2011 Speaker Bios

Buddy Greene
President, IFPTA
Vice President, Cooper/T. Smith Company

Buddy attended the University of South Alabama in the school of business administration. He started working full time in the maritime industry in 1968 for Ryan Stevedoring.

In the past 41 years he has worked primarily operations and later in the management end of the stevedoring industry having various responsibilities from Port manager to Regional Vice President.

Buddy is currently in his 16th year as a vice president for Cooper/T. Smith Stevedoring Company, working chiefly in operations and the forest products side of the business.

He currently serves as President of the International Forest Products Transportation Association (IFPTA), as a Director of the National Maritime Safety Association (NMSA) and Chairman of the Mobile Steamship Association.

Dertje Meijer
CEO
Port of Amsterdam

Dertje Meijer was appointed CEO of the Port of Amsterdam in July 2009.  Prior to her appointment, Dertje was Deputy Director for the port and had been with the organization since 2001 holding various positions in marketing, sales, and the commercial sector.

From 1996-2001, she held various positions at the NV Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.  During her tenure at NV Schiphol Airport her duties included business development, sales and account management, and serving as a member of the Supervisory Board.

Earlier in her career, Dertje worked for Fokker Aircraft BV and DASA.  There, her efforts included project management and serving as team leader on the "Security the Future of Fokker" survival plan.

She is a strategic thinker with a clear vision on the future for the Port of Amsterdam.  Dertje holds a degree in management and organization from the University of Groningen.

Rod Young
Chief Economic Advisor
RISI

Rod Young started modeling and forecasting in the pulp and paper industry in 1977. Since then, his work in international pulp and paper markets has received worldwide recognition.

In March 2005, he became President and CEO of Paperloop, which was later renamed RISI in 2006. Rod Young has remained an active contributor to RISI's forecasts since stepping down as RISI's CEO and being named Chairman in 2007. Rod, a founding member of RISI, has 32 years of experience tracking and reporting on the global pulp and paper markets. In 2009, Rod took on responsibility for ensuring that all RISI's economic analysis meets or exceeds the industry's expectation for excellence and accuracy when he took on the role of RISI's Chief Economic Advisor.

Rod received a Master of Science degree in Forestry Economics from Virginia Polytechnical Institute in 1977 and also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Michigan State University.

Raimundo Montt
Director of Logistics & Transport
Celulosa CMPC

Mr. Montt was appointed Director of Logistics & Transport for CMPC Celulosa S.A. in September 2008. With over 15 years working for CMPC at top management positions in its packaging business, his challenge today for he and his team is to provide the best logistics solutions for the company, with the outlook provided by his experience in other fields of professional work.

Mr. Montt holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de Chile.

David Laurine
President
Highmount Logistics

David Laurine was born and raised in Central Illinois and graduated from the University of Tennessee, majoring in transportation. David has worked his entire career in logistics for the chemical and forest products industries, originally with Monsanto and Georgia Gulf, then Georgia Pacific and Bowater.

Following the merger of Bowater with Abitibi in 2008, David began his own international logistics consulting company Highmount Logistics, working closely with V. Alexander. David is a frequent expert contributor to the industry, including the IFPTA Journal and the IFPTA.org.

David has been a member of the IFPTA since 1995 and is current serving as a Director of the Association.

Stig Wiklund
Vice President,
Stora Enso Logistics

Entire professional career in transport and logistics. Started in the haulage industry and since 25 years with Stora Enso Logistics. Held various management positions in Stora Enso and presently Vice President Business Development, Stora Enso Logistics.

Other assignments: Chairman Swedish Shippers Council; Board member European Shippers Council; Chairman Transport Committee of Swedish Forest Industries Fed.; Member of Logistikforum (Advisory group for Swedish Government)

Géry Lesaffre
Supply Chain Director
Sappi Fine Paper Europe

Géry Lesaffre was appointed Supply Chain Director for Sappi Europe in 2008 and is responsible for overseeing the order to invoice process. It includes order fulfillment, operations planning , customer service and logistic operations. Prior to this position, Géry was Managing Director for Sappi France and was in charge of sales management of Sappi products for the publishing and commercial print businesses.

Earlier in his career, he served as Marketing and Business Manager at Arjo Wiggins fine papers and developed a strong portfolio of creative papers which were launched worldwide. Géry has a master in business administration from Skema business school in France.

Ann–Christin Eggum
Vice President, Chartering & Operations
Westfal–Larsen Shipping

I have been working in shipping since 1986. I worked in Star Shipping AS for 22 years involved for the most part in Operations and Chartering. From 1994 to mid 1996 was transferred to Stamford Ct working as traffic manager for US–Europe trade. In 2002 was promoted to Area Manager for Star Shipping's activity in South America. 2003–2004 moved to Rio de Janeiro taking position as Commercial Director.

2009 – After the demerger of Star Shipping AS I started in Westfal–Larsen Shipping AS as Vice President Chartering and Operations. My focus is on operational issues world wide including port operations, equipment, production while Commercially my main focus is on Asia as of today.

Born in Bergen, Norway – grew up in the U.S.A. – returned to Bergen at the age of 15. I have 2 grown up children.

Jaap Blok
Member
VCK Group Supervisory Board

After high school and a few jobs in the logistics field, Jaap Blok started his career 40 years ago with the VCK GROUP. While VCK is a versatile company, broad experience was build up over the years. In 1985 Jaap was appointed Managing Director of the VCK Stevedoring division and later he was appointed Managing Director of the VCK GROUP. As from August 1st, he is appointed in the Supervisory Board of VCK GROUP.

VCK has been active as a "one stop" logistics provider for forest products and non-ferro metals since many years. With it's excellent facilities and IT capabilities VCK serves many international customers with stevedoring, warehousing and distribution services.

VCK GROUP is active in the field of logistics and travel. VCK Logistics Amsterdam Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport (stevedoring, ship's agencies, contract-forwarding, trucking air- and ocean freight forwarding) Waterland Terminal Amsterdam (stevedoring) All In Logistics Schiphol Airport & Compass Logistics Dusseldorf (logistical services to the high-tech industry) as well as VCK Travel (business travel and cruise sales).

Nicolette van der Jagt
Secretary General
European Shippers' Council

Secretary General of the Brussels based European Shippers' Council (ESC) since 2002 representing the national and international freight interest of industry - national shippers' councils from around Europe with a collective membership exceeding 100.000 companies.

A direct hands-on role is maintained in the representation of shippers' interests vis a vis European institutions and inter-governmental bodies. Nicolette is responsible for monitoring and analysing European and global developments relating especially to maritime, inland (logistics) and air transport policy. Additionally, she is responsible for the quality of ESC's input to public and private consultations, analysis and guidance offered to different freight industry stakeholders, and ultimately of all communications to shippers and shippers' councils.

Particular specialism has included liability in maritime transport, EC competition law, EC Transport policy towards security in shipping and supply chain logistics, the liberalization and deregulation of the freight transport industry, port policy, maritime safety, environmental issues affecting freight transport, air freight performance and related issues.

Nicolette started working in public affairs with the Dutch organisation of transport and logistics (EVO) in 1992 and worked for the Brussels office of the Freight Transport Association for a number of years before taking over as Secretary General.

Nicolette has a university degree in international relations, French and European studies from the Universities of Utrecht (NL) and Strasbourg (FR).

Marc Leblanc
Corporate Director, Logistics
Tembec Industries, Inc.

Born in Montreal April 18th, 1960. Graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa in 1985. Worked for various shipping companies in Sales, Marketing, and Line Management roles from 1985 till 1992, when he joined the Jeffrey Mine in Quebec's Eastern Townships as their Traffic Manager, promoted to Logistics Manager in 1995 which position he held till departing in 1997.

In July of 1997 joined Tembec in the role of Export Traffic Manager, became Corporate Transportation Manager - Asia in 1999, Corporate Logistics Manager - Pulp Group in 2001, and Corporate Director Logistics in 2009.

During his career has been Chairman of the Canadian Shippers' Council (1993 - 95), and both Treasurer and Modal Chair - Marine Transportation of the Canadian Industrial Transportation League (1992 - 97). He has represented Canadian shippers at two Tri-Partite World Shippers' Council meetings (1997 & 2001).

Mike Collins
Recently Retired, Owner's Rep
Grieg Star Shipping

Recently retired from Grieg Star Shipping after more than 40 years in the maritime industry during which time has worked for conventional, container and roro services. Involved in forest product transportation since late eighties while director of operations for Westwood Shipping lines. Joined Star Shipping in 1990 as owner's representative working closely with both suppliers and service providers for the forest product, paper and packaging industry.

Jeff Ryalls
Manager of Transportation & Logistics
International Forest Products Corp., United States

Jeff Ryalls joined International Forest Products in 2008 and currently holds the position of Manager of Transportation and Logistics. Based in Foxboro, MA, Jeff is responsible for managing the transportation of lumber, wood pulp, wastepaper and containerboard. IFP ships their products into more than 80 markets globally and is consistently ranked in the top 30 exporters in the US.

Jeff graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2002, with a degree in Finance and again in 2005 with a Masters degree in Business Administration. Prior to joining IFP, Jeff was a Director of Operations at Logistec Stevedoring.

Ulf Hofverberg
Director, Sales & Marketing
Fibrek

Ulf Hofverberg has been involved in international sales for more than 30 years. He started his career with Caterpillar working in Europe and the Middle East. In 1984 he entered the forest products industry with Union Camp as a Sales Manager with market responsibilities in Europe, the Indian peninsula, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Since 1988 he has been working in pulp sales management with global sales responsibilities. He spent 17 years with Mead Corporation, first just in export sales and then as Vice President of Sales & Marketing in their Pulp Sales Division. In 2006 he joined Fibrek (previously SFK Pulp) in his current position. Earlier this year he moved with his wife to Montreal where he now works out of Fibrek’s new headquarters office.

Ulf received his MBA in Marketing from the University of Iowa in 1978.

Philippe Wauters
Vice President & General Manager
Westfal-Larsen Shipping

Born July 14, 1959, Turnhout, Belgium. Degree in Economics. Long career in international shipping and logistics, beginning in 1983 with Maritime Transport Overseas in Saudi Arabia, starting as assistant to the general manager in Dammam and afterwards as branch manager of Jubail, Ryiadh and Jeddah offices. The company was involved in receiving cargo, inspection (damage reports), customs clearance, and delivery to final destination by truck. Involved in transport and delivery and erection of heavy lift and over-length pieces (such as 800 ton boilers, 50 meter long surge vessels, etc.), usually with Dutch Alatas Big Lift (in Holland called Mamoet) and the UK based Rigging International, both specialized in modular trailer transport of heavy lifts. In Jubail was specifically responsible for the coordination of transport for the goods of the Petromin Shell Refinery project, build by Parsons Passadena (Ca). Moved to Brazil in 1984 on behalf of steel trading company, responsible for the purchase of Brazilian and Argentinian steel products on behalf of Voest Alpine Intertrading, the Austrian government controlled steel producer. In mid-1980s returned to shipping as representative of MTO (Maritime Transport Overseas) in Brazil, including Riobroker and Norsul International. Was invited by Gearbulk as commercial manager and subsequently moved to Star Shipping to open their office in Brazil, becoming Star's 2nd most important branch office in terms of frequency and number of vessels over an eight-year period. Promoted to VP & General Manager by Star. After 17 years in Star Shipping, the company de-merged in 2008, and I was automatically appointed as Vice President & General Manager of Westfal-Larsen Shipping (WLS) in Brazil. Wide experience through Norsul, Gearbulk, Star and WLS in open hatch box shaped vessels equipped with traveling gantries, specifically suitable for the transport of forestry products but also very flexible for a variety of other bulk and specialty cargoes.

Ulf Duus
Clean Shipping Project

Masters degree in toxicology at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 1988. Secretary of a Swedish Government Official Report ”Miljöprojekt Göteborg” – a study of possible solutions to the heavy environmental impact from industry, traffic and chemical products in a large industrialized area in Göteborg, Sweden (SOU 1989:39).

Since 1990 consultant in toxicology in own company.

Carried out a number of investigations for the Swedish National Chemicals Inspectorate about car cleaning products, lubricant products, house paints, car tyres, alkylate petrol for marine outboard engines.

Was actively involved in the EU decision to totally ban high aromatic oils in car tyres in June 1995 (came into force 2010).

Started the Green Chemistry Project in the late nineties together with Jan Ahlbom, environmental engineer. Within GCP a number of product development activities by involving large purchaser groups and large chemical producers. This encumbered biodegradable hydraulic fluids, lubricant greases, two-stroke engine oils, low-toxic house paints, car tyres without HA-oils, low-toxic antifouling products.

Initiated the Clean Shipping Project in 2006 – a “win-win” concept for large cargo owners, quality shipping and the environment. Sponsored by EU Structural funds and regional environmental authorities in Sweden.

Received the Göteborg Sustainable Award 2008 together with colleague Jan Ahlbom for the work with HA oils in tyres.

Received the Sustainable Shipping Award in London 2010 for the Clean Shipping Project in the class: “Green Initiative of the Year”.

Grethe Hoyvik
Vice President,
Grieg Star Shipping

Grethe Hoyvik, a native of Bergen, Norway has been in the shipping industry since 1976 when she joined the maritime industry gaining experience in operations ashore and at sea. Following a degree in Economics she joined Star Shipping in 1988 in the Operations Department at the head office in Bergen.

Grethe expanded her experience on long term assignment in Stamford, CT, Rio de Janeiro and  London and she was appointed Commercial Director at Star's office in Atlanta, GA in 2002.  In 2008 she was appointed Vice President & General Manager of the US East Coast and Gulf Operations in Atlanta.

She is responsible for the commercial and operational activities for Grieg Star Shipping for the USEC/Gulf. Grieg Star operates import and export break bulk liner services between US and North Europe, Mediterranean, Far East and recently also to West Coast, South America.

Ana Paula Trilho
Corporate Logistics Manager
Grupo Orsa

Ana began her professional career with logistics very early when she was only 18 years old, since her 1st year in University. Her experience in shipping for over 10 years started in Brasnave working as commercial agent for shipowners. Among other companies, she has worked as shipowner with Norsul as commercial manager for the Brazil/Westcoast line. Her wide shipping experience drove her to the pulp and paper industry with Jari and Suzano for 5 years each, both as International Logistics Manager. Since September 2009 she has been back with Jari as corporate logistics manager for both International and National market.

Ana Paula was invited to join the IFPTA during the Mobile PPI and has been since than Regional director for South America. In 2010 she was responsible for organizing the São Paulo Regional Seminar.

A native of Rio de Janeiro, 43 years old, Ana Paula Trilho has graduated in International Relations at the Universidade Estácio de Sá in 1991, and has her Master in Business at Coppead. She is fluent in English and Spanish. She is married and has a 14 year old son.

Hermano Sousa
Logistics Director
Altri

Hermano Sousa has 15 years experience in Logistics, essentially Pulp & Paper. Started his career in this area in 1996 in Soporcel where progressed to Customer Service Manager. In 2006 he left Grupo Portucel Soporcel to move to Angola as Managing Director for Orey (Shipping). In 2007 joined ALTRI as Logistics and Customer Service Director, short after the acquisition of CELBI. Hermano represents ALTRI in the management of Operfoz (Port Operator of Figueira da Foz), on the Portuguese Shipper's Council and on the Figueira da Foz Port Community.

Hermano holds a degree in Economics by The University of Oporto and a MBA from Catholic University of Portugal (Lisbon).

Alan Bog
Commercial Manager Asia
Westerlund Asia Terminals Euroports Group

Alan Bog has been working in the shipping Industry since 1977. The early part of his career was spent in Project Forwarding and working for a Ship–owner on the Chartering side. Since 1984 he has been involved in the Forest Products Transportation Industry, particularly involved with the French market.

In 2008 Alan moved to China as Commercial Manager Asia for Westerlund (Euroports Group), based in their Shanghai office. He has been a member of IFPTA since 1987 and served as a Board member from 2001 until 2009. He is presently Regional Director for Asia for the Association.

Ulf Eriksen
Vice President
Westfal-Larsen Shipping

Born and educated in Norway. Started working in shipping in Bergen, Norway in 1967.

Joined Peraco Chartering in New York in 1969. Developed their forestry marketing which included chartering and operations on behalf of several major U.S. paper companies. Both running ships on timecharter on their behalf as well as arranging freight contracts. Focusing on better handling and logistics methods for pulp and paper for the U.S. and Canadian shippers but also for European and Australian companies. Developed logistics for the first woodchip imports from South America to the U.S. which included a greenfield plantation in the Amazone. Was President and senior partner of Peraco from 1982 until left in 2001.

Having done business with all the forestry carriers worldwide and many other shipping bulk and breakbulk shipping companies joined Star Shipping A/S in 2001 as their Vice President and General Manager of Star, Vancouver. Responsible for all Canadian and U.S. West coast operations.

In 2006 moved to China as Vice President & General Manager of Star's Shanghai office. After the demerger of Star Shipping (split of Westfal-Larsen and Grieg Star) in 2009 continued in Shanghai for Westfal-Larsen Shipping as chief representative of China, responsible for commercial and operational activities. Westfal-Larsen Shipping operates 23 owned openhatch ships sailing world wide including China. Westfal-Larsen also own 11 parcel tankers operated by subsidiary company Westchart trading Middle East/Far East and China.

Uwe Bartmann
Global Director of Forest Products
Kuehne + Nagel (AG & Co.) KG

From Aug 1st Uwe Bartmann will start working for K&N holding a position as Global Head of Forest Products. Uwe's background is the paper industry with more than 25 years experience. The last 14 years he worked at Leipa Georg Leinfelder GmbH a medium size paper producer for magazine and packaging paper. Uwe's position is/was Head of Sales Magazine in the Paper Division and Logistic.

Dirk Mommaerts
Supply Chain Manager
SCA Packaging

Dirk Mommaerts was appointed Supply Chain Manager for SCA Packaging Containerboard in 2003. He is responsible for managing the paper supply chain within SCA Packaging. His focus is on supply chain planning & optimisation and on developing new supply chain solutions.

Dirk started his career as a teaching assistant at the Catholic University of Louvain. In 1990 he joined Raychem, currently a subsidiary of Tyco Electronics, where he held management positions in production planning and industrial engineering. In 1996 he entered the packaging industry with SCA Packaging, where, prior to his current assignment, he was responsible for the development and implementation of sales and logistics processes.

Dirk holds Master of Engineering and Master of Industrial Management degrees from the Catholic University of Louvain and has studied Supply Chain Management at Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School.

Louis Kanters
Managing Director
Interrijn Holding

Louis Kanters (1964) graduated from Harbour and Transport College in 1985. After his military duties he joined the commercial department from Seaport Terminals Rotterdam. One of the company's dedicated markets was the forest products industry.

He left Seaport as Commercial Manager Forest Products in 1995 and continued his career as Managing Director of a bulk terminal in Amsterdam. In 1999 Louis Kanters joined Fr. Meyer's Sohn. He initially started as Branch Manager in Rotterdam, he was promoted to Managing Director in 2002 and was responsible for the all related activities within the group for import of forestry products into North Europe and United Kingdom.

On his initiative FMS has acquired a substantial share in Dutch based Interrijn Holding, a leading European barge operator in the field of transportation of forestry products. With around 40 barges and approximately 2 million tons of wood pulp distributed annually. Due to strong growth of Interrijn, Louis has accepted the position of Interrijn's Managing Director and as a consequence left the FMS board as of January 2010.

Louis joined the IFPTA Board of Directors in 2005.

Joachim Hrasky
Partner
Scanfiber A.S.

I have been working as a trader in Scanfiber AS since 2005 and became a partner in 2007. I am dealing with suppliers, which are sawmills and chip producers, in South- and North America, South-and West Africa as well as Western Europe. We are shipping to the most well-known pulp and paper producers as well as MDF/chipboards and green energy producers in Europe. Scanfiber has a good relationship to different shipowners operating in the Atlantic ocean, the North Sea, the Baltic sea and the Norwegian sea, which I appreciate to work close with.

My earlier work experience is from Handelsbanken, one of the leading banks in the Nordic region. I was working with private and corporate banking and earlier in Asset Management and Trading Services.

From 1995 to 1997 I was selected to join the Norwegian Coastel Artillery Officer Candidate school and worked the second year as a second commander platoon.

I have a bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill university in Montreal from 2002, with specialization in Finance and Entrepreneurship. I made an industry study about Canadian pulp and paper industry and a strategic analysis of Norske Skog as part of my entrepreneurship specialization. In addition I have studied Business and Administration at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and at Norwegian School of Management in Oslo, Norway.

Mike McInerney
President
Celtic Logistics, Inc.

Mr. McInerney is President of Celtic Logistic, Inc. Celtic Logistics is located in Greenville SC and is a company that focuses on supply chain solutions for global logistics and transportation of forest products, including paper, lumber, pulp and biomass including woodchips and wood pellets. Celtic also has provided consulting to key supply chain providers in the movement of products both domestically and internationally.

Mike specializes in supply and logistics, strategic planning, management and operations. He has expertise in collaborative supply chain, contract negotiations, strategic alliance initiatives and economic and market strategies.

He has done extensive work with global companies; manufacturers, terminal operators and transport providers, developing market specific supply chain strategies to address demand with supply and formulate and implement innovative logistics solutions. Consulting projects have included analysis of port operating methods, business development, marketing strategies, organizational structure, pricing techniques, operating procedures and policies and customer service.

Specific biomass-related projects have included plant site-location and optimal supply chain solutions for the movement of product in and through the supply chain to the end user including inland transport and port and terminal and ocean transport selection.

Prior to establishing Celtic Logistics in 1996, Mike held a number of progressively more responsible key management positions with Bowater, Inc, including Director of Distribution/ Operations and Director of Distribution.

Mike received a bachelor's degree in Business Logistics from Penn State University and completed post-graduate courses in transportation management at the State University of New York and completed an Executive Management Program at Penn State.

Mieke Vandewal
Marketing Manager Fuels
Control Union World Group

Mieke Vandewal is working with Control Union World Group as Marketing Manager Fuels and Account Manager for 4 certification programmes (quality, sustainability and torrefaction). She completed a Master's degree and two Bachelor's degrees in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK in International Transport and Logistics.

Upon completion of her studies she was with Essent Trading (today RWE), a dutch Utility, where she focused on the logistics of fossil and renewable fuels. She currently is with CU, a company active in Load & Discharge port inspections as well as quality assurance. The company has a global network with over 90 offices located more than 60 countries. Around 3000 employees serve CU's clients in a wide range of commodities.

She is responsible for Acquisition, Marketing, Business Development and Certifications with a main focus on renewable energy. In addition, she is an active member of the Rotterdam Biomass Commodity Network and is one of the representatives of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative – Port.

Bernard Lombard
Trade & Competitiveness Director
CEPI

Bernard Lombard is the Trade & Competitiveness Director for CEPI. His responsibilities have covered general competitiveness related issues, trade and transportation since 2004.

He joined CEPI in 2000 as Recycling & Economics Manager and had dealt with issues related to paper recycling, raw materials, economics and statistics. He was in charge of the organisation of an international event called the "Forest-Based Industries Forum" in France, Sweden and Belgium

From 1996 until 2000 he worked for COPACEL, the "Confédération de l'Industrie Française des Papiers, Cartons et Celluloses" in France where he was responsible for the economics and competitiveness department. During that period, he had been the Secretary of a European organisation called UTIPULP, gathering European market wood pulp users.

Before joining COPACEL, he worked as a consultant in Paris and carried out several studies on industrial sectors. He had also been a teacher for 2 years in a local school in central Africa.

Bernard Lombard holds a Master in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Nanterre and a degree in Business cycles analysis from the University of Paris-Dauphine.

He was born in 1969 in France and currently lives in Brussels.

Henk Van Dieren
CEO
Samskip Van Dieren Multimodal

I am working more than 35 years in the transport industry - first road transport and then I concluded in the early 90th that this is not the only solution to move goods from A to B. Then I started with the first intermodal steps - the first containers went to Sweden and Poland. We continued with Sweden and had our first company block train around 2000. After that we developed further to other main destinations in Sweden. In 2005 we joined Samskip and from that moment we had access to their European(short sea) network. Today we have 4 daily block trains from the Ruhr area to 4 destinations in Sweden. We call ourselves Intermodal Architects - finding intermodal solutions for our customers.

As from the 19th of September 2011 our name is, Samskip Van Dieren Multimodal.

Anne Rahikainen
Director, Bioenergy Services
RISI

Anne Rahikainen has 14 years of consulting experience in the forests products industry and wood biomass consuming bioenergy sectors with experience both in North America and Western Europe. Her areas of expertise are market and policy research, market and economic analysis, biomass fuel supply and due diligence studies, locating manufacturing sites and development of company strategy and business plans. During her career, Anne has managed numerous studies to investigate investment opportunities in the bioenergy sector and assisted companies to make optimal investment decisions. Her clients have included major utilities, biofuels producers, pellet manufacturers, trading companies, and investors. As the Director of Bioenergy Services at RISI, her role is to develop information and consulting services for the Bioenergy Industry in North America and internationally. Anne has a BC in Forest Management from University of Helsinki, MS in Forest Products Marketing from University of Washington, and an Executive MBA from Cornell University.

Frank Machiels
Group Logistics Sourcing Manager
Smurfit Kappa Group

Frank Machiels (1961) joined Smurfit Kappa Group in 1991, where he started as Quality Manager for some of Smurfit Kappa's containerboard mills. After that he was appointed Logistics Manager in a Smurfit Kappa corrugated board operation. In 1998 he continued to work on European group level for logistics- and purchasing projects. Focus is on achieving cost reduction. One of the first projects was to increase efficiency in Dutch road transportation of paper and board volumes. Having joined CEPI Transportation Working group from its start, he became chairman in 2010. In this working group European logistics professionals from forest products companies and associations exchange views, communicate and take position on issues related to forest products logistics and developments.”

Roxana Lesovici
EU Commission DG Move
Unit Maritime Safety

Roxana Lesovici was born in Romania in 1977. After studying economics, political science and European administration in Romania, Hungary and the Netherlands, Ms Lesovici started her career in European affairs in Brussels, Belgium. Following nine years of working for various industries (domestic appliances, chemicals, oil and gas, aluminum) on topics related to environment and energy policies, she joined the European Commission in 2011. As a policy officer in the Directorate for Mobility and Transport, Ms Lesovici works on environmental and climate issues in the maritime sector. Ms. Lesovici speaks Romanian, English and French, and understands Dutch, Italian and Spanish.

Stefan Sundman
VP, Corporate Relations and Development
UPM

Stefan Sundman has a Master of Science degree from the Helsinki University of Technology. He has a Major in wood technology.

He joined UPM in autumn 2011 as Vice President, Corporate Relations and Development. Before that he has been working a decade within Finnish Forest Industries Federation with different responsibilities in energy and environmental policy on both national and EU -level.

Graeme Rodden
Executive Editor, IFPTA Journal and PPI Magazine
RISI

A native of Montreal, Graeme started covering the forest products industry as an Assistant Editor with Pulp & Paper Canada magazine in 1980, serving as Editor from 1994-2001. He then joined RISI in 2001, moving to Belgium to become Editor of PPI. When RISI acquired the publishing rights to the IFPTA Journal in 2007, he also assumed the duties of Editor of the Journal. Now based in Nova Scotia, Canada, Graeme continues as Editor of the Journal as well as Executive Editor of PPI. Over the years, Graeme has visited more than 200 pulp and paper mills worldwide and attended countless forest products industry events and conferences.

Jaap Simonse
Vice President, Europe, IFPTA
Co-Chair, PPI Transport Symposium 19

The beginning of Jaap's professional career began at an international auditing firm in the Netherlands. After working for 5 years, he decided to further specialized his education at a college of the Rotterdam Port Employers Association.

After completing his specialized education, he worked for 38 years for specialized port operating companies in Rotterdam and Flushing (Vlissingen), as a commercial and general manager. Port operating companies are in general not only discharging and loading vessels but are offering complete logistics solutions to their customers. For Jaap, he focused mainly on woodpulp and paper.

Jaap has been a member of the IFPTA for 25 years. During his tenure as an IFPTA member, he served 8 years as a Director and has been the Vice President, Europe for the past 6.

George Hudson
Consultant, GH Maritime, Logistics
Director, IFPTA
Co-Chair, PPI Transport Symposium 19

George Hudson has worked in the port industry for over 40 years, including more than 30 years with the Port of Tilbury and the Mersey Docks Group.

Passionately involved with the forest products industry, George started his own consultancy for ports and shipping logistics in 2010, based in London, which now represents Westfal-Larsen Shipping in the United Kingdom.

George has been a member of the IFPTA since 1991.