Speakers 2026

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).

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 [...]

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.

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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.

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.