Limassol, Cyprus. The Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Limassol, brought thought leader Amin Toufani to Cyprus for its 2026 keynote annual event, drawing more than 200 members and guests. The discussion focused on leadership, technology and change in shipping.
Attendance and opening remarks
Attendees included Deputy Shipping Minister Marina Hadjinamolis, navy representatives and senior figures from Cyprus’ maritime sector.
Opening the event, club president Polys Hajioannou said Toufani’s presence marked another important moment for Cyprus, noting the island was hosting a second consecutive keynote by a prominent US thinker after last year’s appearance by Robert Kaplan.
Hajioannou said Kaplan’s analysis reflected “the complex geopolitical dynamics and current geoeconomic realities unfolding across the globe,” and added that it set the tone for a series of annual events intended to bring internationally recognised voices to Cyprus.
Focus on change in shipping
Hajioannou said Toufani’s intervention came at a particularly relevant time, with both the world and shipping undergoing profound technological and structural change.
He said Toufani’s insights and strategic frameworks are increasingly sought by organisations aiming to drive transformative growth and prepare leadership for “the demands of an exponential future.”
Additional remarks and sponsorship
The event included remarks by Costis Frangoulis, president of the Port of Piraeus and the first non-American to serve as president of the International Propeller Club in its 98-year history.
Stephanos Kassianides, senior general manager of Eurobank, spoke on behalf of the event’s platinum sponsor and referred to the bank’s long-standing presence in shipping and decades of service to international companies in the sector.
Profile of the keynote speaker
Organisers described Toufani as a leading thinker on adaptability, exponential technologies and strategic transformation.
Toufani is chief executive of Silicon Valley-based T Labs, whose ventures include Adaptability.org and Nano.com. He holds degrees in artificial intelligence, economic policy and business administration, and has pursued graduate studies at Harvard and Stanford concurrently.
What impact do you think exponential technologies will have on shipping leadership in the coming years?
