Priorities & Choices: Stuck in Crisis Mode?

The market is changing and, with it, every company’s ability to attract and retain customers. As competitive pressures intensify, commercial senior logistics leaders and their teams utilise unique cross-industry peer exchange to de-risk decision making and to identify new opportunities for resilience and growth.

• Geopolitical turbulence is impacting global trade and its supply chains. As critical interfaces for trade flows, Europe’s ports and industrial hubs affect everything we do. Are today’s supply chain & logistics questions systemic, or unique to our own company or industry? Can signals or early warnings at ports & hubs foreshadow the need for change? Does collaborating through logistics hubs / industrial clusters reduce risk and capital exposure and create opportunity?
• What is the expectation for Europe’s competitive position and our widespread desire for greater harmonisation, brought into the limelight by current requirements of Europe’s defence sector?  Must we simply react to policy changes, or can we shape our response into a competitive advantage?
• Planning to prosper. A cost-plus or value-add model? Logistics leaders are skilled at identifying risks and opportunities, but how do we follow up? What is the core function of our most important job in logistics? We hear that standing still – not disruption – is the real threat, but what does that mean in practice? Does the transformation of Europe’s chemical sector highlight key messages for every business: now?
  

F&L is for senior logistics leaders & their teams who value being part of a wider dialogue. They leverage the multi-stakeholder international community to help them tackle obstacles from every possible vantage point in a constructive and confidential environment.  That input helps Members to drive a more effective response to market changes for their companies. Est 1994.

 

Wednesday, 22 April

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Location: Aboard Ship Denick II in North Sea Port (Ghent) & dinner Bebronna (Antwerp)
See itinerary & address on ‘travel & venues’ tab

09:00 coffee, badges & a warm welcome

09:30, Welcome from Sofie Bracke (Alderman for Economy, Port, Trade, Tourism – City of Ghent), F&L Krzysztof Szmidt (President) and Philip Evans (Secretary General)

09:45, Boarding Ship Denick II [Quay Rigakaai]

Change at the heart of the logistics & industrial hub is changing the sector

Buffeted by a shifting international order and with heightened pressure on European competitiveness adding to uncertainty, global supply chains are rapidly restructuring including access to sustainable fuels, emerging E2E players and the requirement for asset ownership or access to capacity. In light of current market conditions, how are investment decisions made and with reference to what KPIs? Are E2E players beginning to dictate the market at hubs? Does asset ownership matter? Are industrial clusters creating opportunity and growth?

• Round-table: North Sea Port, Cas König (CEO); Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Luc Arnouts (VP International Networks); CLdN, Florent Maes (CEO); ArcelorMittal Belgium, Frederik Van De Velde (CEO); MB Energy, Saskia Weis (Director) moderated by F&L Krzysztof Szmidt & Philip Evans

11:10 cast off & coffee  

European competitiveness, our trading & regulatory environment (act or react?) – Part 1

Freight logistics: a hostile and volatile global environment and an EU internal market dictated by regulations and localised decision-making, not forgetting the nature of the European cost base. What is the source of a company’s competitive market position today?  Will the Draghi report make a difference?  European independence?  Existential crisis?  Competitiveness, regulation, China?  A strong business case for belonging in Europe?

• Results – F&L Confidence Index 
• But the EU works – Brunngård, Linda Trostek (CEO) & Seerefine, Fredrik Kangevall (CEO), the many steps to create smart shoes
• Internal market: what matters?  North Sea Port, Louise De Tremerie (European Affairs); UIRR, Ralf-Charley Schultze (Director General); Billiet & Co, Philippe Billiet (Attorney at Law)

Lunch & Visit: Creating the future we want to live in

Visit: biodiesel at Bioro.

• Interview & Q&A – Cargill, Renaud Grelet (Biofuels Business Development Manager) with F&L, Krzysztof Szmidt 
• B100 customer feedback from CFT Luxembourg (inland waterways), Algemene Bouw Maes (construction) & Bray Transport (trucks on the road)
  

European competitiveness, our trading & regulatory environment (act or react?) – Part 2

• Results – External influences.  How geoeconomics could affect the sustainable development of global trade & supply chains – F&L Members with Plymouth University, Stavros Karamperidis (Assoc Prof) & Paschalis Evangelidis
• Results – Forecasting vs foresight: logistics hub competitiveness in 2040. F&L Members with Diana Alarcon (Zaragoza Logistics Centre / MIT Global SCALE Network)

Planning to prosper – what actions do we intend to take?

Hope is not a Strategy 

• Report – Three F&L moments as three mirrors and a Bridge
• In 2020, an F&L work group produced three future scenarios for European freight and logistics looking ahead to 2025.  Further work Den Haag 2023 & Zaragoza 2024.  The pattern, the barrier & what now?  Participants moderated by Independent, Jakob Muus (Director); Volvo Logivity, Jessica Öhrblad (CEO); Independent, Willem Bulthuis (Director)

Europe & the world: maritime hubs within global trade

• Research – External influences / Competitiveness in 2040
• More than just a supply chain node?  E2E, hubs as the new venture capitalists, energy transition, where hubs fit in & what matters?  Participants moderated by Stavros Karamperidis & Florian Scheuring (Edinburgh Business School)

Freight logistics in a changing world – defence 

Driven by global change and particularly by war in Europe, the requirements of Europe’s defence sector bring into sharp focus our longstanding concerns around land infrastructure and the need for harmonisation and consistency across Europe to support defence and other industrial sectors and their competitiveness.

• Introduction: Brigadier Katrien D’Hert (Belgian Armed Forces / formerly EU Military Staff)
• Round-table: NATO, Aleksandrs Bucens (Defence Policy & Planning); Verbrugge International, Martin Verbrugge (CEO); Brigadier Katrien D’Hert moderated by Rear Admiral Stefan Pauly (formerly Commander Surface Forces NATO)
  

Disembark & transfer to Antwerp

19:00 Transfer for networking evening dinner, Port of Antwerp-Bruges 

Thursday, 23 April

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Location: Ashore in Port of Antwerp-Bruges Port House (Antwerp)
See itinerary & address on ‘travel & venues’ tab

Planning to prosper – what actions do we intend to take?

08:30 – welcome coffee

Academic Review – actions and achievable steps to create momentum

An external perspective: reflections on commercial impact of yesterday’s discussions for global and European stakeholders? The move from crisis management to value creation? Aiding senior management strategic decision-making against existing market conditions and possible changes in key variables.

• Report – Summary of current megatrends, Professor Alan McKinnon
• Round-table on Yesterday & Tomorrow.  KLU, Alan McKinnon (Professor); University of Antwerp, Christa Sys (Professor); Plymouth University, Stavros Karamperidis (Assoc Professor); Zaragoza Logistics Centre / MIT Global SCALE Network, Aldo Arranz (Research Scientist) moderated by Independent, Willem Bulthuis & Vos Logistics, Berny Voortman (Business Development Europe)
• Briefing – for OKM (One Key Message) breakouts 

Strategic input for OKM (One Key Message) breakouts

Comment & information to aid senior management strategic decision-making against existing market conditions and possible changes in key variables. 

• Report – Global Energy Outlook, ExxonMobil, Michiel Van Dessel (Policy Planning)
• Report – How multiple uncertain variables impact strategic planning, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Bart Fimmers (Market & Strategy Intelligence Manager)
  

OKM Breakouts – commercial priorities and actions

Senior leaders help us distil key elements of discussion into an anonymised list of everyone’s key point to aid future company-based discussions / actions. Tomorrow, what will you do?  What actions should others take?  Will we decide to change our pattern – or repeat?

Coffee & biscuits while we participate in all sessions:

• International trade, geopolitics & geoeconomics led by Stavros Karamperidis, Shery Awad (Eraneos), Jon Robinson (DP World), Marc Beerlandt (MSC)
• Ports, logistics hubs, trading inside & outside Europe led by Flemish Port Commissioner, Jan Blomme, Florian Scheuring (Edinburgh Business School), Axel Mattern (Port of Hamburg), Inge Taillieu (Port of Antwerp-Bruges International)
• Climate risk, energy transition, access to capital led by Alan McKinnon, Christa Sys, Jemima Atkins (Pioneer Point Partners)
• Tech, policy & legislation and Fit for Tomorrow & Fit for the Future cross all groups
  

Group OKM Summaries – what next?  

Lessons from the Chemical Sector

At the sharp end: is Europe’s chemical sector putting everything we have discussed into practice & what have they learned? Inspiration and comment demonstrate how company specific and collective action can bring success & how this affects the freight logistics sector.

• Round-table: LyondellBasell, Folkert Bloembergen (Director Director Global Ocean, Inland Waterways & Storage); Pipelink, Rob Wattelé (CEO); PureCycle, Wiebe Schipper (VP Europe & APAC); Bertschi, Manfred Zulauf (Managing Director Plastics Hubs BU Solutions); Van Moer Logistics, Bert Calluy (General Counsel); Port of Antwerp Bruges, Tom Hautekiet (Chief Business Development & Transition Officer) moderated by Flemish Port Commissioner, Jan Blomme

13:15, Lunch, thanks, close, next steps

13:55, Behind the scenes in Port of Antwerp-Bruges

• • Bertschi’sAntwerp Zomerweg Terminal AZT– Bertschi’s newest dangerous goods storage and trimodal terminal [bus arranged]
  • Seafar – impressive semi-autonomous barge sailing with control center [1 hour, bus arranged]
  • CMB Tech – worldwide pioneer, hydrogen and ammonia technology development and production [500 metres by foot]

15:30 Close [public transport is the fastest way to airports for international participants]

Priorities & Choices: Stuck in Crisis Mode?

F&L has a single purpose: to exploit knowledge, skills and collaborative opportunities across the freight logistics sector to drive improved standards, learnings & the success of Members of the community.

“Take Home” deliverables for those attending the Meeting:

• Open peer exchange in a protected environment.

• Interactive agenda on key focus areas.

• Commercial priorities & actions – planning to prosper regardless of challenges:
  1. Anonymised summary:  everyone’s one key message for themselves & one key message for others.
  2. Data logistics leaders’ 2020-26: planning to prosper.

• New & original research created by F&L Members with Academics:
  1. Results – External influences.  How geoeconomics could affect the sustainable development of global trade & supply chains. 
  2. Results – Forecasting vs foresight: logistics hub competitiveness in 2040.
  3. Results – F&L Confidence Index Apr 2026 vs April and Oct 2025.

• Reports
• 1. Summary of current megatrends
  2. Global Energy Outlook ExxonMobil
  3. How multiple uncertain variables impact strategic planning

• Behind the scenes visits in Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

• Continued KPI company priority benchmarking, building on F&L work 2025 for Members who wish to add external insights, expertise & inspiration to the knowledge they have internally around future capabilities needed to support their network execution.

This meeting is for senior business leaders & their teams; people who are actively leading industry today.  There is a capacity limit due to venue sizes.  F&L seeks a diverse mix, breadth, balance & blend of current industry leaders from 20+ countries, academics, policymakers and others. 

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Confirmed participants include:

Algemene Bouw Maes
AllChiefs
ArcelorMittal Belgium
Arcese Trasporti
AVR
Baltic Rail
Barilla
Bertschi
Billiet & Co
BLS Cargo
Blume Global / Wise Tech
Brunngård Group
Cargill
CargoON
CFL multimodal
CFT Luxembourg
CLdN
Corporate Ventures Advisory
Cosco Shipping Lines Germany
DB Cargo Rail Logistics
Diplomatic World
DP World Logistics Europe
Duisport
Edinburgh Business School, Heriot Watt University
Elite Digital Logistics
Eraneos
Euro-Rijn Logistics
European Union Military Staff
ExxonMobil
EY
Finnlines
Freightos
Heriot-Watt University
Hogent
Julius & Clark
Kühne Logistics University
LKW Walter
Loadar
Logivity – Volvo Group
LyondellBasell
MB Energy Holding
MSC Belgium
Muus Consult
NATO
North Sea Port
P&G
P&O Ferries
Pioneer Point Partners
Pipelink
Plymouth University
Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Port of Antwerp-Bruges International
Port of Barcelona
Port of Calais
Port of Hamburg
Port of Valencia
PureCycle
Rhenus
SBB Cargo International
Seerefine
Smart Freight Centre
SSI Schäfer
Tesa
The Quality Group
Trafikverket
Transporeon
Transports Bray & Metelle
UIRR
Unit 45
University of Antwerp
Van Moer Logistics
Vega International
Ventura
Verbrugge International
ViiA
Vinturas
VOS Logistics
WEC Lines
Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC) / MIT Global Scale Network

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Participant list for F&L at Nike (Oct 2025)

Participant list for Poland (Apr 2025)

Participant list for Zaragoza Spain (Oct 2024)

High level overview

• Tues 21 April – No Agenda.  Our base is F&L sleeping hotels beside Antwerp Centraal station & some will eat together 19:30.    
• Wed 22 April – F&L Agenda, 09:00 – 17:00 aboard Ship Denick II in North Sea Port (Ghent).  Networking dinner evening in Antwerp.    
• Thurs 23 April – F&L Agenda, 09:00 – 15:30 ashore in Port of Antwerp-Bruges Port House (Antwerp).

International participants

are encouraged to arrive evening of 21 April and plan to leave Antwerp at or after 15:30 on 23 April.

• Direct trains from Brussels Zaventem airport (BRU)  to Antwerp Centraal take approx 35 mins.
• Our base is two Radisson hotels located beside Antwerp Centraal (see map below).  From here, together we will travel with ease between Ghent & Antwerp and also into the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

 

Detailed Timetable & Addresses

Wed 22 April

• 07:51 departing Antwerp Centraal, group train travel to Gent-Dampoort 
• 08:45 private F&L bus [Gent-Dampoort railway station to North Sea Port Visitor Centre]
• 09:00 coffee & registration [Address: Visitor Centre North Sea Port, Rigakaai 1, 9000 Ghent]
• 09:00 plenty of parking at this address if required
• 09:45 board Ship Denick II [boarding from Quay Rigakaai next to the visitor Centre]
• 11:15 – 17:00 [see Agenda tab – gentle cruising during discussion]
• 18:02 departing Gent-Dampoort, group train travel to Antwerp Centraal
• 19:00 transfer to networking dinner evening in Antwerp [Bebronna] & return to hotels arranged

Thurs 23 April

• [08:15 group departs from Radisson hotels]
• 09:00 – 13:15 see Agenda tab [Antwerp Port House, Zaha Hadidplein 1, 2030 Antwerp]
• Lunch
• 13:55 choice of visits see ‘Agenda’ tab
• 15:30 Close and departure for onward journeys (public transport is fastest in Antwerp).

 

Dress Code & Questions

• General businesswear and any F&L members‘ products!
• Questions welcome – please get in touch.

 

Discounted sleeping hotels 

A mix of discounted sleeping hotels reserved in Antwerp for nights of Tues 21 & Wed 22 April 2026.  Discount codes are in the registration confirmation email.

Why is F&L different?

F&L is a business network for commercial senior freight logistics practitioners & their teams to shape their own international strategies through confidential, invitation-only roundtable peer & expert exchange, enabling them to choose more effective responses to market forces.  Established 1994.

Mission – F&L has a single purpose: to exploit knowledge, skills and collaborative opportunities across the freight logistics sector to drive improved standards, learnings & the success of Members of the community.

How is this achieved?  F&L is structured as a neutral (independent), not-for-profit, non-lobby, confidential, antitrust compliant Members’ forum and is registered in Belgium as an ASBL.  Multi-stakeholder membership is deliberately balanced to ensure a variety of perspectives across a host of variables.

Members are global / regional heads of logistics & supply chain, CEOs & senior management focused on freight logistics across the supply chain, asset owners, founders of critical solutions, all industry sectors and transport modes, based across Europe & globally (list).

“The important thing is to avoid the ‘narrow’ trap & the echo chamber”
“Access to informed external views & sheer breadth which it is not possible to organise by yourself”
“Where else can you ask questions openly and listen to others doing the same?”
“Learn, benchmark & challenge”
“We make better, more informed, more robust decisions”

	North Sea Port is the binational port that combines the platforms of Ghent (BE), Terneuzen (NL) and Vlissingen (NL). It is the largest cross-border port in Europe and is characterized by its diverse industrial cluster and multi-modal logistics ecosystem. It accounts yearly for 12.7bn euros in added value and can count more than 500 companies in its port area.
	Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the second largest port in Europe, with more than 300 liner services to more than 800 destinations, thereby ensuring worldwide connectivity. Every year, it handles around 280 million tonnes of international maritime cargo and it is home to Europe’s largest integrated chemical cluster. The port employs, directly and indirectly, a total of around 164,000 people and generates added value of more than €21 billion. As such, it is an important lifeline for the Belgian economy.
	Cargill is a family company committed to providing food and agricultural solutions to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. We sit at the heart of the supply chain, partnering with producers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. In Europe, Cargill is also an important supplier of bioenergy solutions, including Cargill Bio100, supporting the transition towards more sustainable transport and helping decarbonize the logistics sector.
	Founded in 1956 by Hans and Rolf Bertschi, Bertschi is a family owned company headquartered in Dürrenäsch, Switzerland.  Bertschi has established a leading position in the intermodal transportation of chemicals by rail, road, and water in Europe and is today a leading global provider of ISOtank transportation and value-added logistics services for the chemical industry. This includes a global offering in freight management as well as several Bertschi logistics facilities across Europe and in Asia.
	Billiet & Co is a reputed business law firm providing a range of services in commercial and contract law; conflict (re)solution; asset recovery, insolvency and (re)structuring procedures, and EU regulatory and competition law.  Its team is at the forefront of current and future legal practices and is committed to using their knowledge and experience to deliver excellence.