Empowering the Identity of Port City Communities: Crafts, Culture and Heritage

Mariantonia LO PRETE

Chercheuse en Géographie ULCO TVES ULR 4477 & GT POMAR GDR OMER CNRS

UNIVERSITE DU LITTORAL COTE D'OPALE - ULR 4477 - TVES

Since 2015, Mariantonia Lo Prete is assistant professor in Coastal Landing Planning and Port Geography at Dunkirk University (University of the Littoral Opal Coast – ULCO) and member of the research unit Territories, Cities, Environment and Society (TVES ULR 4477. She is co-leader of the POrt and MARitime research group (POMAR) of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and deputy director of the Federative Research Structure dedicated to the sea and the coastline in the Hauts-de-France (SFR Campus de la Mer).

She recently edited a book with Routledge entitled “Port Cities, Pollution, And Public Health - Environmental Health Issues From Shipping And Ports” and she leads the D.E.PORTS project, which explores the identity of port city communities through a research-creation process aimed to empower port jobs culture and heritage. She is also involved in a number of national and international research projects relating to maritime, port, straits, environmental, and coastal issues (ANR DE´CODE´, ANR RECREAFISH, etc.), and she has been an expert for various international organizations (WHO, AFD, PLAN BLEU). 

Dina ARYAN-ZAHLAN

Deputy Executive Director Development

PORT OF LOS ANGELES

Dina Aryan-Zahlan has served on the Port of Los Angeles leadership team as deputy executive director of development since 2023. Throughout her Port career, she has overseen the design and development of infrastructure and facilities, including the Port’s transportation, terminal development, and LA Waterfront programs. Dina is on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Engineering at California State University, Long Beach. She was named WTS-LA 2022 Woman of the Year, an award that recognizes a female leader in transportation who has made an outstanding industry contribution and advanced women and minorities through programs or opportunities in the field. 

Patrick FRANCKE-SIROIS

Producteur documentaire

ADMINISTRATION PORTUAIRE DE MONTREAL

Co-founder of Casadel Films, Patrick Francke-Sirois is passionate about documentaries. He sees himself as a hunter of good stories. When a story is powerful, interesting, compelling and entertaining… it deserves to be told! His projects have garnered numerous awards and accolades both in Quebec and abroad. As the creator, researcher and producer of the documentary series *Au cœur du port* (6 x 1 hour), he has developed a love and a deep affinity for the maritime world over recent years. Originally broadcast on Télé-Québec in Canada, *Au cœur du port* is now available throughout the French-speaking world on the TV5monde+ platform.

Moderator

Maurice JANSEN

Senior researcher and business developer, Department Urban Port and Transport Economics (UPT)

ERASMUS UNIVERSITEIT ROTTERDAM

Maurice is an engaged scholar, education innovator and business ecosystems developer. His passion is in exploring and sharing port and transport knowledge. As a scholar Maurice engages with business professionals in action research, design and delivery of education solutions and fosters business innovation ecosystems. Ports and port cities have always been his so-called playground. Taking a human and community centric approach, Maurice explores how partnerships can effectively contribute to resolving the ‘wicked problems’ of society, in essence how people can become a force for positive change, using their head, heart and hands, in harmony with nature and others.