AAPA LATAM Announces New Board of Directors to Drive Regional Growth and Innovation

With the goal of enhancing networking and developing a strategic approach for the continent and its members, AAPA LATAM announced its new Board of Directors this week. This leadership team will focus on transforming the regional maritime industry with an emphasis on innovation and sustainable growth, fostering collaboration among ports, terminals, operators, and service providers.

The new Board of Directors includes representatives from Argentina, Colombia, Curaçao, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Panama, Mexico, and Guatemala, who will work to promote the region’s interests, growth, and cooperation within the port sector.

According to Juan Andrés Duarte, Executive President of AAPA LATAM, “This is a significant milestone and part of our established roadmap, which initially focused on re-establishing our association, engaging with key industry players across Latin America, and promoting our AAPA Peru 2025 event.”

“This Board of Directors is composed of dedicated and committed professionals, whose leadership has made valuable contributions to the development of the industry in the region. They represent ports, terminals, operators, and authorities at the forefront of the sector. We deeply appreciate the willingness of these distinguished leaders to be part of this new phase of AAPA LATAM. Their participation reflects a strong commitment to relaunching and strengthening the association in Latin America,” Duarte stated.

Juan Linares, President of the AAPA LATAM Board and General Manager of the Bahía Blanca Port, Argentina, highlighted that “The new structure of AAPA’s Board of Directors reflects the association’s strength and representativeness in Latin America, bringing together terminals and port authorities under a shared strategic vision. With decades of history and leadership in the region, AAPA continues to promote port development, foster integration, and strengthen a key network for trade and infrastructure growth.”

This new phase for the association is also supported by Cary S. Davis, President & CEO of AAPA, who stated, “Ports and transportation are inherently global, and for this reason, formalizing our decades-long relationship with Latin America through the announcement of this new Board of Directors is a natural step for AAPA.” Davis also added, “We appreciate and congratulate the new board members for their commitment and dedication to continuing our 114-year legacy of international collaboration.”

Find out more about the biographies of AAPA LATAM’s Board of Directors below and stay up to date with the latest publications from the Association through its official website: https://aapalatam.org/

 

• Juan Francisco Linares , General Manager at the Bahía Blanca Port Management Consortium and President of the Board of Directors of AAPA Latam.

Linares is a professional with more than 23 years of experience in the Management Consortium, complemented by a solid career as a merchant marine and overseas pilot. His career began in 1999 in the maritime traffic system, being appointed head of the VTS (Vessel Traffic Systems) in 2005. Since 2017, he has assumed strategic roles as Operations Manager and, since 2018, Business Development Manager, which has allowed him to acquire comprehensive knowledge of the operation and potential of the Bahía Blanca estuary.

He has outstanding training as a graduate in Transport and Operational Logistics, a Master in Integrated Logistics Management, a Master in Logistics and a Harbour Master, providing a technical and strategic vision to the maritime-port sector.

• Alvaro Rodriguez Ferrero, Executive President at Ventura Group.

Economist from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Master’s degree in Maritime Economics and Logistics, completed at Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

Passionate about logistics as a key driver for competitiveness in a globalized world, he has specialized in becoming a strategic ally for Latin American entrepreneurs. His focus is on building bridges between new companies and traditional sectors, firmly betting on the orange and knowledge economy as fundamental pillars for economic and social growth.

With a solid vision of Colombia as a destination for safe investments and an incubator of high-impact ideas, its objective is to promote the social and cultural transformation of the country. It believes in entrepreneurship and creative industries as essential sources for development, generating alliances between public and private institutions that strengthen the cultural economy and value intellectual property as a strategic resource for progress.

• Guillermo Misiano , Founder and CEO of PTP Group .

Guillermo Misiano is a prominent Argentine lawyer, a graduate of the National University of Rosario (UNR), specializing in Administrative Law and Navigation Law. He also holds a Master’s Degree in International Trade Logistics from the Argentine University of Business (UADE).

In 1998, he founded PTP Group , a company dedicated to the operation of port terminals and the provision of comprehensive logistics services in South America. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its operations in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, consolidating itself as a key player in the region.

Misiano ‘s career reflects his commitment to logistics and port development, as well as his ability to lead international expansion projects, contributing to the strengthening of trade and economic integration in the region.

• Humberto de Castro, Director General of Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA) .

Strategic leader with extensive experience in port development and management in the Caribbean. Electrical Engineer from the Georgia Institute of Technology and with an MBA from CURISES (UNA), he has combined his technical training with managerial skills to drive the modernization and efficiency of Curacao ‘s ports .

His achievements include his role in the restructuring of port concessions, promoting competitiveness, and his appointment as a member of the board of directors of the American Association of Port Authority (AAA). of Port Authorities (AAPA). His leadership has been key in the growth of maritime traffic and in positioning the ports of Curaçao as strategic economic drivers in the region.

• Juan Curbelo , Administrative President of the National Port Authority of Uruguay.

President of the National Port Administration (ANP) of Uruguay since March 2020, Juan Curbelo is a lawyer specializing in port management and logistics development. With previous experience as a vocal director of the ANP and representative of Uruguay in the Administrative Commission of the Río de la Plata, he has led key initiatives to modernize and optimize the country’s port infrastructure.

Under his leadership, the Port of Montevideo experienced record growth, with a 50% increase in container movement between 2019 and 2024. In addition, he promoted dredging, modernization and strategic works projects, such as in the Port of Carmelo, consolidating Uruguay as a regional logistics hub.

• Luis Garcia Da Silva, General Director of the Administration of the Ports of Paranaguá and Antonina – APPA.

Luiz Fernando Garcia da Silva is the General Director of the Administration of the Ports of Paranaguá and Antonina (APPA) in Brazil since 2019. He is an economist graduated from the Federal University of Paraná and holds a master’s degree in Logistics and Port Management from the Valenciaport Foundation and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, in Spain.

Under his leadership, the ports of Paranaguá and Antonina have experienced remarkable growth in efficiency and volume of cargo handled. In 2022, Paraná’s port terminals handled more than 58 million tons, exceeding projections that estimated reaching this volume in 2030. This achievement is attributed to strategic investments in infrastructure and the implementation of innovative technologies that optimize port operations.

In addition, Garcia da Silva has promoted international partnerships to strengthen port infrastructure. A prominent example is the strategic cooperation agreement signed in 2023 between APPA and China Merchants Port Group ( CMPort ), aimed at expanding the operations and capacities of the Port of Paranaguá.

• Mario Moya, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arica Port Company.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Empresa Portuaria Arica (EPA) since June 2022, Mario Moya is a distinguished mechanical engineer with an MBA in General Business Management and a solid specialization in port logistics and corporate governance.

With extensive experience in the port sector, he has held key roles as general manager and business and development manager at the EPA. Under his leadership, the Port of Arica achieved record figures in cargo movement, consolidating itself as a strategic hub in the Andean macro region.

Cone Ports Corporation , promoting the growth of the cruise industry in Chile. Moya stands out for his vision of port modernization and expansion, strengthening the competitiveness of the Port of Arica and its ability to adapt to growing regional demand.

• Rodrigo Torras, CEO of Compas.

Strategic leader with more than 15 years of international experience in various industries in Latin America, with a proven track record of efficiency, achievement of results, cost reduction and management of high-performance teams. Professional with an outstanding track record in the port and logistics sector in Latin America. With a degree in Business Administration from the University of Salvador and a postgraduate degree in Finance from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, he has led key projects in port modernization and strategic development.

He was general manager of the Bahía Blanca Port Management Consortium, where he promoted initiatives such as the creation of a food cluster to add value to agricultural exports. In 2024, he assumed the presidency of COMPAS in Colombia, with the aim of consolidating the company’s leadership in the port sector and promoting sustainable growth.

• Zulma Dinelli , Director of the AAPA LATAM Congress.

Zulma Dinelli is a leading professional in the logistics, maritime and port industry in Latin America. For more than 15 years, she has focused her career on this sector, serving as President and CEO of PR PORTS LLC, a company specialized in the production of events, conferences and business meetings related to logistics and maritime-port trade.

Committed to gender equality, Dinelli is a member of WISTA Argentina and has been one of the driving forces behind the Female Leadership Program for the Maritime-Port Sector (LIFE), an initiative that seeks to empower women in the industry and facilitate their access to leadership roles.

She also serves as General Director of the AAPA LATAM Congress, the most important port event on the continent, which annually brings together leaders and decision-makers to analyze trends and strengthen ties in the sector.

• Juan Andrés Duarte , Executive President of AAPA LATAM.

Juan Andrés Duarte is an economist with a specialization in Corporate Law from the Universidad de los Andes, and advanced training at Harvard and Babson College . He holds a dual MBA from IE Business School and Singapore Management University , complemented by certifications in Project Management (PMI-PMP), Port Management (PPM), Scrum Master and Scrum Product Management Owner , and Strategic Planning from Wharton. Currently, she is expanding her knowledge in a graduate program in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at the University of Texas.

His professional career spans the Americas, with significant contributions in countries such as Canada, the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. As CEO of DUAGA, he has led more than 60 consulting projects in 13 countries, transforming the logistics and port sector with innovative and sustainable approaches.

In his role as CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) for Latin America and the Caribbean, he has promoted the digitalization and sustainability of ports, highlighting the importance of resilient and competitive infrastructures.

• Juan Carlos Paz , Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Port Authority of Peru.

Merchant Marine Officer, Master in Business Administration from ESAN and Master in Finance from the Universidad del Pacífico. He has been central manager of human resources at the Peruvian Social Security Institute (now EsSalud), technical manager and member of the Board of Directors of OSITRAN, general manager of the Congress of the Republic, head of the cabinet of advisors of the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion, general manager of the Metropolitan Protransporte Institute , General Director of Aquatic Transport at the Ministry of Transport and Communications and member of the University Council of Universidad ESAN.

He has carried out consultancy work for different ministries and other public entities, Peruvian and foreign companies, as well as projects for international organizations such as the European Union, AECI–Spanish cooperation, GIZ–German cooperation, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

• Claudio Oliveira, Chief Executive Officer  (CEO) of BTP – BRAZIL PORT TERMINAL.

Executive with more than 30 years of experience in the maritime and port sector. Since 2015, he has served as Commercial and Marketing Director of Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP), leading strategies that have consolidated the company as one of the main port terminals in Brazil.

A graduate in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, Cláudio has held key positions in transportation, maritime freight and container handling companies in Brazil, the United States and Costa Rica. His leadership is highlighted by the strengthening of cabotage as an essential component in logistics and his focus on modernization, sustainability and operational efficiency.

In 2024, he was appointed member of the National Council of Brasil Export , reaffirming his commitment to the development of the port sector in Latin America. Cláudio is recognized for his strategic vision and his ability to drive high standards of productivity and safety in port operations.

• Lisbeth Inurrieta Salinas, Terminal Manager at INTEGRAL FOREIGN TRADE CORPORATION SA DE CV

Lisbeth Inurreta is the Terminal Manager for the CICE Group in Veracruz, Mexico, with more than 25 years of experience in the port and logistics sector. Recognized as one of the first women to lead in the maritime industry in the region, she has stood out for her focus on innovation, safety and strategic expansion.

Under his leadership, CICE has implemented key projects such as the construction of a new semi-specialized terminal in Veracruz, with an investment of 4 billion pesos, which will triple the current container handling capacity. In addition, it has promoted advanced security measures in cargo transportation and training programs to face logistical challenges.

Committed to female empowerment, Lisbeth has participated in initiatives such as the LIFE Programme, highlighting her leadership in promoting gender equality in the logistics and port industry. Her career positions her as a leader in sustainable development and modernisation of the sector.

• Vagner Vega, General Director of the Integral Port Administration of the State of Quintana Roo.

Responsible for managing the main ports in the region, including Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Juárez and Bacalar. With a solid track record in coastal and maritime administration, he previously led the Federal Maritime Land Zone (ZOFEMAT) in Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo.

Under his leadership at APIQROO, he has strengthened relationships with major cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean , promoting a greater flow of visitors and diversifying the local economy. In addition, he has represented Quintana Roo at key international events, promoting strategies for sustainability and environmental protection in the port sector, essential for tourism in the region.

• Werner Ovalle Ramírez, President of the National Port Commission.

Werner Ovalle Ramírez is a prominent Guatemalan leader in the customs administration, logistics and public security sectors. He currently serves as Vice Minister of Anti-Narcotics in the Ministry of the Interior of Guatemala, where he leads strategies to combat drug trafficking and strengthen security in the country.

With more than eight years as Customs Superintendent at the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT), Ovalle promoted customs modernization and promoted the competitiveness of international trade in Guatemala. In addition, he was Regional Vice President of the World Customs Organization (WCO) for the Americas and the Caribbean, coordinating customs cooperation efforts in the region.

In 2024, he assumed the presidency of the National Port Commission (CPN), contributing to the strategic development of Guatemalan ports. His experience and commitment have been fundamental to the implementation of policies aimed at economic development, logistical modernization and the strengthening of national security.

• Carlos Urriola, President of the Board of Directors of SSA Marine MIT.

Carlos Urriola Tam is a renowned Panamanian executive with more than 40 years of experience in the maritime and port sector. A graduate in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Tecnológico de Monterrey, he has played key roles in the modernization and expansion of port operations in Latin America.

He is currently President of SSA International, overseeing container operations outside the United States. Previously, he led Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), consolidating it as a benchmark in regional transshipment. His management is notable for promoting investments in port infrastructure, such as the acquisition of Super Post-Panamax cranes, improving the operational efficiency of key terminals.

Urriola has chaired important associations such as the Panama Maritime Chamber, the American Chamber of Commerce and the Caribbean Shipping Association , promoting the logistics competitiveness of Panama and the region. Its leadership and strategic vision position it as one of the most influential leaders in the development of the global maritime-port sector.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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