Marco Levi

Chief Executive Officer
Ferroglobe

Marco Levi is Chief Executive Officer of Ferroglobe PLC, global leading producer of Silicon Metal and Ferroalloys since January 2020. Previously, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj, a global fiber materials company. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President and Business President at Styron and spent over 22 years at Dow Chemical, in various departments and roles, ultimately serving as General Manager. Marco serves on Mativ’s Board of Directors and has held directorships in various companies. He holds a PhD in Industrial Chemistry from the Università degli Studi di Milano, Statale, in Italy.

Marcelo Marino Luz

CEO
Nexus Ligas

José Tinoco

Category Manager Raw Materials
Stegra

José Tinoco doesn’t speculate about metals markets — he builds the supply backbone behind them. With more than two decades across smelter operations, raw-materials trading, and R&D leadership, he operates where chemistry meets contracts and margins are defined.

José has structured sourcing strategies for over a million tonnes per year, negotiated complex feedstock agreements, and aligned technical constraints with commercial reality. Today at Stegra, he is securing the raw-materials framework for a new industrial build-out — where ferroalloy quality, carbon-cost exposure, and geopolitical risk are not only concepts, but economic realities.

Sandeep Nijhawan

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder
Electra

Sandeep Nijhawan is the co-founder and CEO of Electra. Sandeep has been at the center of deep-technology and venture investments for over 20 years, leading international companies and garage-based start-ups, transforming nascent ideas into global enterprises.

Prior to starting Electra in 2020, he was an operating partner of True North Venture Partners and president of two electrochemistry-focused cleantech startups: AquaHydrex, which developed an electrolyzer for the hydrogen economy, and Staq Energy, which developed distributed energy storage solutions.

Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Vice President at Intermolecular, specializing in accelerating R&D of innovative materials for electronics; founded and was CEO of LED start-up Siorah Incorporated; and incubated Applied Materials’ LED business from concept to commercialization.

Sandeep has a Bachelor of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology - Kanpur, India, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the International Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dr Dank Konchar

COO
Afarak Trading

Dr Danko Koncar graduated from University of Zagreb (Croatia) and later obtained a Masters Degree and Doctorate at the same university.  

Dr Koncar is presently the COO of Afarak Trading Ltd, a company that is internationally recognised for its role in the ferroalloys industry.

When Samancor Chrome in South Africa was acquired from BHP Billiton and Anglo American in 2005 Dr Koncar presided as the Chairman of Samancor Chrome until Nov 2009. In Nov 2010 Dr Koncar was appointed as the Managing Director of Afarak Group Plc, and in March 2013 became the Group CEO.    

Dr Koncar has become one of the most recognised and respected experts in ferroalloys, and as such has been sought after speaker on the international ferroalloys production & marketing conferences.

Julien Burdeau

Group Decarbonization Director
ERAMET SA

Since 2023, Julien Burdeau has been Group Decarbonization Director at Eramet.

He draws on more than 20 years' experience in the metallurgical and energy industries. He joined Eramet as Transformation and Strategy Director for its Alloys Division in 2018. Between 2013 and 2017, he was Innovation VP and then COO at Gaz Transport & Technigaz. Between 2002 and 2013, he held various management positions at ArcelorMittal then Aperam, where he acted as CEO of the Alloys Division.

Julien started his career in the French Ministry of Industry, was a student at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics and is an engineer of the French Corps des Mines.

Mark Bula

CEO
Blastr Green Steel

As a 35-year steel industry veteran, Mark has played pivotal roles in six steel start-up projects on three continents.  He was instrumental in the go-to-market strategy and commercial negotiations as the Chief Commercial Officer for Swedish-based Stegra, helping raise €7.0B to build the world's first green steel plant.

While most of Mark's career was in heavy industry, he spent three years as the Managing Director of a boutique strategic consulting company and a Corporate Director of Marketing for a building products company.  He has an MBA from the University of Toledo, USA.  He splits his time between Helsinki and London.  

Gilles Mirol

Chief Commercial Officer
Hydnum Steel

Gilles Mirol is the Chief Commercial Officer of Hydnum Steel. He is an experienced Manager of international sales teams in the steel industry for all flat carbon product in EMEA and NAFTA and has a strong management sales record in term of sales numbers and improving margins but also maintaining customer satisfaction and building strong customer relationship finding their steel solutions.

Gilles has developed advanced skills in International Project Management, Marketing Management, Operations Management, International Business, and Sales Management.

Ralf Haessig

Director of Materials Management
ZF Group

Hill Summer

Managing Director
Million Link (China) Investments

In 1992, Mr. Summer founded Million Link Shipping Ltd. in Hong Kong, followed by Million Link (China) Investment Ltd. in 1999. These companies have since evolved into the Million Link Group, a multinational enterprise operating across the ferroalloys, minerals, and steel value chain.

His business philosophy—anchored in delivering total cost savings for customers—has driven the group’s transformation into an integrated material trader, structural financier, and equity investor.

Andrew Fang

Vice President, Projects & Sustainability
Meranti Green Steel

Andrew is Vice President, Projects & Sustainability at Meranti Green Steel. He has 20 years of experience in executive and senior management roles, including with P&L responsibility in the steel industry in South East Asia. He has led major capital project programs, sustainability initiatives, and organizational build-outs, with responsibility for project delivery structures, governance, and operational processes.

Andrew was President of BlueScope Lysaght Singapore and has also held senior commercial and project management roles. He holds an MBA and a degree in economics.

Alex Tuckett

Head of Economics
CRU

Alex Tuckett is Head of Economics at CRU. He has over 15 years experience in economic analysis. Alex joined CRU in 2020 from PwC, where he was a Senior Manager in their economics advisory practice, leading analytical projects for a range of clients as well as contributing to their macroeconomic commentary. Hebegan his career in the UK Treasury, later moving to the Bank of England, and has provided macroeconomic modelling and analysis to policymakers in fiscal, monetary and financial policy.

Alex has published his analysis through a number of working papers, journal articles and blog posts on topics including productivity, exchange rates and modelling credit flows. Alex has an MSc in Economics from University College London, and a BSc in Economics and Economic History from the London School of Economics.

Jamie McLeod

Director, Customs and International Trade
CROWE UK

Jamie Mcleod leads Crowe UK’s Customs and International Trade consultancy team. He advises businesses across the metals and manufacturing sectors on customs compliance, trade remedies, and supply chain structuring. Jamie has particular expertise in EU and UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM), with a focus on practical compliance, implementation challenges, and commercial impacts across value chains. He also supports industry bodies and corporates on trade policy developments and duty mitigation strategies in complex international supply chains.

Honghuang (Julie) Zhu

Deputy Director, Project Management Department
Dalian Heavy Mechanical & Electrical Equipment Engineering Company Ltd (DHHI)

Zhu Hongguang, a senior project manager for buildingferroalloy smelting process line with 7 years of  international marketing and project management experience and 10 years of work experience in the field of heavy machinery and equipment products.

Zhu Hongguang has signed and managed multiple large-scale ferroalloy smelting plant construction projects, such as the EP+installation project for 4 sets of 36MVA FeSi furnace project in Kazakhstan, 2 sets of 22.5MVA FeMn silicon & SiMn smelting projects in Middle East, one set of 39MVA FeSi furnace equipment supply project in Middle East, one  FeCr furnace revamp project in Kazakhstan, etc.

As the Deputy Director of the Project Management Department, Zhu Hongguang is currently leading the team mainly to explore the international ferroalloy smelting project market and looking forward to establishing contacts and cooperation with more industry experts and colleagues!

Liam Yasin

Stainless Value Chain Analyst
CR|U

Liam Yasin is an Analyst in the Stainless Value Chain team. His work focuses on the fundamentals of nickel and molybdenum markets as well as stainless steel products.  He contributes analysis across the value chain and helps manage supply data for nickel assets.

Prior to joining CRU, Liam obtained a PhD at Imperial College London, focusing on investigating electrochemical materials relevant to the energy transition. This followed the completion of an MEng in Materials Science and Engineering at the same institution.

Clare Hanna

Senior Analyst
CRU

Clare Hanna joined CRU in August 2019 and currently works as a Senior Analyst covering Manganese Ore and Ferroalloys and is Editor of the Bulk Ferroalloys Monitor.Clare has over 30 years’ experience in the steel industry with British Steel, Tata Steel and Corus in a range of strategy, sales, marketing and procurement roles. Recent responsibilities include business development for wire rod and, prior to that, lead buyer ferroalloys for Tata Steel Group.Clare holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and BA Honours degree in Economics from Leeds University.

Ionut (Johnny) Lazar

Principal Consultant
CRU

Ionut has worked for CRU since 2007 and is the company’s lead consultant on strategic advisory projects across the commodity spectrum. His remit includes market entry, diversification and M&A support; the formulation of decarbonisation strategies; and supply chain security with a focus on raw material criticality.

His recent projects include an M&A strategy for a mid-tier mining company,  assignments focused on aluminium value enhancement, secondary and low-carbon premia, and multiple studies in the field of elemental carbon.Ionut brings to the role a wealth of advisory experience gained in important regional commodity markets.

As a regional director for business development in East Asia, he established CRU's Tokyo office and provided strategic support to Japanese trading houses and Korean industrial entities. More recently, as CRU's head representative in India, Middle East and Africa, he oversaw important strategic assignments for MENA aluminium and fertilizer complexes, government agencies, sovereign funds and South African mining companies.

Gareth Beese

Head of EMEA Consulting
CRU

Gareth has over 20 years of experience working in businesses focused on the production and processing of steel. Before joining CRU Consulting, he held several senior leadership positions within British Steel, Tata Steel Europe and its predecessor companies, including strategy development, sales and marketing and supply chain director roles.Gareth has spoken at industry events, such as Eurometal World Steel Distribution Summit, sat on various UK Steel and Eurofer product committees and worked with UK governments on public procurement guidelines for steel.Gareth has recently joined the CRU Consulting team

Panos Kotseras

Head of Stainless Steel Value Chain Markets
CRU

Panos started his career in commercial roles with copper and aluminium fabricators in the early 2000s. He joined CRU as a copper demand and wire & cable analyst in 2008 and became the lead analyst for cobalt and molybdenum in 2011. Panos moved to Rio Tinto Copper in 2015, working as an analyst and marketing executive in the molybdenum and copper by-product sales and marketing team. He rejoined CRU in 2018 becoming responsible for stainless steel market analysis and price assessment. Panos is currently the Head of Stainless Steel Raw Materials at CRU, managing a team of experts covering the nickel, chrome, molybdenum, tin and precious metals markets. He is undertaking an executive PhD at ESCP Business School with the goal to investigate the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and Commodities.

Martin Trouilloud

Ferroalloy Cost Analyst
CRU

Martin Trouilloud joined CRU in November 2023 and is the analyst in charge of the Manganese Ferroalloy Cost Service, based in their London office. He graduated in 2023 with a BS in physics and mathematics from Brown University, where he was a research assistant in a computational chemistry lab. Besides ferroalloys, he has worked on manganese ore and crude steel.

Tanya Atalay

Senior Market Research Analyst
ICDA

Tanya Atalay has joined the ICDA as Senior Market Analyst in February 2024, she is an experienced market reporter and analyst with 11 years of expertise in monitoring and analyzing global steelmaking raw materials. She has previously worked as a Market Reporter and Analyst, as well as an Editor of Ferroalloys news with Metal Expert. Tanya Atalay holds a Master’s degree in International Economics from Dnipropetrovsk National University, Ukraine.

Matt Watkins

Principal Analyst

Matt Watkins leads CRU's forecast work on steel sheet globally and is also the European flat steel analyst.  He has worked in the commodities industry since 2001 in a variety of analysis, marketing and consulting roles including 13 years at CRU and over 6 years at Rio Tinto. 

Matt holds a BSc in Geology from the University of Durham, and an MSc in Mineral Exploration from Imperial College, London.