Speakers

Bert Haemels leads digital and innovation initiatives across several SGS business lines, helping translate emerging technologies into practical applications. Across inspection, laboratory, and industrial service environments, he focuses on developing solutions that are usable, scalable, and suited to complex operational contexts, contributing to tangible added value for the business. Within the SGS SAMPLIFLY service, Bert is closely involved in its further development and expansion, supporting the integration of drone-enabled logistics into operations and helping explore how UAVs can become a reliable component of industrial workflows.

Erwin Verstraelen is Vice President Innovation at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, where he drives the development of one of Europe’s most advanced “smart port” ecosystems. With a strong background in digital transformation and enterprise IT, he has played a key role in turning the port into a leading testbed for innovation in areas such as AI, digital twins, autonomous systems, and drone applications. Known for his pioneering mindset, he focuses on building open innovation ecosystems that connect technology, industry, and real-world use cases at scale.

Dr. Jürgen Wirtgen is Regional Director DACH & NL for Drone Defense at Dedrone by Axon, leading go-to-market for counter-UAS solutions across defense, critical infrastructure, aviation, and public safety. A commercial leader with 25+ years of experience, he has built and scaled Data & AI businesses at Oracle, AWS, and Microsoft, developing high-performing teams and delivering complex enterprise programs across the region. He holds a PhD in Computer Science (summa cum laude) from the University of Bonn and is an Honorary Professor for Big Data and Applied AI at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, combining deep technical expertise with C-level commercial fluency.

Karsten Schönewald is Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), responsible for the security and resilience of critical port infrastructure in one of Europe’s largest and most important logistics hubs. In this role, he focuses on safeguarding port operations while supporting the transformation of the Port of Hamburg towards a sustainable, digital, and future-ready port ecosystem. In addition, he serves as CEO of Flotte Hamburg, a subsidiary of HPA and the operator of the City of Hamburg’s public vessel fleet. Since the company’s 
establishment in 2017, he has been driving the modernization of the fleet with a particular emphasis on environmentally friendly operations and innovative propulsion technologies.

Karsten Schönewald joined HPA in 2009 and has held various leadership positions, including Head of Railway Technology, where he was responsible for the maintenance and modernization of the Hamburg Port Railway infrastructure. He also led the project that developed the concept for a centralized ship management organization for the City of Hamburg. Karsten Schönewald is a graduate civil engineer and international welding engineer.

Lennart Kinau is Head of Strategy and Communication at Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), where he oversees strategic development, international affairs, executive board coordination, climate and environmental initiatives, and drone operations. In this role, he leads cross-departmental strategic processes and drives innovation in port operations.

Before joining HPA, he spent five years at the Hamburg Ministry of Economy and Innovation, most recently as Head of the Ministers Office, where he coordinated senate and parliamentary affairs, public communication, and European and federal relations. Earlier, he served as the Minister’s Personal Advisor, managing strategic priorities and stakeholder relations.

Lennart previously worked in mobility innovation at Hamburgs largest public transport operator Hamburger Hochbahn AG, contributing to the developments of autonomous shuttles, and gained consulting experience at Sopra Steria. His early career includes several years in parliamentary work at the Hamburg State Parliament and international experience in Indonesia with the German-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.

He holds a Master’s degree in Management & Business Development and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies of Global Management, including an academic year at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia.

Marlon Drinkwaard is a passionate entrepreneur who loves shaking things up. With his innovative approach, he’s making the traditional maritime sector safer and more efficient. Inspired by Rotterdam, Europe's largest and most sustainable port, Marlon founded AquaSmartXL. This forward-thinking company combines drone technology, robotics, and data to deliver tremendous value for asset owners, port authorities and governments. Marlon is actively involved with the Rotterdam Maritime Board and also serves PortXL, where he contributes to shape the future of the maritime industry.

Martin Keller has led Infrabel’s drone program since 2021 and has been actively involved in the Belgian drone ecosystem for more than a decade. He contributed to the development of Belgium’s first drone regulations between 2012 and 2016. Combining extensive aeronautical knowledge with hands-on operational experience, he has championed the adoption of advanced drone technologies at Infrabel. Today, Infrabel conducts more than 2,000 drone missions annually through the first fully integrated in-house drone program within a Belgian public company. His expertise spans operations, regulation, training, innovation, automation, and data analytics. Martin works closely with authorities, industry, and international partners to advance the safe and innovative use of drones in critical infrastructure.

Munish Khurana is Senior Manager Business Development in Air Traffic Management & Unmanned Traffic Management at EUROCONTROL, where he works at the intersection of aviation regulation, drone integration, and European airspace innovation. He focuses on enabling the safe and scalable integration of unmanned systems across complex operational environments, bridging policy, technology, and real-world deployment.

At DroneHorizon, he plays a key role in shaping the conversation around drone integration in ports, cities, and logistics ecosystems, connecting stakeholders across aviation, infrastructure, and autonomous systems to accelerate real-world adoption of drone technology at scale.

Pascal Coppens is a leading China expert on innovation, technology, and business trends. Since 1996, he has spent more than 20 years in China and Silicon Valley, building high-tech ventures and working alongside hundreds of Chinese engineers and innovators. Combining the perspective of a sinologist with hands-on entrepreneurial experience, he is today a sought-after keynote speaker and the author of three books on China’s innovation and global impact.

Pieter-Jan Note is the CEO and co-founder at MAHI, a leader in autonomous maritime technology. He holds dual Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Leuven and Maritime Engineering Science from the University of Southampton. He has extensive experience in the maritime industry, having worked on dredging and offshore projects at Jan De Nul NV and later leading a team at Flanders Make in developing autonomous vehicles. Additionally, Pieter-Jan founded and led "Project Mahi”, an initiative that set a world record for the first solar-powered uncrewed vessel across the Atlantic Ocean.

Sasko is responsible for the total value chain from developing sales and solution propositions to the execution of specific autonomous solutions at a customer site. 

He has extensive experience in the autonomous and commercial vehicle industry and commercial activities for truck applications and has actively worked with business development, sales, innovation, business analysis, project management, process design, coaching and consulting assignments.

He has a proven track record in his leadership positions, and he takes pride in developing people and organisations.

Sebastian Cassis is a leads Business Development for Axon Fusus, where he focuses on expanding the company's real-time operations solutions across Europe. He brings experience working across 10+ countries in Europe, Africa, and South America. Prior to Axon, Sebastian held several roles at AWS. With a background spanning public safety technology and cloud solutions, he works at the intersection of innovation and law enforcement modernisation.

Simon Rosenkranz is a Navy Reserve Officer and holds an unlimited CoC as Master Mariner. His recent seagoing experience was served mainly on container and multipurpose vessels sailing worldwide with various German shipping companies. After leaving the sea, he worked for different Shipping and Consulting Companies as surveyor, supercargo and senior risk manager.  He joined Hamburg Port Authority in 2018, as Deputy Harbour Master, from a position as Consultant Master Mariner with London Offshore Consultants Ltd. and became Chief Harbour Master of Hamburg in 2022. 

Steven Luys runs Exail Robotics Belgium since December 2019. His mission is to scale-up an R&D and manufacturing & support team to supply the Belgian-Dutch Marine’s new Minehunter program with the latest generation of stand-off demining drone systems. The newly built factory in Ostend focusses on production and service, while his team now consists already of more than 160 employees reaching a turnover of more than 75 mioEUR.

Steven has more than 30 years of management, sales, marketing and strategy experience in the Aerospace, Defense and Telecom markets. He formerly worked at BMT Aerospace as Chief Commercial Officer. Before, he was a Vice-President at Barco’s and Esterline’s Aerospace & Defense businesses.

Steven Luys has a university degree in electronic engineering at the Ghent University, has an MBA from Vlerick Management School. He also followed the High Studies for Security & Defence course at the Belgian Royal Military Academy.

Steven is a freelance commercial pilot and a flight instructor.

William Riggs shapes the built environment for good — designing cities, campuses, and communities that are sustainable, just, and joyful places to live. With 20+ years spanning urban planning, transportation, and policy, his work has taken him from researching autonomous vehicles with Waymo and Cruise, to planning net-zero communities with ARUP, to advising the Dutch national transportation ministry and major European mobility research programmes (SHOW, ULTIMO, Diversify-CCAM).

As Professor and Director of the Autonomous Vehicles & the City Initiative, he leads research on the future of mobility while advising startups and investment funds on clean technology and sustainable infrastructure — turning today's toughest urban challenges into tomorrow's bold solutions.