| Over five hundred ports industry professionals gathered at the Guildhall in London this week for the British Ports Association AGM and Annual Lunch. Newly elected BPA Chair, Doug Bannister, CEO at the Port of Dover, launched the Association’s People in Ports pack, which showcases some of the varied and rewarding careers in the sector and the people that make our industry tick. The Transport Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, Mike Kane MP, gave a speech to 530 guests, welcoming some of the recent investment in ports across the UK, telling the audience that the government would soon bring forward proposals to support development, skills and innovation. BPA Chair Doug Bannister also addressed the room and thanked outgoing Chair Mike Sellers, of Portsmouth International Port, for his successful two year term. Mr Bannister outlined the Association’s policy priorities including energy connectivity and planning reform, noting that the government and ports sector have shared ambitions around economic growth and the energy transition. He praised the longstanding consensus between government and industry on the value of an independent and market-led ports sector and spoke of some of the challenges that lay ahead. |
Chair, British Ports Association
I am honoured to have been elected as Chair of the British Ports Association. The BPA’s voice will be as critical as ever in the years to come. UK ports are thriving but in an increasingly competitive international environment there’s more we can do, working with government, to support sustainable growth in our industry.
One of the challenges that our sector faces is ongoing global volatility. UK ports are resilient: the structure and nature of the sector keeps us competitive and ready to respond to new challenges and disruption when it comes. This resilience will be increasingly important in the years ahead, as climate change, cyber attacks, war and global political impacts impact us and our customers.
As well as keeping the country supplied in turbulent times, ports are also the launchpad for the energy transition and the foundation for the entire marine economy. The people in this room will be critical in delivering the government’s clean energy targets as well as increased prosperity to every corner of the country.
Doug Bannister
Chair, British Ports Association
| Ahead of the lunch, the Association held its AGM, where the Port of Dover’s Chief Executive, Doug Bannister, was elected as the BPA Chair for a two year term. The Port of Milford Haven’s chief executive, Tom Sawyer, was elected Deputy Chair, and Maurice Bullock, CFO at Belfast Harbour, was re-elected as Treasurer. |
The BPA’s new People in Ports programme showcases some of the 125,000 faces that make up a thriving and successful industry. The aim is to demonstrate the wide variety of roles available in what is a vibrant and innovative sector.
The document published this week includes profiles of 32 people working across the UK, ranging from engineering to marine to communications and more. A PDF of the document can be found on here and digital assets will be published and promoted shortly, which will include additional profiles.
