DONATE

Steve Carmel & Bill Doyle

< Distinguished speaker series

Event information

Steve Carmel & Bill Doyle

The Supply Chain Crisis 2.0

DATE: June 21, 2022 6:00 pm

WATCH EVENT ON YOUTUBE

Steve Carmel
Senior Vice President, Maersk Line

Bill Doyle
Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration

Background

From the baby formula shortage at local supermarkets to the John Deere tractors piling up at the port of Baltimore, it is
hardly ‘business as usual.’ The Covid 19 pandemic revealed the fragility of the global supply chain. It’s still fragile for
different reasons – government regulation, labor shortages and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which will wreak havoc
with the international food supply. “The world will be reeling for years to come,” says international shipping expert Steve
Carmel.
On June 21, Steve, a senior vice-president of Maersk lines, will bring us up to date on the global Supply Chain crisis.
Joining him will be Bill Doyle, the executive director of the Maryland Port Authority.
Steve previously held positions in operations and finance for U.S. Marine Management, Inc. and for Maersk. He is a
member of the Naval Studies Board, and past member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel and Marine
Board. Steve won wide praise for his comprehensive overview in a Baltimore Council Zoom event last July of trade
slowdowns in the time of Covid.
Bill Doyle, the master of the ports in Maryland, will speak on the government role in facilitating trade. Bill was appointed
by Governor Hogan just under two years ago. He had previously after served five years as a federal maritime
commissioner under President Obama and then executive director of the Dredging Contractors of America, a trade
association. He’s a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime academy and served 10 years on ships as a merchant marine
officer, but he’s also a graduate of the Widener University School of Law. The port of Baltimore, which he oversees, has
the biggest volume of cars, light trucks, farm equipment and heavy construction equipment of any U.S. port, and it’s
expanding. When US ports, particularly on the West Coast, were backed up with ships waiting to be unloaded, he had
bragging rights: “We don’t have any ships at anchor, anywhere.”

Share:

Questions about the program?

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Be the First to Hear about Upcoming Speakers

The Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs is purely a local organization in programming, governance and support.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin Spotify
Quick Links
Get In Touch

© BCFA All Rights Reserved.

Close

Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.