Board

The board is the highest decision-making body at the Freeport Authority, which supervises the administration led by the CEO of Ventspils Freeport. According to the Law on Ports the Freeport of Ventspils has four board members – representatives nominated by the ministries of Economics, Finance, Transport and Smart Administration and Regional Development, appointed to and removed from office by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia.

Board

SANDIS CAKULS

Represents:  Ministry for Smart Administration and Regional Development

Education:

  • Senior Leadership Development Programme
  • University of Latvia: Master of Social Sciences in Law (M.iur.).
  • University of Latvia: Lawyer Qualification (Dipl.iur.).

Professional experience:

  • from February 2024 to the present date Member of the Board at the Freeport of Ventspils.
  • from 2014 to the present date Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Deputy State Secretary for Investment.
  • from 2020 to 2021 Member of the Board of Directors of SIA "Rīgas Nacionālais zooloģiskais dārzs".
  • from 2013 to 2014 Ministry of Culture, Director of the European Union Funds Department.
  • from 2003 to 2013 Project Implementation Department, Legal Adviser.

Awards:

  • 2022 - Certificate of Recognition of the Cabinet of Ministers.
  • 2019 - Certificate of Recognition of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.
  • 2014 - Certificate of Recognition of the Ministry of Culture.
 

ARTŪRS ZANDERSONS

Represents: Ministry of Economics

Education: 

  • Fudan University (Shanghai, China): Mandarin Chinese, HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) Level 3.
  • Riga Technical University and Buskerud University College in Norway: Master of Business Administration, Innovation.
  • Riga Technical University: Bachelor of Business and Management.

Professional experience: 

  • from February 2024 to the present date Member of the Board at the Freeport of Ventspils.
  • from September 2023 to the present date Ministry of Economics, Adviser to the Minister for Economic Affairs.
  • from December 2016 to the present date Project Management Expert, Project Manager/Expert.
  • from January to September 2023 Ministry of Transport, Adviser to the Minister for Innovation Implementation Affairs.
  • from 2021 to 2023 SWBaltics, Project Manager.
  • from 2018 to 2019 4Finance Group,Senior Project Manager.
  • from 2017 to 2018 Allnex Centre of Competence (SSC), Continuous Improvement Project Manager.
  • from 2014 to 2016 Deloitte Latvia, Manager, Project Manager.
  • from Februaryto November 2013 Corporate & Public Management Consulting Group Ltd. (Republic of Moldova), Senior Public Service Reengineering Expert.
  • from 2012 to 2016 Startup Latvia, Co-Founder, Member of the Board of Directors.
  • from 2011 to 2012 Cleantech Open, Assistant Project Manager.
  • from 2009 to 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd., Consultant.

Additional information:

  • Certificate of Recognition of the World Customs Organisation for Exceptional Service to the International Customs Community, 2021
  • Member of the Digitisation Work Group of the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia (FICIL), 2017
  • Member of the Shared Services Work Group of the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia (FICIL), 2017
  • Recipient of the Chinese Government Scholarship for Chinese language and business studies and research "Building a Latvia-China Innovation Bridge" at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, 2016
  • Co-Founder of YN1K, YouNoodle's global community of innovative business leaders, San Francisco, United States, 2012
  • Recipient of the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation Scholarship in the United States, 2011 

 

KASPARS ĀBOLIŅŠ

Represents: Ministry of Finance

Education: 

  • University of Latvia, Faculty of Economics and Management: Master’s degree in Social Sciences in Public Administration.
  • University of Latvia, Faculty of Management and Business Informatics: Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Professional experience: 

  • March 2025 onwards: Board Member of the Freeport of Ventspils.
  • March 2025 onwards: Treasury, Manager.
  • September 2019 – December 2024: AS “Augstsprieguma tīkls” , Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
  • April 2020 – May 2023: AS “Air Baltic Corporation” , Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
  • February 2015 – March 2020: Member of the Supervisory Board.
  • January 2018 – April 2020: AS “Conexus Baltic Grid” , Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
  • June 2016 – June 2018: Northern Investment Bank, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
  • July 2011 – October 2019: Northern Investment Bank, Member of the Board of Directors.
  • June 2008 – July 2011: Northern Investment Bank, Deputy Member of the Board of Directors.
  • March 2014 – December 2014: AS “Attīstības finanšu institūcija” , Restructuring Manager.
  • July 2013 – January 2015: AS “Reverta” , Member of the Supervisory Board.
  • July 2012 – September 2012: VAS “Valsts nekustamie īpašumi” , Chairman of the Board.
  • December 2008 – March 2010: AS “Parex banka” , Member of the Supervisory Board.
  • January 2003 – September 2010: SIA BO “Ziemeļvidzemes atkritumu apsaimniekošanas organizācija” , Member of the Supervisory Board.
  • January 1997 – April 2006: Treasury, Director of the Financial Risk Management Department.
  • September 1996 – January 1997: Ministry of Finance, Head of the Loan Forecasting and Analysis Division, External Debt Management Department.
  • September 1994 – September 1996: Ministry of Finance, Senior Expert of the Loan Forecasting and Analysis Division, External Debt Management Department.

Additional information:

  • Regular cooperation with securities investors in the Republic of Latvia and responsible officials of international financial institutions. Participation in seminars, conferences, and forums on public debt management organized by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, central banks and ministries of finance of Scandinavian countries, and other international financial institutions.
  • Additional training in the following areas: financial markets, financial risk management, bank credit risk analysis, the use of derivatives in public debt management, quality management, risk management, senior management development programme.