Speakers

Daniel Alfreider, Regional Minister of Mobility and Infrastructures, Autonomous Province of Bozen/Bolzano - South Tyrol (Italy)

Since January 2019 Daniel Alfreider is Vice President of South Tyrol and Regional Minister of Mobility and Infrastructures, from 2013 to 2018 he was member of the Chamber of Deputies at the Italian Parliament. During the past years he was chair of the interparliamentary group of “Friends of TENT-T” and since 2016 Vice President of FUEN (Federal Union of European Nationalities). He is a professional civil engineer and worked for the company BBT-SE, which is constructing the Brenner Base Tunnel.

SAMI ANDOURA, Team Leader Sustainable Development, European Political Strategy Centre, European Commission

Prior to joining the EPSC as leader of the sustainable development team in June 2015, Sami ANDOURA was Professor and head of the European Energy Policy Chair at the College of Europe for two years.

Earlier, he worked at the Jacques Delors Institute, an EU policy think tank based in Paris, where he served as Senior Research Fellow. From 2005 to 2009, he was the head of the European Affairs Programme at Egmont – The Royal Institute for International Relations, based in Brussels.

Sami Andoura holds Masters Degrees in European and international economic law, and graduated with distinction from the University of Paris Panthéon-Assas-Sorbonne, France, and the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. He is the author of a wide range of publications on the European Union, in particular on sustainable energy and climate policies and foreign affairs.

JEAN-LUC BROSSARD, R&D Managing Director - Plateforme Filiere Automobile, VDA correspondent for France

Jean-Luc Brossard, French Civil Engineer of Mines (56 years old), started his career at Matra Automobile in 1986, where he was successively Test Manager, Project Director and Technical Director. In 2003, he joined Ferrari, as Project Manager Coupé-Spider, then Maserati in 2005 as Technical Director, Product Development and Vehicles Line Executive Fiat. In 2007, he became Vice President Engineering Pininfarina. At the end of 2008, he returned to France to join PSA Peugeot Citroën as Advanced Engineering and Innovation Director. Since January 1, 2015, he joined the PFA (French Automotive and Mobility Association) as R&D managing Director and programme Director for Low Environmental Footprint Vehicles.

OLIVIER BUCHELI, Chief Business Development Officer, SoldiPower

In his role at SOLIDpower and in previous roles, Olivier has constructed many national and EU projects, coordinated ADEL (FCH-JU1), leads the Stationary Fuel Cell Technical Committee of the Fuel Cell&Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU). His responsibilities include acquiring new customers and partners in Europe and Asia to deploy the full potential of SO reactors. Olivier has raised about 30 MCHF from 2000-2017 in public and private money, in Fuel Cell Technology.

MATHILDE CADIC, Auvergne-Rhône Alpes Region

After working at the French Embassy in Malaysia in 2004 in Cooperation and Cultural Action department,  Mathilde Cadic joined a City Council near Paris where she worked on international relations and then as head of economic development department from 2005 to 2011.

In 2011, Cadic joined the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in France. During 6 years she worked at the economic development department for support missions to entrepreneurship and development of HR skills in start-ups.

Since 2017, she is in charge of transport and energy items at the Delegation in Brussels, part of the International Relations Department of the Regional Council.

PAOLO GUGLIA, R&D Manager, Fincantieri

Paolo Guglia holds a MSc degree on Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Eni Corporate University, is a certified PMP since 2009 and a Fellow of the Royal Insitute of Naval Architects since 2016. He is working for Fincantieri as a R&D Manager since 2004. Paolo has managed 13 European projects in 4 different Programmes. He has been appointed as Italian expert to the Transport Programme Committee in Horizon 2020 by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, and as an expert for Leadership 2020 and European Sustainable Shipping Forum by the European Commission. He is an active member of SEA Europe, Hydrogen Europe and Vessels for the Future for the definition of maritime R&D priorities.

Nienke Homan, Regional Minister for Energy and Climate, Province of Groningen

Experienced Regional Minister in the North of the Netherlands with a demonstrated history of working in the public policy industry. Being an inspiring leader in the energy transition and climate adaptation, Nienke is working hard on tackling climate change.

GEORGE KASAPIDIS, Governor, Western Macedonia (Greece)

George Kasapidis was born in Kozani in 1971. He is an Agronomist graduate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics.

He was a founding member of the Aristotle University Graduate Students’ Association since 1999. He joined the Agricultural Association of Kozani in 2000 and Consumer Protection Centre of Kozani in 2002. In 2002 he started working as a self -employed agronomist and producer of aromatic and medicinal plants and essential oils. In 2003 he was elected majoritarian Regional councilor and from 2004 he is elected Member of the Parliament for Kozani with New Democracy party until 2019, when he was elected Regional Governor of Western Macedonia.

In 2004 he introduced to Greece and piloted the first plantation of roses and lavender in the prefecture of Kozani. He founded the Cooperative of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of Voio. He twice served as the Head of Rural Development Policy Division of the New Democracy party. He has been married since 2015 with Katerina Diou, an employee of the Rural Economy Department of the Region of Western Macedonia.

ZDZISŁAW KRASNODĘBSKI, MEP, Vice-Chair of ITRE Committee, European Parliament

Zdzisław Marek Krasnodębski, Ph.D. (born 11 April 1953 in Choszczno, Poland) is a Polish sociologist, social philosopher, publicist and professor at the University of Bremen (Germany), who has been a Member of the European Parliament since the 2014 election.

MARKku markkula, first vice-president, european committee of the regions

Markku Markkula is the First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) having served as President February 2015-July 2017. A member of Espoo City Council since 1980, he held its Presidency 1990-92 and 2010 and is the Chair of the city's board 2017-2021. Markku was member of the Finnish Parliament (1995-2003) where he served among others the Committee for the Future. He works at Aalto University specialising in EU research, innovation and education policy. He previously worked as the Director of the Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli and was Secretary-General of the International Association for Continuing Engineering Education (IACEE). As a tribute to his achievements he was elected to the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.

Gerrit Marx, CEO, IVECO

Gerrit Marx joined CNH Industrial and assumed the role of President Commercial and Specialty Vehicles in January 2019. Ad interim he has also been appointed Commercial Director of the IVECO Brand. Mr. Marx has some 20 years experience in roles of increasing importance in different geographies and in a variety of industrial segments, with specific, in-depth focus on automotive industries. He has held positions as a consultant, manager, and most recently was an Operating Partner at Bain Capital, a global private equity firm. From 1999 to 2007 he worked at McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm, focusing on operational improvement programs in the automotive and aerospace industries in Europe, Brazil, and Japan. In 2007 Mr. Marx joined Daimler AG, heading the global controlling function for product (vehicles and powertrain components) and market-entry / merger and acquisition projects across three truck brands in North America, Europe and Asia. In 2009 he moved to China and became President and Chief Executive Officer of Daimler Trucks China, and subsequently was the President of Skoda China with Volkswagen AG, overseeing imports as well as joint venture business relationships in both roles. Mr. Marx joined the European leadership team of Bain Capital in 2012, as a member of their portfolio group driving and leading transformational change programs. Mr. Marx holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA (Diplom Kaufmann) from RWTH Aachen University, Germany and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Cologne University, Germany.

Pascal mauberger, ceo, mcphy

Founder of McPhy Energy SA, Pascal Mauberger occupies the position of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer for McPhy Energy SA, Chairman-Supervisory Board for McPhy Energy Deutschland GmbH (a subsidiary of McPhy Energy SA) and Chairman for Association Française pour l'Hydrogène et les Piles à Combustible. Mr. Mauberger is also on the board of Tenerrdis and Manager of Société Civile Immobilière Pascanne and Manager of Société Civile Immobilière la Carterie.

He previously occupied the position of Chief Operating Officer at Soitec SA, Vice President-Engineering of Air Liquide SA and Vice President of Vivendi Water SA.

He received an undergraduate degree from Ecole Polytechnique and an undergraduate degree from IFP School.

Jon André Løkke, CEO, NEL ASA

Jon André Løkke was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEL ASA effective 4 January 2016. Mr. Løkke comes from the position as CEO of Norsk Titanium AS, developing and industrializing 3D printing technology for the production of titanium components for the aerospace and other industries. He has ten years’ experience from the REC Group, including positions as senior vice president in REC Wafer, investor relations officer in REC ASA and CFO in REC ASA. Mr Løkke has also worked for the ABB Group and holds an International MBA degree from Glasgow University and a Bachelor degree in business and economics from Southampton University.

JAVIER NAVARRO ESPADA, Director-General of Industry and SMEs of the Government of Aragon

Javier Navarro (born in Alcorisa, Teruel Spain) is the Director-General of Industry and SMEs of the Government of Aragon and Vice-President of the Foundation for the Development of New Hydrogen Technologies in Aragon. He is an industrial engineer and graduated in Engineering and Environmental Management from the Spain's School for Industrial Organisation EOI and in Prevention of Major Risks in the Chemical Industry from Ciemat. He is career civil servant by open competition since 1987. In his previous term, from 1997 to 2015, he served as Director-General of Industry. He was also Vice-President of HyER (European Association for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells and Electro-mobility in European  Regions ), technical advisor of the Department of Economy, Industry and Employment of the Government of Aragon and Member of the Industry Council of Aragon.

TIMO PESONEN, Director General, DG GROW, European Commission

Mr Pesonen started his career in Finnish foreign affairs before joining the EU Institutions, where he hold several high-level positions. Director-General of DG Communication from 2015 to 2019, Mr Pesonen became Director-General at DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW) on 1 March 2019.

ALEXANDER REDENIUS, Head of Division Efficiency of Resources and R&D Coordination, Salzgitter AG

After his engineering studies and his PhD, Alexander Redenius started his professional career in the development of an automotive supplier. Since 2008, he has been an employee of Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung, the central research department of the Salzgitter Group, where he is responsible for the division Efficiency of Resources. He has been in charge of the SALCOS® project together with Volker Hille since 2015.

katja reppel, Deputy head of unit, DG regio, european commission

Deputy Head of the Unit in charge of the competence centre for smart and sustainable growth of the European Commission's Directorate General for Regional Policy.
Senior EU policy expert with over 20 years of experience in different European and national organisations.
Main fields of expertise: research, innovation, SME competitiveness, digital economy, smart specialisation, State aid and synergies between different EU funding instruments related to smart growth.
Previous positions: Deputy Head of Unit for industrial innovation policy development in DG Enterprise and Industry, Policy analyst in DG Employment, DG Enterprise and DG Regional Policy of the European Commission, Secondment to the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology, Deputy head of the Council of Europe liaison office in Brussels.

RENÉ SCHUTTE, Program Manager Hydrogen, Gasunie

René Schutte joined Gasunie in 2006. He has worked in several commercial management roles, from energy procurement to key roles in Gasunie’s business participations as procurement advisor. Subsequently, René became manager of the front office shipping and grid connections for Gasunie Transport Services. In this role he was responsible for all natural gas customers in the Dutch high pressure gas network. Until recently René was managing the projects industry and markets department. In this role he was responsible for the direct to the GTS grid connected industrial customers and for implementation of new law and regulation such as the European network code on tariffs.

As of July 2018 René is appointed as Program Manager Hydrogen for Gasunie. In this role he is responsible to develop and implement a hydrogen program, which is a key part of the Gasunie strategy for the energy transition and future business. He participated in the cross sectoral working group for hydrogen, who prepared a concept hydrogen program for the Dutch climate agreement. René holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Twente and business administration Twente School of management. Before Gasunie he worked over four years with Shell as Global Category Manager well services and eight years with Thomassen Compression Systems in technical (R&D) and commercial roles.

MANFRED SEITZ, Director General, Danube Commission

Manfred Seitz started his professional career in traffic & transport engineering and then moved to the Austrian Ministry for Science & Transport being in charge for the development and implementation of transport technology programmes. Since September 2011 he acts as General Secretary of Pro Danube International which is a network of private businesses promoting a more competitive Danube logistics system. Since August 2012 he also leads Pro Danube Management GmbH which is the service and project management unit of the association. In 2013, he developed the concept for the “Masterplan for LNG as a fuel and as cargo for the Rhine-Main-Danube axis” which brings together 33 partners from 12 European countries. The project was selected by the EC for funding from the EC TEN T program. In addition to the LNG Masterplan project he and his team supported Shell Downstream LNG and Bomin Linde LNG in the design of LNG deployment projects for EU grant applications. Manfred Seitz is also a member of the UNECE working group on barriers for LNG as transport fuel.

karl soukup, director, dg comp, european commission

Karl Soukup works in the Directorate General for Competition (DG COMP) of the European Commission, which is in charge of competition policy in the European Union. He heads there since 2013 a Directorate in charge of state aid control in a number of areas. Besides aid for regional development, research, development and innovation, risk finance and environment, he is in charge of fiscal aid. This includes DG COMP's work on aggressive tax planning, in particular investigating selective fiscal schemes and individual tax rulings. he joined the Commission in 1996 and has since worked in DG COMP in various positions in the areas of State Aid and merger control, with responsibility for a number of different economic sectors and projects. Amongst others he was instrumental in building up and running the financial crisis task force, which was established late 2008 in order to scrutinise public support schemes established by Member States in response to the financial crisis as well as State Aid measures and restructuring plans for individual banks. From 2001 to 2004 he was member of the private office of Commissioner Mario Monti, then responsible for competition policy, advising him in particular on state aid policy and cases.

DENIS THOMAS, EU Regulatory Affairs & Business Development Manager Renewable Hydrogen, Hydrogenics Europe NV

Denis Thomas is in charge of EU Regulatory Affairs & Business Development activities for Renewable Hydrogen at Hydrogenics, a world-wide leading provider of electrolyzers, hydrogen refueling stations and hydrogen fuel cells He represents Hydrogenics in several EU associations such as Hydrogen Europe, Wind Europe and CO2 Value Europe. Before joining Hydrogenics in 2014, Mr. Thomas has worked 8 years in the solar photovoltaic sector in Belgium and at European level within the European Photovoltaic Industry Association. Mr. Thomas holds a Master Degree in Business Administration and a European Master Degree in Renewable Energy.

Christian Weinberger, Senior Adviser on Advanced Industrial Technologies and Hydrogen Coordinator, DG GROW, european commission

Christian Weinberger joined the European Commission in 1999 to work on technical harmonisation in the Common Market, using the New Approach with CE-marking and harmonized EN Standards. In 2003 he was appointed Head of Unit dealing with Entrepreneurship policy, identifying and disseminating good practices and preparing Commission Communications on SME topics. In 2008 he was named Entrepreneurship and SME Policy Advisor. During 2016 and 2017 he was Adviser to the Danube Region Macroregional Strategy promoting its business dimension. Since 2018 he is Senior Adviser on Advanced Industrial Technologies and Hydrogen Coordinator for DG Internal Market, Industry, SMEs & Entrepreneurship.

Before joining the European Commission, Christian Weinberger worked for 10 years with a large multinational corporation in Marketing, Sales, Finance and Special Business Operations in various countries and at European HQ. He then co-founded an international SME in Information Technology and was its CEO for 9 years.

Being a native Austrian, Christian Weinberger holds a Master of Physics in Engineering, an MBA and a PhD in Economics.

RUDOLF ZAUNER, Head of Hydrogen, VERBUND

Rudolf Zauner studied process engineering at the Technical University of Graz, Austria and obtained a PhD in chemical engineering from University College London, UK. He subsequently worked in technical process development and scale-up at BASF AG in Ludwigshafen, Germany, followed by a placement at the Center for Innovative Sintered Products in State College, Pennsylvania, US (2001-2003). From 2003 to 2008 he worked for Austrian Research Centers, developing a powder technology business unit and managing both industry and EU-funded projects.Since 2008 he has been working at VERBUND. He has formerly been responsible for operation of the 420 MW VERBUND wind fleet in Austria, Germany, Romania and Bulgaria, for renewables R&D and for plant optimization before becoming Head of Hydrogen Center at VERBUND Solutions GmbH.