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

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

INGUNA STRAUTMANE

Represents: Ministry of Transport

Education:

  • Riga Business School “Turība” – professional master’s degree in law;
  • Police Academy of Latvia – second-level higher vocational education, qualification of a lawyer;
  • Riga Technical College – programming engineer.

Professional experience:

  • from February 2019 to the present date Member of the Board at the Freeport of Ventspils;
  • from 2018 to the present date Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Transport;
  • from 2016 to October 2018 Deputy Director of the Legal Department, Head of State Capital Shares Administration and Public Contracts Division at the Ministry of Transport;
  • from 2015 to 2016 Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Transport;
  • from 2010 to 2015 Deputy Director of the Legal Department, Head of State Capital Shares Administration and Public Contracts Division at the Ministry of Transport;
  • from 2013 to the present date Member of the Board at the Port of Mērsrags;
  • from 2009 to 2010 Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Transport;
  • from 2006 to 2009 Head of the Judicial Provisions Division at the Legal Department of the Ministry of Transport;
  • from 2004 to 2006 Legal Adviser of the Legislative Acts Division at the Legal Department of the Ministry of Transport;
  • from 2000 to 2004 Senior Desk Officer of the Military Service Recruitment Centre at the Ministry of Defence.

Awards:

  • 2016 – Certificate of Recognition conferred by the Cabinet of the Republic of Latvia;
  • 2015 – Certificate of Gratitude conferred by the Minister for Transport;
  • 2014 – Certificate of Recognition conferred by the Minister for Transport;
  • 2011 – Certificate of Recognition conferred by the Minister for Transport.

 

 

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