Dr. Anna Lim is a geophysicist specializing in the field of marine mineral exploration. With a decade of experience across disciplines, she now serves as a Principal Geophysicist and Discipline Leader for deep-ocean space exploration at Argeo. The synergy of these roles revolves around leading the development and implementation of innovative solutions using geophysical methodologies and underwater robotics, particularly autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Her work stands at the intersection of technology, hands-on fieldwork, and scientific exploration, striving to unravel the complexities of the ocean's geological and geophysical phenomena, all while paving the way for more responsible and efficient mineral exploration.

Carsten Rühlemann is head of the Marine Geology, Exploration Unit at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), the German Geological Survey. After studying cartography in Berlin and geology in Göttingen, he completed his PhD at the University of Bremen and worked 11 years in marine palaeoclimate research before joining the BGR in 2003. Until 2019, he managed the exploration of polymetallic nodule deposits in the BGR licence area in the Pacific Ocean. Carsten has been a member of the ISA's Legal and Technical Commission since 2020. He has been involved in almost 30 research cruises in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Johan Heiler (1978) joined the DEME Group in 2002. Over the past 21 years Mr. Heiler has managed the design and construction of several vessels in DEME’s diverse Dredging and Offshore fleet. His latest dredging related project was the design and construction of DEME’s cutting edge cutter dredger ‘Spartacus’, the most powerful dredger in the world. He is an experienced project director with a strong technological focus and a track record of realizing complex innovation projects. Mr. Heiler is passionate about moving boundaries and solving complex multi-facetted (engineering) problems, and able to translate abstract, economic or strategic objectives into practical technological and operational solutions. For several years, he has been involved in the development of deep seabed mining technology and stood at the cradle of the creation GSR’s integrated nodule mining concept. Mr. Heiler has a degree in mechanical engineering (MSc) from the University of Brussels (BE).

Alden Denny is the chief geoscientist at Adepth Minerals, a leading marine mineral exploration company located in Bergen, Norway. Alden has an extensive background in marine operations, exploration, and regulation through his experience in academia, private, and public sectors. Alden’s specialty is in the application of advanced remote sensing technologies to the assessment of marine mineral deposits with a focus on polymetallic sulphides.

Leonhard Weixler has a degree in mechanical engineering and started his career with BAUER Maschinen, the market leader for specialist foundation equipment in 1985. Thanks to his creativity, he developed several innovative foundation equipment. He is one of the key persons in the BAUER group, when it comes to the development of new opportunities in the maritime segment. Leonhard Weixler is President of the DeepSea Mining Alliance and Managing Director of Seabed Mineral Services, a Joint Venture between BAUER and the Harren Group. For him, every challenge offers a chance.

Dr. Akira Usui is a geology professor at the Kochi University, Japan. He works on board and in laboratory, and published many scientific papers on marine manganese nodules and crusts for the last forty years jointly with international and domestic colleagues at JAMSTEC, JOGMEC, SOPAC, USGS, GNS etc. using conventional and hi-tech platforms. He served as the president of International Marine Minerals Society (IMMS) in 2007-2008, and was awarded the Moore Medal in 2017 at Underwater Mining Institute (UMI, now UMC). He used to work for more than 10 years as a marine geologist at the Geological Survey of Japan in 1980-1990’s. The recent papers are focused on microstratigraphic characterization of the hydrogenetic ferromanganese crusts as compressed marine cores and for potential resource exploration as metallic ores.

Prof. Georgy Cherkashov is a Deputy Director of the Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ocean in St.Petersburg (Russia) and Professor of St.Petersburg State University (part time). He holds a Dr. Sci. for research of seafloor massive sulfide deposits (SMS) of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. He coordinates prospecting works of deep-sea minerals within Russian Exploration Areas in Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In his career, Prof. Cherkashov served as a chief scientist of several ocean-going expeditions for prospecting of FMN and SMS deposits including diving missions on MIR submersible. He is a member of the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority. Prof. Cherkashov was a President of International Marine Minerals Society in 2011-2012. His main academic interests include the formation and distribution of deep-sea minerals, marine geology and deep-seabed exploration.

Dr. Birte Timm holds a PhD in history and has joined the maritime industry in 2016. She is part of the development team for the GSRJ shipyard in Kingston, Jamaica, and supports the team of HF Offshore Mexico in business development and public relations.

Gianni Scherl is a naval Architect with many years’ experience in design and production in merchant and offshore market. He is currently part of the technical team dedicated to Renewable Energy in FINCANTIERI Shipyard in Italy.

David, a native of the Republic of Hungary. He holds a PhD in International Law from Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge, where his research was focused on the intricate subject of Causation in the Law of International Responsibility. Furthermore, he earned a graduate degree in Law (Magister Juris - MJur) from the University of Oxford, St John's College. His professional journey has been marked by significant roles, underscoring his expertise and commitment to the field. He served as Senior Associate/Counsel with Ivanyan & Partners UK LLP and as senior associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan UK LLP,, a leading independent international disputes firm based in the United Kingdom. In addition to his private sector experience, David served as Advisor to the Minister of State for Strategic Affairs in the Republic of Hungary, demonstrating his dedication to public service.

Kris De Bruyne has worked for the Belgian DEME group (www.deme-group.com) for 13 years, initially working in DEME’s Activity Lines Dredging and Offshore Renewables. In 2015, Kris joined Global Sea Mineral Resources (GSR), DEME’s deep seabed mining division (www.deme-gsr.com). GSR has been exploring the possibility of collecting seafloor polymetallic nodules that contain, on average, Ni (1.3%), Co (0.2%), Cu (1.2%) and Mn (27%). At GSR, Kris has been responsible for the development of the offshore technology (notably, the Patania I and II program) and has so far, conducted 4 ultra-deep water technology trials at 4,500 m water depth. After the successful completion of GSR’s last technology trial in 2021, Kris’ focus has expanded to developing GSR’s processing strategy as GSR’s Business Development Manager. Kris holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering - Naval Architecture at the University of Ghent (2010), complemented by a master’s degree in Organizational Management at the University of Antwerp (2011) and more recently, an Executive MBA at the Antwerp Management School (2023).

Dr.Ing. Berit F. Lund is Director Research at Kongsberg Discovery where she has an overall responsibility of the external research collaborations and research collaboration strategy in the company. She has previously worked as a Tech Lead for data analysis as well as Product Manager in KONGSBERG. Before joining KONGSBERG in 2012 she was a senior researcher in SINTEF, a Norwegian research foundation, focusing on advanced control data analysis. https://www.linkedin.com/in/berit-floor-lund-5b43953/

Dr. Ulrich Schwarz-Schampera is Programme Management Officer (Mining Geology) at the International Seabed Authority (ISA). He has 30 years of working experience in the field of marine geology, participating in and leading 25 resource-related scientific and exp loration cruises. Prior to ISA, he was leading the Ore Deposit Research Group at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) in Hannover, Germany. Activities included research on ore deposits in South Africa, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Indonesia and Canada. Marine research in the Southwest and Central Pacific (sulphides, nodules, crusts) was followed in 2011 by prospecting and exploration in the Indian Ocean for polymetallic sulphides, within the context of the International Seabed Authority, until 2020, when he joined ISA.

After 20 years in leading positions in Germany’s industry Martin Sobczyk was appointed to the Chair for Connected Mobile Machines and heading the Institute of Engineering in TU Bergakademie Freiberg in 2019. Freiberg has a longstanding tradition in research for mining and mining related fields of science for more than 250 years, and also in research for deep sea mining equipment. Developments are currently running regarding the implementation of electrified drivetrains in heavy mining machinery, and to utilize signals for automation. Current research is focused on semi-automatization of processes for underwater mining equipment and on position monitoring by utilizing mass data analysis, filtering operations, and calibration, for both equipment and tools for improved controlling of autonomous solutions.