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.
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.
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. 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