Uldis Bariss

Chairmen of the Board, Conexus Baltic Grid AS

Uldis Bariss

Boyana Achovski

Secretary General, GIE

Boyana Achovski is the Secretary-General of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), a role she has held since September 2016. GIE is the European association of gas transmission, gas storage, and LNG regasification terminal operators.

Boyana led the Analysis and International Operations Division in Bulgartransgaz, later joining GIE in 2012 as the first secondment of the Bulgarian gas infrastructure operator to the European association. She chaired the GasNaturally Steering Committee twice in 2017 and 2019.

Boyana started her European affairs career in the European Parliament in Brussels. She has graduated in International Economic Affairs, specialised in International Finance, and holds a Master's degree in Finance and in Management of International Associations from the Solvay Brussels School.

Boyana has also obtained a certificate in Women's Leadership from the University of Oxford and is involved in initiatives related to career development, women empowerment, and gender equality in the energy sector.

boyana-achovski
@AchovskiBoyana

Torben Brabo

President, GIE & Senior Vice President, Energinet Group

Torben Brabo is CEO of the Gas TSO in Energinet, the Danish national transmission system operator for electricity and gas – which is an independent public enterprise owned by the Danish state under the Ministry of Climate, Utilities and Energy. He has 25 years of experience in the energy and gas sector in Denmark and abroad.

Prior to joining Energinet, he took part in European power and gas projects as part of the liberalisation of the Danish gas market in 2002-2004. As the current CEO in Energinet Gas TSO, Torben Brabo is highly involved in European renewable and low-carbon gas projects.

Besides of being GIE’s President, he is engaged in ENTSOG (European Network of gas TSOs) and the European gas capacity trading platform PRISMA, and promoting ERGAR. Moreover, he participates in several decarbonisation projects, such as the Green Gas Initiative and Gas for Climate. He has held a position as chairman of the board of the Danish-Swedish gas exchange ‘Gaspoint Nordic’.

Torben Brabo
@torbenbrabo

Sasha Twining

TV & Radio Presenter, BBC World Service

Sasha Twining is a well respected television and radio presenter.  On Sky News she co-presented high profile shows including Sunrise with Eamonn Holmes, and Sky News Today with Dermot Murnaghan. She also occasionally presented the flagship programme Sky News at Ten.

Sasha was the lead anchor for Russia Today, an international news television channel based in Moscow. She has also worked as a correspondent for ITV, and presented the catch-up service for BBC News 24.

Internationally Sasha presents for the Nine Network (Australia) and is London correspondent for both ˜Today‘ and ˜Mornings‘. On BBC ONE she was the voice of primetime entertainment for five years  and has worked for ITV1 as a continuity announcer.

Her radio work includes ˜Saturday Breakfast with Sasha Twining' for BBC Radio Solent and regular news reading stints for Sky News Radio and Heart, Magic, Real etc.

Sasha works for a number of corporate clients, hosting and facilitating large events, both in the UK and Europe. She chairs plenary discussions, manages question and answer sessions, interviews key personnel, hosts team-building events, facilitates break-out sessions, interprets live data from contemporary audience surveys (via interactive software) and hosts award ceremonies.

Sasha Twining
@SashaTwining

Arno Büx

Arno Büx has been Chief Commercial Officer of Fluxys Group and Fluxys Belgium since autumn 2015. He oversees all commercial activities of Fluxys, both regulated and non-regulated as well as its business development in Europe.

Arno Büx holds degrees in Engineering and Business Administration. Before joining Fluxys, he has evolved within the ENGIE Group for 20 years, working in Belgium, France and Luxemburg but mostly contributing to the development of the Group’s energy activities in Germany.

He held various executive and non-executive management positions in businesses targeting the B2B and B2C commodity markets as well as the gas midstream sector.

Arno Büx

Anne-Sophie Corbeau

Global Research Scholar at Centre on Global Energy Policy (CGEP)

Anne-Sophie Corbeau is a Global Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Her research focuses on hydrogen and natural gas. Anne-Sophie has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry and is a recognized expert on natural gas. She is the author of many publications focusing on gas, LNG markets, Asia, China, India and Africa, including the book “LNG markets in transition: the great reconfiguration” (Oxford, 2016). She is also a member of the Gastech governing body.

Prior to joining the Center, Mrs. Corbeau was a senior Leader and head of gas analysis at BP, where she was responsible for advising the Leadership Team on gas market developments and long term pricing assumptions. As part of the Economic and Energy Insights team, she was leading the Energy Outlook’s analysis on gas, industry, nuclear and hydrogen. She also served as a member of BP France’s Comex (board). Before joining BP, she was a Research Fellow at KAPSARC (King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center) in Riyadh where she set up and expanded the natural gas program. She also worked for the International Energy Agency (IEA) where she was responsible for managing the research on global gas markets, and for IHS CERA.

She began her career as an engineer working on fuel cells and hydrogen at Peugeot and Debis Systemhaus. Anne-Sophie holds an MSc from the Ecole Centrale Paris and an MSc from the University of Stuttgart.

Anne-Sophie Corbeau

Ákos Kriston

Ákos Kriston previously worked for MVM Hungarian Electicity Plc. among others as Head of Business Development. Before joining MVM Group Mr. Kriston worked in financial advisory and audit for almost 10 years at Deloitte and KPMG both in Hungary and in Germany.

Mr. Kriston holds an MSc. degree in Business Administration and graduated from Corvinus University, Budapest.

Ákos Kriston

Francisco de la Flor

Co-Chairmanship at Enagás, GIE SODA Sponsor

Francisco de la Flor has over 35 years of experience in the gas industry.

He has held the following notable international positions: Chair of the Group of Experts on Gas in the United Nations ECE, member of the ExCom of the International Gas Union and member of the Board or Executive Board of ENTSOG, GIE, Marcogaz, and NGVA.

He has an educational background in Chemical Engineering and Economic Science and Business Administration.

Francisco de la Flor

Ralph Bahke

Hydrogen Area Sponsor, GIE & Managing Director, ONTRAS Gastransport GmbH

Ralph Bahke, born 1964, studied Information Technology at the Technical University of Dresden. He joined VNG – Verbundnetz Gas AG in 1994 and became responsible for the planning of automation technology. In 2001 he changed to the Gas Transportation Department where he held various senior management positions.

Between January 2006 and November 2008, Bahke worked in senior management posts of the Network Marketing Department in the newly established transmission system operator ONTRAS. Since November 2008 he has been one of the two ONTRAS managing directors, responsible for the division controlling and development.

From December 2009 to December 2015 Bahke was board member of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG).

In 2011 Bahke was appointed member of the Energy Advisory Board of the German Free State of Saxony. Since December 2012 Bahke was Chairman of the board of "Vereinigung der Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber Gas e.V.", the association of German Transmission System Operators for Gas. He gave up this position in 2020 and joined GIE (Gas Infrastructure Europe) board in January 2021.

Erik Kolstø

Commercial Director, Net4Gas

Erik Kolstø is the Commercial Director at NET4GAS, the gas transmission system operator in the Czech Republic and a Board Member of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), the association representing the interests of European gas infrastructure operators.

He has extensive commercial and operational experience in the Energy Sector in the Central and Eastern European region. Prior to joining NET4GAS he worked for the RWE group in Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. He received his MBA from Chicago Booth, University of Chicago and a Cand. Mag from University of Bergen.

Erik Kolstø
@EKolst

Harmen Dekker

CEO, European Biogas Association

Harmen Dekker has worked for almost 15 years within the sustainability sector and is devoted to the mitigation of climate change. With both a technical as well as a business administration background he has built his career in the water and gas sector, where he has held various management positions. 

He joins the EBA after being involved in the biogas sector for over 5 years. 

During those years, he not only focused expansion of biogas and in particular biomethane but also on the implementation of techniques such as bio-LNG, bio-Methanol, bio-Hydrogen and bioplastics. 

Harmen Dekker

Antoine Hoxha

Director General, Fertilizers Europe

Antoine Hoxha is the Director General at Fertilizers Europe since March 2023 and has been working for the association since 2010, playing an active role in driving industry’s decarbonisation efforts.

Before joining Fertilizers Europe, he worked for 8 years in the fertilizers industry where he held positions in R&D and licensing. Prior to that, he was a teaching assistant at the University of Liège (BE) and at Warwick University (UK). Antoine holds a PhD in Chemistry from University of Liège as well as an Executive MBA from Louvain School of Management.

Antoine Hoxha

Jean-Marc Leroy

Since 1 July 2015, Jean-Marc Leroy has been Senior Vice President at Infrastructure Business Line of ENGIE in charge of the implementation of the “Gas Value Chain” Métier project.

Prior to that, he was CEO of Storengy, the underground gas storage operator of ENGIE.

On 13 November 2015, he was elected President of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Between 2008 and 2013, he was President of Gas Storage Europe (GSE), the storage column of GIE.

Jean-Marc Leroy
@_jmleroy

Maria Olczak

Queen Mary University of London

Maria Olczak is a PhD candidate at the Queen Mary University of London researching policies and technologies to decarbonise energy systems, in particular, to monitor and mitigate methane emissions across major man-made sources.

In 2022, she joined the Environmental Defense Fund as a consultant to pursue research on coal mine methane and environmental disclosure policies. Before that, Maria spent 5 years as a Research Associate at the European University Institute’s Florence School of Regulation Gas Area. She has focused mainly on the policy and regulatory instruments to address methane emissions, the decarbonisation of the EU gas market and the role of low-carbon hydrogen and biogas/biomethane.

Maria started her professional carrier in the Polish Ministry of the Environment, where she was actively involved in preparations for and proceedings of the COP19/CMP9, as a member of the Polish Presidency Team.

Maria Olczak
@mar_olczak

Piotr Kuś

Before joining ENTSOG in January 2022 as ENTSOG General Director, Piotr Kuś held the position of Deputy Director in the Development Division at GAZ-SYSTEM S.A., since January 2017. His main areas of responsibilities included international cooperation, institutional relations, cooperation with EU institutions and international trade organisations.

He was involved in a number of business development projects aimed at regional gas market development - both infrastructure projects in CEE region as well as LNG, booking platforms and cooperation with Energy Community. Within GAZ-SYSTEM H2 task force, he was engaged in evaluating new gases preparedness: working on readiness of the Polish gas networks, European Hydrogen Backbone, IPCEI initiatives and Hydrogen Storage Project in Poland. He represented the transmission sector in number of Partnerships for Hydrogen Economy Development and Biogas Development on National and European level.

Between 2019-2021, Piotr was GIE Board Member acting as a sponsor of the CH4 Area. Since 2016, he was a member of the GTE Executive Committee to supervise activities of future sustainable solutions in the natural gas infrastructure. Prior to that, between 2008 and 2016, Piotr was Director of the Brussels Office of GAZ-SYSTEM, in charge of managing the company’s EU affairs.

Before joining GAZ-SYSTEM in 2008, he was employed by the Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG S.A.) and was seconded to its Representative Office in Brussels.

Piotr Kuś graduated from Warsaw School of Economics.

Piotr Kuś

Jurgita Šilinskaitė-Venslovienė

Head of LNG Commerce, Klaipėdos Nafta

Jurgita Šilinskaitė-Venslovienė is the Head of LNG Commerce at the Oil and LNG terminals’ operator „Klaipėdos nafta“ and held various positions in the company since 2016. She is responsible for FSRU based Klaipėda LNG terminal and onshore small scale LNG Bunkering and Truck loading terminal.  Her focus is commercial, regulatory and logistical enhancement of LNG value chain, security of supply, energy transition, i.e. hydrogen and other LOHC, CCS in the region. She has extensive experience in management of key strategic infrastructural projects in different sectors and previous work experience covers Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, National Development Institute and private holding company

Jurgita Šilinskaitė-Venslovienė

Pieter van Aartsen

Pieter van Aartsen is the Company Secretary of Gasunie. In addition to this position, he heads the government and regulatory affairs department. Before taking up his position as GIE board member he chaired the strategy task force and represented GIE in the steering committee of GasNaturally.

Previously he worked as a policy advisor on energy, climate and the internal market in the European Parliament. He was closely involved in the negotiations between the EU institutions on the Third Energy Package and the Second Strategic Energy Review. Before relocating to Brussels he was working in the communications department of a political party and worked on several election campaigns in the Netherlands.

Pieter van Aartsen

Kadri Simson

EU Commissioner for Energy, European Commission

Kadri Simson is the European commissioner for energy, a position she has held since December 2019.

She previously held the position of minister of economics affairs and infrastructure of the Republic of Estonia from 2016 to 2019. During the Estonian presidency of the council of the EU (from July to December 2017), Simson chaired both the meetings of the energy ministers and transport ministers in the transport, telecommunications and energy (TTE) council as well as the meeting of economy ministers in the EU competitiveness council.

From 2007 to 2016, she was a member of the Estonian Parliament (“Riigikogu”) and was re-elected in 2019. Simson has a degree in history at the University of Tartu and holds a master’s degree in political science from the University College London.

@KadriSimson

Cillian O’Donoghue

Policy Director, Eurelectric

Cillian O’Donoghue is Policy Director at Eurelectric, the sector association which represents the common interests of the electricity industry at pan-European level. Prior to joining Eurelectric, he was Director of Climate & Energy at Eurometaux, the European non-ferrous metals industry, representing producers of aluminium, copper, zinc, nickel, silicon and other metals. Cillian previously worked 5 years at the Energy Practice at FleishmanHillard and spent time at the European Commission DG Energy, focusing on gas security supply in the Central & Eastern European region.

Cillian O’Donoghue

Karolina Čegir

Karolina Čegir is Senior Gas expert at the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna, with additional responsibility for Renewable Energy in transport sector.

The Secretariat is an international institution established according to the Energy Community Treaty in order to monitor its fulfilment and, from the other hand, to support the Contracting Parties of the Energy Community in their efforts to implement EU acquis required by the Treaty. The main focus of her work is on natural gas while additional tasks are related to renewable energy in transport sector. The scope of work includes regular contacts with EU institutions, such as Gas Coordination Group, European Network Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and Concerted Action on Renewable Energy Sources Directive (CA-RES).

From 1992 until 2001, she worked in INA, Gas Transmission Division (future Plinacro, gas TSO in Croatia) covering different positions in the field of the gas transmission - maintenance, supervision, dispatching centre, quality system, investment and development. After that, she worked in Plinacro, gas TSO in Croatia, where she covered different positions, the last being the Assistant to the Director of the Development Sector.

Karolina Čegir holds a bachelor degree in Petroleum Engineering from Zagreb University (1990), and MSc degree in Renewables at the Technical University of Vienna (2013).

Karolina Čegir

James Watson

Secretary General, Eurogas

Dr James Watson is the Secretary General of Eurogas, a role he has held since January 2019. Eurogas is the association representing the European gas wholesale, retail and distribution sectors.

Prior to taking the helm at Eurogas, Dr Watson was the Chief Executive Officer of SolarPower Europe, the European solar industry association. Before joining SolarPower Europe, Dr Watson worked as the Director of Public Affairs for Weber Shandwick, specialising in energy and trade policy. Before coming to Brussels, Dr Watson worked for the Commonwealth Secretariat on a European Commission project on trade and sustainable development based in Ethiopia. Earlier in his career James worked for various UK government bodies in London and worked as a lecturer in Environmental Law at the University of Manchester.

He holds a Ph.D in International Trade and Environmental Law from the University of Leeds, and is currently a Visiting Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

James Watson
@eurogas_eu

Dennis Hesseling

Mr. Dennis Hesseling joined the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators ACER as Head of the Gas Department in December 2012. He is responsible for the Agency’s gas activities regarding network codes, infrastructure, and market monitoring. He is also the Agency’s representative to the Energy Community Regulatory Board.

Before joining ACER, Mr. Hesseling worked as Head of Unit in the Competition Department of the Netherland Competition Authority NMa (ACM), responsible for merger control and antitrust enforcement in the Dutch energy, telecommunications and media sectors. Prior to that, he worked in the NMa’s Energy Regulation department from 2002 on, mainly on gas issues. From 2000 he worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company in Brussels, providing strategic and operational advice to postal companies and banks.

Mr. Hesseling holds a PhD in Mathematics from Utrecht University, the Netherlands. He received additional training at McKinsey, business school IMD (Lausanne), and the Dutch programme for prospective top civil servants. Mr. Hesseling trained energy regulators and competition authorities in Romania, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, Turkey and Vietnam, and political parties in various African countries.

Dennis Jesseling
@Dehessel

Padraig Fleming

Biomethane Programme Manager at Gas Networks Ireland

Padraig Fleming is currently working on increasing the amount of renewable gas that Gas Networks Ireland transports to start the transformation of gas industry in Ireland to a sustainable energy business.  He has previously worked for a number of energy companies including Ervia, Bord Gáis Energy, and ESB.  He worked with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in Ireland who are responsible for regulating the electricity, gas and water industries.   He has also working with Eskom in South Africa.

Padraig Fleming

Timo Bollerhey

CEO, H2Global

Timo Bollerhey is the Chief Executive Officer of HINT.CO GmbH, an H2Global Stiftung
company.
He is an investment and financial markets expert with more than 20 years of experience,
especially in emerging markets. Before initiating and designing H2Global, he worked as
director for the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in Brazil, focusing on blended
finance approaches and the mobilization of institutional investors towards alternative assets.
Prior to this, he served as Division Manager at the AfDB (African Development Bank) to foster
the collaboration and co-financing with strategic private and public-sector partners. Between
2011 and 2016, Timo was director of business development at Allianz Global Investors where
he oversaw the client coverage and advisory for African institutional investors. Prior to this
he was head of financial institutions and sovereigns for Africa and the Middle East at
Raiffeisen Bank International in Vienna and served as Chief Representative Officer Sub-Sahara
Africa for UniCredit Group in Johannesburg.
Timo has designed the H2Global concept and initiated H2Global together with Markus
Exenberger.

Timo Bollerhey

Claudia Patricolo

Editor in Chief, CEENERGYNEWS

Claudia Patricolo is the Editor-in-chief of CEENERGYNEWS, the only English-speaking news portal entirely dedicated to the energy industry in Central and Eastern Europe.

Trained as a journalist in Italy, she worked for different media outlets covering foreign policy, business, investments and macro-economy. After starting her career in Rome she moved to Paris, where she worked at Le Monde. Now she lives in Budapest from where she covered the CEE region as Deputy Editor of Emerging Europe, UK-based news, intelligence and community platform.

Her areas of expertise include energy, climate change and business in CEE.

Claudia Patricolo
@clapatricolo

Paula Pinho

DG ENER, European Commission

Paula Pinho has been appointed as a Director for Just Transition, Consumers, Energy Efficiency and Innovation in the Directorate-General for Energy (ENER) in April 2021. Ms Pinho, a Portuguese national and lawyer by training, draws on her extensive knowledge of various EU policies and in particular EU energy policy, as well as on her leadership, management and negotiation skills towards her commitment to Europe’s clean and just energy transition.

Since 2015, she has been Head of Unit in DG ENER, and acting Director between 2019 and 2020, in charge of energy strategy and coordination of energy policy in the context of the Green Deal and Recovery. She has been monitoring the implementation of the Energy Union and the ‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’ legislative package. From 2008 until 2015, she was a member of various Cabinets and notably of the one in charge of energy from 2010 until 2014. Prior to that, she worked in the Directorates-General for Trade and for Internal Market. She joined the Commission in 2000.

@Pinhopau

Camille Bonenfant-Jeanneney

GSE President

Camille Bonenfant-Jeanneney, an engineer and political science graduate, was previously Executive Director of CPCU (Compagnie Parisienne de Chauffage Urbain), a subsidiary of ENGIE Group. After spending three years at the head of France's leading district heating network, which provides heat and hot water to 500,000 equivalent housing units, she began a new phase in her career with the ENGIE Group by taking over the management of Storengy, one of the world's leading underground natural gas storage companies, a developer of geothermal energy solutions and a producer and storer of low-carbon energy.

Camille Bonenfant-Jeanneney began her training at Ecole Polytechnique (2000) and then followed a double degree at École Nationale des Ponts Chaussés and Institut d'études politiques - Sciences-Po. She began her career in European affairs, as a diplomat at the Permanent Representation of France to the European Union (2006-2012) on industrial and environmental issues and as an advisor to the cabinet of the Minister Delegate in charge of European Affairs (2012-2013). In 2013, she joined RATP as head of the Greater Paris mission and then Chief of staff to the Chairman and CEO (2014-2015).

In 2015, she joined the ENGIE Group, initially as Director of NewCorp within the General Secretary. In 2018, she took over the management of the Paris district heating company; as a director of Storengy since 2018, she got to know the company she is joining today.

Camille Bonenfant-Jeanneney
@camille-bonenfant

Teodora Georgieva

Executive Officer, ICGB

Teodora Georgieva has more than 20 years of experience as a strategic manager, leading significant projects in various economic sectors. Currently, Mrs. Georgieva is the Executive Officer of the Bulgarian side of the project company ICGB and is also a member of the Management Board. ICGB is responsible for the overall management and development of the gas pipeline between Greece and Bulgaria and will soon be an independent transmission system operator.

From 2012 to 2014 Teodora Georgieva was Managing Director of Nabucco Bulgaria, and before that she worked at OMV Bulgaria for 13 years, 8 of which she was Managing Director of the company, holding cluster positions for Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia. Georgieva was the coordinator for Bulgaria of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT), in 2009 and 2010 she was awarded as Manager of the Year and is in the list of the top 10 Bulgarian managers.

She graduated from the University of National and World Economy and has a master's degree in Finance. Married, with two children

Teodora Georgieva

Anise Ganbold

Head of Research, Global Energy Markets & Hydrogen, at Aurora Energy Research

Anise leads the global energy markets and hydrogen teams at Aurora Energy Research, which provides analysis and market forecasts for natural gas, oil, coal, and European hydrogen. Anise has over twelve years of experience in energy analysis including gas analysis and consulting, and building forecasting models. Prior to Aurora, she worked as a power and carbon analyst at ICIS, and a gas and power analyst at S&P Global Platts and Eclipse Energy Group.

Anise Ganbold

Maria Spyraki

MEP, European Parliament

Maria Spyraki is now serving her second mandate in the European Parliament with Nea Demokratia party - European People's Party (EPP), as a full member of the Committees Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE). She is a member of the special committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation (INGE 2). She is also a co-chair of the Intergroup on Climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development and former Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China.

She holds the rapporteurship, on behalf of the the European Parliament, for the revision of the CLP Regulation, while she was was also the 1st author on the Motion for Resolution on Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. During this mandate, she has been the rapporteur and shadow rapporteur of 12 Reports, Opinions and Motions for Resolutions. Indicatively, she was the rapporteur on behalf of the European Parliament on the strategy to reduce methane emissions, which became a global pledge in COP26 Glasgow adopted by more than 100 countries, including the US. She was the rapporteur on behalf of the ENVI Committe for the  the Opinion on maximising the energy efficiency potential of the EU’s building stock (2020/2070(INI)), while she was also the rapporteur on the ITRE Committee for the Opinion on the Regulation establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC. Currently, under the “FIT for 55” umbrella, she is shadow rapporteur on behalf of the EPP on the ENVI Committee for the Opinion on Directive for the Promotion of energy from renewable sources RED II (REDIII), on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency (RED IV) and for the report on the regulation for the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector.

Maria Spyraki's first degree is in Chemistry from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She holds an MSc in Energy Law, Business, Regulation and Policy from International Hellenic University, Greece. She worked for 22 years as a journalist until 2014, when she was elected MEP.

Moreover, she has attended three summer schools at the College of Europe, Bruges (Energy Union Summer School, Negotiations in practice and Intensive Seminar of the EU). Also, she has graduated from two e-learning programs from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on Crisis Management and the Financial Crisis of 2010.

Maria Spyraki
@MariaSpyraki

Pierre Tardieu

Chief Policy Officer at WindEurope

Pierre Tardieu is Chief Policy Officer at WindEurope. He leads WindEurope’s Policy Department covering advocacy, innovation, market intelligence and stakeholder engagement. Pierre also co-manages the Renewable Hydrogen Coalition, the Energy Storage Coalition and RE-Source. He joined WindEurope in 2011 and has a decade and a half of experience in European Climate and Energy policy. Pierre holds degrees from College of Europe, Paris Catholic Institute and Strasbourg Institute of Political Science.

WindEurope is the voice of the wind industry, actively promoting wind energy across Europe. It gathers over 500 members from across the wind energy value chain: wind turbine manufacturers, component suppliers, power utilities and wind farm developers, financial institutions, research institutes and national wind energy associations.

Pierre Tardieu

Petri Peltonen

Under-Secretary of State, Finland

Petri Peltonen is Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. In this capacity, he oversees policy development and implementation in the sectors of industry, enterprise and innovation as well as foreign direct investments.

Prior to taking his current position in 2016, Petri Peltonen was Director General of the Enterprise and Innovation Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Technology Department at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

From 1996 to 2006, he worked at the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation (Tekes), most recently as Executive Director and member of the management team. From 1987 until 1996, he held several technology development positions at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands and in the electronics industry in Finland.

Within the scope of his duties, Petri Peltonen takes part in several national and European functions such as the boards of Business Finland, Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra) and the Nordic Investment Bank. He also acts as the European Commission’s SME Envoy for Finland.

Petri Peltonen holds M.Sc. and Lic.Tech. degrees from Tampere University of Technology. He is an invited member of the Finnish Academy of Technical Sciences.

Tom Marzec-Manser

Head of Global Gas Analytics at ICIS

Tom Marzec-Manser is the Head of Global Gas Analytics at ICIS and specialises in global natural gas trade and fundamentals.

He has a particular focus on the European gas market and Russian exports with almost 16 years of energy market experience.

Tom leads ICIS’ market intelligence regarding LNG supply and demand forecasting, as well real-time LNG cargo-tracking. He also heads-up the development of a new daily European gas price and fundamental forecast.

Prior to working on gas and LNG analytics, Tom led the European gas pricing team, which included publishing of the benchmark ICIS TTF.

Over the years, Tom has focused extensively on the liberalisation of wholesale gas trade in central Europe, the evolution of the British NBP and Asian LNG demand growth.

He is an active media commentator on global gas trade.

Tom Marzec-Manser
Tom Marzec-Manser

Kitti Nyitrai

Head of Unit Decarbonisation and sustainability of energy sources, European Commission

Kitti Nyitrai is Head of Unit Decarbonisation and sustainability of energy sources in the Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy since May 2020. Previously, she was Member of Cabinet of Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, where she was in charge of topics including energy system integration and hydrogen, as well as of the strategy to reduce methane emissions and Member of Cabinet of Energy and Climate Commissioner Arias Cañete.

She joined the Directorate-General for Energy in 2007 to deal with security of gas supplies and later on Trans-European Energy Networks. In 2014, she worked as a Case Manager for State aid control in energy in the Directorate-General for Competition, after which she became Assistant to the Director-General for Energy, covering internal energy market, State aid and infringements.

Ms Nyitrai holds an MBA Degree in International Business from the MIB School of Management in Trieste as well as a Master's degree in Business and Economics from the University of Pécs in Hungary. She also studied at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce in Montpellier.

Kitti Nyitrai
@NyitraiKitti

Ilaria Conti

Ilaria Conti is Head of Gas at the Florence School of Regulation.

Her main fields of expertise concern EU institutional relations and EU electricity and gas regulation.

She spent about 9 years in Brussels, working for the the Permanent Representation of Italy at the EU, the United Nations and, from 2005 until 2013, for EFET, the “European Federation of Energy Traders” covering various positions within the association. She has been EFET Communications Director and Policy Advisor for the EFET Gas Committee, Task Force Iberia, Task Force CEE and the EFET Board.

In 2008 she founded EFET Italy, which she led until 2013. Representing EFET, Ilaria actively took part in the consultative processes with the EU Institutions – leading to the development of major EU regulations and Directives such as the Third Energy Package, the RES Directive, EMIR, REMIT, Security of Supply regulation. At the same time, she contributed to the implementation process of EU energy regulation in several EU countries, by facilitating the exchange of best practices and engaging in a continuous dialogue between the energy industry and national authorities such as Ministries, national TSOs, NRAs. Before joining FSR, she worked from 2013 until 2015 for ENOI S.P.A., where she covered the new role of Institutional and Regulatory Affairs Manager.

Ilaria joined FSR in 2015 as Energy Policy Deputy and in 2017 she was appointed Head of the new FSR Gas area.

She has been the Managing Editor of the IAEE publication “Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy” until 2016 and participates as a member of the Advisory Panel for the CEER study on “Future role of gas from a regulatory perspective”.

Ilaria Conti
@Ilaria_C80

Alba Lorente

Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund

Alba Lorente is a Methane Monitoring Scientist, EDF.

An atmospheric scientist with expertise in remote sensing of methane and air quality. Since October 2022, Alba's been part of EDF science team, working on several projects related to oil and gas methane emissions quantification using diverse technologies, including aircraft and satellite measurements. She is also part of the EDF Business team, in which she translates the science into actionable data for stakeholders.

Prior to joining EDF she was a scientist at SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, where she was part of the TROPOMI satellite team since its launch in 2017.

Alba Lorente

Jens Geier

MEP, European Parliament

Jens Geier has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2009. There, he is the head of the SPD-members of the European Parliament, member of the Industry, Research and Energy committee and substitute member of the Budget committee.

Before that, he gathered experience in real estate projects for the public sector with innova AG and Deloitte. Further, he was a project manager and spokesperson at Projekt Ruhr GmbH and worked for the bureau of the SPD and the bureau of the regional SPD-branch for North Rhine-Westphalia. After finishing his studies in history, literature and political science at the Ruhr-University Bochum, he acted as a policy advisor for budgetary affairs and research and technology policy for an SPD-Member of the European Parliament.

Jens Geier is an active member of IG Metall, the Workers' Welfare Association (AWO) and the Association for work with children and teenagers in socially deprived areas (VKJ).

He was born in Frankfurt (Main) and grew up in Essen.

Kiril Temelkov

Deputy Chairman at Bulgarian Gas Association

Kiril Rumenov Temelkov is a Bulgarian professional with expertise in the energy sector. With a Master's degree in Commerce from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia, he has excelled in various roles throughout his career. Currently, Kiril serves as the Owner and Managing Director of RANTECO LTD., a consultancy firm specializing in natural gas and Renewable Energy Sources (RES). He provides market research, business planning, project management, and regulatory compliance services. In addition, Kiril holds the position of Vice Chairman and Member of the Management Board at the Bulgarian Gas Association, where he fosters collaboration among gas market players. He represents the association in advocating for fair and transparent rules in the gas sector.

Kiril's experience includes serving as CEO of Bulgargaz EAD, where he managed natural gas transmission and storage services in Bulgaria. He also worked as the Managing Director of "Nabucco Gas Pipeline Bulgaria" EOOD, overseeing the development of a major gas pipeline project. As a freelance consultant, Kiril offers expertise in energy trading, strategic planning, and project management. He has contributed to publications on public procurement and has been featured in professional magazines for his insights on the gas market and infrastructure.

Fluent in English, proficient in Russian, and a native Bulgarian speaker, Kiril's interests lie in natural gas trading, regional gas infrastructure development, renewable energy sources, energy transition, and strategic planning. With his extensive experience and broad skill set, Kiril Rumenov Temelkov continues to shape the energy sector through innovation and leadership.

Kiril Temelkov

Pawel Stanczak

CEO at GTSOU

Working in gas transport, distribution and storage for over 25 years, mainly in PGNiG and Gaz-System S.A., Poland, JSC Ukrtransgas and LLC Gas TSOUA, Ukraine.

Being an authorized representative of the Board in PGNiG, Poland (2003-2004), was responsible for unbundling of gas transmission system and foundation of independent Gas Transmission System Operator of Poland, Gaz-System S.A.

Later, was a Board member and Technical Director at PGNiG Technologie S.A. in Krosno Poland (2004-2008).

In 2018-2019 was a Board Member of JSC Ukrtranszaz (Gas TSO of Ukraine before the unbundling). Was responsible for unbundling of gas transmission system and foundation of independent Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, followed by the position of the Deputy CEO on Strategy and Transformation of LLC Gas TSO of Ukraine (2020) leading the integration of the GTSOUA into the European energy market.

Since October of 2022 Acting CEO of LLC Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine.

Pawel Stanczak holds an MBA of the University of Bradford, Leon Kozminski Academy, Warsaw (2008), degree on Top-management of the Warsaw School of Economics (2000), Engineering and Technical degree of the Warsaw Polytechnic Institute (1991) and Emilian Konopczynsk Higher Technical School, Warsaw (1983).

Charlotte Roule

Chief Executive Officer of Storengy

O 1 March 2023, Charlotte Roule took the position of Chief Executive Officer of Storengy, the European leader in underground natural gas storage.
She will continue to develop and leverage the company's unique expertise in the storage of renewable gases and the production of natural hydrogen, while accelerating its role as a leader in the energy transition.

As part of her significant roles, she will also assume the management of the storage business in France following the departure of its Managing Director, Pierre Chambon, who has just joined ENGIE. Charlotte Roule was hitherto ENGIE Group Strategy Officer. In charge of long-term forecasting, strategic dialogue, and competitive intelligence, she participated in the review of major projects for the company. Before joining the Strategy Department, she managed Storengy UK and ENGIE in China where she coordinated projects focusing on renewable energy, clean solutions for cities and industries, such as cooling networks and electrical mobility.

She was Vice President of the European Chamber of Commerce in China from 2018 to 2021. Now, she represents the Chamber in Paris. Moreover, she is currently a member of the Board of Directors of France Gaz (formerly Association Française du Gaz).

In 2022, Charlotte Roule accompanied the President of ENGIE in his role as co-chair of the B20 (G20business group) Energy, Sustainable Development and Climate working group.

Charlotte Roule

Andra Ješinska

Developer and coordinator of education system, for Conexus Baltic Grid

Since 2020 Andra Jesinska together with experienced specialists from JSC “Conexus Baltic Gid” (Conexus) and academics from the Institute of Heat, Gas and Water Technology of Riga Technical University (RTU) is developing education programs and study courses for Conexus employees and RTU students and organizing education processes.

Her previous working experience is related to the international projects, in particular, PCIs and international organizations, (ENSOG, Eurogas, etc.), since she was the long-time head of international department and head of international projects for JSC Latvijas Gaze and Conexus. She also was strongly involved in security of supply and risk assessment issues for the gas industry in Latvia.

She started her carrier in the power industry in various positions and for a decade was lecturer and docent of RTU.

In 2006 she graduated from doctorate studies at RTU with the thesis on gas and oil markets interrelation.

Edgars Smiltāns

International Projects Development Manager at Conexus Baltic Grid

Edgars Smiltāns is International Projects Development Manager at Conexus Baltic Grid and member of Future Energy Leaders in Latvia program. He is involved in energy transition projects related to biomethane and hydrogen as well as other business development related activities. He takes part in GSE activities as representative of Conexus.

He holds MBA from University of Latvia and bachelor’s degree at law from Riga Graduate School of Law.

Edgars Smiltāns

Karina Viskuba

Member of World Energy Council National Future Energy Leaders, Latvia

Member of World Energy Council National Future Energy Leaders in Latvia, Mg.oec., PhD student at the University of Latvia, Faculty of Business Management and Economy. The main research interest is energy economics in conditions of developing renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Currently is a Trade Analyst at Energy Wholesale Department with a background of Planning Engineer and Trading Specialist positions.

Karina Viskuba

Olga Bogdanova

Deputy Chair of Latvian Committee at World Energy Council

Olga Bogdanova is a Deputy Chair of the Supervisory board of the Power Transmission System operator of Latvia AS “Augstsprieguma tīkls” holding the controlling stock of the Latvian gas transmission and storage system operator. Since 2005, she has been working for the governmental sector. Olga Bogdanova is a Director of Tax Administration and Society Interests Policy department at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia; and since April 2023, she is also Acting Deputy Secretary for Tax Administration and Shadow economy elimination at the Ministry of Finance. Before the Ministry of Finance she worked as a Director of Energy Market and Infrastructure Department, as well as Acting Deputy State Secretary for Energy at the Ministry of Economics.

Olga Bogdanova has Doctor Degree in Economics. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Latvia. Dr.oec. Bogdanova is co-author of 4 scientific monographs and author of more than 35 scientific publications focused on the challenges in the energy field, regional cooperation issues and economic development. Since 2017, Dr.oec. Bogdanova has been an expert of the Latvian Scientific Council in economics.

Since February 2023 Olga Bogdanova has been the president of World Energy Council Member Committee Latvia. In April, 2022 Olga Bogdanova was elected as a member of the Studies Committee at the World energy Council. She is also an alumni of the Future Energy Leadership Program (member 2018-2022), an active expert at the World Energy Council, as well as a head of the Management Team of the Future Energy Leaders Latvia program.

Olga Bogdanova has several high level acknowledgements for her achievements in the governmental sector from the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister for Economics responsible for Energy, the Latvian Academy of Science, and others. In 2014, she received the Siemens Excellence Award for her Doctoral Thesis “Latvia's Development Models in the Internal Market of the European Union”.

Olga Bogdanova