Speakers | World Chemical Forum

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.

Dr. RB Balaji Chief Industry Advisor, Global Manufacturing and Co-Lead Green Hydrogen Hub International Finance Corporation

RB leads the IFC’s efforts in shaping the transformation of the Manufacturing Industry to reduce its environmental footprint while sustainably producing the critical products needed for everyday life. RB is passionate about development and dedicates about half of his time in IFC to developing Manufacturing in Africa.

RB joined IFC in 2012 after a long career in the Chemicals Industry in R&D, Technology Development, Technology Marketing, Licensing and Technology Transfer, IP Management, and Corporate Strategy. As Chief Industry Advisor to the Global Chemicals and Fertilizers Investment portfolio of IFC, he guides the investment teams and decision-making committees throughout the lifecycle of IFC’s investment including Business Development, Due Diligence, Project Execution and Portfolio Supervision. He has lived and worked in four countries and has done business in over 50 countries.

Current areas of focus:

• Decarbonization solutions for heavy industries such as energy efficiency, green hydrogen, flared gas reduction, renewable and bio-energy incorporation
• Circularity and Resource Efficiency in Manufacturing
• Fertilizers, agrochemicals, and climate smart agriculture for food and climate security
• Bio-derived and bio-degradable chemicals to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels
• Sustainable and sensible deployment of green hydrogen
• Paris Agreement alignment leadership for IFC investments in Manufacturing

RB holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the U. of Akron, Ohio, an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the U. of Connecticut, and a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from the U. of Madras, India. He has published his research in several scientific journals and presented at various academic and industry conferences; he also holds many patents for his work on specialty polymer films.

Arife Balazi North America Chemicals Category Manager Archer Daniels Midland

Ari, currently the North America Chemicals Category Manager at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), brings over a decade of industry experience, including multiple roles at Tate & Lyle. Ari has a diverse background compassing procurement, contract management, and finance accounting, augmented by cross-functional collaborations. In her tenure within ADM’s Global Procurement function, Ari has navigated roles spearheading categories and strategies focused in contractor services, labor, compliance, and facilities. Presently, she oversees a team responsible for ADM’s indirect chemicals portfolio in North America, driving global strategies to optimize outcomes. ADM’s procurement function has been recognized within the industry for its trailblazing transformations. The team aims to professionalize and proactively manage spend and supply chain risk through world-class category strategies and building formidable internal and external stakeholder relationships. Ari champions value delivery through SRM, category management, and strong streamlined procurement processes.

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.

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, which provides clients with valuable insights into the regional market dynamics of cracker feedstocks, ethylene, and propylene.

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

Jose de Barros Chief Decarbonization Officer Lummus Technology

Jose de Barros is currently the Vice President of the Ethylene Business Group within Lummus Technology. Jose manages the technical and commercial aspects of the Ethylene Business Group, which includes several key technologies for producing olefins such Steam Cracking, Olefins Conversion Technology, Methanol to Olefins and Butene-1 and Hexene-1 co-monomer production technologies.

Jose has more than 30 years of industry experience.  Prior to joining Lummus Technology in 1992, Jose worked in process and operations at Braskem ethylene plants in the Camacari Petrochemicals complex, Brazil for 6 years. Since joining Lummus Technology, Jose has held different positions in the Ethylene Business Group, including Process Design Manager, Director Olefins Technology and Director Business Development. Additionally, Jose led the newly formed Process and Engineering group for Lummus Petrochemicals overseeing the Process Engineering and Mechanical Design groups in both USA and India.

He holds a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering Process Design from Manhattan College, NY and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from UFPE, Brazil. Jose is also fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and French.

Susan Bell Sr. Vice President Downstream Rystad Energy

Susan Bell is a professional chemical engineer with over 25 years of experience in the petroleum industry.  Her expertise is with refinery planning and optimization.  She is based in Calgary, Canada and has experience with many facets of the oil industry from refinery capital planning, refinery run plan optimization, crude oil market development, commercial negotiations, and mergers/acquisitions.  Susan just joined Rystad Energy in September.

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.

Lawson Brice President and Founder Accord Petrochemical Brokerage

Lawson Brice pioneered the North American olefins spot market, launching its first voice brokerage in 2004 and brokering over 110 billion pounds of ethylene and propylene (over $40 Billion in transaction value). He founded the LE Wire in 2005 and spun it into the PetroChem Wire in 2007, co-founding the industry’s first olefins price reporting agency. At the bequest of the NYMEX, he launched the first futures contracts for ethylene and propylene. The PetroChem Wire quickly established benchmarks throughout the plastics supply chain and was acquired by IHS Markit in 2018 and later acquired by Dow Jones Company in 2022. Brice holds an MBA from the University of Texas.

Jaime Brito Vice President, Refining and Oil Markets Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Jaime Brito is the Vice President of refining and oil product markets at Chemical Market Analytics.

Jaime Brito is in charge of leading content and analysis on the refining and oil products markets and their impact on the chemical sector. With over 25 years of experience, his views and insights have reached all regions of the oil and gas industry, where he has covered oil and gas markets, refining economics, commercial strategies,

Mr. Brito’s activities at the Energy Market teams cover all regions. His technical, commercial and geopolitical knowledge, paired with a deep understanding of oil and gas dynamics, pricing drivers and a unique ability to anticipate potential market developments, make all his contributions a significant value added. He plays a leading role in assessing the outlook for global market fundamentals, refining rationalizations and supply, and is part of our market intelligence services focused on short- and long-term analysis.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Mr. Brito delivered consulting related to oil, fuels and refining around the world, from assessing the feasibility of new refineries in Asia and the Middle East to designing commercial strategies and investments in Europe or Latin America to due diligence for asset acquisition in the US or Canada. He has led diligence and feasibility studies representing over 15 billion dollars of capital.

Mr. Brito is based in Houston, Texas and holds an MBA and a BS in Chemical Engineering. As part of his long and international career, he is a regular guest in news programs, where he shares his insights on global geopolitics, oil markets, and fuel prices, among others.

Chuck Carr Vice President, World Analysis Strategic Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Chuck Carr is Vice President of the strategic team at Chemical Market Analytics.

Chuck is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the global chemical supply/demand analytics and World Analysis publications. Prior to his current position, he was the global business leader for the Inorganics team, senior director of Global Olefins, and service leader for the North American Light Olefins Market Advisory Service at Chemical Market Analytics. His focus for the past 10 years has primarily been on olefins and the analysis of the propylene and propylene derivatives markets for hundreds of global customers.

Chuck’s expertise encompasses the oil and gas and chemicals industries, including refinery engineering/operations, purchasing, plastics logistics, and olefins commercial activities. Prior to joining the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) in 2011, he served as director of propylene studies in the olefins group of Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI) since 2006. Previously, he was with Total Petrochemicals USA for more than two decades.

He received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Oklahoma and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas.

William Chen, PhD Executive Director, Asia Olefins and Derivatives Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

William Chen is an Executive Director of the Asia Olefins and Derivatives at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company.

Dr. William Chen is the Executive Director at Chemical Market Analytics. He leads Asia Olefins’ business and has research responsibilities for providing insight into the dynamics associated with the ethylene, propylene, C4, and derivatives value chain markets. Provide thought leadership on the markets relating to supply, demand, price and economics, as well as competitive dynamics and changing industry structural elements.

William also leads Asia Olefins’ business for strategic growth and provides ongoing commercial management. Focus on nurturing client relationships and deepening services as part of clients’ commercial and strategic decision-making processes. Nurture relationships with clients, including SOEs, POEs and MNCs, to deepen services in clients’ commercial and strategic decision-making processes. William has been involved in many petrochemical consulting projects and client studies, including the China Coal Chemical Study, Global Propane Dehydrogenation Research, and Refinery-cracker/aromatic complex feasibility study.

Before Chemical Market Analytics, William worked for ChemChina. William started as a chemical engineer at the company at a Lanzhou fiber plant in Northwest China. Then, he moved back to Beijing to focus on downstream application development. In the last two years with ChemChina, William took charge of sales and marketing responsibility in NE Asia.

William earned a Ph.D from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and majored in Polymer Chemistry and Physics. William is based in Beijing, China.

Prem Chitkara Executive Director, Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Prem is the Executive Director of Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives for the European, Middle-East, and African markets.

Prem Chitkara is the executive director for polyester fibers, glycols & EO derivatives in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA region) at Chemical Market Analytics. With over 30 years of experience, Prem is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into polyester fibers, glycols and ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives.

He works closely within the EMEA region with various stakeholders, including manufacturers & buyers, convertors, end consumers and financial industries, bringing support and guidance through the polyester and EO chains. His current area of focus includes oversight of the ‘Global Polyester Fibers and Feedstocks’ reports as well as primary input and insight for the ‘Market Advisory – Global Ethylene Oxide, Glycols and EO Derivatives,’ ‘World Analysis- Polyesters’ and ‘World Analysis- Ethylene Oxide and Monoethylene Glycol (MEG).’

Prem has rich and diverse industry experience globally in manufacturing, technical, expansion projects, sales & marketing, and business development, supporting him in his current role. Before joining the consulting business in 2017, Prem worked with Reliance Industries Limited for 23 years at different locations in India and Germany, where he was responsible for developing Reliance’s Polyester business in the EMEA region.

He holds a degree in Textile Engineering and earned an MBA. He has completed an Executive Management Development program at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India, and a Business Sustainability Management program at Cambridge University in the UK.

Duncan Clark Vice President, Global Aromatics & Fibers Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Duncan Clark is the Vice President of the Global Aromatics and Fibers business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Duncan Clark is the vice president of Global Aromatics and Derivatives, based in Chemical Market Analytics’ London office. Duncan joined the company in 2013 as the EMEA Aromatics Director, taking over the global Aromatics team leadership in 2017. Duncan has 40 years of experience working in the global petrochemical and chemical industries in various Sales, Marketing, Corporate Business Development, Business Management and Consultancy roles.

Duncan maintains a view of global developments in all major aromatics markets and works closely with petrochemical producers, consumers and financial institutions worldwide, providing insight and future expectations. He has specific expertise in the polyester feedstocks markets. He is a regular speaker at Chemical Market Analytics’ regional conferences. He leads a global team of Aromatics consultants and analysts. He is responsible for the commercial strategy and client support for a broad portfolio of Aromatics services focused on individual aromatics value chains. He also regularly forms part of the project team for Chemical Market Analytics’ single client studies.

Before this, Duncan spent ten years working in an ExxonMobil / Shell joint venture company involved in fuel and lubricant additives and visited refineries worldwide. He also spent 12 years working for Air Products in various chemical and industrial gas businesses in the UK, U.S., and Netherlands. He now provides insights into the global aromatics and derivative markets, including paraxylene, purified terephthalic acid, ethylene glycols, polyurethane feedstocks, and the global benzene, toluene, and xylenes markets.

Mr. Clark has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from University College London and a Master of Business Administration from Manchester Business School.

David Clark Vice President Sustainability Amcor

David leads Amcor’s global sustainability agenda. He works closely with the global
packaging company’s research-and-development and innovation functions to integrate
more sustainable design and social responsibility into Amcor’s product development and
innovation processes. He is active in Amcor’s global sustainability partnerships with the
Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, and others. He leads the company’s
program to achieve its Global Commitment to develop all of its packaging to be recyclable
or reusable by 2025, to increase the use of recycled content, and collaborate to drive up
rates of recycling around the world. David is chair of the Plastic Recycling Corporation of California, serves on the board of The Recycling Partnership, and is an Aspen Institute First Movers Fellow. David holds a B.S., Physics, from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Pepperdine
University.

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.

Keith Couch Senior Director, Business Development & Integrated Products Honeywell UOP

Keith A. Couch is Senior Director of UOP’s global Business Development function. The focus of the organization is to drive improved client value creation for projects ranging from single process units to fully integrated industrial mega-projects.

Since joining UOP in 1990, Keith has held numerous domestic and international positions across a broad range of manufacturing, R&D, service, and business management roles. He has a strong background in both Refining and Petrochemicals and is driving UOP’s thought leadership for the Refinery of the Future. He is an author with 23 publications and an innovator with 34 U.S patents.

Keith holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University, and a Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Strategy from the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business.

He is based in Des Plaines, Illinois, USA.

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.

Heather Cykoski Senior Vice President, Industrial and Process Automation Schneider Electric

Heather Cykoski, Senior Vice President, Industrial and Process Automation, Member of the Executive Leadership Team, leads the Industrial Automation business in North America to be our customer’s digital and automation partner for sustainability and resiliency.

A passionate global business leader with 25 years of international experience leading multi-divisional, multi-cultural teams across the energy value chain, Heather brings a strong track record of excellence in both business and leadership. She began her career at the Foxboro Company in 1998, as a member of the Professional Leadership Program, with roles in engineering and business development. Starting in 2005, she held several leadership roles at ABB in marketing, sales, and strategic investments. Joining as North American Manager for British Petroleum and Shell in 2007, Vice President, Group Accounts, working with The Dow Chemical Company, successfully executing chemical plants and new investments in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. In 2010, she led ABB’s partnership with Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco’s joint venture from concept through lifecycle, in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. In 2012, she managed Group Strategic Project investments including East Africa’s liquid natural gas and North America’s gulf coast chemical and liquid natural gas investments. Most recently, leading ABB’s global Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Industry business. In August 2023, Heather returned to Schneider Electric with a clear mandate to be an “impact maker” in energy transition, harnessing the full portfolio and strength of our company, AVEVA, and strategic partnerships. In addition to her professional experience, Heather is deeply involved in the community and is a fierce advocate of women in STEM. She serves on the Board of Directors of Fluitron and the World of Affairs Council. She has been honored with the Gamechangers Progress Champion Award in 2022 and 2023; WeQual Americas Leadership Excellence Award in 2021 and named a Global Leader of Influence, World Affairs in 2021; 10 Most Influential Women in Technology 2020 and a member of the Global Women’s Forum for Economy & Society, Paris France. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution from the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University and IMD’s Executive Leadership from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Heather resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and two daughters.

Austin Devaney Senior Commercial Advisor Piedmont Lithium

Austin has been involved in the battery and lithium markets for the last fifteen years with a focus on working with automotive, battery and materials companies to deliver lithium for the expansion of the electric vehicle market.  Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer for Piedmont Lithium where the company delivered raw materials to battery makers globally.  Prior to this Austin served in a variety of roles managing the Lithium business of Albemarle Corporation for ten years with a focus on the battery market.   During this time, his focus was on lithium salts and metal products helping customers with qualification, new product applications and contract negotiations.  Austin has over thirty years of experience in the Chemical Industry leading commercial efforts.  Austin holds an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. 

Greg Dooley Business Director Stolt Tankers

Greg Dooley is Business Director of Stolt Tankers USA, Inc. He has worked with Stolt Tankers for 25 years in a variety of chartering and trading roles in the USA, Singapore, Australia and the Netherlands. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a master’s degree from State University of New York Maritime College.

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.

Steven English Executive Director Aromatics and Polyurethanes, EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Prem is the Executive Director of Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives for the European, Middle-East, and African markets.

Steven English is an Executive Director of aromatics in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics. Steven has worked primarily in the aromatics and polyurethanes arena while at the company. With over 30 years of experience, Steven has a wide range of experience within the chemical industry globally and has worked as a consultant to the industry before joining Chemical Market Analytics just over two years ago.

Steven looks after the cumene, phenol and acetone chain in the EMEA region. He works closely with all producers and end users in the value chain, focusing on pricing, supply, capacity changes, imports and exports to give a complete picture of the business. He also looks after MDI and TDI in the region, where his wealth of knowledge and keen observations bring insights into the polyurethanes industry. Additionally, Steven is the global service lead for our polyurethane activities.

With a wide range of experiences in the chemical industry throughout the world, he is recognized as a global expert in polyurethanes, having led a global producer. He has also worked as a consultant to the chemical industry for many years, assisting with new chemical plant developments. He has an excellent understanding of the phenolics chain and its derivatives and has worked with many end products in his previous roles.

Mr. English has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Jeff Erhardt Chief Executive Officer Mattiq

Jeff Erhardt, Mattiq Chief Executive Officer is a technology leader and entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in artificial intelligence (AI) and material science. Most recently he was Executive Vice President, Intelligent Systems at General Electric, where he led industrial AI efforts following the company’s acquisition of Wise.io, where he was CEO. Erhardt holds more than 30 patents, and an engineering degree from Cornell.

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.

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.

Angel Fernandez Director, Chlor-Alkali Research EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Angel Fernandez is the Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics

Angel Fernandez is the Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics. Angel joined the Chemical Market Analytics team through the legacy IHS Markit Base chemicals team in 2021. During his time with the company, he has held various roles in the Inorganics value chain, including potassium hydroxide research and analysis and Global Service Leader for bleaching chemicals.

Angel leads the EMEA chlor-alkali team and provides market coverage for European caustic soda in the Global Chlor-alkali Report and Chlor-alkali World Analysis. He works closely with clients in all regions to provide support and guidance on chlor-alkali chemicals.

Angel has over 20 years of experience in trading, shipping, market research and analysis of the chemical industry. He started his career at BP Chemicals, followed by five years at Sojitz UK, where he was involved in the trading and shipping of aromatics, methanol and solvents. Before joining the IHS Markit Base Chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), he spent ten years researching and analyzing oxo alcohols, plasticizers and chlor-alkali markets at a market data provider.

Angel holds Master’s degrees in Chemistry and International Relations. He is based out of the London office.

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

Pablo Giorgi Executive Director, North America Light Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Pablo Giorgi is the Executive Director of the North American Light Olefins business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Pablo Giorgi is the executive director 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).

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.

Kathy Hall Executive Director PetroChem Wire by OPIS

Prior to joining OPIS by Dow Jones, Kathy was the founder of PetroChem Wire, a daily news and pricing service dedicated to the US olefin and polymer markets. The company’s ethylene and propylene assessments serve as benchmarks for futures contracts that trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and are widely used by the petrochemical and plastics industries as a reference in supply contracts and also spot market transactions.

In addition to its daily reports, PetroChem Wire also publishes weekly reports about PVC and also recycled plastics. The OPIS PCW Recycled Plastics Weekly has published continuously since 2010.

In 2018, OPIS acquired PetroChem Wire. Kathy now serves as OPIS’ executive director for global petrochemical products. Prior to founding PetroChem Wire, Kathy spent more than 10 years as an editor and manager at Platts, focused on petrochemical markets.

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

Bill Hyde Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Bill Hyde is the Vice President of Olefins & Elastomers at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Hyde is a member of Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. He leads a group that analyzes markets related to C4 Olefins, synthetic and natural rubber, and tire raw materials. He has been consulting in this market since 2002.

Hyde began his career with the Union Carbide Corporation in 1990, where he had various positions, including production engineering, optimization, planning, and logistics. In 2000, he joined Texas Petrochemicals as a Business Analyst.

In 2002, Hyde joined CMAI, which was acquired by IHS in 2011, in the Olefins Consulting Practice, focusing on C4 Olefins and rubber, assuming responsibility for that practice in 2006. The Base Chemicals Group of HIS Markit, which includes the C4 Olefins and Elastomers Practice, was divested to News Corp in June 2022 and became Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. He has published several papers on the Olefins and Elastomers industries and presented at numerous Olefins and Elastomers Conferences worldwide.

Hyde has BSc and MSc Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from Tulane University.

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.

Dewey Johnson Senior Vice President, Global Head of Chemical Market Analytics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Dewey Johnson is Senior Vice President & Global Lead of Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company (“Chemical Market Analytics”).

IHS Markit Global LLC (“IHS Markit”) was acquired by S&P Global in February 2022. As part of the merger, IHS Markit Base Chemicals was spun off and separately acquired by Dow Jones and renamed “Chemical Market Analytics” in June 2022.
Dewey is responsible for the global business, including insight and research covering the major chemical value chains including Aromatics and Fibers, Olefins and Derivatives, Inorganics (chlor-alkali, vinyls, and soda ash), Plastics and Polymers, and Syngas Chemicals (methanol, acetyls, and ammonia). Dewey is based in Houston.

Prior to Chemical Market Analytics, Dewey joined IHS Markit (through legacy CMAI) in 2009. His experience in the petrochemical industry covers all aspects of the business- financial, commercial, operations, research, strategy design and business planning, business development, as well as consultancy. Prior to IHS Markit, he was with Eastman Chemical Company, where he spent more than 25 years in strategic and commercial roles with various business groups and corporate functions. Dewey held management positions in commercial development, global sourcing, P&L for key businesses, market development, and market & strategic analysis of chemical markets and businesses. Dewey has led multiple complex engagements in strategy development and execution, global sourcing of Aromatics & olefins derivatives and industrial gases, business simulation & game theory and dynamic modeling, sales/ marketing, and business development. Dewey received BS and MS engineering degrees from Tennessee Technological University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He also earned an MBA in General Management. Dewey has been a frequent guest lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, UVA Darden School of Management, and SUNY at Albany School of Public Policy.

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.

Eddie Kok Executive Director, Global Vinyls Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Eddie Kok is the Executive Director of Global Vinyls Service Lead at Chemical Market Analytics

Eddie Kok is the Executive Director and Global Service Leader for Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) Global Vinyls Market Advisory Service. During his time with the company, he has held various responsibilities within the Inorganics value chain, including Asia Lead for the chlor-alkali and vinyls market coverage. With over 20 years of chemicals sector research experience, Eddie is a crucial resource within the business for understanding and providing insight into chlor-alkali and vinyls markets.

Eddie’s currently focuses on vinyls markets, directing a team of researcher colleagues around the globe to monitor and understand market developments within the vinyls value chain and provide CMA clients with insights and critical analytics that facilitate decisions. Eddie also researches and analyzes Asian KOH markets and works closely with his global Chlor-alkali colleagues in other ways to provide an integrated view of the chlor-alkali and vinyls businesses.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Eddie held multiple roles with CCM, a chlor-alkali producer based in Malaysia. His responsibilities at CMM included product portfolio management, production planning and regional sales.

Mr. Kok holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Campbell University, North Carolina, United States. He is currently based out of the Singapore office.

Nick Kovics Vice President, Global Inorganic Chemicals Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Kovics is the Vice President of the Global Inorganics team at Chemical Market Analytics.

Nick Kovics serves as the Vice President of Global Inorganic Chemicals at Chemical Market Analytics, which includes Chlor-alkali chemicals, Vinyls, Bleaching Chemicals, and Soda Ash.

Nick brings over 25 years of chemical industry experience to the Chemical Market Analytics Inorganic Chemicals insights team. He was promoted to his current role in 2024, where he leads twenty analysts who research, forecast, and report on chlor-alkali chemicals, vinyls, bleaching chemicals, and soda ash from five global locations. Previously, Nick held a variety of roles in the Inorganics value chain at Chemical Market Analytics, including leading the Chlor-alkali, Bleaching Chemicals, and Battery Materials advisory services.

Nick held various functional roles in several companies before joining Chemical Market Analytics. He began his career as a process engineer in the chlor-alkali sector at Canadian Occidental. Nick next moved into the energy sector as a field engineer with Schlumberger Canada cementing and hydraulic fracturing services. He transitioned from oil and gas to new energy and spent a decade in the hydrogen fuel cell sector in technical, commercial and financial roles. Nick continued in the electrochemical industry by joining Canexus (now Chemtrade) and held commercial leadership roles in chlor-alkali and sodium chlorate marketing.

Nick is originally from Canada and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He is a registered Canadian Professional Engineer and a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant. He has resided in Houston, TX, since joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2017.

Brian Lee Executive Director, Asia Benzene & Styrene Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Brian Lee is the Executive Director for Asia Benzene & Styrene at Chemical Market Analytics.

Brian Lee is the research and analysis executive director responsible for the Asian market report of Chemical Market Analytics, focusing on the market analysis of benzene and styrene. He also contributes to various market advisory publications and supports consulting activities. Brian has a distinguished career spanning almost 30 years in the petrochemical industry.

Previously, he worked with Argus Dewitt for three years as a vice president covering Asian Aromatics. He contributed to numerous market reports and single client studies and hosted the Asian conference, including speaking. Mr. Lee started his career with Samsung C&T Corporation, working for 16 years in Asia and Europe. He was responsible for trading and marketing benzene, toluene, xylenes (BTX), styrene, paraxylene (PX), and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) to global customers.

Mr. Lee holds an MBA from Hanyang Cyber University and a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Hanyang University, South Korea.

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.

Wilson Loh Director, Asia Chlor Alkali Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Wilson Loh is the Director for Asian Chlor-alkali at Chemical Market Analytics.

Wilson Loh is a Research and Analysis Director in the Chemical Market Analytics Global Chlor-alkali Team. Before joining, he gained extensive experience through his decades of work in commercial and trading positions in chlor-alkali and other chemical industries.

Wilson’s deep experience facilitates his work in conducting extensive research and analysis on the chlor-alkali markets in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. He authors the Asian report section of the Global Chlor-alkali Market Report (GCR), which covers his assessments of chlorine and caustic soda markets across Asia. He also provides long-term projections for Asian markets through his contributions to the World Chlor-alkali Analysis.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Wilson spent years at Basic Chemical Solutions (BCS) and Univar in chlor-alkali products distribution and trading in the Asian market. His work at BCS and Univar was preceded by several years in a commercial position at Chemical Industries Far East, a chlor-alkali producer.

Mr. Loh holds a BBA and MBA degree from the University of San Francisco. He joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2017 and is currently based in the Singapore office.

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

Ana Lopez is the 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 was responsible for contributing to the Global Chlor-Alkali Report and 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 Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, both in Mexico City. She joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2007 and is based in the Houston office.

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.

TuJun Ma President Satellite Chemical, USA Corp

TuJun Ma is the President of Satellite Chemical USA Corp. (“Satellite USA”) and the Vice President of Satellite Group. He joined Satellite Group in 2008 taking charge of export sales and building Satellite Group’s overseas practice. In 2014, he was assigned by the Group to set up Satellite USA in the US. With his lead, Satellite USA has grown fast from the scratch to a billion-dollar sales company. In 2024, Mr. Ma was promoted to the Vice President of Satellite Group due to his great contribution to the company. Prior to joining Satellite Chemical, Mr. Ma was an HR specialist at Leggett & Platt.

David Maher Director of Business Development, Americas Large Projects Linde

David Maher is the Director of Business Development for the Americas Large Projects division at Linde based in Houston, TX where he oversees origination and development of clean hydrogen and carbon capture hubs in the Americas.  David has developed partnerships and projects with across the chemicals industry on decarbonization and sustainability initiatives.

David previously worked at ExxonMobil, where he built global experience in Gas Treating & LNG across business development, technologies, and projects. David then transitioned into clean hydrogen and carbon capture technology development for commercialization of clean gas monetization pathways before joining Linde where he has continued his passion for decarbonizing industrial value chains.

David holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University and an MBA from the University of Texas.

John Mathew Vice President, Business Development Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company

John Mathew is Vice President of Business Development at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company.

John Mathew joined Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company, as Vice President (Business Development) starting May-2023. John will be part of the leadership team within CMA and will be based in the Dubai office. John comes with more than three decades of diverse experience in the hydrocarbon downstream industry value chains across the petrochemicals and the oil & gas industry.

Prior to joining CMA, John served as the Vice President (International Business Development) within ADNOC’s downstream directorate. Having worked with several industry leaders, such as Basell Polyolefins, Saudi Aramco & ADNOC, John comes with extensive global experience and functional competencies within the chemicals industry.

John holds a Master of Marketing Management degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.

Chris Matthews Editor, U.S. Energy The Wall Street Journal

Chris Matthews leads The Wall Street Journal’s U.S. energy coverage from the Journal’s bureau in Houston. Chris oversees a team of reporters covering all facets of U.S. energy, including oil and gas, renewables, electrification and the energy transition. He also writes about those industries and issues, with an eye for big-picture stories. Chris has worked at the Journal for more than a decade and previously covered major oil companies, including ExxonMobil and Chevron, as well as shale producers, LNG exporters, and petrochemical companies. He also covered white collar crime, law enforcement and courts in New York and wrote about the U.S. Justice Department’s corporate law-enforcement efforts in Washington.

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, with petrochemicals giant SABIC, Kaushik led the global business strategy team for the polymers business, shaping long-term ambitions regarding 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.

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, which later became Ineos, in technical services and product development before he moved into field sales. After five years at Solvay Polymers, Joel moved into resin distribution sales for both Muehlstein and then United Polychem as a Product Manager, where he managed and sold polyethylene and polypropylene resins into various customer segments. In his most recent role before joining Chemical Market Analytics (CMA), Joel was a purchasing manager for 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.

—

—

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.

Craig Murphy, PhD Associate Director, Global Bleaching Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Dr. Craig Murphy is an Associate Director of Global Bleaching Chemicals Service at Chemical Market Analytics.

Craig Murphy serves as the Global Service Lead for Bleaching Chemicals and holds the position of Associate Director within the Chemical Market Analytics group. With extensive experience in the chemistries of oil and gas development, pulp and paper, chlor-alkali, and advanced manufacturing, Craig is a pivotal resource within the business for managing and developing chemical market intelligence.

In addition to spearheading the global bleaching team, Craig also provides regional market coverage for potassium hydroxide, alumina, aluminium, and pulp and paper. With global responsibilities, he collaborates closely with clients across all regions and the financial sector to offer support and guidance on the inorganics chain.

Craig brings expertise across various industries and markets. He previously served as a technical expert in chlor-alkali applications associated with oil and gas at Canexus Corporation, aiding clients to succeed in participating in O&G. He honed his oil and gas proficiency while developing hydraulic fracturing fluid systems for the global service provider Calfrac Well Services. As the Director of Product Development at Cascades, Craig played a key role in creating new products to support vinyl construction materials.

Dr. Murphy holds a PhD in Chemistry from McGill University, where he conducted research on oxidative processes in pulp and paper. Later, he earned an MBA from the University of Calgary, focusing on logistics and supply chain management.

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.

Mike Nash Vice President, Global Syngas Team Lead | Americas Acetyls Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Mike Nash is the Vice President for Syngas Chemicals (including the methanol and acetyls practices) at Chemical Market Analytics.

He works with a global team of regional consultants and overlays their analyses with a global perspective. His responsibilities include the weekly World Methanol Report and monthly World Methanol Analysis, including the weekly and monthly Global Acetyls Market Reports and the related World Analyses for Methanol, Acetyls, and Formaldehyde.

Before joining the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) in September 2012, Mr. Nash worked for BP’s petrochemicals division for 19 years preceding a two-year stint in Total’s UK fuels business. He performed various commercial roles within BP, in international business management, marketing, project management, and logistics, based in London, Duesseldorf, and Kuala Lumpur. His last role in the Total UK was the Logistics Director for Specialties.

Mr. Nash holds a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from Edinburgh University, UK, and a Master of Business Administration from Kingston University, UK.

Unmesh Nayak COO Reliance Industries Limited

Unmesh Nayak is an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience in Plastics, Rubbers, and Specialty Polymers. He holds a degree in Polymer Technology from MIT, a Pune and Chemical Engineering degree from D.J. Sanghavi College of Engineering, and an MBA in Marketing and Operations from NMIMS, Mumbai.

Nayak has held various leadership roles in sales, marketing, product management, and asset management at BASF and Dow Chemical, working across diverse cultures and geographies in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the ANZ region.

Currently, he serves as the COO of the Polymer Chain division at Reliance Industries, overseeing Olefins, PE, PP, EO-EG, ACN, and EVA. Outside of his professional achievements, Nayak is a passionate marathon runner who has competed on five continents and aspires to run on all seven. He is married and has a daughter.

Brian Newsome Vice President of the Global Chlor-alkali Advisory Service Chemical Market Analytics

Brian Newsome is the Vice President of the Global Chlor-alkali advisory service at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA), joining in July 2024. Prior to joining CMA, Brian served in several roles at Westlake Corporation, including as Director of Strategy, Business Manager for Chlorine and Chlorine Derivatives, and Market Manager for Calcium Hypochlorite. He has also previously worked in commercial and technical roles for Kureha Corporation (Japan), Motorola Semiconductor and ExxonMobil LNG. Brian has over 17 years of chemical industry experience including over 13 years of global chlor-alkali and vinyl’s industries experience in marketing, sales and business line management roles. He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

James Nicholson Executive Director, America Benzene, Pyrolysis Gasoline (Pygas) and Reformate Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

James Nicholson is the Executive Director for America Benzene, Pyrolysis Gasoline (Pygas) and Reformate at Chemical Market Analytics.

James joined the company three years ago and has provided insight into the world of olefins and aromatics, given his broad background and extensive international experience in the petrochemicals sector.

His current area of focus and attention is benzene, but he also provides market coverage and analysis for pyrolysis gasoline (pygas) and reformate. He is a resource for the toluene and mixed xylenes markets as well. Responsibilities include the production of both the short and long-term price forecasts and short and long-term supply and demand balances for benzene, toluene, mixed xylenes (BTX) and pygas in the Americas region. James and the aromatics team also provide the primary input for the World Analyses reports for BTX and pygas.

James’ prior industry experience includes nearly 30 years of process engineering, manufacturing and production engineering, olefins optimization and operations planning, including feedstock selection and feedstock breakeven analyses, financial analysis, NGL feedstock trading and procurement, and business management. He served as both a Marketing Manager for benzene and styrene and Business Director for Aromatics and Oxygenated Fuels for eight years, where he was responsible for purchasing 1 million tons per year of benzene and selling 1.3 million tons per year of styrene.

Mr. Nicholson has both a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University at College Station, Texas and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, Texas.

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.

Javier Ortiz Director, North & South America Methanol Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Javier Ortiz is the Director of the North and South American methanol market at Chemical Market Analytics.

Javier Ortiz is the North and South American methanol market director at Chemical Market Analytics. As of 2019, Mr. Ortiz leads methanol market coverage in the Americas. He began his consulting career at CMAI (Chemical Market Associates, Inc.), in 2007 as a research analyst for the North and South American synthetic fibers market, primarily focusing on the polyester and nylon supply chains. He was subsequently appointed global leader of CMAI’s senior research analyst group while taking over consulting coverage of the nylon raw materials markets in the Americas.

Before joining the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) Methanol team, Mr. Ortiz formed part of its Plastics group for nearly a decade, where he led coverage of the polyolefins market in Latin American, directed the QuiMax Latin American consulting service, and was also responsible for polystyrene market research in the Americas.

He holds a degree in industrial engineering and a minor in business administration from Texas A&M University, US.

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).

Mr. Palmer is responsible for the Circular Plastics and Chemicals Sustainability business for the Base Chemicals and Plastics group. In this role, he coordinates the Research and Insight activities associated with carbon emissions and plastics reuse, reduction, and recycling. Special focuses include mechanical and chemical recycling technology and economics, plastic waste supply and logistics, company ESG initiatives and strategic responses to sustainability, and macroindustry implications.

Before his current position, Mr. Palmer managed the Chemical Consulting Group at IHS Markit, where he directed engagements for clients interested in the business, technical, and financial aspects of the energy, chemicals, and related process industries. His areas of interest included strategic business management, financial and acquisition analysis, technology assessment, capital project planning, manufacturing strategy, international project development, expert witness/litigation support, and material supply strategy. Mr. Palmer’s consulting activities focused on helping companies plan and implement business and corporate development programs worldwide.

In addition to his current activities, 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. Mr. Palmer was a founding director at CPI Consulting Associates, whose operations were merged into Chemical Market Associates (CMAI). In 2011, IHS Markit acquired CMAI and formed IHS Chemical. Previously, Mr. Palmer was a Chem Systems (Nexant) principal and started his career at Exxon Corporation. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Manhattan College and an MBA in finance and international business from Fordham University.

Paulo Pereira Executive Director, Latin America Caustic Soda and Bleaching Chemicals Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Paulo Pereira is the Executive Director of the LAT Chlor-Alkali and Bleaching Chemicals business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Paulo Pereira is an Executive Director responsible for Caustic Soda and Bleaching Chemicals market research and analysis for Latin America. During his tenure with the company, he also covered the North American caustic soda market in 2023. In addition, Paulo also provides regional support in the Chlor-alkali World Analysis reports.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Paulo worked in the chemical industry for many years. Immediately after university graduation, he joined Dow Chemical in their operations at the Guaruja Site in Sao Paulo, Brazil. After several international transfers and 22 years of operating Epoxy and Polyurethanes facilities and sites in Brazil, the US and Italy, Paulo joined Dow’s Technology Centers division, leading global PU and Alkoxylation technology teams. In 2019, he was seconded to Sadara Chemical Company in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, as Technology Director, and repatriated to the US in 2021, retiring from his 37-year career with Dow.

Mr. Pereira holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Maua Engineering School in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He has lived and worked in leadership positions in Brazil, the United States, Italy and Saudi Arabia. Throughout his career, he developed a deep understanding of petrochemical chain integration, operational aspects and cost & capital perspectives for many technologies, from olefins to PU-formulated systems specialties. Paulo has resided in Houston, TX, since 2017 and joined Chemical Market Analytics in December 2022.

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.

David Potter Vice President Aromatics and Fibers, EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

David Potter is Vice President of Aromatics and Fibers, EMEA, at Chemical Market Analytics.

David joined the Chemical Market Analytics team in January 2013 and is Vice President for the EMEA team, with product responsibility for pygas and benzene. David has expertise across several markets within the aromatics and fibers sector, including styrene monomers, phenolics, polyurethane feedstocks and ethylene oxide and derivatives. Between 2016-2018, David had global responsibility for Chemical Market Analytics daily pricing and market update reports for aromatics and light olefins.

David joined the Chemical Market Analytics team from Platts, where he was an editor in the petrochemicals team responsible for price discovery, assessment, and editorial content on various petrochemical markets. However, David mainly focused on aromatics, where he was responsible for the benzene market coverage for over five years.

Before his time at Platts, David worked for Petrochem Carless (now Haltermann Carless) for eight years between 1999-2007. He undertook many commercial roles here, including product management and customer service manager. He was responsible for buying and selling many different aliphatic and aromatic products, ketone solvents, antifreeze and glycols, plus undertaking many roles around road, rail and shipping logistics.

David has a Bachelor of Arts in Media and a postgraduate diploma in Periodical Journalism.

Ashish Pujari Vice President, Asia Aromatics & Fibers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Ashish Pujari is the Vice President of Aromatics and Fibres at Chemical Market Analytics in Singapore.

Ashish Pujari is the Vice President for Aromatics and Fibers in Asia. He has over 30 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, mainly focused on the polyester and raw material value chain, which stretches from project design, operations, sales & marketing and business development. Over the past 15 years, he has focused on market research and consulting for the polyester and raw material industry. He is responsible for providing thought leadership to the sector and guiding our long-term forecasts.

Ashish works with the Asian petrochemicals industry and coordinates support across the value chains. His current products of focus are Paraxylene, terephthalic acid (PTA) and Polyester, covering the regional dynamics and guiding the global outlook. He also actively continues to focus on sustainability developments in the polyester sector. Ashish has also been instrumental in launching several reports, including the pricing reports for Aromatics in Asia and the Global Polyurethanes & Feedstock report.

Ashish joined CMAI in 2009, with a responsibility to cover the Asian PX and polyester markets and has taken additional responsibilities through our transition to Chemical Market Analytics. Before joining CMAI, Ashish worked for Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) in India and was leading the M&A activity in the polyester sector at the time of his exit in 2009. Ashish joined RIL as a fresh engineer in 1994 in the project design and construction group and later progressed to operations. He also worked in sales & business development, becoming the North India regional sales lead for raw materials.

Ashish holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Polymers & Chemical) from the University of Pune, India, as well as an Executive Management diploma from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Roberto Ribeiro Executive Director, Global Ethylene Oxide | Ethylene Glycol Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Roberto Ribeiro is the Executive Director 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 is the Global Executive Director 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, such as plastic converters, brand owners, oil and gas, and financial industries, providing support and guidance throughout 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, 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 Polibrasil Resinas, S.A., where he progressed from Marketing Intern to Head of Marketing in just five years, developing a deep customer empathy and talent for 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.

Carl Roache Executive 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.

Michal Roztoczynski Commercial Director PCC

Avi Salzman Senior Writer Barron's

Bio coming soon

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.

Bernd V. Schuetz Executive Commercial Director Grupa Azoty Polyolefins

Bernd V. Schütz has been the Executive Commercial Director (ECD) of GRUPA AZOTY POLYOLEFINS since April 2021, overseeing the largest chemical plastics project in the EU. With 30 years of experience, he has worked for major companies like RIETER, BASF, and LYONDELLBASELL, gaining expertise in commercial strategy, sales, business development, supply chain, logistics, feedstock procurement, and technology development. He is well-versed in the chemicals and plastics industries, particularly in the circular economy, and has experience in packaging, automotive, consumer goods, pipes, and healthcare sectors. Bernd has led international businesses in Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. He holds a Diploma in Plastics Engineering from the University of Darmstadt (1995) and a Sales & Marketing Executive Program certification from the University of St. Gallen (2004).

Ben Scriber Director, North America NGLs OPIS, A Dow Jones Company

Ben Scriber, the Director of Natural Gas Liquids and LNG, joined OPIS, A Dow Jones Company, in 2015. With over 20 years of experience in the North American NGL industry, Ben has experienced several bearish and bullish markets, and witnessed the ever-changing evolution of the NGL industry, including the growth of Mont Belvieu and its importance in the global NGL market. Prior to joining OPIS, he was a retail and wholesale supply manager for AmeriGas, the largest propane retailer in North America, and began his career as an analyst for a startup company called Chalkboard, which was then acquired and absorbed into the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). As a balance, Ben also actively serves on the board of the LPG Charity Fund and the Petrochemical Feedstock Association of the Americas.

Casey Selecman Director of Powertrain Forecast AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS)

Casey has been helping the automotive industry understand the complex world of powertrain forecasting for over 20 years. As the Director of Powertrain Forecasts at AFS, his primary focus is on the North American market, but he keeps a constant eye on external market influences as the world becomes less regional and more global.

Over his career, Casey has worked directly with vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, automotive associations, and regulators to support their unique business challenges. Today, he helps companies navigate industry risk and opportunities by using critical market intelligence to give them an edge in their strategy and business planning efforts. He has also supported both California and US Federal fuel economy and GHG regulations in the early 2000’s and continues to follow all regulations impacting future powertrain requirements.

He has a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Michigan and lives with his wife and three kids in suburban Detroit.

Ramkumar Shankar Managing Director Chemplast Sanmar Ltd

Ramkumar Shankar is the Managing Director of the Indian Chemical Business (Chemplast Sanmar Ltd (CSL) & Chemplast Cuddalore Vinyls Ltd (CCVL)) of the $1.5 billion Sanmar Group.  With sales of around Rs. 5500 crores, this is a multi-location, multi-product business focused on the chloro-vinyl space. CCVL is India’s second largest Suspension PVC producer while CSL is the largest Paste PVC producer in the country. CSL is also a leading manufacturer of custom manufactured chemicals catering to global innovators and a producer of caustic soda and chlorinated solvents.

Ramkumar Shankar is a finance professional with over three decades of experience in functional and general management areas, and has played leadership roles in industry associations. He is a past  President of the Alkali Manufacturers’ Association of India, the national association representing the caustic soda, PVC and soda ash industries. He is currently the Vice President of The Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a leading Tamilnadu industry body with 188 years of history and a member of the National Chemical & Petrochemical Committee of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Phillip Smee Executive Director, Polyurethane Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Phillip Smee is the Executive Director of Polyurethane in the Americas at Chemical Market Analytics.

Phillip Smee is an executive director of aromatics and fibers responsible for polyurethane and feedstocks in the Americas. He has over 30 years of experience in the oil, gas, chemical and process industries before joining Chemical Market Analytics.

He is a regional expert on polyurethanes and feedstocks and brings his diverse background to provide deep analysis of the markets. He contributes to polyurethane market reports and several World Analysis covering polyurethane feedstocks and polyols.

He has ten years of production experience in polyols and eight years of production experience in isocyanates. During his career, he has lived and worked in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, the USA, Saudi Arabia and the UK while holding roles in operations, engineering, project management and performance management.

He has an Honors Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of NSW, Sydney, Australia and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineering and a Chartered Engineer.

Jenny Solomon Vice President Portfolio Governance & Analysis Woodside Energy

Jenny joined Woodside as VP Portfolio, Governance & Analysis in 2023.

Before working at Woodside, she held increasingly senior roles in LNG Strategy and Analytics with Penn LNG, Anadarko, Cheniere and BG Group for nearly 15 years after leaving her position at Chevron in the Global Supply and Trading group. She also spent some time in the clean hydrogen and ammonia space with Sempra Infrastructure’s business development team. Prior to entering the energy industry she was with the U.S. Federal Reserve for five years involved in macro-economic research and analysis.

Jenny is a graduate of the University of Texas with degrees in Mathematics and Economics. She also holds an MBA in Finance.

Tobias Spyra Director, EMEA Styrenics & Polyurethane Feedstocks Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Tobias Spyra is the Director for EMEA Styrenics & Polyurethane Feedstocks at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Spyra joined the European aromatics and fibers team in 2016 and his current role in Chemical Market Analytics is as Director of Styrenics and Polyurethane Feedstocks in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa region. As a key resource within Chemical Market Analytics for understanding and providing insight into the Aromatics sector of the petrochemical industry, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil, and financial industries. He specializes in cumene, phenol, acetone, AMS, BPA, solvents, styrene monomer, and its derivatives as well as the in the isocyanates, polyether, and polyester polyols markets.

Prior to joining Chemical Market Analytics, he worked in the chemical and petrochemical industries in various Sales, Marketing, and Global Business Management roles at Ineos, Innovene, and BP. Fluent in English, Spanish, and German.

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.

Lina Suarez Executive Director, North America Chlor-alkali Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Lina Suarez is the Executive Director of North America Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics.

Ms. Suarez is the Executive Director of North America Chlorine and Hydrochloric Acid. Over her tenure with CMA, she has held various roles, including Americas caustic soda market coverages. With over 25 years of extensive experience in integrated chlor-alkali, ethylene, and vinyls production chains, as well as other petrochemicals, Ms. Suarez is a crucial contributor to Chemical Market Analytics’ industry-leading expertise.

Ms. Suarez currently focuses on the North America region, conducting research, analyzing, and reporting on the chlorine and hydrochloric acid markets. Lina works closely with clients in all regions and the financial sector to provide support and guidance on chlor-alkali chemicals.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Lina worked as a sales executive and product manager in multiple Latin American countries. Her experience includes positions as Commercial Director for PMV / Vestolit Mexico, guiding chlor-alkali, ethylene and VCM business strategies and commercial operations, and expertise defining new business models and executing sales programs in Mexico, Colombia and Brazil for chemical and oil companies, including 3M Colombia, DuPont México, Chevron México and BP México.

Ms. Suarez holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia,  an MBA in Finance from the Universidad Externado de Colombia, and a Marketing Degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana de Mexico. Lina has resided in Houston, TX, since joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2019.

Joel Thigpen General Manager, Marine New Build Sales Wärtsilä

Mr. Thigpen currently serves as General Manager, Marine New Build Sales, leading the US Sales team in capturing new build opportunities with vessel owners, ship design companies, and shipyards.  Joel joined Wärtsilä in June 2015 and has served in numerous sales and business development roles within the company, leading global multi-functional teams on complex strategic new build projects in various marine applications.  Including his time at Wärtsilä, Joel has served for over eighteen years in various capacities, focused on the global offshore energy and marine markets, which included expat assignments in Aberdeen Scotland and Dubai.  Prior to his time in the offshore and marine industry, Mr. Thigpen served as a personnel officer in the United States Air Force.  Mr. Thigpen earned his Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences with a concentration in Management from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Matthew Thoelke Vice President, EMEA Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Matthew Thoelke is the Vice President for Olefins and Derivatives in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics.

Matthew Thoelke is the vice president of the olefins and derivatives team in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics. During his time with the company, he has taken a wide variety of roles across a broad range of product areas. With over 25 years of experience, Matthew is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the olefins sector of the petrochemical industry.

Within the EMEA region, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil and financial industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. His current area of focus includes oversight of the ‘Europe and the Middle East Olefins Report’ and primary input and insight for the ‘World Ethylene and Propylene Analyses.’

His prior experience includes coverage of butadiene and elastomers, for which he remains a globally recognized industry speaker and expert. Whilst in this role, Mathew was responsible for the ‘Global Outlook — Feedstocks, Elastomers Report’ and the ‘World Butadiene Analysis’ and took the lead role in analyzing olefin and derivative markets in support of the long-term planning outlooks in the World Analysis.

Mr. Thoelke has both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Material Sciences from Cambridge University, as well as a Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (ACDMM).

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.

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.

34 years, including critical roles in sales, sales management, product management, and business line management in the plastics, surfactants, and consulting industries.
Nick is a 30+ year chemical and plastics industry veteran and manages Chemical Market Analytics’ global plastics practice. Nick’s daily responsibilities include analysis, consulting, and reporting on the global polyolefins market and managing global operations associated with producing and developing 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 duties associated with 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 twelve years with Vista Chemical Company, where he held assignments in marketing, product management, and sales management in the vinyl and surfactant business areas. Mr. Vafiadis holds a Management BBA from The University of Texas at Austin, United States.

Henry Warren Director, EMEA Vinyls and Middle East Caustic Soda Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Henry Warren is the Director of EMEA Vinyls and Middle East Caustic Soda at Chemical Market Analytics.

Henry Warren is an integral Global Vinyls and Chlor-alkali Market Advisory Service member. Since joining the company in 2001, he has focused on vinyls, from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) through its precursors – ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Since early 2024, he also assumed responsibility for caustic soda in the Middle East. During his time at the company, he has held various additional positions, including responsibility for chlorine, hydrochloric acid, chlorinated solvents, TiO2 and caustic potash. Along with the stakeholder relationships he has built over several decades, his in-depth understanding of the industry contributes to the unparalleled insight that Chemical Market Analytics brings to the vinyls and chlor-alkali sector.

Henry provides coverage, analysis and insight into the vinyls value chain in EMEA and caustic soda in the Middle East in the Global Vinyls and Chlor-alkali Reports, respectively. He is also a key contributor to our Vinyls and Chlor-alkali World Analysis services. With a regional and global perspective, he works closely with clients across regions to provide support in relevant areas of the vinyls and chlor-alkali industries.

He entered the field of chemical market analysis in 1996, analyzing feedstocks and several polyolefin value chains in Europe, North America and Latin America.

Mr Warren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Humberside, UK. He is a native English speaker, fluent in Spanish, proficient in French and resides near Oxford, UK.

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.

James Williamson Vice President, Global Financial & Capital Markets Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

James Williamson is the Vice President for Financial & Capital Markets at Chemical Market Analytics.

James is responsible for the business development strategy for this critical user segment.

In addition, he has developed and is responsible for the publication of the Chemical Advisory Service (CAS), a product designed to primarily meet the needs of the Buy-side investment community, utilizing the in-depth knowledge and analysis from the Chemical Market Analytics chemical franchise.

James has a global focus on the Financial & Capital Markets. He works closely with the broader CMA teams to deliver the appropriate content, insights and analytics to this demanding client segment. His experience in the chemicals consulting and financial markets makes him uniquely qualified to do this.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2018, James worked as a chemicals consultant for ten years at CMAI (a predecessor organization to CMA) before moving into sell-side equity research and sales, covering the chemicals sector for over 20 years, including time at Morgan Stanley and UBS.

James has a BSc in Mining Geology from Imperial College, University of London, and is currently based in the London office.

Meiko Woo Executive Director, Global Nylon Fibres & Feedstocks Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Meiko Woo is an Executive Director for Global Nylon Fibers and Feedstocks service at Chemical Market Analytics.

Meiko Woo is the service leader for the nylon fibers and feedstocks service at Chemical Market Analytics and contributes to the polyester fibers and feedstocks service in North America. With over 20 years of experience, Meiko is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the fibers sector of the petrochemical industry.

Meiko has developed an international reputation for providing meaningful analysis and actionable solutions for customers to optimize their business position concerning the nylon and polyester fibers industry. Her relevant skills include a keen commercial and technical understanding of the nylon and polyester value chain and robust analytical capabilities to drive toward data-driven conclusions.

Before joining the predecessor of Chemical Market Analytics in 2009, Meiko worked for six years with Invista in Taiwan, China. She started as a process engineer and was promoted to Utility Area Plant Manager in 2004 and T10 Technical Plant Manager in 2006 before shifting to a commercial role in early 2007 and working as a planning and technical service manager. With her strong technical background, she liaised between the commercial team and manufacturing.

Meiko has a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from the National Chiao Tung University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the National Taiwan University, China.

Mark Woods President & Founder Ethylene Strategies International, Inc.

Mark Woods has over 40 years of experience in the petrochemicals, plastics, and oil/gas/NGL
businesses. Mark’s technical experience comes from positions as a research chemist, plastic
resin engineer, quality assurance manager, and plastic processing technical services manager.
His commercial management experience comes from partial or total profit/loss responsibilities
for all the markets/businesses in the ethylene value chain, from managing an independent
oil/gas exploration company to trading natural gas, natural gas liquids and ethylene to managing
a beverage packaging blowmolding company. He has bought and sold over $10 billion of long-
term ethylene and polyethylene contracts and negotiated/traded more than a $1 billion of short-
term ethylene and natural gas liquids (NGLs) spot transactions both in physical and financial
markets. Mark’s true passion is researching and forecasting components of the ethylene value
chain using physical/financial forward markets to help clients develop strategies to reduce
market risk and stabilize/increase profitability.

Peter Young CEO & Managing Partner Young & Partners

Mr. Young manages Young & Partners and is actively involved in client transactions and financings. Under his leadership, Young & Partners established and has maintained its position as a leader in the industry. Young & Partners was founded in 1996.

Prior to 1996, Mr. Young was head of the global chemical industry investment banking groups at Lehman Brothers, Salomon Brothers and Schroders.  Early in his career while with Bain & Co., Mr. Young provided strategic advice to major life science and chemical companies and was a senior investment officer of J.H. Whitney & Co., the venture capital and private equity firm.

Mr. Young has been a strategic and financial advisor to a wide variety of leading life science and chemical companies globally with regard to strategic financial advice, mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and capital raising.

Mr. Young received an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School (Baker Scholar with Highest Distinction), an M.S. in Accounting from New York University and a B.A. in Economics from Yale University.  He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Chartered Global Management Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Michelle Young Renewables Program Manager Chevron

Dr. Michelle Young is the Renewables Program Manager for the Chevron Technical Center. In this role, she manages a portfolio of internal and external R&D projects, including projects with universities and the National Labs. She has worked on a variety of biomass feedstock and processing options to produce all types of renewable fuels, including SAF and renewable gasoline. Outside of R&D, she also supports the enterprise on renewables projects and strategy, lower carbon initiatives, and emerging technology opportunities. Dr. Young has 15 years of Chevron experience in the renewables space spanning the entire scale-up journey: from bench-scale R&D to pilot design and operation, followed by demonstration, and finally the successful refinery integration/commercialization of both co-processing and stand-alone renewable diesel production. Michelle has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

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.