North Sea Symposium
The North Sea is undergoing rapid transformation
As demands for energy, space, safety, and nature continue to grow, the challenge of shaping a North Sea that is ready for the future has never been more urgent.
The North Sea Symposium brings together experts from industry, government, technology, and ecology to explore how vision, policy, innovation, and engineering can work together in an increasingly complex offshore environment. Through keynote presentations, focused technical sessions, interviews, and panel discussions, the symposium connects strategic perspectives with practical solutions.
The afternoon programme combines insights into marine spatial planning, regulation, technological innovation, and sustainability, and offers ample opportunity for dialogue and networking. Together, we explore how ecological values and industrial development can be responsibly balanced, today and in the future.
Join this insightful event and secure your place via the orange button.
Programme
Please find below the programme of the day.
| TIME | PROGRAMME | TITLE | PRESENTER/ KEYNOTE |
| 12:00 | Registration & Lunch | A great start to the symposium: sparking conversations and new connections as we kick off the symposium with a lunch. | |
| 13:00 | Welcome & Introduction | Setting the scene | Mark Bello - Chair KIVI Energy Transition |
| 13:10 | Keynote Presentation | Planning the North Sea: shaping the future through vision, coordination and innovation | Juul Kusters - Postdoctoral researcher Marine Spatial Planning (University of Groningen) |
| 13:35 | REGULATION & POLICY | Where do we go? (Objectives & Roadmap) | |
| Presentation 1.1 | Maritime Spatial Planning on the Dutch North Sea, governance and spatial and technical challenges | Titia Kalker - Programme Manager Marine Spatial Planning (RWS/Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) | |
| Presentation 1.2 | TBA | Jos Leenheer - Head of the National Security Department (Ministery of Defence) | |
| Presentation 1.3 | How to save valuable North Sea space through system integration | Joris Koornneef - Mayor of Your North Sea (TNO) | |
| 15:00 | TECHNOLOGY | How to use the North Sea most effectively, ensuring safety and security? | |
| Presentation 2.1 | Co-location in the Dutch North Sea – A CCS perspective | Gloria Thürschmid - CCS Discipline Lead (EBN) | |
| Presentation 2.2 | Successfully accelerating maritime innovation | Sil Draaisma - Program Manager (Campus@Sea) | |
| Presentation 2.3 | Innovation in nature-inclusive design in Ecowende wind farm | Hermione van Zutphen - Ecology Program Manager - (Ecowende/ Shell) | |
| 16:05 | SUSTAINABILITY | How to enhance nature-inclusiveness and leave the North Sea in a sustainable condition? | |
| Interview | In this interview the maker of "De Wilde Noordzee" shares insights and experiences from making the unique North Sea Ecosystem visible | Peter van Rodijnen - Co-owner (Dutch Maritime Productions) | |
| Panel Discussion | Experts from industry, government, technology, and ecology come together to debate how we can safeguard a sustainable balance between nature and industry in a rapidly developing North Sea. | Panelists:
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| 16:55 | Closing remarks | Wrapping-up the day with key insights | Mark Bello - Chair KIVI Energy Transition |
| 17:00 - 18:00 | Networking & Drinks | The symposium concludes with networking drinks, offering more space for conversation and collaboration. |
Moderator
Mark Bello - Chair KIVI Energy Transition
Sponsors
About the North Sea Symposium
The North Sea Symposium brings professionals, researchers, policymakers, and innovators together around one central question: how can we jointly shape a North Sea that is ready for the future? As the North Sea becomes increasingly important for energy, transport, defence, nature conservation, and offshore innovation, the need for alignment and collaboration continues to grow.
During this interactive afternoon, the programme highlights the role of engineering in connecting systems, sectors, and solutions within the North Sea energy and maritime domain. A keynote on marine spatial planning sets the scene, followed by thematic sessions that explore policy, technological innovation, and practical implementation.
Topics include the safe and efficient use of the Dutch part of the North Sea, system integration, digitalisation, and nature-inclusive design. Rather than focusing on ambition alone, the sessions emphasise what is technically feasible and how engineering contributes to real-world solutions.
Technical presentations and short pitches offer concrete examples from practice and applied research. The concluding panel discussion brings together policymakers, industry, and engineers, encouraging dialogue across disciplines and perspectives.
In addition to the programme, the symposium offers ample opportunity to connect with peers. Moments such as the lunch, breaks, and networking reception create space for exchange, new ideas, and collaboration.
Together, we explore how to shape a sustainable, safe, and well-integrated North Sea.