Argus Biomass Conference

Zainab Afailal

Chemical Engineering, Green Fuels and Biomass Expert, Engie

Zainab Afailal is a Chemical Engineer with over ten years of experience in pyrolysis, gasification, HTC and biocarbon product development.

Zainab is an expert in biomass conversion technologies and industrial-scale valorisation, with a strong track record in R&D-to-market translation, feedstock assessment, lab-scale testing, and scale-up strategy. She is passionate about accelerating industrial decarbonization through biocarbon supply chains. She has experience in multi-stakeholder collaboration across Engie units, commercial support, technical advisory, and carbon-neutral fuel development.

Zainab is fluent in English, Spanish, French, Arabic.

Lorna Ritchie

Director of Public Affairs, Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM)

Ita Kettleborough

Director, Energy Transitions Committee (ETC) 

Ita Kettleborough is the Director of the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC). Together with the ETC Commissioners, she advocates for the technologies, investments and policies required to deliver climate commitments. She leads the ETC Secretariat provided by Systemiq. She oversees the delivery of the ETC's analytical, international, and communications programmes, whilst also supporting the ETC members.



In her role as Partner of the Energy Platform at Systemiq, Ita brings a deep understanding of the clean energy landscape to help clients in the UK and internationally. Her recent work includes the 2025 publication of a report on the UK Continental Shelf Transition.



Prior to this, Ita was a Manager at Bain & Company working with business executives to address strategic challenges in the UK, Europe, and the USA. Ita worked across industrial, consumer products and heavy transport sectors, in addition to advising central government and not-for-profit clients.

Ita worked as a policy advisor at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Matt Foder

Chief Commercial Officer, Enviva

Matt Foder is an experienced senior executive in the energy sector, specialising in driving growth across oil & gas, power, hydrogen, renewables and the wider energy transition. With a background spanning development, operations, engineering and commercial strategy, he focuses on building profitable growth, leading global teams, and connecting technology and markets to deliver value across the energy asset lifecycle.

Angela Hepworth

Commercial Director, Drax

Angela’s role at Drax is focussed on helping the company deliver its world-leading to be carbon negative by 2030, as well as demonstrating how Drax will be play a major role in the energy transition. She is focusing on the development of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) at Drax Power Station near Selby, North Yorkshire, as well as internationally, and the sale of high integrity carbon removal credits to enable corporates to meet their net zero goals. She has over 20 years’ experience in policy development and implementation, starting her career working at the heart of Government, advising Ministers on energy policy issues. During her time at EDF, she led the development of plans to build a new nuclear power station at Sizewell, before taking up the role of Policy Director, providing strategic advice on the energy policy agenda, including retail and power generation issues. She is a Powerful Women Ambassador, with a real commitment to supporting other women in the energy industry.

Mark Sommerfeld

UK Director, Carbon Capture Storage Association (CCSA)

Mark is a CCUS, Renewable energy and environmental policy advocacy expert with over ten years of experience working in the UK energy industry.

Michael Schytz

Vice President, Biomass Sourcing and CDR, HOFOR

Michael is VP at HOFOR, responsible for Biomass Sourcing and CDR. He has more than 15 years’ experience in energy and biomass.

Prior to joining HOFOR, Michael worked with developing biomass supply chains and sustainability at Orsted.

Michael holds a MSc of Strategy and Management from Aarhus School of Business.

Helen Motwani

Head of Heat and Biomass, Renewable Energy Association

Helen Motwani works in the UK renewable energy sector, focused on enabling a net zero transition that is fair, inclusive, and economically viable. She brings an evidence-based, solutions-oriented approach, using data and collaboration to build alignment across government, industry, academia and civil society. Previously, she worked in international development and humanitarian response, leading teams and coalitions addressing poverty, inequality and human rights.

Cas Snidjers

Commercial Director, Coega Biomass Centre

Cas Snijders is the Commercial Director of the Coega Biomass Centre, the largest biomass pelletisation facility in Sub-Saharan Africa. With experience across both liquid and solid biofuels, he is currently focused on scaling local and international biomass sales from Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

The Coega Biomass Centre develops industrial wood pellets produced from alien invasive tree species. These species threaten local biodiversity and water security; their removal thereby supports ecological restoration. By converting invasive biomass into renewable energy, the Coega Biomass Centre operates at the intersection of environmental restoration and commercially viable bioenergy solutions.

Jeff Kuntz

Editor - Biomass, Argus

Lisa Schmidt

General Secretary, International Biomass Torrefaction and Carbonisation Council

Lisa brings along a broad experience in communications strategy and brand development from various industries. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Vienna in cultural studies and an MBA from WU Executive Academy Vienna. In 2023 she completed an executive program for “Circular Economy & Innovation” at the Vienna University of Applied Sciences. Lisa is Secretary General of the International Biomass Torrefaction and Carbonisation Council (IBTC).

Steve Sirdey

European Buyer Alternative Reductants, Biocarbon & Biomass, ArcelorMittal Energy

Steve Sirdey started his career in the pharmaceutical industry for Sanofi then worked for two years for TOTAL in La Defense, Paris. He was in charge of different purchasing categories until he graduated from Kedge Business School.

Since 2015, Steve has worked at ArcelorMittal, starting and working as a Corporate Buyer for one year.

In 2016, Steve was given responsbility for the sourcing of Liquid Fuels for All ArcelorMitttal sites in Europe. Four years later when ArcelorMittal made their commitment towards decarbonisation, he was put in charge of a new perimeter called “Alternative Reductants Biomass and Biocarbon”.

Since it’s foundation, Alternative Redundants Biomass and Biocarbon has been developing biocarbon as an alternative to fossil coal in steelmaking production at a large scale.

Nicolas Strunden

Head of Renewables, Terval

M.Sc. Nicolas Strunden, Head of Renewables at Terval, is responsible for driving forward the company's renewable energy strategy and expanding its position in the European biomass market.

Nicholas’s technical background enables him to bridge the gap between fuel innovation and industrial application.

With Terval, Nicolas has collaborated with a wide range of industries to support their transition to renewable fuels, offering both strategic insight and operational expertise.

Nicholas holds a Master of Science in Mineral Resources Engineering and has gained extensive experience in boiler optimisation, fuel trials and trading.

Henrik Brodin

Head of Energy Transition, Sodra

Adrian Boodt

CSO, Director and Co-Founder, Flying Forest

Adrian Boodt specialises in lignocellulosic conversion technologies for SAF and methanol, with expertise in biochar production, sustainability, supply chains, strategic planning and business development.

Anton Tsvetov

Director of Continuous Improvement Work Programs (CIWPs), ICVCM

Anton Tsvetov is ICVCM’s Director of Continuous Improvement Work Programs (CIWPs). Anton is a policy professional with experience in research, consulting and international negotiations focusing on the economics of climate change and global sustainability. He has led climate negotiations in the UN and G20 with a focus on carbon markets and has engaged extensively with multilateral organisations globally, with particular focus on Eurasia and the Asia Pacific. He had worked in think tanks and research institutions to produce evidence-based policy analysis and strategic advice to governments, international organisations and private entities.

Anton holds a BA in Asia Studies and an MA in International Relations.

Carsten Huljus

Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Biomass Program

Carsten Huljus is Chief Executive Officer of the Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP), a not-for-profit multi-stakeholder organisation that has developed an independent third-party certification system to provide assurance that biomass is sourced from legal and sustainable sources. Initially trained as a forester he has been working in the voluntary sustainability certification sector with schemes like FSC, PEFC and SBP in global forest industries for more than twenty-three years, in various management positions.

Chloe Drew

Biomass Trading and Logistics Director, Drax

Chloe Drew is responsible for managing Drax’s Group biomass position and associated logistics for deliveries to Drax Power Station, alongside developing and implementing longer-term biomass strategy.

Chris Wiberg

VP of Biomass Energy Lab, Timber Products Inspection, Inc. / Biomass Energy Lab

Chris Wiberg is Vice President of Biomass Energy Lab. For over 25 years now Mr. Wiberg has overseen third-party fuels testing laboratories, with a focus on solid biofuels and pyrogenic biocarbon (biochar, biocarbon, biocoal, etc.). Mr. Wiberg is currently the Chairman of the Pellet Furls Institute Standards Committee in the US, Chairman of the US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC 238 for the standardization of solid biofuel and pyrogenic biocarbon, is active in five  ISO TC 238 Working Groups, and served as the project leader for the development of the American National Standard for Biochar (ANSI/ASABE/USBI S668).

David Thompson

CEO, Agripellets

David Wong

Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Rainbow Pellet

David Wong is the marketing director of Rainbow Pellet, which has been producing pellets since 2014 together with its associated group of companies. The family-owned company has been supplying the Asian market actively and more recently, it has also been selling into the Europe market. The wood pellet business is a subsidiary of another family business which focuses on international sawed lumber trade since 1985. Rainbow Pellet holds PEFC certification and aims to be SBP certified by January 2020. The company is currently the leading wood pellet manufacturer in Malaysia.

Sanjeev Gajjela

Founder & CEO, PySAF

Dr Sanjeev Gajjela is Founder & CEO of PySAF Ltd, a London-based cleantech company developing a proprietary fast pyrolysis and bio-crude-upgrading platform for SAF, bio-intermediates, and speciality chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. With 20+ years of international R&D and commercialisation experience, ~40 patent filings, and £15M+ in secured funding, Sanjeev has led programmes from lab through to industrial validation — including a 20,000-gallon bio-crude co-processing campaign at commercial refinery scale. Unlike many advanced SAF pathways, PySAF's bio-crude is designed for co-processing in existing refinery infrastructure alongside conventional HEFA feedstocks — eliminating first-of-a-kind capital risk and accelerating the route to commercial scale. He has held senior roles at Tomato Energy (UK), Alder Renewables (USA), Futureblends (UK), and MaterializeX Ltd, partnering with BTG, Topsoe, and leading UK universities. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and a Member of IChemE. Fast pyrolysis biocrude technology developed during his tenure at Alder Renewables is now advancing toward commercial SAF production in Canada, targeting 10 million gallons per year by 2027, backed by CAD $10M in investment from Boeing.

Eirik Haugen

Chief Executive Officer, Arbaflame

Eirik Haugen is the Chief Executive Officer of Arbaflame, where he leads the company’s mission to scale sustainable biocoal and accelerate the global energy transition. He brings nearly two decades of industry experience across renewables, energy technology, and large‑scale industrial projects.

Eirik is passionate about the strategic, commercial, technical, and financial intersection within the renewable sector, and has a strong track record of building partnerships, executing complex projects, and advancing low‑carbon solutions. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as Arbaflame’s Chief Commercial Officer and Vice President of Business Development, driving market strategy, new growth initiatives, and commercial execution.

Before joining Arbaflame, he was CFO of Carbon Circle and spent over 14 years at Aker Solutions in senior roles within corporate strategy, sales, and subsea systems, including leadership in floating wind and carbon capture strategy.

Eirik holds a Master’s in Business and Economics from BI Norwegian Business School.

Erisa Senerdem

Global Lead- Carbon, Argus

Erisa Senerdem is editor of the Argus Biomass Markets (ABM) report at global price-reporting agency Argus Media. ABM is a weekly that publishes price assessments for the industrial wood pellets, chips, residential pellets and palm kernel shell (PKS) spot markets globally, in-depth market commentaries and analysis, and related data. Erisa has been with Argus for over ten years and previously covered electricity, natural gas, coal and petroleum coke markets. Prior to Argus, Erisa worked as a researcher, university lecturer, journalist and a parliamentary consultant for EU legislation. She holds a Ph.D. in economics, with a special focus on the energy field.

Erwin Nederkoorn

Managing Director, ING

Erwin Nederkoorn is a Managing Director at ING Wholesale Banking, based in Amsterdam.

Erwin is globally responsible for the Hydrocarbons & New Energies sector and is part of ING’s global Energy investment committee with New Energies like bio- and e-fuels and carbon capture/storage as focus area. His track record includes structured (project) finance and Infrastructure transactions.

He joined ING in 2001 in the structured export finance department, where he was involved in transactions supported by Export Credit Agencies and Multilateral institutions for both public and private borrowers across multiple sectors.

He started his career in 1994 as engineer with NAM (joint venture between Shell/Exxon) in the Netherlands followed by a business development position in the engineering-contracting sector.

Mr. Nederkoorn has a Master degree on Chemical Engineering from Delft Technical University, the Netherlands.

He is married and has three children.

Fahimeh Yazdan Panah

Associate Executive Director, Wood Pellet Association of Canada

Associate Executive Director, Wood Pellet Association of Canada
Board Member, European Pellet Council and Bioenergy Europe

Dr. Fahimeh Yazdan Panah is the Associate Executive Director of the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) and a Research Associate at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She has over 18 years of experience in the bioenergy and solid biofuels sector, spanning applied research, industry leadership, international standards development, and policy engagement.

Over the past decade, Dr. Yazdan Panah has led and coordinated numerous national and international bioenergy projects for governments, industry associations, manufacturers, and technology developers. Her technical expertise spans biomass and biofuel densification, pretreatment, drying, storage and handling, self-heating, off-gassing, fire and explosion risk, and supply chain safety. She has spearheaded several multi-partner research initiatives and has co-authored more than 80 technical reports and peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Yazdan Panah plays an active leadership role in international standardization. She serves as a project lead within ISO Technical Committee 238 (Solid Biofuels) and previously chaired ISO Technical Committee 300 (Solid Recovered Biofuels). Her work focuses on advancing science-based, practical standards that support safety, quality, and international trade in biomass fuels.

In addition to her role at WPAC, Dr. Yazdan Panah serves as a Board Member of the European Pellet Council (EPC) and Board member of Bioenergy Europe, contributing to strategic governance and international collaboration across the global pellet sector.

Dr. Yazdan Panah holds a PhD and MASc in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of British Columbia and a bachelor’s degree from Amirkabir University of Technology. She is a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Frank Van der Zon

Manager- Coal & Biomass Procurement, Tata Steel

Frank is currently manager of coal and Biomass procurement for Tata Steel Group. He joined the company in 1999, started his career in one of Tata Steel's manufacturing plants, before moving to Procurement.
Since 2021 Frank has been a part of the global raw materials team, looking after Coal and Biomass purchasing. He has a background in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utrecht.

Frederic Staermose

Head of Emerging Markets & Business Development, CM Biomass

Freddie Staermose is an experienced British energy markets professional with nearly two decades of involvement in trading, business development and analysis across power generation fuels and associated markets.

Since February 2026 he has served as Head of Emerging Markets and Business Development at CM Biomass, one of the world’s largest suppliers and traders of wood pellets and biomass. Prior to assuming this role, he was Vice President – Generation Fuels at Argus Media, where he played a key role developing Argus’ generation fuels business with a focus on biomass, coal and other solid fuels.

Earlier in his career Freddie held roles at the UK utility EDF Energy, where he was responsible for sourcing coal and biomass for UK-based plants, and the commodities trading house Noble Group, where he led the dry bulk market analysis team globally. He started his career as a market reporter in 2007 with ICIS, analysing gas, power and carbon markets.

Freddie brings to CM Biomass a strong industry background, having worked in and around the biomass market for more than 15 years. He is managing a team of traders within the business development set up, supporting commercial initiatives globally as CM Biomass seeks to expand its footprint across major market segments primed for growth.

Hannah Adler

Senior Reporter, Argus

Hannah Adler is a senior reporter on the Argus biomass team, where she has worked since 2022. She focuses primarily on the European wood chip and the global industrial wood pellet market, alongside wider coverage of carbonised and agri-biomass. Before joining the biomass desk, Hannah covered agricultural markets. She has spoken at industry conferences, moderated and participated on panel discussions, and chaired roundtables at sector events. Hannah is also the host of The Biomass Beat, Argus Media’s dedicated podcast exploring key trends, policy developments, and market drivers shaping the global biomass sector.

Harald Fuchs

Director BU Carbonisation & Torrefaction, Polytechnik

Harald Fuchs, Director of the Torrefaction & Carbonisation Business Unit at Polytechnik, is a distinguished senior executive with over thirty years of experience in international project business. He demonstrates consistent success across the software, engineering & assembly, plant construction, and energy sectors.

Harald’s career is highlighted by a ten-year tenure as the CFO of a stock-listed company, combining financial stewardship with strategic operational leadership.

Harald possesses a proven track record in managing complex M&A transactions and leading seamless post-merger integrations. Driven by a focus on sustainable value creation, he has achieved extensive success in delivering significant profit and sales growth in competitive global markets.

Harold Arnold

President, Fram Renewable Fuels

Harold Arnold has been involved in the forest industry his entire working life. He spent more than twenty-three years in the Forest Resources Division of Hercules and held the position of Western Region Superintendent prior to his leaving Hercules in 1995. Harold joined Fram Renewable Fuels in October 2005. His industry knowledge led to the development of Fram’s first wood pellet facility in Baxley, Georgia. Appling County Pellets was constructed and began producing in late 2007. As the industry continues to grow, Harold is enhancing Fram’s profile to further develop the wood pellet industry in the southeast US.

Irene di Padua

Policy Director, Bioenergy Europe

In her role of Policy Director, Irene oversees the advocacy activities of Bioenergy Europe at European and international level. With a background in EU public affairs, she has track-record experience in energy and environment policy, both from a regional and industrial perspective, with a specific focus on the renewable energy sector.

Ivan Malekzadeh Fadel

CEO, Bionow

Ivan Fadel is the CEO of Bionow since November 2023, leading the development of biocarbon products and the company’s first plant concept in Brazil. Previously at Vale S.A., he served as Head of Investor Relations (2020–2023) and Head of Joint Ventures (2018–2020), and sat on the boards of VLI (2019–2022), Samarco (2018–2020) and California Steel Industries (2018–2020). At Vale Fertilizantes, he was Business Development Director (2014–2017) and Chief Financial Officer (2017–2018). Before joining Vale, Ivan spent 11 years at Credit Suisse Brazil as Vice President in Equity Research, and later as an Investment Banker. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Finance from FGV/SP and completed executive education at Columbia University.

Jamie Stephen

Managing Director, Torchlight

Jamie Stephen is the Managing Director of TorchLight, an energy and resources consulting and project development firm based in Nova Scotia, Canada. He has managed bioenergy and cleantech projects for a broad variety of clients including national and provincial governments, utilities, airlines, manufacturers, investment funds, First Nations, and technology developers. Projects have focused on industrial growth strategies, facility feasibility, technology deployment hurdles, policy options, and investment prioritization. Originally from Saskatchewan and the UK,

Jamie hold a PhD in Forestry (bioenergy techno-economics/strategy) and a Masters in chemical engineering from the University of British Columbia and a BSc(H) in Life Science from Queen's University.

Joris Spaan

Business Development Manager, Yilkins

Joris is a Mechanical Engineer by origin with a long international working experience in the Pulp&Paper Industry. As business manager, he has a broad experience in business model transitions. He is particularly good at managing people and creating and keeping a healthy team. He is always ready to take the lead in the development of sustainable entrepreneurship: from the idea and the design of a solid business case to the execution and implementation of the project. He is part of Yilkins since it was founded in 2015 and responsible for Business Development with a special focus on Europe and Asia.

Jonathan Wood

Chief Commercial Officer, Nova Pangaea Technologies

Justin Tait

Director, International Sustainability Policy and Responsible Sourcing , Enviva

Justin Tait is Senior Director, Sustainability at Enviva, the world’s largest producer of sustainable wood pellets that provide power, utility companies and hard to abate industries around the globe with a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels. He leads a team that is responsible for ensuring that Enviva delivers sustainably sourced wood pellets to its customers that meet globally recognized standards and Enviva’s own Responsible Sourcing Policy. He is also responsible for engaging with policymakers and external stakeholders on regulatory matters pertaining to the use of biomass to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and so tackle climate change.

Ludovic SInet

Chief Operating Officer, Linium Biochemicals

Maarten Gnoth

Managing Director, Hinterland Management

Maarten Gnoth is the founder and Director of Hinterland Management, a boutique advisory firm specialising in sustainable investment and renewable energy solutions. He supports companies, investors and asset owners across OECD and emerging markets with advisory and implementation services in biomass, bioenergy and other renewable energy technologies.

With more than 25 years of experience in sustainability and international business development, Maarten is recognised for his expertise in biomass fuels, processing technologies (including torrefaction, biochar and pelletization), and biomass-to-energy applications. His work spans co-firing, supply chain design, feedstock origination and portfolio management. He also brings a strong track record in environmental and social responsibility, stakeholder engagement, M&A, and joint-venture development, having held multiple board positions.

Maarten previously served as CCO of a European bioenergy group and held senior roles at ENGIE, with a business development focus across Africa and APAC. He holds an M.Sc. in International Technological Development Sciences and a B.Sc. in Automotive Engineering Technology.

Michael Wild

President, International Biomass Torrefaction and Carbonization Council IBTC

Michael Wild is an economist and engineer with over 35 years of leadership in renewable energy, dedicated entirely to advancing global bioenergy markets. A pioneer in biomass innovation, he helped develop Europe’s early district-heating projects, led major coal‑to‑biomass conversions, and launched ABEX, the world’s first internet‑based biomass trading platform. He initiated the first intercontinental biomass supply chains, including the earliest PKS exports from Indonesia to Europe and later Japan. Michael co‑developed torrefaction technology for Andritz/Polytechnik and founded the International Biomass Torrefaction and Carbonisation Council (IBTC), where he serves as president. He currently advises international companies and drives projects in advanced biomass upgrading, high‑value biocarbon applications, and sustainable energy systems across Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.

Patrick Lapointe

CCO, Airex Energy

Patrick Lapointe is Chief Commercial Officer for Airex Energy, leading the company’s business development and marketing activities. Patrick has 25 years of experience in the development and sales of technology. After graduating in Engineering Physics from Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal and earning a MBA degree from INSEAD, he held product development and sales roles within the L’Oreal Group and Sony Electronics. Prior to joining Airex Energy, he headed the product development strategy for Walter Surface Technologies, an industrial metal working equipment manufacturer, as Vice-President R&D.

Pawel Jagla

CEO, Gdansk Port Polnoncy

Pawel Jagla is a manager with over a dozen years of experience in the industry. For the past seven years, he has been professionally involved in the development of Port Północny – a strategic transshipment terminal for fossil fuels in Central and Eastern Europe – where he has been successfully responsible for the terminal’s growth and development. He is a well-known and highly regarded expert in the sector. Prior to joining Port Północny, he worked in global commodities trading, gaining valuable experience in international energy markets.

Per Godfroij

Head of BECCUS, RWE

Randy Stevenson

Sustainability Certification Manager, Fram Renewable Fuels

Randy Stevenson is the Sustainability Certification Manager at Fram Renewable Fuels in Hazlehurst Georgia. He has worked as a corporate forester in the forest products industry for more than 40 years throughout the US Southeast.  Responsibilities have included forest management, timber harvesting, procurement, fibre utilization, and sustainability certification.

Randy is a South Carolina Registered Forester and a Georgia Master Timber Harvester.  A native of West Virginia, he holds a BS in Forest Management from West Virginia University.

Signe Jakobsone

CEO and Founder, SIGNES KOKS

Signe Jakobsone is the CEO and Founder of SIGNES KOKS, an independent biomass supply and trading company based in Latvia. She works across the entire wood chip value chain – from forest sourcing, roundwood and biomass quality ,measurements and port supervision.

She manages the process from forest to port, making sure quality, measurement, documentation and delivery are handled properly at every stage. Working in the Baltic market, she understands how daily operational decisions affect costs, reliability and long-term cooperation.

Signe believes that trust is the foundation of every strong supply chain. Her partners know they can rely on her word, her standards and her results. She often says:

She measures ambition in cubic meters — and proves it through performance.

Søren Alsing

Head of Fuel, Bioenergy and Thermal Power, Ørsted

Thor Brandrur

Owner, MB Shipbrokers

Thor is a specialists in Bioenergy Sourcing, Logistics and Supply Chain.

Tiago Andrade

Founder, WoodPellet Services

Wojciech Rogowski

Biomass Department General Manager, G7 Group Sp. z o.o. (Poland)

Wojciech Rogowski is an experienced manager in the energy sector, specialising in the biomass and renewable fuels market. He serves as the Biomass Department General Manager at G7 Group Sp. z o.o. a dynamically growing company operating in the wholesale distribution of solid fuels and biomass in both domestic and international markets.

In his work, Wojciech focuses primarily on the development and contracting of agro-biomass, with particular emphasis on PKS (Palm Kernel Shell) a by-product of the palm oil industry, which is playing an increasingly important role in the decarbonization of European energy. He is responsible for building stable supply chains of exotic biomass from Southeast Asia, managing maritime logistics, and implementing long-term, certified solutions in line with sustainability principles and RED III regulations.

Wojciech is a graduate of the Academy of Physical Education AWF. He combines a practical business approach with extensive market knowledge and actively participates in discussions on energy security, the globalization of the biomass market, and the role of agro-biomass in Europe’s energy transition.

William Strauss

President, FutureMetrics

William Strauss is the President and founder of FutureMetrics,. Bill and FutureMetrics are recognized as leading experts in the wood pellet sector. Bill continues to be a thought leader in the sector and has published numerous papers on a variety of subjects relevant to the wood pellet sector. He is also a co-founder and a Director of Maine Energy Systems, the largest manufacturer of European style automatic pellet fueled central heating systems in North America. Bill has been named as one of the most influential leaders in the biomass sector in 2016 and again in 2017 by Argus Media, and is the 2012 recipient of the International Excellence in Bioenergy award. Bill has an MBA (specializing in finance) and a PhD (economics, earth systems science) both from the University of New Hampshire.

Yves Ryckmans

CTO Biomass and Green Fuels, Engie

Olivier Vanlerenberghe

VP, Business development & Marketing , John Cockerill

With 30 years of experience in industrial projects for heavy process industries, from strategy, commercial development to project execution and services, I am leading the business development of John Cockerill Energy Transition.
John Cockerill is a Belgian industrial engineering group with a two-century history, active in the steel, energy, environment, defence and hydrogen markets. At Energy Transition, we design and deliver thermal processing reactors, based on a Multiple Hearth Furnace technology, with 2 main technologies: The MHF NesaTorr™, a Torrefier for light pyrolysis applications such as bio masse or waste processing; The MHF NesaCore™, a Carbonizer for deeper pyrolysis applications, minerals processing, carbon activation/regeneration or high-grade bio-coal / bio-coke production.
Thanks to more than 150 references, our MHF provides heavy duty performances, extended lifetime and high availability to demanding End-users.
Energy Transition also designs and installs comprehensive green energy systems that include production, storage, use, and valorization of energy.