Joan Carbó Martínez is Equipment Project Engineer at APM Terminals Valencia, contributing to digitalization, modernization, and operational improvement projects across critical terminal equipment. His background combines industrial engineering with previous experience in the automotive sector, where he worked on innovation and emerging technology initiatives. He also manages CAPEX investments related to equipment modernization and renewal, working closely with operations, maintenance, and suppliers to ensure practical and value driven solutions. His focus is on turning digital visibility into tangible gains in efficiency and safety, supporting technology adoption and continuous improvement within the terminal environment.

Tomi Tuulkari works as Senior Manager, Product Management in Kalmar. Tomi’s expertise comes from delivering multiple Automatic Stacking Crane projects, extensive customer collaboration as well as from Product Management, i.e. ensuring that the developed yard cranes fulfill the needs of the industry and that they can be maintained easily during the product’s lifetime.

Today Tomi focuses on the product management tasks dedicated to Kalmar One. He spends his time communicating with Kalmar’s customers and partners, steering product development, as well as designing and scouting new technologies that can help customers operate automated sites even more smoothly while increasing productivity.

Shalev Cohen is the Head of sales at ABB Ports, OCR division. He is responsible for sales, business development, and product management.

Shalev joined ABB in 2011 and was responsible for the OCR project management group before moving to his current position. He holds a master’s degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Rafael Velásquez is Director Optimization and Integration at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division. He has worked in optimization projects over the last 20 years within the Research and IT sector. Since joining INFORM in 2008 his focus has been on advancing optimization solutions in the container terminal industry in which time he has headed multiple notable international projects with customers such as GCT, DP World, and TraPac. He is a frequent specialist speaker at industrial and academic conferences promoting the real-world opportunities that Operations Research and AI open. Rafael holds a PhD in Mathematical Optimization from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern.

Patrick Krawutschke is Managing Director of HPC Hamburg Port Consulting, where he leads corporate strategy, organizational and people development, and the global expansion of HPC’s advisory services in port automation, digital transformation, and AI-driven operating models.
Under his leadership, HPC is sharpening its focus on scalable growth and the translation of strategic ambition into operational execution across international markets.
Prior to joining HPC, Patrick held several senior leadership positions at Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) in Hamburg, most recently as Managing Director. CTA, one of the world’s first fully automated container terminals, has undergone significant modernization and performance transformation in recent years. During his tenure, he strengthened Hamburg’s role as a global innovation benchmark in automated port operations, enhanced terminal productivity, and advanced automation-based operating models within complex transformation environments.
With extensive experience in technology-driven organizations, Patrick focuses on automation, structured transition management, and building resilient operating systems that enable sustainable growth in increasingly complex logistics ecosystems.”

Harrison is an account executive at Realtime Business Solutions (RBS), and is passionate about how software can revolutionize industries.  He graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of commerce and computer science with distinctions. With his fresh ideas and burning ambition, Harrison is dedicated to helping terminals find the best solutions to optimize their operations.

With nearly 20 years of industry experience, Alex Van Winckel is an expert in the digitalization and automation of container terminals. He has been instrumental in driving innovation across globally distributed maritime and intermodal logistics operations, transforming small-scale facilities as well as spearheading large-scale automation projects. As Director of Strategic Relations and Sales and a member of the board of directors at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics division, Alex is responsible for shaping commercial strategy and forging long-term partnerships worldwide. His work focuses on delivering AI-powered optimization solutions that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness in terminal operations.

Seasoned CEO with strong focus on strategy and change-management. Twenty years’ experience in senior leadership positions in Asia and Europe backed by early experience as a turn-around specialist and proven track record in building successful teams and creating shareholder value. Multi-industry, multi-company and multi-continent experience in diverse cultural environments and solid experience representing interests of financial institutions & PE type investors. Passionate communicator able to build trust and to convince stakeholders to envision and support important transformations of the business or of the industry.

Extensive negotiation and lobbying experience dealing at the top governmental levels in Europe, Asia and South America, as well as EU institutions.

A civil engineer from the University of A Coruña and a law graduate from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Mar Chao López holds an MBA from the Caixanova Business School (now IESIDE) and has completed her training with numerous degrees in maritime law, logistics and digital transformation. She speaks English, French, Galician and Portuguese. These include degrees in Maritime Law and Port Management from the University of A Coruña; Maritime Transport and Port Management from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Logistics Management from Lloyd’s Academy London; and Freight and Passenger Transport Manager for the European Community.

Christoph Schoppmann leads HPC’s Operations Excellence department, where he is responsible for planning, logistics, and equipment-related activities. He has over 15 years of professional experience in transportation and logistics planning, contributing to more than 100 national and international projects. His work includes logistics-related consulting and research assignments for private clients, government organizations, trade associations, and international institutions.
Christoph has extensive expertise in transportation logistics, with a particular focus on the rail and port sectors. He has planned and evaluated numerous ports and intermodal terminals across all continents, serving as project lead for many of these engagements. He is highly experienced in both operational and financial analysis of terminal and port facilities and is a proven project manager.
Over the past decade, Christoph has been developing automation projects all over the world, combining his expertise in integrating IT, operations, and equipment—an essential foundation for successfully designing and delivering automation and technology upgrades in terminal environments.

Kira Biernat blends industry expertise with creative marketing, translating complex logistics challenges into clear, impactful messaging for the container terminal and distribution center industries. New to the logistics world but already inspired by its complexity, she brings a fresh perspective to INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics division. Kira thrives on connecting people and sparking meaningful conversations, especially around important topics where differing opinions lead to richer insights.

José Andrés Giménez is an Industrial Engineer (Polytechnic University of Valencia, 2005) and has 17 years of experience in the logistics-port sector, developing innovation and research projects focused on the fields of port logistics and maritime transport. His fields of expertise are related to increasing the efficiency of logistics and port operations through the development of Industry 4.0 models and technologies (IoT, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Process Automation, etc.).

He has been Director of Energy and Security and currently develops his work as Director of Port Logistics at the Valenciaport Foundation (Port of Valencia). He is responsible for the management and development of innovation projects through the coordination and direction of multidisciplinary technical and management teams, working in an international environment of innovative companies.

He has participated in innovation and research projects funded by the European Commission through programs such as Connecting Europe Facility – CEF and Horizon 2020 as well as in national innovation programs. His activity focuses on the implementation of Industry 4.0 and Smart Port solutions in port operations, including the improvement of processes along the logistics chain, automation of operations, standardization in information exchanges, etc.

He is currently Secretary General of the international association Terminal Industry Committee (TIC4.0), an entity that brings together global container terminal operators along with port machinery manufacturers and developers of digital solutions. TIC4.0 is an organization that aims at the operational and technological standardization of the port sector, with the purpose of integrating the innovation dimension in the companies of the sector at an international level.

In 1991, Harry started one of the world’s leading TOS providers, Realtime Business Solutions (RBS), and he continues to lead the business today as the company’s director. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, he specializes in software research and development, piloting the company to develop the TOPS software. The TOPS system is a state-of-the-art, complete TOS, that helps terminals to optimize their execution and increase their performance. This suite of software has been implemented in dozens of terminals all around the world and continues to be an industry leading product.

The success of this product is only possible through Harry’s in-depth knowledge of current technologies, such as Cloud, AI, and digital twin. With an unwavering attitude of learning, he continues to push the boundaries of technology in the industry and provide premium services for all terminals across the globe. Ultimately, his immense knowledge and expertise will prove invaluable in helping to revolutionize this industry, and move it into a new digital age.

Giorgio Corbellini is Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Embotech, where he is responsible for scaling autonomous driving solutions from development into industrial deployment. His work focuses on operational execution, system validation and the integration of autonomous vehicle technology into live logistics and production environments.

With previous experience at Daimler AG and Disney Research, Giorgio brings a combination of academic and industrial expertise in autonomous systems. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Telecommunication Engineering.

At Embotech, he is closely involved in the certification and deployment of autonomous vehicle systems in mixed-traffic environments, working at the intersection of engineering, safety and operations to enable reliable, large-scale autonomy.

Jasper is Senior Sales Director at Portchain. He has extensive experience from Strategy Consulting and Technology & Innovation Management within technology intensive industries. He has 8 years of experience driving technology adaptation in the maritime sector: from Maersk, responsible for Future Technologies & Innovation, and Navis driving key client discussions on future requirements. Jasper has a MSc (with Merit) and a Ph.D. in Physics from Utrecht University (the Netherlands).

Marcel Lindemann is a logistics enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the industry. He has held various positions, including roles in Terminal Software Implementations and Change Management as well as Trucking Operations, which have provided him with a comprehensive understanding of terminal processes and stakeholder interactions. As the co-founder of passify, Marcel is dedicated to enhancing terminal operations through innovative solutions that streamline accessibility and improve efficiency and resource planning.

Daan Nap is responsible for Business Development and Sales of Autonomous Connection Devices (ACD’s) at Rocsys, for the segments Ports & Transportation. He is dedicated to implementing and scaling innovative technology solutions that contribute to a sustainable future.

Daan brings 16+ years of experience in the global eMobility market. At Epyon he helped realise the very 1^st commercial DC fast chargers for passenger cars in Europe as of 2010. In 2011, Epyon was acquired by ABB, a global leader in robotics, machine automation, and digital services. At ABB Daan served as the Global Head of bus charging, delivering the first pantograph systems and depot charging solutions for bus charging, covering more than 50 countries. He worked on the early solutions for Energy Management and delivered the world’s very first MegaWatt Charging Systems (MCS) to commercial customers already in 2022.

Before Epyon, Daan had various roles at companies including Siemens, Royal Philips and IBM. He holds a BSc of engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in The Hague.

Andy Barrons is Chief Commercial Officer for NextPort, focusing on leading the Go-To-Market of NextPort solutions – prior to NextPort he had Senior Executive roles in Strategy and Marketing for relevant companies in the Maritime Sector like Navis or INTTRA. Business leader with strategic and operational experience with international technology, internet and media businesses. Proven ability to launch new businesses, manage marketing and sales operations, build brands and drive revenue in entrepreneurial setting in emerging and established organizations.

As Founder & Technical Lead of Next Port Dr. Oscar Pernia participates as advisor and thought leader in several innovation and R&D activities, with core focus on enabling the introduction of Artificial Intelligence in the Port Industry: his education was on Telecommunications Engineering, and he holds an Industrial Engineering PhD, where he focused on Algorithms Design and Simulation applied to Marine Operations Optimization – during last 20 years he accumulated an extensive and international experience in Container Shipping, covering technology solutions across all processes in the ocean supply chain, with specific focus in Ports & Terminals and participating in the automation and modernization of 25+ container terminals Worldwide. He is also an active contributor to Industry wide associations such as DCSA, TIC 4.0, ITPCO, ISO, PEMA and Maritime Informatics.

Besides his educational and academic activity with NextPort, Oscar´s core role is Director of Engineering for TIL (Automation & Digitalization), the Container Terminal business unit for MSC. Based in Geneva HQ, his focus covers Process Engineering, System Integration, Algorithms & Data Science and Applied Innovation competencies. As such he is the Technical Lead for Automated Terminal Design & Deployment, as well as different strategic initiatives to empower efficiency, safety and sustainability through Automation/Digitalization

Ignacio Perea Piñero is Engineering Project Manager and Head of the Projects Area at APM Terminals, leading strategic engineering initiatives that support operational transformation and long term value creation. He began his career at Kalmar in the Cranes Upgrades division before joining APM Terminals as a Project Engineer, advancing into his current leadership role. Ignacio oversees the planning and delivery of multidisciplinary engineering programs, ensuring alignment with business priorities, operational resilience, and sustainable growth. His leadership combines technical depth with a strong focus on collaboration, execution, and strategic impact

Dr. Hein Ray Chetcuti is the Chief Transformation Officer at Malta Freeport Terminals, with over 20 years of leadership experience in operational excellence, digital transformation, and container terminal innovation. He has overseen the design and rollout of mission-critical systems, advanced analytics platforms, and process optimization initiatives that have strengthened the terminal’s competitive position within the Mediterranean transshipment market. Dr. Chetcuti combines industry expertise with a strong academic foundation, holding a BSc, MSc, MPhil, and DBA, and contributing nine years to university lecturing. His doctoral research focuses on innovation and technological adoption in container terminals, offering new insights into the sector’s evolving dynamics.ctor’s evolving dynamics.

With over 30 years of experience in logistics and container handling, Alex has established a solid foundation in managing and implementing solutions that enhance operational efficiency in terminal operations. His professional journey commenced with summer internships at Muuga Container Terminal, where he worked from 1993 to 2003. During this period, he acquired invaluable insights into various roles, including workshop operations, tallying, and terminal management.

Alex holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the American InterContinental University in London. Following his graduation, he assumed the position of Development Director at Muuga CT, where he played a pivotal role in the development of the Container Yard Management System (SOLVO) and contributed to the strategic development program for the terminal, which encompassed the RTG + Shuttle Carrier technological scheme.

Roy de Haan is the Partnership Director for Terminals, Feeders, and Ports at DCSA. With a strong background in the maritime industry, Roy began his career at Hutchison Ports in Rotterdam, gaining hands-on experience in terminal operations. He went on to APM Terminals / Maersk, where he held operational and commercial roles, further deepening his understanding of terminal logistics and global trade dynamics. He later joined Navis, a global leader in terminal operating systems, where he led a sales team focused on driving growth and innovation in operations technology.

Gerhard L. Fischer graduated in 1987 with a Dipl.-Ing. (FH) degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Applied Science, Munich, Germany and visited Arizona state University, USA on a Fulbright exchange.

Since 2008 Gerhard is with Siemens AG in the Cranes business segment in Erlangen, Germany as head of sales for harbour cranes. He is member of IEEE Industry Applications Society, the VDI working group B1 for cranes, the VDE DKE working group for hoisting systems and vice-chairman of the PEMA committee for equipment design and infrastructure.

In 1990 Gerhard joined Siemens AG in Erlangen, Germany to develop high frequency and large-power converters. In 1995 he changed to sales/marketing of variable speed drives followed in 1996 by a posting in Siemens´ Centre of Competence in Singapore and Taiwan developing cranes business. From 2005 till 2008 he worked with Siemens in The Hague, Netherlands in a business development function for harbour cranes.

Marie-Josée Messier is the IT Project Manager at Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership, leading cross-functional technology implementation projects across IT, operations, and maintenance. With hands-on experience in logistics software implementation and IT project delivery, she is involved in the rollout of digital solutions focused on system integration, operational visibility, and day-to-day usability within container terminal operations. She holds a multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree in management, projects, and logistics, and is currently completing an Executive MBA.

Pavlos Vlasopoulos is a Product Manager at the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) and a product leader with deep experience in container shipping, terminal operations, and product development. He works on products that accelerate digitalisation and standardisation across the container supply chain, helping turn complex operational needs into practical solutions that improve performance, interoperability, and decision-making at scale. One such product is OVS Hub, which enables the standardised exchange of vessel schedule and operational data between carriers, terminals, and other operational stakeholders via one platform, creating a stronger foundation for efficiency, transparency, and more connected operations. His experience spans product strategy, terminal operations, operations technology, platform and API-led solutions, and the delivery of products that create measurable operational and commercial value. Before joining DCSA, he held product leadership roles in technology-focused hardware and software companies and co-founded a startup that used time-series forecasting to improve container terminal resource planning and deployment. Pavlos brings a practical perspective on how organisations can use data and digital capabilities to improve performance, strengthen resilience, and build more reliable supply chain operation

Robin Audenaerdt is Senior Manager Equipment Integration at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, responsible for leading the testing, integration and operational deployment of next‑generation automated equipment as part of the terminal’s major expansion program, which will double capacity by 2027 at one of the world’s most advanced fully automated container terminals.

With more than 30 years of experience in ports, terminals and end‑to‑end supply chain operations, Robin has played a key role in the evolution of terminal automation. He contributed to the early development of first‑generation Automated Guided Vehicles and automated stacking crane systems. He is widely recognised for turning complex technological ambitions into reliable and scalable operational solutions.

Horst Kloeden is Global Vice President of Automation & R&D at DP World, where he advances automation and drives the transition toward autonomous operations, shaping the Industry 4.0 approach across a global portfolio of ports and terminals. His focus includes smart equipment, robotics, AI-driven systems, industrial connectivity, as well as the platforms, data architectures, and intelligence underpinning future port operations.

Throughout his career, he has operated at the intersection of automation, AI, and platform-based transformation. He previously led digital and AI initiatives in a major construction gigaproject and spent over a decade at a leading automotive OEM, where he played a key role in pioneering autonomous driving platforms and developing digital services.

He holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).

Salvador Leon is the Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation at the Port Authority of Algeciras. He is a Computer Engineer who has been in the Maritime sector for more than 10 years under different technology-related positions.

During the latest years, he has been working with container terminals from all over the world building a centralized global TOS support team

In his current role, he coordinates several digital initiatives and projects to elevate port’s capabilities and achieve operational excellence.”

Rene Alvarenga is the Vice President of Product (AI and Execution & Visibility Platform) at Kaleris, where he leads product strategy and innovation focused on AI-driven optimization, digital visibility, and operational intelligence for global terminal and logistics operations.
With a background in industrial and systems engineering, Rene has extensive experience building and scaling software solutions for ports, terminals, and supply chain operators. His work focuses on helping organizations transform operational data into actionable insights that improve planning, automation, and performance across complex logistics environments.
Rene frequently speaks on topics such as AI in terminal operations, digital visibility, and data-driven optimization, helping the industry understand how technology can convert operational data into real competitive advantage

Que has extensive senior technology and transformation leadership experience within international organisations. He also served as a diplomat with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

In addition to technology leadership, his is focused on cyber, innovation and sustainability initiatives to help protect, optimise and transform the organisation and industry. He is currently leading Technology and Digital across Europe at DP World, a leading enabler of global trade and an integral part of the supply chain. Que holds an Executive MBA from Cranfield School of Management, a Master of Science degree in Information Systems Management and Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He has been named among the top 30 leading business and technology executives in the CIO 100 by CIO UK for three consecutive years and has been conferred title ‘Fellow of the British Computer Society’ and recognised for outstanding achievements and contributions to technology.

Mike Andrews is an experienced Mechanical and Mining Engineer with over 20 years of experience in heavy industry. He began his career in the mining sector, where he played a key role in defining, deploying, and managing technology roadmaps for a diverse portfolio of global mining clients.

In 2015, Mike brought his expertise to APM Terminals, where he initially led the development and deployment of the company’s global Asset Digitization strategy. His work focused on connecting critical assets, capturing operational data, and enabling a wide range of digital use cases to support smarter terminal operations.

Today, Mike serves as the Head of APM Terminals’ Process Automation Product Line. In this role, he continues to expand the company’s asset digitization capabilities and oversees the full lifecycle management of automation products including gate systems, OCR technologies, truck appointment platforms, and reefer monitoring solutions.

Mike’s technical background and strategic leadership are helping to drive innovation and operational excellence across APM Terminal operations worldwide.

Kaj de Groot works as Director of Automation Projects at Portwise. He has worked in the ports and terminals field for about 9 years and has been involved in terminal design, decarbonisation and automation implementation projects.

Marco Fehmer is Civil Chartered Engineer with a specialization in transportation and logistics. He joined DSP Data and System Planning SA in 2007 and since 2017 has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. DSP is one of the most worldwide recognized and valuable Terminal Operations Systems (TOS) implementation and process optimization consulting partner. In 2020 Marco has been appointed as President of the Board of DSP LAB Pvt, Chennai India and in 2021 Member of the Board of Directors of DSP TALUMIS BV and since 2022 is CEO of DSP AMERICA Inc.

At the beginning of his career, Marco served as officer in the Italian Navy Coast Guard and then joined the port industry and container terminal operations at the Contship Italia Group, gradually focusing on TOS management. He was project manager and business process advisor of distinct Container Terminals (Valencia, Jebel Ali, Constanta, Trieste, Manila, Los Angeles) and Ports (Piraeus, Auckland) worldwide, with hands on experience on process optimization and automation. In 2007 he was ICT Project Manager for the construction of new Eurogate Tangier Terminal in Morocco.

Strong believer in innovation and new technologies, in 2004 Marco was project manager for the implementation of the first worldwide Prime Route for Trucks Terminal and in 2010 Marco started process automation projects introducing the concept of automated truck job stepping. Today is the project sponsor and functional design advisor of the GEMINI terminal digital twin project within DSP.

Moritz Klein is Project Manager Sales Port Logistics at BOXBAY, a joint venture between SMS group and DP World. With degrees in electrical engineering and business administration, he combines technical expertise with commercial insight.
Moritz began his career as a commissioning engineer at FAT before joining AMOVA/SMS group as a software developer in 2022. In 2024, he transitioned to BOXBAY’s sales team, where he focuses on designing innovative container-handling systems tailored to local demands.
His recent work features a system that enhances container density and performance while reducing power consumption—critical advances in today’s port logistics landscape. Moritz is dedicated to minimizing environmental impact through efficient and sustainable terminal solutions.

Frank Kho, an independent advisor active in the container logistic and terminal industry since 2017.

He has more than 30 years’ experience in this industry across the globe. His career includes 20+ year in several senior management positions in Asia and Europe with PSA and HPH, 2 of the leading global terminal operators. Frank also has been a member of the global leadership team of Kalmar for 7 years.

From 2018-2021 he was instrumental (as Advisor and CEO) in setting up the TIC 4.0 (Terminal Industry Committee 4.0) Association (www.tic40.org), developing standards for the terminal industry.

Recently he was appointed as the MD for ATAI Labs BV, the European entity for a global provider of logistic scanning solutions based on AI and video vision technology

Frank has a Master degree in Control Engineering/Avionics and is also an ICF-trained coach.