About us

Fionia Maritime Academy

About-fionia-maritime-academy

The concept behind Fionia Maritime Academy is straightforward yet essential: to create a high-quality academy for seafarers, providing specialized training in relevant maritime skills. Empowering seafarers with the knowledge and expertise they need.

A business academy for seafarers offering specialized maritime education.

Fionia Maritime Academy is dedicated to providing educational pathways, offering high-quality, industry-focused training for seafarers worldwide. We focus on personalized career development as part of a shipping company.
At Fionia Maritime Academy, we leverage modern technology to deliver high-quality business education to seafarers worldwide. Inspired by the story of H.N. Andersen, a 19th-century seafarer who transformed his life through learning, we aim to provide the same life-changing opportunities to today’s maritime professionals.

Creating individual opportunities

Fionia Maritime Academy provides high-quality learning for seafarers within business education. Our teaching method reflects this vision, and we have based it on a principle: The 50 – 25 – 1 Principle
  1. We never enroll more than 50 participants per class to ensure each participant is heard and recognized.
  2. We never teach for more than 25 minutes at a time—followed by quizzes, questions, and conversations—to maintain flexibility and attention.
  3. We always include 1:1 live conversations as an integral part of the course to establish a personal connection with the participant.

Why Fionia? The story behind our name

Fionia Maritime Academy proudly derives its name from the M/S Fionia, one of the first ocean-going diesel-driven vessels built by Burmeister & Wain (B&W) in 1914. Known in the Far East as “Four Sticks Bamboo – No Puff-Puff” due to its four masts and absence of a funnel, the Fionia served East Asiatic Company (EAC) for an impressive 40 years, operating on the liner route between Copenhagen and Bangkok until 1954.

In 1929, the three Danish princes—Frederik, Knud, and Axel—embarked on an expedition to the Far East on the Fionia. This journey, spanning over three months, was highlighted by Crown Prince Frederik’s reflections on the teaching, debates, and discussions which took place onboard.

The Fionia symbolizes enduring quality, global trade, and human curiosity —principles that Fionia Maritime Academy strives to embody.

“Fionia” is also the Latin name for the Danish island of Fyn, where the academy is registered.

Our Vision

Education is the key to enhancing welfare and social mobility—onboard ships, within companies, in home countries, and globally. We are committed to empowering seafarers with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a dynamic and challenging environment.

Meet the team

Martin Jes Iversen

Martin Jes Iversen

Co-Founder
Fionia Maritime Academy
Researcher focused on innovation and globalization within the maritime sector, particularly organizational dynamics related to new business models and regime changes.
LinkedIn
Iryna Malmberg

Iryna Malmberg

Project Manager
Fionia Maritime Academy
Over 10 years of experience in international business with a focus on the ocean transportation sector. Expertise in strategic leadership, coaching, and enhancing customer experience management.
LinkedIn

Niels Kjær-Petersen

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Fionia Maritime Academy
Freelance consultant and advisor. Senior shipping executive. Long term bulk development and strategy.
LinkedIn
Anna-Sophie Hancke

Anna-Sophie Hancke

Educational Coordinator
Fionia Maritime Academy
A tall-ship seafarer educated at Enkhuizer Nautical College, bringing hands-on international sailing experience and an academic foundation with a bachelor’s degree in International Shipping and Trade from Copenhagen Business School.

Board of directors

Esben Poulsson

Esben Poulsson

Chairman
International business leader with extensive executive and non-executive experience in international shipping, particularly in dry bulk and product tankers.
LinkedIn
Martin Jes Iversen

Martin Jes Iversen

Founder, Co-owner, Board Member, Managing Director

Researcher focused on innovation and globalization within the maritime sector, particularly organizational dynamics related to new business models and regime changes.

LinkedIn
Marianne-Rehn

Marianne Rehn

Co-owner, Board Member

International business director with core strengths in strategic business development, competitive brand positioning with an ESG focus, and transformation. Expertise in sales, marketing, and customer experience management.

LinkedIn
Tenna

Tenna Løwe Lundum Iversen

Co-owner, Board Member

Manager with a proven record of improving civic society through the development and digitization of key institutions.

LinkedIn
Anne Panknin Kristensen

Anne Panknin Kristensen

Board Member
LinkedIn

Faculty

Johan

Johan Casper Hennings

Faculty
Partner at Gorrissen Federspiel, a leading Danish international law firm, specializing in maritime transactions, ship finance, and dispute resolution. Since 2014, served as a lecturer at The Danish Shipping Academy, sharing his expertise with the next generation of shipping professionals.
Marie Adserballe Kristensen

Marie Adserballe Kristensen

Faculty
Attorney in Gorrissen Federspiel’s Shipping, Offshore, and Transportation practice group, specializing in charter parties, the sale and purchase of vessels, and financing, including sale-leaseback structures.
Board member of YoungShip Denmark, a network platform for approximately 450 young professionals under 35 working in the Danish shipping industry.
Rikke Juul Hesse Rasmussen

Rikke Juul Hesse Rasmussen

Faculty
Attorney in Gorrissen Federspiel’s Shipping, Offshore, and Transportation practice group, specializing in corporate law and M&A transactions within the maritime sector, as well as shipbuilding contracts, charter parties, financing matters, and other related advice.
Michaela Widdowson-Kidd

Michaela Widdowson-Kidd

Faculty
An experienced dispute resolution lawyer at Gorrissen Federspiel, specializing in the shipping, offshore, and transportation sectors. An English-qualified Managing Counsel, advising clients on dispute resolution, regulatory, and transactional matters with an English law element.
Thomas Roslyng Olesen

Thomas Roslyng Olesen

Faculty
Head of the Maritime Research Alliance in Denmark with 15 years of experience in maritime research and education. Has worked at the University of Southern Denmark (2009–2012), Copenhagen Business School (2014–2025), and the World Maritime University (2024–2025). Specializes in maritime governance, regulation, and strategy.
Peter Borup

Peter Borup

Faculty
Senior executive with over 30 years of experience in shipping and more than 20 years in Korea, China, and Singapore. Most recently, CEO of Norvic Shipping & Lautitzen Bulkers, and previously held senior leadership roles at NORDEN and AP Moller-Maersk.
Holds an MBA from IMD, AMP from Wharton, and was a Fulbright Scholar at Georgetown University (Asian Security, Chinese Economic Statecraft).
Martin Jes Iversen

Martin Jes Iversen

Faculty
Expert and Associate Professor in maritime economics at Copenhagen Business School. Appointed as MPA Professor in Maritime Business at Singapore Management University. Board Member at the East Asiatic Company Foundation since 2018. Author of several journal articles and books on maritime digitalization and economics. Responsible for teaching Maritime Economics at the Danish Shipping Academy.