FIATA World Congress 2016 confirms new speakers for Dublin event

International freight forwarders’ association FIATA has announced an updated speaker programme for its World Congress 2016, to be held in Dublin, Ireland, from October 3-8.
Over 30 speakers will share their ideas and opinions on topics of global relevance affecting freight transport, logistics and international trade.
Keynote speakers on the opening day of the conference on October 5 include Umberto de Pretto, Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union, who will address congress on the subject of ‘Working Smart — World Solutions to traders’.
The opening day’s conference will then break into simultaneous Regional Leaders’ Dialogue sessions, representing Africa/Middle-East, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe, before concluding with FIATA’s Advisory Body Legal Matters session, featuring speakers Scott Megregian, Partner at K&L Gates, and Jake Storey, Strategic Advisor-Maritime Initiatives, TRACE International.
Other confirmed speakers include Susanne Aigner, Head of Unit Customs Legislation at the European Commission, with responsibility for the European Union’s (EU) customs code and general legislation in this area, and Donia Hammami, Taxation, Customs and Trade Facilitation Policy Manager at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
They will speak at the session entitled, ‘Making thoughtful policy choices: the Custom Affairs Institute (CAI) guides you through trade facilitation.’ This session will be guest moderated by Josephine Feehily, past Chairperson of Irish Revenue Commissioners and currently Chairperson of the Irish Policing Authority.
Innovation in technology is also up for discussion in the ‘Meet the experts: Managing technology with the advice of the FIATA Advisory Body Information Technology’ session which will feature Oliver Evans, from Matternet, who will speak about Drone Logistics.
Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), is the guest of honour for the opening ceremony of the congress.
Aligning with the congress theme of Where Networking Comes Naturally, Ruth Waring of Labyrinth Logistics Consulting Ltd will speak about effective networking during the opening ceremony.
Key themes for the congress this year include competition compliance, customs and borders, innovation, multi-modal, regulation and security.
There is also a focus on new technologies, and congress has attracted a number of software and technological partners who will exhibit in parallel which will be of interest to those firms seeking efficiencies and/or migration to the Cloud.
Tom Thornton, president of the Irish International Freight Association, said: “FIATA World Congress Dublin 2016 will cover a range of important topics and issues of concern for our members and delegates.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for C-suite executives and business owners from the global forwarding and logistics industry to meet for knowledge sharing, networking and business development.”
For further information on the FIATA World Congress Dublin 2016 speaker programme please see http://fiata2016.org/speaker/ or for registration please see http://fiata2016.org/register/.