IADC Holds Networking Event for Young Professionals

In June, 60 young professionals from the International Association of Dredging Contractors (IADC) member companies met at Hilvaria Studio’s for the association’s second annual networking event, Peering into Dredging’s Future.

IADC’s Secretary General Rene Kolman kicked off the event with welcoming remarks followed by a plenary session.  IADC’s President Frank Verhoeven introduced the key drivers of dredging. London School of Economics professor Julius Sen then discussed the economic drivers behind dredging. Futureproofed founder Serge de Gheldere concluded the plenary session with insights about climate change and how it should guide the industry toward thinking in terms of sustainability.

After the plenary session, participants divided into smaller groups for moderated sessions where the ideas of the plenary session contributed to a discussion on innovative ways to address the challenges facing the industry in the future. The plenary session reconvened and representatives from each session pitched their peers’ proposed solutions to the entire group.