The International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH) has elected Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, to the board as the new regional vice president for the Europe Region. This position was previously held by Stéphane Raison, the former regional VP of HAROPA, who has now moved on to join the French national energy provider, EDF.
Vandermeiren’s appointment comes with a wealth of experience in both the energy and port sectors. Before joining the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Vandermeiren spent over a decade with Elia, a leading network operator. He joined Elia in 2001, became its CEO in 2012, and also held various directorships, including positions with Febeg and the Federation of Belgian Enterprises. His extensive background in energy management will likely have a significant impact on his role at IAPH, particularly as global ports continue their push toward decarbonization.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, under Vandermeiren’s leadership, has been a proactive player in the port industry’s transition toward sustainability. The port was the venue for the launch of the IAPH World Ports Sustainability Program in 2018 and hosted the IAPH 2021 World Ports Conference, which coincided with the merger of the Port of Antwerp and Port of Bruges. The port authority has also actively participated in IAPH’s technical committees, including those focused on climate, energy, and data collaboration.
Vandermeiren’s leadership extends beyond just the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, as the port’s Harbour Master, Niels Vanlaer, also chairs the IAPH Risk and Resilience Technical Committee. Both Vandermeiren and Vanlaer spoke at the IAPH 2024 World Ports Conference in Hamburg, continuing the Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ strong presence in global maritime sustainability discussions.
In a statement following his appointment, Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, expressed his enthusiasm for the role: “I am delighted to have been appointed onto the IAPH board to lead the Europe Region and would like to thank all the European members who have participated in the election process. Port of Antwerp-Bruges will continue its strong support for the association’s work on the global port sector’s energy transition, digital transformation, and capacity building in terms of risk management and resilience. I look forward to working together with all ports to tackle the challenges of the future.”
IAPH President Jens Meier, also CEO of the Hamburg Port Authority, welcomed Vandermeiren’s appointment, saying: “We congratulate and welcome Jacques to the IAPH board. Port of Antwerp-Bruges has demonstrated its commitment to the Association by its active committee engagement and its collaboration with the APEC Port Training Center to develop the successful Port Endeavor sustainability game, played by thousands of port professionals worldwide. We look forward to his support in further engaging our membership in Europe and beyond.”
Vandermeiren’s appointment is effective immediately, with his term running until the Annual General Meeting at the 2025 IAPH World Ports Conference in Kobe, Japan. Elections for all IAPH board member positions will take place next year, with terms lasting two years.
About The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)
The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) was founded in 1955 and has grown into a global alliance representing 190 port authorities and 160 port-related businesses. Together, IAPH member ports handle over one-third of the world’s sea-borne trade and more than 60% of global container traffic. IAPH plays a leading role in driving port industry initiatives on decarbonization, energy transition, risk management, resilience, and digital transformation in the maritime transport chain. The association’s World Ports Sustainability Program is a reference for best practices at ports applying the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Source The International Association of Ports and Harbors IAPH | Hamburg Ports Authority