Future Leaders

Anna Pagliaro is an Architectural Outfitting Superintendent at Royal Caribbean Group, with a growing career in the cruise ship industry where she blends technical expertise with a strong passion for shaping meaningful onboard experiences. She collaborates with cross-functional teams to guide interior outfitting activities, ensuring that complex architectural spaces are delivered with precision, quality, and a deep understanding of how guests interact with their surroundings. She is particularly passionate about loose furniture and lighting, recognizing their essential role in defining comfort, atmosphere, and the guest experience. Anna is inspired by the challenges and opportunities of newbuild projects, where innovation, coordination, and problem-solving are fundamental. She believes that shipbuilding goes far beyond engineering: it is the creation of environments that must feel intuitive, comfortable, and emotionally engaging. For her, every detail contributes to how people rest, move, and connect at sea, shaping experiences that stay with guests long after their journey.

Design, management, construction, and shipbuilding professional with experience in architectural and engineering design, business and project development, and team leadership. Currently based in Turku, working on the Icon class series as Manager for Architectural Outfitting, leading a team of superintendents responsible for guest areas. She brings a proven track record from both current and previous roles and specializes in service and system design, change leadership, and strategic planning, with a strong passion for collaboration, team building, and driving sustainable business success.

Jessica Payne is an interior design leader in the cruise and hospitality industry, currently serving as Senior Manager of Interior Design at Windstar Cruises. She oversees fleetwide interior refurbishment, dry dock projects, and new build initiatives, shaping guest spaces that balance operational complexity with thoughtful design. With a background spanning luxury hospitality and maritime design, Jessica enjoys translating creative concepts into buildable solutions while collaborating closely with shipyards, contractors, and cross-functional teams.

She is particularly passionate about evolving the cruise and yacht experience through design that feels authentic, layered, and timeless. Known for her collaborative approach and ability to navigate fast-paced environments, Jessica thrives on solving complex challenges and delivering thoughtful, experience-driven projects.

Outside of work, she enjoys travel, running, trying the newest foodie spots in Miami, and exploring how design can shape memorable experiences both at sea and on land.

Lauren West, born and raised in Seattle, Washington, is a third-generation member of the “Cruise West” family, a family well-known in the small-ship cruising industry. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute and began her career as a Project Engineer in the conversion department at Foreship in Helsinki.

Since joining AmaWaterways in 2018 as a Naval Architect, Lauren has worked directly with co-founder Rudi Schreiner and operations teams to oversee newbuild projects, fleet-wide maintenance, refurbishments, and design innovations across AmaWaterways’ modern river fleet. Her work sits at the intersection of design, technical execution, and operations, with a focus on aligning stakeholders and delivering solutions that balance design intent, operational efficiency, and long-term performance. She is particularly interested in sustainable, lifecycle-driven approaches to fleet development.

I’m a creative professional specialising in design, entertainment, and product enhancement. My career has taken me behind the scenes of large-scale maritime projects, where I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with talented designers and cross-functional teams to refurbish five ships and bring them back into service with fresh, guest-focused concepts as well as leading the design concept development for a new-build river ship, managing designers to create something unique, real and tangible.

I enjoy finding the balance between creativity and practicality, always looking for ways to improve the onboard experience while keeping things engaging and memorable. Known for being professional with a hint of humour, I value collaboration, good ideas, and not taking things too seriously when the moment allows.

At the core of what I do is a simple goal: create experiences people genuinely enjoy and remember.

Natalia is in the Future Leader class of 2026, their full bio will be available shortly.

My name is Nujen and I am a Lead Designer and Architect at OSK Design, where I design interiors for cruise ships and ferries. I work with the complexity of passenger journeys at sea and focus on creating spaces that feel intuitive, atmospheric and human. I believe the future of maritime interiors require designers who challenge established ways of working and open the process to new perspectives.

My inspiration often begins in everyday life. When I sit at a café or observe people moving through the city, I study gestures, silhouettes and small details that create shapes and rhythms. These observations often spark ideas that later influence how I think about spatial experiences and passenger flow.

In my spare time I design and make jewelry, exploring organic forms, textures and proportions on a smaller scale. This hands-on process keeps me curious and experimental and reminds me how small details can shape a larger experience.

Salvatore Terranova, Yacht Aesthetic Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Shipboard professional with over 10 years’ experience in cruise and yacht refit, refurbishment, and maintenance. Currently serving as Yacht Aesthetic Manager and previously Facilities Manager for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Holding a degree in Architecture, nautical diploma, and Master’s in Interior Yacht Design and Facilities Management, I oversee architectural outfitting with meticulous attention to detail, manage teams and external contractors to ensure the yacht’s beauty and luxury.

My approach blends aesthetics and functionality, prioritizing sustainable materials and smart solutions for welcoming environments.

Tani Gurra is Front of House & Beverage Director at Hurtigruten, with more than 30 years of international experience in the hospitality industry. Having built his career from hands-on operational roles, he brings a deep, practical understanding of service, people, and guest experience.

Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions across multiple countries and companies, including Hotel Director, F&B Manager, and F&B Operations Manager for the entire Hurtigruten fleet.

Gurra is recognized for his work in concept development, combining quality, innovation, and authentic storytelling rooted in the sea. He is the driving force behind Havets Bobler, a pioneering initiative where sparkling wine is matured beneath Arctic waters.

His approach is defined by a strong operational foundation and a passion for creating meaningful and memorable guest experiences.