Eliane Steinmeyer is a distinguished leader in the fresh food logistics and wholesale sector, recognized for her extensive expertise in market management and international trade collaboration.

Managing Director, Hamburg Wholesale Market (Grossmarkt Hamburg): Steinmeyer serves as the Managing Director of one of Germany’s most significant fresh produce hubs. In this capacity, she oversees the strategic operations and modernization of the market, ensuring its role as a vital link in the regional and international food supply chain.

WUWM Contributor and Representative: As a prominent member of the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM), she represents the interests of German wholesale markets on the global stage. She is an active participant in WUWM’s international conferences and board discussions.

Steinmeyer is a frequently invited speaker at major industry events, such as FRUIT LOGISTICA and WUWM International Conferences. Her professional focus includes:

Supply Chain Sustainability: Promoting "green" transitions and climate-neutral logistics within wholesale infrastructure.

Food Security and Accessibility: Working with international bodies like the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) to highlight the role of markets in fighting malnutrition and ensuring access to healthy diets.

Market Innovation: Modernizing wholesale platforms to serve small-to-medium-sized producers and improve traceability for consumers.

Benoît Mathieu is a Corporate Finance Executive at Banque Populaire Méditerranée, with more than a decade of experience working with Chinese financial institutions and international trade.

After living in Hong Kong S.A.R. from 2013 to 2015, he developed a strong understanding of China's economic environment, business culture and financial ecosystem. Since 2013, he has worked closely with China Exim Bank on export finance and cross-border financing transactions.

From 2018 to 2022, he served as a banker with ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China), the world's largest commercial bank by assets. This role gave him first-hand experience of China's financial system and international banking strategy.

Since 2020, Benoît has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cavaillon Wholesale Market (MIN de Cavaillon), one of France's leading fresh produce wholesale markets as well as Vice-Chairman of the French Federation of Wholesale Markets. In this capacity, he promotes international trade, strengthens partnerships with wholesale markets worldwide, and supports the development of sustainable agri-food supply chains.

Martha Montoya brings over 30 years of international experience in food and agricultural development, having overseen projects across more than four continents, working with farmers, suppliers, governments, and major buyers. Her expertise spans establishing supply chains for diverse commodities fresh and processed – from strawberries and lettuce to bananas, peaches, asparagus, and mangoes – – across regions including Mexico, USA, Americas, Russia, Europe, and Pacific Region.

Martha’s career isn't just about logistics; she’s deeply committed to impactful solutions. She’s spearheaded programs like empowering women-owned berry farms in Mexico through government financing and facilitated innovative credit programs for California organic strawberry growers, collaborating with financial institutions and governmental bodies. Her work with State of California, the USDA, and international trade regulations reflects a profound understanding of global food flows.

Martha’s leadership extends beyond the field. She’s served on influential boards including the California Department of Food & Agriculture, the Department of Commerce Export Council, IFT, and Women for Walmart, Executive Board of the US Hispanic Chambers of Commerce among many.

Born into an entrepreneurial agricultural family in Colombia – where her parents owned and operated educational schools and coffee farms – Martha’s foundation is rooted in social impact and practical experience. This led her to begin her career as a Chemistry teacher and pursuing advanced studies at LaSalle University and Javeriana University in Colombia, followed by postgraduate courses at the University of Chicago, Stanford, and UC Davis.

Currently, as the founder of Agtools Inc., Martha is leveraging Machine Learning and AI to revolutionize the food supply chain. Agtools delivers real-time market data across over 500 commodities, empowering farmers, buyers and supply chain stakeholders to optimize planting, harvesting, forecasting, and reduce food waste – a critical mission aligning perfectly with the future of sustainable agriculture.

Simon Bussy, PhD — Founder & CEO, Califrais.

Simon Bussy is a French entrepreneur and AI researcher whose scientific work has received several prestigious awards. He is the founder and CEO of Califrais, a deeptech company pioneering the use of artificial intelligence to transform food supply chains and wholesale markets.

Califrais at the intersection of cutting-edge AI research and real-world food supply chain operations. Today, the company collaborates with 12 leading French research laboratories and more than 200 researchers and professors, developing advanced technologies in machine learning, operational research and large-scale optimization.

Califrais works closely with some of Europe’s leading food retailers and distributors. Since 2021, the company has also been the official digital and logistics operator of the Rungis International Market, the world’s largest wholesale food market. This unique position has turned Rungis into a living laboratory where AI is developed, tested and deployed at scale.

Simon’s vision is to build the operating system of the wholesale market of the future: a real-time digital twin capable of modelling, predicting and optimizing millions of interactions between products, merchants, buyers and logistics flows. His ambition is to demonstrate how AI can transform wholesale markets into intelligent food ecosystems — making them more efficient, resilient and sustainable.

Founder and Head of the Supervisory Board of Shuvar Wholesale Market in Lviv, Ukraine. Shuvar is Ukraine’s largest agricultural wholesale market and a member of WUWM.

Born in Lviv in 1969, Roman Fedyshyn graduated from Lviv Trade and Economics Institute and completed his MBA at Kyiv‑Mohyla Academy. With decades‑long experience in agricultural trade, he drove the development of Shuvar market from 2000 into a key distribution hub for fruit, vegetable, meat and flowers across Ukraine. Following European wholesale‑market standards, he has developed modern facilities including cold storage, packing centre and integrated information centre.

Serving as deputy of Lviv City Council, he contributes to local economy and participates in policy‑making for agricultural trade and market infrastructure. Under his leadership, Shuvar undertakes extensive social‑responsibility initiatives: sponsoring local sports clubs, promoting Ukrainian cultural projects and assisting vulnerable groups.

He takes an active part in WUWM international exchanges, bringing hands‑on insights on sustainable wholesale‑market operation under complex conditions and advancing market‑infrastructure development in Ukraine.

Ms. Phindile Shabalala Chief Risk Officer, Joburg Market (South Africa)

Ms. Phindile Shabalala is Chief Risk Officer of Joburg Market, South Africa's largest fresh‑produce wholesale market. She is a seasoned senior executive with over 30 years of experience spanning Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Finance, Insurance, Internal Audit, Combined Assurance, Strategy and Planning, and Governance across public‑sector and municipal environments.

At Joburg Market, Ms. Shabalala leads a broad portfolio covering enterprise risk, business continuity, risk financing, compliance and ethics. She has been instrumental in advancing the Market's Smart Market strategic agenda, driving the integration and automation of assurance processes to build a more digitally enabled, responsive and resilient organisation. Her work strengthens operational continuity, food‑security risk management, infrastructure resilience and long‑term financial sustainability — all at the core of the fresh‑produce value chain.

Ms. Shabalala applies internationally recognised risk frameworks (COSO, ISO 31000) to help organisations mature their risk‑management practices and make decisions that support sustainable organisational performance. She holds an MBA and has led multidisciplinary teams of up to 34 professionals, reinforcing governance and resilience in complex organisations. Her leadership philosophy — collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement — supports innovation and long‑term sustainability within wholesale‑market operations.

Throughout his career at Mercabarna, Pau has led key areas including Strategy, Sustainability, Sustainable Food, Innovation and Digital Transformation. In his current role, he coordinates the corporate Strategic Plan, identifies strategic projects and drives innovation and digital transformation initiatives aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and future development of the wholesale market and the companies operating within it. Previously, as Director of Sustainability, he led initiatives related to ESG sustainability, sustainability reporting, carbon footprint measurement and the fight against food waste.

His expertise lies at the intersection of food systems, wholesale markets, business strategy, innovation and sustainability. His professional background spans local and organic food production, social and sustainable agriculture, food entrepreneurship, retail innovation and the development of new agri-food business models. Before joining Mercabarna, he managed several food-related businesses and entrepreneurial projects and was responsible for social agri-food initiatives.

Pau holds a degree and Master’s in Business Administration from ESADE Business School, specialising in Business Strategy and International Management, and completed the CEMS Master’s in International Management programme, including studies at the London School of Economics. He has also completed the Oxford Leading Sustainable Corporations programme at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, reinforcing his expertise in ESG sustainability and corporate transformation.

His career reflects a strong commitment to transforming food systems through strategy, innovation and sustainability, and to strengthening the role of wholesale markets as key infrastructures for more competitive, resilient and sustainable food supply chains.

Frédérique Wagon is the Executive Director of Engagement and Public Affairs at the Rungis International Market and Secretary General of the French Federation of Wholesale Markets.

After studying law at Université Paris Descartes, she began her career in media, notably at Skyrock, RMC, and France Télévisions. She then worked as a parliamentary attaché at the National Assembly and later at the Senate, before becoming communications advisor to the Minister Delegate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade, Crafts and Consumer Affairs, and subsequently to the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice. She went on to serve as Communications Director for several local and regional authorities.

In 2013, she joined the Rungis International Market as Chief of Staff to Stéphane Layani. Since 2018, she has led the French Federation of Wholesale Markets, and since 2023, she has served as the Executive Director of Engagement and Public Affairs at the Rungis International Market.

Together with Valérie Vion, Secretary General of the WUWM, Frédérique Wagon contributed to the development of the Marché Durable (“Sustainable Market”) label, the first CSR label specifically designed for the wholesale market ecosystem. Based on the principles of the ISO 26000 standard, this initiative supports stakeholders in structuring their CSR approach and is intended to expand across wholesale markets in France and internationally."

Executive Director for Development at SEMMARIS, operator of Rungis International Market, the world’s largest fresh‑food wholesale market. He leads SEMMARIS strategic development for the Paris region, nationwide and internationally, integrating urban development, real‑estate, logistics and food‑system expertise.

With over 25 years of senior‑level experience within French public‑sector agencies, he previously held key executive posts including Deputy CEO of Paris La Défense, Deputy & Acting CEO of Grand Paris Aménagement and CEO of Orly Rungis Seine Amont public‑development agency, delivering complex urban‑regeneration programmes and multi‑stakeholder coordination.

Since joining SEMMARIS in 2023, he oversees its International Business Unit, promoting the transfer of the Rungis market model overseas. He manages cooperation projects in Uzbekistan, Benin, Nigeria, China and across Central Asia, Africa and the Middle‑East to strengthen food‑supply chains, fresh‑produce logistics and food security. His work focuses on wholesale markets as strategic regional infrastructure to link producers and consumers, boost supply‑chain resilience, reduce food loss and foster sustainable, secure and inclusive food systems.

Ph.D. in Agribusiness and Agri-food Policy and economics degree cum laude, Luca Lanini is currently co-founder and Partner of CibuSalus srl, private consulting company on the themes of food and health, healthy and sustainable public food.

He is also Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the Catholic University of Milano and senior advisor in CAL – Parma food valley wholesale Market.

Luca Lanini has thirthy-five years of experience in consulting, studies, analysis, and training in the industrial sector and public administration, particularly on wholesales markets, logistics and transport, supply chain management and marketing channels, food logistics, marketing management, traceability, food marketing, perishable and fresh products, infrastructural analysis, policies for territorial development and planning.

Concerning wholesale markets, Luca Lanini is among the main consultants of the Italian wholesale markets having worked on projects on the markets of Udine, Brescia, Padua, Verona, Parma. with SINLOC we have just completed (2022-2023) technical assistance to the eleven Italian markets on the PNRR tender dedicated to wholesale markets.

In 2022 Luca Lanini accompanied the Parma wholesaler market in the strategic analysis of the internationalization processes towards the middle east, with particular reference to three international missions in Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE.