Global Cold Chain Alliance

Welcome Remarks

Julie Hanson, Director Europe, Global Cold Chain Alliance

GCCA’s European Strategic Priorities

Niels Lundgaard-Svenstrup, Chairman of the GCCA European Logistics Council, Nordic Network & Business Development Director, Lineage Logistics

Niels Lundgaard-Svenstrup was educated from Aarhus Business College and Copenhagen Business School. He found his way into the cold storage business as his great grandfather founded their family business in 1938 (founded as Vejle Frysehus). In 2002 a new company structure came into place and their family company changed their name to Coldstar. He began working for the company in 2010 as Sales Director.

In 2015, a succession was a reality and Niels and his brother bought out their father.  They decided to sell Coldstar to Lineage Logistics which came into force by December 2020, where he began his position as Nordic Network & Business Development Director. He oversees commercial developments as the lead for building up their present in the Nordic region (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland).

He holds various board positions in national and international industry organizations such as The Danish Cold Storage Association, GCCA Europe and WFLO under GCCA. 

Global Cold Chain Update

Matthew Ott, President and CEO, Global Cold Chain Alliance

Matthew (Matt) Ott is President & CEO of the Global Cold Chain Alliance. For the past two decades, he has worked with associations and their member companies on developing strategy and delivering results that has directly contributed to growth in membership, programs, events, education, and non-dues revenue.

Before joining GCCA, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National

Grocers Association and Executive Director of the NGA Foundation. During his time at NGA, the organization doubled their retail membership, quadrupled the number of associate members, doubled the revenue and attendance of NGA’s annual event (The NGA Show), and launched numerous programs that led to increased member value and non-dues revenue for the organization.

Matt holds an M.S. degree in Management & Policy from the University of New Hampshire, and a B.S.

from George Mason University. He is also recognized as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) by the

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and is recognized as a Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) by the Convention Industry Council. He currently lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife Jillian and his son and daughter.

Keynote: Global Perishable Trends, Supply Chain Disruptions and Market Distortions; Outlook for the next years

Danny Levenswaard, Director Breakbulk, Port of Rotterdam

Danny Levenswaard assumed the role of management for the Port of Rotterdam’s breakbulk department in April 2016.  Employed at the port since 1992, he is able to draw on a great deal of relevant experience.  After several roles in Human Resources he worked for nine years as Senior Business Manager Shipping (Bulk & Shipping) and prior to that served as Business Development Manager Industry & Bulk at the port’s commercial department.

Warehouse Operations Track: Business Performance & Data Workshop – How well do you know your company?

Viet Nguyen, Food Logistics Analyst, Food & Agribusiness RaboResearch, Rabobank

Viet Nguyen is the Food Logistics analyst at Food & Agribusiness RaboResearch, Rabobank. Prior to joining Rabobank, Viet worked in different logistics & supply chain positions at FMCG companies such as Heineken and Friesland Campina as well as conducted PhD research in data-driven agri-food logistics management at Wageningen University.”

Transportation Track: Fighting Driver Shortage

Caroline Blom, Strategic Labor Market Policy Advisor, Transport Logistics Netherlands (TLN)