2026 Event Agenda

* Additional purchase required *

This full-day workshop, presented in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, is an intermediate level course that provides a deeper understanding of chartering principles and applications. It is suitable for full-time chartering professionals as well as those who work with chartering contracts.

* Additional purchase required *

This course is designed for professionals involved in the transport and logistics of project cargo. The course covers the fundamentals of heavy-lift logistics, emphasizing both sea-based and land-based transport, including vessels, equipment, and securing cargoes. Case studies will be used for illustration with a thorough discussion of best practices.

* Additional purchase required *

AI is increasingly shaping logistics, but how relevant is it to breakbulk and project cargo? This session demystifies AI by providing real-world applications in transport engineering, vessel operations, and supply chain tracking. Learn how companies are using AI for efficiency gains, risk mitigation, and automation without replacing the human element.

* Invite only *

Under the theme Leading Through Permanent Uncertainty, the Executive Summit brings together senior leaders from across the breakbulk and project cargo supply chain for a closed-door, peer-to-peer debate. Through three facilitated roundtable discussions, participants will explore the geopolitical, economic and technological forces reshaping the industry, examine the strategic decisions driving competitive advantage, and discuss the leadership approaches needed to succeed in an increasingly complex world.

* Additional purchase required *

Join the Women in Breakbulk Networking Breakfast for a morning of inspiration, industry insight and meaningful connections. Featuring breakfast, a keynote speaker, industry panel and interactive networking activities, this session brings together professionals and the next generation of women in breakbulk.

In a market shaped by changing policy, capital pressure and geopolitical uncertainty, the project pipeline does not always tell the full story. Trade and supply chain expert Lori Ann LaRocco looks beyond the headlines to examine the global forces reshaping investment and industrial activity – and what they mean for the Americas. Drawing on data and real-world market signals, she will explore where industrial momentum is building, where pressures are emerging, and how tariffs, sourcing strategies, regulation, geopolitics and changing patterns of demand are influencing what gets built – and ultimately, what needs to be moved.

As locations compete to attract major projects, investment in infrastructure, logistics and manufacturing capability is accelerating. This session examines what differentiates a competitive industrial hub, how these investments influence location decisions, and what the resulting shift means for logistics demand, execution and future development.
 

Practical AI for Logistics, Supply Chain & Business

A practical, hands-on session on using AI to move faster, follow up smarter and bring more visibility to your workflow. Clara McVille will demonstrate real tools and systems already being used inside Pro Box, including smarter inbox management, an AI meeting recorder and a workflow visibility dashboard that helps keep projects moving and surfaces what needs attention next.

Attendees won’t just watch—they’ll leave with at least one AI shortcut set up and ready to use immediately. Clara will also share a bonus 60-second productivity switch she uses personally that saves her about 15 hours a week. The goal is simple: let computers handle more of the repetitive work behind the scenes so people have more time for conversations, relationships, judgment calls and the work only humans can do.

As a thank you for attending, every participant will also receive a complimentary post-conference AI consultation for themselves, their team, or their company.

With global LNG demand rising and energy security concerns reshaping investment priorities, US projects are accelerating, but not without short-term uncertainty. This panel examines how project owners, developers, EPCs and government voices are responding to the next wave of LNG expansion, from financing and long-term contracting to execution challenges, infrastructure demand and supply chain pressure. Speakers will outline both near-term disruption and long-term opportunity in one of the industry’s most active project markets.

Corpus Christi is already a critical hub for energy and industrial cargo. Now, rising trade volumes, manufacturing investment and nearshoring are creating an opportunity for the port to play an even bigger role in U.S. supply chains and boosting the South Texas economy. Join leaders from DP World and the Port of Corpus Christi for a conversation about the plan to harness the port's robust infrastructure and create a world-class container gateway. They’ll discuss planning for a new container terminal, why Corpus Christi is attracting investment now, and how stronger connections to Texas, the U.S. Midwest and Northern Mexico could unlock even greater economic activity.

Project cargo rarely moves in a straight line, and the biggest execution risks are often locked in long before transport begins. This session examines how project teams make critical inland logistics decisions across road, rail, barge and port networks, and why choices made at the prefeasibility stage can determine project success years later. Through real project examples, speakers explore how teams evaluate corridors, work around infrastructure constraints, balance cost, speed and execution certainty, and respond when conditions on the ground force plans to change. A practical discussion focused on what works in delivering complex projects across the Americas.

Most project cargo is decided in public documents months before a terminal is ever contacted. Air permits, township planning files, utility dockets, Army Corps permits and state DOT lettings name the equipment, the site and the timing, and the paper trail is open the entire time. Drawing on sourced research across more than a dozen US terminals, this session argues that the real information asymmetry in project cargo is not about who knows the shippers. It is about who reads the paperwork first.

The industry’s talent challenge is well known – but expectations are changing rapidly. This session brings young professionals together to explore how career priorities, work culture and skillsets are evolving, including the growing influence of technologies like AI on day-to-day roles and future career paths. It also examines how companies can attract and retain talent through new pathways, training models and workplace flexibility. A practical, solutions-focused discussion designed to move beyond the problem and highlight what is actually working.

As demand for copper, lithium, rare earths and other critical minerals accelerates, major mining, processing, manufacturing and supply chain projects are scaling. Success will depend on building an integrated critical minerals value chain, not simply increasing access to resources. As domestic supply alone will not meet rising demand, the US is increasingly looking across the Americas to secure the materials, processing capacity, strategic partnerships and logistics networks needed to support long-term industrial growth. Key discussion points will include:

•    How trade agreements, financing, regional partnerships and localization strategies are reshaping critical minerals supply chains;
•    Why Latin America is becoming central to US manufacturing ambitions;
•    Where infrastructure, processing and logistics constraints are emerging across the value chain;
•    What this means for future project development, logistics demand and trade flows across the Americas.

Preparing for the upcoming multi-decade wave of major projects requires a fundamental shift from reactive logistics to strategic asset and capacity positioning. As industrial buildouts accelerate across energy, manufacturing, mining and infrastructure, project cargo service providers face growing uncertainty from trade policy, tariffs and geopolitical volatility, alongside real opportunity for those positioned to act.

Breakbulk's Future Thinkers have spent the past year identifying trends across three core disciplines: maritime and ports, supply chain and logistics, and energy and infrastructure projects. This session marks the first time they report those findings directly to the Breakbulk community, in a series of three mini-sessions. Each group shares its best advice for what lies ahead through 2030. Together, Future Thinkers and the audience close the session by building an action plan to make the most of the opportunities ahead.

2:45 PM | Welcome and Introduction

2:55 PM - 3:10 PM | Maritime & Ports
Moderator:
Lars Greiner, CEO, Red Sea Gateway Terminal 
Speakers: 
Geir-Eilif Kalhagen, Maritime Division Director, Texas Department of Transportation
Henrik Hansen General Manager AAL Shipping (AAL) Americas
Dr. John Wilson, Professor of Economics , San Jacinto College and Public Sector Strategist, Entellect LLC

3:10 PM - 3:25 PM | Supply Chain & Logistics
Moderator: Cyril Varguese, Director of Global Logistics, Fluor
Speakers:
Frank Guzman, Senior Director, Project Logistics Global, C.H. Robinson
Tyler Sullivan, Executive VP, Defense Solutions, ICAT Logistics
Dr. Gulshan Singh, Lecturer, University of Houston, Cullen College of Engineering, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

3:25 PM - 3:40 PM | Energy & Infrastructure Projects
Moderator: Lucas Strom, Head of Industrial Projects US, DHL Global Forwarding – Industrial Projects
Speakers:
Jean-François Bourque, Regional Logistics Manager, Eastern Canada, Hatch
Thomas Skellingsted, Managing Director, LPX Partners
Margaret A. Kidd, Department Chair, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, San Jacinto College and Special Advisor, Houston Maritime Center & Museum

3:40 PM - 3:55 PM | Action Plan
Speakers:
Lars Greiner, CEO, Red Sea Gateway Terminal
Cyril Varguese, Director of Global Logistics, Fluor
Lucas Strom, Head of Industrial Projects US, DHL Global Forwarding – Industrial Projects

A live pitch session spotlighting start-ups bringing new thinking into the port and maritime sector – from smarter operations to practical solutions for real industry challenges. Taking to the stage in front of industry leaders, decision-makers and start-up accelerators, this is a chance to build visibility and connect with the people shaping the market. 

Short, sharp and to the point – each pitch is designed to spark conversation and open up new opportunities. 

The Welcome Reception at Breakbulk Americas 2026 is the perfect way to kick off the week - an informal evening of networking where industry leaders reconnect, new partnerships begin, and the energy of the global project cargo community sets the tone for the days ahead.

Sponsored by

Join us as we celebrate the industry's rising stars at the NextWave 30 Awards, recognizing exceptional professionals aged 30 and under who are already making an impact across the project cargo and breakbulk industry. Celebrate their achievements as we recognize the future leaders shaping our sector.

No mat. No yoga clothes. No flexibility required.

This short, accessible yoga experience is designed specifically for the realities of a busy conference day.

After hours of sitting, standing, networking, traveling and taking in information, Stressie invites attendees to step away from their screens, reconnect with their bodies and reset their energy through simple movement and breath for another day at Breakbulk.

Participants will move through an energizing sequence of standing yoga, mobility, stretching and breathwork designed to release tension from the places we tend to hold it most: the neck, shoulders, spine, hips and mind.

Everything can be done in work clothes and modified for different bodies and mobility levels.

Brought to you by Women in Breakbulk's Official Wellness Partner

NextWave Education Day brings together university students and industry professionals for a day of inspiring content, networking, and exhibition access. The program showcases career opportunities across the breakbulk and project cargo industry while connecting the next generation of talent with leading employers.

Includes alumni panels, interactive problem-based learning sessions, career advice sessions, student poster competition awards, a guided floor walk and lunch provided.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in the way we work, the skills that make us distinctly human become even more valuable.

Beyond AI is an interactive wellness session exploring the intelligence that technology cannot replace: our emotional, social and collective intelligence.

Participants will move beyond the technology conversation and turn inward, exploring how we read ourselves, understand others, communicate under pressure and create better outcomes together.

Through short experiential exercises, paired conversations and group reflection, attendees will practice the human skills that support stronger leadership, healthier teams and more meaningful connection.
 

The breakbulk fleet is aging, vessel availability is tightening and geopolitical pressures are reshaping global capacity. This session explores how carriers, inland operators and project stakeholders are responding to rising demand, limited newbuild activity and increasing pressure on US-flag capacity driven by cargo preference rules, government-backed projects and shifting global priorities. Combining market analysis with strategic and operational perspectives, the discussion examines what this means for pricing, lead times, transportation readiness and long-term project planning.

Export packing is often one of the most overlooked parts of planning an international shipment, yet the way cargo is prepared can directly impact handling, transportation, cost, and ultimately whether it arrives safely at its destination. “Beyond the Crate: What Every Breakbulk Professional Should Know About Export Packing” is an interactive workshop that takes participants behind the scenes of preparing breakbulk and project cargo for international transportation.

Attendees will learn how cargo characteristics, dimensions and weight, lifting and handling requirements, transportation mode, environmental exposure, and moisture and corrosion risks influence packing decisions. Participants will also explore common export packing methods, including skidding, crating, blocking and bracing, and protective barriers, while learning what information should be provided when requesting packing services.

Through real-world cargo examples, attendees will be challenged to “think like an export packer” and determine how they would approach different packing scenarios. Participants will leave better equipped to identify potential issues, ask the right questions, and make more informed decisions when planning international shipments.

Brought to you by Women in Breakbulk Association Partner WIMOs

Data centers are rapidly emerging as a major driver of industrial investment, with AI-driven expansion accelerating demand for power generation, cabling and industrial equipment. This session explores how these projects are reshaping logistics requirements, placing growing pressure on energy grids, water resources and materials supply chains across the Americas. As data centers become increasingly tied to critical infrastructure and government systems, speakers also examine the growing importance of infrastructure security, supply chain resilience and operational risk.

Ports and terminals manage complex, high-value infrastructure, often with competing maintenance needs and limited capital. Knowing what needs attention, when to act and where to prioritize investment is critical. This session introduces the practical role digital twins can play in bringing asset condition and geospatial data together, giving port authorities and terminal operators a clearer view of their infrastructure and helping inform decisions around maintenance, capital investment, safety and resilience.

In a market defined by disruption, predictability has become increasingly elusive. Returning in the popular “Ask the Experts” format, this audience-led Q&A session examines how companies are planning and executing projects despite tariffs, Section 301 actions, shifting trade policy and operational uncertainty. Bringing together specialists in trade, customs, procurement and project delivery, the discussion explores practical approaches to managing risk, compliance, cost pressure and supply chain disruption, from cargo preference requirements and Chinese vessel concerns to forced labor investigations and evolving trade restrictions.

Nuclear investment is accelerating, but the logistics models behind traditional nuclear construction and emerging SMR deployment are fundamentally different. This session explores how cargo profiles, delivery schedules, manufacturing approaches and infrastructure needs are changing, while also examining how new entrants, private capital and evolving ownership models are reshaping project execution itself. Speakers discuss the operational, regulatory and workforce capabilities required to support a growing nuclear supply chain.

If manufacturing and industrial investment accelerate across the US, how will that impact project logistics, transportation and infrastructure? Built around two contrasting future scenarios selected from Breakbulk’s first scenario writing contest, this session moves past current industry hurdles to dive into strategic planning for 2030. Join industry leaders as they debate the practical realities, infrastructure requirements and strategic choices of each path, and then examine the choices companies may need to make now to prepare for the industrial supply chain of 2030.

Join us at the Breakbulk Live Stage as we bring two days of conversations, connections and big ideas to a close. We’ll celebrate the winners of Breakbulk’s first Scenario Writing Contest and raise a glass to the future of breakbulk.

Open to the whole Breakbulk community, this is your final chance to catch up with colleagues and customers, make new connections, exchange one last business card and toast to another successful Breakbulk Americas before the show closes.