Speakers 2026

Dr. Douwina Bosscher

Chief Technology Officer & Innovation Director

Oleon

Bio

Douwina Bosscher, PhD, is a senior technical leader with extensive expertise in innovation, R&D, sustainability and corporate responsibility, intellectual assets management and intellectual property, product safety, regulatory affairs, and quality management.

She currently serves as Chief Technology Officer and Director of Innovation at Oleon, where she drives strategic innovation and technology development. In parallel, she holds the role of Managing Director of Oleon S.A.S. in France.

Her career spans global leadership roles across EMEA, the USA, and APAC, having strong international experience in managing technical teams. Prior to joining Oleon, she was R&D Director for Oil & Seeds EMEA at Cargill and held different corporate roles in Cargill where she contributed to innovation strategies across multiple food, nutrition and industrial segments.

She also held roles in DSM in The Netherlands and Switzerland, strengthening her expertise in functional foods innovation during the early stages of her career. Douwina is recognized for building high-performance innovation pipelines and fostering strong customer partnerships to deliver new products and solutions.

Her engagement extends to policy and research, including participation in discussions with the European Commission on future research investments.

Dr. Thomas König

Vice President Chemical Technologies

Schaeffler

Bio

Dr. Thomas König holds the position of Vice President Chemical Technologies at the Schaeffler Group. After studying physics and earning a doctoral degree in the field of heterogeneous catalysis, he also completed an MBA, thereby complementing his scientific expertise with extensive business management skills. Within the Schaeffler Group, he has held various leadership positions before taking on his current role. In his function, Dr. König is responsible for the development of tribological innovations, advanced technologies in the field of manufacturing and process chemistry, as well as chemical analytics. He leverages his profound experience in research, development, and technology management to establish sustainable and high-performance solutions for automotive and industrial applications.

Adrian Hill

Group Technical Director

Morris Lubricants

Bio

Adrian Hill is Group Technical Director at Morris Lubricants, with overall responsibility for the company’s technical strategy, product development, technical service, laboratory operations, and training functions. He leads the formulation, validation, and approval of automotive, industrial, and specialist lubricants, ensuring that products meet evolving OEM requirements and international performance standards.

In an ever-changing global market with a focus on sustainability and regulatory readiness, emphasis is on lower emissions, improved energy efficiency and compatibility with emerging powertrain technologies. With over 40 years of extensive experience across lubricant technology and manufacturing, Adrian plays a key role in driving innovation, supporting customers, and maintaining Morris Lubricants’ reputation for technical excellence and reliability.

Dr. Alexander Friedrich

R&D Manager, Chemical Compliance Manager

Setral Chemie

Bio

Dr. Alexander Friedrich studied chemistry at the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen, Germany, where he received his PhD in organometallic chemistry. He joined Setral Chemie GmbH, a family owed medium-sized company, in 2021. Since 2024 he is responsible for research and development including all aspects of chemical compliance. This joint field of activities includes new developments and technologies, reformulations based on regulatory requirements or product adaptions based on customers’ requests. In today’s regulatory environment, change is the only constant and the nature of high-performance lubricants from the perspective of a medium-sized company is being changed. Most often, progress is driven by regulatory adaptions, however agility enables fast adaptions on all types of requirements, generating next generation lubricant formulations.

Dr. Andre Moreira

Co-Founder and Managing Director

lyfX.ai

Bio

Andre is a hands-on entrepreneur with deep technical expertise and a proven leadership track record. He currently focuses on developing AI-driven applications that simplify everyday work. He bridges the gap between technical execution and strategic vision. He also advises companies on implementing AI and data-first strategies, helping them stay ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape.

With a background spanning the chemical and AgTech industries across Europe, the USA, and Asia, Andre brings a global perspective to every challenge. Whether working with startups or large corporations, Andre’s expertise in technology and business, combined with significant venture capital experience, makes him a valuable partner in driving innovation and growth.

Bhupinder Singh

Director (Global) Lubricants & Base Oil

bluechem GROUP

Bio

Mr. Bhupinder Singh, a highly accomplished and widely respected figure in the global lubricants and base oil industry.

Mr. Singh brings over 30 years of international experience in lubricants, and base oils across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. He has held senior leadership roles with globally recognized organizations including Castrol, Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), Universal Lubricants, Duckhams Oils and most recently, Bluechemgroup, where he serves as Global Director, driving strategic expansion and commercial excellence across the globe.

In addition to his corporate achievements, Mr. Singh is the Founder and Owner of the largest online group of lubricants and base oil professionals, LUBRICANT SPECIALISTS LinkedIn group with over 35,000 members worldwide. This platform serves as a key hub for industry professionals to share insights, network, and stay ahead of market trends.

Renowned for his thought leadership, Mr. Singh is a regular chairman and keynote speaker at prestigious international forums such as ICIS, UEIL, Petrosil AMEA and BOLAT. His expertise spans international business development and strategic partnerships, making him a sought-after voice in the lubricants ecosystem.

Ceyhan Çağlar Çapanoğlu

Director of R&D, Technical Support & Project

Speedol

Bio

Ceyhan Çağlar Çapanoğlu, MSc, is a Senior Chemical Engineer and Director of R&D, Technical Support & Project with over 15 years of experience in the lubricants & grease, petrochemical, industrial, automotive, and defense industries.

She specializes in product development, technical project leadership, OEM approvals, and industrial innovation management. Throughout her career at Koçak Petrol/Speedol, she has led the development of more than 1,000 product formulations, including automotive, industrial, aviationand defense sectors lubricants & special products. She also established and managed one of Türkiye’s Ministry-approved R&D Center, leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and nationally funded innovation projects.

Her expertise includes lubricant & special products formulations, tailor-made projects for engine producers, technical support & education to customers regulatory compliance, technical commercialization, and cross-functional leadership. She has contrubuted to major national projects, including Türkiye’s first domestic UAV engine’s lubricants & coolant development, and actively represents her company at international exhibitions and technical congresses.

Davide Don

Scientific Researcher – Industrial Sustainability

Fraunhofer Italia

Bio

Davide Don is scientific researcher at Fraunhofer Italia, where he works on sustainable innovation, circular economy and regulatory-driven design approaches for industrial value chains. His work focuses on translating emerging policy and regulatory requirements into practical strategies for product development, with particular attention to Safe and Sustainable by Design, environmental performance, and future compliance readiness. He has contributed to European research and innovation projects addressing sustainable materials, industrial transformation and regulatory frameworks, supporting companies and stakeholders in navigating the transition towards safer, more sustainable and more transparent products.

Dennis Eijdenberg

Technical Manager

Interflon Global Headquarters

Bio

Dennis Eijdenberg is Technical Manager at Interflon’s Global Headquarters, where he supports technical knowledge, application know-how, and product positioning across the company’s international operations.

As a tribologist, he holds the Certified Lubrication Specialist (CLS) qualification from STLE, as well as the Food Processing Lubrication Specialist (FPL) from ICML. He has nearly a decade of experience in value-added lubricant implementation, technical portfolio management, and asset reliability.

Dennis is involved in product development, performance validation, and real-world application of advanced lubricants and greases in demanding environments, including regulated sectors such as Food and Beverage and rail, as well as in manufacturing-, process- and heavy industry.

His primary focus areas are sustainability, reliability, maintenance optimisation, friction reduction, and enhanced lifecycle performance.

Federico Bottone

Director, Global Supply Chain and Planning

Infineum

Bio

Federico Bottone is Director of Global Supply Chain and Planning at Infineum, accountable for end-to-end planning and supply chain operations across the business.

He has over 20 years of experience within Infineum, having held roles spanning production, logistics, research and development, demand and supply planning, and strategic marketing. This experience provides him with a strong cross-functional perspective, connecting operational execution with broader business priorities and enabling effective decision-making across functions. He has worked in global roles across regions, supporting alignment between demand, supply and commercial objectives and helping the organization navigate increasingly complex and dynamic operating environments.

Flemming Davidsen

Food Safety Lead

Fertin Pharma

Bio

Passion for food and problem-solving is a key driver in Flemming Davidsen’s professional life. He is a senior leader in food safety, quality management, and operational excellence.

As Food Safety Lead at Fertin Pharma, Flemming drives strategic improvements across core processes, embeds best-practice standards, and strengthens a high-performance quality culture.

His previous roles as Food Inspector and Lecturer at Bureau Veritas included advisory work on sustainability, food loss and waste, and regulatory compliance, combined with extensive audit responsibility.

Flemming also served as Associate Professor at Business Academy Aarhus, where he shaped professional education in management systems, process optimisation, hygienic design, and environmental performance.

Earlier in his career, he held key leadership positions in production, factory, and quality management in Denmark and Turkey, overseeing large operational teams, Lean-based production, and GFSI-based standard certifications.

His strengths include analytical clarity, cross-functional insight, and the ability to mobilise people around structured, value-creating solutions. Colleagues emphasise his mature leadership profile, which is further supported by certifications in Belbin Team Roles, the Garuda Focus Model, GFSI standards, and food waste auditing.

Dr. Jan Maarten Teuben

Head of Product Stewardship

Penman Consulting

Bio

Jan Maarten Teuben joined Penman Consulting as Head of Product Stewardship and Strategic Initiatives after 25 years in regulatory leadership roles in industry. Before joining Penman, he served as Product Stewardship Manager at Shell, where he led global teams supporting the company’s global Chemicals, Fuels, Refining, and Trading businesses.

His career spans Chemicals, Refining, Catalysts, Trading, Upstream, Gas, and R&D. With a strategic and science-driven mindset, Jan combines deep technical understanding with practical, real-world application, translating complex scientific and regulatory issues into clear insights for both expert and non-expert audiences.

Jan and his team help customers navigate the complex network of regulations efficiently and responsibly, and his mission is to contribute to the safe use of chemicals by facilitating science-based dialogue between industry, policymakers, and regulators. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from Leiden University and an Executive MBA from ESSEC Business School in Paris.

Johannes Samwer

Managing Director

Rhenus Lub

Bio

Johannes Samwer has started its career as consultant in the chemicals division of Simon-Kucher & Partners. Within the 14 years in various strategic and executive roles at specialty chemical producer LANXESS, he spent 3 years living in the US and working for additive producer Rhein Chemie. Since January 2024 he serves as Managing Director at Rhenus Lub, with responsibility for all commercial functions and the company’s international business.

Jorge Alarcon

RAMS Engineer

Bureau Veritas Group

Bio

Jorge Alarcon is a Reliability Manager, Condition Monitoring Engineer, researcher, and consultant specialising in condition monitoring and predictive maintenance across a range of industries, including power generation, manufacturing, and wind energy.

He has extensive knowledge of predictive maintenance markets throughout Europe and the Americas and provides comprehensive technical support to customers. His work is focused on improving plant reliability through oil condition monitoring, lubrication best practices, and digital transformation strategies, helping organisations enhance equipment performance and optimise maintenance programmes.

Kiera Wareing

Senior Development Chemist

Technikraft

Bio

Kiera Wareing is a Senior Development Chemist specialising in lubricant and cleaning technologies for the manufacturing industry. Her work focuses on product development, formulation chemistry, and advancing lower-impact solutions across industrial lubricants and metalworking fluids.

She completed a degree apprenticeship alongside her industry experience, graduating with First Class Honours from the University of Bradford. In 2024, she was named a finalist for Young Manufacturer of the Year in recognition of her contribution to manufacturing and innovation.

Kiera is particularly passionate about improving environmental performance within industrial chemistry and currently works on developing biodegradable and biosurfactant-based technologies for the lubricants market.

Konstantin Melnichuk

Vice President, Energy

Kline + Company

Bio

Konstantin Melnichuk is a Vice President within the Energy Practice of Kline + Company, based out of Kline’s London office. He leads the market research division covering the Energy sector at Kline, managing an international team focused on the lubricants value chain and energy specialty markets.

He has over 15 years of experience in management consulting, specializing in areas such as new market entry, marketing strategy, market size and segmentation, competitive intelligence and commercial due diligence.

He has a specialist degree in Physics from Lomonosov Moscow State University and FT MBA from Manchester Business School.

Marco Corradi

Consultant

drmc-consulting

Bio

Marco is an experienced lubricants and additives specialist with 24 years in the global industry, spanning technical, commercial and strategic leadership roles. After moving to Infineum from academia, he held positions across additive development, formulation and base stock programmes, and led product development and customer deployment teams in both Europe and Asia. His experience also includes global market management, where he was responsible for product portfolio strategy, pricing and budget accountability, and contributed to major investment decisions. Marco has deep expertise in additive and lubricant development across automotive and marine applications, from concept evaluation and testing through to launch and profitability management. He has represented the industry through CEC and ATC associations for 18 years, presented at international conferences, and delivered training for customers and OEMs. Since April 2025, he has worked as an independent consultant, providing market intelligence, strategic advice and technical guidance across the lubricants and chemicals sectors.

Melissa Quinn

Expert Industrial Products – Grease

Castrol

Bio

Melissa Quinn is an Expert Industrial Products at Castrol Germany with 20+ years’ experience in the lubricants industry. She has been on the NLGI BOD since 2024. After studying Chemistry at the University of Sydney, she started in the lubricants industry as a Grease Chemist. Throughout her career, Melissa’s focus has been on mining and industrial lubricants working in a variety of roles including product development, technical sales and product management. After joining bp Australia in 2018, she moved to the UK to work on developing high performance greases. Melissa is now located in Germany as a global grease specialist supporting the technology strategy and providing technical expertise.

Michael Herson

Managing Director

The Strategy Works

Bio

Michael Herson is Founder and Managing Director of The Strategy Works, a specialist B2B strategy consultancy, focussed on delivering deep market insight, informed by rigorous qualitative research methodologies.

Drawing on more than 20 years in senior FMCG marketing roles within the food industry, Michael brings a commercially grounded and evidence-based perspective to complex value chains across the automotive lubricants and shipping sectors.

He has authored more than 40 trade press articles and is an experienced speaker at international industry conferences. A selection of his published work can be found here: Articles by Michael Herson

Morten Schakow

Technical Director

JIM-TEC

Bio

Morten Schakow is a lubrication specialist with nearly 20 years of experience working with lubrication technologies for the food and pharmaceutical industries. With an academic background spanning technical, commercial, and business disciplines, he began his career in 2005 supplying industrial oils and chemical maintenance products to the industrial sector.

Over the past two decades, Morten has specialized in food-grade lubrication, tribology, and lubrication systems designed for hygienic production environments. His work focuses on improving reliability, compliance, and maintenance efficiency in food processing operations through structured lubrication strategies and advanced lubricant technologies.

Morten Schakow currently serves as Technical Director at JIM-TEC.

Dr. Peter Cooper

Senior Consultant

Promersion

Bio

Peter Cooper is a Senior Consultant at Promersion, a strategic advisory firm working across the liquid cooling value chain for AI and HPC data centres. He advises fluid producers, OEMs and investors on immersion and direct-to-chip cooling, where the technical and commercial requirements differ markedly from established lubricant markets.

His background spans chemistry and chemical engineering: a PhD in chemistry (ionic liquids, tribology, interfacial science), a BEng in chemical engineering, and seven years in product and R&D roles at an immersion cooling equipment manufacturer.

Within the Open Compute Project, Peter leads the Immersion Fluid Specification and Immersion Requirements workstreams, and is a co-author of Immersion Requirements and Material Compatibility in Immersion Cooling Whitepapers.

Dr. Pushkar Deshpande

Global R&I Project Leader & Senior Scientist – Lubricant Formulation

Syensqo

Bio

Dr. Pushkar Deshpande is a Global R&I Project Leader and Senior Scientist – Lubricant Formulation at Syensqo, where he leads the development and commercialization of sustainable lubrication solutions for metalworking applications. He also provides technical support for Lubricants and Metalworking Fluid additives across EMEA, helping customers address complex performance and process challenges. With expertise in tribology, lubricant formulation, and metal processing operations including wire drawing, hot rolling, and cold rolling, he focuses on advancing high-performance and sustainable lubrication technologies. Prior to joining Syensqo, Dr. Deshpande held research and development positions at Aperam, Texas A&M University, Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), Imperial College London, and École Centrale de Lyon. His work has focused on tribochemistry and wear mechanisms across diverse applications, including internal combustion engines, mechanical watches, and orthopedic implants, bridging fundamental research and industrial innovation in tribology and lubrication.

Dipl.-Ing. Rüdiger Krethe

Managing Director

OilDoc

Bio

Rüdiger Krethe is a graduate mechanical engineer and tribo-technician. He has been intensively involved in the lubrication of machines for more than 30 years, from product selection to the monitoring of lubricants. For many years Rüdiger worked as head of the diagnostics team at the OELCHECK laboratory.

He has contributed to numerous national and international conferences with presentations and is the author of the German books ‘Handbook of Oil Analysis’ and ‘Fundamentals and Practice of Lubrication’.

Since 2010, he has been Managing Director of OilDoc GmbH and co-organiser of national and international specialist conferences. He shares his knowledge as an independent consultant and certified expert. In OilDoc seminars, Rüdiger Krethe provides expertise on lubricants and lubricant monitoring. He is involved in national working groups for the standardisation of lubricants and international badge committees.

He is a Certified Lubrication Specialist (CLS) of the STLE, a Machine Lubrication Engineer (MLE), and Machine Lubricant Analyst II (MLA II) of the ICML. In 2023, he was honoured with the ‘Ray Thibault Excellence in Education Award’ by the

American Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE).

Dr. Sander van Donk

Vice President Europe

Lubrizol

Bio

Sander joined Lubrizol as Vice President of Europe in January 2024, based in the UK.

He is an industry veteran with 20-plus years of international experience in transformational business leadership, growth strategies, B2B sales and research & technology.

Sander most recently served as Senior Vice President leading the largest Global Business Unit in Sulzer, a Swiss technology company. Prior to this, Sander held multiple leadership positions with the Finnish refining and renewables company Neste, with the global technology leader Honeywell UOP, and several technology management roles for French energy and oil company Total Energies across Europe.

Sander received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemistry, as well as his PhD in Industrial Catalysis, from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. He also holds an Executive MBA from HEC Lausanne in Switzerland.

Stephan Baumgartner

Manager Lubricants

UNITI Bundesverband

Bio
Bio coming soon…

Umesh Amarnani

Director

Adipro

Bio

Umesh Amarnani is the Managing Director of Adipro International Corporation and Co-Founder of Adipro Chemicals, as well as the Founder of Pacegate Energy & Resources Ltd. (PEARL).

Based in Oxford, United Kingdom, he brings over two decades of experience in the specialty chemicals and lubricant additives industry, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and strategic global growth.

Under his leadership, Adipro Chemicals has expanded its footprint across key markets including the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Africa and India. He has played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s capabilities in additives manufacturing, blending, and formulation technologies.

He has been instrumental in establishing one of Africa’s first lubricant additives and production chemicals manufacturing facilities in Ilupeju, Lagos, along with the Adipro Africa Technology Center (AATC)—an ISO 17025-certified testing facility. In addition, he has led the development of the Adipro Global Technology Centre (AGTC) in India, alongside significant investments in global approvals and certifications to strengthen product credibility and market access.

He also oversees Pacegate Energy & Resources Ltd., which operates Africa’s largest steel drum manufacturing plant, supporting the region’s industrial and energy supply chain.

Wilhelm Rehbein

Senior Manager Technical Application

LANXESS Deutschland

Bio

Wilhelm Rehbein is a graduated chemical engineer with more than 37 years of experience in developing and formulating industrial lubricants and metalworking fluids. He started his career in the lubricant industry in 1988 in the R&D department of a medium sized lubricant manufacturer in Germany. In 2011 he joined Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH which has been integrated into LANXESS Deutschland GmbH in 2015. Today he works as a Senior Manager Application Technology at LANXESS in Mannheim, Germany. He is in charge of the development of guideline formulations and additive packages for metalworking applications, provides metalworking related technical support for customers and participates in several research projects.

Prof. Amir Kadiric

Professor of Tribology and Surface Mechanics

Imperial College London

Bio

Amir Kadiric is Professor of Tribology and Surface Mechanics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He is a member of the Tribology research group and the Director of the SKF University Technology Centre for Tribology at Imperial College.

He obtained his MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering followed by a PhD in Tribology from Imperial College in 2005. He subsequently took a post at SKF’s Engineering and Research Centre in the Netherlands where he worked on rolling bearing research, before returning to Imperial.

Prof Kadiric’s primary research areas are surface damage mechanisms in mechanical systems, including rolling contact fatigue, scuffing, fretting and hydrogen effects; reliability and efficiency of electric vehicle drivetrains; high speed tribology, and contact mechanics. He has strong links with industry and his research is applicable to a wide range of engineering systems including wind turbines, electric vehicles and aerospace applications.

Ali Faisal Alawieh

General Manager

Gulf Continental Oil & Grease

Bio

Ali Faisal Alawieh is a dynamic and results-driven General Manager with over 20 years of international leadership experience in the lubricants, automotive, and industrial sectors. He leads the overall operations of Petrovöll GmbH and Gulf Continental Oil & Grease Factory, overseeing manufacturing and production, sales and marketing, supply chain, business development, and international commercial operations.

His leadership combines operational excellence with strategic commercial vision, ensuring manufacturing efficiency, product quality, operational performance, and the successful development of competitive international brands. Throughout his career, Ali has successfully expanded business across the GCC, MENA, Africa, CIS, Asia, and North America, building strong partnerships with distributors and strategic business partners in more than 80 countries.

Recognized for driving business transformation and sustainable growth, he has a proven track record of optimizing manufacturing and commercial performance, leading high-performing multicultural teams, and delivering long-term value through strategic planning, innovation, and customer-centric leadership.

Dr. Annett König

Global Product Stewardship Solutions – Lubricant Antioxidants, Automotive Coolants & Brake Fluids

BASF

Bio

 Dr. Annett König is a highly experienced expert in chemical regulation and product stewardship, with over 25 years of experience in the chemical industry. She currently serves as Global Product Steward at BASF SE. In this role, she advises business units and customers on compliance with regulatory requirements for lubricant additives and automotive fluids and develops strategic solutions within the regulatory landscape.

Her responsibilities also include advocacy for substances under regulatory pressure, as well as the development of data-driven tools for early risk identification and portfolio management.

Previously, she held the position of Global REACH Coordinator at BASF, where she was responsible for developing and implementing substance registration strategies and ensuring global regulatory compliance.

Earlier roles at Rhein Chemie, Lanxess, and Bayer focused on regulatory affairs, chemical policy, and product safety. She actively contributed to shaping the REACH legislation from an industry perspective during its development and gained extensive experience in global chemical regulation.

She studied chemistry at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and holds a PhD in chemistry from the Technical University of Dresden.

Bart Hulshof

Chief Technical Officer – Co-owner

TRIS

Bio

Bart Hulshof is co-owner and technical director of Tris bv, a Dutch family business.

He has 40 years of experience in engineering and more than 25 years of experience in oil and lubrication-related matters such as tribology, oil filtration, and oil conditioning, as well as conducting and interpreting thousands of oil analyses for various critical drives.

Since 2011, he has been involved in developing, testing, and applying condition monitoring, sensor technology, and remote surveillance.

Bart supports both end-users and OEMs in increasing reliability, availability, and lifespan, resulting in lower maintenance costs and a smaller carbon footprint. His strength lies in translating technical challenges into simple, often innovative, and practical solutions. From an independent and connecting role, he and his team develop and realize high-quality flushing, lubrication, filtration, cooling, and oil heating systems that have been used in demanding industrial environments for over 30 years.

Chris Locke

EVP Commercial

Infineum

Bio

In his role as EVP Commercial, Chris is accountable for commercial activities linked to Infineum’s lubricants businesses associated with the internal combustion engine, notably passenger car, heavy duty diesel, marine, small and large engine. This includes accountability for the Customer Centricity agenda, the customer interface and business outcomes together, and market and business segment strategies, ultimately delivering against both short and longer term profitability growth targets for Sustainable Transportation at Infineum.

Chris has 30 years of experience in the lubricant additives industry and has been a member of the Infineum executive committee since 2014. Prior to his current appointment as EVP Commercial, Chris has held several leadership positions, such as Chief Strategy Officer, EVP Supply, EVP Marketing and Technology, Business Manager for Lubricants and Fuels Additives segments, and led the China Venture as Infineum embarked on a major investment programme in the country.

Chris holds a BSc and DPhil in Chemistry from the University of York in the UK.

Anthony Houlé

Metalworking Products Specialist

TotalEnergies Lubrifiants

Bio

Anthony Houlé is a Metalworking Fluids Specialist with a strong foundation in organic chemistry and more than 20 years of experience in industrial lubrication.

He began his career at Renault, where he developed laboratory capabilities and managed cutting and cleaning fluids in production environments.

He later joined FUCHS, progressing to Product Manager and subsequently Market Manager for the automotive industry. In these roles, he led the development of machining product ranges, supported sales strategy, and coordinated international OEM and Tier-1 activities.

Since joining TotalEnergies Lubricants in 2022, Anthony has led the global development of cutting fluids, served as the technical referent for European affiliates, and coordinated cross-functional teams across R&D, sales, and field operations.

His profile combines scientific expertise, operational experience, and an international perspective to deliver high-performance, compliant, and sustainable solutions.

Christian Hartmann

Board Member

Yunigreen/KSA

Bio

Christian Hartmann is an internationally recognized expert in used oil recycling and re-refining with more than 35 years of industry experience. He has held senior executive, board, and advisory positions across the lubricants, base oils, and circular economy sectors.

As former CEO of PURAGLOBE, he contributed to the development of one of Europe’s leading re-refining businesses. He has also served as President of GEIR and Vice President of UEIL, representing the European re-refining and lubricant industries. Today, he serves as a Board Member of YUNIGREEN and Board Advisor to TAYRAS, supporting strategic growth and sustainability initiatives in the sector.

Claudia Agostinelli

Head of Passenger Car Motor Oil, EMEAI

Afton Chemical

Bio

Claudia joined Afton Chemical in 2021, taking responsibility for managing the Axle, Manual Transmission and Off-road business in the EMEAI region, transitioning to Passenger Car Motor Oil at the end of 2025.

Claudia gained her undergraduate degrees in Marketing Management and Commercial Law from the University of South Africa. She has leveraged this commercial background to work with global stakeholders to develop and implement business strategies and implement product technologies to meet customers’ evolving needs.

Damian Weinzierl

Head of New Mobility

FUCHS

Bio

Leader in the mobility transformation of the automotive industry. Currently in charge of the global New Energy Vehicle business at FUCHS SE, the world’s largest independent lubrication provider.

Prior to Fuchs SE ~8 years of experience in the automotive consulting field focusing on the whole range of New Mobility topics; broad international experience in Europe, the U.S., South Korea & China.

Strong track record in shaping new mobility organizations by means of strategy, project & program management, partner portfolio, M&A, organizational development, culture.

Emma Olsson

Siemens Energy

Bio
Bio coming soon…

Eskild Herskind

Tribology and Vibration Specialist

CeramicSpeed Bearings

Bio

Eskild Herskind MSc Physics, is a vibration, tribology, and data specialist at CeramicSpeed, with deep expertise in experiment design, application engineering, and bearing failure diagnostics. He has driven multiple projects targeting friction behaviour, bearing lifetime performance, and advanced signal analysis. His recent work centers on developing acoustic, vibration, and ultrasonic methods to detect early stage lubrication insufficiency in rotating machinery.

David Wright

Director General

UKLA

Bio

David Wright is Director General of the United Kingdom Lubricants Association, the representative trade body for the industry in the United Kingdom. The UK Lubricants Association actively represents member company’s interests both at home and overseas and is actively on matters impacting the industry, through participation and consultation, representation and lobbying to UK and European Government and industry authorities.

An established and experienced senior leader with extensive experience within a variety of association, membership and public sector, not for profit charitable organisations operating in challenging, fast-moving politically sensitive and regulated environments at board level including leading organisations in senior roles involving defining and setting industry standards, working in partnership with government on programmes of change, and partnering with key industry stakeholders on lobbying and influencing the policy agenda of the day.

Dipl.-Ing. Detlef Müller

OEM Approvals Manager

Shell Lubricants Solutions

Bio

Detlef Müller is an experienced OEM Approvals Manager at Shell, bringing more than 28 years of expertise in lubricants, industrial applications, and B2B environments. He holds a Master of Science / Dipl.-Ing. degree from RWTH Aachen University and has held a wide range of technical and commercial roles across his career, including coaching and capability development.

Detlef specializes in collaborating with OEMs and industry stakeholders across sectors such as general manufacturing, metals, mining, and power generation. His current focus includes driving product development and approvals in areas such as hydraulics, environmentally acceptable lubricants, fire-resistant fluids, and turbine and circulating oils.

With a strong emphasis on cross-industry collaboration, Detlef is passionate about translating diverse stakeholder insights—from OEMs, academia, and industry bodies—into innovative, sustainable product solutions.

Dipl.-Ing. Frank Wolter

Project Engineer, Test and Validation

FEV Europe

Bio

Frank Wolter is a Validation Engineer at FEV Europe, where he has been contributing his expertise for over 19 years. He specializes in testing and validation of electric propulsion systems, with a strong focus on electric machines, power electronics, and complete electric drivetrains.

Throughout his career, Mr. Wolter has developed in-depth expertise in ensuring performance, reliability, and durability of advanced electrified systems. In addition, he brings extensive experience in Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) engineering for electric drive components, both at component level and at full vehicle level.

He has been actively involved in numerous development and validation projects, supporting the industrialization and quality assurance of next-generation electric mobility solutions.

Gabriella Twining

Global Editor Base Oils

Argus Media

Bio

Gabriella is responsible for editing, product development and strategy, and coverage for the Global Base Oils report. Gabriella is an experienced commodity analyst having previously covered the biomass markets at Argus and Maritime industry at IHS Markit. Gabriella is an industry professional and began her career in ship management at CMA CGM.

Dr. Gareth Brown

Strategic Technology Manager – Driveline Additives

Lubrizol

Bio

Gareth Brown is a strategic technology manager for Lubrizol, based in Hazelwood, UK. He is responsible for strategic technology development for driveline, producing roadmaps, fundamental knowledge, tools, and pre-platform formulations for future driveline and thermal management solutions.

Gareth joined Lubrizol as research chemist in 2002, moving to driveline in 2006, supporting automatic transmission and off-highway additives. From 2009, leading global manual transmission fluid technology development, which included developing new platforms, products and fundamental knowledge. He was additionally responsible for driveline technology deployment in China and Korea 2014-2018.

Prior to joining Lubrizol, Gareth received an M.Chem, and D.Phil. in Chemistry from the University of Oxford.

Grégoire Roux

Senior Lubricant Engineer – Specialist

TotalEnergies Lubrifiants

Bio

Grégoire Roux is a Senior Lubrication Engineer at TotalEnergies Lubrifiants SA, where he has spent ten years developing expertise in lubrication solutions for heavy industries. A recognized specialist in lubrication applications for heavy industry, he combines extensive field experience with technical expertise derived from advanced R&D.

He has led collaborative projects with universities, end customers, bearing and gear manufacturers, focusing on improving reliability and industrial performance. Grégoire works closely with customers to launch field trials, support commissioning, provide technical support, and conduct audits, ensuring strong operational follow‑up and technical excellence.

Jürgen Gosch

Brisco Systems

Bio
Bio coming soon…

Joseph Corless

European Business Director – Lubricants and Fuels, EMEAI

Afton Chemical

Bio

Joseph is the European Business Director for Lubricants and Fuels additives at Afton. Prior to his current role he was Customer Technical Service (CTS) Director for EMEAI. Before joining Afton in 2013, he worked at Mobil and BP in various international technical and commercial roles.

Joseph takes a particular interest in Afton’s customers, always keen to explore their commercial and technical challenges while working together to find new growth opportunities.

He graduated with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin.

Prof. Johan Leckner

Group Technical Manager

Axel Christiernsson

Bio

Johan holds an MS and a PhD in chemical engineering from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. He worked for six years as a researcher, first at the Pasteur Institute in Paris and then at Chalmers University of Technology. In 2009, he joined Axel Christiernsson International as a Senior Development Engineer and has served as Group Technical Manager since 2016. Since 2021, he has also been a part-time Professor in Lubricant Design at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

Dr. Kathleen Havelka

Senior Vice President, Research, Development & Applications

Advancion

Bio

Dr. Kathleen O’Leary Havelka is an R&D executive with over 30 years of experience in the specialty chemicals industry. She currently serves as Senior Vice President of Research, Development & Applications at Advancion Corporation, where she leads innovation and portfolio strategy to drive growth.

Previously, she was Senior Director of R&D and Quality Control at FUCHS Lubricants, leading development of advanced lubricants and greases, and earlier headed R&D at Elevance Renewable Sciences, focusing on biobased additives. She spent over 18 years at Lubrizol, advancing from bench chemist to senior leadership while guiding global innovation teams.

Dr. Havelka is a member of the 2026 Class of the National Academy of Engineering, an STLE Fellow, and an ACS Fellow. She holds 25 patents, has co-edited three books, and authored more than 15 peer-reviewed publications. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northern Illinois University.

Kevin Poindexter

Head of Sustainability

Infineum

Bio

In his current role as Head of Sustainability, Kevin is accountable for leading Infineum’s corporate sustainability team in defining the strategies and actions necessary to achieve Infineum’s ESG ambitions. This effort focuses largely on corporate decarbonization and supporting related customer needs, but also on employee and community social issues.

Kevin has over 35 years of experience in the fuels and lubricants industry, including his time with Infineum since its formation in 1999. He started his career with Shell and has since enjoyed a variety of technology, commercial and business development roles in the US, UK and Singapore. Kevin has been in his current role for almost 5 years, drawing on his past technical and commercial experience to help guide Infineum and the additives industry towards a more sustainable, lower carbon future.

Dr. Lucia Pisarova

Senior R&D Project Manager – Tribology & Sustainable Lubricants

AC2T Research (Austrian Excellence Centre for Tribology)

Bio

Dr. Lucia Pisarova is an internationally recognized expert in tribology and innovative lubricant design, with over 17 years of R&D leadership at AC2T research GmbH. A Marie Curie alumna and PhD graduate of the Vienna University of Technology, she specializes in bridging the gap between computational modelling and high-end analytics to provide crucial insights for sustainable lubricants and highly demanding applications.

Dr. Pisarova currently manages a multi-scale computational modelling team dedicated to driving the digital transformation towards time- and cost-effective R&D for high-performing, safe and sustainable lubricant design. The integration of generative AI, predictive QSAR/QSPR, MD and rMD models for molecular-level up to application-specific FEM modelling, and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessments (LCSA) enables industry to future-proof against the complex ever-changing requirements of REACH, Ecolabel, SSbD, and ESPR frameworks.

Marco Bellini

CEO / President

Bellini

Bio

Marco Bellini is CEO and President of Bellini S.p.A., a family-owned company and leader in the production of metalworking lubricants and fluids.

Holding a master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry, he began his career as a researcher, forging from the outset a vision strongly oriented toward innovation. As CEO, he has led Bellini through a significant expansion phase, focusing on safer, higher-performing, and more sustainable products. Since the early 2000s, he has championed the development of bio-lubricants and low-environmental impact industrial solutions, anticipating the needs of an evolving market.

Active in Confindustria, where he contributes to strategic initiatives on innovation and sustainability in the manufacturing sector, Marco Bellini is now recognized in Lombardy’s industrial landscape as an authoritative voice in the transition toward sustainable production models and responsible economic development.

Dr. Mario Gomez

Director Global Thermal Management Fluids, Oil Additives

Evonik

Bio

Dr. Mario Gomez is currently Director Global Thermal Management Fluids at Evonik Oil Additives based in Darmstadt, Germany. Dr. Gomez has been with Evonik since 2001 in different positions in Research & Development, New Business Development as well as (Strategic) Innovation Management. Mario joined Evonik Oil Additives in September 2024 and took over the responsibility for the Global Thermal Management Fluids. He holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry.

Dr. Leon Maser

Head of R+D

Addinol

Bio

Dr. Leon Maser earned his PhD in Chemistry in October 2019 and subsequently worked for two years as a postdoctoral researcher in academia. He then transitioned to applied research as a developer and researcher, focusing on organic electrolytes for redox flow batteries. In 2023, he joined ADDINOL, where he started out in environmentally acceptable lubricants. Since 2025, he has been serving as Head of R&D at ADDINOL, leading innovation and development in sustainable lubricant technologies.

His work bridges fundamental research and industrial application, with a strong emphasis on advancing environmentally responsible solutions in the field of lubrication.

Maritza Leitao

Senior Product Development Technician

Sonangol Distribuição e Comercialização

Bio

Maritza Leitão da Rocha is a Senior Product Development Technician with over 15 years’ experience in the Lubricant sector as product research and development. Holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of Namibia, Certification in Principles and Technology of Lubrication Engineering LE-A 151 by SAIT and Post- Graduation in renewable energy management from the European University. Combines a solid foundation in formulation chemistry with a sharp commercial mindset, developing lubricant products that meet  technical benchmarks while delivering measurable value for both customers and business alike. Fluent in English and Portuguese.

Her work is driven by a single conviction: that technical excellence and commercial impact are not competing priorities, but rather the two pillars of products that truly endure.

Mark Lord

CEO & Founder

Aztec Oils

Bio

Mark Lord, founder and CEO of Aztec Oils, has played a key role in transforming the company into a leading UK manufacturer and global distributor of lubricating oils. Since establishing Aztec Oils in 1995, his expertise and leadership have driven the company’s growth from a small operation into an internationally recognised brand, supplying customers worldwide from its UK base.

His recent work with the Trade Remedies Authority has further demonstrated his commitment to protecting the UK lubricants industry from unfair trading practices. Following a successful investigation, product dumping was proven and material injury to the UK industry was established, reinforcing the importance of fair competition and industry standards. His dedication to ethical trade, compliance, and sustainable growth continues to position him as a respected and influential figure within the sector.

Mattia Adani

President

UEIL

Bio

Mattia Adani is the President of UEIL – the European Union of the Lubricants Industry, the body representing at the European level the interests of the European lubricants industry.

He began his professional career at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm.

Subsequently, he was a member of the Council of Experts and then a Director at the Italian Ministry of Economy, where he worked on the regulation and privatization of SOEs in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He was then Executive Director and Member of the Board at the InterAmerican Development Bank in Washington, DC.

Mattia holds several positions within Italian Industry Association Confindustria. From 2016 to 2018 he was Senior Advisor in the cabinet of the Italian Ministry of Industry, advising on industrial policy and foreign investments attraction.

Mattia holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, a degree in Production Engineering from the Ecole Centrale Paris, France, and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, United States. He is a member of Italy’s Order of Merit.

Dr. Michele Schirru

Head of the Sensor Technologies Department

AC2T Research

Bio

A mechanical engineer and tribologist with a PhD from the University of Sheffield (UK), he currently serves as Head of the Sensor Technologies Department at AC2T Research

GmbH (Austria), where he leads the development of next-generation sensing technologies for in-situ lubricant characterization under harsh operating conditions.

His career spans more than 15 years across academia, R&D consulting, and industry, bridging advanced sensing, condition monitoring, and lubricant testing in multiple sectors, with a strong focus on transferring advanced laboratory techniques to field applications.

He has received several international awards, including the Institute of Physics’ Innovation in Tribology Prize and the IMechE Tribology Bronze Medal. He has authored numerous scientific publications and patents in the fields of tribology, lubrication monitoring, and harsh-environment sensors.

Mike McCabe

Consultant

MDM Insight

Bio

Mike has over 30 years of experience in the lubricants industry, with a career spanning lubricant development, product line management, business management, and marketing. 

After graduating with a degree in Physics from Reading University, he began his career at Castrol. In 1997, he joined Lubrizol, where he led the European passenger car engine oil additive business through the development and launch of the first low SAPS lubricants.

In 2010, Mike relocated to China to lead Lubrizol’s Asia marketing group and in 2016 he became the Senior Director of Global Marketing. In 2021, he moved to Valvoline as the EMEA Marketing Director where he gained in-depth knowledge of the automotive aftermarket.

Since April 2024, Mike has been working as a consultant, advising clients globally on a range of marketing, brand, and product line projects. He holds an MBA from Nottingham University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Morten Opprud Jakobsen

Associate Professor, Electronics and Computer Engineering

Aarhus University

Bio

Morten Opprud Jakobsen is an Associate Professor at Dept. of Electronics and Computer

Engineering at Aarhus University. Morten has a background in development of electronic and software systems for Industrial IoT.

Recent work includes utilising low cost mems acoustic sensing devices to perform non-invasive measurements of Lubrication conditions. He is author of several scientific articles on the topic.

Dr. Richard Baker

Managing Director

TriboTonic

Bio

Rich is the Managing Director of TriboTonic Ltd, which he founded over seven years ago to provide instrument sales, servicing, and technical support to tribology and petroleum companies across Europe. Prior to this, he spent 16 years at PCS Instruments in roles spanning sales, marketing, and business development.

TriboTonic represents and supports PCS Instruments, Falex Tribology, Flucon, and Metaspec test specimens throughout Europe. Holding a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London, Rich brings a strong engineering and mathematical background to his work. He also serves the industry in advisory capacities on various boards and standards committees, is an active ASTM member (chairing D02.L0.12 on Tribology Tests for Electric Vehicle Lubricants), and has served on the Advisory Board of Lubricant Expo Europe since its inception in 2022.

Paola Pastorelli

Research Associate TF Key Projects

Sasol

Bio

Paola Pastorelli is a Research Associate at Sasol International Chemicals specialising in technical formulations for metalworking and lubricants. She coordinates innovation initiatives for target markets, collaborates with business teams, and works with customers to develop tailored solutions and guide new product design.

Paola joined Sasol in 2005 as a Technical Customer Support Specialist in the cosmetics and detergents sectors. In 2009, she became Regional Manager of R&D Applications & Customer Support, leading application development for Sasol Italy’s products across multiple market segments. Since 2015, she has served as Technical Platform Leader for Metalworking and Lubricants.

She holds a master’s degree in industrial chemistry from the University of Milan and previously worked as a Junior Researcher at the National Research Council of Italy.

Dr. Patrick McDougall

Advanced Applied Technology Manager

Chevron Oronite

Bio
Bio coming soon…

Peter Schick

Manager Fluid Release System / TF-HD-L chair / Vice-chair

Daimler Truck / ACEA / CEC

Bio

Peter Schick, based in Stuttgart-Möhringen, BW, Germany is currently managing the Fluid Release System (FRS) at Daimler Truck AG, bringing experience from previous roles at Daimler Truck AG and Daimler AG for over 25 years. Peter Schick has studied Mechanical Engineering at the Hochschule Esslingen and is responsible for Engine Oil Development at Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Busses, chair of the ACEA (The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) Heavy Duty Taskforce Lubricants as well as vice-chair of CEC (The Coordinating European Council).

Pooja Sharma

Senior Project Manager

Kline + Company

Bio

Pooja Sharma is a Senior Project Manager in Kline & Company’s Energy Practice with over 18 years of experience. She is Kline’s leading subject matter expert in emerging opportunities and trends in data center & AI power generation lubricants and data center thermal management fluids. Pooja specializes in market assessment, market mapping, and competitive assessment, drawing on from her varied experience in the energy value chain, ranging from consulting to energy commodity trading.

Pooja completed her degree in MBA (Oil & Gas) from the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Dehradun, India. Prior to this, she completed her bachelor’s degree in physics, mathematics, and computers (B.Sc. Computer Sc.) from SGGS college in Chandigarh, India.

Roger Dohmen

Head of Lube Oil Additives & Chemicals, Specialty Chemicals

BRB Lube Oil Additives & Chemicals

Bio

 Roger brings over 25 years of experience in the transportation lubricant industry, with a distinguished career defined by innovation, leadership, and global business development.

Since joining BRB International in 2001, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a lubricant trading firm into one of the world’s leading independent manufacturers and suppliers of lube oil additives. Roger began his professional journey as a chemist at Unilever, where he worked for eight years before transitioning to BRB. At BRB, he assumed a global leadership role, overseeing international operations and driving strategic growth in the lube oil additives and specialty chemicals sectors.

Under his leadership, BRB evolved into a globally recognized name for high-quality, non-homologated additives, including viscosity modifiers, driveline, and engine oil additives. His oversight extended across the full spectrum of production management for lube oil additives and specialty chemicals, driving consistent quality and innovation. He currently serves as a board member of the Dutch Lubricant Association.

Dipl.-Ing. Siegmar Huntke

Senior OEM Manager Europe

SK Enmove

Bio

Siegmar holds a degree (Dipl.-Ing.) in Mechanical Engineering. He has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive, industrial and lubricants sectors. In the past, he worked for ExxonMobil, Petro-Canada Lubricants and Addinol in close collaboration with OEM and Tier1 suppliers. 

In 2024, Siegmar joined SK Enmove as Senior OEM Manager for Lubricants, Immersion Cooling and Refrigerants.

Ronald Hoogendoorn

General Manager

Patech Europe

Bio

Ronald holds a degree in Chemistry and has over 40 years of experience in the lubricant and oleochemical industries, spanning roles in research, sales and marketing, and business management.

Ronald has worked for Cimcool, a metalworking fluid supplier; Unichema, a producer of synthetic esters; and Vollenhoven Olie, a lubricant distributor.

He spent several years in both Taiwan and the United States, supporting the Asian and North American lubricant markets.

Since 2004, he has operated his own lubricant consultancy company, specialising in lubricant formulation development, marketing, and the trade of lubricant ingredients.

As General Manager of Patech Europe, Ronald is responsible for the development of the company’s ester business across the EMEA region.

Sam Cole

Global Director of Food Contact Evaluation

NSF

Bio

As Director of Food Equipment, Cole leads NSF’s nonfood certifications and evaluations teams. His teams prevent foodborne illness by certifying and registering commercial and processing food service equipment, food contact materials and nonfood compounds, including lubricants, greases and other chemicals used in and around food processing areas. NSF also serves as a third-party profiler (TPP) for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice program. Cole joined NSF’s Product Certification team in 2015. His wealth of knowledge in the certification process and industry regulations has supported clients around the globe, helping to support NSF’s offerings in the areas of food contact materials and food equipment. Cole holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Genetics from Michigan State University. Prior to joining NSF, he held various leadership positions in the retail industry.

Dr. Sharbel Luzuriaga

Senior Project Manager

Kline + Company

Bio

Sharbel Luzuriaga is a Senior Project Manager in Kline & Company’s Energy Practice, leading the execution and delivery of Kline’s flagship market research projects including Bio-lubricants, the PCMO 2050 and HDMO 2050 reports, and Electric Vehicle fluids. Based in the Prague office, this year marks Sharbel’s 19th year at Kline. He is recognized for his strong background and passion for science and innovation behind the energy sector, and for his incisive analytical and strategic approach, welcomed by clients and diverse stakeholders and partners from across the globe.

Sharbel Luzuriaga holds a Ph.D. in Macromolecular Chemistry and a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from Masaryk University Brno; and is fluent in Spanish, English, and Czech.

Dr. Tim Naundorf

Lead Technologist Product Development EV Driveline & Transmission Fluids

Castrol

Bio

Tim Naundorf is Global Product Development Lead for Transmax and Castrol ON at Castrol. He specializes in EV Driveline and Transmission fluids, with a strong focus on translating advanced additive chemistry into market-ready solutions.

He has successfully led global development programs, including EV fluid technologies now deployed in production vehicles, and plays a key role in ensuring product continuity under supply constraints through alternative formulation strategies.

Combining deep expertise in additive chemistry with strong portfolio and stakeholder management, Tim works at the intersection of technology, business, and sustainability—shaping future-ready lubrication solutions for evolving mobility platforms.

Tim-Oliver Mattern

Global Market Manager – Steel Industry

Carl Bechem

Bio

Mr. Mattern was awarded a master degree in mechanical engineering in 1995 from the University of Suedwestfalen in Germany and currently obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) International Sales at Ferdinand Porsche University, Vienna, Austria. After several years in the design department of Gustav Wiegard Maschinenfabrik, Germany, he moved to TSI inc. a US based Laser Company and became the European Sales Manager for laser based length and speed measurement. In 2000 Mr. Mattern moved to Shell Lubricants and had a senior role for global OEM relationship in the Steel Sector and later on he was leading the global marketing activities including strategy, training and roll out of initiatives for the Global Steel Sector at Shell International. After several further roles in business development for greases at Shell Mr. Mattern moved to Hansen & Rosenthal in Hamburg, Germany where he developed and implemented a strategy for the global roll out of the SRS Lubricants business. In 2016 Mr. Mattern joined Quaker Chemical B.V. (today QuakerHoughton) to lead their global Grease Business Unit including strategy and business development.

Since 2020 Mr. Mattern held the position of Global Market Manager Steel Industry at Carl BECHEM Germany, leads their global sales and business development activities in selected key countries globally.

Trevor Gauntlett

Independent Consultant

.

Bio

Trevor has 9 years as a consultant, writer and podcaster on Lubricants matters, focusing on new chemistry, new opportunities and M&A.

He spent 18 years with Shell at the Lubricants/supplier interface, responsible for Lubricants component & formulation quality, and HSE. He also managed the Lubricants Quality System, taking it into the big data world covering all Lubricant products, formulations, components, QC tests, technical and HSE data.

His PhD and post-doctoral studies were highly relevant to the development of GTL and metallocene PAOs.

A volunteer basketball coach for 30 years, Trevor is proud of the 9 internationals he introduced to the game. In 4 years coaching elite youth basketball in England, he took one team to the National Final Fours.

Trevor owns around 3% of his hometown football club, Workington AFC, is a cancer survivor and almost set up his own railway company in the 1990s.

Dr. Volker Stoldt

CEO

Dr. Stoldt BiSafe

Bio

Dr. Stoldt earned a diploma in Biology, specialising in Microbiology and Molecular Biology, in 1991, followed by a doctorate in Microbiology from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU Düsseldorf). After completing a postdoctoral position in Immunology, he became Head of Molecular Vascular Biology at the Institute of Hemostasis and Transfusion Medicine at University Hospital Düsseldorf, where his research focused on environmental toxicology and thrombotic disorders.

Since 2016, he has served as Head of Clinical Applied Microbiology within the Clinic for General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery at University Hospital Düsseldorf. His current research focuses on cross-resistance between biocides and antibiotics, as well as microbial-driven tumorigenesis.

In 2012, he founded Dr. Stoldt BiSafe, a consultancy specialising in industrial and applied microbiology. Working primarily with customers in the lubricant industry, his areas of expertise include research and development, microbial degradation, destruction and control, particularly in the context of global warming, as well as issues relating to biostability and biological sustainability. He is also a frequent lecturer on these topics.

Wajahat Haider

Executive Director

General Petroleum

Bio

Wajahat Haider is the Executive Director at General Petroleum FZE, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the company’s global business strategy. With a strong background in strategic planning, business development, and international market expansion, he oversees growth initiatives that strengthen the company’s footprint across diverse regions.

Mr. Haider brings deep expertise in analyzing raw material trends and market dynamics, enabling him to craft forward-looking strategies that respond to global shifts. He is also actively involved in developing innovative marketing strategies, broadening GP’s product portfolio, and aligning offerings with the rapidly evolving technologies of the automobile industry.

Earlier in his career, he successfully grew GP’s lubricant business in Pakistan, establishing it as a trusted market leader, with products blended at Shell’s state-of-the-art facilities to ensure compliance with international standards. His career journey also includes ventures in the steel sector in South Africa and advanced studies in Service Management and Design at the University of Warwick, UK.

Today, Mr. Haider continues to drive GP’s global expansion, including spearheading the company’s entry into the North American market, with a focus on long-term growth, innovation, and building strong distributor relationships.

Dr. Modestino De Feo

Senior Lubricant Technologist

Aramco

Bio

Modestino is a chemical engineer with a PhD in tribology and materials science. His career started as a researcher at SKF, before he moved to TotalEnergies as an R&D project leader on heavy-duty and Marine engine lubricants – Expertise in engine oil formulation and adequation with engine requirements. He has several years of experience in low-carbon energy for mobility applications, emissions and formulation in internal combustion engines.

Dr Pritesh Patel

Global Technology Manager – AEO and Driveline

Chevron Oronite

Bio

Dr. Pritesh Patel is currently Global Technology Manager at Chevron Oronite, where he directs global technology and product development focused on automotive engine oils, viscosity modifiers, small engines, and driveline additives for lubricants. With over 18 years of leadership in the lubrication and specialty chemicals sector, he has directed technology & product development, commercialization of innovative additive and lubricants, leading diverse global teams of scientists, specialists and engineers to deliver cutting-edge solutions. He has additional experience in Specialty Chemicals business development, sales & operations (S&OP) management for base oils, and planning functions.  He holds a Ph.D. in Macromolecular Science & Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and undergraduate in Chemical Engineering with several patents and publications in diverse fields. Dr. Patel spearheads the application of AI and intelligent systems in R&D, driving the development of advanced lubricant formulations and additive technologies.

Dr. Vladimir Totolin

Project Manager – Chemistry, Surfaces & Energy

Freudenberg

Bio

Dr. Vladimir Totolin is currently working as a R&D Project Manager at Freudenberg Group (Weinheim, Germany). He leads highly interdisciplinary projects addressing a wide range of issues regarding surface/interface mechanisms of specialty lubricants with various materials and coatings relevant for industrial applications. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (United States) in 2010. His research focuses on advanced lubrication for energy efficiency, coatings, surface & interface phenomena relevant for tribology. He has published 2 books and over 20 peer-reviewed journal papers, and several conference proceedings. He is also serving as an Independent Expert for the European Commission, assisting in research and innovation assignments including evaluation of proposals falling within the Horizon 2020 & Horizon Europe Programs. He has held multiple R&D positions in the United States, Austria, Spain, Slovenia, and Germany.

Jérôme Valade

Head of Base Oil Purchase, Supply & Sales

TotalEnergies

Bio

After initial experience as a mechanical engineer in OEM automotive, Jerome joined TotalEnergies and has accumulated 15 years of expertise within the lubricant industry, spanning roles in R&D, product development, business origination, and sales. 

His career has been marked by consistent engagement with the company’s customers and end-users.

Currently, he leads the TotalEnergies Base Oil Purchase, Supply & Sales team, focusing on ensuring a global, reliable, sustainable, and competitive supply to lubricant plants, partners, and customers.

With an analytical mindset, he navigates challenges with strategic thinking and agility, emphasizing hands-on problem-solving while keeping a long-term vision and fostering resilient partnerships.

Since 2024, Jerome has also contributed actively to the circular economy through the integration of TECOIL into TotalEnergies. He coordinates the sourcing of Used Lubricant Oils across Europe and oversees the sales of Re-Refined Base Oils.

Dr. Michele Masucci

Representative

GEIR

Bio

Michele started his career in the lubricant sector more than 20 years ago, going through companies like Total and Petronas, where he held several commercial positions like Sales Manager, Head of Industrial Lubricants Sales, both locally and regionally.

Backed by his strong business expertise, in 2018 he was appointed Commercial Director at Itelyum Regeneration (formerly Viscolube), where he took on responsibility as Executive Manager Global, responsible for three Business Units – Lubricant Re-refined Base Oils, Gasoil and Bitumen – reporting directly to CEO of Itelyum.

Aside, he is actively involved in works relevant to some Trade Associations, notably within the Italian UNEM (Unione Energie per la Mobilità, formerly Unione Petrolifera); the Italian GAIL (Gruppo Aziende Industriali della Lubrificazione), one of the product groups of FEDERCHIMICA – AISPEC (Associazione Nazionale delle Imprese di Chimica Fine) and the European UEIL (Union of the European Lubricants Industry), participating to the European Lubricants Statistics Committee.

Since more than one year, he was appointed co-shepherd of the CMWG (Circular Material Working Group – formerly RRBO Working Group) of the ATIEL/UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee (JSC), where he’s been representing GEIR, with the aim to support RRBO’s development in the industry.

Dr. Jonas Hoffmann

Senior Sustainability Consultant – Chemicals

GreenDelta

Bio

Jonas Hoffmann holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Kiel, Germany, and a binational PhD in Molecular Chemistry from the University of Rennes (France) and the University of Bremen (Germany). After two postdoctoral research stays abroad, he completed an MBA in Sustainable Chemistry Management at Leuphana University Lüneburg, focusing on sustainability management. He has worked for the past three years as a Sustainability Consultant at GreenDelta, where he focuses on sustainability assessment of chemicals. He is also active at the European level as a member of the Technical Advisory Board (EF TAB) for Environmental Footprint methods, contributing to methodological development and alignment of assessment frameworks. He is currently involved in the Horizon Europe SiToLub research project, working on the prediction of sustainability performance of safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) lubricants.

Oskar Vögler

Director Industry Solutions

Carbon Minds

Bio

Oskar Vögler directs industry solutions at Carbon Minds, shaping how the company serves the chemicals and adjacent industries with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) expertise. He combines hands-on team leadership with strategic responsibility, translating client needs into product improvements that enable the industry to realize tangible business value.

Since joining in 2020, he has built and led an interdisciplinary team of engineers and chemists, turning rigorous LCA and PCF work into practical data, consulting, and training, while steering the direction of Carbon Minds’ evolving service portfolio.

Oskar holds an M.Sc. in Energy Engineering from RWTH Aachen University and is a regular speaker at industry conferences including STLE, F+L, and NextLube.

Dr. Parvin Zare

Team Leader R&D – Industrial Lubricants

MOTOREX

Bio

Parvin was born in Iran and has an academic background in chemistry. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Chemistry and her Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry at the University of Tabriz, Iran. She later earned her PhD in Polymer Chemistry from Martin Luther University, Germany, where she received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship during her doctoral research. During her PhD, Parvin contributed to multidisciplinary European Union projects in the field of tribology, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of polymer-based ionic liquids as potential multifunctional lubricant additives. In 2016, she joined Motorex (Switzerland) as a development chemist, where she worked on the formulation and development of metalworking fluids. In this role, she was responsible for designing and optimizing high-performance industrial lubricants. Since 2022, she has been leading the Development Team for Metalworking Fluids at Motorex, with responsibility for formulation strategy, technical development, and team leadership, focusing on product performance and development activities.

Dr. Piotr Niemiec

ATIEL BoD member/Sponsor of ATIEL’s QMS Committee

ATIEL

Bio

 Piotr attained his PhD in Chemical Technology from the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland in 2005 and his PhD in Management and Quality Sciences from the University of Lodz, Poland in 2022.

Since 2006, he has been employed by LOTOS Oil (since 2023 by ORLEN Oil after acquisition), where he worked in the areas of automotive lubricant’s technology, development, technical support and market analysis. His current role is manager of Amber Base GR II base oils commercialization project.

Since 2009, Piotr has been active member of various ATIEL’s  (The Technical Association of the European Lubricants Industry )committees, including continuous membership in Quality Management Systems Committee (QMS) from Committee’s early days back in January 2013. Since 2020 he is a member of BoD being also QMS committee sponsor.

He is also chairman of Technical Subcommittee No. 3 on Lubricants of TC 222 on Petroleum Products and Similar Products of Biological and Synthetic Origin of the Polish Committee for Standardisation (PKN).

Joshua Park

CEO

CEP

Bio

Joshua Park is the CEO and President of Chemical Engineering Partners (“CEP”) a company dedicated to bringing the best re-refining technology to countries around the world. Joshua has been recognized at various events in countries around the world as one of the foremost experts on re-refining technology. With over 17 years of experience in designing, building and troubleshooting re-refineries, Joshua has maintained a reputation of industry excellence and knowledge. He has been contacted by re-refining companies both using CEP technology and those using other technologies for high level technical know-how and problem solving. His expertise also includes process training, operation troubleshooting, process optimization and debottlenecking.

Since joining CEP in 2007, Joshua has been involved if not directly managed all CEP projects, including the LWART re-refinery in Brazil, the largest group II producing re-refinery in South America. In 2015 Joshua was named as President and CEO of Chemical Engineering Partners.

Crystal O'Halloran

Executive Director

NLGI

Bio

Crystal O’Halloran, MBA, CAE is the Executive Director of NLGI, leading the institute’s mission as the premier source of support for the lubricating grease industry worldwide. With twenty years of association management experience, Crystal focuses on executing strategic initiatives, driving membership growth and engagement as well as cultivating relationships with the Board of Directors, members, staff and partnering organizations. Crystal holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University and a Master in Business Administration from Baker University.

Rachel Bradley

Global Sustainability Manager

Castrol

Bio

Rachel Bradley is a sustainability leader focused on turning sustainability into commercial value and competitive advantage. At Castrol, she built the sustainability team and PATH360 strategy, helping embed efficiency, circularity and lower-carbon solutions at the heart of Castrol’s brand. Under her leadership, Scope 1 and 2 emissions reductions are ahead of target, and sustainability has become an increasingly important driver of customer engagement and business growth. She also led the development of Castrol’s differentiated MoreCircular portfolio, which is now supporting customer wins in the US, Turkey, Australia, Germany and the UK.

Before joining Castrol, Rachel led sustainability for B&Q, the UK’s largest home improvement retailer. She began her career in the paper industry, specialising in product development and environmental management — technical foundations that continue to shape her practical, commercially grounded approach to sustainability today.

Ben Gale

Senior Technical Leader Thermal Management and Climatic Evaluations

Horiba Mira

Bio

Benjamin Gale is a senior technical sales specialist at HORIBA MIRA, focused on automotive energy management, with particular expertise in thermal management. He works with clients to identify solutions that help quantify and optimise the way vehicles and systems perform at all stages of development (1) concept / virtual assessment, (2) physical system test rigs, (3) physical vehicle climatic testing. 

With a BSc in Physics from the University of Warwick, Ben combines strong technical grounding with commercial focus. He is an active thought leader, having presented internationally at events in the UK, South Korea, Germany and India. His work supports organisations looking to improve vehicle efficiency, evaluate new technology and navigate new legislation (e.g. PFAS rules on refrigerant).

Dr. Toby Rockstroh

Manager Energy Application Testing

Shell Lubricants Solutions

Bio

Toby Rockstroh is department manager of Energy Application Testing at the Shell Technology Centre in Hamburg, leading a team of engineers and technicians focusing on testing and development of Shell Products and Services for mobility solutions.

Prior to joining Shell he spent 7 years at Argonne National Laboratory where he lead vehicle related projects as principle investigator. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and a MSc in Automotive Mechatronics from the University of Cape Town and Esslingen University, respectively.

Laura Batlle

Principal Researcher in Advanced Industrial Fluids. Surface Chemistry Area

Leitat

Bio

Laura Batlle Boix holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Barcelona (UB) and a Master in Circular Economy (Tools and Strategies for Industrial Innovation) from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).

Her professional career began in 2015 where she was involved in the coordination and implementation of a European project (Horizon 2020) at the University of Verona, within the department of chemistry and environmental engineering.

She initiated her career at Leitat in 2017, where she is developing her professional career as a Principal Researcher. Working within the Surface Chemistry Unit, leading the department of Advanced Industrial Fluids.

She is currently involved in the preparation, negotiation, implementation and management of European, national and industrial R&D projects on the formulation of lubricants and industrial fluids, tribological properties and revaluation of products to move towards the transition to a Circular Economy.

Steven Van Den Heede

Sales Manager

LBC Antwerp

Bio

Steven Van den Heede is Sales Manager at LBC Tank Terminals in Antwerp, a tank terminal known for its Base Oil hub function. He has close to 20 years of experience as a sales and business development manager in logistics, 14 of which in the tank terminal business.

Prior to joining LBC, he was Sales Manager at two other tank terminal companies in Antwerp, Ghent and Terneuzen and Business Development Manager in chemical warehousing for the Benelux area.

Today, as a Sales Manager for LBC Tank Terminals based in Antwerp, Steven continues to focus on driving sustainable business growth and strengthening long-term partnerships with his customers. His experience across multiple organizations and market segments gives him a well-rounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the base oil industry.

Yana Wilkinson

Vice President

Kline + Company

Bio

Yana Wilkinson is a Vice President at Kline and Company and co-leads Kline’s Energy Practice globally. Based in London, Yana Wilkinson brings 20 years of experience in management consulting and market intelligence, of which 15 have been spent at Kline. As the global strategy lead, she focuses on the entire lubricants value chain. This includes energy specialties and a broad range of automotive and industrial end users, as well as emerging applications in digital infrastructure. Her aim is to help clients see further and act smarter.

In her role at Kline, Yana has managed numerous global assignments for leading industry players, focusing on strategy development, business growth and market entry, opportunity identification, M&A support, and industry intelligence.

Yana holds an MBA from the Copenhagen Business School, Denmark and a Masters in International Relations from Kiev National University, Ukraine.

Greg Miiller

Chief Technical Strategy Officer

Savant Group

Bio

Greg Miiller has worked around the globe for the transportation industry over the past 28 years. With both scientific and advanced business degrees, his R&D career has progressed to the Vice President of New Business and Engineering for the Savant Group. Part of that experience was enhancing the cost savings through design, process improvement and lean production methodology.  

Greg has been co-awarded eighteen patents for designs on testing equipment and authored many technical papers. He is currently the 2nd vice chair of ASTM D02 and actively serves as an officer with Standards Development Organizations such as Energy Institute, the Coordinating European Council and the Society of Automotive Engineers. In 2019 Greg formed the Global Lubricants Test Standards Team that provides a communication link between specification setting organizations, standards development organizations and trade organizations from around the world. 

His background in quality assurance, “5S” and “5Y”, risk analysis, ISO 90001/17025 and customer satisfaction narratives have been instrumental in his growth as a company entrepreneur. Greg is the founder of four other companies within the United States. 

Edouard Vlieghe

Technical Director

DSI – Delta Services Industriels

Bio

Edouard Vlieghe is an Industrial Engineer in Electromechanics with extensive experience in engine testing, measurement technologies, and industrial system development. Since joining DSi in 2019, he has progressively expanded his responsibilities from friction measurement on cylinder head test benches to becoming a specialist in DSi’s nuclear measurement techniques, including engine oil consumption and aeration measurement systems.

 He also led the design and manufacturing of oil conditioning units, overseeing electrical engineering, PLC programming, automation, industrial communications, hydraulics, mechanical design, and system optimization.

 Today, as Technical Director and COO of DSi, Edouard combines technical leadership with operational management while remaining actively involved in engineering support and knowledge transfer. He also supervises DSi’s development in predictive maintenance monitoring solutions, providing technical guidance and project oversight to help customers improve equipment reliability and operational performance.

Fabrizia La Neve

Project Manager, Nonfood Compounds Registration & Certification

NSF

Bio

As a Project Manager for Food Contact Evaluations and Certifications, Fabrizia La Neve supports manufacturers in navigating complex regulatory and certification requirements for food-grade lubricants and other nonfood compounds used in food processing environments. Based at NSF’s European Headquarters in Brussels, she manages certification projects from initial application through final approval, helping clients achieve compliance across global markets.

Fabrizia holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and European Policies. Prior to joining NSF in 2022, she held positions within the automotive and medical sectors, where she worked within highly regulated environments and developed expertise in quality, compliance, and customer-focused project management. Her regulatory knowledge and practical understanding of international compliance challenges enable her to support clients worldwide in addressing evolving food safety and certification requirements.

Dr. Erik Willett

Functional Products

Functional Products

Bio

Dr. Erik Willett serves as the President of Functional Products Inc., a lubricant additive company specializing in polymer-based technology, located in the USA. He holds a Doctorate in Polymer Science from the University of Akron and a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from the University of Connecticut.

Functional Products Inc. serves customers around the world by supplying additives, designing formulations, and training customer’s technical/sales/marketing teams so they can succeed in our rapidly changing global market. Functional is distributed locally in Europe via LUMAR who provides local inventory, exceptional service, and the ability to coordinate high-level R&D with the Functional team.

Dr. Willett’s achievements from these efforts include receiving the prestigious PCC Gonsalves Memorial Award, NLGI Author Award for Development, Award for Educational Excellence, and the NLGI Fellows Award. His work continues to find cost-effective ways for polymer additives to meet the rising technical and sustainability needs of our industry.

Wayne Mackwood

Past President

NLGI

Bio

Mr. Wayne Mackwood is the Global Head of Detergent and Grease Technology with LANXESS’  Lubricant Additives Business, managing the Application Technology center and team in Toronto, Canada.  He is currently President of the NLGI (2024-2026) and has served on the NLGI Board since 2012. He has degrees in Materials Engineering Science with a post-grad study in Tribology. Wayne is a globally recognized expert in the grease and lubricant industry, particularly on Calcium Sulfonate Complex Grease. For over 30 years he has been directly involved in the research and development of grease for use in a range of applications, creating more than 200 formulations and since 2013 he has also been responsible for LANXESS’ detergent technology. He has been active in the local Toronto STLE for 30 years and served as a director on the STLE national board from 2008 to 2011.   

Lucio Grether

Business Development Manager

Leitat Technological Center

Bio

Lucio Grether is Business Development Manager at Leitat Technological Center, one of Spain’s leading applied research institutions, based near Barcelona. He specializes in key enabling technologies — advanced materials and surface engineering, applied chemistry, digital technologies and industrial automation — helping manufacturers turn technical challenges into commercially viable development projects.

He has spent his career inside Europe’s applied research ecosystem, previously at Eurecat, structuring co-development partnerships. Earlier work in automotive HMI development for SEAT Cupra, alongside technical training in automotive mechanical and electronic systems, grounds that perspective in the realities of industrial manufacturing.

He holds a degree in Industrial Design from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master’s in Project Management from EAE Business School.

Sabrina Craciun

Director of Business Development for the Energy Industry

Kline + Company

Bio

Sabrina Craciun joined Kline in 2019 and is based in London as Senior Business Development Manager. Prior to joining Kline, Sabrina handled international transportation services, coordinating air, road and sea freight, and passenger transportation across 28 countries. The experience has been invaluable for her in her current role at Kline, where she oversees company business development initiatives for the Energy practice and manages accounts in the Americas and UK. Sabrina holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree from Bucharest University and an MBA (Master’s in Business Administration) from Anglia Ruskin University. Currently, she is Vice Chair of the Emerging Director’s Special Interest Group at London’s Institute of Directors.

Nikhil Agarwal

Managing Director

Globestar Energy

Bio
Bio coming soon…