About this event

We are delighted to co-host an evening of presentations on the Future of Queensland Maritime and Ports.

Proudly supported by our Orange Sponsor, Haskoning, this exciting event brings together speakers from the Port of Brisbane, Haskoning and Ports Australia to present a range of topics related to the future of Queensland Maritime and Ports.

First speakers announced:

Mike Gallacher, CEO, Ports Australia
Since his appointment as CEO in 2017, Mike has been instrumental in lifting the awareness of the Australian port sector and the important role it plays in Australia’s supply chain future. He represents Ports Australia and the wider port sector on a variety of state and federal government committees. Mike is widely recognised for his robust approach to policy development. Before joining Ports Australia, Mike was appointed the role of NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter and later the further role of Minister for Industrial Relations. Mike also served as a Police officer for over 16 years, including his appointment as a Detective.

Topic: Ports Australia: State of Trade
Ports move 99% of Australia’s international trade and contribute $264 billion to Gross State Product each year. With Queensland ports alone supporting 251,000 jobs and 20% of total trade, their strategic importance is undeniable. Ports Australia’s CEO Mike Gallagher will explore the State of Trade in Australia and the strategic role ports play in driving national prosperity and regional growth.

Bas van Dijk, Director Water & Maritime, Haskoning
Bas van Dijk is the Director for Water and Maritime in Australia, leading a dynamic team of over 80 professionals. Based in Sydney, he is at the forefront of delivering innovative and sustainable maritime and coastal infrastructure solutions across the region. With more than 20 years of engineering experience, Bas has worked extensively across the Netherlands, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. His portfolio includes major LNG terminal developments, port upgrades, and design and development of marine oil and gas facilities. Throughout his career, Bas has led multidisciplinary teams on complex feasibility studies and engineering designs. His work reflects a deep commitment to shaping resilient, future-ready maritime infrastructure.

Topic: Climate Change Impacts in Ports: Lessons from Queensland and the Netherlands
Climate change poses escalating risks to ports—rising sea levels, extreme weather, and water temperature shifts can affect infrastructure, disrupt operations, and destabilise global supply chains.
Bas van Dijk will share insights from Haskoning’s experience in climate risk assessments, comparing lessons learned from Queensland and Dutch ports, and outline strategies for climate adaptation that support long-term resilience and operational continuity.

Daniel Burley Executive General Manager Infrastructure, Port of Brisbane.
Dan leads the Infrastructure Business Unit at the Port of Brisbane and is responsible for landside and waterside asset management, engineering, capital projects and land development.
During Dan’s time with the PBPL, he has held a number of roles across the Infrastructure team and been responsible for delivering a wide range of works including maintenance programs, capacity upgrades, strategic initiatives and major capital projects such as the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal. He is passionate about working collaboratively to achieve great outcomes and to deliver and maintain assets in a sustainable way.