APAC2020 Hybrid conference -fremantle & the world
This week marked the beginning of a new era with the commencement of APAC2020, PIANC’s inaugural Asia Pacific conference focusing on “Port, harbour and recreational boating for today and tomorrow”. Hosted in Freemantle, Western Australia and virtually online, the hybrid conference and symposium was a major success with both local and overseas presenters.
Indeed, over 250 people attended the APAC2020 Conference, with online attendees from twelve countries including Australia, Belgium, Ecuador, Iceland, Japan, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and the USA.
As Neil Lawson, member of the hardworking Local Organising Committee, of the PIANC ANZ Board and PIANC Global’s Vice-President declared, “After 6 years of planning we have achieved our lofty goal of hosting a truly regional PIANC focused conference – well done all – a real team effort! “
Chair of PIANC ANZ Associate Professor Will Glamore commented, “This conference has been an enormous success from all involved and we need to thank everyone for making it so special.”
Greeted with a Welcome to Country by Indigenous elder Marie Taylor, the APAC2020 Conference was opened by the WA Minister for Ports, the Hon Alannah MacTiernan, MLC (above). The first keynote address was given by Dr Todd Bridges, Chair of PIANC’s Environmental Commission, with fellow USACE scientist Dr Burton C Suedel. They presented on Engineering with Nature (EWN) principles and examples from the US.
Topics of following sessions over the next two days included navigation. ports and marine facilities – design, construction; ecosystem services; port planning; coastal processes and risk, fender designs; dredging and reclamation; and recreational facilities – waterfront development and marinas.
For more details on the program please see here
Senior PIANC leaders who presented at the Conference included PIANC’s President Francisco Esteban Lefler who spoke on “Future Directions in Maritime Engineering and Construction” and Geert Van Capellen, the Secretary-General, whose topic was, very appropriately, “PIANC in the New Normal.”
Congratulations to the conference event organisers Encanta, as well as the intrepid, resilient and extremely hardworking Local Organising Committee.
Grateful thanks to all our sponsors.
Platinum – Fremantle Ports, Trelleborg and WGA.
Gold – Midwest Ports & HR Wallingford.
Silver – Boskalis, Maritime Constructions, OMC International, Royal HaskoningDHV, and Shibata Fender Team. Bronze, BMT, Manly Hydraulics Laboratory and Rio Tinto.
Supporting: Advisian, ARUP, Aspect, Aurecon, Baird, Jan de Nul Group, Port Authority of NSW, Wavelength,
Pre Conference Symposium sponsor: Water Research Laboratory, UNSW Sydney.
Honour roll call: A very BIG shout out to the LOC – Chris Leatt-Hayter (Chair) CEO, Fremantle Ports, Claire Treeby (Committee Leader) Capital Project Engineer, Rio Tinto, Ron Cox (Technical Program) Honorary Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW & Board Member, PIANC ANZ Luke Campbell (Deputy – Technical Program) Director, Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec Board Member, PIANC ANZ, Neil Lawson (Treasurer) Vice President, PIANC International, Managing Director, Neil Lawson and Associates, Joel Bailey (Deputy Treasurer & Marketing) Managing Director, Wavelength, & Board Member, PIANC ANZ, Jane Edwards (Marketing Support) Social Sustainability Coordinator, Fremantle Ports, Adam van der Beeke (Field Trips) Environmental Advisor, Fremantle Ports, Franco Andreone (Social Program) Manager Fremantle Waterfront Development, Fremantle Ports , Professor Ryan Lowe (Technical Program & Field Trips), Oceans Graduate School and School of Earth Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, Peter Boere (Secondary School Coordinator) General Manager, Boskalis Australia Pty Ltd, Assoc Prof Will Glamore Chair, PIANC Australia and New Zealand, Water Research Laboratory, UNSW Sydney.