Session #10: Building Greener Ports: What Role Does the Circular Economy Play?

James Hallworth, Commercial Manager Circular & Renewable Industry, Port of Amsterdam 

After working in hospitality, travel & tourism and financial services in Spain, Luxembourg and Switzerland, James entered the world of shipping and logistics in the year 2000 by joining VCK (Verenigd Cargadoorskantoor) in the port of Amsterdam.

After 7 years specializing in the ro-ro and breakbulk transshipment of semi-finished products such as zinc, paper, aluminium, pulp and second-hand vehicles, James stepped into his current position at the Port of Amsterdam.

As Commercial Manager, James is responsible for development of circular economy activities in the Amsterdam port area. From scrap metals to orange peel, from post-consumer plastics to demolition residues, circular economy logistics and processing are now an integral part of the ports portfolio. Long term lease of land plots in the ‘Westpoort’ area of the city, international business development and account management are his core functions within the Port of Amsterdam organisation. Port of Amsterdam an autonomous company owner by the City of Amsterdam.

Prof. Dr. Elvira Haezendonck, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Solvay Business School

Prof. Dr. Elvira Haezendonck is Full Professor (Gewoon Hoogleraar) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Visiting Professor at the University of Antwerp (UA), as well as at Erasmus University of Rotterdam (Maritime Economics and Logistics). Her research covers topics in the field of sustainable strategies and management, applied to infrastructure, (port) clusters and complex projects.

She has published various articles, books and book chapters in relation to sustainable strategies, project evaluation, competitive strategy and stakeholder management, and since 1996, she has been involved in over 100 national and EU research projects on for example strategic analyses and impact assessments in/for ports and infrastructure, and on complex project management. She teaches several strategy and (project) management courses on both bachelor and master level.  

She also takes up multiple board positions within and beyond academia. In 2022 Prof. Dr. Elvira Haezendonck was elected as first female president of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), the global academic association of maritime economists, and re-elected in 2024 for a second term. Since 2010 she held four consecutive Research Chairs at VUB on Public-Private Partnerships (2010-14 and 2015-2018), on Infrastructure Asset Management (2019-2023) and currently one on Agile and Futureproof Infrastructure for Transport. Another 2 chairs have recently been appointed to her on Circular Monitoring for Ports, and Masterclasses in Futureproof Leadership and Strategy.

Caroline Craenhals, CEO at Belgian Scrap Terminal

Caroline Craenhals studied Commercial Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and is now the CEO of Belgian Scrap Terminal, a recycling company dedicated to responsibly reclaiming discarded materials.

She will share her professional expertise in sustainability with the VUB by providing data for circular research through her network. Additionally, she will deliver guest lectures on sustainability, support internships, and supervise master’s theses.

Piotr Konopka, Group VP, Global Decarbonisation & Energy Programmes, DP World

Piotr Konopka is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience across the energy, sustainability, and engineering sectors. He is the Group Vice President of Decarbonisation & Energy Programmes at DP World, where he leads the organisation's ambitious efforts toward achieving net-zero carbon operations by 2050. His role encompasses technical decarbonisation strategies, sustainable fuel sourcing, carbon accounting, and climate resilience, cementing DP World's commitment to sustainability. Piotr is also the Lead Coordinator of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Centre for Zero Carbon Shipping. As Lead Coordinator for this strategic partnership, he facilitates the development and adoption of groundbreaking technologies to advance the shipping industry’s net-zero goals.

Before joining DP World, Piotr served as a Managing Consultant at Guidehouse, overseeing energy transition projects for major public and private entities worldwide. He also co-founded and led PitchMe, an innovative skills-based recruiting platform, which successfully expanded internationally under his leadership. Earlier in his career, Piotr held roles at ERM, DNB, and Toyota Motorsport GmbH, where he gained expertise in renewable energy financing, and advanced engineering design. His dynamic leadership and passion for sustainability continue to drive transformative impacts across industries.