Invited Speakers
Justin Cross
Port Strategy, Planning and Development Consultant, Royal HaskoningDHV, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Justin Cross is a maritime consultant with over 20 years of international experience. Having started his career in South Africa, he has lived and worked in the Netherlands, Brazil, Australia, and for the past 7 years in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As the Chairman of PIANC Working Group 240, he has been tasked with developing the ‘Guidance for Ports in Small Island Countries’. Having completed his studies in civil engineering, his first job introduced him to the exciting world of coasts and ports. Whilst the first 10 years saw him take on a myriad of roles, such as designing coastal protection, dynamic mooring analysis studies, port planning, and discrete event modelling for logistics studies, the next 10+ years saw him focusing on what has now become his area of specialization: supporting clients with port strategy development, port and terminal planning, greening of ports, and delivering technical due diligence studies Justin is also Project Management Professional (PMP) certified and has experience delivering large multi-disciplinary projects all around the world.
Keynote Address
Ports and Maritime issues and projects for Pacific Islands and SE Asia
The Pacific Islands, with their captivating beauty and isolation, attract numerous tourists. Yet these same attributes pose some of the greatest challenges for small island nations. A high degree of remoteness is just the starting point. Developing, maintaining and operating marine infrastructure in a sustainable manner is a significant challenge when faced with limited access to resources and the constant threat of natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and tropical cyclones. And these threats are being exasperated by the impacts of climate change.
The international maritime sector, through the efforts of IMO, PIANC, international finance institutes, and various other organisations, is placing an increased focus on the impacts of climate change, and the need for ports to play their role in decarbonization and greening of the industry.
The challenges faced by remote island communities is being addressed by PIANC Working Group 240, and the new guideline that is being produced ‘Guidance for Ports in Small Island Countries’. An update on the progress of this working group, and some of the key elements that are being included in this guideline, will be presented. The session will include illustrative case studies from various Pacific Island countries, showcasing real-world examples of how challenges are being overcome. These success stories will serve as a blueprint for other ports in similar contexts, offering practical steps that can be replicated.
This presentation will also include a brief trip through Southeast Asia, to look at some of the ongoing and upcoming major infrastructure projects in the maritime sector, and the types of green port initiatives in progress. By comparing and contrasting these initiatives with those in the Pacific Islands, attendees will gain a comprehensive perspective on development trends within the broader region and the diverse approaches to achieving sustainability.
Michael Arman
Director, BRM Advisory, Adelaide, South Australia
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Michael Arman is a Director of South Australian consultancy BRM Advisory, and is an urban and regional planner who specialises in disaster and climate resilience. Over the past two years, Michael has managed the design and delivery of the SA Climate Ready Coasts program for LGA South Australia and its partners. Prior to moving to consultancy, Michael held senior roles in local government and Red Cross, and spent two year working on disaster risk reduction in the Philippines.
Keynote Address
SA Climate Ready Coasts: Accelerating Coastal Hazard Adaptation
State and local government in South Australia are collaborating through SA Climate Ready Coasts program, with the shared aim of accelerating coastal hazard adaptation.
This presentation will cover why and how the program was created, the innovations in coastal hazard adaptation that have been introduced, and the way the expertise of a wide range of partners and consultants are being leveraged to help bring around step change in coastal adaptation.
The presentation will also offer reflections on how change and transitions theories are being applied through this work, and how this is informing future priorities for the program.