The Award Advisory Board consisted of distinguished personalities from the Boating and the Yachting industry who judged the nominees of IBA 2008.

Necessary steps were taken to ensure complete transparency and higher credibility in the selection. From the shortlist of the nominees, the panel selected one winner for each category which was revealed at IBA 08.

The Advisory Board provided best practices in research and analysis to the boating industry, focusing on business strategy, operations and management. The Board shared its expertise in the field while making strategic decisions. Some of our distinguished board members are listed below.

Till F. Braun, Dipl.-Ing., M.IME(I), C/E
Senior Manager
Sales Projects
Germanischer Lloyd AG, Hamburg/Germany

Till F. Braun joined Germanischer Lloyd in 2000. Since then held various positions in Business Development and Sales within GL.In his present position he is supporting GL's activities e.g. in India as well as other rising Maritime Nations around the globe.Holding a diploma in Ship Engineering from Bremerhaven University of applied Sciences, he started his business career as Ships Engineer with German Liner Operators, followed by employment with Cummins Engine Company, Inc., where he was responsible for Marine Engine Sales activities in Germany and Eastern Europe.

He had also been involved in application engineering, establishment of sales and service networks, type approval procedures.Activities on the water are until today a vital part of his private and business life. As a youngster he explored with his family German rivers by canoe, later North Sea and Baltic on a 27ft. Sailing boat and a 34ft. Motor yacht.Since almost 30 years he is involved in sailing races, on open sailing boats (national class), international Dragon Class as crew, larger keel yachts as helmsman.
Today, he owns a historical mooring tug to explore Hamburg Port waters when being at home.

Dr.Peter Jansen
JANSEN MENN AC
Architects-Consultants
Humboldtstrasse 40
0237 Düsseldorf

Peter Jansen born in 1965, started his career as an Architect at INPRO Project-Development Inc., specialized for the development of marinas and waterfront resorts in Europe after completing his studies from technical university RWTH Aachen in 1991. He joined A. Möhring, Düsseldorf, Manager of planning department in 1992 and continued his service there till 1995. In 1995 he established his office Jansen Architects, Architecture - Urban development, Düsseldorf. His quest for knowledge did not end after his college from Technical University RWTH Aachen.

Since 2001 he is doing Phd in the theme: elements of planning regarding settlements and buildings close to inland waters subject to boot-sport-oriented river development”. In his association with Architect MENNArchitect, Düsseldorf as in the years before, his main working opportunity is in the development and designing of yacht - harbors all over the world since 2001.

In 2002 he established subsidiary company Urban Aqua for water sport design concepts, water sport facility programs, waterfront developments, finance analysis of Marinas, water sport centers, ocean parks, master planning at the waterside and living at the waterfront. Being sucha great personality in the industries his articles are published in a wide range of Water Development publications.

Mr. Jansen is a member of various GERMAN MARIN FEDERATION, GERMAN HABOR TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION, PIANC INTERANTIONAL NAVIGATION ASSOCIATION. He is the Secretary General of ICOMIA International Marinas Committee.

Chris Hughes
Chief Operating Officer
Boattest,US

As the Chief Operating Officer, Chris is focused on the development of new tools and advancements that will serve the clients. His background includes corporate sales, marketing consultation, export development and management training. After serving five years in the United States Marine Corps, the first half of Chris’ career was focused in the aviation industry working with most of the top airlines, as well as with several large corporate aviation firms. Chris has helped more than 68 UK based companies expand their export capabilities by helping to set up and manage the execution of their sales and marketing efforts here in the United States.

Chris comes to BoatTEST from a global consulting firm in Northern Ireland where he was the Director for Global Business Development. Chris is also an experienced consultant and executive coach and has worked with large global brands in the areas of sales, marketing, and middle/senior management development. In addition to reviewing most new boat models first hand, Chris has taken a very close and in-depth look at more than 75 boat manufacturing facilities world-wide over the past nine years.

Simon J Arrol
Director Technical
Marina India

Simon J Arrol is acknowledged internationally as an expert in the field of marina development and operation. A graduate of the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology, he is a chartered engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Great Britain.

Following 17years in the dredging and harbour-works industry, Arrol became Managing Director of the marinas division of Camper & Nicholsons (established 1782). He has undertaken assignments in 27 countries and has managed marinas in 6 countries, including a group of marinas in the UK.

Most recently he was a founding director of Island Global Yachting in the UAE, designing marinas for some of Dubai’s mega-projects including Palm Island and Festival City. He is currently Director Technical of Marina India which is headquartered in Mumbai.

Ajay Narang
Commander
Hon Joint Secy General
Yachting Association of India

Commander Ajay Narang was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 January 1986, a alumnus of the National Defence Academy. His early days of sailing began when he was 11 or 12 years old. He learned to sail a from a school mate and often sailed in a small lake close to his school. After joining the National Defence Academy, as a Naval cadet and spending countless hours hanging around the Khadakwasla lake, Ajay began to get a feel for what sailing is all about.

After being commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1986, he found his first opportunity when he was selected to be a part of the Indian Navy's first " Round the World Sailing Expedition" on yacht INSV Samudra, during 1989 - 90. He sailed more than 17000 NM across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean.
He has participated in many Navy / National championships and was also the Executive Officer of the Indian Navy's first Tall Ship " Tarangini".

An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, he has held various appointments on board Naval ships during 1986 -2002.
He is currently the Joint Secretary General of the YAI, an appointment which he assumed on 28 June 2006.

The final judges!

The final judge is made up of votes from the visitors to www.boatindia08.com.