQ, Inc. Magazine, and the Houston Business Journal as a "40 Under 40" honoree, Megan combines her experience in science, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership to deliver engaging keynote presentations on resilience, mindset, and leadership. Known for blending humor, authenticity, and real-world business experience, she inspires audiences to navigate challenges with confidence, perspective, and the belief that some of life's greatest lessons and best stories begin with the words, "Well, that didn't go as planned."

Chris English is an Executive Director, Marine Claims at Howden, with more than 30 years of experience handling marine losses, including over 25 years dedicated to US marine claims. He began his career with Norex Insurance Brokers in 1992 before joining Bowood Partners, where he was responsible for marine and energy claims. In 2008, he joined RKH, now Howden, as a Divisional Director.

Throughout his career, Chris has advised on a broad spectrum of marine insurance matters, including Hull & Machinery, Protection & Indemnity, Charterers' Liability, Builder's Risk, Ports & Terminals, Logistics, Marine Employers Liability, General Liability, Ship Repairers' Liability, and Offshore Contractor Energy programs.

Benjamin “Ben” Gifford is a Vice President and Director with Condon Claims Management, Inc, U.S. (CCM). He specializes in the management of complex marine, energy, transportation, and liability claims, with a particular focus on serving the maritime insurance industry. Ben began his insurance claims career in 1999 as an adjuster handling liability, commercial, and residential property claims throughout the Gulf Coast region. He began handling marine claims in 2006 and has since remained actively involved in the marine claim’s community, maintaining a broad professional network that includes P&I Clubs, marine insurers, maritime attorneys, surveyors, and claims professionals throughout the United States and internationally. His work reflects a commitment to delivering practical and effective claims solutions for clients operating in the marine and offshore sectors.

Ben was key in developing CCM’s proactive 24/7/365 callout service, which supports clients by coordinating medical treatment and initial claim investigations for injuries and illnesses that occur involving a client’s employees in the first instance. He has also supported the company’s continued growth and expanded capabilities throughout the United States. Ben has helped advance initiatives that strengthen CCM’s presence in the marine claims market, both domestically and in the London market, including expanded third-party administration (TPA) services, crew medical claims management, bodily injury claims handling, loss and safety analysis and strategic acquisitions that have increased the firm’s national and international footprint.

Known for his collaborative approach and strong industry relationships, Ben continues to play an important role in expanding CCM’s presence within the U.S. maritime insurance market while delivering responsive claims management solutions to clients across the country and abroad.

Jana Grauberger is a Shareholder and Co-Chair of the firm’s Energy Section at Liskow & Lewis. She lives in Houston, Texas. Jana has more than 25 years of experience assisting clients in almost every aspect of federal offshore leasing and development, including negotiating offshore contracts, advising on day-to-day regulatory issues, handling administrative appeals, and litigating and arbitrating disputes related to offshore contracts and operations. Jana works with clients, including current federal offshore operators and interest owners, as well as predecessors on responding to decommissioning orders. She assists with evaluating accrued liability under such orders, appealing orders and associated Incidents of Noncompliance and civil penalty assessments, drafting and negotiating decommissioning agreements, negotiating agreements with regulators, and advising on regulatory requirements and filings. Jana is the current President of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law.

With over 50 years’ experience in the maritime industry, Steve began working in the 1960’s aboard ocean-going Jones Act oil tankers and in several Texas ship repair companies. After starting his career with Sabine Surveyors in 1976, Steve became a Certified Marine Surveyor (NAMS-CMS) and has served as President of the National Association of Marine Surveyors.

Steve Hale joined the Gulf Copper Manufacturing Corporation Board of Directors in 1997 as a non-executive director. He became President/CEO of Gulf Copper in 2002 and was named Chairman in 2005. In 2025 Gulf Copper sold their Texas shipyards to Davie Defense LLC who recently signed a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to construct 5 Arctic Security Cutters.

Subsequent to the sale of the shipyards, Gulf Copper’s remaining businesses organized under the Sabine Marine Group, Inc.(“SMGI”). These businesses include Sabine Surveyors Ltd., Sabine Ship Repair Norfolk, GC Vandam Fabrication, and SAI Gulf LLC. Steve is Chairman of SMGI and Captain David Pereira serves as Group CEO.

Steve has been active on numerous industry and civic boards throughout his career. He earned his Bachelors degree from Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas and later returned to Lamar to obtain a Masters of Science Degree in Port and Terminal Management.

Steve and his wife Liz reside in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

Dr. Steven Haynes is an expert in risk management and cybersecurity, functioning as an educator, researcher, and practitioner. He specializes in new strategies for organizational resilience and risk financing. Currently, he is the Director of the Cybersecurity & Risk Management Program and an Associate Professor of Practice at The University of Texas at Dallas. His work concentrates on enterprise risk management, cybersecurity, operational resilience, insurance, and innovative risk technologies.

Dr. Haynes has broad industry experience in property risk, business continuity, claims, and enterprise risk management, gained from both public and private sectors. His current focus is on using parametric insurance as an innovative way to finance risks that are complex and historically hard to insure. This involves creating parametric strategies for maritime and disaster risks, integrating objective triggers, data analytics, and emerging technologies to provide insurance solutions that are faster and more transparent.

Grady Hurley is a partner at Jones Walker LLP where he serves as co-leader of the maritime litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution team and co-chair of the Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources Industry Team.

Grady provides broad-ranging dispute resolution and transactional experience at the intersection of energy and maritime law, including in areas such as offshore energy exploration, production, and distribution, where a range of complex legal, regulatory, and business issues collide. He regularly counsels clients on matters involving cargo, collision, allision, product liability, toxic tort, insurance, indemnity, death, personal injury, property damage, lease cancellation, right-of-way disputes, explosions, and multi-party complex and commercial litigation in state and federal courts.

In his maritime practice, Grady has engaged in brown water, offshore, blue water, and pleasure craft litigation, including drafting of briefs to the US Supreme Court on Suits in Admiralty Act cases, indemnity, and amicus briefs. Grady is also a certified mediator and arbitrator focused on maritime, offshore industry, and energy disputes.

Grady currently serves as the immediate past president of the Maritime Law Association (MLA) and was appointed to the Comité Maritime International working group on offshore wind where a MORU code is being formulated.

Andy has 35 years insurance industry experience in Construction and Engineering. He has been involved in many large infrastructure, transport, energy and power projects world-wide. Andy has many years’ experience leading international portfolios and businesses. Since September 2025 Andy has led AIG Global Specialty’s Construction business. He sits on the executive committee of IMIA and has a HND in Natural Sciences, an MBA and is DipCII qualified.

Jason R. Kenney is a partner at Staines, Eppling & Kenney, LLC and focuses his practice in the fields of admiralty and maritime law, energy, construction, and catastrophic personal injuries. His practice in these areas consists of both litigation (primary defense counsel) and monitoring roles. Additionally, he assists his clients with contractual issues, including Master Service Agreements, Bare Boat Charters, Boarding Agreements, Defense and Indemnity Agreements, and other contracts germane to the areas in which he practices. He has tried numerous personal injury and collision/allision cases to judges and juries in both federal and state courts in Louisiana and Texas. He represents a variety of clients including boat owners, maritime service companies, oil and gas (energy) service companies, crane companies, construction companies, the Port of New Orleans, and multiple domestic and international insurers.

He has presented in various areas, including the Jones Act, general maritime negligence, maintenance and cure, punitive damages, seaman status, general marine safety, developments in maritime contract law, personal injury case evaluation, mock trial and trial practice to industry groups, companies, insurers, attorneys and even multiple presentations for the Lloyd’s Market Association at Lloyd's of London. Jason regularly travels the Gulf Coast and abroad and works with a variety of insurers in the London and domestic markets.

Jason received an undergraduate degree in Finance from Louisiana State University and a juris doctorate from Tulane Law School. Since becoming an attorney, he has represented clients across the United States and overseas and has appeared on their behalf in state courts in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi as well as federal courts in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Graham Kenyon is the Vice President of Risk Management at Orion Group Holdings, Inc. Orion Group Holdings, Inc., is a leading specialty construction company serving the infrastructure, industrial and building sectors, provides services both on and off the water in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and the Caribbean Basin through its marine segment and its concrete segment.

Prior to working at Orion, Graham was the Director of Risk at Waste Connections and Head of North American Risk for LyondellBasell. Graham also previously held the role of Director of Risk Management at Transocean Offshore, the world's leading offshore driller. Among other duties, Graham handled all of Transocean's claims and insurance issues associated with the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.

Graham is originally from the United Kingdom and has an insurance background. He worked in London for one of the international P&I Clubs with the London Market, before moving to Houston to work at a leading TPA as their Litigation Manager, handling claims for a number of oilfield drillers and service providers.

Bill Kost is Senior Vice President and Energy & Power Advisory Leader at Marsh, where he leads integrated risk management and insurance solutions for energy, power, renewables, digital infrastructure, construction, and adjacent sectors. Based in Houston, he brings 20+ years of expertise across the insurance value chain—underwriting, broking, risk management consulting, and due diligence—serving private equity, lenders, developers, contractors, operators (IPP, IOU, Public Power), and insurers globally.

Bill specializes in enterprise risk solutions and power/energy strategy, with deep knowledge of construction risks, supply chain challenges, equipment critical path management, and innovative insurance products including parametric solutions, outage insurance, and performance warranties. He leverages Marsh's 150+ Risk Consulting services to help clients navigate complex technical, operational, and strategic risks—delivering value beyond traditional risk engineering and claims advocacy.

His technical foundation—B.S. Chemical Engineering (University of Missouri), M.S. Environmental Science and Management (UC Santa Barbara), and professional credentials as ARM-E and EIT—enables him to engage collaboratively with technical teams, executives, and insurers on multifaceted infrastructure challenges.

Jim Moseley, Jr. is an experienced trial attorney with the law firm of GrayRobinson, P.A. practicing in the area of civil litigation. Mr. Moseley has achieved the highest possible Martindale-Hubbell peer rating with an AV recognition. He also received annual recognition in the Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Moseley has been awarded Lawyer of the Year for Maritime in Jacksonville Florida for multiple years by Best Lawyers in America. He is a recognized member of Chambers U.S.A. (Band 1): Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York). He is also a Titular Member of the Comité Maritime International. Mr. Moseley is currently President of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. Mr. Moseley is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and the Cumberland School of Law. He is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Admiralty and Maritime practice. Mr. Moseley also served as the Chairman of the Maritime Law Association’s Marine Ecology and Maritime Criminal Law Committee and served as Chairman of the Young Lawyer’s Committee. Mr. Moseley served as a Master of the Bench in the Chester Bedell Inn of Court. He has also served as an Editorial Fellow with the publication, American Maritime Cases. He has also lectured and had articles published on various aspects of maritime law and federal civil procedure. He has been a member of the Florida Bar and the Georgia Bar for over 38 years.

Iain is President of Guardian Decommissioning, a licensed Gulf of America decommissioning operator executing a multi-year program to permanently abandon 250 wells and 32 pipelines, and remove 12 large platform structures.

Prior to joining Guardian, Iain held a number of leadership and functional roles during his 20-year career with Wood Group, including General Counsel, Americas.

Iain is originally from Scotland, moved to the US in 1998, is a US Citizen, has 4 children (Ben, Henry, Ryann and Georgia) and is a member of the New York Bar.

Stuart Newcombe ACII serves as Active Underwriter for NormanMax Syndicate 3939. He is a well-known leader in the parametric insurance industry and has been instrumental in the launch of Lloyd’s Syndicate 3939.

Stuart started his Lloyd’s career in 1990 and worked as a personal accident and health underwriter during his early career. He joined the Munich Re Syndicate in 2007 and fulfilled a number of roles before working closely with Lloyd’s through 2019 on the application for what became the first Lloyd’s Syndicate in a Box, Munich Re Innovation Syndicate 1840. He was the Active Underwriter for Syndicate 1840 for its three year operation, with a mandate to write only innovative lines of business. Stuart specialised in parametric insurance, predominantly for natural catastrophe perils including wind, earthquake and flood. He joined NormanMax Syndicate 3939 in January 2024 to become the Active Underwriter of the first exclusively parametric underwriting syndicate at Lloyd’s.

Stuart is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and holds the designation of Chartered Insurer.

Greg O'Farrell is the Commercial Associate Director of Marine Markets at Ambrey, a Global Risk Management Company. Prior to this, Greg lived in Sub-Saharan Africa providing operational support to charities.

Greg has worked in both Operational & Commercial roles at Ambrey, but is now focused on supporting and advising various key market segments such as Legal Firms, P&I Clubs and Marine Insurers.

This support comes in the form of advice, insight, alerts, volumetrics and emergency response across various theatres of elevated risk such as the Black Sea & Middle East.

Briton Sparkman is Senior Counsel, Commercial at Phillips 66, where he supports and advises the company's downstream transportation and logistics teams, including marine, truck, and rail. He also supports several trading portfolios. Before joining Phillips 66, Briton spent more than fifteen years in private practice at a boutique litigation firm, Chalos & Co, P.C. focused on admiralty and maritime, energy, and transportation law. He tried cases in federal and state courts around the United States and arbitrated disputes before the SMA, HMAA, LMAA, ICC, and AAA, while also guiding clients through regulatory enforcement proceedings before the U.S. Coast Guard, the EPA, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Furman University and a J.D. from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.