Leadership

Our leadership team brings together decades of maritime expertise, industry knowledge, and a shared commitment to advancing excellence across the sector. Guided by integrity and a forward-looking vision, they steer our centre toward meaningful impact for the maritime community.

President of CME Group

Dato’ Capt. Dr Jaffar Lamri

Dato’ Capt. Dr Jaffar Lamri is a distinguished maritime leader with over five decades of service to Malaysia’s maritime, shipping, port, and oil & gas industries. He is originally from Mersing, Johor and has dedicated his career in maritime operational excellence, strategic planning and advancement of maritime industry in Malaysia.

He holds a Master Mariner Class 1 from RMIT University Melbourne (1984) and a Deck Class 1 with HND Nautical Science from John Moores University Liverpool (1978). He is an Adjunct Professor at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s Faculty of Nautical Studies and a Fellow of the IKMAL Association.

Since beginning his career in 1974, Dato’ Jaffar has held senior leadership roles across Malaysia’s foremost maritime institutions, including Head of Maritime Services Division at PETRONAS Maritime Services, COO of PETRONAS Sg Udang Port, General Manager of PIMMAG, Head of Navigation Safety at the Marine Department Malaysia, Harbour Master of Perak, and Head of the Malaysian Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre. His earlier career included senior positions with MISC Bhd and Ocean Fleets Ltd (UK). Today, he leads the CME Group as its President, guided by a vision of professional excellence, innovation, and nation-building.

A committed industry leader, Dato’ Jaffar is the founding President of MyMET, Past President of IKMAL, and Head of the Shipping & Maritime Cluster at Majlis Perundingan Melayu. He also serves as Maritime Advisor to the Johor Port Authority, a member of the ASEAN Maritime Expert Group, and has contributed to key national committees on maritime surveillance and enforcement.