"The Challenge" is back!

The first topic entitled “Regulations and Protectionism - Recycling’s advocacy and activism in a post pandemic world” will spotlight two separate individual conversations with “The Challenge” Team by leading advocacy figures in recycling:

The first discussion is with Emmanuel Katrakis, Secretary General of the European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC), where he is valiantly leading his organization’s efforts in respect of the potential massive challenges that recycling faces with the EU’s current legislative review via their “Revision of the EU rules on waste shipments (Regulation 1013/2006)”. This action is part of their Circular Economy initiatives and potentially impacts and threatens the continuation of global free and fair trade of secondary raw materials, which is of crucial concern across our entire cross-commodity membership, the defense against the awful specter of protectionism being at the very heart of BIR’s core mission. Emmanuel’s thoughts and insights promise to provide a fascinating and informative discussion.

Our second conversation is with Adina Renee Adler, Vice President of Advocacy at ISRI. In her leading role for ISRI, Adina is a highly respected and celebrated standard bearer for the interests and vital role of commodity grade recyclables, achieving enormous success both at the State and National level in advancing and defending recycling’s significance and prominence in the value chain including in respect of impacting legislation and regulation along with its global and international implications. Her views and insights will undoubtedly provide invaluable and thought-provoking substance on advocacy, activism and protectionism in her conversation with our “Challenge” Team.

Our second theme will be a deep dive by “The Challenge” Team into a situation of current great corrosive concern - the chronic container chaos, both in terms of freight costs and container availabilities and its seriously disruptive effects on the cross commodities global recycling supply chain. The Team will investigate and examine up-to-the-minute developments, reflect on its immediate impact on global marketing of recyclables and address the macro issue of whether this is another manifestation of impinging de-globalization anxieties.

For this segment, we are thrilled to announce the participation of special guest Andrew Hoad, Chief Network Officer, Supply Chain & Logistics, DP World (CHN). As a senior executive of one of the world’s leading port owners, shipping and logistics companies, the prestigious DP World, our guest will undoubtedly bring a wealth of fascinating insights, commentary and understanding to the current turbulence and challenges our members face on this critical and topical issue.

Andrew’s role as Chief Network Officer, Supply Chain & Logistics comes at a time when DP World strives to offer superior connectivity on a greater scale and reduce inefficiencies in the supply chain to strengthen its growing network. Prior to the current appointment, he was Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of DP World Asia Pacific.

Andrew began his career with the P&O Group and the CSX Corporation and joined DP World with the acquisition of CSX World Terminals in 2005.  He has over 30 years experience in the maritime industries with management roles within Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.  He has led terminals in Philippines, Peru and the Dominican Republic.

Andrew is a graduate of Cambridge University, with logistics qualifications from the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, and has participated in executive programmes at IMD Business School, the National University of Singapore and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Andrew is a frequent speaker on the impact of new technologies and the application possibilities of AI and AGI, to the practical business of trade and supply chains.