Houston Global Freight Summit 2021: Rebound and Resilience of the Global Supply Chain
The COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters, both natural and man-made, have made clear the need for a resilient global supply chain. The global supply chain is the world’s circulatory system and determines the overall economic health of nations and the world — future prosperity depends upon the efficient flow of freight. To address the latest developments and vulnerabilities in the international freight system, the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies and Port Houston are co-hosting the first Houston Global Freight Summit. The event will be held virtually across two days and will feature over a dozen speakers — including key executives of ports, shippers, ocean carriers, railroads, trucking firms and fuel suppliers. Experts in resilience, transportation policy and the environment will also describe their research, giving special attention to infrastructure improvements.
The first day of the summit will focus on what is needed for a robust rebound from the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. Speakers will also consider how to make the global supply chain more resilient — what are the weak links that must be strengthened? GRI Founding Director Stephen E. Flynn will join the Panel II discussion on “Technology for Resilience and Efficiency.”
Event Organizer: Ed Emmet, GRI Distinguished Senior Fellow
Edward M. Emmett is a Fellow in Energy and Transportation at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, as well as a Senior Fellow at Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. As a professor in the practice, Emmett teaches classes in transportation economics and policy as well as social policy. Since 2005, Emmett has owned The Emmett Company, a consulting firm advising public and private entities in transportation policy, emergency management, international marketing and strategic development. From 2007 until 2019, Emmett served as County Judge of Harris County, Texas. As County Judge, Emmett was the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a role which established him as a national leader in emermRRgency response and community resilience. A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987, Judge Emmett was chairman of the Committee on Energy, a member of the Transportation Committee, and represented the state on numerous national committees relating to energy and transportation policy.
The event will take place, Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM CT. To see full agenda and register, click here.