World Methanol Conference

Dr. Fridolin Roth General Manager of the Renewables Division Axpo Solutions AG

Dr. Fridolin Roth worked as General Manager of the Renewables Division at Axpo Solutions AG for almost 10 years. During that time, he headed the Business Development of the Division and took responsibility for the operation of on- and offshore windfarms in various European countries, the construction of a geothermal power plant as well as several M&A projects.

After Axpo adopted Hydrogen as one of its strategic growth fields, Fridolin switched his focus to Business and Project Development in Hydrogen. He always strives to implement new business models and to optimize existing assets with his excellent team and partners.

Fridolin’s interest in Renewable Energy goes back to his youth where he built his first small scale aero-generator from his bicycle and produced Hydrogen on his parent’s kitchen table. He went on to study mathematics, physics and Music before working as a Strategy and Management Consultant in the Energy Sector and later taking operational responsibility at Axpo.

Shoji Matsukawa General Manager, Carbon Neutral Project Department Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.

After obtaining Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering, Shoji joined Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) in 2003 and has worked on a variety of derivative chemicals of methanol and ammonia such as methacrylates, polyols, high-performance resins etc., in terms of R&D and business development. Since 2024, he has lead the Carbon Neutral Project Department of C1 Chemicals Division, overseeing the development of renewable methanol business throughout the methanol value chain by utilizing the circular carbon methanol platform CARBOPATH^TM that MGC deploys to realize circular economy. The activities range from developing manufacturing projects for renewable methanol to creation of the green chemical market in collaboration with various partners in the value chain.

Kirstin Kettler Global Marketing Director Valenz AG

Kirstin leads the global marketing team at Valenz – the marketing and sales arm for Proman AG who produces methanol in Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. as well as in Oman. Therefore Valenz/Proman are the second largest methanol supplier globally.

Kirstin is originally from Germany and was educated there in international business. She worked for HELM AG for more than 15 years and was responsible for products like DMF, Polymers and Fiberglass. She joined the J/V of HELM Proman Methanol when it was founded in 2018 and has since been located in Switzerland. In addition to managing the conventional methanol portfolio, Kirstin focuses on developing new markets for methanol in the energy sector together with the Proman development team as well as pushing for blockchain solutions to simplify and digitalize the future.

Pedro Melo Business Development Manager Capwatt, SGPS, S.A

Pedro is a 25 year experienced engineer with expertise across multiple domains and industries, with a strong focus on supply chain management, sustainability, contracts and partnerships management. Throughout his career, has overseen multiple international projects, operations and deals.

Nobuhiro Yoshida Chief Engineer, Engineering and Technology Unit Toyo Engineering Corporation

Nobuhiro Yoshida joined Toyo Engineering Corporation in 1999 and brings over twenty years of experience in process engineering. He has played key roles as Lead Process Engineer and Process Manager across projects involving synthesis gas, fertilizer, gas processing, and oil production facilities. In 2015, he was appointed Team Manager of the Gas Chemical Team within the Process System Engineering Division, overseeing synthesis gas and fertilizer operations. His responsibilities expanded in 2020 to include Oil & Gas, leading the Gas Chemical and Oil & Gas Team. Since 2025, he has served as Chief Engineer at the Engineering and Technology Unit, directing process engineering and syngas technology. In response to the global push for carbon neutrality, he has actively contributed to technical sales, feasibility studies, and Pre-FEED and FEED work for blue and green ammonia, as well as green methanol projects.

Erik van der Heijden Business Manager Energy Transition Port of Rotterdam

Erik graduated with a Master of Science in Applied Physics at Delft University of Technology in 2000.

He has worked for 15 years at Siemens/Siemens Energy, mainly in the field of Energy, in several positions in the Netherlands and internationally; he lived and worked for 4 years in the Middle East.

After that Erik has been active as an independent advisor in the Energy sector.

Since 2019, he has been working with the Port of Rotterdam as the Business Manager – Energy Transition. Here he has been instrumental in the strategy and business development supporting the energy transition in the industrial complex of the Port of Rotterdam. In addition to that, he has been setting up new international supply chains for renewable hydrogen and derivatives.

Erik currently lives in The Hague together with his wife and 3 children.

Amir Habibi, Ph.D. Research Scientist Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)

Dr. Amir Habibi is a Research Scientist in the Hydrogen Technologies Branch at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), where he leads research on the integration of low-carbon hydrogen into future energy systems. With over 15 years of experience in reaction engineering and process development, he brings deep expertise in catalytic technologies for emissions reduction, clean hydrogen and the production of alternative fuels.

Over the past seven years, Dr. Habibi has driven innovation in electrolytic hydrogen and synthetic fuels, contributing to technology development in biofuel upgrading, e-methanol synthesis, and nuclear-driven fuels. His work has supported the strategic integration of hydrogen with emerging energy infrastructures.

At CNL, he leads multidisciplinary efforts in process modeling, techno-economic analysis, lifecycle assessment, and infrastructure planning to advance the deployment of hydrogen-enabled energy systems. His work bridges scientific research with real-world applications, helping shape Canada’s clean energy transition.

Alexander Higelin Head of New Business Development BASF

After obtaining his PhD in inorganic chemistry, Alexander started his industrial career with a major German energy utility in innovation management. He went on to work as a business
development manager for the high throughput experimentation company – catering to the research needs of global oil and gas industry as well as major chemical companies. Since 2022
he has been heading the new business development for BASF Chemical Catalysts and Adsorbents as well as overseeing the development and commercialization of new catalysts to support the sustainability transformation in the energy and chemical industries.

Thibaud Vincendon Commercial Director Methanol Reformer

Thibaud Vincendon is the Commercial Director of Methanol Reformer and one of the leading experts in green hydrogen in Europe. He has over 16 years of experience in the energy sector, particularly in green energy (Liquefied Natural Gas, green hydrogen). Thibaud is a member of the Spanish Hydrogen Association (AeH2) and has worked as an energy and green hydrogen expert for several companies, both in and outside Spain, including Hydrogen Refueling Solutions, H2B2, and AGERE. Additionally, he is an alumnus and board member of the Energy and Environment Club at Esade (Spain) and the IÉSEG for Change Club at IÉSEG School of Management (France). He is also responsible for supervising master’s theses at the University of Burgos and the University of Barcelona.

His areas of expertise include:

• The development of green hydrogen in Europe, both in the industrial sector and urban mobility
• The cost of green hydrogen: How to achieve economies of scale
• The distribution of green hydrogen

Hector Calls Director of the Environmental Sustainability and Energy Transition Department Port of Barcelona

Hector Calls has a Bachelor’s in Marine Sciences and Master’s in Engineering and Port Management, specialized in Port Dredging, with over 24 years of experience in environmental consulting and marine surveys. From 2000 to 2005, he worked at CEDEX Ports and Coasts Centre. His expertise spans environmental aspects of port and marine projects, hydrographic surveys, geophysics, oceanography, and maritime engineering, participating in national and international projects.

He has contributed to sectors such as port infrastructure, marine renewable energy, submarine cables, offshore oil & gas, desalination, submarine outfalls, gas pipelines, dredging, marine habitats, cartography, coastal engineering, and aquaculture. He has held roles as Department Director and Project Manager in leading companies.

Since January 2022, he has been Director of the Environmental Sustainability and Energy Transition Department at the Port of Barcelona, leading strategic efforts in decarbonization and energy transition.

Dr. Bita Najmi Principal Engineer at Entr Aker Solutions

Dr. Bita Najmi is a Principal Engineer at Entr, part of Aker Solutions with more than a decade of combined industrial and academic experience in energy and chemical process systems engineering. She specializes in hydrogen, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and the synthesis of bio- and electro-fuels.

Her expertise spans technology evaluations, techno-economic assessments and system design and engineering, with a proven track record of supporting clients across the entire project lifecycle, from early-stage concept development to FEED and EPC planning for execution. Bita has worked extensively with international clients on pioneering projects, including several first-of-a-kind plants in the hydrogen and CCUS space that integrate multiple technologies.

Through her experience and technical insight, she is committed to accelerating the deployment of innovative low-carbon energy solutions that enable a more sustainable future.

Markus Speith Head of Solution Development Power-to-X bei Siemens Energy

Markus Speith studied mechanical engineering at the University of Hanover with a focus on energy and process engineering and has been working in the field of power generation projects since 1993. 1996 he joined Siemens, where he has gone through leading roles in research and development, commissioning, project management, sales and business development. Since 2019, he is globally responsible for project development in the field of power-to-x based on Siemens Energy’s hydrogen technology.