UK Freeports: Open for Business

The Department for Business and Trade will host an information session and panel discussion during London International Shipping Week to showcase and promote the wide range of opportunities present in UK Freeports. This event will aim to spotlight how UK Freeports are fostering innovative projects in the maritime sector and will explore how businesses are making the most of the logistics assets and connectivity of the UK Freeports.  

This session will be followed by networking.  

Details

• Date: 12th September 2023
• Time: 09:30 – 11:00
• Contact: Freeports@businessandtrade.gov.uk
• Location: WeWork Office, 10 York Road,  London, SE1 7ND
• If you have any accessibility requirements to access the venue, please let us know by 25th August at freeports@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

Agenda

• 09:00 - 09:30 - Registration
• 09:30 - 09:40 - Welcome and introduction to UK Freeports (chair)
• 09:40 - 10:00 - Presentations from speakers
• 10:00 - 10:30 - Panel discussion and Q&A
• 10:30 - 11:00 - Freeports networking with Tea and Coffee

Speakers

Amy Lambert, Deputy Head of Freeports, Department for Business and Trade (chair)

As Deputy Head of Freeports at the Department of Business and Trade, Amy is responsible for international trade and investment strategy for UK Freeports. This includes increasing UK Freeports’ international profile through DBT’s global network and supporting them to attract high value investment from key markets and sectors.

Kevin Forshaw,  Director of Industrial and Strategic Partnerships, Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Plymouth and Chair of Maritime UK South West

Kevin Forshaw is Director of Industrial and Strategic Partnerships at the University of Plymouth and has been working with shipping operators, ship builders and equipment manufacturers to build reliance against maritime cyber-attacks using world-leading thinking from the University.  Previously at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre and the University of Southampton, Kevin has always been at the interface between Industry and Academia, securing many millions of pounds of UK and EC R&D funding for collaborative research for the Maritime Sector in areas including maritime cyber, green shipping and marine autonomous systems.   Driving innovation for new product development, Kevin set up and launched many initiatives including the UK’s Marine Robotic Innovation Centre which was used as a case study by the OECD’s Ocean Economy team. Kevin is also Chair of the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport Innovation Advisory Board.

David Kennedy-Browne, Director of Corporate and Social Affairs, Maersk

David has worked in the Maersk organisation for over 30 years in a variety of roles and locations. Focussing on logistics and containerisation his career has taken him across the UK to Egypt and the East Mediterranean as well as a period at head office in Copenhagen. Now back in the UK David is involved in all areas of Maersk’s Integrator strategy and growth agenda with specific connections to sustainability and decarbonisation. Outside of Maersk David is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation and a member of their Freight Logistics Policy Group.

Erin Law, Commercial Lead - UK Freeports, Forth Ports

Erin Law joined Forth Ports Group 5 years ago and became a Commercial Manager in 2021, working across the Group in a number of its operations. Erin was part of the core Thames Freeport bid team (which Port of Tilbury, part of the Forth Ports Group, is a key consortium partner) and has more recently been involved with the Forth Green Freeport bid in Scotland, and is now working on developing the Outline Business Case following the successful announcement of the Green Freeport in January 2023. Erin is also involved with developing Forth Ports’ strategy around the paper and forest product sector, and the transition to net zero, focussing on the alternative fuels sector.