Jeffrey Blum has been involved in shipping and trading since 1972. The fourth generation of a shipping family, he is a member of the Baltic Exchange since 1976. He has been a shipbroker, charterer, shipowner & operator, Lloyd's underwriter, gasoil futures broker and commodities trader in London and abroad.In 1994 he created Interlink International Trading (UK) Ltd, providing maritime commercial claims consultancy and bespoke corporate training. His clients include oil majors, commodity traders, shipowners, P&I Clubs, shipbrokers, lawyers, governments and international shipping organisations 'www.intlinkint.com'In 2002 Jeffrey co-founded and remains principal lecturer of Maritime Education & Training Ltd, providing bespoke tuition, including for students taking the annual examinations of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers 'www.metl.london'For many years he has contributed articles to trade magazines and books and is revising the 12th edition of a major shipping textbook.He achieved Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers by examination in 1979 and has served on the ICS Controlling Council, Membership and UK & Ireland Committees and London & South East Branch Committee since 1983, including as its Education Officer since 2000, Chairman 2005-2007 and Vice Chairman 2015-2017.Jeffrey is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 1997 (Honorary Associate since 1979), has been an arbitrator (sole and tribunal) since 1994 as Supporting Member of LMAA (London Maritime Arbitrators Association), a Council Member of ICSAS (International Commodity and Shipping Arbitration Service) since its creation in 2005 and a panel arbitrator of SCMA (Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration) since 2019. He has been a member of the Baltic Exchange since 1976, has been appointed as an expert witness in arbitration and litigation cases since 1983 and has served on the Governing Council of BEEP (Baltic Exchange Experts Panel) since 2012, now known as BEWA (Baltic Expert Witness Association) since 2019, including as its Chairman since 2020.Jeffrey is a Mentor for the Marine Society's Coming Ashore Programme. Since 1984 he has lectured on maritime law and several commercial subjects at universities and colleges, is a frequent presenter at public, academic, governmental and bespoke training seminars worldwide and is a Visiting Professor at World Maritime and Shanghai Maritime Universities since 2007.