Nico De Cauwer is currently Business Architect Digitalisation & Port Community Projects at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, in which he has 30 years of experience in the port & maritime sector, involved in a variety of digitalization and innovation projects. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics and computer sciences from the University of Antwerp. Started his career in 1992 at the ICT department of the City of Antwerp. In 1994 he moved to the ICT department of the Port of Antwerp where he worked on the analysis, development and implementation of all major projects. In 2011 he joined the Antwerp Port Community System as a Senior Business Developer. Nico is, as delegate from Antwerp’s Port Community System, participating member of IPCSA. Since mid-2017 he is also Representative for Europe and North America in the Executive Committee of IPCSA, and is leading IPCSA’s Standards & Technology domain, and in that capacity chairman of IPCSA’s Message Design Group PROTECT. He is participating Expert member of the UN/CEFACT Transport and Logistics Domain, and as IPCSA delegate he also resides in the IMO Expert Group on Data Harmonisation (EGDH). Nico is also a member of the Data Collaboration Committee at IAPH, the International Association of Ports and Harbors.