Rear-Admiral (Maritime Affairs) Jean-Marc Schindler is former Head of the Marine Accident Investigation Office, France (BEAmer). He worked at sea for several years onboard French Navy ships and has 25 years’ experience on maritime affairs administration, mainly at senior level. He was a Professor at the World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden for five years.

He served as chair of the Maritime Labour Convention conferences at the ILO between 2001 and 2006. He was also chair of the Joint IMO/ILO ad hoc expert working group on liability and compensation regarding claims for death, personal injury and abandonment of seafarers. He is Permanent Secretary of the French “Académie de marine”, a national institution under the supervision of the Minister of Defence for the development of high-level research and studies on maritime issues including scientific, cultural and administrative interests. Jean-Marc is also President of FAMMAC (Federation of Associations of Seafarers and Veteran Seafarers).