Chartered Institute of Logistics

Transportation Situation & Outlook Conference - Presentations
Challenges and Opportunities facing the North American Transportation Network in Turbulent Economic Times

Sheraton Ottawa Hotel
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Monday, May 11, 2009

The eighth Transportation Situation and outlook Conference (TC2009) attracted one hundred (100) participants from various segments of the Transportation and logistics industry. This unique gathering considered presentations given by fourteen (14) prominent speakers which focused on the Challenges and Opportunities facing the North American Transport Network in this Turbulent Economic Times. Most participants considered the event very informative and successful. The Conference was opened by Ed Cuylits FCILT , the Conference Chairman, and Hazem Ghonima FCILT, CILTNA CEO and founder of the Outlook conference who introduced the CILTNA’s Chairman, Mr. Gilles Legaut FCILT.

Mr. Legault initiated the conference with a presentation on the Challenges and Opportunities in the Transportation Sector.

The conference first session "Economic Outlook: Global Trends and Challenges" was moderated by Don McKnight, President, DAMF Consultants Inc.

Peter Hall, Vice President and Chief Economist of the Export Development Canada presented an overview of the Trends of the World Economy and Trade.
Mike McCracken, Chairman & CEO, Informetrica Ltd., provided a North American Economic perspective in his presentation.
Hazem Ghonima FCILT, President & CEO of TAF Consultants, concluded the session with an analysis of the Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on the North American Freight Flows in 2009 and 2010.

The second session "Challenges and Opportunities Facing Freight & Passenger Carriers Serving North America" was moderated by Dr. Patrick Sherry, Ph., Director of National Center for Intermodal Transportation:

Richard Corfe, President & Chief Executive Officer of St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation provided a comprehensive review of the Marine Shipping Challenges and Outlook.
Cliff Mackay, President & CEO of the Railway Association of Canada explored the Challenges and Opportunities facing Class 1 and Regional Railways.
Jean-Robert Lessard, Vice-President, Marketing and Public Relations of Groupe Robert presented The Road Transport Challenges
Fred Gaspar, Regional Vice President of InterVISTAS Consulting Inc. ended the second session with a look at the Challenges facing the Air Transport.

Governor James Blanchard, former US Ambassador to Canada & Partner at DLA Piper who was the luncheon speaker provided an American perspective on the transportation and trade policy issues facing North America.

The third session, moderated by Robert Ballantyne FCILT, President of the Canadian Industrial Transportation Association focused on shipper issues:

Marta Morgan, VP, Trade & Competitiveness of the Forest Products Association of Canada started this session with a presentation on the trade and competitiveness of transportation options in the Forestry Sector.
Richard Bickley, Manager Transportation-East of RioTinto Procurements, and Michael A. Grier, Sr. Manager, North America, International Logistics of Avon Products Inc. presented their companies experiences on the distribution challenges: Bickley presentation, Grier presentation.

The final session, moderated by Dr. Barry Prentice of the University of Manitoba examined some specific transportation strategies:

Helena Borges, Director General, Surface Transportation Policy of Transport Canada presented the Federal government’s Gateway and Corridor Strategies for a Changing Economy
Patrick Sherry, Ph.D. Director of National Center for Intermodal Transportation reviewed the American Initiatives for the Changing Economy.

The conference closed with the summary of the conference findings presented by Richard Lande, FCILT Hon of Richard Lande & Associates.