30th Annual CILT Logistics Research Network Conference (LRN2026) programme

Wednesday 2 September 2026

9am to 12midday: PhD and Early Year Career Researcher workshop
Professor Elizabeth Jackson, Curtin University
Dr Chia-Hsun Chang, LJMU
Dr HM Belal, LJMU

12midday to 1pm: Buffet lunch
James Parsons Exhibition Area and Lower Lecture Theatre

1 to 1.10pm: Welcome
Professor Keith George, Liverpool John Moores
Dr Christian Matthews, Director of School of Engineering

1.10 PM to 1.20pm: Conference introduction and thematic agenda
Dr Dimitrios Paraskevadakis FCILT, Conference Chair

1.20 to 1.40pm: Keynote one
John Lucy FCILT FIEx, John Lucy International

1.40 to 2pm: Keynote two
Ruth Wood, Chief Executive Officer, Mersey Maritime

2.10 to 3.30pm: Parallel sessions - Slot one
Presentations: 20 minutes each (15 minute paper plus five minute Q&A)

3.30 to 3.50pm: Refreshment break
James Parsons Building Starbucks area

4 to 5pm: Parallel sessions - Slot two
Presentations: 20 minutes each (15 minute paper plus five minute Q&A)

5.10 to 7.30pm: LRN 2026 award ceremony and light buffet dinner

Thursday 3 September 2026

8.30 to 8.55am: Registration with tea and coffee
James Parsons Exhibition Area and Lower Lecture Theatre

9 to 9.30am: The Irish Sea Rim — Strategic Logistics and Regional Connectivity
Professor Phil Leigh, University of Cumbria

9.30 to 10.30am: Parallel sessions - Slot three
Presentations: 20 minutes each (15 minute paper plus five minute Q&A)

10.30 to 11am: Poster session and networking

11am to 12midday: Parallel sessions - Slot four
Presentations: 20 minutes each (15 minute paper plus five minute Q&A)

12midday to 1pm: Buffet lunch

1 to 1.20pm: Freight Decarbonisation Industry Plenary - Policy and Operational Priorities
Kelly Hobson, Sustainable Logistics Live
Geoff Clarke, Chair, CILT Environmental and Sustainability

1.20 to 1.40pm: Plenary: Multimodal Freight Intelligence — Industry Perspective
Mr Chris Rowland, Director, MDS Transmodal

1.40 to 2pm: Plenary: Zero - Emission Trucks — Deployment Challenges and Fleet Economics
Mr Louis Jones, DAF Leyland

2 to 2.20pm: Plenary: Sustainable Infrastructure and Freight Logistics
Mr Tim Morris, Principal Engineer, Arup and Chair, ITS UK Freight, Logistics and Maritime Forum

2.20 to 3pm: Industry panel discussion: Decarbonisation in Action — Cross-Sector Challenges
Panellists: Kelly Hobson, Chris Rowland, Louis Jones, Tim Morris, Prof Thanh Trung Ngyen
Chaired by Professor Geoff Clark

3 to 3.30pm: Tea and coffee break
James Parsons Building Starbucks area

3.30 to 4.30pm: Parallel research paper sessions - Slot five
Presentations: 20 minutes each (15 minute paper plus five minute Q&A)

4.40 to 5pm: Closing statement from CILT(UK) CEO Helen Hardy

7pm: 30th Anniversary LRN Conference dinner
Hope Street Hotel
Dress: Smart Casual

Friday 4 September 2026

8.30 to 9am: Registration with tea and coffee
James Parsons Building Atrium

9 to 11am: Parallel research paper sessions - Slot six
Presentations: 20 minutes each (15 minute paper plus five minute Q&A)

11am to 12.15pm: Concurrent workshops - Delegates self-select

12.15 to 12.45pm: Closing Plenary - Workshop outcomes and handover to LRN2027

  • Workshop outputs presented
  • Key themes synthesised across all three days
  • LRN 2027 host announced

Professor Britta Linnea Gammelgaard, Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Logistics Management
Dr Dimitrios Paraskevadakis, FCILT
Prof Paul Townsend, Pro-Vice Chancellor FHITS, LJMU

1pm: Grab and go lunch

1 to 3pm: LJMU Maritime simulator visits - Allocated slots
Full-mission bridge simulator and engine room simulator
Groups of 12 to 15
Sign up at the registration desk