Meet the Secretariat

Alexander is the Executive Director of IBIA. Under the direction of IBIA’s Chair and Board he is leading the Secretariat, heading all the activities of the organization and he is responsible for the overall management of the Association.

Alexander was the founder and CEO of PRO Holdings and the architect of the probunkers project. Prior to founding probunkers, he served Mamidakis Brothers Group as a senior executive, leading all of the Group’s Shipping, Bunkering and Aviation activities, through its respective companies: JetOil, JetTank and STYGA Compania Naviera. Mr. Prokopakis has over 25 years of professional experience in leadership positions, over which he has attained deep knowledge and expertise mainly in the industry of shipping and bunkering. He is a Graduate of St. John’s University with an MBA in Executive Management and holds a BSc Degree in Business Management from the State University of New York.

In addition to his role with IBIA Dr Hughes is Director of Green Marine Associates Ltd., a UK-based consultancy specialising in maritime policy, regulatory implementation and emissions control. In his consultancy role he advises other shipping industry bodies on GHG reduction strategies and has served as Specialist Adviser to the UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee on net zero shipping.

Previously, he was Head of Air Pollution and Energy Efficiency at the IMO, overseeing MARPOL Annex VI, including IMO 2020 and energy efficiency regulations. He also led IMO’s work on reducing GHG emissions, serving as Secretary to the working group that developed the 2018 Initial IMO GHG Strategy.

Dr Hughes spent eight years in the UK civil service, including roles at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and HM Treasury. He holds a PhD and an engineering degree from Cranfield University.

Tara is IBIA’s Operations and Membership Manager. She focusses on managing the Membership Database offering IBIA’s members an efficient and professional service. She is involved in assessing applications, dealing with enquiries, updating and maintaining the database as well as dealing with the accounts.

Tara comes from a retail background, where she owned and ran a series of successful businesses over the course of 22 years. She then transferred her retail skills to her next role at a large market research firm, analysing the shopping habits of consumers and selling the data to retailers and manufacturers. After spending two decades on clients focussed businesses, she demonstrates, every day, the value of membership through a highly professional manner with an exceptional standard of customer service.

Tara firmly believes that the foundation for our organisation’s success is putting our members’ needs first. The most enjoyable aspect about working at IBIA for her, is getting the opportunity to meet already existing members and engage with potential ones.

Tahra Sergeant became an integral member of the IBIA Secretariat when she joined in 2014. As the Regional Manager for Africa and its adjacent islands, she also plays a pivotal role as part of the Global Marketing and Events team at IBIA, as Global Head Events. Under her astute management, the association has witnessed notable growth in the African region. Tahra’s strategic vision and leadership are evident in her orchestration of the IBIA Annual Dinner, her meticulous management of all IBIA events, and her influence in the association’s marketing strategies.

With a career spanning over 20 years, Tahra brings with her a rich expertise in marketing and project management. Her journey started in the design and publications sector, later transitioning into the competitive world of advertising. In this realm, she demonstrated her strategic acumen by overseeing some of Africa’s most significant local and international brands. Tahra’s reputation as an efficient and visionary marketing and project manager underscores her knack for bringing ideas to life.

Her dedication and significant contributions to the maritime world have garnered attention and accolades. In consecutive years, 2020 and 2021, allaboutshipping.co.uk honoured her as ‘One of the Most Influential Professionals’ in the shipping domain. When she steps away from her professional commitments, Tahra’s heart finds solace in the captivating beauty of the Cape, as she indulges in her passion for the great outdoors.

Ton Visser was born in Zwijndrecht, a small village near Rotterdam. After completing his studies in Refinery and Chemical Process Technology in Rotterdam, he began his career in 1985 with the Elsevier Training Company (SBC) as a lecturer, author and team project leader. He was responsible for developing a wide range of in-house and bespoke training programmes for the oil and chemical industry. During this time, Ton also published several articles on oil refining and petrochemical products and technology, focusing on quality, safety, and environmental aspects.

In 1996, Ton joined Det Norske Veritas Petroleum Services (DNVPS) Rotterdam as a Technical Fuel Advisor. By 1998, he was promoted to Coordinator of the Technical Services Section, where he oversaw all technical fuel-related activities at DNVPS Rotterdam.

In 2009, Ton moved to Bebeka U.A. in Groningen as a Commercial/Advisory professional in the bunker purchase operations and marketing.

In 2010, Ton became a business partner and co-Owner of Oiltraining B.V., alongside Paul Deelen. Following Paul’s retirement in November 2022, Ton assumed full leadership of the company. Oiltraining B.V. specialises in developing and delivering tailor-made and in-house technical training courses and seminars for the oil, gas, chemical, bio and the bunkering industry, as well as providing consultancy and advisory services, including expert witness testimonies.

Elena is responsible for developing and implementing the Association’s global marketing strategy. Her role focuses on strengthening international engagement and building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders at local, regional, and global level.

With over fifteen years of experience in marketing, communications, and event management, Elena has built a strong track record in the maritime and energy sectors.  She has successfully delivered major conferences and exhibitions across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

Prior to joining IBIA, Elena worked as a Marketing & Communications Manager for a leading equestrian brand where she led integrated marketing campaigns across traditional and digital platforms, significantly enhancing brand visibility and driving customer engagement.

Multilingual, highly organised and passionate about connecting people, Elena believes that effective communication lies at the heart of building strong, lasting relationships.

Siti joined IBIA in July 2022 as Regional Manager, Asia, after more than 10 years with the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA).

At SSA, Siti managed stakeholders’ engagements and was the Secretary of the various Committees and Sub-Committees, including the SSA Marine Fuels Committee where she led and develop various initiatives such as the MPA-SSA IMO 2020 Conference, and most recently, an information pack on the Biofuels Bunkering in the Port of Singapore.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was part of the working group(s) which developed the Singapore Crew Change Guidebook and seafarers’ vaccination in Singapore (SeaVax). The working groups were recognised for the efforts and contributions with the Minister’s Innovation Award and Star Partner Award (Public Sector Transformation Awards).

Siti holds a degree in Naval Architecture/Offshore Engineering with Newcastle University (UK) and a Graduate Diploma in Maritime Law and Arbitration from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Noraini has previous experience managing engineers for a Oil and Gas Trading Company. She has many years of experience in administration. She will manage the training schedule, and accounts in our Singapore Office (IBIA Asia).

Ilenia, IBIA’s Office Administrator, oversees daily operations and supports the Secretariat team with administrative and financial tasks. With over a decade in market research, she excels in client support and data management, adapting to market needs. Ilenia’s work ethic centers around compromise, forming the foundation for delivering high-quality results.

Maya oversees training for the Asia team at IBIA, where she expertly plans and coordinates course runs. With over a decade of experience in service operations, she brings a wealth of expertise in project coordination and people management.

Prior to joining IBIA, Maya held key roles in education and retail operations, where she successfully strengthened internal operations and streamlined processes. She is recognized for her persistence and dedication in pursuing opportunities in new and unfamiliar industries.

Outside of work, Maya enjoys unwinding with a good mystery book, as she believes solitude helps balance the fast-paced nature of her career.

Sommer is the Marketing & Events Coordinator at IBIA, bringing over five years’ experience. She enjoys being creative through marketing to highlight the industry and connect members, and enjoys creating meaningful, memorable moments through events that foster collaboration and engagement across the sector.