Born in Geneva (Switzerland) in 1975.
Graduated in Economics (1997) and in Business Administration and Management (1998) from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), he also completed a specialized post-graduate course in human resource management and industrial relations at Pompeu Fabra University (2000-2001) and training courses in entrepreneurship and mentoring at ESADE, IESE and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He began his career working in the area of local development at Tordera City Council (2001-2003) and then joined Barcelona Activa, the Barcelona's economic development agency, in 2003, where he has developed his career for more than 20 years. He joined it as an employment and local development agent and subsequently held various technical positions, including head of business growth programs and director of the business services department, and progressed to be the executive director of Business and Entrepreneurship.
He has worked closely with the university system of Catalonia (UAB, IESE, ESADE, UB, IDEC-UPF, ESCI, UdG) and with other institutions and organizations such as Fira Barcelona, the Seira-Coop Foundation, the Public Employment Service of Catalonia (SOC), the World Bank and the Mobile World Congress.
On September 3, 2024, he was appointed Secretary for Enterprise and Competitiveness of the Ministry of Business and Labour, a position he has combined, since September 12, 2024, with that of CEO of ACCIÓ.

Industrial Engineer (UPC).
Master in Business Administration (IESE).
Working in Ficosa since 1.995, developing different responsibilities in projects Development, Engineering, Sales, Purchasing and Sustainability. Currently Chief Purchasing and Sustainability Officer.
Member of Ficosa Executive Committee, of the Board of Directors of Tata Ficosa and of the Board of Terrassa Chamber of Commerce.

Richard Bouveret has been the CEO & Chairman of Blue Solutions and Bluebus, both 100% subsidiaries of the Bolloré Group, since September 2022.
Richard is a connoisseur of vehicles and their lifecycles, an expert in mechatronics and electrification, and a specialist in cutting-edge technologies. He has a keen interest in all innovations in this sector.
Richard Bouveret joined the Bolloré Group at a pivotal moment for the Blue divisions: his mission is to make Blue Solutions and Bluebus leaders in the solid-state battery and electric bus markets. Richard Bouveret's passion for cars began when he was a child, thanks to the automobile manufacturers' manuals he inherited from his grandfather.
An engineering graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Nancy, he spent the last few decades with Valeo, then with the ZF Group, where he led talent and business development strategies, optimized the quality and costs of industrial operations, oversaw commercial transformations and steered merger and acquisition policies.
With over 28 years of international automotive experience, Richard is recognized as a passionate and pragmatic leader who focuses on talent to create, execute, and monitor disruptive strategies aimed at delivering unique selling propositions to ensure short and medium-term sustainable sales outperformance, positive incremental margin, the right level of cash conversion and the most effective talent retention plan.
Richard has accumulated a comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of the automotive sector. He is also highly visionary when it comes to structuring his business, thanks to his international experience in North America, Europe, Turkey, India, China, South-Korea, and Japan.

Jay Yang, male, born in 1968, German nationality, obtained master’s degree of Automotive Engineering from Technische Universität Berlin in 1996.
Mr. Yang joined CNGR in April of 2024 and is taking the role as the Vice President of CNGR Advanced Material Co.,LTD and President of Region NAFTA and EMEA. He takes full management responsibility of precursors of cathode active materials, metal refinery and recycling business across the region.
Prior to joining CNGR, Mr. Yang held several senior executive roles in multiple divisions of BASF group (Fortune Global 500) including Polyurethane, Intermediates and Battery materials.

Julian Englberger is Vice President Operations at cylib, where he leads the industrialization of cylib’s innovative battery recycling technology. He is currently spearheading the development of the company’s first-of-a-kind (FOAK) recycling plant in Dormagen, Germany. Julian’s responsibilities also include supply chain management, procurement, operations quality, and advancing IT and digitalization initiatives. Prior to joining cylib, Julian served as Head of Operations Management at PowerCo, where he played a key role in establishing the Gigafactory Salzgitter and oversaw recycling initiatives within the organization. Earlier in his career, Julian was a Principal at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), focusing on operations strategy, Industry 4.0, and large-scale transformation projects for industrial clients. With a doctorate in Operations Research and a strong background in production engineering and logistics, Julian combines deep technical expertise with hands-on leadership in sustainable manufacturing and battery innovation.

As Chief Operations Officer, Sebastian Wolf is responsible for PowerCo’s global battery manufacturing network. This includes planning, construction and operation of the planned cell factories, among other things.
Wolf was born in 1990 in Oelsnitz in the Vogtland region of Germany. After earning his diploma from a college-preparatory high school in Istanbul, Wolf attended the universities Aachen, Bath and Tsinghua in Beijing.
The production engineer later held management positions at Bosch and Boston Consulting, among other places, before becoming European CEO of the Chinese battery manufacturer Farasis Energy. Wolf has been Head of Operations Battery Cell in the Battery division since 2021.

Leon Farrant is the CEO and co-founder of Green Li-ion, a cutting-edge provider of lithium-ion battery recycling and remanufacturing technologies. With nearly two decades of strategic leadership across the energy and industrial services sectors, Leon has successfully built and scaled operations across multiple regions. He is recognized for his ability to align diverse stakeholders, drive innovation, and execute on global growth strategies. 

At Green Li-ion, Leon leads the charge in advancing scalable, on-site recycling systems that enable true circularity in battery materials. His deep expertise in technology commercialization and financial modeling for lithium battery recycling solutions underpins the company’s mission to close the loop on critical mineral recovery—efficiently, sustainably, and globally.

Pau is a distinguished professional with a master's from the College of Europe. He began his career at the European Commission, focusing on the Energy Union and Batteries sector. With over four years of dedicated service at the European association for industrial battery companies EUROBAT, he led significant policy initiatives related to the batteries regulation. Recently, Pau has embarked on a new chapter in his career as the policy director at the energy technology company CATL.

Richard Clark is the Global Head of Specialty Materials and Processes for Appian Capital Advisory, responsible for technical and intellectual property assessment and oversight in energy-related businesses. He works out of Appian’s London office.
 
Born in England, Richard has been based in the U.K., U.S.A., South Korea, and P. R. China with a wide variety of roles ranging from product creation to international sales and management. His work in the lithium-ion battery field has mostly been focused on developing novel electrode active materials and related manufacturing processes. His most recent development was on a low-cost method for manufacturing oxide electrolyte materials for solid-state batteries, for which he is one of the named inventors on related patents.
 
Richard is a dual national with U.K. and U.S. citizenships. He holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cambridge and is also a registered United States Patent Agent.

Dr. Mirko Arnold is Vice President Business
Management Battery Materials at BASF. He holds a
PhD in Physical Chemistry, earned after studying in
Hannover and Cambridge. Since joining BASF in
2008, Mirko has held various global leadership roles
across Germany, the US, and China, including Vice
President Global Technology Automotive Refinish
Coatings and Vice President Sourcing Management
Base Metals & PCAM. In 2025, he assumed his
current role, overseeing business management
across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America,
driving strategic growth and innovation in battery
materials.

Wei Zhang has 17-year professional experience in  automotive, new energy, steel, chemistry and battery industry in Asia，Europe and North America.

Duarte Braga, CEO of Lifthium Energy since 2023, is a leading force in innovation within corporate strategy and sustainability. At Lifthium Energy, he drives the company's expansion into lithium refining and develops cutting-edge electrolysis-based technologies with the backing of Bondalti, a key Iberian chemicals player. His leadership is crucial for Lifthium’s ambition to become a major European player in the battery value chain.

With over 25 years of experience, Duarte's career includes serving as a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. There, he led the European sustainability practice, managed over 1,000 staff, and played a key role in scaling and optimizing industrial and renewable energy projects across Europe and Latin America. He also doubled McKinsey’s Iberian office size and revenue and was instrumental in integrating advanced analytics and AI into business strategies, significantly boosting operational efficiency and growth.

Duarte holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering. His career showcases a strong focus on technological innovation and sustainable practices.

Cédric Demonthy obtained his Master of Science in Business Engineering from HEC Liège (Belgium) in 2002. He held various leadership positions at NMC, Lhoist, and EverZinc, where he gained extensive international experience in strategy, business development, and operational management. In February 2024, Cédric joined Umicore as Vice President of Battery Recycling Solutions. As Global Head of the business unit, he is driving the upscaling of the current industrial pilot plant in Hoboken, Antwerp, while preparing future growth plans of Umicore’s battery recycling business, with operations expected to start in 2032 at the earliest. 

Márton leads the Sales and Program Development activities of ElevenEs. After graduating from the University of Lund, Sweden, Márton has worked in leading positions in international sales and business development for more than 15 years. He has worked in various industries with special focus on manufacturing sectors. After many years in multinational corporations, he embarked on a new journey to help start-up companies with their international expansion, market entry strategies and overall success in fascinating new industries. Before joining ElevenEs, he got introduced to the lithium-ion battery industry by working for Semcorp, the world’s largest separator film producer. At ElevenEs, in the last one year, he has led the research project on the ESS market and the development of the company's ESS concept and value proposal.

Miko Yuan is a seasoned Global Business Development Manager at Cyclewell Technologies, specializing in lithium battery recycling. With deep expertise in advanced recycling technologies, she has a proven track record of leading complex international projects from conception to successful commissioning and operation.
Miko Yuan's role focuses on designing and implementing tailored recycling solutions for global partners, ensuring not only project success but also operational excellence and long-term scalability. A strong advocate for the circular economy, she is dedicated to advancing sustainable practices and fostering innovation within the global battery industry through strategic collaboration.

Astrid is an expert in responsible mineral supply chains, specialized in lithium. With more than 15 years of experience in different commodities and on different continents, she has deep knowledge of ESG-related topics in the mining sector. She has advised governments and the private sector on different continents and worked with multiple stakeholders and certification schemes in the responsible sourcing and ESG space. Astrid sits also on the Board of directors of the Global Battery Alliance and is part of Savannah Resources’ advisory committee. 

Nicole Neub is director of the Business Unit Battery Technology at Exentec Germany GmbH, a leading manufacturing company with deep customer understanding in the semiconductor, bio pharma and battery industry. Before Nicole took on her current role, she worked in the sector of energy efficiency solutions and for many years as an initiative owner Battery at a market leading mechanical engineering company. Nicole is a tech enthusiast, speaker and shares insights of the new developed and launched business field of mini environments from Exyte Technology.

Tim is a Principal in Roland Berger's Munich office and co-leader of the firm's global battery expert team. He is a technology and market expert in electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries, supporting clients across the entire global value chain in defining strategies and business models, building supply chains, and reducing product and operating costs. Before joining Roland Berger in 2019, Tim spent over four years as an EV technology consultant in the automotive industry and four years as an R&D engineer in mechanical and plant engineering. He holds a Master's degree in Engineering and Management from the University of Siegen.

Tamer Talu is a seasoned business leader and former Rio Tinto professional with expertise in multi-commodity strategy, corporate and business development, and general management across mining and metals and chemicals (non-commodity minerals) sectors. Moreover, he has led global and regional sales operations and go-to-market initiatives alongside project development and consultancy engagements. As founder of boutique advisory firms in Turkey and the UK, Tamer advises clients on end-to-end mergers and acquisitions services - from deal sourcing and due diligence to negotiation, joint venture formation, and all other forms of strategic partnerships in the EMEA region. He is currently pursuing a part-time doctoral research degree researching critical supply chain risks for battery raw materials.  Tamer is an enthusiast of electrification, urban mining/recycling and artificial intelligence. He also provides board-level and interim leadership services and is a frequent speaker and moderator at industry events across the region.

Alban has a proven track record in delivering growth to business with 16 years of experience in various technical industries. As Business Development Director for the lithium projects with Imerys, Alban leads Imerys effort on commercial, financing and strategic partnership for the success of the lithium projects in France and in the UK. Graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique and the ETH Zurich in Chemistry and Materials Science, Alban has focused his career in technical and high growing sectors such as life sciences, aerospace and battery materials.

Christian is a senior executive with more than 20 years of experience in strategy design and implementation in the energy and resource industries.

Starting as a strategy lead in a company operating in the Amazon forest, Christian progressed his career in the energy sector first in Latin America and then in Europe. For the last 15 years, Christian has worked in the mining industry for organisations like Anglo American, World Economic Forum and ICMM. Currently, Christian leads Vale Base Metals' work on Circularity focused on developing commercial offering and new business models. 

 Christian studied economics, was awarded the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Chevening scholarship to study international development at the London School of Economics and studied a postgraduate degree in strategy and innovation at Oxford University, Exeter College. 

Dr. Hui Dong is the R&D Manager of Energy Storage at Ingevity Corporation, a global leader in the manufacturing and supply of specialty materials for emissions control in the automotive industry, where he leads the development of advanced battery materials. Dr. Dong has accumulated over 10 years of experience in various battery technologies. He holds both a PhD and a Postdoctoral fellowship in electrochemistry, having published numerous research papers in prestigious journals such as Nature Energy. Throughout his career, Dr. Dong has gained extensive experience across various sectors of the battery industry, including upstream lithium supply at Albemarle Corporation, midstream battery manufacturing at Our Next Energy, and downstream applications at Rivian Automotive and Toyota.

Dominic is a Research Director at Project Blue, leading its cost and ESG analysis. Prior to joining Project Blue, Dominic worked as a Research Manager at Wood Mackenzie, managing the smelting and refining cost team.  Before that he was a Senior Analyst at Roskill covering the battery metals suite. Dominic has five years of experience in the commodities sector and in that career has covered a wide range of industries. Predominantly he has focused on covering the lithium, cobalt, and nickel sectors though he has also covered several base metals sectors. Through this, he has extensive experience in large-scale consulting projects, working with a wide range of clients across the value chain, as well as cost and ESG analysis and product development in the battery metals sector.

Cynthia De Pauw is the Director of International Development at EUTRACO, based in Belgium. With a long-standing track record in international branch development for Belgian companies, she brings deep expertise in navigating fast-emerging markets. During her six years in Poland, she served as President of the Belgian Business Chamber, strengthening economic ties between both countries. At EUTRACO, Cynthia emerged as the company’s leading expert in battery logistics through extensive research and hands-on experience. She was one of the contributors to the official working group that wrote Belgium’s new battery storage regulation, highlighting her recognized authority in the field. Cynthia travels across Europe and makes monthly trips to China to speak on battery logistics, connect with production leaders, and stay ahead of market trends. She is a passionate advocate for innovation and sustainability in the logistics and energy storage sectors.

Filipe Costa is Managing Director at revomet GmbH, a battery recycling company of the CRONIMET Group. He holds a Master’s degree and PhD in Chemistry from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern and an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch.
At revomet, he drives strategic development and the implementation of advanced technologies for the sustainable recycling of lithium-ion batteries and battery production waste. His work focuses on closing material loops, ensuring regulatory compliance, and enabling the transition to a circular economy.
Before founding revomet in 2023, Mr. Costa led CRONIMET Envirotec GmbH and helped position the company as a technology leader in metal recovery from complex waste streams.
With extensive experience in international recycling markets and industrial innovation, he brings a strong vision for scalable, eco-efficient solutions that support both environmental and economic goals.

Tom Van Bellinghen is a seasoned executive in the rechargeable battery materials sector. In 2024, he founded Lithink to offer strategic go-to-market advisory services focused on battery materials. Prior to this, Tom held key leadership roles at Umicore, serving as Vice President of Marketing & Sales for the Battery Materials Unit from 2009 to 2019. During this period, he helped grow the business more than tenfold, Tom 
 transforming it into a multi-billion-euro operation. He also led Lithium & Manganese raw material procurement and managed back-office operations.
From 2019 to 2024, Tom was responsible for Umicore’s strategic partnerships with OEMs, most notably leading the creation of the €3B joint venture with Volkswagen. Earlier in his career, he held senior commercial roles at Intel and FLIR.
Tom holds an M.Sc. in Electromechanical Engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven and a degree in Business Administration from the Leuven Graduate School of Business Studies.

Greg is a skilled practitioner across strategy, market development, organizational change and business operations, most comfortable in forging and delivering business outcomes in highly uncertain environments. With 20 years of experience across a range of sectors and myriad roles across three continents, he brings a depth of knowledge and understanding of the multiple facets that drive business growth and performance. Greg leads Worley´s growth strategy across the battery value chain, a rapidly emerging market sector in the context of a world pivoting quickly to electrification of transportation and energy storage needs.

Dr. Jianan Zhang is an accomplished researcher at the intersection of machine learning and computational materials science. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where his doctoral work was synergistically supported by the cutting-edge facilities of the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States.
During his graduate studies, Dr. Zhang pioneered innovative methodologies bridging machine learning algorithms with conventional computational simulations. His seminal work on inverse material design – a paradigm-shifting approach to engineering materials with precisely targeted properties – has been published in high-impact journals and showcased at premier international conferences, thus advancing the frontiers of predictive materials science.
Building on his doctoral research, Dr. Zhang currently leads computational initiatives as a research engineer at Tianci Materials' Research Institute. Here, he spearheads the development of various computational methods to accelerate the discovery and rational design of next-generation energy materials. His multidisciplinary expertise continues to drive transformative innovations in energy material development, effectively compressing the traditional R&D timeline through computationally-aided molecular engineering.

Le Anh Ma is the Business Development Manager at ABB’s Battery Manufacturing and Materials business unit, focusing on European projects. She leads projects in electrification and automation across the battery supply chain, collaborating with global manufacturers in the US, Asia, and Europe. Prior to ABB, she worked at a battery startup, where she drove key projects and safeguarded the company’s competitiveness as an intellectual property expert.

Le Anh holds a PhD in Chemistry from Uppsala University, Sweden, specializing in battery ageing in sodium-ion batteries. Her research took her to leading facilities in the UK, US, Germany, and Japan. With deep expertise in battery technology and market strategies, Le Anh plays a vital role in advancing the European battery supply chain.


Christian Freitag has more than 20 years' of global experience from the chemicals, oil & gas and battery materials industry, with a focus on preparing and delivering large industrial investment projects across various functions. Prior to Vulcan Energy, he was Vice President for Battery Materials Investment Projects with BASF, responsible for the engineering and execution of a portfolio of several projects around the world for Cathode Active Material (CAM) and Battery Materials Recycling plants.

Dr. Linhan Ge is a National-level Young Talent in China and currently serves as Head of Technical Solutions at North Star Advanced Recycling Technology (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle, Australia, and completed his postdoctoral research at Tsinghua University. He has published 21 SCI papers with a total of 1,256 citations and holds two granted invention patents. Dr. Linhan Ge led the development of a life cycle assessment methodology for retired lithium-ion battery recycling. His project experience spans Australian Research Council grants, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and sub-projects under China's National Key R&D Program, along with managing several corporate technology upgrade initiatives. He now leads global market expansion, carbon management system development, and digital technology R&D in the emerging field of waste recycling from new industries, contributing key technologies to global climate sustainability efforts.

Daniel Monfort Climent, a geological engineer and project manager at BRGM (French Geological Survey) within the Mineral Resources Division, specializes in sustainable mining and the responsible management of raw materials. As the scientific and technical coordinator of the MaDiTraCe project, funded by the European Commission, he leads research on traceability systems for critical raw materials, ensuring transparency and sustainability across supply chains. His expertise extends to critical raw materials recycling, where he develops innovative information systems for visualizing urban mine data, enabling efficient resource recovery. Additionally, Daniel contributes to the implementation of UN mineral resources classification systems, standardizing global resource reporting. At BRGM, he bridges science, industry, and policy, driving projects that align with the circular economy and Europe’s strategic autonomy in raw materials. His work supports the energy transition, industrial resilience, and environmental stewardship.

Lakshya is a Senior Analyst at SFA (Oxford) where he heads battery demand forecasting. His expertise spans the battery supply chain having completed comprehensive due diligence studies in battery materials, EV battery recycling market assessments, investor strategies for entry into battery metals, and alternative battery metal sourcing strategies. He holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering and an MBA from Imperial College London.

Florian Wunsch, CCO at UP Catalyst, has decades of experience from leadership roles at Formula 1, Nissan, and Morrow Batteries. With a strong background in automotive and e-mobility, he drives UP Catalyst’s commercial strategy to scale CO₂-based graphite and CNT production for the battery industry. 

Peter Ehren Chief Technology Officer (CTO) & Co-Founder of lithium Ark and Process and Environmental Consultancy (PEC) Peter Ehren is an independent Lithium Consultant. He has over 2 decades of experience in the industry. He started his interest in the lithium business during his master's thesis at the Technical University of the Delft where he investigated for BHP Minerals the recovery of lithium from geothermal brine (Salton Sea), applying a Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. After his thesis he worked for SQM as a process engineer, and R&D manager till 2007. Since 2007, he started to work as an independent consultant in lithium, boron and potassium industry. He is a world expert in solar evaporation systems, phase chemistry and process developments. He has worked in most lithium basins and production facilities worldwide. He has visited and evaluated many lithium brine and mineral operations in the entire world. He is recognized as a Qualified Person for NI-43-101 and JORC.

Accomplished business development professional with deep expertise in the metals and industrial goods sectors and hands-on operational execution experience, including direct sales leadership. Ulf has led strategic initiatives to adapt business areas, expand into new markets and deliver cost‑efficiency programs, combining market insight, rigorous business‑case development, and pragmatic execution to generate sustainable growth and measurable value. Prior to joining Primobius, he steered strategic projects at SMS group to develop new business areas and realize efficiency potential. Ulf holds an M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering (with high distinction) from FH Aachen — University of Applied Sciences.

With a Master’s degree in Engineering and a strong focus on sustainable technologies, Robin leads recycling initiatives at Vianode as Recycling Manager. Robin has worked on developing Vianode’s recycled technologies and products, working at the intersection of product innovation and process optimization .Bringing hands-on experience in both research and industrial scale-up, Robin has contributed to shaping efficient, high-quality recycling solutions for graphite anode materials.
Passionate about advancing circular solutions in the battery industry, Robin brings a practical and forward-thinking perspective to sustainable battery production. MeetRobin at the conference to explore how innovation in recycling is key to building a greener, more resilient energy future.

Fabien is a managing director within the Low Carbon Transition Group at BNP Paribas CIB.
He has c. 20 years of banking experience with a particular focus on advisory for the battery value chain, power and energy transition assets, providing services to a wide range of clients including major utilities, infrastructure funds, industrials and start-ups.
His recent relevant experience in the battery sector includes leading the successful financial advisory for Ionity, ACC and for Northvolt. He also advised on the 3 first French offshore wind projects developed by EDF Renewables, Enbridge and wpd (beyond €7bn debt overall).
Fabien engages daily with several industrials and car OEMs with respect to battery manufacturing and pCAM/CAM projects in the EMEA region, assisting on bankability, funding sources and execution processes.

Alex has spent more than 15 years as a senior executive with a number of public companies. Alex co-founded a technology start-up, leading it from prototype to commercialization in a short period of time. He was also a partner and co-founder of Oxygen Capital Corp., where he was a member of the senior leadership team of precious metal and critical minerals project developers. Alex served as the CEO of Plateau Energy Metals, a public company developing two energy transition critical minerals projects - a hard rock lithium project and a uranium project. Alex holds a M.Sc. in Investment Management, graduating with Distinction from The Business School, City University of London.

Steven Zhang, CTO of Shenzhen Senior Tech Material Co.
Education: PhD Chinese Academy of Science, Postdoc National Research Council Canada
Experience: Technical Fellow, Polypore International; Senior Scientist, GE Advanced Materials; Research Officier, National Research Council Canada.

Nikola Vekić is a Battery Value Chain Expert at McKinsey’s Munich office and a founding member of the firm’s Battery Insights team. With over 10 years experience in batteries and the mining sector, he is working closely with clients across the entire value chain—from raw material producers to OEMs and recyclers. His experience includes strategy development for lithium operations, market entry planning for battery materials companies, and guidance on recycling and second-life applications. With a background in geology and a practical, hands-on approach, Nikola focuses on helping organizations make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving industry. With his work he is driving the important role raw materials play in building more sustainable and resilient battery supply chains.

Michael Schmidt is a research associate at the German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA) based in Berlin, which is part of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). He is a geologist with practical experience in exploration, global market analysis and consultancy.

Between 2009 and 2012, Michael worked for the Martin Luther University Halle – Wittenberg where he worked on CCS technology. He also worked for different Junior Mining Companies (mostly Silver and Gold but also Antimony). Since October 2012, he works in risk analysis for different commodities including Antimony, PGMs, Lithium and Boron. In this position, he is also consultant to the German Industry in commodity related issues. Since 2015, he is the designated Lithium expert of DERA/BGR. Since 2021, he is also head of the German DIN mirror committee for ISO/TC 333 “Lithium”. 


I am a lawyer based in London.  I work as an Of Counsel in the Energy Transition and Infrastructure Finance group of global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer.  I am trained both as a common law and a civil law lawyer, being qualified to practice English, New York and Portuguese law.  I hold law degrees from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and Columbia University.  Over the last 15 years I have worked as legal advisor on projects and transactions worldwide, from Europe to Asia, Africa and America.  My practice has a focus on the mining and metals sector, with an emphasis on the battery value chain.  I advise junior and large miners, refiners, traders, OEMs and financiers on their most complex commercial contracts and their projects' development and finance.  I am passionate about electrification and delighted to advise clients on the investments that make it possible.

Mr. Juha Kokko is an experienced Commercial Manager with a strong background in the mining, metals, and chemical industries, now focused on advancing the battery recycling sector in Fortum Battery Recycling. With a proven track record in driving commercial growth and building international partnerships, he brings deep knowledge of industrial processes and their application to the rapidly growing field of battery recycling. Mr. Juha Kokko holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tampere University of Technology in Finland, complemented by additional studies in mining processing at the Oulu Mining School, Oulu University of Technology in Finland. His unique combination of technical expertise and commercial leadership positions him to contribute to developing innovative solutions in the global battery recycling value chain.

Marco De Luna is a Mechanical Engineer with 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, specializing in propulsion systems, electrification, and digital product development. He has a proven track record as an Engineering and Product Manager, leading global teams and delivering innovative solutions for EV technologies, sustainability, and connected services. His experience spans system design, software integration, and product strategy, with strong expertise in battery value chain, circular economy, and data products. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Naples Federico II and certifications in Product Management, Design Thinking and Design for Six Sigma.

Tobias currently holds position of Managing Director at L&B International, located in Germany and China. In this position, he works closely with Pophen Technology and is responsible for business development in Europe His main responsibility is to develop the cultural bridges between China, Europe and America in the field of industrial buildings. The need to define common international interfaces in this area led Tobias to found L&B International. Tobias founded the company after working more than one year in GIB Slovakia (JV between Gotion and InoBat) as Head of PMO. Tobias managed various multi-million industrial building projects for Volkswagen AG all over the world, mostly in China, India and Europe. Tobias is a Diplom Civil Engineer. He studied in Darmstadt and Vienna

Mr. Paul Yum is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of global industry experience, currently serving as Vice President of SungEel Hi Tech Co., Ltd.—a world-leading company in lithium-ion battery recycling and sustainable material manufacturing. Since joining the company in 2018, he has led key functions including Sourcing, Sales, Marketing, and Strategic Business.

Guillaume de Verthamon leads the global marketing and strategy for Air Liquide's Automotive, Aeronautics, and Space markets, overseeing the critical upstream phases of the battery value chain, including anode and cathode production. In his role, Guillaume is focused on identifying and implementing strategic solutions that drive open innovation and add tangible value for customers. His objective is to enhance understanding of how industrial gases can profoundly impact battery quality and sustainability. Guillaume's professional journey includes significant experience in sales, marketing, and strategy across the automotive and industrial gas sectors.

David Ortega, during the last three decades has combined his
experience as a executive director and management consultant in the automotive sector. He has
specialized in the automotive & mobility industry, where he has worked in Business Development roles and as a CCO (Moventia Group, Volkswagen Group Retail Spain - VGRS), as well as for
consulting and professional service firms (WPP, TUI Travel, bcg). He has also served as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Barcelona Motor Association and as a member of the IE Top Auto Club. He managed the reindustrialization project of Nissan BCN (D-Hub Project) supporting the launch of EBRO SUV and EBRO Factory, a double JV between EV Motors and CHERY International. He is currently a founding member of MUVMI Mobility Consulting, Associate Professor and Director of Automotive Programs in the
Executive Education area at EADA Business School (Top 20 EU BS).

David is MBA and PDD from IE and IESE Business Schools and DBA candidate (Thesis: Potential coopetition & reindustrialization strategies between Chinese &
European Automotive players in the EU) from EADA Business School.

Edu Blanco with over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry and tech-services becoming a serial entreprenur with Chinese-Spanish new players in the European Automotove industry. He is currently CEO of SANTANA MOTORS and Chairman of the Board of WELLTA Motors in the automotive and mobility industry. He was also Founding Partner of EBRO EcoPower Automotive (today EBRO SUV). Sustainable mobility, real estate and Tech industries are his main passion, and where he acts as an active  investor. In his spare time, he is also a professional rally co-driver. For over 20 years, he has been competing in the Dakar Rally with celebrity driver Jesús Calleja. He is currently managing the re-launch at European and International level of the new SANTANA MOTORS in the off-road segment in collaboration with ZNA (Zhengzhou Nissan/Dongfeng) and Anhui Coronet which involves the reindustrialization of the mythical factory of SANTANA in Linares (Spain). 

Konstantin Burger (VP, Corporate Development) has more than 10 years professional experience and has previously worked in finance and business development roles at Tesla and mobility provider Dott. He has held numerous positions within Rock Tech, including Managing Director of Rock Tech’s German subsidiary, and led the company’s fundraising activities. He holds a B.Sc. in Philosophy & Economics from Frankfurt School of Finance and MBA from Milan’s SDA Bocconi School of Management. 

Pablo Méndez holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Valladolid and postgraduate qualifications in Industrial Processes from ENSCP (École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris) and in Internal Combustion Engines from UPMC (Université Pierre et Marie Curie).
He began his professional career at Renault in 2001, within the Purchasing Department of RNPO (Renault Nissan Purchasing Organization), where he held various positions of responsibility. In 2012, he moved to Paris to take on the role of EMEA Purchasing Manager for Tires & Wheels for the Renault-Nissan Alliance and later led the Engine Cooling System division.
In 2019, he returned to Spain as Country Purchasing Manager and Head of Indirect Purchasing for Spain and Portugal (NOBOP), a position he held until his appointment as Purchasing Director at Renault Group Iberia in June 2023, a role he currently holds.

Gerardo Arbeo is the Sales Director of WE Soda in Europe, based in London, leading the regional Group’s integrated commercial operations, across sales, marketing and logistics. 

With over 15 years of experience leading multinational teams across the industrial and engineering sectors. 
For the past decade, he has been in the container glass industry, serving as Corporate Procurement Director in Vidrala, where he led the development and implementation of strategic procurement initiatives to ensure a reliable, sustainable, and competitive supply chain.  

Gerardo holds a double master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Bilbao (Spain) and from the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers (France). In addition, he has also completed a Strategic Leadership Programme (Level 7) from Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS).

llya Gasparishvili is responsible for Marketing, Business Development and Product Ownership for the DPP service line at Honeywell Connected Logistics, including the Battery Passport initiative. He brings over 20 years of experience in strategic and technical consulting, as well as engineering - primarily focused on managing complex, multi-project programs across the manufacturing, critical metals, and battery minerals sectors.
Before joining Honeywell, llya held leadership positions at AFRY Jacobs, and Bilfinger. He holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geography and an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from the University of Manchester.

Key focus areas:
• Digital Product Passport (DPP)
• Battery passport
• Battery metals sourcing
• Critical and conflict minerals due diligence
• GIS based IT solutions for resource use optimization

Mr. José Óscar Leiva Méndez brings three decades of experience in the capital markets, having established a distinguished career in the financial sector.
For the past 14 years, he has focused exclusively on investment banking operations across major European stock exchanges, with key roles in entities listed on both the Madrid and London Stock Exchanges. His expertise lies in structuring complex transactions, capital raising, and executing cross-border operations, with a strong track record in delivering strategic financial solutions.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Leiva held senior executive positions, including Managing Director roles in Asset Management and Private Banking at prestigious institutions such as Credit Suisse Group and Banco Finantia.

With over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, he has held senior management positions at several brands, particularly in the Commercial and Marketing areas. He served as Director of Marketing and Communication at Audi AG(Germany) and as Director of Marketing and Product Strategy at SEAT. He also managed SEAT’s owned dealer network and held the positions of Commercial and Marketing Director for the Spanish subsidiaries of Audi, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Hyundai, and SEAT.
With a proven track record in brand management, sales, digital transformation, and business development, he has extensive international experience and is accustomed to working in competitive and multicultural environments.
He is currently a founding partner of MUVMI, President of the Automotive and Mobility Club of ESADE Alumni, and a Board member of EBRO (EV Motors).
He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering, Master in Marketing at ESADE, and has completed the General Management Program(PDG) at IESE.

Lesley Yang is a new energy industry analyst, with deep expertise in lithium battery and NEV value chains. She specializes in decoding technological advancements, market shifts, and supply-demand dynamics—drawing on rigorous tracking of battery chemistry, material innovations, and global mobility trends to deliver sharp, actionable insights.  Lelsey maintains strategic engagements with top global players across the battery ecosystem, from raw material suppliers to automakers, ensuring her insights are rooted in on-the-ground industry realities.  Lesley combines advanced financial modeling with granular sector knowledge to offer unique perspectives on market volatility, policy impacts, and supply-demand fluctuations.

Lluís París is the Head of Automotive, RoRo, Short Sea and Bulk Division for Port de Barcelona, where he started in 2010 in charge of commercial developing for the areas above. He works in the commercial side and participates in defining the Port strategy on cargo volumes, connectivity, quality, and pricing of services.
Special focus on the expansion of Port de Barcelona hinterland, working to create a sophisticated distribution inland system as well as a building an automotive hub pn the West MED. On the bulk side, he’s as well involved on the building of a green fuel hub in Barcelona.
He represents as well the Port de Barcelona on several forums like European Car Transport Group (ECG) and Cluster Industria Automòbil de Catalunya (CIAC). 
He holds Master in Nautical Science and Marine Transportation at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Facultat de Nàutica de Barcelona, an has a long experience both sailing and in shipping agency.

Jashon Guan (born in 1982) is a senior business executive specializing in the field of materials science in China. He holds a Master's degree in Materials Science from the University of Science and Technology Beijing and has been awarded the professional title of Senior Engineer. Since joining Beijing Easpring Material Technology Co., Ltd. in April 2007, he has held a series of key positions including R&D Engineer, Marketing Engineer, and Purchasing Director. In January 2021, he was promoted to Deputy General Manager of the company and concurrently serves as Board Member and General Manager of Easpring (Hong Kong) Co., Limited. Since May 2024, he assumed the role of General Manager of Easpring (Finland) New Materials Co., Ltd.. His career spans diverse areas, from technological research and development, market operations, and international business management.

Pablo Fernandez-Santos is the Managing Director at BASQUEVOLT, an innovative energy storage startup focused on pioneering solid-state battery technology with the ambition of becoming a European leader in the field.

Before joining BASQUEVOLT, Pablo has developed a career in the automotive sector for more than 20 years holding several executive positions in Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance. Before joining this company, Pablo was the Program Director for Renault SUV family (including Renault Austral) as a key contributor to transition between traditional ICE vehicles and future EV vehicles and before that he was the leader of CMFB Common Renault Nissan platform as the first electrified Platform of the Alliance.

Pablo has an Engineering degree (Industrial and Mechanical) by Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales of Valladolid and holds a General Management Program (GMP) from CEDEP Executive Development Fontainebleau.

As Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Recyclus Group, Alex Stanbury drives the company’s mission to secure a domestic, circular supply of critical minerals. Under Alex’s leadership, the company continually advances nextgeneration systems, honing what works to deliver greater efficiency, value, and independence across the battery ecosystem.
He is also Co-Founder and CEO of Technology Minerals PLC, the first UK-listed company to unify battery metal recycling and raw material supply within a circular economy group. His vision for vertical integration across the battery supply chain advances innovation, regulatory alignment, and industrial readiness in the UK and internationally.
With over 15 years in corporate finance and natural resources, Alex has built strong relationships across London’s financial community and has a proven track record in originating and syndicating private and public placements, particularly for mining and critical minerals companies.

Mr. Enger took the position as CEO of Hydrovolt in October 2023, a leading EV battery recycling and raw materials company operating one of Europe’s largest and most sustainable recycling plants in Fredrikstad, Norway.

Mr. Enger has a background in the aluminum recycling business and has had several leadership positions within Norsk Hydro. He has extensive experience in operations as well as in developing and executing industrial projects across the world.

He holds an MSc degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management from NTNU, Norway.

LiBE Senior Speakers & Experts

Great chance ever for you to meet 500+ decision makers and technology specialists in LIBA2026. The well-prepared booth package with comprehensive value-added options could help to optimize the products or service you wish to present.Fill in the form to tell us what you are searching for, and the team will contact you shortly after.Our committee is always prepared to answer your questions, and become a trustworthy catalyst who pave ways for your future success.What's Included in Exhibition Packages&middot; Exhibition space in the hall&middot; Up to five free full exhibitor staff passes&middot; The best discount for additional tickets&middot; Complimentary official digital show catalog entry with Exhibitor Profile (120-word description)&middot; Complimentary official event website entry with Exhibitor Logo and link&middot; Brand promotion by LinkedIn and email blastsTo enquire about stand availability and costs, complete the simple form and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.

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Directly reach over 500 attendees, including senior executives, engineers, and procurement managers from the global lithium battery value chain.

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Present your solutions to leaders in battery materials, energy storage applications, recycling technologies, and sustainable innovations.

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Access forward-looking trends and strategies through 40+ expert talks, helping your company shape the future of energy storage across 20+ countries and regions.

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At2026 Li-ION BATTERY AFRICA, you'll meet decision-makers from leading industry players, connect buyers in diverse industries, and find new leads with purchasers.