Danube Business Talks 2026

Peter Hanke serves as Federal Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure in the Austrian federal government since March 2025. Before entering the federal government, Hanke enjoyed a long career in public administration and economic management. He was an Executive City Councillor in the City of Vienna, responsible for finance, the economy, labour, international affairs, and oversight of the Vienna Public Utilities. Previously, he spent many years in the private sector, serving as Managing Director of Wien Holding GmbH from 2002 to 2018. Earlier in his career, he also held board and management positions in several other firms. Hanke studied business administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. His work in government focuses on strengthening innovation, improving mobility and infrastructure, and fostering economic development in Austria.

Hans-Peter Hasenbichler graduated from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna. After completing his studies, he worked as a Project Manager at Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen AG (ÖSAG), focusing on traffic planning and construction. In 2004, he joined the government infrastructure holding ASFINAG as Head of Internal Audit and subsequently assumed the role of Head of Financial Controlling. On 1 November 2008, Mr. Hasenbichler was appointed Managing Director of via donau – Austrian Waterway Company.

Since September 2017 Michael Otter is Director General of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, Austria’s official trade promotion organization at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, with its more than 100 offices in over 70 countries, provides a broad range of intelligence and business development services for both Austrian companies and their international business partners. The service centers are attached to Austria’s diplomatic and consular missions but are independently operated and financed. Prior to his appointment in 2017, Michael Otter was Austrian Trade Commissioner to Japan and the Republic of Korea and Deputy Trade Commissioner in the USA, Japan and VAE. From September 2016 to September 2017 Mr. Otter served as Deputy Director General and Chief Strategy Officer of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA. Mr. Otter is a graduate of the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Gudrun Hager has been Chief Operation Officer and member of the management team of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) since July 2025. In this role, she heads the global network of foreign trade centers, regional and industry management as well as international trade fairs and business events, including Austria's participation in world exhibitions. Her area of responsibility also includes the implementation of “go-international”, the joint funding initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. Previously, Gudrun Hager served as Austrian Trade Commissioner and Consul for Commercial Affairs in Milan, Zurich/ Bern and Chicago for over 20 years. She began her international career as deputy head of the ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA offices in Athens, Warsaw and Beijing.

Herbert Pribitzer has been seconded to the European Commission (DG MOVE), where he serves as adviser to the Coordinator of the Rhine-Danube Corridor, Margarida Marques, who assumed her position in September 2025. Previously, he worked as Transport Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU, following a tenure at the European External Action Service (EEAS). His professional background also includes over seven years’ experience in utility policy development and regulation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A lawyer specialised in utility regulation, he began his career at the Austrian Ministry of Transport.

Antonio Stoean brings over 30 years of experience in the Danube–Black Sea region. He has worked extensively in river shipping and port operations, contributing to numerous port-related projects as well as to the development and investment of the inland river fleet. Since 2021, he has been actively involved in facilitating the Danube Solidarity Lanes in cooperation with the Danube Commission. As of January 2026, he joined Pro Danube as Senior Policy Officer, where he continues to support strategic policy development and the strengthening of inland waterway transport in Europe.

Martin Quispel graduated at the Technical University Delft in 1999 and holds a master’s degree in Systems engineering, Policy Analysis and Management specialised in transport and logistic systems. He has 25 years of experience in research and consultancy in freight transport and infrastructure, with a focus on inland waterways transport (IWT). Recent projects which he carried out concern policy support on European level for policy on IWT and support on national level for policies and research on the energy transition and emission reduction in IWT.

Benjamin Friedhoff studied ship technology at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where he subsequently worked for three years as a research associate. In 2008, he joined the Development Center for Ship Technology and Transport Systems (DST), where he worked on a wide range of research topics in the fields of hydrodynamics and renewable energy. Since 2014, he has served as Head of the Hydrodynamics Department, managing and coordinating numerous national and international projects, particularly in the areas of energy transition and emission reduction. As part of a restructuring of DST in January 2020, his department was renamed “Experiments, Fleet Modernisation and Emissions.” This new designation reflects the organization’s response to current societal challenges and its growing involvement in numerous national and international projects within this expanded field of expertise, including the Innovation Action SYNERGETICS, which he coordinates.

Evert Bulcke is a technology executive and current CEO of Tresco Group, the global leader in inland navigation technology. He previously served as CEO of Rombit, where he led the creation and international growth of industrial IoT and safety solutions. A city employee for three years, he managed the launch of Antwerp Startup City, awarded with the Global Entrepreneurship Award for Local Policy Leadership. Evert Bulcke holds board positions at several tech and healthcare companies, is active in cultural governance, coaches student entrepreneurs at KdG University College and is guest author for the MIT Innovations Journal.

Leonie Morsch is the Sustainability Manager at Rhenus Port Logistics, where she drives strategic environmental initiatives with a strong focus on emission measurement, reporting, and reduction in inland waterway and rail transport as well as terminal operations. Her professional path spans management systems, process development, and sustainability transformation within the Rhenus Group, enabling her to combine operational expertise with forward‑looking environmental strategy. Her work centers on advancing transparent emission assessment to support greener decision-making across the European inland waterway network. Prior to her current role, Leonie completed her Master’s degree in Logistics Engineering and Management in Bremerhaven, conducting research on hydrogen supply chains for future aviation energy systems in collaboration with Airbus and Bremen Airport.

Dr. Harald Stranzl is a senior Austrian diplomat currently serving as Director and Head of the Department for Foreign Economic Relations, Trade Policy, and Economic Security at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. Since 2018 he has been responsible for Foreign Trade, investment policy, export promotion and regional economic cooperation. Since 2021 he also acts as National Coordinator for the EU Strategy for the Danube and Alpine Regions. In addition he has been coordinating Ukraine reconstruction efforts within the ministry since July 2023.From 2011 to 2017 he wass Austria’s Ambassador to UNESCO in Paris , where he also represented the country on the Executive Board and held leadership roles in the General Assembly. His earlier career includes assignments as Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Deputy Director for European and Economic Policy as well as assignments in Slovenia, Brussels, and Vienna. He holds a doctors degree in modern diplomatic history from the University of Graz.

Marjan Bujor is General Manager of ILR Logistica Romania and brings more than 30 years of experience in logistics, transport, and supply chain management. A graduate engineer specialized in automotive engineering, he has held senior leadership positions with international logistics companies including Kuehne + Nagel, Hoedlmayr, M. Preymesser Logistik, and ILR Logistica Romania. His expertise spans intermodal transport, Danube port and shipping logistics, automotive and industrial logistics, and the development of multimodal transport solutions. Since 2012, he has been responsible for the strategic and operational management of ILR Logistica Romania, with a particular focus on industrial and steel logistics, port operations, and the advancement of the EU Danube Strategy and regional transport corridors. Through his extensive international experience and strong involvement in Danube logistics networks, he is recognized as an expert in resilient and sustainable supply chains in Southeast Europe.

Ralf Jina is a highly experienced professional in the inland waterway transport sector, with a career spanning almost two decades. Following the completion of his education, he joined First-DDSG Logistics Holding GmbH in 2006 and has since built up an impressive track record in sales, logistics and operational management within the inland navigation industry. Over the years, he has developed extensive expertise in both the commercial and operational dimensions of the business. His strong industry knowledge, strategic mindset and hands-on approach led to his appointment as Head of Sales and Logistics, where he held responsibility for the entire system with a particular focus on the management and commercialization of freight capacities. Thanks to his professional dedication, in-depth market knowledge and proven leadership capabilities, Mr. Jina was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of DDSG MAHART Kft. in November 2022. In this role, he has further expanded his executive responsibilities and continues to contribute significantly to the company’s strategic development and operational success.

Dragan Stevovic is an experienced executive manager with extensive expertise in complex logistics systems, international transportation, and grain trading within one of the largest industrial and agribusiness systems in the region. Within Elixir Group, he leads integrated logistics operations covering domestic and international road transport, ADR logistics, river and maritime transportation, container operations, port infrastructure management, and internal industrial logistics. He has significant experience in multimodal transportation, development of logistics capacities, optimization of complex supply chain systems, and coordination of industrial and agricultural trade flows across regional and international markets. In parallel with logistics operations, he actively manages grain trading activities and agricultural commodity markets, including procurement, distribution, and export coordination.

Birgit Kobierski is policy officer in the Infrastructure Financing and Economic Affairs Department at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure. At the EU level, she represents the Republic of Austria within the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) transport programme, both in ongoing programme management as a member of the CEF transport comitology committee and in the EU legislative process as a national expert.

Ines Poppinger holds a degree in Logistics and Transport Management and is currently completing a Master’s programme focused on EU project management and EU policy. Since 2023, she has been working at viadonau – the Austrian Waterway Company – in the Transport Development team. She acts as the internal coordinator for military mobility and specialises in EU military mobility, with a particular focus on its integration into inland waterway transport systems.

David Bachmann is an Austrian trade diplomat and business expert. He holds an MBA in Economics and International Business Administration from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Since September 2025, he has been serving as Commercial Counsellor for Ukraine at ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA in Kyiv. Previously, he held the same position in Singapore and Tripoli. He also served as Chief Marketing Officer and Member of the Executive Board of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA in Vienna. Prior postings as a trade diplomat included Mexico city, Lisbon and Stockholm. He speaks several languages, including German, Spanish, English, Portuguese, French and Swedish, with basic knowledge of Arabic. Bachmann has been awarded the Knight of the Royal Order of the Northern Star by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and the Golden Medal of Merit of the Republic of Austria.

Claudiu Staicu is a senior public sector professional specialising in transport infrastructure strategy, EU funding programmes, and large-scale investment management. He currently serves as Coordinator of the CEF (Connecing Europe Facility) Department at the Romanian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. In his role, he focuses on developing and implementing major transport infrastructure programmes, including highways, rail modernization, port development, and sustainable mobility initiatives. He works closely with European institutions and international partners to strengthen cross-border connectivity and support Romania’s integration into key European transport corridors. His work includes managing EU funding mechanisms, promoting green and digital transport solutions, and advancing projects that contribute to regional connectivity between the Danube, the Black Sea, and the wider European transport network.

Dimo Dimov is an international transport and mobility expert with a strong focus on waterborne transport, bringing experience across government, consultancy, non‑governmental organizations, and international organizations in Bulgaria, the Western Balkans, Türkiye, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. He holds an MSc in Business Administration from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and has worked extensively on major EU‑funded transport and infrastructure initiatives including TEN‑T, CEF, Horizon 2020, IPA, and NDICI, alongside UN‑related work on digital and multimodal freight transport. His background includes performing financial‑control responsibilities within the public sector and preparing transport policy analyses, funding applications, and financial evaluations such as Cost‑Benefit Analyses (CBA) and Cost‑Effectiveness Analyses (CEA). In his current role as Waterborne Transport and Green Mobility Desk Officer at the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, he leads work on maritime and inland waterway transport, supporting EU acquis alignment and strategic sector development in Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia.

Georg Reisinger is an accomplished expert in shipping logistics with over 20 years of experience in the industry. After completing a thorough training program as a forwarding agent, he specialized early on in the maritime industry and now possesses in-depth market knowledge in both ocean and inland waterway shipping. Since 2013, his focus has increasingly shifted to inland waterway shipping, during which time he has continuously expanded his expertise. A key distinguishing feature is his many years of experience working with a renowned major shipper. He understands their complex requirements and high quality standards in detail and knows how to manage logistics processes efficiently and reliably. He combines technical precision with a clear understanding of the industry’s needs.

Herfried Leitner acts as the chairman of Pro Danube International, where he represents and promotes the interests of inland waterway transport and logistics stakeholders along the Danube region. He graduated in Supply Chain Management from Danube University Krems and holds more than 20 years of management experience in supply chain management, production and warehouse management, as well as inland waterway transport.