From data management to realtime monitoring, this session will showcase how digital innovation is transforming port–city cooperation. Speakers will highlight collaborative projects and technological tools that enhance efficiency, transparency, and decision-making.
Igal Ben Zikri is the Vice President of Corporate Communications at Ashdod Port Company Ltd., where he plays a key leadership role in advancing the company’s corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy.
He holds a B.A. in Social Sciences and Humanities from The Open University of Israel and is a graduate of the Executive Business Management Program (three-year program) and the International Management Program at Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Management.
As part of his role, Igal leads the company’s ESG reporting process and is responsible for the formulation and implementation of sustainability policies that align with international standards. He serves as the senior executive authority for media relations, government affairs, business sector engagement, and community involvement – all of which are integral to building stakeholder trust and enhancing the company’s impact across environmental, social, and governance dimensions.
Igal also spearheads the company’s strategic communications planning, ensuring that ESG commitments are embedded in internal and external messaging, and that sustainability is reflected in every aspect of the company’s public presence and stakeholder dialogue.
Chief engineer of Bridges, Waters and Forests, graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique, Florian Weyer is delegated CEO in charge of HAROPA PORT territorial direction of Le Havre and of the Digital transition project.
Florian Weyer began his career at the SNCF before joining the Ministry of Ecology as head of the Policies and Techniques department at the North-Western Interdepartmental Road Directorate. In 2014, he was appointed director of Transport at the Regional Council of Alsace. His position evolved to become Deputy CEO in charge of Mobilities at the Grand Est Regional Council. During these five years, he was responsible for organising passenger rail transport, monitoring infrastructure projects financed by the Region and planning and coordinating mobility on a regional scale. He led major projects for the modernisation of regional transport, such as the opening up to rail competition.
In the summer of 2019, Florian Weyer joined the cabinet of Elisabeth Borne, Minister of Ecological Transition and Solidarity, as Land Transport Advisor, before joining Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Secretary of State to the Minister, in charge of Transport. Appointed Minister Delegate in July 2020, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari promoted Florian Weyer to the position of Deputy Director of his cabinet. In addition to his portfolio on all land transport, he was responsible for coordinating the France Recovery Plan for transport, coordinating industrial sectors and contributing to the Climate and Decentralisation law projects.
On 31 January 2022, Florian Weyer took up his post at the territorial direction of Le Havre, within the new "Seine axis major river/seaport" which brings together the ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris into a single establishment. In this capacity, he is appointed member of the HAROPA PORT management board.
Desmond Tay is currently the Consul (Maritime) with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), stationed in San Francisco. Prior to his current appointment, he was with the Innovation, Technology and Talent Development Division. He is responsible for catalysing innovation initiatives such as PIER71™, the Maritime Innovation Leadership Roundtable, the Smart Port Challenge and the Maritime Drone Estate etcetera.
Desmond currently holds a MBA from the University of Adelaide (Australia) and a computing degree from Monash University (Australia). He has spent more than 15 years in managing and developing IT solutions for the maritime industry and MPA. Leveraging on his technical expertise and industry knowledge, he is passionate about working with marinetech start-ups to reimagine their solutions for maritime industry.
Benno Bultink, innovation manager with expertise on transitions on infrastructure planning and integrated water management, is working for Rijkswaterstaat, the directorate general for Public Works and Water Management, part of the ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands. He is currently the project manager of Connected River, a leading, EU-funded transnational innovation project which aims to tackle challenges related to shared waterways and waterfronts. He deserves credit for his front-running work on user centric, agile innovation and collaboration across borders.
