Session Details

Nina Bellucci Butler is the CEO of Stina Inc., a mission-based company striving to harmonize human behavior with the natural world. She has testified before the U.S. Congress, been interviewed by ABC News chief correspondent, served as a subject matter expert for XPrize, presented to the OPEC Secretariat, and on many other global stages such as a United Nations Summit, the World Plastic Summit in Monaco, the World Petrochemical Conference, the World Circular Economy Forum, the World Bank, and the Nat Geo Circular Economy Forum. Nina’s team conducts critical research such as the Annual Plastic Recycling Study, develops online resources such as CircularityInAction.com, and leads multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Plastic Squeeze Tube Recycling Project. Nina has volunteered on several expeditions including the Ocean Plastic Recovery Project: Katmai Clean Up. Nina currently serves as an advisor to the Ocean Plastic Recovery Project.

April Crow Senior Advisor Circulate Capital

As a globally recognized Sustainability leader, April has more than two decades of experience working throughout the value chain in a diverse set of roles in Sustainability, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs and Quality. In 2018 she helped launch Circulate Capital, an investment management firm dedicated to incubating and financing companies that prevent the flow of ocean plastic waste to the world’s ocean and advancing the circular economy where she currently leads Investor Relations and External Affairs. Previously, she worked as Senior Director, Environment & Sustainability for The Coca-Cola Company providing leadership for the company’s environmental, sustainability and governance platform. April has been one of the leading industry voices -- pushing forward research, coalitions and programs to help understand and tackle the marine debris issue and advancing the Circular Economy. She has developed and managed programs and collaborative efforts in partnership with government, industry and non-government organizations. She was instrumental in the founding of the Trash Free Seas Alliance and was a founding member American Institute for Packaging and the Environment. She served on the Executive Committee for the Michigan State University Center for Packaging Innovation, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, the Ocean Exchange, NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries Business Advisory Council and as an advisor for the New Materials Institute. An active volunteer and mother of two, she was named to the University of Georgia’s 40 under 40 for her impact in business, leadership, community, and philanthropic endeavors. She has served as a trustee for the 4-H Foundation, the University of Georgia Alumni Association, the Captain Planet Foundation and Leadership Georgia.

Albert Douer Executive Chairman and Co-CEO UBQ Materials

Albert Douer is Executive Chairman and Co-CEO of UBQ Materials, which developed the world’s first bio-based thermoplastic made entirely household waste, including all organics. For the first 35 years of his career, Douer worked at the Darnel Group, where he and his father grew a small family business in Colombia into a leader in the construction materials and food packaging industry with operations in over 15 countries. Today, in addition to leading UBQ Materials, he is a board member of Daika Wood, a company turning wood waste back into virgin wood, saving forests and natural habitats, and Biotic, an early-stage startup developing natural polymers to replace plastic in food packaging. Douer serves as a board member of Endeavor, a global organization supporting and mentoring high-impact entrepreneurs. Douer received his A.B. in Economics at Harvard University and MBA in Accounting and Finance from the Wharton School of Business.

Yasmine McColl Global Chemical Segment Leader Schneider Electric

Yasmine McColl is a dynamic International Business Development Executive, and acclaimed thought leader and subject matter expert in the sustainable energy and chemicals segments. Credited with driving new OPEX and CAPEX opportunities worldwide, Yasmine consistently achieves significant year-over-year growth. A sought-after speaker, Yasmine’s presentations and public speaking engagements illustrate strategies to reduce carbon emissions and enable sustainability through readily available solutions. In 2024 she spoke at the World Petrochemical Conference and AMI Plastic Conference where she productivity forged strategic relationships with external partners by effectively articulating the business value proposition and market differentiators. With extensive knowledge in the global Chemicals and Fuels sector and deep expertise in energy management, automation, and software, Yasmine aids energy and chemical companies in operational transformation. She guides clients on electrifying processes, transitioning to sustainable energy sources, and leveraging digital technologies through the integration of products, software, and data analytics to accelerate conversions. Known for having a distinct blend of technical knowledge and commercial acumen, Yasmine has been instrumental in collaborating with stakeholders to mobilize innovation and design competitive go-to-market strategies. Yasmine is an active leader within the industry. serving on the board of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers South Texas Section and as founder of Houston Shabeh Jomeh (Night of Gathering) Networking Organization in Houston, TX whose mission is to advance professional and social networking within the Iranian Community - the organization is open to all professionals. A mentor and coach, Yasmine is also a past executive board member of the Women’s Energy Network (WEN) Houston and former Vice President of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) college chapter, advancing diversity, young professional development, and sustainability goals. Yasmine holds an MBA and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston. Yasmine resides with her family in Houston, Texas. She is a painter, pianist, and enjoys an active lifestyle.

Ganesh Nagarajan Senior Director, Plastics Waste Management

Dr. Ganesh Nagarajan is the Senior Director of Plastics at WM. He leads WM initiatives towards increasing recycling, unlocking supply and recovery of plastic from waste streams. He is additionally responsible for value creation and stake holder engagement. Prior to WM, Dr. Nagarajan worked at LyondellBasell for over two decades in multiple roles including Application Development, Sales, Marketing & Business Management. He also supported the development of numerous recycling projects as a thematic expert for the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, as well as an Executive Advisory Board Member of Cyclyx. His international assignments include roles as Marketing and Sales Manager for Northeast Asia and Australia at Basell Asia Pacific Limited and as Managing Director for Basell Polyolefins India Limited.

David Neilson Associate Technical Partner ERM

David is an Associate Technical Partner based in Cambridge, UK. He holds an MEng (1st Class) in Chemical Engineering and Environmental Management from the University of Bath, UK; is a chartered engineer with ~30 years’ experience and Fellow of the IChemE. David started his career in the chemicals industry, before moving into consultancy in 2001, supporting clients in the process industries with technical safety and risk, management systems and operational support. He joined ERM in 2007 into the Certification and Verification Service team, leading the process industry team in management systems assurance and GHG verification. Joining the Sustainability and Climate Solutions Team in 2020, as a GHG reporting and industry expert, including asset-level greenhouse gas verification and reporting, corporate GHG inventory development and assurance, and product carbon footprinting approaches, using these to support client’s decarbonisation planning and implementation. With extensive industry-specific experience of GHG accounting methodologies, decarbonization and policy (EU/UK ETS, RED II, and CBAM), David is also now leading the development of ERM’s CBAM programme. David is a member of the EAG developing SBTi’s SDA for the oil and gas sector and led development of the SGE LNG cargo GHG footprint Methodology and the GIIGNL GHG Neutral LNG Framework.

Claude Létourneau President & CEO Svante Technologies Inc

Claude Létourneau, President & CEO of Svante Technologies Inc. (Svante), is an industrial projects veteran renowned for his dynamic leadership. With a proven track record of steering large-scale projects from laboratory inception to full-scale industrial implementation, Mr. Létourneau is a visionary thinker whose approach is characterized by the 3Es of leadership – effort, energy, and excitement. Possessing over three decades of experience in advancing technology development and commercialization, Claude plays a pivotal role in positioning Svante as a global leader in the development of a CO2 Marketplace. His illustrious career includes senior management roles at industry giants such as Canam Group Inc., SNC-Lavalin Inc., and Kontron Embedded Computers AG. Additionally, he has founded two technology companies, Vaperma, Inc. (specializing in membrane-based gas separation) and Avestor Inc. (focusing on thin-film lithium polymer batteries). Claude Létourneau's influential leadership extends beyond his role at Svante, earning him recognition as one of the World's Most Influential Decision Makers by the Wall Street Journal CEO Council. This prestigious acknowledgment underscores his impact on the global stage and his commitment to driving positive change in the industry. A bilingual executive, Claude leverages his diverse expertise to forge strategic alliances and partnerships with like-minded industry leaders. His comprehensive understanding of technology development positions Svante for rapid business scale-up, guided by an aggressive time-to-market game plan. Educationally, Claude holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from the esteemed University Laval in Quebec, Canada. Grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical application, Claude Létourneau continues to lead Svante toward a future where environmental responsibility and carbon capture initiatives redefine industry standards.

Steve Lewandowski Vice President, Global Olefins & Derivatives Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Lewandowski is the Vice President of Global Olefins & Derivatives at Chemical Market Analytics. Based in Houston, Steve Lewandowski is the Vice President - Olefins at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company, a leading global provider of information, insight and consulting services to the global chemical and petrochemical. During a career spanning 30 + years in the refining and chemical industry, Steve has experience across the spectrum of refining and petrochemical hydrocarbon value chains covering various financial, strategic, technical and commercial roles. Before his move to Chemical Market Analytics, Steve was Senior Manager of Base Chemicals at TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining, Inc. In that capacity, he managed the P&L of the base chemicals business, including joint venture relationships, strategic guidance to the partnerships, plant operational interfaces, project development, and commercial responsibility for olefin and aromatic monomers, including styrene. Before the Base Chemical Senior Manager role, Steve had increasing responsibilities within the Petrochemical business at TOTAL. The latest assignment was overseas, in Brussels, Belgium, where he was responsible for the Global Aromatics long-term commercial business activity. The assignment included P&L responsibility and strategic project development for TOTAL worldwide. Before the Belgian assignment, he worked as manager of the US aromatics business. Before 2000, Steve was involved in the refining and fuels side of the Hydrocarbon chain both for what was then FINA Oil and Chemical and for Star Enterprise (a joint venture between Texaco and Saudi Aramco), working as a process engineer, optimization engineer, fuels blending optimizer, branded/unbranded fuels marketing and supply lead, and in a business development role. Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1987 and an MBA with a focus on finance and economics from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2000.

steve.lewandowski@chemicalmarketanalytics.com

Maciek Lukawski Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Amogy

Maciek Lukawski is the VP of Strategy and Business Development at Amogy, where he focuses on the commercialization of Amogy’s ammonia-to-power technology across the maritime, power generation, and heavy-duty transportation sectors. Before joining Amogy, Maciek worked at ExxonMobil in technical and commercial roles ranging from development of next-generation hydrogen and LNG technologies to M&A. Maciek holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and MS in Renewable Energy Systems from the University of Iceland.

Anthony Palmer Vice President, Global Circular Plastic Sustainability Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Anthony J. Palmer is Vice President of Chemical Market Analytics (by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company), where he is responsible for the Circular Plastics & Chemicals Sustainability business within the Base Chemicals & Plastics group. In this role, he coordinates research and insight activities related to carbon emissions and plastics reuse, reduction, and recycling. His work focuses on mechanical and chemical recycling technologies and economics, plastic waste supply and logistics, company ESG initiatives, and strategic responses to sustainability, as well as broader macro-industry implications. Prior to his current position, Mr. Palmer managed the Chemical Consulting Group at IHS Markit, where he led engagements for clients with interests in the business, technical, and financial aspects of the energy, chemicals, and related process industries. His expertise includes strategic business management, financial and acquisition analysis, technology assessment, capital project planning, manufacturing strategy, international project development, expert witness and litigation support, and material supply strategy. Earlier in his career, Mr. Palmer worked at CMAI (acquired by IHS Markit in 2011), CPI Consulting Associates, Chem Systems, and Exxon Corporation. He holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College, as well as a Master of Business Administration in Finance and International Business from Fordham University in New York, U.S. In addition to his professional roles, Mr. Palmer is an Adjunct Professor of Management at Connecticut State University's Ancell School of Business Administration, where he teaches courses in Strategic Management using the case analysis approach.

anthony.palmer@chemicalmarketanalytics.com

Duncan Pitchford President Hydro Aluminum Metals USA, LLC

J. Duncan Pitchford is President of Hydro Aluminum Metals USA, responsible for Hydro’s Aluminium Metals business unit in the U.S. and additionally holds responsibility for the commercial activities of unit in Central and South America. He also manages the offtake of value added products from Hydro’s global joint ventures. He joined Hydro in 2018, with a broad legal and business background in both the private sector and government service.

Carl Roache Director, Ammonia and Urea Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Carl Roache is the Executive Director of Ammonia and Urea at Chemical Market Analytics. Carl Roache is the market director of ammonia and urea at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA). He joined the company in 2024 and leads analysis and pricing globally from London, UK. Before joining CMA, Mr. Roache was EuroChem’s global business development manager for NPK fertilizers, based in Dubai, UAE. From here, he coordinated global NP/NPK sales from the company’s 1.2mn t/yr Antwerp plant. Before this, he was EuroChem’s Asia NPK business development lead, based in Singapore, where he developed and executed an NPK growth strategy, widening commercial territory and facilitating increased sales. Mr Roache has also worked for price reporting agencies within the fertilizer sector in the UK and Asia, including spells as global nitrogen and potash lead (ICIS) and Europe and Asia regional editorships (Argus Media). He has completed executive strategy, financial analysis, and management training, as well as a first-class honors degree in American and English History from the University of East Anglia, UK. Mr Roache is an NCTJ/NCE qualified newspaper journalist, starting his career with Northcliffe Media group in the UK.

Humberto J. Rocha Carbon and Biodiversity Editor OPIS a Dow Jones Company

Humberto J. Rocha is a Carbon and Biodiversity Editor based in London, focusing on the carbon compliance markets in the European Union and the United Kingdom and the growing voluntary biodiversity credit market. A journalist with nearly a decade of experience, Humberto primarily focuses on covering the dynamics of the compliance carbon markets in Europe. He covers daily and weekly price assessments, conducts webinars and writes features ranging from the gulf between the U.K. and EU carbon prices and the potential linkage between these two carbon markets. Additionally, he covers policy developments and pricing trends in the voluntary biodiversity credit market from projects around the world. Humberto joined OPIS in the summer of 2022 after covering energy policy and federal and state legal cases in the United States for Law360 at the news agency's Houston and London offices. He has also worked in international outlets including Japan's The Yomiuri Shimbun, local news at Hearst Connecticut Media, and Forbes. Humberto speaks fluent Spanish and French and has a bachelor's degree in Social Studies with a focus on Latin America from Harvard University and a master's degree in Latin American studies from the University of Oxford.

hrocha@opisnet.co

Natalie Stirling-Sanders Head of the Americas Alliance to End Plastics Waste

Natalie Stirling-Sanders is Head of the Americas for the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global non-profit organisation that focuses on enhancing waste management capacity and capability by improving collection, sorting, processing, and recycling systems, especially in underserved regions. With over 30 years of experience, Natalie has spent most of her career working at the intersection of business, government and civil society. While she has held a range of positions in the sustainability space, she has also run large global organisations focused on supply chain management, procurement and financial operations in the oil and gas sector. She is currently chair emeritus of WEConnect International, an organisation that connects women-owned businesses with global value chains. She has also previously served on boards, expert panels and cross sector committees focused on economic development, responsible supply chains and immigrant settlement.

J. Scott Saunders General Manager, Recycling Division KW Plastics

Scott has almost 40 years of experience in the recycling industry and over 30 years’ experience in Plastics Recycling. He is General Manager of KW Plastics, Recycling Division headquartered in Troy, Alabama. KW is the largest recycler of HDPE and PP in North America and processes in excess of 500 million pounds annually of HDPE (#2) and PP (#5) scrap material streams into high quality Recycled Plastic Resin. KW supplies blow molding and injection molding customers in the US, Mexico, Canada and Europe. Scott has been active in industry associations for many years including: The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) since 2000 serving on the Supply Committee, Market Development Committee, APR Board of Directors. He is a past Vice- Chairman of the APR board as well as past Chairman of the APR Board. ISRI – now ReMA, since 2018 and was Chair of the Plastic Division from 2022-2024. He is a current member of the Board of Directors State of Colorado – Producer Responsibility Advisory Board Member – Since 2023.

Jordan Swisher, Ph.d Director of Chemistry Mattiq

Dr. Jordan Swisher is a leading expert in the fields of precision polymers, electrocatalysis, and, most notably, catalyst synthesis, having authored one of the seminal works on nanoreactor technologies for catalyst synthesis. As the Director of Chemistry at Mattiq, he leads design and development efforts for novel electrochemical systems. Named a ‘Mover and Shaker’ by the Catalyst Review, Jordan has been involved in the development of Mattiq’s key technologies for over four years and is the lead on several federally funded grants and author on a number of patents related to Mattiq technology. Before joining Mattiq, he was an International Institute for Nanotechnology Postdoctoral Fellow at Northwestern University. Jordan received his BS in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University and his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

Mitch Toomey Vice President Sustainability American Chemistry Council (ACC)

As Vice President of Sustainability and Responsible Care, Mitch Toomey is responsible for leading the strategic implementation of ACC’s world-class EHS&S performance initiative and executing the industry’s commitment to sustainability – through innovation, collaboration, and technologies that enhance the safety and environmental impacts of ACC member products and operations. Previously, Mitch served as Director of Sustainability for BASF Corporation and also spent more than 15 years with the United Nations and UN Development Programme (UNDP), where he helped champion the United Nations global social responsibility and sustainability movement. He also led UN engagement and expert dialogues for the 2012 Rio Conference on Sustainability, launched the UNDP Innovation Facility, and served as lead author for the UNDP Knowledge Management Strategy. Prior to joining the UN, Mitch worked in the private sector building two startups. Mitch earned both an MBA and BA from New York University.

Robin Waters Executive Director, Circular Plastics & Chemicals Sustainability Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Robin Waters is the Executive Director of Chemical Market Analytics. Robin is responsible for content development for the Circular Plastics business for the Base Chemicals & Plastics group. In this role, Mr. Waters manages the Research & Insight for the Circular Plastics Service, which covers the dynamics and implications of the plastics transition from a linear to a circular economy. His responsibilities cover a broad spectrum of the circular plastics value chain, including regulations and policies, mechanical- and chemical-recycle technology and economics, plastic waste supply and disposition, price and margin projections, strategic responses to sustainability, evaluation of new business models and macro-industry implications. He also serves as a subject matter expert for other market advisory services, single-client projects, and polyolefins and plastics sustainability studies. Mr. Waters joined Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS on June 1, 2022, following the acquisition of IHS Markit Base Chemicals, having joined IHS Markit in September 2012 as Director of Polyolefins North America. He brings over 30 years of industry experience with DuPont and LyondellBasell in various commercial management roles in the polyolefins, specialty polymers and plastic films industries. Robin received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Georgia and an MBA from the University of Miami.

Han Zhang, Ph.D. Global Sustainability Director, Packaging & Specialty Plastics Dow

Han Zhang, Ph.D., global sustainability director for Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics, is responsible for collaborating with the entire value chain to promote and improve the sustainability value of plastics. He works closely with the global sustainability team to drive progress against Dow’s Transform the Waste and Close the Loop targets and leads external engagement with key partnerships and thought leaders. Zhang earned his doctorate degree in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment from the University of Michigan in 2009. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Thermal Engineering from Tsinghua University.

Chemical Sustainability: The Train is Gathering Momentum, Are Risks Lying Around the Bend?

Session Details

Chemical Sustainability: The Train is Gathering Momentum, Are Risks Lying Around the Bend?

Nina Butler

April Crow

Albert Douer

Yasmine McColl

Ganesh Nagarajan

David Neilson

Claude Létourneau

Steve Lewandowski

Maciek Lukawski

Anthony Palmer

Duncan Pitchford

Carl Roache

Humberto J. Rocha

Natalie Stirling-Sanders

J. Scott Saunders

Jordan Swisher, Ph.d

Mitch Toomey

Robin Waters

Han Zhang, Ph.D.

Nina Butler CEO Stina