Innovating with the times
PPI TS19 is planning more than a few surprises in Amsterdam for the world's forest products logistics professionals.
George Hudson, IFPTA Director
PPI TS19 Conference Co-Chairman
Published: August 30, 2011
Back in the fourth quarter 2009, I wrote what I thought might be my last Chairman’s Corner, but as you all now know, you weren’t that lucky! Less than three months later, our late president, Paul Doiron, asked me to co-chair our next PPI Transport Symposium with my (youngish) Dutch colleague Jaap Simonse.
So, you have had to put up with me for another two years, albeit in alternate quarters, talking about all things PPI Transport Symposium- related. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. For those loyal readers of the Journal and this column, this really is my last stint at the Chairman’s Corner. And by the time you read this, it will be time for all of us to head to Amsterdam for PPI Transport Symposium 19.
Actually, the last four years have been good fun, marred only by those tedious editorial deadlines for actually putting together each issue of our Association’s magazine, the IFPTA Journal. And I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone, from the IFPTA Officers, Board of Directors, RISI and the IFPTA Association Management team at Quint Strategies to help create an event worthy enough to be called a biennial gathering of the global forest products logistics industry.
A night to remember
At the time of this writing, in mid-August and at the height of the summer holiday season, football has just started and the fall season’s kickoff means there are only two months to go before the Opening Reception at the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam. It may be the one night of the year that I would rather have a drink with my good friends and colleagues than go to a football match.
The PPI TS19 Conference Program is settled and virtually all the speakers and panelists are in place. It has been a very busy schedule this time around, as Jaap and I put in extra hours to finalize the programme before most everyone disappeared off on holidays, especially in Europe. The response though has been tremendous and I can’t thank our colleagues and fellow professionals enough for their support and efforts to build a can’t-miss lineup of panel discussions.
Before Jaap went off for his holiday – an 8-day marathon cycle adventure through the continent – he put some of the finishing touches on the two CEPI sessions that take place on Friday, October 14. This is a totally new addition for the Symposium, partnering with another industry organization, which in itself demonstrates how much we are prepared to meet new and diverse challenges that we all face in business.
Do it now!
For anyone who is not registered yet, I only have three words: Do it now! I know it may sound cliché, but waiting this year until the last minute may leave you standing on the pier, so to speak. Early registration opened in early July and we had an overwhelmingly positive response. By the start of August, registration numbers have surpassed many previous Symposiums at the same point. That is really excellent news, both for the Symposium and the industry in general. All indications are that the RAI Amsterdam will be a full house.
The PPI TS19 Exhibition continues to attract both returning and first-time exhibitors, and is now almost 90% sold. This is another positive sign showing just how much the Symposium means to the forest products logistics industry, even after 30 years.
Speakers Corner is another new innovation for PPI TS19 that’s already proven to be very popular. We quickly had three companies who wanted to take three of the seven open slots available, and by this writing all slots have been filled, plus one additional slot. Speakers Corner is an opportunity to present commercial and product information for our industry, topics that don’t easily fit into the conference pro- gram. This is something we will look into developing more in the future, providing a more well rounded experience for industry professionals.
Another innovation for this year’s Symposium is a slight change to the traditional port tour. We have switched the Port Tour to Tuesday, October 11, to be followed that evening with the Opening Reception. This way, the exhibit hall will stay open the entire first day of the Symposium, allowing everyone a chance to visit the more than 50 exhibitors who are participating in this year’s event. Make sure and RSVP to save your spot on the boat.
CEPI, Speakers Corner, Port Tour: All signs at how the IFPTA and RISI are working to innovate with the times. Nothing stays the same, and like all forward-thinking organizations, we must move with the times and recognize what delegates and exhibitors want from a world-class symposium.
I know I have said this before, but I feel it’s worth mentioning again with this PPI TS19 edition of the IFPTA Journal. Jaap and I are only the most public faces of the entire team that works on PPI Transport Symposium. From both sides of the pond, they work tirelessly to bring us together every two years for a remarkable event. We cannot do this without them and they truly are deserving of our thanks and appreciation.
So, now I bid farewell in my last column and take comfort in the fact that the next column will see a new face and bring a new perspective to the Symposium and our industry. I look forward to seeing you all in Amsterdam!
