Arising from the idea of holding the international ‘Mermaid’ Conference at Plymouth, the opportunity for a weekend of activities for Maritime Business students was moved forward.

Under the title “Maritime Business – The Next Generation”, a programme involving a half day Conference, cocktail reception at the ‘Distillery’, a networking cruise in Plymouth Sound and the showing of the film ‘A Hijacking’ was developed.

The Keynote address at the Conference was given by Julie Lithgow, Director of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and PYNDA’s secretary. Other participants at the conference included Marius Tonnevik, of RG Hagland Shipbrokers, Samantha Evans of Zodiac Maritime and Claudio Chiste of Investec, Ship and Marine Finance. Mark Warner, Chairman of PYNDA chaired the Panel discussion panel following the presentations. The Conference was filmed and produced as a web cast.

Robyn Pyne was the principle organiser of the event, with support being by Jennifer Allen of Plymouth Business School.

The weekend was considered a success in every way, particularly in helping enhance the students experience and linking them to the industry in which they are planning their careers.