David Badal Managing Director, Global Head of Chemicals Morgan Stanley

David Badal is the Managing Director and Global Head of Chemical at Morgan Stanley. David joined Morgan Stanley in 2013. He spent 14 years as a Chemicals Investment Banker at JPMorgan. Prior to JPMorgan, David was a Chemical Engineer, managing the day-to-day operations of two chemicals facilities for Monsanto at its Chocolate Bayou facility in Alvin, Texas for 4 years.

David received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis with cum laude honors. He completed his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

ChunLi Bao, PhD Chief Researcher CNOOC Energy Economics Institute

Dr. BAO Chunli is the chief research fellow of the CNOOC Energy Economics Institute, Professor-level senior economist, PhD from the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Bao leads the Center for Strategy and Management of CNEEI, focusing on special research on oil price forecasting and its application and the development of the value chain model in the oil and gas industry. As the chief editor of the industry flagship report “China Offshore Energy Report” and the interdisciplinary academic journal “Marine Economy,” she also contributes as an expert member of the Economic Professional Committee of China Petrochemical Association, the Economic Professional Committee of China Petroleum Society, and the paper evaluation committee of China Petroleum Enterprise Association. Moreover, she is part of the expert database for the review of national science and technology awards and the review of the Central Enterprise Think Tank Alliance. Bao led numerous national and group-level energy economics and policy research, corporate strategy and management research, state-owned enterprise reform, and social responsibility management research projects. She published nearly 30 academic papers and was honored with awards such as the third prize for the National Energy Administration’s soft science research project and the first prize for innovation achievements in national enterprise management modernization.

Sudipta Bhattacharya Chief Technology Officer & Chief Executive Officer North America Adani Group

Sudipta Bhattacharya is the Group’s Chief Technology Officer and the Chief Executive Officer for North America. He manages several of the global new Business Development initiatives, Innovation and Strategic Communications initiatives. The Adani Group is currently India’s fastest growing conglomerate.

As CTO, Mr. Bhattacharya leads the Group’s digital transformation and is responsible for digital businesses and functions that span Information Technology, Analytics, Operational Technology, Cybersecurity and Next Generation Data Centers. The technology team at Adani is also building the
world’s largest industry cloud platform, setting up an AI & Cybersecurity Lab to expand the group’s foray into adjacent technology businesses.

As CEO (North America), Mr. Bhattacharya is responsible for the Adani Group’s International business development activities including building partnerships and joint ventures with global companies. Prior to the Adani Group, Mr. Bhattacharya was CEO of the Invensys’ Controls and Automation Technology business units, having conceptualized and then led the internal merger of four of the Invensys divisions to form Invensys Operations Management, later acquired by Schneider Electric in 2013 for $5.2 billion. Prior to Invensys, Mr. Bhattacharya was Senior VP for SAP’s Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing and Engineering product portfolios that had combined revenues of $3 billion.

Adrian Cooper CEO Oxford Economics

Adrian Cooper is responsible for coordinating and managing Oxford Economics’ global economic analysis, forecasting and consultancy activities, and overseeing its global team of over 450 professionals including 300 economists and analysts. He has led Oxford Economics’ work on a wide array of consultancy projects, ranging from policy advice to government departments in Europe, the US, Africa, and Asia to detailed analysis of the economic impact of particular industries and investment proposals.

Adrian spent the first seven years of his career with HM Treasury, England. During this time, he worked on the analysis of tax and other economic policy changes as part of the preparations for the UK Budget. He was also the coordinator of the government’s macroeconomic forecast for two years.

Prior to joining Oxford Economics in 1994, Adrian was UK economist for James Capel & Company, responsible for analysing and forecasting the UK economy for institutional investors, as well as briefing Capel’s own traders. Adrian was educated at the University of Bristol, England, where he gained a first-class degree in Economics; and at the London School of Economics and Political Science, England, where he achieved a distinction in the MSc in Economics and won the Ely Devons prize for outstanding performance in the degree examinations.

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.

Gordon Fairclough World Coverage Chief The Wall Street Journal

Gordon Fairclough is the world coverage chief for the Wall Street Journal, a position he’s held since 2017.

Drawing on his extensive experience in foreign posts, he directs the Journal’s coverage outside of the United States. He was previously the Journal’s politics and economy editor for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. From 2013 to 2016, Fairclough was the Journal’s South Asia bureau chief. He was part of the Journal’s team in China that won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. He has also had postings in the Prague, Seoul and New York.

Fairclough earned his bachelor’s in history from Yale University and a master’s in international economics and foreign policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Jérome Filéni Head of Chemicals HSBC Investment Bank

Jérome is heading the chemicals franchise for HSBC Investment Bank globally and has been a chemicals banker for the past 25 years. He started his career in Europe and subsequently moved to the Middle East where he has continued to cover the industry. He relocated to London in 2012 and has since been involved in many landmark M&A and IPO transactions in the sector for large corporates and private-equity investors.

He graduated from ESCP and is a CFA Charterholder

Maximilian Grasserbauer Senior Vice President Circular Economy OMV

Max Grasserbauer is the Circular Economy director of OMV’s Chemicals & Materials division. Max graduated from the University of Technology in Vienna, Austria, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1995 and an MBA from Open University, UK, in 2000. He started his career in refinery operations, followed by 20 years of senior leadership roles in areas such as fuels and petrochemical sales, M&A and business development in Europe as well as MEA. In 2020, Max began to apply his extensive experience to OMV’s chemical recycling activities in order to help OMV establish a leading position in the renewable and circular economy. Today he leads a broad portfolio of circular economy initiatives and projects striving to re-invent essentials for a sustainable living.

Peter R. Huntsman Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Huntsman Corporation

Peter Huntsman is Chairman, President and CEO of Huntsman Corporation, a publicly traded global
manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2023 revenues of approximately $6 billion. Huntsman Corporation operates more than 60 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 25 countries and employs approximately 6,000 associates within our continuing operations.

In addition, Mr. Huntsman is the Chairman and CEO of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation (“HCF”). HCF raises funds and supports the ongoing research, treatment and educational programs of the world renowned Huntsman Cancer Institute. He is also CEO of the Huntsman Foundation, a private foundation focused on cancer care, mental health, homelessness and a variety of other projects to improve society.

Mr. Huntsman is involved as a member on various executive boards and councils. He and his wife are the parents of eight children and have 19 grandchildren

Jennifer (Jen) Jewson Chief Procurement Officer LyondellBasell

Jen is the Chief Procurement Officer for Lyondellbasell and is based at the US headquarters office in Houston, Texas.  She is responsible for the procurement of Lyondellbasell’s requirements which includes but is not limited to Technical Materials and Services, Raw Materials, Corporate and IT Services and Industrial Gases. She is responsible for setting the contracting strategy for materials acquisition, leading the Sustainable Procurement initiative for Scope 3 emissions and developing a global operating model for best cost country procurement. Her scope also utilizes digital and IT tools for greater purchasing visibility and predictability. Jen is also the current President for Together for Sustainability, an organization of over 50 petrochemical companies that working together to create more sustainable supply chains for a greener planet.

Jen started out as a Chemist within R&D working on both catalyst design and product development. She was awarded 9 patents within her R&D tenure. She moved to Houston in 2003 where she has held various roles within the company within Business, Sales, Feedstocks and Mergers & Acquisitions. In 2015 she moved to Rotterdam to complete an expat assignment where she worked to globalize the Lead to Cash team within Supply Chain. She holds a B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry and an MBA in Finance.

Kelly Knopp CEO and Founder Citroniq Chemicals

Mr. Knopp is CEO and Co-Founder of Citroniq Chemicals, an industry leader in the development of sustainable plastics.  He has over 40 years of experience in the Refining, Midstream, Petrochemicals and Plastics industries.  His experience includes leading international sales teams, building sales & marketing strategies for new products and regions, directing new business development and improving sales teams through focused customer engagement.  He has served in leadership roles for NOVA Chemicals, Williams Energy, Koch Industries and Phillips 66 Company.  Mr. Knopp holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas and MBA from the University of Houston – Clear Lake.

Yvonne van der Laan Executive Vice President, Circular and Low Carbon Solutions LyondellBasell

Yvonne van der Laan is executive vice president, circular and low carbon solutions for LyondellBasell, a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living.

Prior to this appointment, van der Laan served as director, Olefins and Optimization Olefins and Polyolefins (O&P) Europe for LyondellBasell. Before joining LyondellBasell, she served as vice president, Industry and Bulk Cargo Business at the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands.  She has more than 20 years of experience in the chemical industry in several commercial and business leadership roles with SABIC and DSM.

Van der Laan holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Mastricht in the Netherlands and a Maîtrise en Sciences Economiques from the University of Rennes I, France.  She has held several board positions at LyondellBasell, including chair of Basell Polyolefins GmbH Supervisory Board and board member of Petrochemicals Europe.

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.

Greg Mulholland CEO & Co-Founder Citrine Informatics

Gregory Mulholland is the founder and CEO of Citrine Informatics, the first artificial intelligence platform enabling the faster development and deployment of the next generation of materials and chemicals. He is an internationally recognized leader in both materials technology and digital transformation and has led Citrine to work with some of the world’s largest and most innovative materials and chemicals companies to create greener, less expensive, more performant products. He has been honored as a Technology Pioneer at the World Economic Forum, won the Start Up and Scale Up challenges at the World Materials Forum, and been awarded over a dozen other start-up and business awards.

Lars Eirik Nicolaisen Senior Partner and Deputy CEO Rystad Energy

Lars Eirik Nicolaisen has been with Rystad Energy since 2008 and is currently deputy CEO and senior partner, residing in Oslo, Norway. He holds a M.Sc from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He has wide experience as an adviser in facilitating strategy processes with stakeholders in the energy industry including energy companies, suppliers and investors/banks. The Energy Transition has been a red thread in this work. Nicolaisen has a particular foothold in the offshore Oil and Gas industry and hereunder a core client base amongst the offshore drillers. He is a seasoned speaker and represents the firm on a wide array of industrial topics at external events.

Rommel Oates Chairman & CEO Refinery Calc

Rommel Oates is the Chairman and CEO of Refinery Calculator Inc., a global leader in refining, hydrogen intelligence, and proprietary optimization software. He also heads Oates Energy Solutions LLC, specializing in hydrogen and energy solutions brokerage services. With over 22 years of experience in key roles at Fortune 250 companies and venture capital firms, Rommel possesses comprehensive global expertise across the hydrogen value chain, including production, distribution, technical engineering, and global commercial business operations. He is also skilled in decarbonization and holds over 16 patents in hydrogen storage. As a seasoned C-Suite executive and Independent Director for several public company boards, Rommel is proficient at scaling technology businesses, advancing start-ups, strategic planning, and ESG governance. His deep insights into hydrogen, refining, and chemicals further solidify his industry standing. Dedicated to advancing a hydrogen-centric, low-carbon future, Rommel is a trusted ally to stakeholders and public company boards, championing innovation and sustainability across the industry.

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.