Session #11: How Are Automation, Digitalization, and Sustainability Driving the Transition of Port Work?

Ariane Colson, Knowledge Manager for Ports & Shipping, C40

Ariane Colson is the Knowledge Manager for Ports & Shipping at C40 Cities, a global network of nearly 100 cities driving urgent climate action. She works with over 40 leading cities and ports worldwide to accelerate the maritime sector’s decarbonisation through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Ariane leads the Green Ports Forum's knowledge strategy and contributes to C40’s work on green jobs and just transition in shipping, drawing on her background in inclusive climate action. Her work supports C40’s technical assistance and capacity-building programmes, with a particular focus on ports and cities in the Global South.

Guenter Schmidmeir, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Fernride

Guenter Schmidmeir is the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at FERNRIDE, a European leader in autonomous trucking solutions for port and yard logistics. He assumed this role in January 2025, following his tenure as a Board Member starting in June 2024.

With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Schmidmeir has held key positions, including General Manager at Navis and Senior Vice President of Automation Sales at Kalmar. His extensive expertise in container terminal operations and automation is instrumental in driving FERNRIDE's commercialization efforts and supporting terminal operators in adopting innovative automation solutions.

Berardina Tommasi, Policy Officer for Dockers, ETF

Berardina Tommasi is a dedicated trade union leader with over a decade of experience in the international labour movement. As Policy Officer for Dockers at the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) in Brussels, she plays a key role in shaping policies that protect and advance the rights of dockers, terminal workers, and port employees across Europe.

Her expertise in European labour policies, industrial relations, and collective bargaining enables her to advocate effectively for workers’ rights, better working conditions, and a fair future for port work, particularly in times of challenges such as the green and digital transitions, ensuring job protection, the upholding of social standards, and the promotion of sustainable development in the sector.

Miguel Montesinos, CEO, Prodevelop

Miguel Montesinos holds an MSc and degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, a Master's degree in Business Administration and a specialisation and several courses related to artificial intelligence.

He has developed his entire professional career linked to the port sector for more than 30 years, having successfully implemented many digitalisation projects in ports such as Valencia, Barcelona, Algeciras, Baleares, Huelva, Piraeus, Bordeaux, Thessaloniki or Malta in areas such as Port Management System, Port Community System, SmartPort or collaborative digital platforms.

He has participated as a lecturer in masters related to digitalisation and smart ports at the Polytechnic Universities of Madrid and Valencia and collaborated in several standardizations bodies in the industry (OGC, Smart Ports UNE – Spain, etc.). He was for years the CTO of Prodevelop and R&D Director. For the last 6 years he has been CEO of the company, leading its growth and expansion.