Chairs

In accordance with the relevant Rules of Procedure, the election of Chairs and Vice-Chairs takes place annually at the regular autumn sessions of the 1992 Fund Assembly, Supplementary Fund Assembly and 1992 Fund Executive Committee. Whereas the terms of office of the Chairs of the Assemblies and the Administrative Councils are not subject to a limited time, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee are limited to a maximum term of two years.

With regard to intersessional working groups, the Chair is usually agreed upon by the Assembly immediately following its decision to establish such a group and the Chair remains in that position until the Group finalises its work.

1992 Fund Assembly

  • François Marier
    (Canada)
    Chair

    François Marier was elected as Chair of the 1992 Fund Assembly in November 2024. This followed a two-year period as Chair of the Supplementary Fund Assembly. A long-serving representative at IOPC Funds’ meetings, he is the Head of the Canadian delegation and has attended the meetings since 2005. He is active in promoting the 2010 HNS Convention and has chaired both the correspondence group established to promote the ratification of the Convention and workshops on the same matter held by the International Maritime Organization, in cooperation with the IOPC Funds, in 2018 and 2024. Mr Marier is the Director of International Marine Policy at Transport Canada, where he has served since 2000. He holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Geography. In his current role, he is responsible for economic policy related to international shipping, covering economic regulation of shipping; competition and trade-related matters; liability, compensation and insurance; as well as binational marine shipping matters with the United States.

  • Tomotaka Fujita
    (Japan)
    First Vice-Chair
  • Stellamaris Muthike
    (Kenya)
    Second Vice-Chair

1992 Fund Executive Committee

  • Małgorzata Buszyńska
    (Poland)
    Chair

    Ms Małgorzata Buszyńska has represented Poland at IOPC Funds’ meetings since 2019. She is the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to IMO and is actively engaged in maritime affairs across the UN, as well as in parallel activities dedicated to the UN system's major principles and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular gender equality and women's empowerment. Previously, Ms Buszyńska spent thirteen years in the Polish Maritime Administration. During this period, she held roles at the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation and the Ministry of Infrastructure in Warsaw. Ms Buszyńska holds a doctorate in Global Economy and International Finance, a Master's Degree in Economics and Management, as well as a Master's in Psychology.

  • Katarina McGhie-Thompson
    (Antigua and Barbuda)
    Vice-Chair

Supplementary Fund Assembly

  • Andrew Angel
    (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
    Chair

    Mr Andrew Angel was elected as Chair in November 2024, having previously served as first vice-chair since 2017. As the Head of the United Kingdom (UK) Delegation, he first attended meetings of the IOPC Funds back in 2009. Mr Angel is also the Head of International Shipping Policy at the UK Department for Transport and has responsibility for various international shipping matters, including the development and implementation of international frameworks adopted through the IMO and other international bodies in areas involving insurance, liability and compensation issues. Mr Angel has been in the UK Civil Service for over 25 years and has a broad range of international and domestic experience, which ranges from rail, road safety, freight and logistics and maritime policy issues to Parliamentary business.

  • Carlos Sequeira
    (Portugal)
    First Vice-Chair
  • Safiye Tecen
    (Türkiye)
    Second Vice-Chair

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