As air cargo adapts to the realities of a rechargeable society, UL Standards & Engagement joins global stakeholders at IATA’s World Cargo Symposium to address emerging lithium‑ion battery safety challenges and explore next‑generation fire‑protection solutions.
Lima Convention Center
Av. de la Arqueología 206
San Borja 15021, Peru
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What is the World Cargo Symposium?
The World Cargo Symposium (WCS) is the air cargo industry’s largest and most influential annual event, bringing together global leaders from across the supply chain. Through high‑level plenary sessions, specialized tracks, hands‑on workshops, and executive summits, WCS explores the industry’s most pressing issues, from emerging technologies and innovation to security, customs modernization, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
Our Perspective
We are living in a rapidly expanding rechargeable society, where lithium‑ion batteries move through global commerce in growing volumes. Batteries are now embedded in nearly every product consumers buy and ship, and this shift brings new safety pressures that require coordination across the entire supply chain.
Through ongoing conversations with airlines, regulators, manufacturers, freight forwarders, e‑commerce platforms, and shippers, UL Standards & Engagement sees consistent challenges: fragmented responsibilities, uneven understanding of battery risks, and operational pressures that may prioritize speed and cost over safe handling.
ULSE is participating in the World Cargo Symposium to help the industry adapt to this new reality. As the movement of energy becomes as common as the movement of goods, the path forward depends on clearer responsibility across the supply chain, stronger education and coordination, and a shared understanding that safety and cost can be aligned.
Agenda
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
12:45 – 13:45: Lunch Networking Workshop: Lithium Battery Safety in Cargo Operations and Supply Chain
12:45 – 13:45
Huantille 2, Level 6
Lima Convention Center
about the workshop
UL Standards & Engagement welcomes you to join an invitation-only workshop during the Lunch Networking break. Complimentary lunch & refreshments will be provided.
The safety risk surrounding the transport of lithium-ion batteries continues to evolve across cargo and passenger operations. How are you preparing for this increasing risk?
In this engaging workshop, the ULSE team will discuss the latest in the safe transport of lithium batteries. Attendees will be introduced to the Thermal Runaway Incident Program (TRIP) which collects and analyzes lithium battery incidents in both cargo and passenger operations. Attendees will learn insights from TRIP cargo incident data as well as how to participate in the program. In addition, cargo risk mitigation strategies which can be applied to SMS programs will be discussed. The ULSE team will also share insights from recently completed research focused on thermal runaway in the global cargo aviation supply chain. ULSE’s senior program manager for transportation safety and former UPS Airlines safety executive, Bob McClelland, will facilitate the conversation.
The presentation will feature:
- Overview of the Thermal Runaway Incident Program (TRIP)
- Data and insights specific to lithium battery incidents in cargo operations
- Incident mitigation strategies
- Insights from the recent Thermal Runaway in the Global Cargo Aviation Supply Chain research study
How to attend the Workshop
This is a free session, but seats are limited.
To confirm your attendance to this meeting, please contact nia.jones@ul.org.
For questions regarding the workshop or topics, please contact matthew.pasha@ul.org.
Thursday, March 12, 2026
9:30 – 10:00 : Rising Incidents, Shifting Responsibility: Lithium Batteries in the Aviation Cargo Supply Chain
9:30 – 10:00
Lima Convention Center
about this session
Dr. Emily Brimsek will present on UL Standard & Engagement’s latest report, Rising Incidents, Shifting Responsibility: Lithium Batteries in the Cargo Supply Chain, explores why rising lithium battery incidents may stem not from a single failure, but from systemic gaps in quality, compliance, oversight, and lack of geographic coordination – leaving carriers, downstream actors, and end users to manage risks they did not create.
Speaker
Dr. Emily Brimsek
Senior Manager of Qualitative Insights
UL Standards & Engagement
10:10 – 10:55 : 600 Cells, 60% State of Charge, 6 Hours: Preparing Air Cargo for the Next Generation of Fire-Resistant Containers
10:30 – 10:55
Lima Convention Center
about this session
With lithium battery risks intensifying, FRC/FCC performance standards are about to
jump to a new level. This panel brings together fire testing experts, regulators, and
airlines to outline what’s changing, what regulators expect, and what it means for
operations and safety risk assessments—and how the industry can prepare for
next-generation fire-protection solutions.
Panelists
Bob McClelland
Senior Program Manager of Transportation Safety
UL Standards & Engagement
Frank Steinert
Senior Director of Global Network Equipment
DHL Express
Rishani Dissanayake
Programme Manager
AMSAFE BRIDPORT
Moderator
Scott Miller
Chief Engineer
Satco
10:30 – 10:55 : A Panacea for Battery Safety?
10:30 – 10:55
Lima Convention Center
about this session
Why does lithium-battery safety remain such a stubborn challenge. What drives the
assumption that safety is someone else’s responsibility? Will future UN tests have s
material impact in a world where there is strong supply and demand for cheap,
non-compliant batteries. Let’s expose the gap between regulation and reality. Join
the speakers as they unpack how these forces collide — and what it will take to keep
dangerous batteries out of our homes, workplaces, and supply chains.
Panelists
Dr. Emily Brimsek
Senior Manager of Qualitative Insights
UL Standards & Engagement
Trevor Howard
Vice President of Safety, Standards & Regulatory Compliance
Emirates SkyCargo
Remko Dardenne
Head of Air Operations
Belgian Civil Aviation Authority
Moderator
Tim Rogers
Director of Air Dangerous Goods
UPS Airlines
Visit Us
Visit booth 13 to learn more from industry experts and how you can get involved in the standards development process.
Our onsite team
David S. Wroth
Senior Director of Technology and Systems
UL Standards & Engagement
Bob McClelland
Senior Program Manager of Transportation Safety
UL Standards & Engagement
Dr. Emily Brimsek
Senior Manager of Qualitative Insights
UL Standards & Engagement
Matt Pasha
Director of Thermal Runaway Incident Program (TRIP) and Technology & Systems
UL Standards & Engagement
Related Resources
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Expert Perspectives
How to Contain Battery Fires on Planes: What You Need to Know
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Expert Perspectives
Raising Global Awareness of Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Air Travel
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Safety Tips for Traveling with Children this Summer