Preview II: Speaker Line‑up for the 11th International Forum on Diving, Salvage and Offshore Engineering Technology

Release Date: 14 October, 2026

Event: 9th International Underwater Operations & Offshore Industry Expo, 11th International Forum on Diving, Salvage and Offshore Engineering Technology

Venue: Qingdao International Convention Centre (Laoshan), Qingdao, China

Dates: 6‑8 November 2026

This release provides a partial preview of confirmed international speakers. Additional speaker announcements will be made in due course.

QINGDAO, China — The 9th International Underwater Operations & Offshore Industry Expo will take place from 6-8 November, alongside with the 11th International Forum on Diving, Salvage and Offshore Engineering Technology on 7 November 2026. Under the theme Intelligence in Deep Blue, Innovation for New Horizons, the Underwater Operations Session will bring together world‑renowned industry practitioners, safety specialists and technology innovators to share hands‑on insights covering commercial diving safety, saturation diver emergency response and digital transformation for offshore operations.

The forum combines opening‑ceremony keynote addresses in the morning with the dedicated Underwater Operations Session in the afternoon. Confirmed speakers comprise leading domestic emergency management authorities and veteran international industry practitioners, drawing decades of real‑world offshore, diving and spill response experience across China, Europe and the Asia‑Pacific, offering multi‑dimensional perspectives for diving contractors, vessel operators, training providers, equipment manufacturers, research institutes and safety regulators. Delegates are welcome to join the open sessions for knowledge exchange and face‑to‑face networking with global experts.

Confirmed Speakers

Mr. Shan Chunchang

Former Counsellor of the State Council, Professor-level Senior Engineer

Mr. Shan has served as Former Counsellor of the State Council, Former Team Leader of the State Council Emergency Management Expert Panel, Former Deputy Director of the Expert Committee of the National Committee for Disaster Reduction, and Former Deputy Administrator of the State Administration of Work Safety. He is an adjunct professor at the Central Party School (National School of Administration), Tsinghua University and other institutions.

He was one of the principal drafters of the Work Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, the National Master Emergency Response Plan for Public Emergencies, and multiple safety regulations and standards. He led the investigation and handling of multiple exceptionally serious incidents including the Dalian "5·7" Air Crash, the Yantai "11·24" Catastrophic Maritime Disaster, and the Shanghai Bund Stampede.

As Deputy Group Leader of the Emergency Plan Working Group of the General Office of the State Council and Team Leader of the State Council Emergency Management Expert Panel, he made key contributions to advancing China’s emergency management framework centred on "one plan plus three systems". During his tenure as Counsellor of the State Council, he submitted multiple high-value policy recommendations to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. He is author of several publications, including Emergency Management: China’s Operational Model and Practices with Chinese Characteristics and Introduction to Emergency Management: Theory and Practice.

Title of the Speech: Putting People and Lives First – Building a Maritime Power with Chinese Characteristics

Abstract: The ocean is a strategic frontier for Chinese modernization, and maritime security forms an integral part of the national security system. Upholding the Party’s overall leadership and harnessing the distinct strengths of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics provides the fundamental political guarantee and institutional underpinning for the steady progress of China’s maritime and diving salvage & rescue sectors.

We must practise the holistic national security outlook and establish an all-dimensional maritime security governance system with Party committee leadership, government responsibility, inter-departmental coordination, military-civilian collaboration, social engagement, public participation, technology support and legal safeguards. Aligned with the strategic arrangements set out in the Outline for Building China’s Strength in Transport and the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Modern Emergency Response System, we will further develop smart deep-sea capabilities, strengthen emergency response coordination, and reinforce deep-ocean security barriers to contribute to building a modern powerful nation.

David Campion

Head of Singapore Office, Senior Technical Adviser, ITOPF

David joined ITOPF in November 2014 and has attended ship pollution incidents in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and North and South America over the last 10 years. These spills have included a range of oils in varying environments and a range of other pollutants including HNS, large spills of bulk cargos and spilt plastic pellets. David is a marine biologist with a focus towards coastal management and has previously worked in the fisheries and tourism sectors with significant attention on sustainability.

In 2023 David was seconded to Singapore as the Head of ITOPF’s inaugural satellite office and remains involved in the Fisheries, ESG and plastic pellet working groups.

Title of Speech: Spill Response in 2026, ITOPF’s perspective

Abstract: Full abstract to be confirmed later. The presentation will focus on our recent spill response operations and challenges associated with alternative fuels, hazardous cargoes and plastic pellets.