Introduction

For the 2026 Edition, the AIVP Working Group on River Port Cities will meet in London (United Kingdom) to discover the many projects happening in England’s capital city, March 4&5.

Theme: Iconic Blue Spaces​
The Tidal Thames and London’s Royal Docks

As a tidal river from London to the sea, the Thames encompasses many specific challenges. We are looking forward to learn more about Port of London Authority’s work on ensuring a clean river ecosystem while promoting river transport, increasing the role of the river as a destination and developping many working and leisure uses on the waterway.

We will also discover more examples of transformation of port city interfaces and new ways of activating former industrial areas with a visit and presentations from London’s Royal Docks.

Register your participation for two days of visits, presentations and peer-to-peer exchanges in this multicultural port city that can be an inspiration for many!

This event is reserved for Working Group members.

DAY 1, Wednesday, 4 March

09:30
Official Opening

9:45 – 10:45
Roundtable: Working River

  • Siân FOSTER, Director of Corporate Affairs, Port of London Authority
  • Jean DEBRIE, Professor, University Paris 1 – Sorbonne
  • Véronique HAUCHECORNE, Head of Major Development Projects, HAROPA Port

Coffee break

11:15 – 12:30
Roundtable: Active river

  • Jenny COOPER-LOW, Lead – Thames Vision & Partnership, Port of London Authority
  • Emmeline ENDRESEN, Impact & Partnerships Officer, Port of London Authority
  • (Tbc)

Lunch break

13:30 – 15:00
Visit along the Thames

15:00 – 17:00
WORKSHOP : Connected River Methodology

  • Benno BULTINK, Connected River Project Lead, Rijkswaterstaat
  • Ruud KOSMAN, Managing Partner, Innovalor Advice
  • Wouter VAN BOCKHAVEN, Associate Professor, Antwerp Management School

19:30 – 21:30
Dinner

DAY 2, Thursday, March 5

09:15 – 10:30
Boat tour to Royal Docks

10:30 – 12:00
Walking Tour of the Royal Docks

Lunch break

13:00 – 14:15
Roundtable : Transforming ex-industrial docks into leisure-focused areas

  • Ted MAXWELL, Development Lead, Royal Docks Waterways
  • Andrew CARUSO, Partner, HATCH
  • Amaia ARREGI, Deputy Mayor, City of Bilbao
  • Moderation Bruno DELSALLE

Coffee break

14:45 – 16:00
Roundtable : Clean and Healthy Waterways

  • ​XX, Greater London Authority
  • Alice HALL, Head of Sustainability, PLA
  • Emily McLEAN, Senior Environment Technical Adviser, PLA
  • Kelda HUDSON, Technical Adviser (Ecology), PLA
  • George OLLEY, Project Engineer, BioMatrix Water
  • Moderation Noémi MENE

16:00 – 16:15
Conclusions

Contact

Noémi MENE

Project Manager – Sustainable Mobility and River Port Cities

nmene@aivp.org

Useful information

Date(s)

2026-03-04 00:00:00

Location

London (United Kingdom)