International jury
Winner selection process
Applicant projects for the AIVP Antoine Rufenacht Prize will be analyzed by an Expert panel, who will select the best entries based on the same analysis grid. These will then be assessed by a Grand Jury, which will select the winner after deliberation behind closed doors.
Two co-chairwomen
The chairmanship of the Prix AIVP Antoine Rufenacht has been entrusted to two personalities, each recognized for their expertise, know-how, and contribution to improving city-port relations.
Geraldine Knatz
Los Angeles (United-States)
Co-chairwoman responsible for the Grand jury
Geraldine Knatz is the Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees at Altasea. Located in San Pedro, California, this project, currently in progress is transforming 35 acres of land in the Port of Los Angeles into an ocean-side innovation campus. Geraldine is also a Professor of the Practice and Policy and Engineering, a joint appointment between the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy and the Viterbi School of Engineering. She was the first woman to serve as the Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles.
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Carola Hein
Delft (Netherlands)
Co-chairwoman responsible for the Expert panel
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Carola Hein is Professor and Head of the Chair History of Architecture and Urban Planning at Delft University of Technology. She is the founding director of the PortCityFutures program which investigates the evolving spatial use and design of port city regions over time. Carola is also the Chair holder of the UNESCO Chair and Water, Ports and Historic Cities.
Learn moreMembers of the Grand Jury
The Grand Jury will composed of 6 leading representatives coming from each of the 5 continents. They will come from the decision-making sphere (Mayor of a port city, Port Director, or Chairman) and/or be recognized for their expertise in adapting to climate change and/or sustainable development.
Deborah Dearing
Sydney (Australia)
Urban planner and designer
Deborah is a recognized leader in Australia with over 35 years’ international experience in urban design, architecture, planning, and property development in both Government and private organizations, including 25+ years in management, executive, and non-executive board roles. Since 2023, she is a non-executive Board member of the New South Wales Port Authority.
Yann Landkocz
Dunkirk (France)
Politician
Yann LANDKOCZ is the First Deputy Mayor of Dunkirk and District Councilor for Rosendaël. With more than ten years of experience addressing environmental health issues, he has developed expertise at the intersection of public policy, land-use planning, and the ecological transition. He advocates for a sustainable and resilient approach to local development, particularly in industrial and port areas. He also serves as President of the Flandre-Dunkerque Urban Planning Agency (AGUR) and is a member of the Executive Board of the French National Federation of Urban Planning Agencies (FNAU).
Hervé Martel
Marseille (France)
Maritime leader
Hervé Martel has been a Civil Engineer since 1989. He holds a Master’s degree in Transport Economics (1991) and a Master’s degree in Public Management (1999). He began his career at the Port of Réunion and has held various management positions, notably at the Port Autonome de Paris, the Seine-et-Marne Departmental Equipment Directorate, and the office of the Minister of State, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Planning. In 2009, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ports de Paris, then of the Port of Le Havre in 2012. Since 2019, he has been Chairman of the Executive Board of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille.
Gaetan Siew
Port Louis (Mauritius)
Architect and urban designer
Citizen of the world, former President of the International Union of Architects (IUA) and, avid world traveller (130 countries and 500 cities), Gaetan Siew is an international figure in the field of architecture and urban planning. Former member of the Board of Directors of Future Cities UK, he is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Africa Clean Energy Solutions, Special Envoy – UN Habitat, UIA ambassador at the COP and a member of the Chaire ETI Panthéon Sorbonne. He gives lectures around the world.
Members of the Expert panel
The Expert panel will play a crucial role in the award process. It will ensure that each entry is evaluated according to the same criteria.
Sébastien Dupray
Paris (France)
Head of Risks, Waters, and Sea Technical Division at Cerema
Sébastien Dupray is head of the Risks, Waters, and Sea Technical Division at Cerema, the only public organisation in France to cover all coastal, maritime, and river issues. As a member of the Expert panel, he will be taking a critical look at the solutions to climate challenges proposed by cities and port authorities as part of the development projects applying for the AIVP Prize Antoine Rufenacht.
Hilda Ghiara
Genoa (Italy)
Professor at the University of Genoa
Hilda Ghiara is a specialist in maritime and port economics. She is also a Professor at the University of Genoa in Italy. She has contributed to developing the Port Center concept, a public interpretation center for port activities and trades. Port Centers activities are now experienced in some twenty world port cities. As a member of the Expert panel, she will provide expertise on the link between city development and port development.
Peter Hall
Vancouver (Canada)
Researcher and Professor at the university Simon Fraser in Vancouver
Peter V Hall is Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Academic, and Professor of Urban Studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. He is also an associate member of the Geography Department. His research examines the connections between port cities, seaports, and logistics, as well as community, local economic, and employment development. The Expert panel will benefit from his expertise in city and regional planning.
Anne Iacazio
Marseille (France)
Architect and Urban designer
Anne IACAZIO is a French architect and urban planner who has co-directed the firm KERN + ASSOCIÉS, ARCHITECTURE ET URBANISME, founded by François Kern, since 2012. As a specialist in sustainable cities, Anne IACAZIO combines technical rigor with a keen sense of landscape. Her resolutely interdisciplinary approach places the dialogue between the built environment and nature at the heart of every project. She advocates for understated and innovative architecture that serves its intended purposes, where environmental performance enhances user comfort. For over 20 years, Anne IACAZIO has been particularly involved in projects related to the urban-port interface in Marseille’s Euroméditerranée district.
Eamonn O'Reilly
Dublin (Ireland)
Former Executive Director of Dublin Port
Eamonn O’Reilly was Chief Executive of the Port of Dublin between 2010 and 2022. He was also President of the European Sea Ports Association (ESPO) from 2016 to 2020. Eamonn is a well-known figure in the European port community. As Director of the Port of Dublin, he has made the port city relationship one of the strategic axes of the port’s development. The Expert panel will benefit from his expertise as former port Director.
Isabelle Vries
Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Senior Advisor
After 20 years with the Port of Rotterdam, Isabelle Vries now works for the municipality of Rotterdam, where she coordinates the development of the university campus. She also has her own design office. Her last position at the Port of Rotterdam was as development manager for the former Merwe-Vierhavens (M4H) port area. As a member of the Expert panel, she will provide a specific expertise on the involvement of the port city community as a key element in designing sustainable urban project.