Investing Together: Ports and Cities Delivering the Environmental, Energy and Societal Transition

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November 4, 2026 • 11h35 - 12h45

Ports and cities are often investing in parallel, sometimes in the very same goals, such as the energy transition or climate change adaptation, without the coordination needed to make that investment go further. As pressure builds to deliver on decarbonization, energy resilience, and quality of life all at once, this session asks what it takes for port authorities and municipalities to move from parallel planning to genuinely pooled investment strategies, where shared infrastructure translates into shared benefit for citizens.

Bonnie LOWENTHAL

Commissioner
PORT OF LONG BEACH

Bonnie Lowenthal is a member of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the five-person board that manages the City’s Harbor Department and oversees the nation’s second-busiest seaport. First named to the Commission in July 2017 and reappointed to a second and final six-year term in May 2023, during her tenure, she has been elected by her Board colleagues to serve two one-year terms as President, two as Vice President and two as Secretary. She brings a broad history of public service and deep experience in the City of Long Beach, formerly serving as a state Assemblymember, Long Beach City Councilmember, Vice Mayor, and member of the Long Beach Unified School District Board. 

Sandrine GOURLET

Présidente du Directoire
PORT ATLANTIQUE LA ROCHELLE

As a graduate of the École des Ponts, des Eaux et des Forêts, with a DEA in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Public Economics, I have been working in the field of transport and spatial planning for central government and local authorities for over 20 years. I have led numerous projects, particularly during their public consultation and engagement phases. I am committed to seeing these projects through to fruition, regardless of their technical or operational complexity, by creating the conditions for dialogue and negotiation with local stakeholders and elected representatives, whilst seeking to ensure they are embraced by the general public. My solid experience in managing multi-skilled teams complements my in-depth expertise in crisis management and communication. I also chair the Union des Ports de France (UPF), the professional association representing French commercial and fishing port operators.

Moderator

Aziza AKHMOUCH

Cheffe de la division des villes, des politiques urbaines et du développement durable
ORGANISATION DE COOPERATION ET DE DEVELOPPEMENT ECONOMIQUE

She has dedicated over 20 years to working on sustainable development across intergovernmental, academic, diplomatic, and civil society organisations. At the OECD, She had the privilege of founding and managing the Water Governance Programme from 2007 to 2017. Since then, She has been leading the Cities, Urban Policies  and Sustainable Development Division, where she manages a talented and multidisciplinary team. Together, they support national and local governments in developing better urban policies to enhance quality of life, drawing on internationally comparable data, evidence-based analysis, and tailored policy recommendations. She also focuses on fostering knowledge exchange, peer learning, and capacity building to drive meaningful change. 

Location: LE KURSAAL - Palais des Congrès de Dunkerque
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