Jan. 22, 2015: Invited Speaker Seminar: The Port of Montreal: at the Heart of Global Supply Chains

Dr. Daniel Olivier
Director of Business Intelligence and Innovation,
Port of Montreal Authority

Thursday, January 22 at 4:00 p.m.
Room EV003.309

Abstract

Ports are key links in global supply chains, acting as interface between landside and oceanside logistics systems. The presentation will cover how the port of Montreal is addressing challenges relating to changing dynamics of global commerce. We will specifically examine adaptation processes in facing three important challenges:

1.       The migration of economic activity and emerging markets;
2.       The acceleration of increasing ship size, or mega-ships; and
3.       Service differentiation and value creation strategies.

It will be demonstrated just how resilient the port has been over the decades to maintain its competitiveness in the face of shifting global dynamics.

Biography

Daniel Olivier obtained a Ph.d. in economic geography (maritime transport) from the University of Hong Kong in 2006. He has published on the topics of container ports, logistics, and Asian transnational firms in a number of academic journals. He authored the book Dynamics of Globalisation in the Container Port Industry: Asia Rising in 2010. He later obtained a certificate in supply chain management from Georgia Tech in 2011 and has been  an active member of CILTNA since 2013.

Mr. Olivier joined Transport Canada’s Strategic Policy group in 2006 where he worked on the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, a federal government priority seeking to align trade and transportation infrastructure towards meeting increasing trade with Asia-Pacific economies. In 2008, he joined the Economic Analysis branch and continued working on gateways and corridors, but from a research angle. More specifically, he led the development of a national supply chain performance monitoring program, including the development and implementation of key performance indicators across Canada’s major seaports.

In 2012, Mr. Olivier joined the Port of Montreal Authority and is now director of Business intelligence and innovation. His mandate covers such things as strategic planning, performance monitoring, public policy, as well as innovation and best practices.

Mr. Olivier lived in China (Hong Kong), France and Australia.