UPU Postal Forum (S1) 2026

Theme – From trends to transformation: challenging postal assumption

The conference will be streamed live on UPU TV here.

The postal sector is undergoing rapid transformation driven by e-commerce growth, digitalization, evolving customer expectations, geopolitical uncertainties and sustainability requirements. While designated operators are adapting at different speeds, many are still constrained by implicit assumptions about what a postal oper­ator is, does, and can become. The key gap is now less about awareness of these trends than about a shared understanding of how to translate them into practical diversification strategies that enable operators to respond to these forces and overcome entrenched assumptions.
 
This forum aims to use the most relevant global trends shaping the postal environment as a starting point to identify diversification opportunities; prioritize the trends of greatest strategic importance for the UPU and its members; identify “postal assumptions” that may be holding operators back; and highlight successful diversi­fication experiences and draw lessons learned that can be adapted by other operators.
 
In addition, the forum will help members to connect with the sector’s thinkers and solution providers.

Programme

9.00–9.05     Opening remarks
                       Mr Masahiko Metoki, Director General, UPU International Bureau

9.05–9.30     Presentation: Global trends and why diversification matters
                       Mr Brody Buhler, CEO, Escher Group

9.30–9.45     Which trends matter most
                       Mr Brody Buhler, CEO, Escher Group

9.50–10.40     Panel 1: Diversification success stories

Panellists:
 

• Ms Ivana Vrviščar, Member of Executive Management, Pošta Slovenije (Slovenia)

• Mr Charles Brewer, Group CEO of Pos Malaysia Berhad;

• Ms Tola Odeyemi, Postmaster General, Nigerian Postal Service;

• Mr Amin Benjelloun Touimi, Director General, Barid Al Maghrib (Morocco).

Moderator: Ms Olivia Amozig Bellot, Head of Strategy and Industrial Transformation, Mail and Parcel Services Division, La Poste Group (France)

10.45–10.55     Identifying key assumptions blocking diversification

11.00–11.50     Panel 2: From assumptions to diversification actions

Panellists:
 

• Mr Isaac Gnamba-Yao, Director General, La Poste de Côte d'Ivoire

• Mr Dong Wang (Justin), Director of International, China Post

• Ms Tawnee Steinke, VP of Products and Partnerships at BoxC

• Mr David Bu, General Manager, Logistics and E-Commerce, TikTok

Moderator: Mr Jean-Paul Forceville, representing France as Chair of the Postal Operations Council

11.55–12.00     Closing remarks
                          Mr Marjan Osvald, Deputy Director General, UPU International Bureau