Natalia Margioli Elected President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers

First woman and first Greek to lead the Institute in its 115-year history

Natalia Margioli FICS, Founder and Managing Director of the Hellenic Management Centre (HMC), has been elected President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), marking a significant milestone in the Institute’s 115-year history.

Her election took place on 29 October 2026, during the ICS Controlling Council meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, making her the first woman and the first Greek to hold the Presidency of the internationally recognised professional body for the commercial shipping industry.

Having served as Vice President of the Institute since 2024, Natalia succeeds Punit Oza FICS, who completed his two-year term as President.

With more than 25 years of experience in maritime education and professional development, Natalia has dedicated much of her career to strengthening maritime education and promoting professional excellence within the shipping industry.

As Founder and Managing Director of the Hellenic Management Centre since 1999, she has played a leading role in the development of maritime education in Greece, supporting the professional advancement of thousands of shipping professionals.

Her involvement with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers spans more than two decades. Through her leadership and commitment, the ICS Greek Branch has grown into one of the Institute’s most active and successful international branches, developing a strong community of maritime professionals and establishing close links with the Greek shipping industry.

Commenting on her election, Natalia Margioli FICS stated:

“It is a great honour and privilege to take on the Presidency of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, an institution that has been such an important part of my personal and professional journey for more than two decades.

I would like to sincerely thank Punit for his leadership and valuable contribution to the Institute over the past two years, and for the strong foundations on which we can continue to build.

Becoming the first woman and the first Greek President in the Institute’s 115-year history is a milestone I am very proud of.

Looking ahead, my priority is to build on our excellence in maritime education, strengthen the value of ICS membership, bring our international Branches closer together and further develop our connections with the shipping industry.

Above all, I believe in bringing people together, and I look forward to working with our members, Branches and colleagues around the world to make our Institute even stronger.”

The outgoing President, Punit Oza FICS, welcomed Natalia’s election, acknowledging her longstanding involvement and contribution to the Institute. He also highlighted the progress achieved during his Presidency, particularly in strengthening the Institute’s international visibility and establishing a clear strategic direction for the coming years.

Her appointment also reflects the strong contribution of the Greek maritime community to the Institute and its international network, while opening a new chapter focused on strengthening the ICS’s global presence, supporting its members and developing closer connections with the shipping industry.

The Hellenic Management Centre and the ICS Greek Branch extend their warmest congratulations to Natalia Margioli on her election as President, as well as to Jeffrey Blum on his election as Vice-President of the Institute.

We are particularly proud to see Natalia take on this important role, a recognition of her longstanding dedication to maritime education, professional excellence and the Institute.

We wish the new leadership team every success and look forward to continuing our close collaboration in supporting the Institute’s mission and future development.