Mark Heward served 22 years as a Royal Navy Warfare Officer, qualifying as a STCW II/2 Master Mariner and RN Specialist Navigator. At sea, he navigated frigates and an aircraft carrier as well as commanding Patrol Boats and Minehunters. Selected to teach navigation and lead Yard Patrol Craft operations at the US Naval Academy, he retired in 2023.

Later directing maritime training as a Director at the Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies (MITAGS), he worked corporately before founding SpecNav.Global. A self-described "Implementologist," he now enables organizations to build the process discipline and governance needed to adopt AI responsibly.

On Panel 3, Emerging Technologies in the Classroom, Mark brings both perspectives - traditional maritime training and modern AI governance - to the conversation on where AR/VR and emerging tech genuinely close the gap between training and operational reality.