“Just back from the amazing F&L The European Freight and Logistics Leaders’ Forum autumn roundtable: it’s just incredible to see how we’re add adapting to the ever-changing global market!” [shipper]
“Delighted to have participated in F&L The European Freight and Logistics Leaders’ Forum round-table hosted by Nike at their European Logistics Centre. It was a thoroughly engaging event, attended by an exceptional group of professionals – each open-minded, inquisitive, and committed to exploring how we can elevate our practices and embrace innovation, collaboration and building trust across the logistics landscape.
The agenda was rich with peer learning and strategic dialogue around KPI, priorities, sustainability and future opportunities!
A sincere thank you to Nike and the F&L team for facilitating such a valuable forum.
If you weren’t there, you truly missed out”. [shipper]
“Looking in your own business doesn’t tell you what’s around; it is my competitive advantage to know what is happening elsewhere and use that to enhance our strategy” [leader]
“Peer benchmarking incredibly insightful” [leader]
“These discussions open my mind and that is when the good ideas come” [leader]
“I don’t see the same old thing re-packaged here: F&L is unique insight from industry & knowledge which is not mainstream” [leader]
“We’re proud to be part of a network that values transparency, peer-to-peer learning, and collective progress. Thank you to F&L, especially Philip Evans and Audrey Macnab, for fostering such an impactful exchange and to Nike for hosting this important event” [shipper]
“Here at F&L you have the largest cargo owners on earth, the people with the solutions, and bringing that together in a constructive dialogue is what the modern economy is about: how do you create networks, and through those conversations, how do we create solutions for the future?” [well known CEO]
“The biggest problem leaders have today is the lack of a clear window into sector challenges and opportunities, how these affect others’ businesses and insight into what collaborative actions can be taken” [leader]
“Super-senior across Europe: this is a powerful platform for our sector” [leader]
“Sharing knowledge and collaborating is how we see around the corner” [leader]
“So far, I have always been able to take learnings which could be embedded (great or small) in my day-to-day job. Believe that linking in with industry leaders is making that happen” [leader]
Agenda. 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. … see [Agenda] & [Take Home] tabs.
What to expect. In difficult market conditions it is helpful to be in the room and to frame the agenda and debate with other leaders. Leaders’ round-table discussion agenda including cross-sector, expert & external viewpoints, community-led, <140 participants, no sales pitches. F&L is a neutral (independent), non-lobby members’ forum. Meetings are based around debate, panel discussions, workshops & site visits rather than presentations, thus ensuring opportunity and full participation by all. F&L competition law & antitrust compliance policy. See [Take Home] tab.
Meeting date & location. 22-23 April 2026, Ghent & Antwerp, Belgium.
The meeting was hosted by North Sea Port & Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and other key partners are shown below.
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:
- Anonymised summary: everyone’s one key message for themselves & one key message for others.
- Data logistics leaders’ 2020-26: planning to prosper.
- New & original research created by F&L Members with Academics:
- Results – External influences. How geoeconomics could affect the sustainable development of global trade & supply chains.
- Results – Forecasting vs foresight: logistics hub competitiveness in 2040.
- Results – F&L Confidence Index Apr 2026 vs April and Oct 2025.
- Reports
- Summary of current megatrends.
- Global Energy Outlook ExxonMobil.
- How multiple uncertain variables impact strategic planning.
- Choice of behind the scenes visits.
- 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.
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?
22 April
see ‘travel & venues’ tab
Welcome from Sofie Bracke (Alderman for Economy, Port, Trade, Tourism – City of Ghent), F&L Krzysztof Szmidt (President) and Philip Evans (Secretary General)
Boarding Ship Denick II
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
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
- 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.
- Visit, 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
Reception & evening programme, Port of Antwerp-Bruges
23 April
Planning to prosper – what actions do we intend to take?
Academic Review – actions and achievable steps to create momentum. 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
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?
- 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
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
Lunch, thanks, close, next steps
Behind the scenes in Port of Antwerp-Bruges
- CMB Tech – worldwide pioneer, hydrogen and ammonia technology development and production.
- Bertschi’s Antwerp Zomerweg Terminal AZT for dangerous goods storage and trimodal transport. Strategically located in the largest integrated chemical cluster in Europe, the terminal serves as an important hub for imports and exports to and from overseas markets.
- Seafar – impressive semi-autonomous barge sailing with control centre
- Other short visits may also be possible.
15:30 Close
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.
This meeting is for senior business leaders & their teams; people who are actively leading industry today.
Participants included the following:
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
Other independent leaders attended, but are not named here
Participant list for F&L at Nike (Oct 2025)
Participant list for Poland (Apr 2025)
Participant list for Zaragoza Spain (Oct 2024)