The Boating Industry Association (BIA) is excited to announce the Sustainability ‘Propelling Our Future’ Forum, presented during the Sydney International Boat Show. This forum is dedicated to supporting and promoting sustainability in the boating sector. 

Speakers:

• BIA Sustainability Ambassador and Record Breaking Sailor Lisa Blair
  Theme: a brief scene-setting presentation, with short video on her new feature film ‘Ice Maiden’, and why sustainability matters 
• ICOMIA CEO Joe Lynch – keynote speech.
  Theme: Decarbonisation and Propelling Our Future 

ICOMIA represents marine industry associations across 40 nations around the world who deliver a combined $400 billion in turnover. 

ICOMIA commissioned Ricardo UK to develop the milestone report into decarbonisation in the recreational boating sector for vessels up to 24m LOA. This report was titled Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry and involved more than two years of work, and cost more than $800,000 Euro. It was finalised in the second half of 2023.

ICOMIA developed an awareness campaign in late 2023 called Propelling Our Future to brief industry, stakeholders and policy makers on the study. One of the outcomes of the report is to ensure policy makers make informed decisions in collaboration – not conflict – with industry. This goes particularly for the Decarbonisation issue.  

• Queensland GM, Kell Dillon guest speaker
  Theme: End of Life vessels, the War on Wrecks and Waterway Management 

Queensland has demonstrated leadership in the matter of responding to the issue of end of life vessels and in particular vessels that are no longer ‘fit for purpose’ that have been abandoned, wrecked or sunk along the coast of the Sunshine State. 

Special Guests to join Speakers on the panel: 

• Tristan Kathage, Assistant Secretary, Reducing Surface Transport Emissions Branch, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts;
  Theme: Australia’s Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan (MERNAP) in 2023–24 

• Chris Derksema, CEO, Gold Coast Waterways Authority.
  Theme: place based management in the sustainability context

This event is invite only.