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July/August 2016 Shipper BULKDISTRIBUTOR EPCA marks half century against Brexit backdrop T he possibility of Brexit may or may not have been uppermost in the minds of the conference planners for this year’s European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) meeting. However, it is now sure to be among the most talked-about issues in the meeting rooms and networking receptions at this year’s gathering. Headlined ‘50 Years of Global Chemical Industry Evolution: What’s Next?’ EPCA’s 50th Annual Meeting returns to the Hungarian capital of Budapest on 1–4 October 2016. There should also be an added frisson at this year’s closing lunch session. The Geo-Political View will be given by Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council from 2009 to 2014. His perspective on how the European Union has evolved, and its immediate and longer term future, will no doubt attract significant interest among delegates. Before that the main Business Session on the morning of Monday 3 October features three speakers: Dr Martin Brudermüller, vice chairman of the board of executive directors and chief technology officer at BASF SE; Thierry Le Hénaff, chairman and CEO, Arkema; and Bhavesh V (Bob) Patel, CEO and chairman of the management board, LyondellBasell. Logistics meeting This year’s Logistics and Supply Chain Session (Tuesday 4 October, 8-9.30am) follows the half century theme of EPCA’s 2016 Annual Meeting with ‘50 Years of Chemical Logistics and Supply Chain Evolution: What’s Next?’ Before supply chain representatives discuss the issue among themselves, the headline speakers are: Essa Al-Saleh president & CEO of Agility Global Integrated Logistics; Hans-Jörg Bertschi, president & CEO, Bertschi Group; Dirk Jan de With, chief procurement officer, Covestro; Patrick Dixon, a futurist and business thinker and chairman of Global Change Ltd, a growth strategy and forecasting company; Andy Rae, vice president operations and HSSE, Shell Chemicals. As usual registered logistics service providers will be arranging meetings in the ‘Logistics Village’ at the Intercontinental Hotel. The Ballrooms and the Ballrooms Foyer will serve as the Village, where meeting tables are available for rent. Other scheduled conference sessions include ‘Diversity Inclusion: Key to Business Success Between Now and 2040’ (Monday 3 October, 6-7.15pm). This features Nathalie Brunelle, senior vice president strategy, development & research of Total’s Refining & Chemicals Division; Stefan Gröschl, professor in the Department of Management at Essec Business School; and Eelco Hoekstra, chairman of the executive board, Royal Vopak. Full information about EPCA’s 50th Annual Meeting is available at www.epca.eu WHAT IF YOU COULD MINIMIZE _____________WHEN YOUR SHIPPING RISK TRANSPORTING _____________? YOUR HAZARDOUS MATERIAL ACCELERATE YOUR ADVANTAGE ® Find out more at accelerateyouradvantage.com 800.323.7587 | [email protected] © 2016 C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3