Keynote Speakers:
HE Eng. Mohamed HAMEL
Secretary General, Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF)
Topic: The Role of Natural Gas in the Energy Transition
Eng. Mohamed Hamel is the current Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha, Qatar, assuming office in January 2022. Before his appointment, he served as a Senior Advisor to Algeria's Minister of Energy and Mines for seven years and as a Member of the Executive Board of GECF. He has also been a Member of the Board of Governors of OPEC since 2015 and chaired the High-level Committee of the Algiers’ Accord in 2016. He spent 12 years in OPEC as Head of Energy Studies and then as Special Advisor to the Secretary General. His career’s first 21 years were with Sonatrach, where he worked in various segments of the oil and gas value chain, becoming Vice President Strategy and Planning in 1998. Eng. Hamel graduated from two engineering schools: the “Ecole Polytechnique de Paris” and the “Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris”, both in France.
Prof. Mercedes Maroto-Valer Director, UK Industrial Decarbonization Research and Innovation Centre, Heriot-Watt University
Editor-in-Chief: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology
Topic: Industrial decarbonization: Key to our global net zero transition
Prof. Mercedes is the Director of the UK Industrial Decarbonization Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC), leading the transition to net zero industrial clusters. As Deputy Principal (Global Sustainability) at Heriot-Watt University, she drives sustainability initiatives and heads the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS). With a distinguished academic career, including roles at the University of Kentucky, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Nottingham, Prof. Maroto-Valer has published over 575 papers and received numerous accolades, including the 2021 ACES-Margarita Salas Prize. She holds leadership positions in professional societies and editorial boards, contributing globally to the energy transition agenda. Prof. Mercedes is the Editor-in-Chief: Greenhouse Gases: Science Technology (Wiley, IF:2.5)
Prof. Xinhe He Bao, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Editor-in-Chief: Journal of Energy Chemistry
Title: Clean Energy and Catalysis
Prof. Xinhe Bao is a distinguished figure in the field of chemical catalysis, serving as a Professor and Group Leader in the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). With a notable portfolio, Prof. Bao holds several pivotal roles in advancing clean energy and catalytic research. He spearheads the National Key Project of Fundamental Research, focusing on the "Catalytic basis on optimal utilization of natural gas and coal-based methane," as the Chief Scientist. Additionally, he serves as the Principal Investigator of the BP-CAS "Clean Energy Facing the Future" Program, highlighting his commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Prof. Bao fosters international collaboration as the Head of the Partner Group on "Nano-technology in Catalysis" between the Fritz-Haber-Institut der MPG (Germany) and DICP (CAS). His leadership extends to academic administration as the Dean of the Department of Chemical Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China. Recognized for his expertise, Prof. Bao contributes significantly to the academic community as a Member of the Degree Assessment Committee of the State Council. Moreover, he holds the prestigious position of Editor-in-Chief, alongside Prof. Gabriele Centi, for the Journal of Energy Chemistry published by Elsevier(Elsevier, IF=13.1; CiteScore=19.1), furthering the dissemination of research in the field.
Prof. Stefan Iglauer Edith Cowan University
Topic: Challenges of CO2 and H2 Storage
Prof. Stefan Iglauer is a distinguished figure in the field of Energy and Resource Engineering. He got his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Material Science from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom in 2002, followed by his Master of Science degree from the University of Paderborn in Germany. He currently serves as a Professor of Energy and Resource Engineering. He is the esteemed research leader of the Energy and Resources discipline and the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources Director. Dr. Iglauer's academic journey has been marked by notable achievements, culminating in publishing over 400 technical papers and solidifying his reputation as a prolific scholar and researcher. Through his leadership, extensive research contributions, and academic pursuits, Dr. Stefan Iglauer is pivotal in advancing the understanding and application of energy and resource engineering, with a relentless commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Dr. Sami Alnuaimi Petroleum Engineering Department, KFUPM, Saudi Arabia
Former Head of Petroleum Engineering Applications Department, Saudi Aramco, and former SPE President
Topic: Energy Advancement, a New Energy Transition Redefinition!
Rounded lengthy experience (37+ years) in the global Oil & Gas industry, Academia and Professional Societies with several personal visions and achievements. Dr Alnuaim is leading an international effort to redefine the global Energy Transition to reflect more a new concept called Energy Advancement, supporting the global economy, enhancing human lifestyle, improving people prosperity, enriching the global social development, reducing the global energy poverty, significantly impacting and protecting the environment through an accountable Oil & Gas industry net-zero emission strategy complemented by a comprehensive De-Carbonization and Climate Change dialogues. Dr Alnuaim won several local, regional, and international awards and completed several advanced management programs including Wharton Advanced Executive Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania and the Advanced Asian Business and Culture Program at Pennsylvania State University. Dr Alnuaim was the 2019 SPE International President and currently serving in several Petroleum Engineering Departments Advisory Boards. His last appointments are serving as KFPUM Adjunct Professor introducing the concept of Energy Sustainability and serving in the University of Texas @Austing International Board of Advisors. Dr Alnauim is a key figure in the Saudi and Middle East media and energy sectors where more than 300 Oil & Gas and energy articles were published addressing several strategic energy global issues such as Peak Oil, Environment and Technology.
Dr. Alexander van der Made, Chief Scientist for Chemistry, Shell Netherlands
Topic: The Energy Transition from the Perspective of an International Energy Company
Alexander van der Made was appointed as Shell’s Chief Scientist for Chemistry in 2020. He studied chemistry and biology at Utrecht University (The Netherlands) and graduated in 1988 with a PhD in physical-organic chemistry. This was followed by a post-doc on supramolecular chemistry with Nobel laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart in 1988 in Sheffield (UK). Since 2002 he also holds an MBA.
Joining Shell in 1989, he conducted R&D in Europe (Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) and USA (Houston) on dendrimers, coatings, molecular modeling, statistics, oxidation reactions, catalysts for CO conversions, and scale-up and implementation of novel catalysts. In addition, he worked in a commercial role in Shell Chemicals (Rotterdam, The Netherlands), was and still is involved in strategy development and the creation of strategic R&D collaborations including those in China. Since 2009 he is working at Shell on processes and products for a ‘zero-carbon’ economy. From 2012 to 2017 he was based for Shell in Beijing and was active in (setting up) R&D collaborations with universities and institutes, including those being part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and participated in studies with Chinese government think tanks on China’s future energy system. Currently, he is based at Shell’s Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam.
He is a visiting professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, teaches at several universities and is a member of various industrial and governmental advisory boards.
Prof. Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Canada.
Topic: Produced Water Treatment/Reclamation for Safe Reuse: Targeting Sustainability and Circular Economy
Dr. Mohamed Gamal El-Din is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on innovative treatment approaches for municipal and industrial wastewater, including oil and gas. Since 2011, he has held an NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair in Oil Sands Tailings Water Treatment and is also a Theme Lead for the Future Energy Systems (FES) theme on Resilient Reclaimed Land and Water Systems. In 2024, Dr. Gamal El-Din was awarded the Albert E. Berry Medal by the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) for outstanding contributions to the field of environmental engineering in Canada. In 2017, Dr. Gamal El-Din was awarded the Alberta Science and Technology Leadership (ASTech) Foundation Award for Innovation in Oil Sands Research. He is a Jinshan Distinguished Professor at Jiangsu University and was awarded the Research Chair in Environmental Engineering at Tongji University in China in 2020. In 2023, he was appointed the Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Sustainable and Resilient Wastewater Treatment for Reuse. Additionally, he was named the UofA Engineering Research Chair in Community-Based Wastewater Management with a focus on advancing a circular economy. Dr. Gamal El-Din also serves as the Director of the Water Research Centre (WRC). Dr. Gamal El-Din's commitment to education and research is unparalleled. Over the course of two decades, he has supervised a diverse group of 207 students and staff members. Under his mentorship, these individuals have grown into accomplished professionals who are making significant contributions to their respective fields. Dr. Gamal El-Din is also a prolific researcher, with an extensive body of work that includes 332 peer-reviewed journal papers and 414 conference and workshop presentations, among other publications. His contributions to the field have been widely recognized, as evidenced by his impressive h-index of 72, and over 17,000 citations as per Google Scholar.
Dr. Petr Musilek, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta
Topic: Integrating AI in Energy Storage: Pathways to Justice and Equity
Dr. Petr Musilek received a Ph.D. degree in Cybernetics from the Military Academy, Brno, Czech Republic, in 1995. From 1997 to 1999, he was a NATO Science Fellow at the Intelligent Systems Research Laboratory, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1999, he joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta, Canada, where he is currently a Full Professor. Since 2022, he has served as the Associate Dean for Research Operations within the Faculty of Engineering. For the last 15 years, Dr. Musilek has been involved in energy-related research, collaborating with electric utilities and other partners worldwide. His research focuses on using computers and artificial intelligence (AI) to support the design and operation of electric power grids and the integration of renewables and distributed energy resources. He also investigates how weather affects energy production and consumption patterns, as well as the integrity of power delivery infrastructure. Recently, his interests have expanded to include energy justice, equity, and other humanitarian applications of technology. To address the complexity and uncertainty of modern distributed energy systems, he frequently employs high-performance computing and intelligent methods, such as machine learning, evolutionary computing, and swarm systems. Over the years, he has developed numerous innovative solutions in renewable energy systems, transportation electrification, smart grids, and environmental modeling. His current projects involve forecasting energy generation and demand, transactive energy markets, and AI-driven grid optimization.
Invited Speakers:
Dr. Deepak Pant
Senior Scientist and Project Manager, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO (Belgium)
Topic: Upscaling CO2 Electroreduction - Tackling the stability challenge
Deepak Pant holds a Ph.D. in environmental biotechnology and works as a Senior Scientist and Project manager at the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO (Belgium). He has published more than 200 papers, 7 books, 7 patents, and 40 book chapters. In addition, he is the Editor of Bioresource Technology Reports and Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering as well as an Editorial board member of Bioresource Technology, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, iScience, & World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. Deepak is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and the Biotech Research Society (FBRS) and has participated in more than 25 projects, of which 14 are European (FP7/H2020/Horizon Europe) dealing with CO2 conversion, electrode development, and resource recovery. Currently, his team is focusing on electrosynthesis and resource recovery, specifically designing and optimizing electrochemical systems for CO2 conversion and microbial electrosynthesis. Together with his team, he has developed and upscaled the production of gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for applications in microbial fuel cells as well as CO2 electroreduction.
Dr. Badr Al-Harbi, Saudi Aramco, EXPEXC ARC. Topic: Produced Water Management in Saudi Aramco
Bader G. Al-harbi joined Saudi Aramco in 2006 as a Petroleum Engineer. Bader works in the Production Technology Division of Saudi Aramco’s Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center – Advanced Research Center (EXPEC ARC), where he is a focus area champion of smart fluid. Bader’s research interests include well-stimulation, water control, scale, and corrosion mitigation. He has authored and co-authored more than 50 technical papers. Bader has 10 granted patents and more than 40 submitted invention disclosures. He received his B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering and his M.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Bader received his Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
Prof.Moonyong Lee, Yeungnam University, South Korea.
Topic: Process Integration, Intensification, and Optimization: A Road Moving Towards Sustainable Chemical and Energy Processes
Moonyong Lee is a distinguished Professor and Brain Korea (BK) Program Director in the Chemical Engineering Department at Yeungnam University, South Korea. He is the head of the Process Systems Design and Control Laboratory (PSDC). With a career spanning over three decades, he has significantly contributed to the fields of chemical and energy process design and control, modeling, and optimization. Professor Lee earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Before joining Yeungnam University in 1994, he served as a Senior Process Engineer at SK Co. in Ulsan, South Korea. Professor Lee has received numerous prestigious awards, including the ParkSunWon Scientific Award from KIChE (2020) and the Korean Government Minister Award for Engineering Industry Contribution (2016). He has also been honored internationally with prizes from the EU-Russian Green Innovation Competition and the Asia-Pacific Honeywell User Group Competition. In addition to his academic contributions, Professor Lee is dedicated to industry training and consulting. He has been a regular lecturer for KITI and KIChE and has provided training and consulting services to leading companies such as LG Chemical, SK Materials, and Samsung Electronics.
Prof. Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua, Sunway University, Malaysia & Lancaster University, UK.
Topic: Waste Valorization towards Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilization.
Distinguished Professor Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua completed his PhD in 1992 at the University of Nancy 1, France. He worked at University of Malaya for 23 years before joining Sunway University in 2017. His research addresses the fundamental and technical issues related to water, energy and environment. He is interested in developing green solvents, sorbents and processes for CO2 capture and utilisation; treatment of water and wastewater using novel adsorbents and advanced electrochemical processes; production of biodiesel and transformation of its by-products to value-added chemicals; and providing safe water to communities in remote areas through the application of membrane technology. He has supervised to completion 35 PhD and 25 Master’s students. His research has generated more than 250 articles in ISI-ranked journals and over 24,000 citations, and his h-index is 76 according to Google Scholar database. He was listed by Clarivate Analytics as top 1% highly cited researcher in 2018 and 2019. He is also recognized in Stanford University list as top 2% world scientist for career long as well as single year impacts in 2019,2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2018 he was the recipient of the IChemE Global Award in Water Category. Recently his water project won the 1st Place in the Innovative R&D Award (International Institutions award) at the 3rd Cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award