January 13, 2025 — At its annual meeting last October, the Board of Directors of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) announced the election of Jan-Willem van den Dijssel as its new Vice Chairman. Jan-Willem brings over two decades of exemplary leadership and expertise in the maritime trading industry to his new role, including his work on NAMEPA’s strategic direction and growth. He will take over from Scorpio’s Ole Chr. Schroder who will remain on the Board as a Director.
Currently serving as the Americas Business Development Lead for Cargill Inc. Ocean Transportation based in Coral Gables, Florida, Jan-Willem oversees the management of its internal and external customers’ freight business across the Americas. He joined Cargill in 1996 as a grain trader in Santiago de Chile and has since held key trading roles in Minneapolis, Miami, Geneva, and New Jersey before assuming his current position in 2014.
Jan-Willem holds a Master of Science in Business from Groningen University in the Netherlands, complementing his background in Finance and Accounting from Glasgow University. His deep commitment to sustainable practices in the maritime sector is underscored by his role as Cargill’s board representative to NAMEPA since January 2018.
“We are delighted to welcome Jan-Willem as our Vice Chairman,” said NAMEPA Co-Founder and CEO Carleen Lyden Walker. “His extensive experience and dedication to advancing sustainable maritime practices will be invaluable as we continue to promote environmental stewardship within the industry.”
Added Jan-Willem van den Dijssel “I am thankful to the Board of NAMEPA and honored to continue in Ole’s footsteps to amplify the important mission of NAMEPA to ‘Save our Seas’, which aligns well with Cargill’s commitment to moving dry and wet cargo around the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.’
Jan-Willem will play a pivotal role in NAMEPA’s mission to advocate for marine environmental protection, promote best practices, and foster collaboration among industry stakeholders. He follows in the footsteps of Scorpio’s Ole Chr. Schroder, who has contributed significantly to NAMEPA over the past 8 years and will do so going forward as a continuing Board member.
Also commenting on these recent developments, Joe Hughes, Chairman of SCB, Inc., Managers of the American Club, and Chairman of NAMEPA’s Board of Directors, said: “Ole has contributed greatly to the growth and development of NAMEPA, and we are sincerely grateful for the energy and expertise he has devoted to its mission over recent years. I am also certain that, in his new role, Jan-Willem will add further impetus to NAMEPA’s endeavors over the years ahead.”
For more information about NAMEPA and its initiatives, please visit www.namepa.net
