Introduction to the Global Plastics Business & Circularity Workshop

Carlo Barrasa Vice President, Energy Insights Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Carlo Barrasa is the Vice President of Energy Insights at Chemical Market Analytics

In this role, Carlo stewards the development of energy market content to help Chemical Market Analytics’ clients navigate the complexities of the oil, gas & natural gas liquids markets. Previously, Carlo led the North American Light Olefins service, providing clients with valuable insights into regional market dynamics for cracker feedstocks, ethylene, and propylene.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Carlo was a Senior Strategy Advisor at Anadarko Petroleum, where he guided the company’s market strategy for its natural gas liquids business. After beginning his career in various downstream and chemical roles at ExxonMobil, Carlo held senior consulting and research positions at IHS Markit’s legacy companies, PFC Energy and CMAI.

Ana Lopez Executive Director, Americas Vinyls and Global Sodium Sulfate Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Ana Lopez is the Executive Director of Americas Vinyls and Global Sodium Sulfate at Chemical Market Analytics.

Ana Lopez is the Americas Director of Vinyls (PVC, VCM, EDC) research at Chemical Market Analytics. In addition, she is responsible for the global market analysis of sodium sulfate. She has held several roles across numerous product areas during her time with the company. With over 25 years of experience, Mrs. Lopez is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the chlor-alkali & vinyls sectors of the chemical industry.

Within North America and South America, she works closely with the chlor-alkali and vinyls industries, bringing her experience from the commodity markets. Her current area of focus includes contributions to the ‘Global Vinyls Report as well as primary input and insight for the World Sodium Sulfate and World Vinyls analyses.

Her prior experience includes covering caustic soda, chlorine, and hydrochloric acid. In this role, she contributed to the Global Chlor-Alkali Report and the World Analysis, Chlor-Alkali. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Mrs. Lopez spent several years with Pemex International Trading Company (PMI) in Mexico City in petrochemical commercial operations and market analysis, preceded by a few years with the EPC company ICA Fluor Daniel.

Mrs. Lopez has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master of Business Administration from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, both in Mexico City. She joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2007 and is based in the Houston office.

Alexandra Tennant Executive Director, Global Recycled Plastics Service Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Alexandra Tennant is the Executive Director, Global Recycled Plastics Service at Chemical Market Analytics (by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company).

Alexandra is responsible for content regarding market dynamics for recycled plastics within the Base Chemicals & Plastics group. As service lead for the Global Recycled Plastics Service, Alexandra monitors momentum across the recycled plastics value chain, including supply, demand, pricing, regulations, and brand strategies.

Ms. Tennant joined Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS in 2025 and brings over 15 years of experience across the energy and chemicals industry. She is recognized for her expertise in recycled plastics and PET/RPET markets. She has held positions in finance and consulting, including ExxonMobil, Wood Mackenzie, and, most recently, McKinsey & Co.

Alexandra graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with dual degrees in Economics and the History of Art; she later earned her MBA from the School of Management at Yale University.

Paula Sans Quiros Executive Director, Engineering & Specialty Polymers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Pablo Giorgi Vice President, North America Light Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Pablo Giorgi is the Vice President of the North American Light Olefins business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Pablo Giorgi is the Vice President for North America Light Olefins at Chemical Market Analytics. With over 25 years of industry expertise, Pablo is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the olefins sector of the petrochemical industry.

Within the Americas he works closely with the petrochemical, energy, refining and financial industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. His current area of focus includes oversight of the North America Light Olefins Service and primary input and insight for the World Ethylene and Propylene analyses.

Mr. Giorgi’s professional experience includes working in styrenics, aromatics, olefins, and polyolefins businesses. Before his current position at Chemical Market Analytics, he held roles in commercial, purchasing, supply chain, strategy, and market intelligence functions across various organizations in Brazil and the USA.

Mr. Giorgi holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), later acquiring an MBA in Logistics from Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV) and an MBA in Management from Fundacao Dom Cabral (FDC).

Joel Morales Vice President, Polyolefins Americas Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Joel Morales is the Vice President of Polyolefins Americas at Chemical Market Analytics.

Joel joined the company in March 2013 to cover Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) in North America. He began his career in 1999 with polyolefins manufacturer Solvay Polymers (later Ineos) in technical services and product development, before moving into field sales. After five years at Solvay Polymers, Joel moved into resin distribution sales for both Muehlstein and, later, United Polychem as a Product Manager, where he managed and sold polyethylene and polypropylene resins to various customer segments. In his most recent role before joining Chemical Market Analytics (CMA), Joel was a purchasing manager at Silgan Plastics, a major blow-molding and injection-molding plastics converter. He has brought a wealth of industry knowledge to Chemical Market Analytics through multiple stints along the plastics value chain.

Joel works closely within the Americas with resin producers, converters, and third parties covering the polyolefin markets. Joel speaks regularly around the world as a polyolefin market expert. He is the service leader of three market advisory subscription services: The Global Plastics and Polymers Report, the North American PE Report and the North American PP Report.

Joel graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a minor in psychology.

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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 on carbon emissions and the reuse, reduction, and recycling of plastics. His work focuses on mechanical and chemical recycling technologies and economics, plastic waste supply and logistics, company ESG initiatives, strategic responses to sustainability, and 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 Strategic Management courses using the case analysis approach.

Kaushik Mitra Executive Director, Europe Plastics & Polymers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Kaushik Mitra is the Executive Director of Polyolefin for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics.

Kaushik Mitra is the Executive Director of Polyolefin for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He steers the Polyolefin Insight and Research practice for Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. Kaushik is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the olefins sector of the petrochemical industry. He was pivotal in conceptualizing, developing and executing the Chemical Market Analytics’ Circular Plastics studies.

Within the EMEA region, Kaushik works closely with the value chain comprising Polymer producers, Brand owners, Converters, Distributors, & Resellers, providing support and guidance throughout the Polyolefins value chain. Kaushik’s current area of focus includes the European Plastics & Polymers Report, providing critical IP for EMEA and input and insight for the World Polyethylene Analyses.

Kaushik gained diverse career experience working at top Global companies, steering business management, market development, market intelligence and strategy functions in leadership roles. His interests are in pricing, strategy and market intelligence. He joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2016 with over 26 years of experience in petrochemicals. Previously, at petrochemicals giant SABIC, Kaushik led the global business strategy team for the polymers business, shaping long-term ambitions for growth, business improvement, innovation, and pricing. Kaushik was instrumental in designing and executing growth and differentiation strategies and played a key role in M&A and benchmarking.

Kaushik holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology and an MBA in marketing from the Indian Institute of Management.

Alan Wei Executive Director, China Polyolefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Alan Wei is the Executive Director for China Polyolefins at Chemical Market Analytics.

Alan Wei is the executive director of the Polyolefins business in China. Alan is a results-oriented professional with more than 16 years of experience in Sales & Marketing, Technology, and Product Development, and has, most recently, been analyzing and researching the fundamentals of Supply and Demand for the China Polyolefins market. Proven track record as a versatile Senior manager with demonstrated ability to drive the achievement of results in challenging market environments.

In China, he works closely with key partners across the petrochemical industry’s value chain, tracking industry evolution and providing insightful analyses. His current focus includes overseeing the ‘China Polyolefins Mandarin Report’ and the newly initiated ‘China Polyolefins English bi-weekly Report’ to serve English-speaking audiences globally.

Strength in connecting with customers & relationship management with key decision makers, grasping end-use demand commercially and technically. He previously worked for several top global suppliers and distributors. Mr. Wei has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from East China University of Science and Technology.

Nick Vafiadis Vice President, Global Plastics & Polymers Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Vafiadis is the Vice President of the Plastics & Polymers business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Nick Vafiadis has 34 years of experience, including critical roles in sales, sales management, product management, and business line management in the plastics, surfactants, and consulting industries.

He is a veteran of the chemical and plastics industries and manages Chemical Market Analytics’ global plastics practice. Nick’s daily responsibilities include analysing, consulting, and reporting on the global polyolefins market, as well as managing global operations for the production and development of various plastics reports. Concurrently, he contributes to single-client projects and studies related to the polyolefins industry. In his earlier assignments, he was responsible for consulting on the Chlor-alkali and vinyl product chain. He has contributed to the Monomers Market Report, the Chlor-Alkali Market Report, and the Global Plastics & Polymers Market Report.

He has been with Chemical Market Analytics and its predecessor companies since 2002. Before 2002, he spent 12 years with Vista Chemical Company, where he held assignments in marketing, product management, and sales management in the vinyl and surfactant businesses. Mr. Vafiadis holds a Management BBA from The University of Texas at Austin, United States.

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 Research & Insight for the Circular Plastics Service, covering the dynamics and implications of the 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.

Peter Feng Vice President, Aromatics & Fibers Americas Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Peter Feng is the Vice President of Aromatics & Fibers Americas at Chemical Market Analytics.

Peter Feng is the Vice President of Aromatics & Fibers. He is responsible for the North American Aromatics Service and covers the styrene, polystyrene and expandable polystyrene markets in the Americas for Chemical Market Analytics. With over 35 years of experience in various assignments, Peter has a breadth of knowledge in multiple disciplines and products. Peter is a key resource for understanding and insight into the aromatics sector of the petrochemical industry.

Within the Americas, he leads the North American Aromatics Service. While his current area of focus is the products in the styrenics chain, he has covered many of the aromatics products at once. In addition to North American Aromatics, he contributes to several different services and is a key contributor to the World Styrene Analysis, World Polystyrene Analysis and World EPS Analysis.

During his time at Chemical Market Analytics and predecessor companies, he has contributed to several bespoke client studies, including the development of a marketing plan for a new Middle East plant, a site assessment for a U.S. plant, strategic analysis for refineries and chemical plants, strategic purchasing analysis, etc. As a renowned expert, he has been sought after as a testifying expert in numerous legal cases. He is often a guest speaker at various conferences and industry events.

Before his role in market consulting, he worked at Air Products and Sterling Chemicals. He had assignments in Process Engineering/Technology, Information Systems, Projects, Environmental, Supply Chain and Commercial teams during this time. Peter Feng has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston.

Roberto Ribeiro Vice President, Global Ethylene Oxide | Ethylene Glycol Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Roberto Ribeiro is the Vice President for EO & Derivatives in the Americas at Chemical Market Analytics.

Roberto Ribeiro is a seasoned chemical and petrochemical expert with over 30 years of experience. He serves as the Vice President for EOD (ethylene oxide derivatives) and PET at Chemical Market Analytics. In this role, he is responsible for the research and analysis of a wide range of products, including PET, PTA, PX, ethylene glycols (MEG, DEG, TEG), high-purity ethylene oxide, and its derivatives such as ethoxylates, glycol ethers (E-series), ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA), and polyethylene glycols (PEGs).

Roberto works closely with the chemical and petrochemical sectors and other markets, including plastic converters, brand owners, oil and gas, and financial industries, providing support and guidance across various business chains. His current focus areas include overseeing the Market Advisory Services’ ‘Global PET Stream Report’ and ‘Global Ethylene Oxide, Glycol, & Derivatives Report,’ as well as providing primary input and insights for the World Analysis Services’ ‘World Analysis – Paraxylene,’ ‘World Analysis – Polyester,’ ‘World Analysis – PTA/DMT,’ and ‘World Analysis – Ethylene Oxide and Monoethylene Glycol.’

He joined Chemical Market Analytics in April 2021, having previously served as President of Townsend Solutions, a strategic consulting firm in the petrochemical industry. Before his tenure at Townsend Solutions, Roberto held various leadership roles in strategic planning, joint venture relationships and strategic guidance, business development, M&A, and sales and marketing at petrochemical manufacturing companies, many of which are now part of Braskem and LyondellBasell. Roberto’s career began at Eastman Kodak and then at Polibrasil Resinas, S.A., where he progressed from Marketing Intern to Head of Marketing, conducting in-depth market analyses.

Roberto holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance and Business Administration from São Paulo University (Brazil). Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in Oil & Gas from Universidad Austral (Argentina). He has participated in various professional development courses with Harvard Business School, New York University’s Stern School of Business, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has been a speaker at numerous industry conferences across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America.