Speakers

Dariusz Adamczyk is an experienced specialist in zero‐emission mobility and advanced energy storage systems, currently serving as the Battery HUB Product Management Manager at Solaris Bus & Coach. He has been part of Solaris since 2015, contributing to the company’s evolution as one of Europe’s leading bus manufacturers and an early pioneer in zero‐emission public transport solutions. Solaris is widely recognized for its innovative portfolio of battery‐electric, hydrogen fuel‐cell, and trolleybus vehicles, shaping sustainable mobility across European cities.

In his current role, Dariusz leads the team responsible for the development and implementation of next‐generation battery solutions for Solaris’ electric buses, hydrogen buses, and trolleybuses. His work focuses on ensuring that battery technologies meet the demanding operational, safety, and lifecycle requirements of heavy‐duty public transport applications. He oversees technical evaluations, product development, and strategic planning for battery systems, supporting Solaris’long‐term innovation roadmap

He holds both a BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Poznań University of Technology, completed within the Faculties of Mechanical Engineering and Management, and Machines and Transport. He further expanded his competencies through postgraduate studies in Warehouse and Data Analysis for Business Applications at the Faculty of Computing and Telecommunications. His early professional development included participation in a dual-education program between Poznań University of Technology and Solaris Bus & Coach.

Pekka Alisaari is a new recruit to Fortum Battery Recycling team with over 20 years of experience in nickel and cobalt hydrometallurgical production and sales of these final goods for the battery market. Now, as Director of Strategic Partnerships, his know-how is used to support the new strategy of Fortum Battery Recycling in bringing its end product portfolio to the next level with its co-operators and internal expertise.

Yassine Ammar is a Senior Sales Engineer at Arbin Instruments, a leading global provider of advanced battery testing solutions. He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Yassine began his career with engineering roles at Texas Instruments and Infineon Technologies, before joining the technical sales team at Arbin Europe. With a strong foundation in both engineering and customer engagement, he has since built a proven track record in technical sales, project consulting, and supporting major battery testing initiatives across Europe.

His expertise lies in bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world application, helping clients design and implement scalable, high-performance testing solutions for research, development, and production.

Issam Baghdadi is a battery expert, founder and CEO of Kurybees. He holds a PhD in lithium-ion battery ageing modelling and has over 15 years of experience in battery testing, modelling, cell-to-pack design and technology assessment for automotive and industrial applications.

After training at Sciences Po Paris and INSP, I joined DGE in 2024 to work on the implantation of the Battery Strategy.

Jean-Baptiste Behaghel has served as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Solutions, Bluebus, and Bluestorage since March 24, 2026.

Previously Deputy CEO of Blue Solutions from January 2021 to February 2026, Jean-Baptiste Behaghel played a key role in redefining the company’s strategic direction over the past few years. He now brings new momentum to the company, aiming to accelerate growth and strengthen synergies among teams to deliver real added value to the company’s clients and partners.

With a background in various leadership roles in industrial innovation and international logistics, including key operational responsibilities at Bolloré Africa Logistics, Jean-Baptiste Behaghel has successfully developed complex organizations, led high-impact industrial projects, and spearheaded profound transformations to support long-term performance and sustainability. Whether managing port concessions in Africa or contributing to the development of solid- state batteries and electric mobility, Jean-Baptiste is driven by a passion for technology, excellence, and a desire to approach every challenge with curiosity, respect, and determination.

Graduated in 2006 from École Centrale Paris—Entrepreneurship Track / Industrial Engineering Specialization—he joined the Bolloré Group in 2007, where he held several successive positions within the Group’s African operations: first as infrastructure manager in Gabon, then in charge of port concession development. In 2011, Jean-Baptiste served as Director of Operations within the Ports & Terminals department, before joining Blue in 2016.

Mark brings his experience in lithium, battery materials and cells manufacturing knowledge in commercializing processes:

• Mark has over 28 years of experience in Metallurgical Engineering, including study management and sponsorship, flowsheet development and plant design.
• Mark was the study manager and a consultant on the CTR Hell’s Kitchen Li Project, and ERAMET MHP to Battery Grade Sulphates Process Study.
• Mark was also deeply involved in CAM studies for NanoOne who wish to commercialize a novel CAM manufacturing process.
• Mark is overseeing several battery recycling initiatives, including Hatch internal-development projects to establish game-changing IP and Equipment Technologies.
• He is Hatch’s Global Director for Battery Mark Solutions, responsible for business development and growth in the entire value chains for Li-Ion Batteries, Redox Flow Batteries, H2 Fuel Cells, and other battery platforms.
• Mark has good working knowledge of all the key processing steps, including evaporation, calcination, leaching, impurity removal including IX and SX, as well as chemical precipitation/crystallization of final products including lithium carbonate/hydroxide, and nickel-cobalt sulphates, and copper metals.
• Mark is currently the Project Sponsor for the UltiumCAM CAM 1 Plant, which is constructing a new CAM facility in Becancour, Quebec, Canada.
• Mark is the Technical Consultant and Business Sponsor for many projects with clients including Mosaic, Novonix, CIRBA Solutions, Duracell, Battery Metals Inc., New Spiers Technology, LG ES, Li Cycle, Vianode, Northvolt, POSCO, Panasonic, Sumitomo, Tech, Altilium, Forge Nano, and Aleon.

I’m a mechanical engineer specializing in lithium-ion battery systems, with a dual expertise spanning industrial product development and advanced multiphysics simulations.

I hold a mechanical engineering degree from the National Engineering School of Tunis and a master’s in mechanical modelling and simulation from Sorbonne Paris Nord. I spent three and a half years at Enersys, where I contributed to the development of lithium-ion battery modules and packs for reserve power applications, with a focus on improving battery safety and performance.

Currently serving as Battery Modelling Project Manager at CREPIM, where I will be leading multiphysics simulations projects aimed at deepening the understanding of battery behaviour during thermal runaway propagation.

Hagen Berger, CEO of Exacom GmbH in Germany, began investigating battery inspection already in 2015. In 2018, Berger presented and sold the company’s first tool with battery inspection capabilities. Since then, Exacom’s customer base and portfolio have continued to expand, boasting over 100 installations for all major cell formats with more than 2 billion cells inspected.

Known for his visionary leadership, Berger has been a driving force behind the adoption of inline X-ray inspection systems in battery manufacturing. This has significantly accelerated production while reducing reject rates. His unwavering dedication to advancing technology and process understanding in the battery industry has earned him recognition and respect among his peers.

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhart has more than 30 years of experience in consulting and has been a Senior Partner at Roland Berger since 2007.

Within Roland Berger’s Automotive and Industrials platform, he serves as Global Co-Head of the Advanced Technology Center, where he supports automotive, industrial, and technology clients worldwide in addressing the challenges and opportunities that emerging technologies bring to their businesses and markets.

One of his core areas of expertise is the lithium-ion battery industry and strategies for critical minerals. Since 2008, he has advised OEMs and other battery customers, most of the globally relevant cell suppliers, as well as new market entrants, material producers, refiners, mining companies, and LiB recyclers.

In addition, he works with public and private funds and lenders across Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.

Thomas has more than fifteen years of experience in materials chemistry and ten years in the Li-ion battery market – holds a MSc in Inorganic Chemistry and a PhD in Materials Science and Energy.

Thomas conducted several studies as Process lead for refining virgin material (i.e. from mining) and recycling materials from used Li-ion batteries. He also led multiple technical studies on battery recycling companies and scouted the battery recycling landscape from technical and market standpoint. He was also involved in various projects with reputable clients from the pCAM/CAM industry, as well as AutoOEM. Thomas participated to several Advisory studies for clients in the Li-ion battery value chain, from the due diligence on CAM manufacturers to strategic battery grade materials/battery recycling projects for newcomers to the industry.

As a material scientist, Thomas’ experience combined a strong technical understanding of the processes used in the Li-ion value chain, especially for production of refined battery-grade salts, pCAM, CAM for Ni-rich based CAM and LFP CAM, along with battery recycling – coupled with a deep understanding of the Li-ion battery market to provide highly valuable insights for Hatch as Technical Subject Matter Expert.

Emilie Bodoin is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pure Lithium, a vertically integrated battery technology company she founded in 2020 focused on the development of lithium metal and next-generation battery technologies.

Ms. Bodoin has more than 14 years of experience in lithium metal anode and advanced battery development. She is an inventor with 16 granted patents and numerous patent applications, the majority of which are included within the Company’s intellectual property portfolio of more than 150 patents and patent applications. Notably, Ms. Bodoin is also a co-inventor on a granted patent with Nobel Laureate Professor Sir M. Stanley Whittingham, who was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to the development of the lithium-ion battery.

Prior to founding Pure Lithium, Ms. Bodoin held finance and technology leadership positions in New York City, including serving as Chief Technology Officer of G.C. Andersen Partners, a boutique investment bank. From 2015 to 2018, Ms. Bodoin worked with Argonne National Laboratory as a Principal Investigator on a lithium metal production project. She also served as an Entrepreneur in Residence with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Ms. Bodoin is a frequent speaker at global industry and investor conferences relating to lithium production, critical minerals, battery technologies and energy storage.

Michele is Sales Director at Digatron Systems Italy, bringing over three decades of experience in the battery industry, with a strong specialization in advanced manufacturing equipment. He partners with leading organizations worldwide, including industrial players, research institutions, and universities.
In his current role, Michele drives strategic initiatives and key international projects, spanning from pilot-scale cell prototyping to fully automated battery production lines, as well as formation and testing systems. His expertise supports customers in scaling innovative technologies into reliable, high-performance industrial processes.

Kristina Borzutzki works as group manager of the group of process engineering at the Fraunhofer FFB in Münster. She and her team focus on process optimization and establishing of innovative processes. Besides the state-of-the-art battery production processes, a strong focus lies on evaluation and empowerment of new technologies for a resource-conserving and sustainable battery cell production. Kristinas background includes studies in engineering physics and physics and a doctoral degree in physical chemistry where she was working on material development for LiBs and PLiBs.

Jean-Sébastien Bridel is the Anode Science Director at The Extra mile , where he leads the scientific strategy for next-generation silicon anode technologies. With more than 18 years of experience in electrochemistry, advanced materials, and lithium-ion battery development, he has built a career at the intersection of research, industrialization, and business strategy. After earning his PhD in electrochemistry in France, Jean-Sébastien held international roles across Europe and Asia, contributing to the development of cathode and anode materials, advanced cell technologies, and customer-driven innovation programs. His experience spans the full value chain, from fundamental materials science to commercialization. A recognized voice in the battery industry, he provides unique insights into the challenges of scaling silicon anodes for electric vehicles, including manufacturability, cost, performance, and supply chain considerations. His work focuses on transforming promising laboratory innovations into practical, commercially viable solutions that accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility.

Roman Buchheit is a sales engineer at Math2Market, specializing in electrochemistry applications such as batteries. With his material science background, he is helping Math2Market’s customers to use the software GeoDict for battery material development by optimizing the microstructure and to feed users’request back into the GeoDict development team.

In over 30 years, Hans Buurman has played many roles in research and development of medical devices and applications, mainly around imaging. He has switched multiple times between product research and development, test and release, realizing that he is truly committed to making sure that great ideas make it to the end user. He has spent many years as a technical lead and in staƯ roles, where he learned the pleasure of creating an environment where people thrive.

Out of that time, 25 years Hans spent in Philips, working as a Principal Scientist and Architect. Later, Serving as Head of Development at the Dutch Cancer Registry (IKNL), spearheaded the architecture and the digital transformation of IKNL.

Hans has a PhD (Applied Physics) from the TU Delft.

Dr. Paolo Cádiz combines a background in physics and electrical engineering with experience in lithium-ion cells, materials engineering, and battery manufacturing. He earned his Ph.D. from RWTH Aachen, with doctoral and postdoctoral research at Forschungszentrum Jülich, resulting in patents in silicon-based materials synthesis for batteries and solar cells. At Mercedes-Benz AG, he worked in battery systems project management and advanced R&D for anodes, cell metrology, and electrolyte filling. Today, as Technology Management Expert for Batteries & Photovoltaics at Exyte, he helps clients scale cell chemistry and manufacturing innovations from pilot lines to gigafactories by translating process needs into tailored dryroom, cleanroom, utility, and building specifications.

Dr. Nicolò Campagnol serves as the Chief Program Officer (CPO) at Basquevolt, where he leads global customer programs and the commercialization of next-generation solid-state battery technology. With a career defined by the intersection of scientific rigor and strategic vision, Nicolò previously spent a decade at McKinsey & Company. During his tenure, he founded and led « McKinsey Battery Insights, » the firm’s premier intelligence platform for the global battery value chain, advising top-tier automotive and energy stakeholders on the energy transition.

Beyond his executive duties, Nicolò is a Director for the Volta Foundation, contributing to the advancement of the international battery ecosystem. He holds a PhD in Electrochemistry from KU Leuven, conducted in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His deep expertise in advanced functional materials and gigafactory investments makes him a leading voice in scaling European battery leadership and industrializing breakthrough storage solutions.

Francesco Capuzzo works in ANDRITZ Sovema as Head of Sales Management.  His almost thirty years of experience in the battery manufacturing industry allowed him to hold different positions in the sales department and as Field Service and Operations Manager. During the years he could support customers in defining their projects and innovative solutions, meeting the battery manufacturers’ requirements and developing strong technical expertise.

Roland Chavasse is the Secretary General of the International Lithium Association (ILiA), the global industry body representing the lithium value chain, which he co-founded with Anand Sheth in 2021. In his role, Roland is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Association, representing the interests of its members, and promoting the sustainable development of the lithium industry globally. His work involves engaging with various stakeholders, including industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers, to address challenges and opportunities within the lithium supply chain. His leadership at ILiA focuses on fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and advocating for best practices in the production and use of lithium, particularly in the context of its critical role in battery technology and the transition to renewable energy sources.

Xin is a New Battery Technology Analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a London-based firm that provides well-informed forecasts and analysis supporting the global energy transition. At Benchmark, Xin focuses on the technical aspects of electric vehicles, stationary energy storage systems, and battery market analysis. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of St Andrews and has around five years of research experience in developing cathode materials for sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries.

Alessandro Chiovato is the Chief Executive Officer of Argylium, a new company created in 2026 from the alliance of Syensqo, Axens and IFPEn with the objective to move forward the development and industrialization of Sulfide Solid Electrolytes for All Solid-State Batteries. In more than 30 years in the chemical industry, of which the last 25 years in Solvay group, Alessandro has held several positions in Strategy & Innovation, Global Business Direction and General Management. Before taking the role of CEO of Argylium, Alessandro was Senior VP, Head of Business Development in the Battery Materials Platform at Solvay and Syensqo.

Jean-Luc Cialdini is the CEO of EasylZinc, a cleantech company developing next-generation zinc-based battery materials to enable safer and more sustainable energy storage. With an international career spanning Europe and the United States, he brings extensive experience in business leadership, commercialization, and industrial markets.

Prior to joining EasylZinc, Jean-Luc held senior roles in global organizations, leading growth strategies across advanced materials and technology-driven sectors. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and London Business School.

As CEO, he is focused on scaling innovative energy storage solutions from lab to industry, supporting the transition toward a more resilient and low-carbon energy system.

Thomas Courbe was born in 1972. He is ingénieur general de l’Armement, and is a graduate of l’Ecole supérieure de l’aéronautique et de l’espace (SUPAERO).

Thomas Courbe began his career in 1995 at the Ministry of Defense as head of fighter aircraft programs then Chief of Staff of the Director of aircraft programs. He joined the Directorate General of the Treasury in 2002 where he was successively deputy head of the Asia office, head of the Africa – Maghreb office, head of the aeronautical, military and naval business office, Secretary General of the Paris Club and then Deputy Director of bilateral economic relations. In 2010, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the State Secretary in charge of Foreign Trade (Pierre Lellouche) and Deputy Chief of Staff of the French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry (Christine Lagarde and then François Baroin). In 2012, he returned to the Treasury Department where he served as Secretary General, then Deputy Director General from 2015 to 2018. In August 2018, Thomas Courbe was appointed Director General for Entreprises.

Honours : Knight of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Merit

Gabriel Cowles is CEO of Urban Electric Power (UEP), a Pearl River, NY-based manufacturer of zinc-manganese dioxide battery energy storage systems. He brings nearly twenty years of experience across clean energy technology commercialization, large-scale program development, capital raising, and international business — including management of a complex joint venture with Godrej & Boyce and strategic partnerships with European battery material suppliers. Prior to UEP, Gabe built BuildSmartNY at the New York Power Authority and developed Con Edison’s Small Business Direct Install program at Willdan Energy Solutions, one of the largest utility energy efficiency programs in the country. He serves on the board of UEP, Sheetak, a deep-tech thermoelectrics company, on the organizing committee of the International Zinc and Aqueous Batteries Workshop, among other events, and as a long-term mentor and recurring speaker in Columbia University’s MPA-ESP program. A City & State New York 40 Under 40 honoree, Gabe holds an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a BA from the University of Vermont.

Raune Czerlinsky combines strategic thinking  with technical expertise and a strong passion for sustainability. She currently works as Director Regional Management for WLF Energy building partnerships in the EMEA region for an Integrated Energy management platform.

Her career started in the combustion engine development at BMW in 2026. In 2020 she joined the Operations Practice of Boston Consulting Group, working with companies across several industries, where she discovered her passion for the battery ecosystem, helping clients to set up their battery cell businesses. Subsequently, she joined PowerCo, a 100% daughter company of Volkswagen for battery cells, since 2023. In the role of advisor to the COO and Head of Operations Management she helped building up one of the largest battery cell manufacturer in Europe. Her background is in Mechanical engineering with a Masters degree Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and with international assignments at Grenoble Institute Nationale and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Throughout her studies and career driving sustainability and connecting globally have been a major motivators for her.

Stefan Debruyne is Vice President of Sustainability and Global Affairs at Novandino Lithium, the SQM-Coldelco JV. Stefan is focusing on SQM’s engagement with stakeholders of the global EV battery value chain. He joined SQM in 2005 as Lithium and Iodine Sales Director Asia-Pacific, where he saw firsthand the boom in lithium-ion battery production in Asia and the emerging electrification of transportation in China.

He earned a master’s degree in business engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) in 1997 and an Executive MBA from Vlerick Business School (in Belgium) in 2021.

Prior to joining SQM in 2005, he held a variety of international commercial roles in different listed companies.

Christian Dertmann is a materials engineer specializing in lithium extraction and hydrometallurgical processing. He currently leads these efforts at ACCUREC-Recycling GmbH, focusing on battery recycling and sustainable metallurgy.

He holds a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, where he later worked as a Scientific Engineer at the IME – Institute for Metallurgical Processing and Recycling for five years, publishing research on hydrometallurgy and battery recycling.

His PhD research introduced a fluorine-free hydrometallurgical process for recovering niobium and tantalum from tin slags, advancing sustainable resource recovery.

With expertise in circular economy solutions, Christian bridges research and industry to drive innovation in critical material recycling.

Isabelle Devinne is a professional in the maritime and port sector, with over ten years of experience at Dunkerque-Port. With a career firmly focused on international trade and logistics, she has worked across a range of maritime environments, from shipping companies to freight forwarding. Today, in charge of promoting the Port of Dunkerque, she actively contributes to the development and visibility of her territory, particularly on industrial, logistics, and energy-related issues.

Dr. David Ditter is a Product Specialist for GUR® ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) at Celanese Services Germany GmbH, focusing on battery applications and PFAS-free material solutions. He received his Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Mainz in 2019.

Dr. Mohamad EL HOUSSAMI has worked in fire science since 2010. He holds a PhD in Fire Safety Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. For the past six years, he has been a project manager at Efectis, leading fire safety and explosion engineering projects for industrial buildings and battery fires. He has participated in several European projects and publishes regularly in scientific journals. Since January 2023, Dr. El Houssami serves as Convenor of ISO/TC 92/WG13 (Fire Statistics). As of January 2025, he is also Chairman of ISO/TC 92/SC 3 (Fire Threat to People and Environment).

Daniel Fischer is an experienced professional in the field of functional specialty papers with a focus on battery technologies. While looking of a wide experience in both, Operations and Technology, in his career, he currently works at delfort, a leading company in the development and production of specialized paper solutions. In his role, he plays a key part in the development and marketing of IonPort®, a fiber-based separator solution for secondary batteries, aimed at enhancing both the performance and sustainability of battery systems. Mr. Fischer is actively engaged in the industry and regularly presents delfort’s latest innovations, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and future-proof battery technologies.

A world renowned inventor, Dr Yuan Gao has 30 years of experience in the complete supply chain of lithium-ion battery industry, from lithium extraction to batteries. One of his inventions, the Ti/Mg technology, enables high voltage lithium-ion batteries and is being practiced today in a vast majority of lithium-ion batteries for small portable electronics such as smart phones and tablets.

Dr Yuan Gao joined Pulead Technology in May 2014 and had served as its President and CEO until Sept 2019. Currently he is serving on the Board of Directors of Lithium Americas Corporation, as well as the Boards of Advisors of Nano One, Mitra Chem and Pure Lithium while advising Cobco, a cathode precursor producer in Morocco. Previously Dr Gao served as a Corporate Vice President at Molycorp (USA), and a Global Marketing Director and Technology Manager, as well as in other management positions at FMC Corporation Lithium Division, the predecessor to Livent (USA) and today Acardium Lithium.

Dr Gao received his BSc from the University of Science and Technology of China, and his PhD in Physics from the University of British Columbia in Canada. He received his postdoc training from Professor Jeff Dahn’s lab at Simon Fraser University. He has also received Executive Education from The Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania in the USA.

Javier Gazzarri is a Consulting Application Engineer at MathWorks, where he has worked for 15 years. Most of his work is on battery modeling and simulation, from cell- to system-level, parameter estimation for model correlation, impedance spectroscopy, battery management system algorithm development, thermal management, aging, state estimation, model reduction and artificial intelligence. Before joining MathWorks, Javier worked on fuel cell modeling at the National Research Council of Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina), a master’s degree (inverse methods for sensor design), and a PhD degree (solid oxide fuel cell degradation and impedance spectroscopy) both from the University of British Columbia (Canada).

Dr. Rainer Gerkens holds a PhD in Computer Science from the Technical University of Berlin and brings decades of experience in building data-driven solutions for regulated industries. He spent 13 years as a product manager for an ERP system in the automotive industry, followed by 11 years as a general manager specializing in the automated modernization of legacy applications. In 2001, he founded BRAINORITY Software GmbH.

For more than 12 years, BRAINORITY Software GmbH has delivered SecIdent, a SaaS solution for serialization, product identification, and traceability. Widely used in regulated industries, the platform enables companies to meet strict compliance requirements while ensuring  transparent and reliable information exchange across the value chain.

Dr. Rainer Gerkens’s deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and data flows makes him particularly well qualified in the context of the battery passport. As a speaker, he shares practical insights on how organizations can implement battery passports efficiently while ensuring compliance and data integrity across all stakeholders.

With more than twenty years of experience in electrification, hybrid systems, battery energy storage systems, autonomous vehicles, and R&D project and team management, I have built a career dedicated to leading engineering teams, structuring complex development processes, and delivering robust technical solutions across multiple industries. My classical expertise — system architecture, specification development, HARA and safety analysis, V-cycle orchestration, and cross-functional project leadership — remains the foundation of my professional offering.

Dr. Manan Haq is a researcher and innovator with a background in aerospace engineering and energy storage technologies. His work bridges advanced materials science with sustainable battery development, focusing on zinc-based systems for stationary applications. At Hilabs, he leads efforts to commercialize organic, locally sourced battery solutions that support circular economy principles. With a strong foundation in high-performance systems and renewable energy, Manan is committed to enabling safer, greener, and scalable energy infrastructure beyond lithium.

Philippe Hatron, who holds a master’s degree in finance from the University of Rouen and an Executive MBA from Georgetown University (USA), began his career in 1988 with Price Waterhouse in Paris, becoming Manager in 1993. In 1995, he joined COGEMA’s Finance Department. In February 1998, he was appointed Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Transnuclear, Inc. in the United States. In 2001, still in the United States, he was appointed Executive Vice-President and CFO of the Nuclear Measurements Business Unit, where he was also in charge of Human Resources. In 2006, he became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AREVA North America based in Wahsington DC. In 2008, Philippe Hatron was appointed the Vice President in charge of the AREVA Group Audit department, based in Paris. In 2012, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Mining and Front End Sales, deputy to the Chief Commercial Officer of AREVA Group. In 2016, relocated in Beijing, Philippe Hatron was appointed President of Orano Asia in charge of China Mainland, Taiwan and South Korea for the Orano group. Since end of 2024, he is the Executive Vice President Battery Program of Orano group and President of Orano Batteries subsidiary.

Mr. Luke Hu co-founded Electroder, a World Economic Forum Global Innovator specializing in enabling battery design and manufacturing. He is a steering committee member of Global Battery Alliance’s Battery Passport and Circularity Critical Material.

Mr. Hu has been leading his team completing various cell development projects, developing advanced software tools, and building new manufacturing capacities. He has two decades of experience in manufacturing and technology, and held a variety of engineering and management roles in China, USA and Europe. Mr. Hu graduated from Cornell University and Beijing University of Technology.

Dr. Gaurav Jha is the Co-Founder and CEO of BatLabs AI, a startup focused on AI-powered manufacturing intelligence for the battery industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and is a technology scale-up expert with over 10 years of experience in materials science and process engineering at Lyten, Sila nanotechnology and Intel. Throughout his career, Gaurav has led engineering teams to achieve product-market fit and has deep expertise in electrochemical energy-based manufacturing.

Sigmund S. Kielland is Interim CEO and Director of Business Development at Pentalys Energy. He holds an M.Sc. in Nanotechnology from NTNU, specialising in nanomaterials for energy applications.

His career spans the battery value chain from research to deployment: business development and research strategy at IFE, battery and BESS advisory at Multiconsult, and market analysis at THEMA Consulting Group. From 2022 to 2024 he served as elected coordinator for electrochemical storage within the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA). He works consistently at the interface of technology and business.

Harsha Kolli is the Battery Technology Lead at Everzinc, driving innovation in zinc battery materials. Prior to Everzinc, Harsha held multiple leadership roles at Printed Energy, including Vice President, Engineering & Director, Solutions, and Head of Development (Technology & Products). In these capacities, they developed and managed engineering teams focused on product-oriented engineering, process development, and application engineering. They also spearheaded product and business strategy, directing product management and leading technical sales initiatives.  Earlier in their career, Harsha served as a Principal Battery Engineer at Printed Energy, contributing to the development, testing, improvement, and production of quasi-solid-state ZiB energy storage devices, including rechargeable batteries, primary batteries, and supercapacitors.  Building on a foundation in energy storage, Harsha’s experience includes research roles at Arizona State University and NthDegree Technologies Worldwide.

Co-founder of LEMON ENERGY Inc. for Li-ion battery anode and cathode materials development. Working as a Chief Engineer and hold 40 patents application in Korea, USA, Chian, and EU as an inventor. Academic background for master’s degree in computer science from George Washington University, Washington DC, USA, and Ph. D. candidate in material science and engineering from Inha University, Incheon, Korea. Member of Korea Ceramic Society, The Electrochemical Society, The American Ceramic Society.

Benoit Lemaignan is the co-founder and CEO of Verkor, a new venture launched to accelerate the production capacity of low-carbon batteries in southern Europe, in collaboration with EIT InnoEnergy, Schneider Electric, Capgemini and the Groupe IDEC. Prior to the launch, EIT InnoEnergy brought Benoit on board to build synergies with the European Battery Alliance.

An aerospace engineer by training, Benoit is a serial entrepreneur. He previously founded and financed Waga Energy in 2015 and Aniah in 2019. He was also Managing Director of OSER ENR from 2015 to 2019 – a public-private partnership supporting the development of renewable projects. Earlier in his career, Benoit was a strategic advisor at Carbone 4 where his passion for energy and climate-related initiatives took root. From his time at Airbus, Benoit retains a strong drive for innovation and teamwork.

Martina Lindovska is an energy economist and has worked as a consultant for over 16 years across the energy and wider utilities sector, covering the UK as well as wider Europe and Australia.

In the power sector, Martina advises energy companies, regulators, system operators, investors, transmission developers and other energy market participants on a range of commercial, market design and regulatory issues.

Martina supports clients across storage, conventional generation and renewable generation in relation to wholesale markets, balancing mechanism (redispatch / constraint costs), and ancillary services forecasting, policy design and regulatory arrangements.

Martina joined FTI Consulting in 2016, having previously worked in the Economic Consulting practice at Deloitte and at NERA Economic Consulting.

Alessio Mariani has over 29 years of experience in the energy industry, holding various executive roles at Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc., Baker Hughes, and GE Oil & Gas. His experience includes running worldwide commercial operations,  global accounts, leading strategic partnerships, and global assignments in Japan and Russia & CIS as regional leadership. Alessio Mariani is a certified Mechanical Engineer from the University of Florence. Alessio loves sailing, flying and spending time with his family.

Dr. Cyril Marino obtained a PhD on material science about the understanding of electrochemical phenomena for the conversion materials used as negative electrode for Li-ion batteries at Université Montpellier 2 (France) in 2012. He was pursuing in the field of research with one assistant professor position at Technische Universität München (Germany) and one scientist position at Paul Scherrer Institut to work on the understanding of high voltage cathode materials for Li-ion batteries and the development of Na-ion batteries. He joined SERMA TECHNOLOGIES in March 2019 and since 2024 he is managing the failure analysis division of batteries and energy system.

Dr. Stefan Permien is the CEO and co-founder of UniverCell GmbH, a german cell and electrode production company focusing on special application markets. With a background in chemistry from the University of Kiel and a PhD focused on lithium-ion battery materials, Dr. Permien is a recognized expert in the battery industry. He also holds an MBA, which has complemented his technical expertise with strong business acumen.

Before founding UniverCell in 2019, Dr. Permien served as Chief Technology Officer at Customcells Itzehoe. His ambition to scale beyond research and into full-scale battery production led him to create UniverCell. Today, the company aims to push the boundaries of battery technology and contribute to Europe’s growing energy storage market, with a focus on sustainability and innovative energy solutions​. UniverCell is scaling up production at its Flintbek facility, targeting significant growth in Europe’s battery sector, which is expected to see rapid expansion in the coming years​.

Christophe has built up considerable expertise in the area of battery market. He joined AVICENNE 30 years ago and spent 3 years in Japan making analysis on the Electronic, Mobile Japanese battery market. Christophe gained large experience in marketing, strategy analysis, technology and financial studies for the battery and power management fields.

He developed the Battery market analysis for AVICENNE which counts more than 300 customers worldwide. Christophe publishes annual study « The rechargeable battery market trend”.

Christophe is now Director of AVICENNE ENERGY.

He has also been founder chairman of Batteries Event in France since 1999.

Engineer with 20+ years experience in industry, mainly as R&D manager at automotive OEMs. With focus on powertrain development & light-commercial vehicles customer requirements.

Noura perused her Ph.D. in Electrochemistry at the LRCS laboratory, where she worked on the development electrolytes for stationary storage batteries. Aware of the environmental challenges brought forth by the energetic transition and its corresponding drive for technological advancement, she decided to move into environmental assessment, and joined WeLOOP in 2024 to work on projects in the energy and EEE fields.

Domien Schatteman is a high-calibre Sales and Business Development Specialist with a Master of Science in Bioscience Engineering and 10+ years of international experience in the chemical and metals industries, currently serving as Strategic Sales Manager at Indaver, driving sustainable solutions in the solvents sector.

After graduating in 2007 from ENSEEIHT (Toulouse) with a degree in electrical and industrial computing engineering, I began my career as a BMS engineer at Dow Kokam, eventually advancing to the role of battery system software leader.

in 2014, I joined IAV, where i have been involved in numerous battery development projects—ranging from prototypes to series production—holding various positions from development engineer to project manager. I currently serve as the battery and safety team leader.

With over 18 years of experience in battery-related projects, I bring deep technical and managerial expertise to the field.

Salil Soman is the Vice President of Business Development at Feon Energy, a Boston-area company advancing next-generation electrolytes for lithium batteries.

He has previously held business development leadership roles at Sepion Technologies, Natron Energy and ZincFive, driving commercialization and growth across multiple multi-billion-dollar markets.

With over 25 years in the battery industry, in the past Soman has also served in senior engineering positions at BASF Corporation and Robert Bosch Battery Systems, managing validation and certification of battery systems used in series production vehicles with leading global automotive OEMs.

He holds a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Colorado. A private pilot for nearly 30 years, Mr. Soman also brings a unique perspective to systems and applications engineering, grounded in real-world user experience, safety, and contingency planning.

In his role as Application Technology Manager with LANXESS, Dirk develops new innovative applications and products in the field of battery metals waste water.

Prior to joining LANXESS in 2016 Dirk pursued a Post-Doc at Harvard University, with a main focus on resin beads in bio-physics and bio-medicine. Dirk obtained his PhD in 2013 in polymer chemistry, where he developed multifunctional polymers and monomers.

He is the author of 25 peer reviewed articles and 10 patents. His work was awarded by the Konrad Adenauer and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

• 12 years packaging industry, high speed manufacture of consumer packaging
• 5 years machine building and equipment supply inclusive turn-key lines for berverage packaging and aerosol
• 5 years establish the new Business Unit Battery at Schuler Pressen, develop a new technology to manufacture battery cell components
• Since 2019 establish a new company EUBACO supplying cans and lids to the battery industry, only company in Europe with full focus on battery components. Several projects for Chinese market leader, German OEMs and European cell manufacturers.
• EUBACO is part of Metal Flow Corp in Holland, MI since late 2024 and Bernd still supports the technology and the customers

With over ten years in the Digital sector with Dassault Systèmes, Nicolas Vallin has spent seven years working for the Battery industry holding various positions and supporting Battery & Gigafactory projects globally. Today, Nicolas Vallin is focusing on guiding Battery Manufacturers with their Digital ambitions. He is also a member of the Strategic Orientation Council for the French PEPR Research Program.

Bill Williams is Commercial Sales Director at Proterra, Inc. For the past 5 years he has been a leader in the Electric Vehicle Charging Industry. Bill is connected to many of the Clean Cities Coalitions, as well as the Smart Cities Challenge, and the recent VW Settlement proposals. He is Co-Chairperson of the San Joaquin Valley Electric Vehicle Partnership, as well as a board member of Project Clean Air. He has been helping to propel the electric transportation movement in the United States since 1995. For the past twenty years he has held executive positions such as Vice President of Electric Vehicles International, and Vice President of Sales in North America for ZENN Motor Company, Toronto Canada, and Vice President of a start up with Lee Iacocca.

Bill recently participated on advisory panels and spoke on Workplace Charging at the Department of Transportation, Columbus Smart City press conference, Green Transportation Conference, in Portland, and presented at the EPRI Meetings in Tempe, Az. and Birmingham Al. He has also presented to the Pentagon, US Department of Energy on several occasions. Bill has been active with EDTA, NAFA, GSA, CalStart, EPRI, Fed Fleet & Clean Cities Coalitions throughout the US for many years. Bill has been an on going spokesperson for the EV Industry and EV Adoption, for many years. His lmost recent customer includes Elon Musk for SpaceX employee charging stations.

Mathieu joined Société Générale in 2024 with 15 years of investment banking experience and deep expertise in the battery sector. He previously built Santander’s battery franchise and advised large corporates and industrial startups on strategic M&A, capital markets, and financing transactions. Earlier in his career, he worked in M&A at BNP Paribas in Paris. Mathieu holds a master’s degree in finance from Paris Dauphine University.

John is the CTO/CSO of Polypore International (Celgard)/Asahi Kasei. He received IBA (International Battery Association) Technology Award 2024 for his invention of Ceramic Coated Separator and Outstanding Contribution in Understanding of Internal Shorts Events of Li-ion Cells that lead the broad application of Ceramic Coated Separator (CCS). This technology has made a significant contribution to the evolution of humanity (SVP/CTO Panasonic). He is recognized as the leading authority on lithium-ion battery safety and separators. Through IEEE, he leads in establishing lithium-ion battery industry standards (P1625, P1725). John pioneered the Sulfide SSE with ~ 40 papers (1984-1991). He has chaired and/or organized more than 60 international conferences and delivered more than 120 invited keynote or plenary speeches at various international conferences. John has published more than 300 patents, papers, and books. John received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He also attended Sloan School of MIT.