Thriving in Changing Times

Format: a mix of discussion, Q&A, full audience, workshops and two networking dinners.  

F&L antitrust policy.

A mix of venues close together: see ‘venues’ tab.

Agenda focus: Wrocław is not an isolated meeting but builds on recent community dialogue on a multitude of topics.  The agenda in Poland focuses on:

• Macro trends & value Poland & CEE offers: what began as a cost advantage is now much more.
• Changing physical logistics flows & considering effective planning during volatility.
• Physical becomes digital and digital will change physical flows.  Supporting leaders and their teams to act in their own companies at the scale and speed which today’s challenges require.
• Three further F&L community priorities: competitiveness, climate logistics & energy transition, and building/retaining the best leadership team. 

 

Agenda, Wed 9 April

Opening session (international arrivals throughout the afternoon)
Venue: Concordia Design, Słodowa 7, 50-266 Wrocław (beside conference hotels)

• 14:30, Registration & exhibition including CargoON, StorageEU, BuyCo, Another Tomorrow, Polish Road Transport Institute, networking & coffee / tea / snacks.
• 16:00 – 17:00, Workshop, Competitiveness at a time of lower demand and increased regulatory pressures at EU & country levels.  Moderated by Philippe Billiet, Wolfgang Lehmacher, Gavin Roser.
• 17:30, Market update (part 2): new benchmarking opportunities for everyone?
  • Facts & figures: short summary of part 1 online session  (2 April) 
  • Expert insight on how market data & benchmarking opportunities are changing, led by Anton Barr & Thomas Larrieu with audience input.
• 18:15, drinks & networking followed by a warm welcome from F&L & headline sponsor CargoON and networking dinner 19:30 in the same venue.

Agenda, Thursday 10 April

 

 

 

Venue: Wrocław University of Science & Technology, Wybrzeże Stanisława Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław

• 08:00, Coffee (registration for those who were not present yesterday)
  
• 08:45, A warm welcome from F&L & headline sponsor CargoON

Part 1 – Evidence of changing physical logistics flows & infrastructures

• 09:00, Macro trends & and understanding value that Poland & CEE offer – what began as a cost advantage is now much more  Professor Orłowski
• Results: new research visualising how, why & where physical flows are changing and considering 4 possible future scenarios that could impact our planning.  Regardless of uncertainty, we must plan and some plans have long investment horizons.  Eduardo Villarroya & Krzysztof Szmidt.

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10:00 – 10:45, coffee & exhibition of successful innovators & leaders

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• 10:45, Parallel workshops
  1. Effective planning: considering trade flows scenarios for infrastructure, intermodality & modal shift intra-Europe.  Moderated by Charles Baker & Lukáš Handlíř with opening comments from Carlo Carmenati, Ralf-Charley Schultze & Serge Schamschula.  Mix of modalities?  Impact of subsidies for charging infrastructure?  Our warehouse & production sites?  TEN-T infrastructure?  Commercial viability of corridors?  Volatility?  
  2. Effective planning: considering trade flows scenarios for global trade flows & changing logistics hubs.  Moderated by Stavros Karamperidis & Stephen Archer and led by Dominik Landa, Marcin Kamola, Agnieszka Mozdzierz, Philippe Billiet & audience. East-West & North-South?  Tariffs?  TEN-T infrastructure?  Competitiveness?

• 11:40, Conclusions?  Reflections on morning discussions and considering impact on planning.  Reactions & workshop feedback followed by panel discussion: Sebastian Sołtys, Damian Kowalczyk, Manuel Jumelet, Sjoerd Eekelaar, Claus Postiasi moderated by Sebastian Jarzebowski & Krzysztof Szmidt with comments from Professor Orłowski.  Growing imbalances?  Realism of 2030 scenarios?  Costs E2E supply chain influence?  New routes driving change?  Intermodal will remain in the slow lane?  Given global volatility, should preparation be around speed of reaction or can we plan to get better results? 

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12:30 – 13:30, lunch 

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Part 2 – Physical becomes digital and digital will change physical flows.  As a community, can we help each other build windmills instead of walls?  

 

 

 

• 13:30, Exploration: technology  – cut the noise: what’s the real potential of AI for freight logistics?  Vision from Jonah McIntire, short illustration from Ronald Kleijwegt moderated by Aleksander Poniewierski.  Can we use technology to create value-add to generate growth through change?
• 14:15, Exploration: innovation – (clue: struggling to execute or scale up is not a lack of resources or technical limitations!).  Building innovation capabilities in our own business.  Understanding what the blockers and how to remove them so that we can all take action in our own companies.  Led by Mats Forsberg, Staffan Ekholm, Jakob Muus, Martin Böhmer & Wolfgang Lehmacher.

Tea, coffee & refreshments

• 15:45, Exploration: entrepreneurial mindset – how does that translate in everyday life?  And how can we recruit the right leadership team in current market conditions?  We have been discussing innovation, but are we lacking the mindset to exploit the ideas?  Is finding leaders secondary?  Is technology an enabler or is it creating dependency and undermining leadership?  Radosław Małkiewicz, Mateusz Zając moderated by Christoph Szakowski & Aleksander Poniewierski. 
• 16:30, Exploration: improved decision-making – too many parts of the supply chain lack trust, information sharing and visibility to aid decision-making.  Can transparency, collaboration and innovation help us create value-add to generate growth through change?  What of the Goldilocks principle?  Led by Tom Ogrodzki, Hadley Dean, Adam Chazanow.
  

 

Everything has Changed but Nothing has Changed?

• 17:20, Key questions & next steps, led by a selection of energetic contributors chosen on the day.  Size matters in our sector, but does the ability to collaborate to create value-added services?  How can we move from physical to digital when our sector is about moving physical product?  Summary of key conclusions of the day moderated by Philip Evans & Krzysztof Szmidt.
• 17:45, thanks to sponsors, contributors & participants
• Transport over the river Oder to Hydropolis
  

 

Networking dinner & private visit

Venue: Hydropolis, Wrocław

• Hydropolis is the only science museum in Poland dedicated to water.  Private guided visits around this fascinating centre, drinks, dinner & networking.

Life is becoming more complex for supply chain and logistics practitioners. We need a trusted window into others’ businesses and we need the help of our customers, suppliers, partners and our competitors to ensure our businesses sustain.

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The F&L community of private sector international logistics leaders representing shippers, BCOs & service providers believe they perform better by looking outside what they already know, that generating real solutions requires collaborating across industry sectors as well as in their own companies, and that they must sharpen their focus to be able to continuously demonstrate own value to their stakeholders.

Why is F&L meeting in Poland?  Welcoming an opportunity to understand today’s impact of Poland & CEE.  To meet local senior business leaders and understand what is not clear from a distance about Poland’s value offering for those who are responsible for freight and logistics. To learn: Poland illustrates the success and movement of trade flows, both intra European and between global trading blocs.

Who is this meeting for? A broad community of senior management responsible for supply chain and logistics for shippers and brand owners, retail, supply, LPSs (all modes), ports, technology companies, entrepreneurs, innovators – those who are actively working in, or with, the international supply chain and logistics. Those who want to move their own strategies forward through collaborative discussion with practitioners, sector experts and industry leaders across the supply chain.  

Why should I attend?  Innovation never comes from one mind; it is a process.  Discussing strategy in a trusted environment with peers who lead different industry sectors but face similar challenges is how we find new solutions. Each of us can build “a better 2025” with the help of our customers, suppliers, partners and competitors better than we can try to do so alone, and the F&L network represents significant players across Europe. When shippers prioritise a shared multi-stakeholder understanding of current logistics best practise across their and others’ industry sectors, strategic logistics services multiply and furnish every shipper with a far greater range and quality of services that they could obtain alone.

Can I trust F&L?  Established in 1994, F&L remains a unique international organisation balancing approximately 40-50% shippers with 50-60% others.  F&L does not seek commercial gain and is professional, welcoming and independent with a not-for-profit and non lobby constitution.  Dialogue is in confidence with no recording, press or media and operates under the Chatham House Rule which means that companies and individuals cannot be quoted.  

What can I expect? Industry practitioners and experts sharing meaningful examples and the learning from their own journeys, peers and experts asking (and answering) questions. You will leave knowing more than when you arrived, and with new peer contacts who may be helpful in your own strategies.  Many of the take-home points will be unique to you so we will not try to agree what these are.

Is there anyone who may not attend? Journalists and press are not permitted because discussions are open throughout the meeting.  Non-members are invited to attend once or twice if they follow the spirit of the meeting.  They can then decide if they may wish to be part of the community going forward.

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F&L is an independent members’ forum with a large supportive community currently responsible for leading supply chains and logistics for recognised brand names and based around the globe.  Discussion agendas are as up-to-date and as relevant as we can possibly make them, with changes taking place until the last moment. Participation is always strong at F&L.  You don’t need to wait to see who else is coming before you decide whether to attend.

In recent times, the F&L network has been discussing key issues critical to the freight logistics sector including geopolitics, sustainability (profitable as well as environmental), technology driving structural change and the shifting regulatory environment. On top of these multiplying priorities we need to understand how business continuity and sustainability in all its forms requires planning and collaboration. 

Discussion leaders: audience & those shown here:

Professor Orłowski PwC, Chief Economic Advisor	Ewa Wegorkiewicz VP Chief Customer Experience Officer, CargoON	Philippe Billiet Billiet & Co, Lawyer, Mediator & Arbitrator	Philip Evans F&L, Secretary General

Aleksander Poniewierski  PhD, Adviser, Entrepreneur & former EY Global Head Digital & Emerging Technology	Mats Forsberg Entrepreneur, Mentor	Eduardo Villarroya Colchones Relax / ZLC, CEO & Masters Thesis	Lukáš Handlíř EP Logistics International, Business Development

Hadley Dean MDC², Founder	Krzysztof Szmidt Cargill, EMEA Regional Transportation and Global Water Mode Lead	Piotr Roczniak CargoON, Head Business Consulting & Data	Sjoerd Eekelaar CargoON, Chief Customer Officer

Carlo Carmenati Unilever, Primary & Inbound OpEx Lead Europe	Stavros Karamperidis Plymouth University, Lecturer, Head, Programme Director	Tom Ogrodzki REDD Platform, CEO	Agnieszka Mozdzierz BDP International, Country Manager Poland

Thomas Larrieu UPPLY,  CEO	Philippe Billiet Billiet & Co, Lawyer & Mediation Specialist	Damian Kowalczyk Panattoni Europe, Development Director	Jonah McIntire Trimble, Chief Platform Officer

Anton Barr Freightos, SVP Data	Wolfgang Lehmacher Board Member, Executive Advisor, Business Angel	Gavin Roser Current affairs lecturer	Adam Chazanow Graphene Partners, Managing Partner

Ronald Kleijwegt Vinturas, CEO	Staffan Ekholm Another Tomorrow, CEO & Partner	Dominik Landa Port of Gdansk Authority, Strategy & Development Director	Charles Baker PSA International, Head of Intermodal Europe

Marcin Kamola Baltic Hub, Commercial Manager	Sebastian Jarzębowski Kozminski University, Professor	Manuel Jumelet LyondellBasell, Buyer Land Transport	Stephen Archer Baltic Rail, CEO

Claus Postiasi LKW Walter, Director	Jakob Muus Independent	Martin Böhmer SSI Schaefer, VP Global Technology	Christoph Szakowski LogCon East, Managing Partner

Radosław Małkiewicz Poczta Polska, Managing Director for Logistics Network Architecture	Mateusz Zając Axeline Group & FLOB, Co-Founder	Ralf-Charley Schultze UIRR, President	Serge Schamschula ALICE, Vice Chair

 

This meeting is for senior business leaders & their teams; people who are actively leading industry today.  

Participants already include:

A2B Online Container NV
ALIS (Logistic Association of Sustainable Intermodality)
Another Tomorrow
Anwil
Arcese Trasporti
Baltic Hub
Baltic Rail
Barilla
Bertschi
Billiet & Co
BLS International
Blume Global
Boekestijn Transport Service
BuyCo
Captuur
Cargill
CargoON
CFL multimodal
Climeworks
Codognotto
Corporate Ventures Advisory
COSCO SHIPPING Lines Polska
CTL Cargo Trans Logistik
DFDS Logistics Polska
DP World
duisport – Duisburger Hafen
duisport agency Polska
e-llis Poland
EP Logistics International
Eurocash
Eutraco
FedEx Logistics Poland
Finnlines Polska
Freightos Shipsta
Gartner Intertrans
Graphene Partners
Heem Invest
HRT Spedition
Hupac Intermodal
Interporto Trieste
Klaipeda Free Economic Zone Management Company
Kombiverkehr
Kontransa
Kozminski University / CSCMP Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
KWS
Litcargo
LKW Walter
Loconi Intermodal
LogCon East
LPP Logistics
LTG Cargo
LTG Cargo Polska
LyondellBasell
MDC²
Nanovo
Olympus Business Services
P&G
Panattoni Europe
Plymouth University
Port of Calais
Port of Gdańsk Authority
Port of Hamburg
PSA BDP
PSA International
PwC Polska
Quehenberger Logistics
Rail Cargo
REDD Platform
Rhenus
Russell Group
Samskip
Sandvik
SBB Cargo International
Schavemaker Logistics & Transport
Seerefine
Smart Freight Centre
SSI Schäfer
Trafikverket
Trans.EU
Transporeon Trimble
TT Thomas Miller
UIRR
Unilever
Unit 45
Upply
Vega International
Vinturas
VOS Logistics
Wärtsilä
Wrocław University of Science and Technology
ZLC Zaragoza Logistics Center & MIT Global SCALE Network

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Participants from recent meetings below:

• Participant list for Zaragoza Spain (Oct 2024)
• Participant list for Duisburg (June 2024)
• Participant list for Italy (Apr 2024)

 

	CargoON is a Transport Management Platform specially designed for manufacturers and distributors.
	Baltic Hub, located in the port of Gdańsk, is Poland’s largest and fastest-growing container terminal and the only deepwater terminal in the Baltic Sea. It connects Poland with Asia, the European Union market, and the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the entire Baltic Sea region. The terminal attracts the world’s largest ships that depart from the Far East, and it handles Polish imports, exports, and transit. With  exceptional connectivity to various destinations, Baltic Hub serves as a main terminal for many ship owners.
	Finnlines More than 170 weekly departures in the Baltic Sea and North Sea area. With own offices in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Germany as well as Great Britain, together with an extensive international network of relationships, high quality service is guaranteed.
	Trimble  Trimble products and services connect the physical and digital worlds, creating a better way for customers to get hard work done.
	Another Tomorrow  transforms innovation into a strategic advantage, promoting growth and lasting impact. We empower organizations to seize new opportunities, expedite change, and lead with purpose.
	D² XCEL is a European Union-funded program that helps digital and deep tech startups scale.  It aims to improve the European startup ecosystem’s effectiveness and efficiency.
	Wrocław University of Science & Technology is one of the largest and best technical universities in Poland and regularly ranked among the best in the national rankings.

Venues

As usual, F&L will be using a range of venues around the city.  

9 April from 14:30.  See ‘agenda’ tab followed by dinner in the same venue.  Venue address:  Concordia Design, Słodowa 7, 50-266 Wrocław.  What3Words: tapers.body.views.  Late arrivals very welcome.

10 April full day at Wrocław University of Science & Technology, Building D20, Wrocław Tech/ Politechnika Wrocławska, Janiszewskiego Street 8, 50-372 Wrocław.  What3Words: rising.flank.interval.

10 April dinner at the only science centre in Poland dedicated to water.  Venue: Hydropolis, Na Grobli 17, 50-421 Wrocław.  We will be taking transport across the river Oder from the University to Hydropolis.

Sleeping hotels – suggesting HP Park Plaza as this is within easy reach of conference venues and you will meet others attending F&L. No group codes; please book direct.  On 10th April, a conference bus will leave HP Plaza at 08:00.  Return transport Hydropolis 22:45.  

Dress Code

• General business wear.

Travel

• Rail / Road: plenty of parking & Wrocław Główny rail station has a good number of rail services.
• Air:  Wrocław airport (WRO) is 15/20 minutes from the city.  

Questions?

Please get in touch.

YOUR PRIORITIES : OUR PROJECTS
Agreed by international senior business leaders across industry sectors & all transport modes (2024 & 2025)

Business leaders agree collaboration within our own companies AND across industries is mission-critical because no-one can solve today’s challenges alone.  This is especially true in logistics where we depend on others.  In 2024, hundreds of senior business leaders discussed opportunities and issues in global freight with F&L. 

• See results & current priority projects here.