Varun Mathur

Varun Mathur is the Market Manager for subsidiary of IPCO International AB in Middle East Market covering GCC and Iraq. Varun looks after IPCO business in the region and manages sales & after sales services from Abu Dhabi, UAE. Varun has been employed with IPCO & its predecessor for 12 years and has been involved in several projects in the Sulphur, Petrochemical & Fertilizer industries. Varun is a B. Tech Mechanical Engineer from UPTECH University in India. Prior to joining IPCO he worked as site engineer and sales engineer in Bahrain and will complete 20 years of working in Middle East this year.

Jan Willem Hennipman

Jan-Willem Hennipman, PDEng, is one of the technology specialists of Worley Comprimo, with a broad knowledge in all aspects of sulphur recovery, sour water stripping and amine treating. Jan-Willem has more than 20 years of engineering experience in the oil and gas industries. Before that he worked 10 years as a process engineer for a pharmaceutical company. He holds a MS degree in Chemical Engineering and a Professional Doctorate in Engineering from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Stefaan Gouhie

Stefaan Gouhie is a mechanical engineer who currently serves as the Regional Sales Manager for CSI Ametek, where he focuses on solving heat-related plugging and corrosion issues in the European refining and petrochemical industry.

He has developed expertise in good heating practices through numerous site visits and hands-on installations over more than a decade in the sulphur industry.

Adilet Nashirbayev

Adilet Nashirbayev is a process engineer with a chemistry background in catalysis and reaction kinetics, and more than 10 years of experience in the oil and gas and energy sectors. He began his career with Baker Hughes and Nalco (Ecolab), where he specialized in chemical technologies and process optimization. He later joined Tengizchevroil (TCO) as a 3PG Utilities Process Engineer, supporting complex utility systems. For the past three years, he has worked as a Process Engineer on the SGP-400/500 Claus unit, supporting plant operations.

Akhan Akhanov

Akhan currently serves as Head of Sales and Business Development at APM Terminals Poti, where he is focused on advancing the port’s strategic role in strengthening the trade connectivity across South Caucasus and Central Asia. His work is centred on positioning Poti as a key gateway for regional and intercontinental cargo flows, supporting the development of multimodal transport solutions and deeper integration between maritime, rail and inland logistics networks.

Manish Mehta

Manish Mehta is a Technical Marketing Manager at BASF’s OASE® Gas Treatment Team. In his current role, Manish has been involved in Marketing, technology selection and proposal management of BASF’s OASE yellow portfolio for the Middle East and Central Asia region.   Over the past 18 years, he has handled various positions related to Design, commissioning, troubleshooting and product selection for both Solvent and Adsorbent based technologies in various hydrocarbon stream applications.  
Manish is a Chemical Engineer by education from Thapar University India and is an author for several technical papers and patent submissions.

Ayan Dasgupta

Ayan Dasgupta is a highly experienced Process Engineer with over 22 years of expertise in conceptual design, detailed engineering, and lump sum contracts. He has a proven track record of successfully executing process studies, front-end design, and detailed design for various industries, including refineries, petrochemical complexes, chemical plants, onshore gas terminals, and power plants. Ayan's extensive knowledge and skills have earned him global recognition as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Acid Gas Treatment at Fluor. His current areas of work include Acid Gas Removal Units, Acid Gas Enrichment Units, and Sulphur Recovery Units.

Aidana Andirova

Aidana Andirova is a Process Engineer with experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in process operations, optimization, and reliability improvement. She has a diverse technical background that includes process engineering, flare system analysis, combustion calculations, emissions assessment, and laboratory support for analytical testing and quality control. In her current role, she is involved in monitoring and enhancing process performance, troubleshooting operational challenges, and supporting safe and efficient facility operations. 

Talal Jabr A Alhajri

Talal is a Process engineer with over 5 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in gas treatment and sulfur recovery technologies. He currently works with the Process Solution Division part of Saudi Aramco downstream center of excellence, supporting all Saudi Aramco's downstream facilities inside and outside the kingdom with a focus on benchmarking studies, process optimization, troubleshooting and RCA investigations.

Chiara Amore

Chiara Amore is a Process Engineer with more than four years of experience in the oil and gas industry, specialising in sulphur and acid gas treating. In her current role, she supports clients with operational troubleshooting and performance improvement of ARU, SWS and SRU units at operating plants. She also contributes to sulphur proposals, feasibility studies and basic engineering.Earlier in her career, Chiara worked on EPC project execution, including P&ID development, equipment design, value engineering, technical evaluation of vendor bids, and the preparation of instrumentation and control/interlock narratives and operating manuals. She regularly participates in HAZOP studies and technical reviews.Her current focus is on innovative SRU solutions that reduce atmospheric emissions while maintaining high sulphur recovery efficiency.

Zhen Liu

Zhen Liu holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and has extensive experience in both academic and industrial process innovation, design, and optimisation for separation and reaction systems. He brings more than 10 years of focused experience in natural gas treatment using adsorbent solutions across the Asia–Pacific market. At BASF Process Catalysts, he has supported solution set-up, process design, and customer implementation.

Carmella Alfano

Carmella is a Lead Technology Engineer in the Low Carbon Solutions & Gas Business Division at Axens with a focus on the Carbon Capture and Gas Solutions product line for process licensing. She has 20 years experience in the natural gas industry having worked most her career in Canada as a process engineer in gas plant design in multiple companies before moving to France. Carmella currently works on Gas Sweetening and Pre-combustion Carbon Capture technologies.  
Carmella holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary in Canada.

Kaiyr Tekebayev

Kaiyr is a Chemical Engineer with 13+ years of industry experience. His focus areas are commissioning and start-up of amine and sulphur units. He has performed engineering, testing, commissioning, start-up, and troubleshooting of amine treating and sulphur recovery systems for more than 30 production facilities in over 20 countries. Kaiyr is a co-author of several papers which are published in Hydrocarbon Processing and Sulphur Magazine.

Nuray Nurymzhanova

Nuray Nurymzhanova is a Process Engineer with over six years of experience in oil and gas facilities engineering at Tengizchevroil (TCO). She previously worked as a unit process engineer supporting sulfur recovery and tail gas treating units (SRU/TGU), amine gas treating, gas dehydration, and sour gas injection facilities. She now works as a Sulfur&Amine technology process engineer, providing technical support for sulfur and amine processing technologies across the facilities. Her responsibilities include process troubleshooting, evaluation of unit performance, and analysis of complex operational issues, as well as support of reliability and operational improvement initiatives.

Ryan Gillis

Filip Cejka

Pilip Cejka is a Consulting Engineer at Bryan Research & Engineering, where he bridges the gap between complex process simulation and real-world optimization. He specialises in solving intricate process challenges, including diagnosing salt accumulation in Merox units, resolving tail gas treating emission issues, and reducing steam consumption in sour water strippers.His expertise spans traditional upstream, midstream, and refining sectors, as well as the energy transition, including modelling sustainable aviation fuels and pioneering green ammonia and methanol. Whether working on new conceptual studies or optimising existing decades-old facilities, his mission remains the same: to accelerate the learning curve of process engineers and help them achieve optimal, reliable, and sustainable solutions with ProMax.

Yelshat Makarov

Yelshat Makarov is a process engineer in the oil and gas industry with experience in sulfur recovery, amine treating, utilities, and off-plot facilities.
He joined Tengizchevroil in 2021 and initially worked as a Process Engineer in Utilities and Off Plots, where he supported nitrogen and air production systems, monitored wastewater injection quality, optimized air dryer desiccants, and maintained process safety documentation, including P&IDs and regulations.
Since 2023, he has been working as a Process Engineer for the Sulfur Recovery Unit, where he supports sulfur recovery plant operations, Claus and tail gas treating unit (TGU) catalyst optimization, emissions-related initiatives, and continuous operational support for key stakeholders. His experience includes participation in major unit shutdowns and turnarounds, as well as active involvement in PHA/HAZOP sessions.

Thomas Kline

With over 45 years of experience in structural repair and rehabilitation ofconcrete structures, Mr. Kline has experience in investigation, design,planning and execution – having worked on over 2,500 individual projects.He has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience both nationallyand internationally, for Structural Group companies. He has led anddeveloped a team of technical experts in providing design-build capabilities,developing turnkey repair strategies, and implementing sophisticated andverifiable repair programs for a wide range of concrete repair projects.

Saffet Özgünay Dinçsoy

Saffet Ozgunay Dincsoy is a Chemical Engineer with over 35 years of experience in refinery operations and the energy sector. She currently serves as Sales and Marketing Director at Ozersoylar Foreign Trade Inc., one of Turkiye’s largest sulphur trading companies, also active in fertiliser production. with an annual sulphur trading volume exceeding 1 million tons. She combines strong technical expertise with commercial leadership, bringing a unique perspective to global sulphur markets. Her focus is on international trade, supply chain optimisation, and developing new trade routes. She has built long-term partnerships with major refineries and industrial clients, ensuring reliable and efficient supply in dynamic market conditions.

Philip Barker

Philip Barker is the Manager of Technical Engineering at Controls Southeast Inc, part of the AMETEK group. He leads technical engineering activities supporting advanced solutions around thermal maintenance and sulphur process equipment. In his role, he bridges engineering expertise with customer and commercial requirements. Philip works closely with cross‑functional teams to ensure technical excellence and compliance with industry standards. He brings a practical, solutions‑driven approach to supporting complex thermal maintenance and process equipment applications.

Edward Vera Douglas

Edward Vera Douglas is a Professional Engineer having + 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, with expertise in sour gas treatment and sulfur recovery technologies. Over the past 4 years, Edward has been heavily involved in RCA investigations, benchmark studies, process optimization and review of new technologies as part of his role of Process SME in SAUDI ARAMCO Global Manufacturing Excellence, covering all downstream facilities inside and outside KSA.

Frank Scheel

Frank has been in his current role with Worley Comprimo for over six years.  As leader of Worley Comprimo Frank is responsible for the Gas treating and Sulphur Recovery Technology Business in Worley. Prior to this he was with Jacobs for 24 years in roles ranging from Process Engineer, Business Development Manager, Director of Technology and Director Business Development. Most of these roles were under the Gas Treating and Sulphur Recovery Technology group within the Jacobs organisation.

Jan Henk van Dijk

Jan Henk Van Dijk holds an M.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering/Process Technology and has further expanded his expertise in engineering and project management through dedicated courses and training. After spending six years with two different engineering contractors in the chemical and oil and gas industries, working as a process engineer, lead process engineer, and project manager, Jan Henk joined Paques in 1998. At Paques, he served as the technical lead responsible for project execution for the THIOPAQ technology. In 2011, he joined Paqell as Technical Manager.

Paolo Felici

Paolo Felici is a Process Leader at NextChem (Maire Tecnimont Group), with over a decade of experience in Process Engineering and Technology for energy transition technologies. His expertise spans Gas Treating, green hydrogen production, CO₂ capture and liquefaction, and ammonia-based systems, with involvement in large-scale projects from feasibility studies to EPC execution. He has led multidisciplinary teams and managed complex process integrations across international projects. Paolo is also co-inventor of Method and system for carbon dioxide capture and Method and system for carbon dioxide system for Liquefaction. His current work focuses on developing and implementing innovative, low-carbon solutions for industrial applications.

Debopam Chaudhuri

Serikzhan Yermekov

Serikzhan Yermekov graduated from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in 2019 with a degree in Energy Engineering. In 2021, he joined Tengizchevroil, where he has accumulated five years of experience in the Process Engineering Department across several technical roles. His work has included flaring calculations, sour gas amine treatment, and he is currently engaged in crude stabilization position. His professional focus is on process performance, operational efficiency, and technical compliance within large-scale oil and gas facilities.

Mathias Innerkofler

Mathias Innerkofler holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Vienna University of Technology and an MBA in Business Administration from California Lutheran University. He has professional experience in combustion engineering, business development, and project management for industrial plants and process technologies. Mathias currently works as a Business Development Manager at kvt.technology (Kanzler Verfahrenstechnik GmbH), focusing on wet sulphuric acid technologies and sustainable process solutions.

Madiyar Beisekov

Madiyar Beisekov is a Process Engineering Supervisor with experience in sulfur recovery, amine treating, and utilities systems within the oil and gas industry. He has held roles across Utilities and Sulfur Recovery Units, supporting nitrogen and air systems, wastewater management, and off-plot facilities optimization. In his current role, he leads process engineering activities for sulfur recovery and tail gas treating operations, with a focus on Claus and TGTU performance, amine system reliability, emissions reduction initiatives, and operational excellence. His experience includes participation in major plant shutdowns and start-ups, process troubleshooting, and continuous improvement projects, as well as active involvement in PHA/HAZOP studies to enhance process safety and reliability.

Robert Cable

Robert Cable is the Chief Executive Officer of ElectroSep Inc., where he leads the development and deployment of advanced chemical separation technologies. He brings extensive experience from global chemical manufacturing organizations, including SI Group and Baker Hughes, and has led cross-functional innovation programs spanning multiple product lines and international markets. His work has focused on integrating R&D, manufacturing, and commercial strategy to deliver scalable, differentiated solutions across oil and gas, fuels and lubricants, and water treatment applications. Dr. Cable holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University and has led the development and commercialization of multiple award-winning technologies.

Aizat Kaparova

Aizat Kaparova is an Overseas Marketing Manager at Unilink Commodities Trading Platform DMCC. Based at the company’s China headquarters, she is responsible for business development and market expansion across Central Asia, with a particular focus on sulphur, cobalt, and other metals in the international market.

Francis Bernard

Francis Bernard is the Director of Operations at Alberta Sulphur Research Ltd. (ASRL). A chemist by training with a degree from Université de Sherbrooke, Francis oversees the company’s business and operational strategy. Since joining ASRL in 1999, he has developed expertise in the safe handling of high-pressure sour fluids and specialized measurements, such as water content in sour systems. His project history spans from corrosion and storage to transportation and emissions. While he specializes in elemental sulfur deposition and solvents, his recent work includes H2S scavengers and complex deposit analysis. Before ASRL, Francis developed acidizing and fracturing formulations for the oil and gas service industry.

Angie Slavens

Angie has 28 years of experience working in the oil and gas business, primarily focused on sulphur recovery and sour gas treating. She has served as sulphur technology manager for two of the world’s leading sulphur technology licensing firms and has been involved in the delivery of several world-class projects. In 2014, Angie initiated an owner’s engineering focused consulting business, UniverSUL Consulting, based in Abu Dhabi, which has since been relocated to the USA. Angie has published numerous papers, is a member of several international conference committees, and previously served on the Board of Directors for ASRL (2013-2023).  

Angie received her BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1996 and MBA from Hult International Business School (Dubai, UAE) in 2018.  

In her free time, Angie enjoys distance running; she completed the Abbot Marathon World Majors (Berlin, Boston, Chicago London, New York, Tokyo) in 2021.   

Peter Harrisson

Dr Harrisson has worked on CRU’s Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid analysis since joining the company in early 2011 and is Head of the Sulphur team. He also works across other nutrient areas, including both market and cost analysis. Prior to joining CRU, Dr Harrisson completed a PhD in Industrial Chemistry at Durham University.

Johann Le Touze

Johann Le Touze works for Axens as Lead Sulphur Recovery Technology Engineer, within the Acid Gas Group – Low Carbon Solutions & Gas Product Line. He started his professional career in 2013 as R&D engineer and then as a Marketing & Business Line manager for a world leading TiO2 manufacturing company. He holds an Advanced Master degree in Chemical Engineering from ESPCI - Ecole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris (Paris Industrial Physics and Chemistry Graduate Engineering School) and a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering & Materials Science from Doshisha University (Kyoto, Japan).

Feras Kordi

Feras Kordi is a Process Engineer at BASF’s OASE® Gas Treatment Team. In his role, he provides technical support to gas treatment plants in various segments in natural gas and refinery industries, ranging from LNG treatment to Sulfur Selective and CO2 capture applications. He specializes on Technology selection, design and modeling, commissioning, and operation troubleshooting. Feras has worked previously in a major oil and gas EPC company, primarily in natural gas processing, refineries, and petrochemical complexes. He holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering from the American University of Sharjah, and has been part of multiple scientific conferences regarding his research in bioenergy and reactor modelling.

Ruming Yuan

Ruming Yuan joined CRU in 2021 as phosphate and sulphur value chain analyst base in Beijing office. Ruming has over 12 years working experience in fertilizer industry, while working for world’s reputable companies. Ruming gains a unique understanding of the fertilizer industry by working with a broad range of fantastic people in the industry throughout the years.

Ruozhou Wang

Ruozhou (Lucas) Wang is International Sales Manager at Kunming Jiahe Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (JH Pumps). A graduate of North Carolina State University, he is responsible for market development and customer management across the MENA and European regions. He brings strong international business expertise and a focused approach to building customer relationships and supporting regional growth.

Denis Coppieters

Denis Coppieters is the CEO of ThioTrack and ThioMaterials, pioneering the industrial scaling of Thiocrete—a sustainable sulfur concrete for railway and civil infrastructure. His work focuses on creating high-volume, value-added applications for elemental sulfur, notably by operating the Baudour plant, the world's first sulfur concrete facility of its capacity. Dedicated to rigorous technical validation, Denis drives certification through Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and real-life testing. Under his leadership, the company recently achieved technical homologation from ProRail and launched full-scale sleeper production for Deutsche Bahn, proving sulfur concrete is a fully viable, low-carbon alternative for modern infrastructure.

Jochen Geiger

Jochen Geiger was in charge of Business Development at AMETEK Process Instruments. At the beginning of 2025, after almost 30 years as an employee, a new chapter in his professional career has started. As a part time pensioner, Jochen set up his own consulting agency. In this new rule he continues to support AMETEK Process Instruments and other manufacturers of Process Analytical Instruments.