UK Ports Conference 2026  |  3-4 June 2026  -  Holiday Inn - Bloomsbury, London

Early bird savings end Friday 1 May

Jun

03

Jun

04

Registration and refreshments
08:45  to  09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30  to  09:40
Speaker:
Geraint Evans. Chief Executive Officer. UK Major Ports Group.
Keynote address: Supporting the growth of the ports sector
09:40  to  09:55
Supporting port growth and development
09:55  to  10:20
  • Latest policing impacting ports
  • Support for port development
  • Delivering decarbonisation at ports
Speaker:
Olivia Haslam. Deputy Director - Ports and Shipping. Department for Transport.
Update on changing shipping trends and patterns – what do these mean for ports?
10:20  to  10:45
  • Global trends and impacts on the UK – changes in different markets
  • What are the impacts of wider geopolitics on the UK?
  • Direction of travel for future fuels – what are the green shipping trends?
Morning networking and refreshments
10:45  to  11:15
England’s strategic roads, connecting ports to people
11:15  to  11:30
Speaker:
Elliot Shaw. Chief Customer and Strategy Officer. National Highways.
Panel discussion: Improving port connectivity - supporting onward transfer and supply chain growth by developing road and rail links
11:30  to  12:00
  • Enhancing rail and road links – recent improvements and planned upgrades
  • The use of technology in streamlining operations
  • Identifying solutions to potential bottlenecks in port connectivity  
  • Is devolution an opportunity to improve port connectivity with more regional decision making?  
Speakers:
Guy Bates. Head of Freight Development. Network Rail.
James Corden. Senior Economic Development Manager. National Highways.
Overcoming supply chain constraints – how to support changing supply chain requirements
12:00  to  12:25
  • Anticipating warehousing requirements
  • How is technology leading to support chain improvements?
Networking lunch
12:25  to  13:25
An increase in data and digitalisation – identifying what data is going to improve decision making and create efficiencies at ports
13:25  to  13:50
  • Knowing where to start – what decisions does data need to support?
  • How can data be used effectively? Identifying the strategic use
  • Cutting through the noise – only recording and using relevant data
  • Where is data and digitalisation successfully improving operations? 
Panel discussion: Securing funding – what are the options available and how do ports need to demonstrate the value of port investment?
13:50  to  14:35
  • What funding opportunities are available?
  • Showcasing how ports add value and support national and government priorities
  • The differences in funding for trust ports and municipal ports
  • Investing in greener infrastructure – how to move forward with projects that might not provide return needed but are required for decarbonisation
Speakers:
Sinclair Browne. Chief Executive. Port of Inverness.
Speaker from. National Wealth Fund.
Continually maintaining and improving safety at ports
14:35  to  15:00
  • What new approaches are being used?
  • Effectively establishing a culture of safety
Speaker:
Jen Maddison. Health, Safety & Culture Lead. Port Skills and Safety.
Afternoon networking and refreshments
15:00  to  15:30
Skills and recruitment at ports: showcasing the opportunities for careers in the ports sector
15:30  to  15:55
  • Initiatives that are supporting existing port skills development as requirements change
  • Highlighting the long-term careers in ports – how to educate about the opportunities?
  • Increasing diversity within the sector
Ensuring port resilience and managing cyber security risks
15:55  to  16:20
  • Ensuring resilience plans are in place
  • What are the cyber security risks ports need to be prepared for?
Panel discussion: Where are the opportunities for port growth and investment?
16:20  to  17:00
  • Where is investment being made? Which areas offer most return for ports?   
  • Long term vision for ports – identifying the priorities for next 5, 10 and 20 years
  • How are freeports progressing?
  • Managing ports growth with land constraints and existing infrastructure in place
Speaker:
Doug Bannister. Chief Executive. Port of Dover.
Chair’s closing remarks
17:00  to  17:10
Close of conference and networking drinks
17:10  to  17:30

*All sessions include time for Q & A* 

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