Rob Hayes MRINA is based in Auckland, where he runs a consultancy, Maritime Systems Engineers. Rob studied MEng Ship Science at Southampton, graduating in 2014, and his career has taken him from the UK, to Australia, and now to New Zealand. He reflects on the importance of continuing professional development (CPD).

Writing and presenting

CPD is incredibly important, both for personal development and for the general advancement of the industry and profession. We are a small, niche industry, and CPD makes up a vast proportion of how you can widen your experience and knowledge.

While I have approached a diverse range of CPD throughout my career, my go-to method is to write papers and present at conferences. My first opportunity to present was in 2015 at a small conference (Hybrid Marine Power & Propulsion), on optimising vessel design for hybrid propulsion. I refined the topic over the next two to three years and presented at two further conferences, including the International Maritime Conference, Sydney, in 2017.

As my research interests and project exposure shifted, I have been able to present on different topics at an array of conferences. My advice: you don’t need to target large or international events. Presenting at your local RINA branch can be just as rewarding, and a fantastic opportunity to get in front of a crowd without too much pressure.

Now working in Auckland (top), New Zealand, Rob Hayes has visited Wellington (bottom) and Mount Taranaki (lead image)

Why invest the time?

Pursuing CPD can be a challenge, especially if you are in a remote area. However, conferences have a reasonable lead-in time, allowing you to plan around the event.

There are several benefits. Researching and writing papers teaches you a lot, often in a subject area outside your usual course of work. Depending on your employer, there may be funding and opportunities to travel overseas to present. Finally, writing a paper and attending a conference can rack up a significant proportion of your required CPD hours for the year.

It is tempting to focus on CPD only when you are seeking professional registration (e.g. chartership) or maintaining it (e.g. RPEQ in Queensland, Australia), but CPD is much more than an obligation. It is how you help shape the industry, and every person reading this article has the potential to participate in CPD activities that put them at the leading edge of the profession. For those at the start of their career, CPD is also a great way to learn and develop your knowledge, skills and experience.

What I get out of it

Conferences are a fantastic way to meet like-minded people, and to enlighten people from different backgrounds. Presenting on a topic still in its infancy is rewarding. You feel like you are contributing to the advancement of the industry and profession, generating discussion, and spurring others to think about topics they have not considered before.

What’s next?

With the recent rise of artificial intelligence across all sectors, I am currently working on a paper exploring its adoption into the profession: Pattern Recognition at Scale: Why Naval Architecture’s AI Moment Hasn’t Arrived Yet. The paper argues that small maritime industries with an ageing workforce, such as New Zealand, could act as a testbed for early adoption of AI tools to offset impending workforce shortages. I will be presenting it at my local RINA branch (Auckland, New Zealand) on 1 October 2026, and considering where else to take it from there.

Contact Rob Hayes via maritimesystems.co.nz

This article appeared in Members, TNA May/June 2026.