In February, IAPH European colleagues, along with representatives from event partner Mercator, set the foundations for this year’s IAPH World Ports Conference – with a visit to the headquarters of the Diamond level headline sponsor and to the conference venue. The team first visited the head office of Port of London Authority in the heart of the City of London, where they spoke with director of corporate affairs Siân Foster (pictured third from left). Discussions focused on the conference theme and content, as well as planned events and site visits, including a cruise for attendees along the River Thames. Next, the group went to see the remarkable progress made at the venue for #IAPH2026: the iconic Olympia in Kensington, which is undergoing extensive renovation ahead of hosting the conference. The new multi-faceted venue, with conference, exhibition and side meeting facilities, matches the ambitions of IAPH to expand the conference programme with a mix of high-level content, practical demonstrations, technical visits and cross-industry interaction with the world’s port leaders.
