SPECIAL GUESTS OF THE MARITIME ECONOMY FORUM 2024
Christophe Tytgat
SEA Europe and CESA Secretary General
On 1 March 2016, Christophe Tytgat was appointed as Secretary General, both of SEA Europe – the Shipyards’ and MaritimeEquipment Association of Europe – and CESA.
SEA Europe defends the interests of the shipyards and maritime equipment industries from Europe, Norway, and Turkey in the European Union and internationally. CESA defends these interests at the IMO.
As Secretary General, Christophe has been a board member of the research association “Vessels for the Future” and the “Waterborne Technology Platform”.
Since 1 January 2021, he is a delegate in the “Consultative Commission on Industrial Change” of the European Economic and Social Committee. Before joining SEA Europe/CESA, Christophe has worked for about 15 years in various positions in the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and, before that, he has worked for about three years in the Belgian federal administration, first with the Foreign Affairs Office and then with the Maritime Transport Administration. Christophe holds degrees in Law, International Relations, and East-European Studies from the University of Leuven and in International and European Law from the University of Brussels.
He has also followed various management courses. Christophe is a Belgian citizen. He speaks Dutch, French and English and has knowledge of German, Italian and Russian. He is married with two daughters.
Janusz Lewandowski
Economist
Janusz Lewandowski (born 1951) – doctor of economic sciences, Member of the European Parliament. Former lecturer at the University of Gdańsk and foreign universities; founded the Institute for Market Economy Research in Gdańsk. From 1980 to 1989 economic advisor to the Solidarity Trade Union, and in 1988 co-founded the Liberal Democratic Congress. Member of the Sejm of the first, third and fourth terms, former minister of property transformation in the governments of Jan Krzysztof Bielecki (1990-1991) and Hanna Suchocka (1992-1993). In the European elections of June 13, 2004, elected from the Civic Platform list. Former chairman of the European Parliament's budget committee, later became its vice-chairman. From 2010 to 2014, EU Commissioner for Budget and Financial Programming. Member of the European Parliament since 2014, vice-chairman of the budget committee.
Arkadiusz Marchewka
Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure
Arkadiusz Marchewka completed his doctoral studies at the University of Szczecin, where he earned a PhD in economics. Also, graduate of the Civil Society Leadership School and fellow of the Atlantic Council's Millennium Leadership Program. Professionally, affiliated with the Institute of Management at the University of Szczecin, where he is a university lecturer.
Member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland for the eighth, ninth and tenth terms. From 2019 to 2023, he served as vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Maritime Affairs and Inland Navigation and worked in the Committee on Public Finance.
At the Ministry of Infrastructure, he is responsible for maritime affairs and inland waterways.