Speakers

Keynote

William C. McQuilkin

Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret)

William C. McQuilkin

Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret)

More than 20 years of exceptional command and executive leadership in developing, leading, and improving large and diverse organizations. Executive- level strategy and policy leader with extensive strategic, operational, interagency and theater experience forging and orchestrating national security policy in the Indo-Pacific, Arctic, and Middle East. Groundbreaking strategic vision and leadership for the Indo-Pacific region helped to deepen strategic partnerships and optimized the nation's Pacific Rebalance. Proven national security practitioner who flourishes with complex, national-level policy formulation, communications, and decision-making at the Service and Defense Department principal-level of impact.

Speakers

Mr. Dhammika Ranatunga

Additional Secretary (Fisheries Resource Management) Of the Ministry of Fisheries

Mr. Dhammika Ranatunga

Additional Secretary (Fisheries Resource Management) Of the Ministry of Fisheries

Mr. Dhammika Ranatunga is the Additional Secretary (Fisheries Resource Management) of the Ministry of Fisheries. He is a Special Grade Officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service.

Mr. Ranatunga holds B.Sc (Agriculture) Hons degree from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Master of Public Administration degree from the Postgraduate Institute of Management of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka and Master of Development Practice (Advanced) degree from the University of Queensland, Australia. He has also received professional trainings at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies of the National Defense University, Washington DC, USA, Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Hawaii, USA and Institute of Rural Advancement, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Mr. Ranatunga commands over 25 years of wide and varied experience in the Public service of Sri Lanka. He also serves as a member of the Governing Council of the Ocean University of Sri Lanka, a member of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Marine Environment Protection Authority. Prior to the current appointment, He held several key positions in the government of Sri Lanka including the post of the Director of the Ministry of Plantation Industries, General Manager of the Coconut Cultivation Board, Director General of the Coconut Development Authority, Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Defense, etc.

Mr. Ranatunga served as a member of the Expert Committee on Rubber Price Stabilization appointed by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) headquartered in Malaysia. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rubber Research Institute, a member of the Governing Board of the Council for Agriculture Research Policy, a member of the Board of Governance of the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture of the University of Peradeniya and a member of the Board of Directors of the Tea, Rubber, and Coconut Land Fragmentation (Control) Board.

Dr. Dietmar Doering

Secretary General, Chamber of Marine Industries of Sri Lanka

Dr. Dietmar Doering

Secretary General, Chamber of Marine Industries of Sri Lanka

Dr. Dietmar Doering has been a distinguished figure in Sri Lanka since 1989, where he has played a pivotal role in pioneering sports tourism and initiating cross-cultural sports exchange programs with Germany. He holds a Diploma in Social Pedagogy from the University of Monchengladbach (1973- 1976) and has completed State Exams in Social Science, Political Science, and Sports Science at the University of Bochum (1977-1981) and Hagen (1981-1983). From 1984 to 1989, he served as a Senior Lecturer at Hilden Business College, imparting knowledge in Political and Social Science to final-year students. Since 2002, Dr. Doering has led AGSEP Research, specializing in research analytics, surveys, and project management for Sri Lankan government consultancies. In addition, he is the Chairman of Aquarius Resorts Pvt. Ltd., where he oversees sport hotels and Ayurveda resorts while conducting studies in nautical tourism and exploring diverse niche market segments within the realm of sports tourism.

Mr. I. Kaushal Rajapaksa

Chairman, Chamber of Marine Industries of Sri Lanka

Mr. I. Kaushal Rajapaksa

Chairman, Chamber of Marine Industries of Sri Lanka

Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa is a distinguished leader with extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. He is currently the Immediate Past Multiple District Council Chairman of Lion District 306.

Vision and Achievements: Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa is known for his visionary leadership in the recycling sector, aiming to establish a Global Recycling Village in Sri Lanka. His efforts in recycling have earned him numerous awards, including the Exporter’s Award. He has also been instrumental in fostering international collaborations, such as the Memorandum of Understanding with the Maldivian Boat Associations, MOU with Singapore Boat Association, MOU with the Republic of Tatarstan, INDO Sri Lanka CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, Beijing University of Chemical and technology, Strategic partnerships with several international Boat Associations, Business chambers, and today known as the catalyst in driving the Marine Chamber of Sri Lanka for development, growth and expansion.

Professional Roles:

 Chairman of the Polymer Advisory Council, Ministry of Industries
 President of The Management Club
 Chairman of the Chamber of Marine Industries
 Vice President of the National Chamber of Exporters
 Vice President of the Confederation for Small and Medium Scale Industries (COSMI)
 Immediate Past President of the Plastics and Rubber Institute
 Immediate Past President of the Chartered Management Institute, UK - Sri Lanka Branch
 President of the Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council
 Executive Committee Member of the Sri Lanka China Business Council
 Vice President of the Sri Lanka Singapore Business Council

Educational Background:

 Fellow of the Plastics and Rubber Institute
 MBA in Business Management from Vinayaka Mission University, India
 CMgr CCMI-Chartered Management Institute UK
 Associate Member of the Association of Business Executives, UK

Career Highlights:

 Private Sector: Extensive experience in the tire and footwear industries.
 Government Sector: Played a pivotal role in the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation, focusing on the rehabilitation of livelihoods affected by the 2004 Tsunami.
 Entrepreneurship: Since 2003, he has been running his own business exporting industrial waste.
 Marine Industry: Group Managing Director of Sea Leisure Yachting Group, which manufactures, charters, and exports luxury yachts.

Eng. Preeni Withanage

Director Development, Petroleum Development Authority

Eng. Preeni Withanage

Director Development, Petroleum Development Authority

Ms. Preeni is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years of diverse experience in engineering and management. Her expertise spans upstream petroleum, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), energy and environmental management, technology transfer, and techno marketing. Currently, she serves as the Director of National Development at the Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka.

With more than 15 years of specialized experience in regulating and managing petroleum exploration operations, Ms. Preeni focuses on resource monetization, local content development, upstream contract management, and the coordination of operational and environmental authorizations.

Prof. Terny Pradeep Kumara

Dept. of Oceanography & Marine Geology, University of Ruhuna

Prof. Terny Pradeep Kumara

Dept. of Oceanography & Marine Geology, University of Ruhuna

A proud alumnus of Rahula College, Matara, and Professor Terney holds a B.Sc. with 2nd Class Honors in Zoology from the University of Ruhuna and a Ph.D. in Coral Ecology from the University of Kalmar, Sweden. He has served as the Head of the Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology and as the General Manager/CEO of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) for seven years each, amassing over 23 years of experience in marine and coastal ecological management, research, and consultancy.

Currently, he is a Professor in Oceanography at the University of Ruhuna and serves as the Director of the Centre for International Affairs (CINTA). He has published 100 abstracts and 30 peer reviewed papers, contributed to over 5 books, and served as an expert member for several UNEP and SACEP initiatives on marine litter management. As a respected public speaker, he has participated in over 300 conferences and seminars and is a visiting lecturer at multiple universities in Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Professor Terney has led various environmental assessments and is a member of numerous national expert committees. He has received several accolades, including the Science Popularization Award from SLAAS in 2005 and the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Young Scholar in 2006 from the University of Ruhuna.

An avid PADI-certified diver and underwater photographer, he has participated in scientific diving expeditions across India, the Maldives, Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, Australia, China, Sweden, Vietnam, Mauritius and Japan. His research focuses on marine pollution control, biodiversity assessments, and capacity development in marine science. He is currently active in policy development and awareness campaigns on marine pollution control, marine spatial planning, and sustainable fisheries management in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Sturle Pederson

Honorary Consular Norway

Mr. Sturle Pederson

Honorary Consular Norway

Mr. Sturle Harald Pedersen is a distinguished leader in renewable energy and hydrogen technology. As the Chairman of Greenstat Hydrogen, he has been at the forefront of advancing sustainable energy solutions, bringing extensive experience and a visionary approach to the industry.

With a strong background in energy safety and process management, Mr. Pedersen is deeply committed to environmental sustainability. Under his leadership, Greenstat Hydrogen has spearheaded numerous innovative projects and established robust global collaborations, significantly contributing to the green hydrogen value chain.

His expertise in strategic planning and partnership development has positioned Greenstat as a key player in the transition to a sustainable energy future. Mr. Pedersen's insights and leadership continue to inspire advancements in hydrogen technology, making clean energy more accessible and viable.