Goscelin has an Honours degree in Commerce and a Masters in Maritime Law. Goscelin is a practising attorney in South Africa and has experience on advising on a range of shipping and related matters, including ship arrests, ship sales and charterparty disputes.

Goscelin joined the ICS as a member in 2018 and was promoted to a Fellow in 2024. She chaired the ICS Education Portfolio and stood as Vice-Chair, prior to being elected ICS SA Chairman at the end of 2024.

Simon Baker holds a BSc in Maritime Studies from Southampton Solent University in the UK. Since beginning his career in shipping in 2005, he has specialized in the dry cargo shipping sector, gaining extensive experience in various roles, including agency, marine accounting, operations, chartering, commercial management, and leadership.

His professional journey spans multiple continents, with work experience in the UK, South Africa, Canada, Singapore, and the USA, giving him a global perspective on the maritime industry. Currently, Simon serves as the Commercial Director for G2 Ocean, leveraging his broad expertise to drive strategic initiatives and commercial growth.

A dedicated advocate for professional development in the maritime sector, Simon has been a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) for many years, reflecting his commitment to upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity within the industry.

Cherrille has 13 years’ experience within Liner Trades for a large global Shipping Company. Her area of expertise includes operations, logistics, depots, reefer marketing, strategic business analytics and trade coordination. She completed her Advanced Diploma with the ICS in 2019, specializing in Liner Trades, and thereafter went on to pursue her PQE.

She was elected to membership in November 2023, where she now serve as an active member of the Management Committee and recently elected Head of Education. Her role within the ICS includes invigilating for the Cape Town examinations, as well as tutoring the students. She Currently studying towards a diploma in Strategic Business Management via University of Cape Town.

Dean started his career in shipping in 1990 in the port of Richards Bay where he was introduced to bulk and breakbulk vessels as well as LPG Carriers as a ship’s agent. With his passion for the industry, this fuelled his drive and the decision to study through a reputable and internationally acclaimed training facility. Thus, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) was the obvious choice.

Dean attained his M.I.C.S. in 2006 through sitting the PQE’s and having been elected to the ICS South Africa Committee, he decided that giving back to the industry is also a passion and thus began tutoring for the ICS in South Africa. He was inducted by Controlling Council (London) in 2009 and over the years has lectured face-to- face, as well as on-line sessions. Dean has tutored Understanding Shipping, Dry Cargo Chartering, Ship Ops & Management as well as the Port Agency subjects.

Dean has worked for a number of large muti-national Shipping Companies as well as medium sized privately owned entities in both the Operational and Marketing shipping fields. He has travelled the world extensively in his marketing roles for various companies. As well as the Tutorship platform, with the ICS, Dean has also studied through the Maritime Institute in South Africa, in Port Logistics and attained an IMDG course certification through DNV. Dean has been a Cluster GM for three countries in Africa (Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique) and has also been an Operations Director for a Ships Agency company, attending to all 6 major ports in South Africa.

More recently (2023) Dean was elected to the Nautical Institute as an Associate Fellow and is currently still tutoring for the ICS. Dean currently lives in Durban where he offers professional consulting services on a private basis for various international and local companies in the maritime industry.

Sea Career:
1986 – Began maritime career as a Navigation Cadet with Safmarine, sailing on various vessel types, including container ships, bulk carriers, multi-purpose vessels, and the tug Wolraad Woltemade. Progressed through the ranks from Navigation Cadet to Chief Officer.
1987 – Attended General Botha SA Merchant Navy Academy for shore-based training.
1996 – Achieved Master’s Certificate of Competency.
1997 – Earned a National Higher Diploma in Maritime Studies from Cape Technikon.
1999 – Became a Member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (MICS).
2000 – Sailed as Chief Officer on the Ji Fung Brigantine, operated by Outward Bound Hong Kong.
2000 – 2007 – Worked in the offshore industry, serving on anchor-handling tugs, supply boats, and terminal support vessels.

Shore-Based Career:
2007 – Present – Transitioned ashore into the terminal operations environment, taking on roles such as:
Discharge Advisor
Loading Master
Mooring Master
Ship-to-Ship (STS) Superintendent
Notable Maritime Engagements:

2013 – Sailed on the Barque Lord Nelson (Jubilee Sailing Trust) from Cape Town to Durban.

Professional Interests & Memberships

Interests:
South African Maritime History
Tall Ships & Sail Training

Professional Memberships:
Society of Master Mariners of South Africa
Maritime Law Association of South Africa
Nautical Institute

Captain Hawley, a maritime leader whose career spans 54 years, of which 18 years as a seafarer rising through to the rank as Master on various types of vessels such as general cargo, oil tankers, bulk carriers and container. Shore based expertise working mostly for two multinational Norwegian Companies, namely Gearbulk Shipping (Bergen) and Wilhelmsen Group (Oslo) in leadership positions over a 27-year period amassing an extensive portfolio of global experience across Maritime Industry. International long-term postings were based in Stamford (USA), Montreal (Canada), London (UK), Jakarta (Indonesia), Vancouver (Canada), Shanghai (China), Jakarta (2nd stint) and Singapore. In addition, short term secondments postings on project basis in between to Sudan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Chile. Relocated back to South Africa in 2024.

Operational expertise in vessel operation, shore and land-based logistics and numerous other sectors has resulted in myself being engaged by major international mining and trading companies working with both first & third world port authorities in a consultancy and advisory capacity. The ability to navigate the complexities of the global maritime industry and integrate quickly, efficiently and seamlessly into any nationality and environment has been his forte. Trained in high performance management.

His involvement in the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), as a member then as Board Member from 2017 to 2024, assisted the network work to establish its roots in 2012 from a membership of 20 international organizations to its present-day global coverage with over 250 members representing in excess of 60% of the global commercial fleet. Making an impact for a corruption free maritime industry. This is one of the highlights of his carrier. Captain Hawley’s commitment to mentoring the next generation of maritime professionals, resulted in him being awarded “Honorary Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers” status (FICS (Hons). Finally, his accumulation for his contribution to the maritime industry, he was awarded in 2024 “Chartered Master Mariner” status (CMMar) by The Honorable Company of Master Mariners (London) and The Nautical Institute (London). This award is the “gold standard” for professionals who deserve the accolade of eminence.

Dexter Nkosie Biyela was introduced to the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) while pursuing his MSc in Shipping and Logistics at the World Maritime University (WMU), which he completed in 2014. He became a Member of ICS (MICS) in 2015 and later expanded his expertise by earning a BSc (Hons) in Industrial Engineering in 2021.

He currently serves as the Corporate Quality and Business Process Manager at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) under the Office of the CEO. After spending five years in Pretoria, he relocated to his hometown of Richards Bay, leveraging the flexibility of remote work while still reporting to the Pretoria office.

Dexter’s career includes experience with Grindrod Logistics, BHP Billiton, Phoskor, and the University of Zululand. During his MSc studies, he had the opportunity to visit international ports and shipping companies in Greece, Hamburg, Denmark, Gothenburg, and Oslo, further broadening his maritime knowledge. Outside of work, Dexter has recently taken up fishing as a hobby and also enjoys soccer and playing squash.

Currently the Managing Director of bluVerve Maritime Software, Theo has been in the maritime industry for 12 years. Having studied a Bachelor of Business Science (specialised in Computer Science) at the University of Cape Town, and then a Masters in Shipping, Trade & Transport at the University of the Aegean in Greece.

He has worked as a Sale & Purchase broker for Cotzias Shipbrokers and Intermodal Shipbrokers, as well as a software developer for Fortune Technologies, writing software tailored to ship-owning companies. Currently he runs a software company that specialises in the maritime industry.

Ivana has been working in the shipping industry for nearly five years with MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping at the Cape Town office. Over this period, she has gained experience across multiple sectors, including one year in operations training, two years in liner service, and one year in chartering.

With a legal background, she holds both an LL.B and LL.M in Maritime Law from UKZN. Her passion for the maritime industry extends beyond her professional career—when she’s not working in shipping, she can be found sailing yachts or volunteering with sea rescue.

She has been actively involved with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) for two years and is eager to support students with any questions, suggestions, or concerns. Additionally, she aims to foster a student community in Cape Town, helping to motivate and support students in their studies. Proposed initiatives include:

– Creating a study group
– Organizing regular student meet-ups
– Hosting occasional industry networking events to share knowledge and job-specific experiences

She looks forward to contributing to the ICS community and supporting fellow students in their academic and professional journeys.

Sales and Marketing Director, Alpha Shipping Agency (PTY) LTD

Byron Vather is the Group Sales Director Alpha Shipping South Africa, a position that has seen me grow, stumble and fall and then rise again. I’ve had many key players along my journey, my parents and my wife being the most important. I’ve always had the attitude that I started with nothing so I had nothing to lose, coming from humble beginnings. Self-motivation, good health, being fearless, love, spirituality and religion are my daily pillars of strength.

My journey started off with me working at a clothing store at the parcel counter collecting peoples packets and issuing them with a number, to a paint mixer, video store assistant, bartender, retail store packer, rubble and waste remover, waiter, driver, call center operator, Cricket coach, restaurant manager, buying and selling motorbikes and finally into Shipping and Logistics. If there is work to be done and they are paying, I’ll do it! I am also a current student at ICS and I am also Bcom marketing and logistics graduate from the University of Johannesburg. Shipping and Logistics is a destination career, once you have started in this sector, you will never leave.