Neil Davidson has over 25 years of experience in the port sector. He joined Drewry in 1997 and founded the company’s ports practice. His current role is focused on Drewry’s publications and new products in the ports and terminals sector. He has been closely involved as both contributor and editor of all of Drewry’s annual and one-off port sector publications, and spoken at over 80 industry conferences, seminars and private briefing sessions worldwide.

With an engineering degree in Automation and Industrial Informatics from Galati University, Romania, Alex Duca managed his own startup company that delivered technology solutions and services for the maritime industry. Joining APM Terminals in 2002, he held various positions of increasing responsibility: APM Terminals Romania; Port of Salalah, Oman; Aqaba Container Terminal, Jordan; Cai Mep International Terminal, Vietnam; focusing on integrating functions, efficiency, technology innovation and equipment within complex port environments. In the current role as Head of Design and Automation, based in The Netherlands, Alex is driving change in port design and operations through capacity modelling, simulations and automation development and deployment.

John Fossey has spent over 30 years researching, analysing and writing on developments in the container shipping, general cargo, logistics and ports industries. John is employed as a Maritime Transport Consultant at Moffatt and Nichol and is also a contributing editor for World Cargo News. Up until November 2012, John was Editorial Director of the leading liner shipping magazine Containerisation International having previously also worked for Drewry Shipping Consultants. He specialises in ocean carriers’ network planning and investment strategies, tradelane and market analyses, port/terminal operating and financial performances and freight, including cool, logistics solutions.

Lamia Kerdjoudj-Belkaid is the Secretary General of FEPORT, the European Private Port Operators Federation and has over 18 years of professional experience in the maritime and logistics sector. Lamia spent over seven years as the Public Affairs Manager of the French Shipowners’ Organization and in 2009 she was appointed Senior Expert and Advisor for several European projects financed by different General Directorates at the European Commission.

Ottonel Popesco joined Cavotec Group in 1988 and is currently the company’s CEO. He is a registered professional engineer and an associate member of the Facilities Engineering Committee of the American Association of Port Authorities. Ottonel has served as PEMA President since January 2008.

Since 2001, Prof. Thomas Schlipköther has been Head of Duisburg Port Authority, CEO of the rail (DPR), terminal operator (DFL) and consult (DPC) at Duisport, and Member of the Executive Board, COO and CTO of Duisburger Hafen AG.  Prior to this, he worked in the construction industry in various site and construction roles, including 3 years as Director of Walter Bau.

Arwin Stehouwer is responsible for account management and the development of container terminals in Rotterdam. Prior to his move to the Port Authority in 2008, Arwin worked for 7 years at Maersk Line in various positions including Trade Manager for Transatlantic Services, and General Manager for Cargo Control Operations in Central Europe.

Rachael White has over 20 years’ experience in the global maritime logistics industry as a researcher, journal editor, conference producer and marketing consultant. Her company Next Level Information provides communications and conference services to the industry.