Hannes Storch

Before joining Outotec in 2002 as a process engineer in Sulfuric Acid Technologies, Hannes Storch studied at the Technical University of Clausthal and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Dr. Storch holds a doctor degree in Chemical Engineering. In the course of his work for Metso Outotec, he held various positions, including several years in Chile. Today, he is on the management board of Metso Outotec's German subsidiary and heads the Metals and Chemical Processing business line. He is also a member of the board of the VDMA - AG Großanlagenbau (Large Plant Building Section).

Collin Bartlett

Collin Bartlett graduated from the University of Manchester with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mr Bartlett has held various technical and sales roles during his thirteen years at Davy McKee associated with their global activities in the Iron & Steel division. He joined Lurgi Metallurgie (part of Outotec since 2001) and has been involved in many sales/business development roles for the company over the past 20 years.

Agnes von Garnier

Agnes von Garnier, Sales Manager, Product Group Alumina, Outotec GmbH & Co. KG, Oberursel, Germany, entered Outotec in 2009. Ms von Garnier is currently in charge of sales and new business development within the product group Alumina. In earlier roles, she worked as product engineer and project manager with Outotec’s Energy department and with the JV company Enefit Outotec Technology. Her focus areas are thermal treatment processes such as calcination, gasification and pyrolysis. Previously, she worked in research on multiphase reactor design; she holds German and French diplomas in chemical and environmental engineering.

Guoxin Wang

Guoxin Wang, “GW” is Sr. Director for Global Mining Chemical Technologies at Arkema/ArrMaz. Dr. Wang is responsible for executing the prioritization of the mining chemical innovation and technical service portfolios. He has over 38 years’ experience in the field of Mineral Processing, including over 24 years over phosphate flotation and defoamer application with worldwide ore bodies.

Elton Curran

Elton Curran has 25+ years of engineering experience, primarily in the phosphate industry. Mr Curran holds a Bachelor of Science and Chemical Engineering degree from Auburn University. He joined Jacobs in 2011. His responsibilities include supervising engineers and designers, the development of heat and mass balances, hydraulic calculations, ventilation calculations, piping and instrument diagrams, equipment data sheets, specifying equipment and reviewing bids. He also has substantial field experience in chemical plants.

Jan Tytgat

Jan Tytgat is a chemical industrial engineer with 33 years of experience in process engineering, technical audits and commissioning activities mainly in the Phosphoric Acid field. Mr Tytgat started with SNC-Lavalin, fertilizers division in Brussels as a process engineer and presently works as Process Engineering Manager with De Smet Agro in Belgium.

Lyndsay Tran

Lyndsay Tran, EIT, is a Hydrometallurgy Graduate Process Engineer with Hatch based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Ms Tran received her Bachelors’ degree (BASc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Ottawa. Since joining Hatch, she has been involved in hydrometallurgical process design and optimization projects and studies across various commodities such as nickel & cobalt, phosphates, alumina, and lithium.

Jens-Michael Bergmann

Jens-Michael Bergmann is a specialist in sensor-based machine sorting and has been for more than 16 years. Mr Bergmann’s practical background created the necessary experience to even offer consultancy around sensor-based sorting technologies to his current international clients. After graduating with a master’s degree in Mining engineering, he was plant and operations manager of several mines and quarries, all for one German company. Here he learned the challenges of the mining and mineral processing business hands-on. During his university time, he worked in underground coal mines and oil drilling rigs around Europe. In his spare time, he enjoys offshore sailing.

Alexander Van Heuverswyn

Alexander Van Heuverswyn holds a mechanical degree, completed with a master in business administration. Mr. Van Heuverswyn is currently working as a business development manager for the environmental, circular solutions department of the family owned & global player, Jan De Nul Group. He has more than 20 years of experience in business development of technologies / solutions which help to reduce the CO2 footprint. He started promoting circular solutions when these were not yet a “hype”.

Igor Makarenko

Igor Makarenko joined Solex in 2010, with the past eight years spent solidifying the brand as a globally recognized technology provider for fertilizer cooling and drying. Mr Makarenko has extensive end-to-end experience developing turnkey solutions in various applications ranging from urea granules to potash.

Boo Lee

Dr Boo Lee joined CPFIA in 2014, Dr Lee is professional at fertilizer management and market analysis. She has a background in Agronomy and plant nutrition. She holds a Doctor’s degree from the University of China Agricultural University.

Sam Adham

Sam Adham joined CRU in 2023 and is Head of Battery Materials Analysis. Mr. Adham is a regular commentator on the e-mobility transition, with a specialty in batteries and powertrain technologies. He is an automotive expert with over a decade of industry experience at leading analysis firms and working on advanced engineering projects at automakers. He holds a master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Manchester and he is based at the London office.

Rajesh Raitani

Rajesh Raitani is a Senior Marketing Manager (Segment Manager) in the Global Mining Division at Nalco Water, An Ecolab Company and is currently responsible for creating and implementing business growth strategies for the fertilizer segment (phosphate and potash). Mr Raitani's areas of expertise include product development & implementation, manufacturing & operations, process improvements and marketing derived from his knowledge on surface chemistry, mineral processing, and application of anti-scalants, flotation reagents, solid-liquid separation and defoamers. In his service tenure exceeding 20 years, he has contributed to mining and metals, chemicals, and building materials industries through his work at various organizations like USG Corporation, Solvay, and NMDC Limited in research, technology, operations, and management functions. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Mining Engineering (IIT-ISM Dhanbad, India), a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA) and a Global Master of Business Administration (University of Durham, Durham, UK). He is also a certified First Class Mine Manager under the Indian Mines Act, 1952, has several publications and presentations in many reputable mining, tunneling, and processing journals and symposia as well as a couple of patent applications.

Michael Meyer

Michael Meyer started his professional career in 2004. After finishing his PhD studies, Mr Meyer joined EasyMining in 2020, where he is involved in the development of technologies for nutrient recovery from secondary sources.

Philipp Theuring

Philipp Theuring started his professional career in 2005. After finishing his PhD studies, Mr Theuring worked as Market developer for water technologies. He joined EasyMining in 2020, where he is involved in the market development of technologies for nutrient recovery from secondary sources.

Rabi Saadaoui

Rabi Saadaoui holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Computations and Numerical simulation from UNIVERSITE POLYTECHNIQUE DU HAUT DE FRANCE and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical design and Manufacturing. Mr Saadaoui is currently working as Process Engineer, Tiling Pan Filters for ANDRITZ and has worked as Responsible of FEM calculations in the ANDRITZ R&D department.

Mbali Mpanza

Mbali Mpanza is a geologist who has over 12 years’ experience in underground mining geology and mineral resource evaluation. Dr Mpanza holds a BSc Honours degree (Geology), MSc in Geostatistics, MBA and a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Since 2017 she has worked as a Chief Geologist on the Schiel Phosphate Mining Project. Mbali has experience in gold, phosphate, platinum, chrome, and coal mineral deposits. She has conducted work in feasibility studies, underground geological mapping, geological orebody modeling and research within South Africa. She has worked with companies like Samancor Chrome (WCM),MGB Mining, and Tecoma strategies.

Mbalenhle is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP, and is a member of the Geostatistical Association of South Africa. She also lectures at the University of Johannesburg in the Mining Engineering and Mine Surveying department.

Jayden Ladebruk

Jayden Ladebruk is a Process Engineer-in-Training with the Mineral Process group at Hatch, in the Saskatoon office. Ms Ladebruk was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in Canada, and knew from a young age she wanted to be an engineer. She pursued chemical engineering, and in 2021 she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan. She has a specialized set of skills and knowledge in the potash industry from her experience working in process engineering and project management. She also has experience in other industries including phosphoric acid, iron ores, and rare earth elements. Throughout her career, she has become proficient in process simulation and metallurgical processes.

Hadrien Leruth

Hadrien Leruth graduated from Gramme Institute (Belgium, Liège) with a master’s degree of engineering sciences. In 2016, Mr Leruth worked on his master thesis at Prayon Technologies where he studied the improvement of the fluorine recovery in the phosphoric acid plant of Prayon. The same year, he was hired as a process engineer for the licensing division of Prayon. He performed some pilot tests to produce phosphoric acid from various rock phosphates, he also visited several phosphoric acid plants in the world and prepared the process design of some plants. In September 2019, he started to work in the commercial department of Prayon Technologies where he is still busy currently.

Emre Kayışoğlu

Emre Kayışoğlu has graduated from Dokuz Eylül University, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering. Mr Kayışoğlu has worked in Eti Aluminium company between 2006-2017 as sales and marketing manager and coordinating the sales of Aluminium and Copper metal and chemical products (Alumina, Aluminium Hydroxide, Rock Phosphate, Antimony concentrate). He is currently General Manager of Eti Bakır Mazıdağı Plant which is the only integrated fertilizer plant together with its phosphate mines and the only cobalt producing company in Türkiye also acting as Managing Director of Iconichem Widnes UK that specializes in the production of high-purity cobalt chemicals for various industries. He has demonstrated history of working in the mining & metals industry. He is skilled in International Business, Aluminum, Copper, Cobalt, Fertilizer, International Sales, Mining and Minerals.

Ryan Doyle

Ryan Doyle is the Director of North American Sales at Itafos and based out of the Chicago office. Mr Doyle oversees the sales of all Phosphate products produced at Itafos’ Conda, Idaho facility, including MAP, NPS, APP and SPA. Prior to joining Itafos, he was the International Sales Manager for International Raw Materials for 11 years, working primarily in Africa and Asia. He holds a Bachelors degree from Georgetown University.

Jens Bergmann

Jens Bergmann received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Leipzig with a thesis on porous coordination polymers. Mr. Bergmann then joined Blücher GmbH as R&D Manager, responsible for the development of catalytically active activated carbon spheres and filtration applications. He joined Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH as Sales Manager / Business Development Manager to promote the fluid bed technology for the processing and functionalization of solid materials for the food, feed and fine chemical markets as well as Glatt’s engineering services.

Kemalettin Yakup Büyükgöz

Kemalettin Yakup Büyükgöz graduated from Business Administration and International Affairs from Anadolu University. Mr Büyükgöz started his career at Gübretaş as Purchasing Manager with the responsibility of DAP, MAP and water-soluble fertilizers at 2014. He transferred to Akdaş Chemistry in 2019 as Export Manager and worked on Magnesium Sulphate. He started to work as a Turkey Representative of three Chinese manufacturers since 2021. Two of these companies are manufacturer of phosphate products. Kemalettin Yakup Büyükgöz is also acting as the representative of "Fertilizer Sector of Turkey" channel which has more than 5000 members at Linkedin

Plamen Natzkoff

Plamen Natzkoff leads dry bulk research at Maritime Strategies International (MSI Ltd), where he is responsible for MSI’s market views and forecasts in the dry bulk shipping sector. Dr Natzkoff has 15 years of research experience in dry bulk freight and associated commodity markets and has worked as lead analyst at banks, trading houses and hedge funds. He holds a Doctorate in Economics from Oxford University.

John Passalacqua

John Passalacqua is CEO of First Phosphate Corp, a phosphate mining and development company fully dedicated to extracting and refining advanced phosphate material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate (“LFP”) Battery industry. Mr Passalacqua is an international business strategist with over 35 years of extensive technology and capital markets experience. In 1998, he gained the title of top 50 international business strategist on the early internet. He provides neutral, out-of-the-box, big picture thinking for early stage companies in nascent and visionary industries.

Ernesto Lima

Ernesto Lima is a mining and business developer, and consultant, with over 25 years of experience, having planned and executed several large projects. Mr Ernesto’s expertise includes leading all stages of project development, including conceptual and detailed operational and economic studies, engineering, procurement, construction, commercial and strategic analysis. He graduated with a B.ASc. degree in Civil Engineering, holds an MBA and a Doctorate degree in Management. Currently he is the COO and a Board Director at Bifox Limited, company that produces and commercializes phosphoric rock.

Egemen Orucoglu

With a Chemistry degree from Koc University in Istanbul, Egemen Orucoglu did not start working in fertilizer sector until 2010. After 4 years of trade marketing and wholesales activities in Toros, Mr Egemen became the Head of Sales at Bagfas; at 32 years old, becoming the youngest ever C-level manager in Turkish agribusiness. His career at Yara started in 2017, as Commercial Manager for the Turkish market and gradually evolved into Sales Director for Turkiye and North Africa; making him one of the youngest ever at this level in Yara’s global organization.

Santosh Seshadri

Santhosh Seshadri joined HSBC’s equity research team in 2017 and focuses on the global agribusiness and battery material sectors. Prior to joining HSBC, Mr Seshadri worked as an equity analyst with a major research house in India, covering Australian midcap stocks in the industrial and consumer sectors. He is a CFA charterholder and a Chartered Accountant registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, and holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Madras.

Humphrey Knight

Humphrey Knight leads CRU's phosphate and potash analysis in the Fertilizer Team. Mr Knight  joined the company in August 2016 as the Fertilizer Team's Cost Analyst. In 2018, he became the company's potash analyst, subsequently adding phosphate analysis to his remit in 2022. Prior to joining CRU, he worked as a geologist at a major lead-zinc mine in the Republic of Ireland and at a gold exploration project in Mexico. He holds an MSci in Geology from Imperial College London and an MSc in Mining Geology from Camborne School of Mines (University of Exeter).

Tim Galusky

Tim Galusky has more than 25 years’ experience steering large capital mining projects – predominantly in copper, cobalt, molybdenum, and gold. Mr Galusky has managed and directed greenfield and expansion projects for Freeport-McMoRan in Chile, DRC Africa, Peru, and the United States. And he’s spearheaded the formation of URS Corporation’s mining EPCM projects division, while building up relationships with US clients. Before joining the Norge Mining team as Project Director, he led the engineering and construction of a gold leach project in northern Argentina, and for Equinox Gold Corporation in Mexico. We welcome his critical insight into the increasingly important environmental, sustainability and social responsibility aspects of modern mineral exploration.

Hakan Goral

Born in 1967, Hakan Göral graduated from Eskişehir Anatolian High School in 1985 and Boğaziçi University, Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1990. Mr Göral received his MS from Marmara University, Department of Industrial Engineering. He also attended advanced programs in Executive Management and Leadership at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management and Stanford University. Between 1990 and 2002, he was in charge of coordinating supplier development, purchasing, and central purchasing operations as Group Manager in the Automotive Supply Coordination Group of Koç Holding and was also leading a number of projects within the Koç Automotive Group. He then worked as Deputy General Manager responsible for Sales, Human Resources, Information Technologies, Accounting, and Finance and CFO at Mako Elektrik (Magneti Marelli J.V.) between 2001 and 2004. In 2006, he assumed the title of Senior Vice President, Turkey at Componenta, which had acquired Döktaş, and served as Executive Board Member of Componenta Corporation and as the general manager of four business units in Turkey. He was also Member of the Board at Componenta Dökümcülük ve Ticaret A.Ş. and Kumsan A.Ş. Between 2012-2016, Göral was CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board at İnci Holding and was chairman or member the board of several İnci Holding Group Companies such as İnci Akü, İncitaş, ISM, İnci Lojistik, Aten Brantner, and Maxion İnci. Undertaken a task to act as Toros Tarım General Manager and Vice Chairman of Tekfen Holding responsible for the Agri-Industry Group in April 2016, he is the CEO of the Agri-Industry Group as of 2022.

Ajay Mahajan

Ajay Mahajan is the CEO of Overseas Chemicals Division at Aditya Birla group, a US $60 billion Indian Multinational Conglomerate. Mr Mahajan heads 4 divisions namely Phosphates, Sulphites, Chlor Alkali and Thai Peroxides and operates out of Bangkok, Thailand. Before taking over the role as the CEO, he was the global head of marketing for the four divisions from 2006 to 2013. Passionate about team building and mentoring young professionals, his focus has been to set up a strategic vision for the business and provide leadership to build sustainable competitive strength.

Upendra Singh

Upendra Singh has more than 35 years of experience in soil-plant-nutrient dynamics and fertilizer research with emphasis on the development/application of crop simulation models and decision support systems (DSS) in agricultural research, extension, and decision-making. Mr Singh coordinates and conducts research in collaboration with National and International Agricultural Research Centers on better understanding and quantification of nutrient dynamics and environmental processes; development/co-development and evaluation of new fertilizer formulations; and development, field testing, and application of decision support software to simulate biophysical processes, with special emphasis on sustainable agriculture, crop yield forecasting, nutrient dynamics and environmental quality. He uses laboratory, greenhouse, and field research and modeling approach to evaluate the comparative agronomic, economic, and environmental advantages and tradeoffs to alternative technologies and cropping and nutrient management strategies. He has conducted research projects and training programs in over 36 countries and has more than 200 publications.

Ludwig Hermann

Ludwig Hermann has 35+ years of experience as technology, sustainability, and innovation manager on three continents, was co-founder and long-term CEO of ASH DEC Umwelt AG, is co-inventor of minerals/ash decontamination, phosphorus recovery, energy conversion and efficiency technologies, author and co-author of several patents, reports, papers and book chapters on recovery of critical materials, nutrient recycling and renewable energy.

Andy Jung

Andy Jung joined The Mosaic Company in June 2013 to provide analysis supporting the short-term operating and raw materials sourcing decisions of the company, as well as identifying and evaluating long term growth opportunities. Mr Jung role includes providing analysis of strategic initiatives, as well as being a member of Mosaic’s Commercial Leadership Team. Prior to joining Mosaic, he served as a consultant at CRU for 10 years, where he held various positions, including management of the group's phosphate research program and leading a wide range of strategic consulting assignments across the agriculture, crop nutrient and raw materials sectors.

Marc Ostwald

Marc Ostwald – Chief Economist & Global Strategist, ADM Investor Services International Analysing and forecasting the impact of macro / microeconomic trends and central bank policies on a broad range of asset classes; examining and where necessary challenging market psychology and consensus views. The joy of working as a market economist is, and has always been the constant need to research and learn about the changing landscape of the way that the world works, going far beyond the limited scope of economics and financial markets; be that in respect of how globalization and technology has and is transforming nearly all aspects of communication, culture, energy and how we interact with the environment on all levels.

Brett Clark

Brett Clark is a senior executive with 25 years’ experience in the mining and energy sectors in funding, operations, project development and advisory, with Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd, CRA Limited, WMC Resources Limited, Iron Ore Company of Canada, Rio Tinto Limited and subsequently with Ernst and Young, Tethyan Copper Company Pty Ltd, Oakajee Port and Rail, Mitsubishi Development and Murchison Metals amongst others. Mr Clark has extensive leadership experience in executive and board positions held at both listed and unlisted companies. His commodity and regional experience covers fertilizers, gold, iron ore, copper, nickel, coal, industrial minerals, and upstream oil and gas across Australia, Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America. His funding experience includes bond raisings, debt restructuring, equity, and mezzanine financing in the US, Asian, and European capital markets. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Curtin University in Western Australia and Graduate Diploma of Business Management and Finance from Deakin University in Victoria.

Eli Amon

Eli Amon has been serving since 2022 as President Deputy and Head of Commodities for ICL Growing Solutions Division. Mr Amon joined ICL in 1991 and served in various leading positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for ICL from 2020 – 2022, Executive Vice President of Specialty Fertilizers from 2017-2019, Executive Vice President of Marketing Sales and Logistics ICL Fertilizers from 2014-2017, Vice President of Sales ICL Fertilizers from 2009-2014, Vice President of ICL Logistics from 2008-2009. He holds a BA in Economy, and an MBA from Ben Gurion University.

Chris Tziolis

Chris Tziolis is the Managing Director of Verdant Minerals (formerly Run Jungle Resources). Mr Tziolis joined the company in October 2012 as the Director of Development Projects and was appointed to the Board as an Executive Director in June 2013 and Managing Director on 1 July 2014. Prior to this he was a Rio Tinto executive fulfilling a number of roles including the Chief Development Officer of Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) and the Manager Business Development and Rail and Port Infrastructure at Rio Tinto Coal Australia. Prior to joining Rio Tinto in 2006 Mr Tziolis was a consultant with McKinsey & Co where he worked predominantly on corporate strategy and operational performance improvement projects for global mining companies. He began his career as an Officer in the Royal Australian Navy where he specialised as Navigation and Warfare Officer. Mr Tziolis is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a Bachelor of Science from the University of NSW, a Masters in International Relations from Deakin University and a Master of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

Lucas Moore

As Colonial Chemical’s VP of R&D, Lucas Moore is responsible for executing the company’s global innovation and technical service portfolio. He is primarily focused on the development and application of specialty surfactants for oil and mining, personal care, metalworking fluids, home and car care, and others. Lucas joined Colonial Chemical in April of 2022. Lucas has more than 15 years of experience in the specialty surfactants industry with positions at Arkema-ArrMaz, Kemira, and Ciba Specialty Chemicals. He is the author and co-author of more than 75 publications and is the co-inventor of more than 25 patent applications.

Ravi Rajshekar Hiremath

Ravi Rajshekar Hiremath is an experienced process control and applications engineering specialist with ~13 years of total professional experience including alumina refinery operations and applications development of mining chemicals. Mr Hiremath holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Univ. of Southern California and has in-depth knowledge of working environments in the chemical/manufacturing industry. Apart from acquaintance of financial impacts and influences of the product mix and process efficiencies on the EBITDA, he is also well versed with Statistical process Control and lean Six Sigma Tools. Mr Hiremath is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt from American Society for Quality (ASQ). Recent works of Mr Hiremath include developing sustainable solutions for removal of cadmium and arsenic from phosphoric acid containing streams, developing procedures and products for plant and lab scale qualifying tests in order to evaluate the performance of Floatation Collectors, Scale Inhibitors, Crystal Growth Modifiers, Defoamers and Filtration Rate Enhancers.

Philippe Rombaut

Philippe Rombaut is an industrialist with a passion for agriculture. Since 2001, he is 50% co-owner and CEO of Agropolychim AD (www.agropolychim.bg), a then state-owned Bulgarian fertilizer company in liquidation which he turned into the leading and one of the most profitable fertilizer company in the Balkans. Agropolychim sells yearly over 1.2 mio tons of fertilizers worldwide and is one of the very few fertilizer companies in Europe not impacted by the gas crisis. Mr Rombaut is also heavily involved in farming, owning a highly efficient 5000 ha farm in Northwest Bulgaria (Facebook: Agro Tsar Petrovo). The farm is moving to regenerative agriculture and is experimenting with quite some new approaches and technologies. Being an industrialist, he built on the farm the largest supercritical CO2 extraction facility (www.agroco2.com) in eastern Europe extracting the various medicinal and aromatic plants of Bulgaria mostly grown on the farm.