Speakers

Peter Kern

Slovenia

CargoX, Vice President (Commercial)

Peter has more than 25 years of relevant logistics experience. His last position was with one of the leading global logistics companies, Panalpina, as Managing Director for Croatia and South-East Europe. Before that, in the span of 13 years, he held various positions in different countries with one of the leading container shipping companies, Maersk Line, covering roles from Route Management and Regional Management to Country Management. He has worked for container terminal operator ICTSI-Adriatic Gate Container Terminal. He has a unique combination of sea carrier, freight forwarding, and container terminal background, perfectly suited for driving digitalization in transport, logistics, and supply chains.

Arturo Frias

Mexico

Global Logistics & Consulting, Director

Arturo Frias is a renowned logistics and supply chain consultant with over 46 years of experience in the Americas. He has worked extensively in transportation and warehousing, holding key positions at RYDER and multinational companies like Kodak, Unilever, and Chiclets Adams México. As the Director of Global Logistics & Consulting, Arturo has completed over 130 projects in Mexico, Central America, and the United States, transforming supply chains for top-tier companies in various sectors. He has a track record of achieving significant cost reductions, averaging 13.5% in operational expenses, through process reengineering in distribution centers. Arturo has collaborated with notable organizations such as Telcel, Cemento Cruz Azul, and P&G. He is the CEO of the Global Training Center, where he has trained over 200,000 executives in logistics. Arturo is a published author, featured in respected publications like Forbes and Inbound Logistics, and a sought-after conference speaker across Latin America and Europe. He is recognized as Mexico's Logistics Guru.

Ian Saunders

USA

World Customs Organization (WCO), Secretary General

He provides leadership and executive management for global Customs priorities, including developing instruments, standards, and tools; facilitating global trade; protecting revenue collection; fostering Customs-business partnerships; and delivering capacity building for Customs reform and modernization. Prior to joining the WCO, Saunders held various senior positions at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in International Affairs from Georgetown University and has completed executive courses at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and the American University.

Miryam Saade Hazin

Chile

Officer in Charge of the Infrastructure and Logistics Unit at ECLAC

Economist with more than 26 years of experience working and living in five different countries (Mexico, England, France, Switzerland and Chile). I consider myself a flexible and adaptive person with a fair share of high-level projects under my wing. I have worked for governments, international organizations, private sector and academia, leading projects applying macroeconomics, public policy, sustainable development policy, infrastructure, transport and logistics, monetary policy, econometrics, natural resources governance, social and environmental impact assessment and climate change. I have a master’s degree in Economics at Warwick University and I am a Piano Concertist from the Mexican National Conservatory of Music.
I like to think that my work has a positive impact on people, that is why I have participated in different technical cooperation programmes in Latin America and since 2015, oriented towards the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030 Agenda.

Young Tae Kim

Korea

Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD

Dr. Young Tae Kim is the Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD. He has successfully expanded the ITF's membership to 66 countries across five continents, establishing it as a global organization. Dr. Kim has strengthened the ITF's role as a leading platform for transport policy dialogue by establishing Regional High-level Dialogues on Transport in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Prior to his role as Secretary-General, he held prominent positions in the Korean civil service, including Director-General in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Dr. Kim has extensive experience in coordinating transport policies, ranging from autonomous vehicles to road safety. He holds Master's degrees in Public Policy and Urban Studies, as well as a Doctoral degree in Political Sociology and Public Policy.

Jan Hoffmann

Switzerland

Head, Trade Logistics Branch, Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD

Jan joined UNCTAD in 2003 and has since been involved in implementing transport and trade facilitation programs in various regions. Jan is known for his contributions to the annual UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport and as the co-editor of the Transport and Trade Facilitation Newsletter. He has also initiated projects such as the Maritime Country Profiles, International Transport Costs Data Set, and Liner Shipping Connectivity Index. Prior to his work at UNCTAD, Jan gained experience at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). He has held various part-time positions and has worked in the family tramp shipping business. Jan holds a doctorate degree in Economics from the University of Hamburg and has made significant contributions through publications, lectures, and technical missions. He is a member of several professional organizations and served as the president of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) from 2014 to 2018.

Philippe Isler

Switzerland

Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, Director. World Economic Forum, Executive Committee Member

Philippe has been leading trade facilitation initiatives for the past 25 years in many parts of the world. In particular, he developed and deployed solutions aimed at digitalising the supply chain processes in a number of developing countries through public-private partnership mechanisms. He also spent 10 years developing traceability solutions aimed at tracking consignments transiting through countries with harsh environments. He has spent 19 years in the private sector followed by 7 years working for non-profit initiatives. Formerly Vice-President at SGS Group leading government and institutions business development for trade community systems, e-government, telecom monitoring and port/customs operations. He is a graduate in Engineering from Bristol University in the United Kingdom.

Wolfgang Lehmacher

Germany

Wolfgang Lehmacher is an independent global senior expert

in supply chain, logistics, and transport, board member, executive adviser, and practitioner, a business mentor who supports individuals, corporates, start-ups, and asset owners to perpetuate technology-enabled business transformation for sustainable growth and returns. He is Operating Partner Anchor Group and Advisor Topan AG, Switzerland. The activities of the seasoned top executive span east and west serving clients across the globe.

Previously, Director, Head of Supply Chain and Transport Industries for the World Economic Forum, in New York and Geneva, Partner and Managing Director, China and India, at strategy firm CVA, Hong Kong, and President and CEO GeoPost Intercontinental, the global expansion and investment vehicle of France's La Poste. Prior to La Poste, he was Head of Eastern European and Mediterranean Regions, and Country General Manager Switzerland at TNT.

He is member of the advisory board of The Logistics and Supply Chain Management Society, Singapore, Ambassador of the European Freight and Logistics Leaders Forum, Brussels, Advisor of RISE, Sweden, and Global:SF, San Francisco. The mentor at Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale is founding member of the Logistikweisen, a logistics expert committee under the auspices of the German Federal Ministry BMDV, the Ethical Committee of Dynex Moonshots, and NEXST, a think tank initiated by Reefknot, Kuehne & Nagel and SGInnovate, Singapore.

Alan Murphy

Denmark

Sea-Intelligence, CEO & Founder.

A deeply passionate liner shipping expert, Alan Murphy has 21 years of experience in container shipping research and analysis, providing insight and intelligence to a broad range of stakeholders in the logistics community, through quantitative research, econometric modelling, and database architecture development.

Prior to launching Sea-Intelligence in 2011, Alan was Senior Analyst of Maersk Line's Intelligence and Analysis section, at that time the industry’s largest customer of industry analysis, research, and market data. The frustration with poorly sourced back-of-envelope style of analysis often found in this industry, and a lack of comparable, verified benchmarks of liner performance, was the spark that would lead to the launch of Sea-Intelligence, which now covers Research & Analysis, Data Services, and Advisory Services.

Birgit Viohl

Switzerland

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility, Head.

She worked as a trade facilitation expert for various development partners advising governments on trade negotiations, trade facilitation reforms and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement implementation. From 2015-2016 she was based in Indonesia as Key Trade Expert of the EU-funded Trade Cooperation Facility. She was also UN/CEFACT coordinator of the trade procedure facilitation domain, overseeing projects regarding digitalisation of trade facilitation and public-private dialogue. From 2004 to 2011 she worked with the Trade Facilitation Section of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Anne Reinke

USA

Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA),President & CEO

Prior to TIA, Anne served both as the Deputy Assistant Secretary-Congressional Affairs DAS-Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) from April 2019 to October 2020. Her time in pubic service was immediately preceded by a 16-year career in the Washington, DC office of CSX Corporation, where Anne ultimately became the Vice President- Government Affairs, overseeing the Federal, State Government and Community Affairs Departments. Before joining CSX, she worked at the Association of American Railroads and High Speed Ground Transportation Association.

James Hookham

United Kingdom

Director of Global Shippers Forum

He is a graduate in Environmental Science from the University of Bradford and completed a Masters degree in the safe transport of dangerous goods at the University of Manchester. Until 2020 James was Deputy Chief Executive of the Freight Transport Association (now Logistics UK) and has held numerous positions on UK, EU and global transport and logistics advisory bodies.

Murat Sümer

Malta

The Nippon Foundation Lecturer in International Maritime Law at IMO

Dr. Murat Sümer is a distinguished expert in international maritime law, currently serving as The Nippon Foundation Lecturer in International Maritime Law. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from Ankara University, a Master’s Degree from the Defence Sciences Institute in Ankara, and an LL.M. from the IMO International Maritime Law Institute in Malta. He earned his PhD from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Professionally qualified as an advocate in Türkiye, Dr. Sümer has extensive academic experience, including roles as Academic Coordinator and Course Coordinator at the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI). He has also served as an external examiner for the University of Malta and a visiting fellow at Ankara University.
In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Sümer has a robust background in public service, having held various positions in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Head of Maritime Section and Deputy Head of Mission at the Turkish Embassy in North Macedonia. He has been actively involved in numerous international diplomatic conferences and meetings, particularly with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other maritime organizations. Dr. Sümer is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) Pool of Experts and the IMO Roster of Experts. His contributions to maritime law and diplomacy are well-recognized globally.

Juan Enrique Ortúzar Elton

Chile

CEO, Editrade S.A.

Over 25 years of experience in the IT and logistics sector. extensive experience in the production of software applications, database management, and project management in various business applications. Primarily focused on supporting the supply chain and document management in foreign trade. Particularly interested in the design of large management systems and information exchanges in Internet architecture. Driven by a constant interest in innovative projects, both in their objectives and in their implementation and execution.

Juan Enrique Ortúzar Elton

Chile

CEO, Editrade S.A.

Over 25 years of experience in the IT and logistics sector. extensive experience in the production of software applications, database management, and project management in various business applications. Primarily focused on supporting the supply chain and document management in foreign trade. Particularly interested in the design of large management systems and information exchanges in Internet architecture. Driven by a constant interest in innovative projects, both in their objectives and in their implementation and execution.

Nuno Mendes Dos Santos

USA

Operations Analyst at The World Bank

He leads the International Trade topic of the Business Ready, working on the design and implementation of indicators on trade in goods, trade in services and digital trade. He previously worked on the Trading across Borders and the Contracting with the Government topics within the Doing Business project. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Nuno had worked in the private sector, serving as the International Coordinator and the Marketing and Sales Executive at two global firms, where he was responsible for emerging markets. He holds a Master's degree in Global Political Economy from the University of Kassel, Germany, focusing on the political economy of financial regulation in European sports, and a Licentiate Degree (with honors) in Political Science and International Relations from the New University of Lisbon, Portugal.

Nachi Mendelow

South Africa

Global Customs Domain Owner and VP Business Development - Africa, CargoWise

In this role he is responsible for taking the ground-breaking CargoWise Global Customs Solution to market. The single, integrated customs and compliance engine is the first software platform of its kind, able to provide logistics leaders with a globally unified platform for managing customs and compliance across the multitude of geographies they operate in. This single global customs solution already covers more than 70% of global manufactured trade flows via a combination of the native customs platform and acquired businesses, well on the way to the 90% target. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nachi is also VP Business Development for WiseTech in Africa. Prior to joining WiseTech, Nachi led sales for CompuClearing, and was instrumental in bringing CargoWise to South Africa. Nachi brings almost 20 years of experience in logistics software solutions and digital transformation. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Ilya Espino de Marotta

Panamá

Panama Canal Deputy Administrator

Marine Engineer graduated from Texas A&M University in Galveston, Texas. She also obtained a Master’s in Economic Engineering from the Universidad Santa María la Antigua in the Republic of Panama. Over more than 30 years, Ilya worked at the Panama Canal, holding various positions. Starting in March 2012, she served as the Executive Vice President of Engineering and Program Management. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing all engineering aspects of the Panama Canal and managing construction contracts. She played a key role in executing the Canal Expansion Program. In February 2019, she was appointed Vice President of Transit Business, overseeing maritime operations, emergency response, dredging, infrastructure maintenance, fleet management, and market analysis. Additionally, delivered numerous talks on the Panama Canal and the Expansion Program, both nationally and internationally. Organizations: member of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald Children’s Foundation in Panama (since 2017), the Association of Women Directors in Panama (since 2016), and the Internaional Women´s Forum (IWF) (since 2016) Furthermore, Ilya have been a juror for the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering in 2018.

Rodolfo Sabonge

Panamá

Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (AEC)

Rodolfo Sabonge specializes in strategic planning and foresight in infrastructure, maritime, and logistics projects. He served as Executive Vice President of Planning and Business Development at the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) until 2013. He led the planning for the transfer of the Canal to the Republic of Panama and subsequently led the demand, market, and economic impact studies that justified the Panama Canal expansion project. He is an expert in competitive intelligence, market analysis and research, and feasibility studies. He completed his studies in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, pursued postgraduate studies in Business Administration at the University of Miami, Florida, and holds a Master’s in Maritime Development from the Faculty of Law of the University of Panama. He completed an executive program at Stanford University in Singapore and a program on competitiveness at Harvard University. Throughout his career, he developed extensive global experience, personally interacting with the CEOs of major shipping companies and leading ports. After retiring from the ACP, he served as an External Advisor for McKinsey & Co., and academically, he worked as a master’s professor at Santa María la Antigua University and as Vice-Rector of Postgraduate Research and Extension at the International Maritime University of Panama. Currently, Eng. Sabonge serves as the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, an Intergovernmental Organization that includes 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members from the region known as the Greater Caribbean.

Bernard Kilian

Costa Rica

Dean of Faculty and Research at INCAE Business School

Rodolfo Sabonge specializes in strategic planning and foresight in infrastructure, maritime, and logistics projects. He served as Executive Vice President of Planning and Business Development at the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) until 2013. He led the planning for the transfer of the Canal to the Republic of Panama and subsequently led the demand, market, and economic impact studies that justified the Panama Canal expansion project. He is an expert in competitive intelligence, market analysis and research, and feasibility studies. He completed his studies in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, pursued postgraduate studies in Business Administration at the University of Miami, Florida, and holds a Master’s in Maritime Development from the Faculty of Law of the University of Panama. He completed an executive program at Stanford University in Singapore and a program on competitiveness at Harvard University. Throughout his career, he developed extensive global experience, personally interacting with the CEOs of major shipping companies and leading ports. After retiring from the ACP, he served as an External Advisor for McKinsey & Co., and academically, he worked as a master’s professor at Santa María la Antigua University and as Vice-Rector of Postgraduate Research and Extension at the International Maritime University of Panama. Currently, Eng. Sabonge serves as the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, an Intergovernmental Organization that includes 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members from the region known as the Greater Caribbean.

Lori Fellmer

USA

Vice President, Logistics and Carrier Management

Most of Lori Fellmer’s professional life has been on the transportation provider-side of international shipping, including 20 years with a major ocean carrier and several years in freight forwarding. Her responsibilities spanned regulatory, trade, sales, and operations. In 2011, Lori moved to the BCO (“shipper”) side of the business and currently works for chemical and raw material supplier BassTech International based in New Jersey, where she is Vice President of Logistics and Carrier Management. Lori is also a devoted and enthusiastic champion for US importers and exporters, advocating for fair and reliable ocean transportation services, including her work to introduce the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 during her time as Chair of the Ocean Transportation Committee for the National Industrial Transportation (NIT) League.

Magnus Ödling

Sweeden

Head of Business Development and Supply Chain Advisory at Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Magnus Ödling is the Head of Business Development and Supply Chain Advisory at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, based in the Greater Gothenburg Metropolitan Area. With over a decade of experience in the logistics and supply chain sector, he has held various leadership roles, including VP of Global Industrial Account Development at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and multiple positions at Volvo Cars, where he was Head of Global Inbound Logistics Engineering and Car Program Management. Magnus also has a strong background in business development and sales management from his time at Damco, where he led initiatives across the Nordic and Baltic regions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, which he completed between 1996 and 1999.

Kerstin Strauss

Switzerland

Vice President Global Air Logistics Operations

Kerstin Strauss has been the Vice President for Global Air Logistics Operations and Governance at Kuehne + Nagel in Zurich, Switzerland, since October 2017. With over 30 years of experience in the company, she has held various leadership positions, including VP for Global Key Accounts Pharma & Healthcare and Head of Airfreight Department. Her career began as an apprentice freight forwarding agent, followed by various air freight and logistics roles. In addition to her role at Kuehne + Nagel, Kerstin has been the Chair of the Board of Cargo iQ since May 2023, having previously served as Vice Chair from March 2019 to April 2023. She holds a Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from Euro-FH Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies. Kerstin brings extensive expertise and a passion for logistics and supply chain management.

Paulo Roberto de Oliveira Junior

Brazil

Director of Data and Self-Regulation at the National Association of Railway Transporters (ANTF)

Paulo Roberto de Oliveira Junior is the Director of Data and Self-Regulation at the National Association of Railway Transporters (ANTF) in Brasília, Brazil. Paulo has extensive experience with ANTT, where he served as an advisor and as Manager of Economic-Financial Modeling , focusing on the economic and financial structuring of road and railway infrastructure concession contracts. His career also includes nearly seven years as a Development Analyst at BNDES in Rio de Janeiro. Earlier in his career, Paulo interned as an Aeronautical Engineer at Embraer, where he was involved in operational support for E-jets aircraft. Paulo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of São Paulo and has studied Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. He combines technical expertise with a strong background in economic and financial analysis within the transportation sector.

Mike Yarwood

United Kingdom

Managing Director Loss Prevention TT Club

Mike joined TT Club in October 2010, previously working in operational management roles within the logistics industry. Amongst other responsibilities Mike was a dangerous goods safety advisor. Mike is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Logistics and Transport, a Specialist member of the Institute of Risk Management and a Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Mike has active involvement with a number of industry organisations including BIFA, FIATA, ICHCA, IAPH and ITCO.

Carl Bentzel

USA

US Federal Maritime Commission

U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel was nominated by President Donald J. Trump in June 2019 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2019. Since joining the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bentzel has been actively involved in addressing maritime industry challenges. Bentzel next focused on improving transportation data and information sharing across the supply chain. He launched the Maritime Transportation Data Initiative, convening 18 public meetings with over 80 supply chain experts to develop recommendations for common data standards and policies. Prior to the FMC, Bentzel had an extensive career in both the public and private sectors. He served as a Senate committee staffer, where he was involved in crafting major maritime legislation like the Maritime Security Act of 1996 and the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. Bentzel also worked in the private sector as a consultant and advocate on transportation, energy, and regulatory issues. Throughout his career, Bentzel has been recognized for his contributions to maritime security and policy, receiving awards such as the Coast Guard's Medal for Meritorious Public Service.

Pedro Heilbron

Panamá

COPA Airlines CEO.

IATA- Member Board of Governors and Audit Committee (2017 - Present) COPA Holdings- CEO (2005 - Present ) Copa Airlines, subsidiary of Copa Holdings (NYSE: CPA) is one of LatinAmerica´s leading airlines.Together with it's partner airline in Colombia, the group operates a fleet ofmore than 60 Boeing 737-700s and 800s, and Embraer 190s, to over 50 destinations in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean. ALTA- Board Member (1999 - Present) Education: The George Washington University School of Business- MBA, Finance · (1979 - 1981)

Yang Yuntao

China

Head of Risk Management Department/Legal and Compliance Department/Audit Department, China Merchants Group Co., Ltd.

PhD. in international economic law, more than 30 years of experience in the legal practice of international freight forwarding, logistics and maritime industries. Dr Yang is currently General Manager of Risk Management Department/Legal and Compliance Department/Audit Department of China Merchants Group. He also holds several social positions such as Chairman of FIATA Advisory Body Legal Matters, Vice Secretary-General of China Maritime Law Association, Arbitrator of China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC) and China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Supporting Member of London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), etc.

Andrea Schoen

Netherlands

Program Director, Clean Cargo and Clean Air Transport

Andrea Dorothea Schoen holds a Diploma in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Political Science. As Program Director at Smart Freight Centre she is driving the Clean Air Transport (CAT) and maritime Clean Cargo (CC) programs and supports the roll-out of the GLEC Framework v.3 accounting guidelines compliant with ISO 14083. She headed the climate protection program at DB Schenker for 15 years. In this capacity, she acted as project partner and Advisory Body member in various EU projects on the green transformation of the transport sector. She was active in CCWG (Clean Cargo Working Group), SAFA (Sustainable Air Freight Alliance), GLEC (Global Logistics Emissions Council), DIN, CEN and ISO standardization bodies. In her daily work, Andrea Schoen has been working closely with carriers and shippers to support them in their climate emission reduction targets and measures.

Josue Alzamora

Panamá

Director of Sales Excellence and Business Development for Latin America at Maersk

With more than 23 years working in the logistics industry, Josue is currently in charge of driving a top performing Latin America sales organization and is part of the regional leadership team at Maersk. He has worked at A.P. Møller Maersk since 2005 in global and regional management positions in Latin America, North America, and Europe – living and working for twelve years across Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. Josue has experience in various management product and commercial roles, including establishing global partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, has been involved in global strategy design, has been part of global resilience taskforces in response to large disruptions, and is a strong supporter of Maersk’s sustainability agenda. Josue holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua, a master’s degree in Logistics & International Commerce from Latina University, and a diploma in Organizational Leadership from IMD Business School.

Gordon Downes

USA

Chief Executive Officer, NYSHEX

Before starting NYSHEX with the mission to unite carriers, shippers and forwarders, Gordon spent 12 years with a carrier at Maersk and 3 years with a shipper at SABMiller (now ABInbev). He holds an MBA from Cambridge University in the UK, and degrees in economics and law from the University of Natal in South Africa.

Mike Bhaskaran

USA

Group Chief Operating Officer, Digital Technology

Chief Operating Officer for Logistics and Technology for DP World.Responsible for driving the digital transformation of all parts of ourvalue chain globally, such as logistics services, technology servicesand IT. Head of direct logistics businesses such as P&O MaritimeLogistics, Unifeeder, Feedertech, and P&O Ferries/Ferrymasters.Strong experience in Global multimodal logistics, Blockchain and e-commerce technology and particularly in driving innovative digitalcapabilities in complex supply chains at scale. Masters degree in Industrial Technology & Engineering from UtahState University and a MBA from Krannert Graduate School ofManagement (Purdue University).

Barbara Heibendahl

USA

Corporate COO at ECX Global Logistics, a Euro Cargo Express Group Company

With over 30 years of experience as an International Freight Forwarder, Barbara Hiebendahl serves as the Corporate Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ECX Global Logistics, part of the Euro Cargo Express Group. Her extensive expertise in the logistics industry underscores her strategic role in the organization. As a compliance specialist, Barbara holds key positions within ECX, including Qualified Individual (QI) for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), CTPAT Security Coordinator, and active membership in the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA). Barbara is deeply involved in the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association (FCBF), contributing to the Education Committee and having previously served as a Board Member. Her responsibilities extend to managing global key accounts and representing ECX in numerous prestigious global networks, including GLN, EGLN, UFO, AA, PPL, and SGN. Barbara’s focus lies in optimizing systems and procedures through effective Supply Chain Management. She collaborates closely with the technology team to drive business process automation, enhance Risk Management, foster Business Development, and streamline Integrated Logistics.

Julio Diaz

Panamá

Senior Director, CCO at Panama & Regional Structuring & Analytics AES Panama

Julio Diaz Cohen is a senior executive with 25 years in the energy industry. He currently leads the Commercial Management of AES in Panama and the Regional Management of the Commercial Center of Excellence for Structuring and Analytics. In his current role, he directly manages over $650M in annual revenues through the Panama Portfolio, and another $3,000M indirectly by driving commercial decisions and business growth in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. His international experience spans over 180 projects and 18 markets in the Americas and Eurasia, including international assignments in the Dominican Republic, Philippines and Panama. Throughout his career, he has led high-impact initiatives across a wide range of functions, including strategic and business planning, commercial strategy, risk management, regulatory affairs, business and product development, and digital transformation. He is a passionate advocate for energy transition and sustainability. He is active in professional forums, academic institutions and industry associations. Since 2022, he chairs AmCham Panama's Energy Committee, where he has been recognized as the Outstanding Chair for two consecutive years. His academic background includes two Master's Degrees in the Electric Industry and Industry 4.0 with distinction of Excellence from Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid and Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña. Julio is an Electrical Engineer with Summa Cum Laude distinction.

Arjen Kersing

Netherlands

Senior Expert McKinsey & Company

Arjen is a core member of the Shipping & Ports practice and has deep experience in the maritime sector. Over the past 20 years, he has served many clients in all ports and shipping segments and along the maritime value chain. His recent projects include: Developing a marine decarbonization model for a major industry consortium. Co-leading a project on sustainable future fuel/propulsion choices for a global cruise operator. Supporting a marine engine manufacturer in developing a 4-stroke medium speed engine strategy with a focus on decarbonization. Assisting a container carrier in choosing between scrubber, LNG, and low sulfur fuel options. Helping a marine equipment manufacturer develop a digital strategy. Creating a decarbonization strategy for a European Port Authority. Improving container terminal operations for global shipping lines. Enhancing container line schedule reliability. Leading a strategic fuel cost reduction program for a Japanese shipping conglomerate. Developing a growth strategy for a Middle Eastern shipping company post-merger. Improving fleet management capabilities for a large container liner. From 2013 to 2016, Arjen worked for DNV GL, leading the Asian consulting department.

Alberto Aleman Zubieta

Panamá

Advisor to the President of Panama in Maritime Issues and Logistics Development Government of Panama

Engineer Alberto Alemán Zubieta is an advisor to the President of the Republic of Panama on maritime and logistical development issues. Zubieta was the administrator of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Under his leadership, the ACP’s vision was to transform the Canal into the cornerstone of the global transportation system, as a model of excellence, integrity, and transparency. He was inducted into the International Maritime Hall of Fame in May 2007 and has received multiple national and international awards for his achievements, including the National Order of the Legion of Honor (France), Distinguished Son of the City of Panama, Outstanding International Alumnus Award from Texas A&M University, Order of Rio Branco (Brazil), and Maritime Personality 2001, awarded by the naval operator Seatrade.

Jose Angelo Estrella

Austria

Principal Legal Officer UNCITRAL

He was the Secretary-General of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) between 1 October 2008 to 31 July 2017. A staff member of the United Nations since 1992, he was responsible for UNCITRAL work on Public-Private Partnerships and electronic commerce. He also supervised the work of Working Group III (Transport Law) between 2005 and 2008, during the negotiation of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (the “Rotterdam Rules”) and was the Secretary of UNCITRAL Working Group VI during the negotiation of the United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships. As Head of the UNCITRAL Legislative Branch, he also supervises all legislative work of UNCITRAL, including the recently adopted UNCITRAL/UNIDROIT Model Law on Warehouse Receipts and the ongoing work on negotiable cargo documents. Mr. Estrella Faria is a national of Brazil. He graduated from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brazil) and holds a Master of European Law from the Europa Institut der Universität des Saarlandes (Saarbrücken, Germany). He has published various articles and books on legal harmonisation, commercial law, cultural property law and international law. He has lectured at various universities and is a member of the Curatorium of the Xiamen Academy of International Law, the American Law Institute, the European law Institute and is an Associate member of the International Academy of Comparative Law.

Mauricio Bayona

Panama

Lead Specialist - Transport Division (Panama) Inter-American Development Bank

Mr. Mauricio Bayona is a civil engineer with a master’s degree in engineering and a specialization in the economic evaluation of projects, he has over 25 years of experience in the direction and management of large infrastructure projects, including road, seaports, airports, railway, and sanitation projects. He currently serves as Lead Specialist in the Transportation Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), where he has acted as both the principal and alternate Team Leader for significant transportation and logistics infrastructure projects in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. He has also held senior positions in public institutions and multinational companies in Colombia and has provided consultancy and technical advisory services to numerous public and private organizations.

Turgut Erkeskin

Turkiye

FIATA President since October 2023

Previously, he has been serving as a FIATA Senior Vice President from 2017 to 2023. He studied Economics at Istanbul University and has run his freight forwarding business Genel Transport since 1988. From 2010 to 2016, he was President of the Turkish Forwarding Association UTIKAD, and during his presidency of UTIKAD, the 2014 FIATA World Congress was successfully hosted in Istanbul. He also chairs the Logistics Business Council of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey.

Fabio Rabbani

Peru

Regional Director, South American Regional Office ICAO

Mr. Rabbani is currently leading the Office responsible for building capacity of the South American Countries to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization´s provisions and to develop their aviation system as means for their socioeconomic progress. He held the position of Superintendent of Airport Infrastructure at the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and served as Chief Advisor to the Board of Directors. In addition, he was Technical Manager of Facilitation at ANAC and was also Manager at the Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Defense of Brazil. Previously, he was in charge of the Directorate of Airport Management at the Civil Aviation Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil. He has held leadership positions to develop and promote integrated transportation planning and road safety projects in Brazil. Mr. Rabbani holds a Master's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a degree in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Paraíba.

Andrea Tang

Switzerland

Legal Services Director, FIATA

Andrea leads the International Trade and Law Unit at FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations. At FIATA, She is responsible for legal matters across the work of the Federation, including the FIATA Digital Strategy work. In addition, she looks after the Federation’s policy work across the various modes of transport (air, maritime, rail, road) as well as on trade facilitation and customs. Prior to working at FIATA, she worked in the commodity trading and shipping sector for the Swiss industry association, with a particular focus on trade finance, financial markets, and innovation. She also worked in regulatory affairs for the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, ensuring the delivery of a global strategic initiative to optimise and align the work of 50+ offices worldwide through the use of technology. She is a qualified lawyer and was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales, following which she completed her Master studies in International Law. In addition, she holds a Certificate in Insurance (CII) from the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Xavier Pazmino

Panama

CEO Chubb Panama & CAM

Xavier is Ecuadorian and in 1994, just after completing his higher education in International Trade, he began his career in insurance as a correspondent in Ecuador for various Mutual Associations or P&I Clubs. Always related to marine insurance, he was an underwriter and then line manager for CIGNA, later ACE, and now CHUBB, being responsible for the Latin American region for the Marine Insurance line from 2006 to 2024, when he assumed the position of CEO of CHUBB Panama and Central America. In this role, together with his family, he has had the very enriching experience of living in several countries such as Mexico, Brazil, the United States, and Panama. He is a founding partner of ALSUM (Latin American Association of Marine Underwriters), standing out as Chairman of the Board from 2018 to 2024, and he is currently a member of the Board of Directors.

José Machado Frías

Panama

Business Unit Head Panama, Emergent Cold LatAm

Kim Waigel

Panama

Communications and Corporate Affairs Director at Nestle

Kim Waigel, a Swiss national, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Finance from the University of Lausanne. With 33 years at Nestlé, Kim has led mass consumption initiatives in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, consistently demonstrating a passion for innovation, category development, and talent management. Among his significant achievements is the development and launch of innovations such as Nescafé Dolce Gusto in 12 countries, which has become a billion-dollar brand. In Central America, Kim served as the director of the Coffee & Dairy business for 7 years. In 2014, he launched the Nescafé Plan, benefiting over 40,000 coffee producers in the region to date. From 2019 to December 2023, he led operations in Honduras as Country Manager, achieving strong growth in sales and market share, increasing business profitability, and actively participating in important boards such as Fundahrse and being part of gender and environmental committees. His social contribution management earned recognitions like the Ecological Flag, Fundahrse Seal, and positioning Nestlé among the top three Great Place to Work companies in Honduras. His constant commitment to forging high-impact alliances for the benefit of communities led to partnerships with USAID and Banco Ficohsa, doubling the impact on producers and ensuring responsible coffee supply for Nestlé. Since this year, he has been serving as the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs for Nestlé Central America, based in Panama.

Enrique Piqueras

Panama

CEO PSA Panama

Enrique Piqueras is an experienced leader who has successfully held several high-level positions in the maritime and port sector, as well as in related logistics fields in South America, Asia, and the Middle East. His strengths include customer and stakeholder management, business strategy (particularly in the commercial field), a solid understanding of port operations, including general cargo operations, and a deep commitment to workplace safety. In all the roles he has held, he has focused on continuously finding ways to improve and maximize performance in each area of the business, as well as within the teams he leads. He joined PSA Panama in July 2022, leading a team of over 1,000 highly skilled employees on an organizational optimization journey toward continuous improvement and process automation, aiming to transform the terminal into a world-class benchmark. His academic background includes a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Universidad de Lima and an Executive MBA from IE Business School.

Francisco Lima

Salvador

Secretary General SIECA

Hakan Ankara

Turkey

Cargo Sales Director, Southern USA, Central & South America Turkish Airline

Gabriel Jimenez

Panama

Private Sector Coordinator for the Central America, Haiti, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic (CID) Region IDB Invest, Inter-American Development Bank

Gloria Morales

Panama

Director and founder of Supply & Global Management, S&GM Consulting, strategic consulting firm in Supply Chain for Latin America

Gloria Morales

Panama

Director and founder of Supply & Global Management, S&GM Consulting, strategic consulting firm in Supply Chain for Latin America

Maxim Rebolledo

Panama

Commercial Manager (Marketing & Origination) at The AES Corporation