Speakers 2024

Richard BOUVERET

CEO & Chairman, Blue Solutions

Richard Bouveret has been the CEO & Chairman of Blue Solutions and Bluebus, both 100% subsidiaries of the Bolloré Group, since September 2022. A connoisseur of vehicles and their life cycles, an expert in mechatronics and electrification, and a specialist in cutting-edge technologies. He is interested in all the innovations that this sector of activity encompasses. Richard Bouveret joined the Bolloré Group at a pivotal moment for Blue Divisions: his mission is to turn this forerunner in solid-state batteries and electric buses into a leader in these markets and future technologies. Richard Bouveret's passion for cars began in his childhood, thanks to the car manufacturers' manuals he inherited from his grandfather. A graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Nancy engineering school, he has spent the last decades at Valeo, and then at ZF Group, leading their development strategies, overseeing their commercial transformations, and guiding their merger and acquisition policies. As a true Leader, with nearly three decades of international business development experiences, Richard has accumulated a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the Automotive sector, very sharp business’s vision acumen as well as an in-depth knowledge of its main markets and notably for North America, Europe, Turkey, India, China, South-Korea, and Japan.

Francisco CARRANZA SIERRA

CEO, Basquevolt

Francisco Carranza is the Chief Executive for BASQUEVOLT, a battery cell and energy storage cutting edge startup that aims to become a world leader in solid state batteries. BASQUEVOLT was founded in 2022 and aims to produce solid state batteries based on a unique European technology by 2027. This achievement will enable a step forward in our hope for a cleaner world by a potential mass deployment of electric transportation, stationary energy storage and advanced portable devices. A whole new way to feed the world with energy that requires a spirit leader to steer a passionate and revolutionary team from all over the world. Before joining BASQUEVOLT, Francisco has developed a career in the automotive sector for more than 20 years holding several positions in multinational companies. Before joining this company, Francisco was a member of the Executive Committee for battery cell producer ACC Automotive Cells, a venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and Saft. He also was Managing Director of Energy, Strategic Partnerships& Projects Leader and New Business Development Manager at Nissan Motor Corporation since 2008. Francisco owns an extensive experience in managing new business opportunities regarding connected services, electric vehicle grid integration (V2G, smart charging), renewable energy generation and stationary energy storage using second life vehicle lithium batteries. Francisco has two engineering degrees (by Escuela Superior de Ingenieros of Sevilla and IFP School) and holds two MBAs from EM Lyon and the Cranfield School of Management. Since 2017, Francisco is a Visiting Lecturer at London Business School (LBS) as an expert in automotive electrification and new environmental trends.

Maher CHEBBO

Managing Director Europe, Univers

Maher acted in Global and EMEA Senior Executive Leadership roles within large Corporates (GE Digital, SAP, Cap Gemini) as well as successful startups (accenta.ai), Digital, AI and Data Science, Energy, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Mobility & Cleantech (Renewables, Batteries & BESS, Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia, Smart Cities, Smart Building, Geo-Storage, EV Charging, Carbon Management). He is currently Managing Director for Europe at Univers. Maher technology areas of expertise are in AI, ML, AIOT, Data Science, Blockchain, SaaS, PaaS and Cyber Security. Maher have been a co-founder of the European SmartGrids Technology Platform of the EC and President of ESMIG (European Smart Metering Industry Group). He is currently member of the Council of Engineers for Energy Transition of UN (CEET) and is chairing the digital batteries task force at Batteries Europe. Maher is also a non-Executive Board member of Elisa, Telecom operator of Finland. Maher holds a PhD degree (MinesParisTech), a Masters of Engineering in Automation & Data Science and a degree in Leading Global Businesses (HBS).

Jeff DAHN

Professor of Physics and Atmospheric Science NSERC/Tesla Canada Industrial Research Chair, Dalhousie University

Jeff Dahn obtained his B.Sc. from Dalhousie University (1978) and his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in 1982. Dahn then worked at NRC (Canada) (82-85) and at Moli Energy (85-90) before taking up a faculty position at Simon Fraser University in 1990. He returned to Dalhousie in 1996. At Moli, he did pioneering work on lithium-ion batteries. Dahn was appointed as the NSERC/3M Canada Industrial Research Chair in Materials for Advanced Batteries at Dalhousie University in 1996, a position that he held until 2016. In 2016, Dahn began a research partnership with Tesla as the NSERC/Tesla Canada Industrial Research Chair. Dahn’s research has been recognized by numerous awards including a Governor General’s Innovation Award (2016) and the Gerhard Herzberg Gold Medal in Science and Engineering (2017), Canada’s top science prize. He is the only person to have been awarded both awards this far. Dahn is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Shmuel DE-LEON

Founder & CEO, Shmuel De-Leon Energy Ltd.

Shmuel is a leading international expert in the business of batteries. Prior to founding the company, Shmuel held for over 21 years various positions as a battery, electronic engineering, and quality control team manager. Shmuel holds a BSc. in mechanical engineering from Tel-Aviv University and an MBA in quality control and reliability engineering from the Technion Institute in Haifa as well as an Electronic Technician’s diploma. Shmuel has a deep knowledge on the battery technologies and market and support many customers as their main battery consultor.

Title abstract: 46mm cylindrical li-ion cell market 2024

Yuan GAO

Board Director, Lithium Americas Corporation

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.

Title abstract: Cathode technologies and related supply chain consideration

Grigori MARGUIN

High Voltage/ power battery for aerospace project leader, Airbus Defence and Space

Working in Airbus since 2002, I had the chance to experience several jobs in different programs such as A320, A330 and A350, in engineering and in customer services. I have developed the first lithium ion 28V batteries (for A350) and the latest 800V propulsion battery pack for City Airbus next GEN. Lithium ion Batteries is my favorite topic.

Title abstract: Electrical system engineer for Aerospace

Martin WINTER

Scientific director, MEET Battery Research Center, Univeristy of Münster

Martin Winter has been researching in the field of electrochemical energy storage and conversion for more than 30 years. His focus is on the development of new materials, components and cell designs for advanced energy storage systems. Martin currently holds a professorship for “Materials Science, Energy and Electrochemistry” at Institute of Physical Chemistry at University of Münster, Germany. He is founder and scientific director of MEET Battery Research Center at Münster University and of Helmholtz-Institute Münster (HI MS) “Ionics in Energy Storage”, a division of Forschungszentrum Jülich (National Lab in Germany). Among more than 60 awards and recognitions, he is an elected member of National Academy of Science and Engineering, the State Academy of Sciences and Arts, is an officer of the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class of Germany and spokesperson of German Battery Research.

Title abstract: Polymer-based high energy density batteries: opportunities and challenges

Sebastian WOLF

COO, PowerCo SE

Shmuel is a leading international expert in the business of batteries. Prior to founding the company, Shmuel held for over 21 years various positions as a battery, electronic engineering, and quality control team manager. Shmuel holds a BSc. in mechanical engineering from Tel-Aviv University and an MBA in quality control and reliability engineering from the Technion Institute in Haifa as well as an Electronic Technician’s diploma. Shmuel has a deep knowledge on the battery technologies and market and support many customers as their main battery consultor.

John WOZNIAK

Founder, Energy Storage and Power Consulting

John ZHANG

CTO/CSO, Polypore International LP

John is recognized as the leading authority on lithium-ion battery safety and separators. He is a leader in establishing lithium-ion battery industry standards (P1625, P1725, and CTIA) through the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has chaired and/or organized more than 60 international conferences and delivered more than 60 invited keynote or plenary speeches at various international conferences. John has published more than 192 patents, >150 papers, and 4 book chapters, including the first ceramic coating separator patent (US 6, 432, 586) and some of the most cited papers (Chem. Reviews, 2004 and Li-ion safety papers 2006-now). Dr. Zhang received Ph.D. in Material Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Title abstract: Enabling High Energy Density, The secrete of battery separator (Definition, Measurement and Progresses)