Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: A Car is Not Just a Car: Exploring the “Human” in Humanitarian Staff Transportation.

Organizer(s): HUMLOG Institute

4 Mar 26 11:00-12:00 UTC+2

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SessionAbstract

The four-wheel drive fleet of international humanitarian organisations is estimated to cost US$1billion per year, with these fleets – said to be plagued by inefficiencies – needing to be “optimised”. But what if that “optimisation” isn’t just about vehicle assets? And what if a car isn’t just a car? Buckle up and cruise through some fresh ideas about staff ground movement – you might never think about power dynamics and flat batteries the same way again.

The target audience: anyone working in humanitarian organisations that operate passenger vehicle fleets

Outcomes: broadening of horizons about staff transportation and the many overt and covert drivers of fleet

Speakers

Dr Sarah Schiffling, Deputy Director of HUMLOG Institute, Hanken School of Economics

Sarah Schiffling enjoys writing about supply chain topics for general audiences and often contributes to media coverage on TV, radio, podcasts, online, and in print. Many of her articles have been published by The Conversation. Sarah's research interests include transport infrastructure and climate change, pharmaceutical supply chains, disaster relief operations, supply chain disruptions, and supply chain management in developing nations. Her current projects focus on vaccine supply chains, logistics in conflict areas, commercial-humanitarian interactions, and resilient transport systems. On the latter topic, she is part of the Horizon Europe funded ReMuNet project.

Kaisamaija Välimäki, PhD, Independent Researcher affiliated with University of Turku, Finland; former Chief, UNWFP Fleet Center.

Kaisamaija is a former automotive industry professional and a former UN civil servant, currently working as an independent researcher, with interest in humanitarian logistics and operational effectiveness in general. She is also visiting lecturer and guest speaker in academic fora, affiliated with Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku.

Sean Linton, Consultant & Protected Mobility Specialist; former Head of Technical Operations, UNWFP Fleet Center.

With passion for all things on wheels, Sean Linton is a Protected Mobility Specialist, trainer, and a technical & commercial operations manager with 30 years in the automotive sector, competitive racing, military, and the non-profit arena (Red Cross; UN). Apart from safety and risk mitigation in high-risk and fragile settings, Sean’s interest is in quality assurance and operational efficiencies, and he is also a subject matter expert on civilian up-armoured vehicles and motorcycles.