Alessandro joined EUROPIA in September 2011, and he is responsible for the Automotive Fuels, Industrial Products, Tax and Legal Issues portfolio.He is based at the EUROPIA office in Brussels.

Alessandro has a University Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Pisa University), and has joined ENI 25 years ago gaining an extensive international experience in many field of the Refining & Marketing sector of the oil industry.

He has been a technologist in refineries in Italy (Livorno refinery) and in Germany (Ingolstadt refinery), then he moved on to Project & Investment Planning in the ENI Headquarters in Rome.Thereafter he held the position of Operating and Planning Director in the Czech Refining Company (Czech Republic). In 2000 he relocated to the USA, as CEO of American Agip, an oil trading and lubricants affiliate of ENI. He then covered the position of CEO in Agip Deutschland, the German commercial affiliate of ENI R&M, with activities in retail (petrol stations), wholesale and management of the oil processing shares in the JV refineries of Schwedt and Vohburg/Neustadt. He then went back to ENI in Italy, first as Retail Business Development and M&A Manager for Europe, and then as Technical Service Executive in the Livorno Refinery.

Aad Correljé is Associate Professor of Economics of Infrastructures at the Faculty Technology, Policy and Management, TU Delft. He is a research fellow with the Clingendael International Energy Programme (CIEP) of the Netherlands institute for International Affairs Clingendael. He is a Member of the Editorial Board of the academic journal Energy Policy and an instructor at the Florence School of Regulation.

In 1989, Aad Correljé graduated in Political Sciences (International Relations and European Law) at the Social Sciences Faculty (FSW-a) of the University of Amsterdam. Combining Political Sciences and Economics, he wrote and defended (1994) his Ph.D. thesis entitled, The Spanish Oil Industry: Structural Change and Modernisation at the Centre for International Energy Studies (EURICES)/Economic Geography Institute/Tinbergen Institute of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, supervised by Prof. P.R Odell and Prof. G.J van der Knaap. The thesis shows how shifts in the Spanish political and economic system, during the transition from the Franco-regime to a democracy and Spain's entry into the EU in 1986, influenced the country’s energy and oil policy and the development of its oil industry. The study involves a political/institutional analysis of changes in Spanish energy/oil policy-making, (inter)connected with an economic analysis of the consequences of these policies for the national consumption of oil products and for the development of the refining industry, at sector and firm level.

Since then, Correljé has been involved in academic research and teaching and in consulting and advising on many energy, water and transport related issues, for a variety of Dutch and foreign, public as well as private, organizations. His current research themes involve an economic/institutional approach to the analysis of public policy, regulation and private strategy development in infrastructure-bound sectors, like oil, gas, power, water supply and flooding protection. He is regularly commenting on energy related issues in the press, on radio and TV, and advising international organizations, governments, public and private enterprise and NGOs (see below).

Harry Panitsidis, a Chemical Engineer with a B.Sc. from Tufts University, Medford, Mass. In 1972 and a Master’s   in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois, Champain - Urbana in 1973.  After graduate studies in 1974-1979 worked for Rohm and Haas in the Philadelphia and Bristol plants in the Research Engineering Department for the scale up of specialty chemicals and monomer processes.

In 1979 returned to Greece and worked with Petrola International (J.S.Latsis Group of Companies) with responsibility in refining execution (such as the 325,000 BPD Rabigh  Refinery in Saudi Arabia) and energy related projects, (such as Feasibility of Power  projects for Petrola Hellas and other large scale power plants for the Group of J.S. Latsis Companies).

After the merging of Petrola Hellas into Hellenic Petroleum he worked on the connection of the 400 MW Power Plant of Energiaki Thessaloniki to the National Grid with 400 KV underground cables).

In 2004 he was assigned the task to head the development studies of the Hellenic Petroleum Elefsis Refinery Upgrade  beginning  with a Feasibility Study, followed by a FEED phase by FWI in 2006-2007, selection of an implementation strategy and in February 2008 launching the EPCm  phase with Tecnicas Reunidas.  The € 1.22 mm was completed in 2012 and the refinery started full operation in August of 2012..

Atanas Ivanov joined LUKOIL NEFTOCHIM BOURGAS JSC in 2004. During his 8 years experience he has held several positions in the production area. In 2010 he was appointed Deputy chief process engineer. Currently Mr. Ivanov works in a dedicated project for energy efficiency improvement of the refinery. He is responsible for all technological innovations of the refinery, problem-solving of the operation of the process units and implementation of new processes, products and systems. Mr. Ivanov has a degree of MBA from Liverpool John Moores University. He plays a significant role for the company with his membership in the Scientific Council of CONCAWE.

Dr.ir. Peter Bouwman: Peter has a background in chemical technology and an international track record on energy devices. Following his PhD on the subject of lithium micro-batteries, he became assistant Research Professor working at the

Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington DC on fuel cell catalysts and systems. He continued to work at Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells (JMFC) in the United Kingdom for a period of 5 years, before joining the Energy research Center of the Netherlands (ECN) and gaining a wide scope of renewable energy sources: wind, solar, biomass and hydrogen.

Peter continues to develop hydrogen-based technologies at his present company HyET pioneering Electro-chemical Hydrogen Compressors with storage capability up to 1000 bar pressure, thus proving its feasibility for automotive applications.

Peter’s ambition is to see hydrogen being commercialised as a sustainable means for energy storage in the near future.

Graeme was appointed Director General of EFOA in October of 2004 having for the previous 3 years provided their secretariat support.

He was educated in his native Scotland where he received his doctorate and bachelor degrees in chemistry from the University of Edinburgh.

Graeme started his working life with Mobil Oil before moving to Ethyl Corporation where he progressed through a range of fuel and lubricant research, product development and management positions. He joined CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council in 2001 where his fuels experience led to him becoming involved with EFOA.

Arthur Reijnhart, a Dutch national, holds a Masters degree in Theoretical Physics from the University of Utrecht, and joined Shell in 1997 as a Business Development manager in Retail. After a number of commercial roles in the areas of marketing, fuels pricing and sales in the Netherlands, Arthur moved to Paris in 2003 to lead Shell’s Retail Network Planning activities in North West Europe, overseeing a $300 mln annual asset investment portfolio, as well as an intensive network restructuring programme across the region. In 2007 Arthur moved back to the Netherlands after his appointment as Retail Director for Netherlands, France, Belgium and Luxemburg. Realizing significant improvement in financial returns during the economic downturn, he led the organizational integration of the 4 markets, as well as a repositioning of the fuels portfolio.

Eelco Dekker is Chief Marketing Officer at BioMCN, the world’s largest producer of 2^nd generation bio-methanol (200 kton/year). After joining BioMCN in 2007, Eelco initially focussed on securing crude glycerine feedstock supply for the new plant.

Today, Eelco is responsible for marketing, business development and regulatory affairs. In close cooperation with various industry partners and universities, Eelco and his team are a.o. involved in projects to develop fuel formulations, improve energy efficiency in engines, and they are also looking at the use of a broader range of biomass feedstocks.

Following an MSc in Biotechnology at ESBS in Strasbourg and a biotech-focused Master's in business administration at Grenoble École de Management, Thomas started his career in the technology transfer office of the CEA*, the biggest research institution for applied sciences in France. He then became Business Development & IP Manager at Biométhodes, a protein engineering company, and subsequently took over the responsibility for strategic development at the antibody development company MorphoSys, one of the three biggest German biotech companies. Thomas joined Global Bioenergies in October 2010.

*Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique

Marek Herra has joined Grupa LOTOS ( former Gdansk refinery) In 1973. He was directly involved in refinery construction and start up. During next years he had several positions in technical and production activities. For  the years 2000 -2002 he was appointed the Gdansk Refinery Member of Board and Operational Officer. Most recent experience as Production Director of LOTOS Group responsible for start up and operation of all new units  constructed  as a Program 10 +. Marek Herra holds M.S. degree in Chemical from Technical University of Gdansk.

Ignaas has set-up and leads the open innovation and corporate venturing activities within Air France KLM. These activities include a corporate venture fund, which he created together with the Schiphol Group, the Technology University of Delft, Rabobank, and got support from the Dutch government.

He is responsible for preparing investment proposals and managing the venture portfolio. The investment focus includes areas such as Aviation Cleantech, Smart Mobility & Connectivity and Security & Safety. One of the ventures is SkyNRG, focused on sustainable biojet fuel.

Previously Ignaas held several positions in Sales, Revenue Management, ICT, Marketing (CRM) and Corporate Strategy. He worked at Citibank and Kardex before joining Air France KLM.

Ignaas holds a Master in Applied Economics from Gent University/Université de Poitiers and an MBA from Vlerick Business School. He is a graduate of MIT and LBS programs. In the recent years, Ignaas has been invited to speak on several innovation, corporate venturing and biofuel conferences.

Stella Bezergianni obtained her PhD from the Chemical Engineering department of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA in 2001 and prior to that her Chemical Engineering diploma from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece in 1995.

She worked in the ExxonMobil Research and Engineering in Virginia USA from 2001 as an advanced engineer in the Plant Computing Division. In 2003 she was earned an international assignment to the Dutch refinery of ESSO Nederland BV in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

She began her career as Project Manager at the Institute for Hygiene, Protection and Industrial Ergonomics of Bucharest (Romania), in the Air Quality Department, where she spent 7 years.

She joined RENAULT (France) in 1989 and was appointed Specialist in measurement systems for automotive exhaust emissions and fuel consumption.

Since 1998 she has become Fuels Affairs Manager, representing RENAULT on issues related to fuels quality in:

• the French and European Standardisation bodies, such as AFNOR-BNPé and the CEN (European Standardisation Committee) and also the tripartite Ethanol Task Force between Brazil, the EU and the US.
• the automotive associations and committees, such as ACEA and the World Wide Fuel Charter.

  In 2011 she was appointed Fuels Expert.

Following 12 years in the Merchant Navy (1985-1997), mainly as Master on board AHTS vessels and a period ashore in ship superintendence, Cliff Brand joined the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch as an Accident Investigator. During his time there (1997-2004), he obtained a BSc Honours Degree in Shipping Operations, as well as Diploma in Marine Surveying.

In 2004 he took up the post of Maritime Administrator for the Government of Gibraltar, where he was head of the Gibraltar Maritime Administration. During his tenure he was directly responsible for substantial growth of registered tonnage on the Gibraltar Ship Register as well as Paris MOU “White List” status recognition. He was also actively involved with the IMO. He was Chief Executive of the Gibraltar Port Authority between 2006 and 2008 where in addition to port business he was involved extensively in the salvage of a high profile marine casualty.

In 2008 he returned to the UK to take up the post of Harbour Master / Marine Manager for

Harwich Haven Authority. He obtained an MBA in shipping and logistics and in 2012 he joined Eagle Lyon Pope as a Marine Consultant. In October 2012, Cliff was appointed the new Chief Executive of the International Bunker Industry Association, based in Southampton, UK.

Captain Brand is a Fellow of the Nautical Institute and a Younger Brother of Trinity House

Mr. Bas van den Beemt (1977) has a technical background in environmental engineering and holds a master degree in innovation sciences.  After working as a sales engineer with a process equipment manufacturer, he moved to TNO and became a Business Developer in the oil and gas market.

In this position he supports companies with technology research and development related to offshore production and LNG technology. With TNO he gained an important international position in the field of qualification and testing of offshore LNG transfer systems. Furthermore, he has set up a divers group of stakeholders in the field of  the application of LNG as a fuel. TNO assessed the environmental, legal and safety aspects of a small scale supply chain from Rotterdam. Currently he is setting up several research project related to small scale LNG supply such innovative storage systems and LNG measurement devices.

Dr. Thomas Wilharm, born in 1957, holds a university degree in natural sciences. After working for some years as lab manager, in 1992 he founded company ASG near city of Augsburg, Germany. As owner and managing director, he accomplished to built up one of the most specialized and recognized commercial laboratories in fuel and biofuel business. Besides his work at ASG, Thomas is member of several national and international fuel standardization groups and auditor for the national Biodiesel quality assurance agency

After graduating in the year 2000 at the Politecnico di Milano with a degree in Management and Production Engineering and after completing his internship at McKinsey & Company Milano as a Business Analyst, he has started working for AON Insurance Broker both in Milano and Rotterdam as an Internal Auditor and later as a Business Development Manager. In 2006 he has joined Biofuels Partners as Business Development Manager, an Italian consultancy boutique with specific knowhow into the bioliquid and biodiesel sector. In 2012 he has joined Clariant at the Biotech & Renewables Center in Munich with the role of Business Development Manager Biofuels Europe with the main responsibility for the out-licensing of cellulosic ethanol production plants.

Roberto holds an Engineering Bachelor and an MSc in Business. He has been working in the biofuels sector for the last seven years. Currently he is the lead bioenergy modeler at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a specialist provider of information and research to investors in renewable energy, biofuels low carbon technologies and water.

His latest research includes the impact of biofuels in food prices, a model for global supply and demand and biofuels price forecasting and is currently modeling the impact the new EU proposal will have in the development of the EU biofuels market.

Varpu Markkanen is Business Development Manager of Oil Products and Renewables Business Area at Neste Oil. She has more than 25 years experience in oil refining. Her professional career covers process engineering, refinery operations, refinery development and productivity, product and supply chain management

Varpu Markkanen received a M.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering from Helsinki University of Technology ( known as Aalto University at present ).

Axens (www.axens.net) is an international provider of high technology content processes, products and services to the refining, petrochemical and gas industries. Axens is recognized as a worldwide technology benchmark for clean fuels production, aromatics production and purification, conversion processes and sulfur-recovery catalysts via the Claus process.

Actively preparing for the future, we aim to be a leader in the alternative fuels: vegetable oils to diesel, high-quality distillates from direct coal liquefaction and liquid products through the conversion of synthesis gas from various feedstocks (natural gas, biomass and coal).

Clariant is a globally leading specialty chemicals company, based in Switzerland. On December 31, 2012 the company employed a total workforce of 21,202. In the financial year 2012, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 6.038 billion for its continuing businesses.

The Catalysts business has a broad portfolio of products for many chemicals and fuels processes, including leading products for Petrochemicals applications: OleMax® for olefins purification, Catofin® for propane dehydrogenation, and StyroMax® for styrene production.

Fluor Corporation is one of the world’s largest publicly owned engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance services companies. For 100 years, Fluor, through its operating subsidiaries, has become a trusted global leader by providing exceptional services and technical knowledge. Consistently rated as one of the world’s safest contractors, Fluor’s primary objective is to develop, execute, and maintain projects on schedule, within budget, and with excellence. Our outstanding dependability, expertise, and safety performance distinguish us as the preeminent global leader in the building services marketplace.

Fluor is a FORTUNE 500 company with a global workforce of 42,000 employees working in 25 countries across 6 continents.

http://www.nalco.com/applications/fuels-management.htm

EUROPIA represents the European Petroleum industry, the downstream sector of Europe’s oil industry.

EUROPIA is an organisation whose 42 members account for more almost 100% of EU petroleum refining capacity and over 75% of EU motor fuel retail sales.

EUROPIA as a leading Industry Representative aims at contributing pro-actively and constructively to the development of policies to safeguard the secure and sustainable manufacturing, supply and use of petroleum products by providing competent and expert advice to the EU Institutions, Member State Governments and the wider community.

EUROPIA also works in close cooperation with National Oil Industry Associations (NOIAs) across Europe.

For more details, please visit: http://www.europia.com/content/default.asp?PageID=381 

Digitalrefining.com is an easy-to-use website for the refining, gas and petrochemical processing industries, providing a constantly growing database of articles, literature, news and company information. http://www.digitalrefining.com

PTQ is the authoritative magazine covering process technology developments in the refining, gas and petrochemical industries. Each issue of PTQ carries at least 15 in-depth technical feature articles from around the world charting experiences under operating conditions in improving production or safety or meeting environmental targets. It is the practical and detailed nature of these articles that makes PTQ required reading for engineering decision makers. http://www.eptq.com/

Worldoils is a company that combines the power of marketing as well as the in-house expertise for the Oil, Gas, Offshore and the Maritime industries.

Worldoils' web portal www.worldoils.com has become a truly central platform for visitors who need information regarding oil and gas products and services, research, training, conferences, news and events as well as a popular advertising base for providers of Oil, Gas, Marine and Offshore services. Worldoils has also launched the jobs system and a marketplace. In the recent months, Worldoils has strengthened its position as a fast developing central place for buying and selling of land rigs, offshore rigs, barge rigs and other oilfield and subsea equipment.

Argus Media is a leading provider of price assessments, business intelligence and market data for the global crude oil, petroleum products, gas, LPG, coal, electricity, biofuels, biomass, emissions, fertilizer and transportation industries.

With a vision to unite the downstream oil and gas community to improve safety, reliability, and efficiency, RefinerLink offers an exceptionally clean and organized platform that consolidates oil refining content for users to readily access.  From news and industry event listings, to job postings, blogs, employee surveys, and community forums, RefinerLink offers a one-stop shop for Refiners around the world to connect and efficiently leverage communal knowledge