Speakers 2023

Paul Ablinger

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Managing Director, WKA Ökostrom Photovoltaik, Austria; Managing Director Kleinwasserkraft Österreich, Austria
  • Board Member European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF); Board Member of Erneuerbare Energie Österreich, Austria 
  • Doctorate in Social Sciences and Economics, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Austria 
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Markus Achleitner

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Regional Minister for Economy and Energy, Upper Austria
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Faisal Ali Al Rashid

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Senior Director Demand Side Management, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, UAE
  • Work experience as Project Manager and Project Executive in the oil and gas industry 
  • BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Ohio University, USA
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Marta Babicz

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Deputy Director of the Individual Beneficiary Department, National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Poland
  • 20 years of experience in environment, climate and energy policies at the Polish EU policy coordination
  • Master’s degree in Environmental Protection, Warsaw University, Poland
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Dina Bacovsky

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Chair, IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme; Head of Unit Biofuels, BEST – Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies, Austria
  • 18 years of experience in the fields of bioenergy and biofuels as well as technology monitoring and implementation
  • Degree in Mechanical and Process Engineering, Technische Universität Wien, Austria
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Gottfried Baumann-Leitner

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Sales and Export Manager, Windhager, Austria
  • Over 10 years of experience in international sales of biomass heating solutions
  • Degree in Engineering
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Martin Bentele

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Managing Director, Deutscher Energieholz- und Pellet-Verband (DEPV), Germany
  • Managing Director, Deutsches Pelletinstitut (DEPI), Germany
  • Degree in Forestry, Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Germany
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Anders Bergström

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • General Manager of Industrial Applications, Firefly, Sweden
  • Over 30 years of experience in fire prevention and fire protection in the process industry
  • Degree in Engineering 
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Elizabeth Connelly

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Energy Technology and Transport Analyst, International Energy Agency (IEA)
  • Previously, Transportation Analyst at National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Systems Analyst at Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy, USA
  • PhD in Systems Engineering, University of Virginia, USA
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Gerhard Dell

Speaker Pellet Conference
Speaker Policy Conference
Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Energy Commissioner to the Upper Austrian Government and Managing Director of OÖ Energiesparverband, Austria 
  • Lecturer at the University of Linz, Austria
  • Doctorate and Post-Graduate Degrees (PhD engineering, Dr. tech.) in Electrical Engineering and Energy Economics
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Irene di Padua

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Policy Director and Coordinator of the Domestic Heating working group, Bioenergy Europe 
  • Previously, Policy Officer at Bioenergy Europe and Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF; EU Affairs Assistant at EUBIA and European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN)
  • MA in European Studies, Institute of EU studies, ULB/Belgium; BA in International Relationship and Diplomatic Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy
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Raimon Dörr

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Head of Storage Technology, Schellinger, Germany; Head of Storage and Trade Department, Deutscher Energieholz- und Pellet-Verband (DEPV), Germany
  • 30 years of experience in the field of renewable heating systems with a focus on solar thermal energy and pellet heating 
  • Degree in Engineering (FH), Germany
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Agnieszka Drobniak

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Research Scientist, University of Silesia, Poland; Research Affiliate, Indiana University, USA
  • 20 years of experience on collaborative geoscience projects with current focus on biomass energy and critical elements 
  • PhD in Earth Sciences, AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland
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Christiane Egger

Speaker Pellet Conference
Speaker Policy Conference

  • Deputy General Manager of the OÖ Energiesparverband and Manager of the Cleantech-Cluster Energy, Austria
  • Conference Director of the World Sustainable Energy Days 
  • Degrees in Law (University of Graz) and Environmental Engineering (Technical University of Graz), Austria
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Werner Emhofer

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Sales Manager Export, Fröling, Austria
  • Over 15 years of experience in the sales of biomass heating systems
  • Degree in Economics, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Austria
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Matteo Favero

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Area Manager Wood Biofuels and Certification Schemes, Italian Agroforestry Energy Association (AIEL), Italy
  • Vice-president of the Board of Directors, European Pellet Council
  • PhD in "Land, Forest, Resources and Health", University of Padova, Italy 
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Ulrich Filippi Oberegger

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Senior Researcher Energy Efficient Buildings, Institute for Renewable Energy, Eurac Research, Italy
  • Research focus on passive energy systems in buildings and building stock transition scenarios
  • PhD in Engineering Sciences; PhD in Mathematics; MA in Engineering Mathematics
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Mark Froling

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • CEO, Froling Energy, USA
  • Previously, mechanical contractor for biomass heating for industrial processes, commercial buildings and residential dwellings, and developer of pellet plants for the New England pellet market
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute, USA
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Jan Geiss

Chairperson Policy Conference

  • Secretary General, European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources (EUFORES)
  • Previously, President of the Renewable Energy House, Brussels 
  • PhD in Political Science and Economics, University of Passau, Germany
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Anna Gazda

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Sustainability Programs Manager, BNP Paribas Bank Poland, Poland
  • Over 20 years of experience in equity and financial instruments projects
  • MA in Finance Management and Postgraduate degree in Financial Analysis
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Krisly Guerra

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Associate Programme Officer – REmap, IRENA IITC, Germany
  • Previously, Energy Analyst for the Renewable Energy Roadmap of Central America and South America (IRENA), and Electrical Engineer at the National Secretary of Energy of Panama
  • MSc in Power Engineering, Technische Universität München, Germany
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Andreas Hauer

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Chair of the Board, Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE Bayern), Germany
  • Expert on energy storage, particularly in the field of thermal energy storage; Member of the Executive Committee of the IEA; Member of the Board of Directors of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES)
  • PhD in Physics, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
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Matthias Huber

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Data Scientist, OmegaLambdaTEC, Germany
  • Experience in applying AI in computer vision tasks, and in the areas of forecasting and predictive maintenance algorithms
  • PhD and Postdoc in the field of astroparticle physics, Technical University of Munich, Germany
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Jeremy Hugues Dit Ciles

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • CEO, N2AIR, France
  • Previously, pellet import consultant for the Poujoulat Group, France
  • Engineering degree, Ecole des Mines d’Alès, France
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Anette Jahn

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Head of Sector, Energy & Climate Unit, European Commission, CINEA
  • Responsible for the clean energy priorities for Cities & Regions, Energy Efficiency Finance and Building Smartness under the LIFE Clean Energy Transition Programme
  • Master’s degree in International Politics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium; Degree in Economics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
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Andreas Jäger

Chairperson Innovation Workshops

  • Officer, Built Infrastructure & Sustainable Energy, ICLEI Europe, Germany
  • Expert on energy positive/low-carbon built infrastructure and sustainable energy development
  • Master of Engineering in Urban Design, Tongji University, China; MSc in Integrated International Urban Studies, Bauhaus Universität Weimar, Germany
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Ramachandra Jammi

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Senior Evaluation Officer, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development Project Evaluation Unit, World Bank Group
  • Expert in energy, water and transport sector evaluations covering the World Bank’s worldwide lending and technical assistance operations
  • PhD in Applied Economics, Clemson University, USA; MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, India
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Steffen Joest

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Head of Department of Industry, Mobility & Energy Efficiency, German Energy Agency (dena), Germany
  • Previously, Deputy Head, Department of Energy Systems and Energy Services Division, dena, Germany
  • Master’s degree in Geography, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
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Thomas Kienberger

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Head of the Chair of Energy Network Technology, University of Leoben, Austria
  • Previously, Head of R&D and General Manager at agnion Entrade, and Visiting Lecturer at Graz University of Technology, Austria
  • PhD in Thermal Engineering and Master’s degree in Electrotechnical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Austria
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Andraž Kladnik

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Head of Project Management and Co-founder, AFLabs, Slovenia
  • 8 years of experience in the optimisation of industrial processes
  • Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Lurian Klein

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Senior Innovation Developer, Cleanwatts Digital, Portugal; Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Effisumer startup
  • Previously, Project Manager & Innovation Analyst, Virtual Power Solutions (VPS), Portugal, and Operations Director at Movimento 90o, Brazil
  • PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems, University of Coimbra/MIT Portugal Initiative, Portugal; Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
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Paul Köhler

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Senior Vice President MSP Customer Experience, Elli (Volkswagen Group Charging), Germany
  • Previously, Product Manager in the fields of smart charging solutions and charging services
  • Master’s degree in Energy Management and Energy Technology, University of Applied Sciences Ansbach, Germany
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Jan Kostevc

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Team Leader Energy Infrastructure, EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)
  • Previously, Head of Operational Support at ELES, Slovenia
  • MSc in Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Lukas Kranzl

Chairperson Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Senior Scientist, Energy Economics Group, Technische Universität Wien, Austria
  • Over 20 years of experience working on future perspectives of sustainable energy systems
  • PhD in Energy Economics and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Economics, Technische Universität Wien, Austria
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Timm Kuhlmann

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Head of Department Industry Energy Systems, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA), Germany
  • Previously, Group Leader Electrical Supply at Fraunhofer IPA; experience in developing DC grid systems as well as factory planning and agile factory design
  • PhD in Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Germany
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Bharadwaj Kummamuru

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Executive Director, World Bioenergy Association, Sweden
  • Previously, Researcher, KTH University of Technology, Sweden
  • MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology/Sweden and Eindhoven University of Technology/NL
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Ronald Lausch

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Head of Department Sales and Marketing (CSO), Smatrics, Austria
  • Over 25 years of experience in the field of financing real estate and renewable energy in Austria and Northern Europe
  • MBA, CSU Hayward, USA
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Stefan Lechtenböhmer

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Director Future Energy and Industry Systems, Wuppertal Institute, Germany
  • Adjunct Professorship in Environmental and Energy Systems, Lund University, Sweden
  • PhD (Dr. rer. pol), International Institute of Management, Europa-Universität Flensburg, Germany
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Eric Lecomte

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Policy Officer, European Commission, DG Energy
  • Previously, Research Programme Officer at DG Research and Innovation
  • Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, USA; Engineering degree Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium
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Volker Lenz

Chairperson Pellet Conference

  • Head of Department, Thermal-chemical Conversion, DBFZ, Germany
  • Head of research on intelligent biomass heating technologies (Smart Biomass Heat), DBFZ, Germany
  • Doctorate in Engineering, degree in Aerospace Engineering, Dipl.-Energiewirt (FH)
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Markus Loinig

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • CEO and Founder of Senzoro, Austria
  • Previously, Consultant for Daimler and Booz&Company
  • Degree in Industrial/Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Graz, Austria; Master’s degree in Philosophy, University of Graz, Austria
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Karolina Loth-Babut

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Managing Director, Polish National Energy Conservation Agency (KAPE), Poland
  • Expert in the fields of rational use of energy and technical assistance consultancy 
  • MBA in Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services, Kozminski University, Poland
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Jaroslav Maroušek

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Chairman of the Board, SEVEn - The Energy Efficiency Center, Czech Republic
  • Previously, Director Energy Policy Division, VÚPEK (Research Institute for the Fuel and Energy Sector), Czech Republic
  • PhD in Economics and Energy Management, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
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Emma Mooney

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Energy Analyst, Energy Efficiency Division, IEA
  • Over 20 years of experience in sustainable energy, with a focus on industrial energy use
  • PhD in Industrial Energy Efficiency, University of Limerick, United Kingdom
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Pedro Moura

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Assistant Professor and Researcher, University of Coimbra, Portugal
  • Extensive experience in national and international collaboration working on over 50 projects related to energy efficiency and smart grids
  • PhD in Energy Systems, University of Coimbra, Portugal 
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Paul Münnich

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Project Manager, Agora Industry, Germany 
  • Previously, Project Officer at Agora Energiewende, Germany
  • MSc in Chemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
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Gordon Murray

Speaker and Chairperson Pellet Conference

  • Executive Director, Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC)
  • Board Member of the European Pellet Council; Member of the Steering Committee, Biomass Power Group of the UK Renewable Energy Association; Member of the Stakeholder Advisory Group of the Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP)
  • BSc in Forestry, University of British Columbia, Canada
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Michael Nagl

Chairperson E-Mobility Conference

  • Region of Upper Austria, Directorate Environment and Water Management, Department of Environmental Protection, Austria
  • Head of the Unit Strategic Energy Planning
  • Master’s of Engineering in Process Technology 
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Hans-Martin Neumann

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Director of Urban Development, City of Linz, Austria; Lecturer, Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences, Germany
  • Previously, Thematic Coordinator, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria
  • PhD in Transport Planning and Logistics, Hamburg University of Technology/Germany; MSc in Urban and Regional Planning, TU Berlin/Germany
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Mario Nussbaumer

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Head of Controls and Automation, BMW Steyr, Austria 
  • 10 years of experience in planning large production facilities in different industries and technologies
  • Master’s degree, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria; MBA, Hochschule München, Germany
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Bernhard Obermayr

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Managing Director, Weber Hydraulik, Austria
  • 25 years of experience in global sales of niche market products
  • MBA in Global Marketing Management, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Austria
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Marc Odinius

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • CEO, Dataforce, Germany
  • Extensive experience in data analysis (e.g. fleet analysis) and developing data products for the automotive market research
  • Master’s degree in Cultural Studies, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany
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Stefan Ortner

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Managing Director, ÖkoFEN Global Headquarters, Austria
  • 10 years of experience in the areas of product management, R&D, marketing and international market development for pellet heating systems
  • Degree in Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria
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Christine Öhlinger

Chairperson Industrial Conference
Chairperson Innovation Workshops

  • Head of Sector International Tasks, OÖ Energiesparverband, Austria
  • Project management of international projects in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy
  • Diploma in Law, Postgraduate Training in Energy & Environmental Advice
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Fabio Pellegrini

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Project Manager, KiRa Technology, Italy
  • Previously, Powertrain Engineer at Ferrari, Italy
  • Degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Bologna, Italy
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Johannes Rath

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Chief Technology Officer, Wienerberger, Austria
  • Extensive work experience as Head of Engineering, Production Director and in Corporate Engineering at Wienerberger
  • PhD in Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Austria
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Hubert Röder

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Professor in Sustainable Business Economics, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Science, Germany
  • Speaker of the Forestry and Wood Cluster Initiative, Germany
  • Doctorate in Forestry, LMU Munich, Germany
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Pablo Rodero Masdemont

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Responsible of Biofuels Certification, AVEBIOM, Spain; President of the European Pellet Council
  • Expert on bioenergy and solid biomass quality, and former President of Bioenergy Europe
  • Master’s degree in Forestry Engineering, Universidad Politénica de Madrid, Spain
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Adam Sarnaszek

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • CEO, BIOCONTROL, Poland; President of Polish Pellet Council
  • Previously, Regional Manager for South-East Europe in SGS Group
  • MBA, High School of Banking Gdansk/University of Northampton, Poland/UK; Bachelor of Arts, Gdynia Maritime University, Poland
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Simon Seres

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • CEO, nymea, Austria
  • Previously, Developer at Aplica Advanced Solutions, Austria
  • BSc in Mechatronics and Robotics, University of Applied Sciences Vienna, Austria
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Alain Skrobala

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Country Manager France and French-speaking countries, Bathan, Switzerland
  • Over 30 years of experience in international sales of specialty lubricants and centralised lubrication systems
  • Degrees in Mechanical and Production Engineering, France
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Nicholas Stancioff

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Chairman of the Building and Energy Conservation Bureau (ESEB), Latvia
  • Managing Director of Funding For Future (The Netherlands) and of the Latvian Building Energy Efficiency Fund (LABEEF)
  • MBA, University of Virginia, USA
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Gerald Steinmaurer

Chairperson Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Head of Center of Excellence Energy, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria
  • Head of Research Group ASiC, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria
  • PhD in Mechatronics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria
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Jana Szomolányiová

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Senior Consultant, SEVEn - The Energy Efficiency Center, Czech Republic
  • Work experience in key positions, RWE-TRANSGAS, Czech Republic
  • MA in Economics, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
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Marek Tobiacelli

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Expert on Energy Performance Contracts, Polish National Energy Conservation Agency (KAPE), Poland
  • Previously, Director, Energy Efficiency Department, Siemens, Poland
  • Postgraduate diploma from Institute of Materials Science and Master’s degree in Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland
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Céline Tougeron

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Project Adviser, Energy & Climate Unit, European Commission, CINEA
  • Responsible for managing energy efficiency financing projects supported by the LIFE Clean Energy Transition Programme
  • Engineering degree, Ecole des Mines de Nantes, France
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Kai Tullius

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Policy Officer, European Commission, DG MOVE
  • Work experience for the European Commission in DG Energy and DG CNECT, as well as for a Transport IT consultancy in Germany
  • Master’s degree in Economics, University of Hamburg, Germany
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Florin Vondung

Speaker Innovation Workshops

  • Senior Researcher, Wuppertal Institute, Germany
  • Member of the Energy Policy Research Unit, Wuppertal Institute, Germany
  • MA in Politics and Public Administration, Germany and USA
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Barbara Weichsel-Goby

Speaker Policy Conference

  • Expert at the Department of Energy Efficiency and Heat, Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), Austria
  • Previously, Project Manager Water & Environmental Law, Umweltdachverband, Austria
  • Doctorate in Law, University of Vienna, Austria
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Harry Wirth

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Head of Department Photovoltaic Modules and Power Plants, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Germany
  • Previously, Head of Department Application Technology and Development, Okalux, Germany
  • Doctorate in Physics, EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland and Fraunhofer ISE, Germany
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David Wong

Speaker Pellet Conference

  • Executive Director, Rainbow Pellet, Malaysia
  • Committee member of Timber Exporters Association of Malaysia
  • BSc in Marketing and Finance, University of Bradford, United Kingdom
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Theodor Zillner

Speaker Industrial Conference

  • Head of Department, Division for energy and environmental technologies, Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), Austria
  • Programme Manager of the impulse programme "Stadt der Zukunft" (city of the future), Austria
  • Degree in Mechanical and Process Engineering, Technische Universität Wien, Austria
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Marisca Zweistra

Speaker E-Mobility Conference

  • Programme Manager Smart Charging, ElaadNL, The Netherlands
  • 18 years of experience in energy transition related topics such as data analytics and consumer acceptance
  • PhD in Process Engineering, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
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Speakers Young Energy Researchers 2023