Christian Woltz

Head of Global Process Design
SGL Carbon GmbH

Christian Woltz has almost 20 years of professional experience in designing process solutions for applications involving corrosive media and is inventor of two patents in this field. He designed/ commissioned dozens of projects in the field of HCl synthesis and distillation as well as phosphoric acid concentration and stripping. He is heading the global process design team at SGL Carbon. Christian combines his material expertise and equipment know-how with modelling tools for tailor-made process solutions. He graduated as chemical engineer at the FAU university in Erlangen and received his doctorate from the TU Munich.

Ali Kheradmand

Product Manager, Digital Solutions
ANDRITZ

Ali Kheradmand is a product manager at ANDRITZ, focusing on Advanced Process Control (APC), AI, and process optimization across the process industries. He leads the development of digital technologies that combine first-principles modelling, model predictive control, hybrid digital twins, advanced analytics, and reinforcement learning to improve real-time plant performance.

His current work includes applying innovative APC and Digital Twin as well as Reinforcement Learning technologies to optimize phosphoric acid production and other critical industrial processes.

Anna Dikova

R&D Manager
Technophos

Dr. Anna Dikova holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Strasbourg and brings over a decade of expertise in phosphate chemistry research and development. As R&D Manager at Technophos, she leads innovative projects focused on bringing out the hidden value and potential of low-grade phosphate resources. Her work covers the full innovation cycle – from shaping breakthrough ideas and validating emerging technologies to bridging laboratory research with industrial applications. Passionate about applying science to solve real-world challenges, Anna is committed to delivering impactful, sustainable solutions for the global phosphate industry.

Alfonso Fernández

Technical Director
Loesche

Alfonso Fernández is an Industrial Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the design, optimization, and execution of industrial grinding solutions for the minerals and cement industries. He currently serves as Technical Director at LOESCHE, where he leads international engineering teams delivering large-scale grinding projects, including phosphate rock milling plants, with project values of up to €20 million. In his role, Alfonso is responsible for the full technical lifecycle of grinding projects, from process design and equipment sizing to commissioning and performance guarantees. He has extensive hands-on expertise in vertical roller mill technology, process efficiency, and energy optimization, and has contributed to significant improvements in plant reliability, throughput, and specific energy consumption across phosphate grinding applications worldwide.

Tobias Stefan

Regional Director EMEA
GroupeM7

Tobias Stefan started with GroupeM7 in 2021 as Regional Director for Europe, Middle-East and Asia for Metal7, with the main focus in iron ore pelletizing equipment. Since 2023 he serves as Group Vice President Sales responsible for the business units Metal7, Cast7 and Enduride.He has over 15 years of experience in the field of ore processing, holding various roles in R&D and Product Management, globally responsible for the technical marketing. Later he held various technical and business management positions in Outotec and MetsoOutotec, before joining Metal7. He holds a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Technical University Darmstadt in Germany and EPF Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Benoit Grymonprez

Technical Sales and R&D Manager Mining EMEA
Arkema

Joining Arkema in 2024, Benoit took the charge of the mining portfolio for the EMEA region as Technical Sales and R&D manager. Beyond his two Master’s degrees (Geology and Hydrology), he has over 20 years’ experience in exploration, mining and mineral processing. R&D manager in a research company dedicated to the mineral processing and extractive metallurgy (Belgium), he led process design projects for base metals and industrial minerals deposits (also secondary materials like waste), with a special focus on CPS flotation of polymetallic zinc oxide deposits.

He served several years in Africa, mainly D.R. Congo, as exploration geologist, project and mine manager for copper-cobalt deposits. As side activity, he taught the mineral processing over 4 years for the Chemical and Materials engineers at University of Lille (France).

Francisco Dos Reis

Senior Engineer
Haver & Boecker Niagara

With more than 30 years of experience as a Senior Engineer in a leading German company, Francisco dos Reis has successfully designed and supported numerous international projects across the fertilizer, chemical, and mining industries. He has developed extensive expertise in large-scale international fertilizer projects and is recognized for his strong technical competence and reliable project execution.

Throughout his career, he has actively participated in major international industry conferences, contributing to global professional exchange and innovation within his field.

Juan Hailer

Manager R&D
INGETECSA

Juan Hailer studied Chemical / Process Engineering in Germany. 1986 he was engaged by Ingetecsa. Since 1995 he manages process engineering. Since 2001 he manages R&D, and is responsible for feed phosphate formulation tests.

He has been leading the design, installation and commissioning of DCP and MCP formulation, granulation and drying lines and dryers for precipitated DCP since 1990.

Ilya Motorygin

Managing Partner
GG Trading DMCC

I began my career in the trade, supply, and logistics of mineral fertilizers in 1994. Over more than 30 years, I have worked with producers, exporters, and independent traders across the global fertilizer industry. Today, I serve as Managing Partner of GG Trading, based in Dubai, actively engaged in the international trade of mineral fertilizers, including nitrogen, phosphate, and potash products.

Einat Shooster

Development Team Manager
Tenova Advanced Technologies

A senior process development engineer and development team manager at Tenova Advanced Technologies (TAT), with over 15 years of experience in developing and scaling separation processes for critical materials. She specializes in solvent extraction (SX) and hydrometallurgy, and membrane-based purification, with extensive work in phosphoric acid purification (food and battery-grade), lithium-ion battery recycling, and rare earth element (REE) recovery. Einat leads laboratory, pilot, and full-scale process development, advancing both flowsheet design and the performance of TAT’s proprietary SX equipment. She is a member of the International Committee on Solvent Extraction (ICSE) and serves on the Editorial Board of Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange (SXIE).

Jan van Esch

Product Manager
GEA NIRO PT B.V.

After a study in applied microbiology in the Netherlands and environmental engineering in the USA, Jan van Esch started his professional career as an environmental engineer at Degremenont.

After various environmental engineering jobs which always encompassed project and process development and sales, Mr. van Esch started to look at zero liquid discharge systems and got in touch with Messo in Germany.

He joined this company active in solution crystallization in 2000 where he became head of sales. In 2015 a transfer was made to the sister company GEA NIRO PT, which specializes in melt crystallization and wash column separation systems. He is now product manager at GEA NIRO PT

Hunter Swisher

CEO
Phospholutions, Inc.

Hunter currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Phospholutions, Inc., which he founded prior to graduating with his B.S. degree in Plant Sciences from Pennsylvania State University. Phospholutions is a sustainable fertilizer company that under Hunter's leadership has raised over $40 million in venture capital to develop technologies to improve phosphorus fertilizer efficiency. Most recently, Hunter was recognized as Forbes 30 under 30 in the 2023 Social Impact class.  He personally is the inventor/co-inventor on five patents issued or pending around the world. Hunter currently serves on the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Advisory Board within the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University. He is actively involved as a member and an Ambassador for the International Fertilizer Association. He serves as a Board Member for the Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance.

Yogesh Gujarathi

Plant Head
Graphite India Limited

Head of Impervious Graphite Equipment Division of Graphite India Limited, India with 30 + years of expertise in chemical process & equipment design and development. Extensive experience in providing solutions and products for handling corrosion in chemical and process industry. Along with this, he leads sales and marketing of the unit for supply in Indian and global markets.

Mohamed Kamar

Technical Director
Arab Fertilizer Association (“AFA”)

Mohamed Kamar is a chemist with more than 15 years of experience in the phosphate and phosphoric acid industry. He has worked closely with leading phosphoric acid licensors as part of integrated project management teams, developing deep expertise through extensive case-study analysis and field exposure. Kamar currently serves as the Technical Director of the Arab Fertilizer Association, a role that enables him and his team to stay informed about the latest state-of-the-art technologies in the fertilizer sector. He also contributes actively to several technical committees focused on phosphate, phosphoric acid, and phosphogypsum across reputable international organizations

Johannes Buchheim

Project Engineer
Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH

Dr. Johannes Buchheim is a project engineer at Glatt Ingenieurtechnik in process engineering. He focuses on process and formulation development for sewage sludge ash recycling, fertilizer development, and high-temperature powder production using spray calcination and spray pyrolysis. After studying chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, he earned his PhD there, specializing in catalyst manufacturing for exhaust gas cleaning. In customer projects, he links lab and pilot trials with scale-up, prepares feasibility studies and plant concepts, and supports implementation of sustainable material cycles. He optimizes particle properties, reaction conditions, and product quality from feed preparation to thermal conversion, advising on technology selection and economics.

Cansu Uygur

Technical Bidding Chief Engineer
Asos Process Engineering

Chemical Engineer with over 10 years of professional experience in fertilizer, chemical, and process industries, with a strong background in project execution and project management from process design to plant commissioning. with professional experience in fertilizer and inorganic chemical plants such as potassium nitrate, ammonium chloride, monoammonium and mono potassium phosphates.

Currently working as Technical Bidding Chief Engineer, responsible for managing technical bid preparation, defining process concepts, conducting feasibility and compliance evaluations, and coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams for international turnkey projects.

Emanuele Dal Pos

Product Manager – Polymers and Crystallization
Sulzer Chemtech Ltd

Emanuele Dal Pos is Product Manager for Crystallization of Chemicals within Sulzer’s Polymer & Crystallization Business Unit. In this role, Emanuele analyses global trends in chemical purification, with a particular focus on achieving electronic-grade purity levels—where melt crystallization plays a critical role. 

Emanuele joined Sulzer in 2023, bringing extensive expertise in crystallization and solid-liquid separation. His professional background includes several years in sales of chemical industry components and in solid-liquid separation processes. He holds a Master’s degree in Global Affairs complementing his technical and commercial experience with an academic foundation in international business. 

Ronan Goude

Head Global Liquid Extraction Technologies & Innovation
Sulzer Chemtech Ltd

Ronan Goude is Head of Global Liquid Extraction within Sulzer’s technology and innovation group. In this role, he is responsible for the development of liquid-liquid extraction technology and provides worldwide technical support across the Sulzer Chemtech organization. 

With over 17 years of dedicated experience at Sulzer, Ronan has developed advanced expertise in process engineering, focusing on industrial-scale liquid-liquid extraction separations. 

He has significant experience in the scale-up and optimization of solvent extraction processes, including the purification of phosphoric acid among other complex chemical systems. 

He holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from ENSIACET Toulouse specializing in fine chemicals and bio-industries and a master’s degree in environmental process engineering from INSA Toulouse. 

Tibaut Theys

General Manager
Prayon Technologies, a division of Prayon SA

Tibaut Theys is a chemical engineer by training who has built his career around designing and constructing industrial plants worldwide. His expertise spans fertilizer-grade phosphoric acid units, purified phosphoric acid facilities, and diverse installations such as varnish plants or renewable energy projects, reinforcing his commitment to sustainable industrial solutions.

Driven by a passion for industrial optimization and sustainability, Tibaut focuses with his team on creating processes that expand exploitable phosphate reserves while valorizing by-products. His approach not only secures long-term resource availability but also delivers innovative revenue streams for investors—combining technical excellence with environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Dr. Carsten Düchting

CEO
Düchting Pumpen Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG

Dr.-Ing. Carsten Düchting studied mechanical engineering (dipl. Ing.) at the TU Dortmund. He took part in the Graduate School at the Fraunhofer Institute in Dortmund (Dr.-Ing.).Since 2005, he is CEO of Düchting Pumpen and SICcast.

Michele Tuchscherer

Global Column Product Manager
Eriez

Michele is a Professional Engineer with a B.E. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and an M.A.Sc. in Mineral Processing from the University of British Columbia. She joined Eriez Flotation Canada in 2023, bringing extensive experience in flotation processes and operational metallurgy from her roles at Nutrien and Newmont (formerly Newcrest). At Eriez, Michele led numerous pilot programs and capital projects as Lead Process Engineer for Eriez Canada before being appointed Manager of Process Engineering, where she oversaw the delivery of process design support for Canadian and international mining operations. In 2025, she stepped into the role of Global Column Product Manager, where she guides the technical strategy and advancement of Eriez’s column flotation technologies worldwide.

Roger Makhoul

Process Technologies Team Leader – EMEA
Spraying Systems Europe BV

Roger Makhoul is Process Technology Team Leader for EMEA at Spraying Systems Co., bringing over 20 years of experience in spray technologies for the Process industry. He specializes in market strategy, product innovation, and sustainable engineering practices, supporting industries such as Oil & Gas, Chemicals and Environmental.

Roger is an active member of the European Federation for Corrosion (EFC) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), contributing to technical forums and industry standards. His work focuses on delivering advanced spray technologies that improve efficiency and environmental performance. 

Lyndsay Tran

Intermediate Process Engineer, Hydrometallurgy
Hatch Ltd

Lyndsay Tran is an Intermediate Process Engineer with Hatch’s hydrometallurgy group in Mississauga, Canada. Lyndsay’s background is in chemical engineering from the University of Ottawa. Her start into metallurgy was her internship with Nutrien potash, which led her to her position at Hatch as a new graduate. Since starting her role at Hatch, Lyndsay has supported and led projects for various commodities such as potash, phosphates, rare-earth elements, nickel and lithium. 

Robert Tinsley

Process Engineer – Hydrometallurgy
Hatch Ltd

Robert Tinsley is a Process Engineer at Hatch with 10 years of experience in phosphate industry process design. His work focuses on capital project process engineering across all phases of front-end loading, from early concept development through detailed design support. He has extensive experience in phosphate granulation plant product conversion projects and debottlenecking studies, supporting both capacity increases and operational improvements. Based in Tampa, Florida, Robert works closely with multidisciplinary teams and clients to develop practical, implementable process solutions for phosphate facilities.

Azza Kioua

Process and Sales Engineer
GEA Process Engineering

Degrees and date earned: Eng. Diploma ENSIC Chemical Engineering Nancy France 2021

Affiliation: GEA Process Engineering Present position: Sales and Process Engineer, GEA Kestner

Work experience : 4 years of international experience in evaporation and crystallization projects in the mining industry (fertilizers, alumina, lithium, corrosive applications…). Working in the development and the sales of projects (cost estimation of pilot and industrial units, implementation of tailored and optimized process solutions in collaboration with R&D testing)

Working also for the engineering department (conceptual studies, heat and mass balances calculation, process flow diagram designs, equipment specification) Participated in performance tests commissioning and pilot trials.

Chris Dennis

Senior Phosphate Fertilizer Specialist
JESA Technologies

Chris has over 30 years of experience in the phosphate fertilizer industry, with expertise in engineering, operations, and R&D, plus an additional six years in power plant operations and maintenance. He is highly knowledgeable in ammonium phosphates, TSP, SSP, NPKs, NPSs, phosphoric and sulfuric acid, material handling, ammonia storage, micronutrient and sulfur addition.

Known for problem-solving and innovative approaches, Chris consistently delivers efficient results aligned with stakeholder goals. His design experience includes leading multiple process teams and developing key process deliverables across all project phases.

Guoxin Wang

Global Director, Mining Technologies
Arkema

Guoxin Wang, “GW” is Global Director for Mining Technologies and Task Force Leader at Arkema. During his almost 28 years tenure at Arkema, GW has opportunities to work on many different ore bodies worldwide. The result has been to expand Arkema’s flotation chemical and defoamer chemical businesses into new markets.  Altogether, Dr. Wang has over 40 years’ experience in the field of Mineral Processing, including ~28 years supporting phosphate industry. GW received Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering at University of Nevada-Reno.

Miquel Serra

R&D Technician
KAO

Miquel Serra holds a BSc in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and a master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry, both from Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain).

Miquel joined KAO’s R&D in 2024 in the Surfactants for Technical Applications department. Currently he is dedicated to the Fertilizers and Mineral Flotation business fields.

Ben Boyer

Senior Research Engineer
SPX Flow – Mixing Solutions

With 14 years in industry, Ben has supported the SPX Flow Mixing Technology research group with CFD modelling expertise and laboratory test and equipment design since 2015; concurrently he sat as a member of M-Star CFD's Technical Advisory Panel.  Prior, Ben held product design and application engineering roles.  He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, graduating from Lafayette College in 2011.

Dr. Yariv Cohen

Head of R&D
EasyMining

Head of Research and Development at EasyMining. Is a specialist in chemical separation technologies and has a long experience in phosphorus chemistry. Obtained his Doctoral Degree from SLU University in Sweden with the title “Phosphorus recovery from urban wastes and ashes”.

Was awarded the 2008 Science Technology and Environmental Award from the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf, for research regarding recovery of phosphorus from municipal wastes, ashes and iron ore mine wastes. Was awarded the 2019 Chemical Engineering Award from the Swedish Society of Chemical Engineers.

Alexander Chreky

Fertilizer Analyst and Potash Market Specialist
CRU

Alexander joined CRU in September 2022 as an analyst in the Fertilizers Team and is responsible for analysis of the global potash industry. Prior to joining CRU, Alexander worked in various governmental, intergovernmental, policy research and analysis roles. Alexander holds an MSc from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies in Economic Development Studies. He is based in CRU’s London office.

Adnane Mahmoud

Environmental Engineering Department Head
JESA Group

Adnane Mahmoud is the Environmental Engineering Department Head with over 18 years of experience in environmental assessments, environment-in-design integration, and strategic environmental consulting. He leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality environmental solutions across major industrial and infrastructure projects. His expertise spans environmental impact assessments, sustainability integration, and regulatory compliance

Jihad Alaoui Sosse

Environment Engineering Manager
JESA

Alaoui Sosse Jihad is an engineer and consultant with over 13 years of progressive experience at the intersection of environmental science, energy engineering, and sustainable urban development. He combines deep domain expertise in process and microclimate modeling with advanced skills in data science, artificial intelligence, and process automation to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions.

Education

• State Engineer’s Degree in Energy Engineering, from ENSMR.

• Ph.D. in Process and Energy from EMI.

His expertise includes:

• Environmental & Climate Impact Studies

• Urban Microclimate Modeling

• Sustainable Development and Eco-Construction Strategies

• Management Systems (ISO 50001 / 46001) and HQE Building Certification

• Circular Economy and Management Optimization

Viviana Alvarado

Analyst, Sulphuric Acid
CRU

Viviana Alvarado is a market analyst based in CRU’s London Office. She joined CRU in February 2023 as part of the sulphur and sulphuric fertilizer team. She has a background in Economics and holds an MSc (Distinction) in Development Economics from the University of Sussex. Before joining CRU, Viviana worked as an economic analyst at the tax administration of Colombia.

 

Vincent Nocton

Deputy Technical Director
CMD Gears

31 Years of Expertise in Designing and Executing Drive Systems — proven leader in mechanical and industrial drive system engineering, with extensive experience in the design, execution, and optimization of complex drive solutions; skilled in managing technical teams, overseeing large-scale projects, and ensuring operational excellence; recognized for innovation, reliability, and long-term contributions to the industry.

Willem Schipper

Owner
Willem Schipper Consulting

Willem Schipper is a consultant for the phosphorus and fertilizer industry, focusing on sustainability and new developments. With a background in chemistry, he specializes in technology development and assessment, as well as economic aspects of new developments. With 20 years’ experience as chemist in the white phosphorus industry, he also continues to follow this field from technological and market perspectives.

Shane Pope

International Business Director
Armatec Environmental Ltd

Shane is a chemical engineer specialising in industrial air pollution control. He is passionate about reducing emissions to atmosphere and creating a healthier planet for current and future generations. Shane works with companies around the globe to comply with regulations and improve operational safety whilst maintaining or improving plant productivity. He is particularly focused on supporting phosphate fertilizer producers with gas scrubber systems that target fluoride emissions amidst the tough, corrosive environments often found at these sites.

Jesse Huebsch

Acid Technology Manager
Chemetics Inc.

Jesse Huebsch is the Acid Technology manger for sulphuric acid at Worley Chemetics, and is based in the Toronto area. He has a background in chemical and process engineering, with operating experience at a small sulphur burning acid plant prior to joining Chemetics.  

Fabian Germain Bodinaud

Product Specialist – Project Manager - Vacuum Filtration
Andritz Environment & Energy

Fabian Bodinaud is a senior industrial engineer with over 25 years of expertise in process, mechanical, production and business strategy. Currently a Product Specialist at ANDRITZ, he leads the sizing and modernization of vacuum filtration systems, ensuring technical excellence in liquid-solid separation.

His background is anchored by a significant tenure at Technip Energies, where he managed complex multidisciplinary package units for global EPC and FEED energy projects. By combining an engineering foundation with a Business Administration from the Université de Montpellier, and  School of Industrial Engineering FEI, Fabian effectively bridges technical precision with B2B commercial strategy to drive operational innovation and large-scale project success.  

Aziz Chbeir

Senior Process Engineer
Yara

Aziz Chbeir is a chemical engineer from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) with over 15 years of experience in the fertilizers industry. He works at Yara Technology and Projects as a Senior Process Engineer since 10 years and previously at SNC Lavalin for the construction of phosphoric acid production units (mainly under Prayon license). His expertise covers phosphate handling, phosphoric acid production, NPK processes and gas treatment. He has been involved in R&D activities, pilot testing, and engineering projects from feasibility to execution, including commissioning and start-up. Mr Chbeir also holds a complementary Master’s in Management from the Solvay Brussels School. 

Robert Tinsley

Process Engineer – Hydrometallurgy
Hatch

Robert Tinsley is a Process Engineer at Hatch with 10 years of experience in phosphate industry process design. His work focuses on capital project process engineering across all phases of front-end loading, from early concept development through detailed design support.

He has extensive experience in phosphate granulation plant product conversion projects and debottlenecking studies, supporting both capacity increases and operational improvements. Based in Tampa, Florida, Robert works closely with multidisciplinary teams and clients to develop practical, implementable process solutions for phosphate facilities. 

Stefano Vignando

Sales and Proposal Manager
Ballestra S.p.A.

Ph.D. in Industrial Chemistry from Milan University

25+ years’ experience in chemical R&D, plant engineering and sales. Started as an R&D enthusiast, shifting toward technical sales positions during the years. Joined Ballestra in 2019: an R&D-based global leader in designing and supplying industrial plants and technologies for chemicals and fertilizers. 

Axel Yakub

Process Manager
Technophos

Axel Yakub is the Process Manager at Technophos leading a team of highly qualified process engineers dedicated to the continuous improvement of the phosphate industry in terms of sustainability, access to raw materials and advanced technical solutions. Since joining the company as an R&D chemist, he has advanced through multiple roles, demonstrating a strong commitment to innovation and operational excellence. He brings extensive expertise in phosphate chemistry and industrial process optimization, ensuring efficient scale-up of process technologies, developed and proven at laboratory scale, to their validation and demonstration at pilot and semi-industrial platforms. With his dedication and goal orientated mindset Axel drives Technophos’ mission forward by turning alternative technologies into practical, high-impact solutions – delivering measurable improvements and redefining the future of the phosphate industry.

Roy Movsowitz

Manager Phosphate Technologies
Tenova Advanced Technologies

B.Sc. and M.Sc. in chemical engineering from the University of Cape Town and B.Comm. from UNISA, South Africa. Over 30 years of experience in the phosphates and fertilizer industry and in project management. For the past six years, serving as Manager of Phosphate Technologies in Tenova Advanced Technologies a division of Tenova S.p.A., focusing on phosphate beneficiation and purified phosphoric acid technologies.

Robert Van Spingelen

President
European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP)

Robert van Spingelen is President of the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP),where he heads Europe-wide cooperation on sustainable phosphorus and nitrogen management,nutrient recycling, and circular fertiliser innovation.With more than twenty years in the cropnutrient and fertiliser sector, he works at the interface of industry, regulators, and researchcommunities to accelerate the deployment of recovered nutrient products and improve regulatorypathways under the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (2019/1009).Robert actively supports policy development, stakeholder alignment, and technical dialogue across wastewater, agriculture,and recycling industries, promoting evidence-based solutions that strengthen Europe’s strategicautonomy in essential nutrients and reduce environmental pressures.

Monika Tothova

Senior Economist
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Monika Tothova is a Senior Economist in the Markets and Trade Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. She leads a team which provides short term outlook for basic food commodities.

Dr Tothova also serves as a Secretary of the Agricultural Market Information System, AMIS, a G20 initiative to enhance food market transparency. A national of Slovakia, she earned her Doctorate in Economics and Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University.

Before joining FAO in 2012, she worked in the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, France.

Mariana Fortuna

Analyst, Phosphate Fertilizer Services
CRU

Mariana Fortuna is a phosphate market analyst at CRU. She specialises primarily in phosphate fertilizer markets, in addition to newer, more niche use cases of phosphate. She is originally from Brazil, but is now based out of London

Markus Pfänder

Executive Director
K-UTEC AG Salt Technologies

Dr. Markus Pfänder studied process engineering and physics and earned a doctorate in natural sciences at TU Bergakademie Freiberg. He began his career in 1999 at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), working as a process engineer and later as a project manager on international R&D and engineering projects.

He subsequently joined Abengoa in Spain as Technology and Product Manager, coordinating technology development and cross-border engineering activities. From 2010 to 2016 he was part of the Ferrostaal Group, where he became Managing Director of Ferrostaal Smart Energy Solutions.

Since early 2017 he has been Executive Director at K-UTEC AG Salt Technologies, responsible for process engineering and analytics.

Mathieu Bailly

Sales Manager
MAGUIN

Mathieu Bailly is Sales Manager at MAGUIN, a French engineering company with over 175    years of experience in industrial equipment for the sugar and fertilizer industries.

He is responsible for developing international projects and supporting EPC contractors and end users with robust, proven solutions for demanding production lines. His expertise covers crushers, lump breakers, rotary drums, and critical mechanical equipment used in fertilizer granulation plants worldwide.

Through his work, Mathieu focuses on long-term partnerships, technical reliability, and practical solutions adapted to each project’s operational constraints. He regularly works with international teams across the world.

Dr. Vadim Greshnov

General Manager and Head of Mechanical Engineering
ERCOSPLAN Ingenieurbüro Anlagentechnik GmbH

Dr. Vadim Greshnov is General Manager and Head of Mechanical Engineering at ERCOSPLANIngenieurbüro Anlagentechnik GmbH. He holds a degree in Process Engineering from BelarusianState Technological University Minsk and a Doctorate in Engineering from Friedrich SchillerUniversity Jena.

He has over 12 years of experience in industrial-scale potash processing andbeneficiation, contributing to engineering, consulting, and supervision of global potash projects.His expertise includes project management, mechanical engineering, plant design, appliedprocessing methods, and due diligence. He is a member of Institute of Materials, Minerals andMining (IOM3) and holds a QMR certification.

Jani Kiuru

SVP, Raw Materials
Finnish Minerals Group

Jani Kiuru, Dr. Sci. (Tech.), is Senior Vice President, Raw Materials at Finnish Minerals Group, where he oversees the Group’s key strategic raw materials assets with the main focus on Sokli.

He serves as Vice‑Chair of the Sokli Board of Directors and acts as the owner of the Sokli project, guiding its development as one of Europe’s most significant emerging critical minerals resources. His background includes degrees in Chemical Technology (LUT University) and Forest Products Chemistry (Aalto University) and more than 20 years of industrial experience across production, R&D and corporate roles, with a strong focus on advancing sustainable raw material solutions.

Zineb Largate

Process Engineering Manager
JESA

Zineb Largate has15 years of experience in mining and beneficiation. Currently an Engineering Manager at JESA and Head of Mining Center of Excellence at JESA. PhD student at UM6P.

Mariana Fortuna

Analyst, Phosphate Fertilizer Services
CRU

Mariana Fortuna is a phosphate market analyst at CRU. She specialises primarily in phosphate fertilizer markets, in addition to newer, more niche use cases of phosphate. She is originally from Brazil, but is now based out of London

Filippo Davolio

Nitrates and Phosphates Senior Process Engineer
CASALE SA

He worked for eight years as a process engineer in the fertilizer industry for a major manufacturer, gaining experience in plant optimization and operations. His projects and activities covered Nitric Acid, Nitrates, and NPK plants with both granulation and prilling facilities, ranging from small plant modifications to a pre-execution study of a new granulation section. In 2021 he integrated his operational experience in the commissioning of a new Carbon Black complete production line for a major manufacturer. He joined Casale in 2022 as Nitrates & Phosphates Process Engineer. Since then, he has designed NPK and solid fertilizer granulation plants for customers around the World. 

Behnam Hormozi

CEO
Integrals Power

Behnam Hormozi is an entrepreneur recognised on Forbes 30 Under 30 in Europe for the manufacturing and industry sector, with a strong track record of technical execution in the clean tech energy and phosphate-based battery industries such as LFP and LMFP.

He has honed his leadership and interpersonal skills through managing and executing complex projects at companies such as Cummins (Electrified Power, McLaren P1) and various start-ups.

Abdallah El Houari

Board Member
Global Phosphorus Institute - GPI

He is a Chemical Engineer with over 40 years of experience in the phosphate sector, spanning research, industrial operations, commercial development, international cooperation, and strategic partnerships. His expertise covers the entire phosphate value chain, from mining and processing to fertilizer production and other phosphorus end-use applications.

He has a strong understanding of agricultural challenges and the essential role of fertilizers in enhancing soil fertility and supporting global food security.

Over the past four years, he has been involved in establishing the Global Phosphorus Institute, promoting knowledge, scientific exchange, and the sustainable management of phosphorus resources worldwide.

Nicolas White

Expert
Potash

Willem Schipper

Owner
Willem Schipper Consulting

Willem Schipper is a consultant for the phosphorus and fertilizer industry, focusing on sustainability and new developments. With a background in chemistry, he specializes in technology development and assessment, as well as economic aspects of new developments. With 20 years’ experience as chemist in the white phosphorus industry, he also continues to follow this field from technological and market perspectives.

Alexander Chreky

Fertilizer Analyst and Potash Market Specialist
CRU

Alexander joined CRU in September 2022 as an analyst in the Fertilizers Team and is responsible for analysis of the global potash industry. Prior to joining CRU, Alexander worked in various governmental, intergovernmental, policy research and analysis roles. Alexander holds an MSc from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies in Economic Development Studies. He is based in CRU’s London office.

Yassine Taha

Associate Professor
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic

Dr. Yassine Taha is serving as an Associate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), with over a decade of expertise in mine and industrial waste management and repurposing across various industry sectors. He holds a PhD from the University of Quebec in Canada and Cadi Ayyad University in Morocco.

Prof. Taha leads the Sustainability & Mining Environment Division within the Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI) at UM6P. He has authored over 100 scientific papers published in highly peer-reviewed journals and has actively contributed to numerous international conferences. His research interests span a broad spectrum, including sustainability, circular economy, mine waste management and valorization, reuse, recycling and recovery, beneficiation of low-grade ores, life cycle assessment, and the development of innovative construction materials.

Keenan Collins

Senior Process Engineer
Hatch

Keenan is a Senior Process Engineer at Hatch specializing in mineral processing, with approximately nine years of experience. His background includes potash, phosphate, lead/zinc beneficiation, cathode active materials, and calcining and roasting applications. He is skilled in plant optimization, automated sampling system design, and process modeling. He recently completed a six‑month assignment at a phosphate beneficiation plant focused on improving recovery and production, and he is now the Process Lead designing a greenfield phosphate washing facility

Philipp Theuring

Market Developer
Easymining

Philipp started his professional career in 2005. After finishing his PhD studies, he 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.

Daniel Saxton

Managing Consultant
ERM

Managing Consultant with ten years of experience working in the petrochemical, fertiliser, farming and pulp & paper industries. 

Daniel serves as the project manager at ERM, supporting the International Fertiliser Association (IFA) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the development of a low‑carbon roadmap for the phosphate and potash industry.

David Sacht

Investment Executive
Oryx Global Partners

David Sacht leads the Investment Team of Oryx Global Partners, a specialist investment firm dedicated to securing supply chains and facilitating the energy transition through strategic investments in the minerals value chain. He is responsible for origination of new investment opportunities, execution of transactions, management of portfolio companies and realizations.

David Sacht is a former senior member of the investment team at Appian Capital Advisory where he built an extensive track record of equity, royalty and credit transactions.

Prior to Appian, David Sacht was an investment banker with Morgan Stanley in their Natural Resources team in London.

Willis Thomas

Principal Consultant
CRU

Willis joined CRU in February 2017 with more than five years in metals sales, production, and procurement activities. As Head of CRU+ he is responsible for a team focused on efficiently delivering CRU data and custom reports which fall outside of the subscription or consultancy/advisory service offerings.Before moving to CRU+, he managed consulting projects across a wide range of mined commodities, metals and fertilizers. Willis has significant experience in ferroalloys (silicon, manganese, vanadium & niobium), steel metallics and raw materials, base & minor metals (zinc, tin, germanium), as well as broad coverage across fertilizer markets for nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulphur.Willis holds a Masters in Finance from Colorado State University and a BA in Political Science from Washington & Jefferson College. Willis is based in CRU's Pittsburgh office.

 

Willis Thomas

Principal Consultant
CRU

Willis joined CRU in February 2017 with more than five years in metals sales, production, and procurement activities. As Head of CRU+ he is responsible for a team focused on efficiently delivering CRU data and custom reports which fall outside of the subscription or consultancy/advisory service offerings.Before moving to CRU+, he managed consulting projects across a wide range of mined commodities, metals and fertilizers. Willis has significant experience in ferroalloys (silicon, manganese, vanadium & niobium), steel metallics and raw materials, base & minor metals (zinc, tin, germanium), as well as broad coverage across fertilizer markets for nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulphur.Willis holds a Masters in Finance from Colorado State University and a BA in Political Science from Washington & Jefferson College. Willis is based in CRU's Pittsburgh office.

Patrick Pfeil

Head of International Sales & Projects
REMA TIP TOP AG

Patrick Pfeil is 51 years old and has been working in international sales and project management for approximately 30 years, specializing in heavy-duty corrosion protection.

He currently heads international sales and projects at REMA TIP TOP AG – business unit surface protection.

Mr. Pfeil manages globally renowned EPC contractors and end customers across a wide range of industries.

Edward DeRose

Global Director of Phosphates
Hatch

Edward DeRose is an innovative licensed Professional Engineer with over 18 years of experience in operations leadership, process engineering, design, process improvement, start-up, and commissioning of phosphate plants. He has supported large-scale greenfield and brownfield phosphate projects worldwide in phosphoric acid and granular fertilizer production.

His operational experience enhances his ability to guide optimal process design decisions while maintaining efficiency and controlling cost and quality. Edward has worked with clients on plant debottlenecking, capacity increases, and gas scrubbing improvements, as well as greenfield Phosphoric Acid Plant and granular fertilizer plant design through all engineering phases.

Simon Inglethorpe

Editor
CRU Communities

Simon has been editor of Fertilizer International magazine since 2015, having joined BCInsight Ltd from Haymarket Media Group, where he was business editor at The ENDS Report, the UK’s leading publication for environmental professionals. A frequent participant on the conference circuit, he regularly chairs sessions at leading international events for CRU, the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) and others. A geology graduate, Simon previously enjoyed a successful scientific career with the British Geological Survey, working extensively in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe and the Middle East. He joined CRU in January this year and currently serves on the council of the International Fertiliser Society (IFS).”

Viviana Alvarado

Analyst, Sulphuric Acid
CRU

Viviana Alvarado is a market analyst based in CRU’s London Office. She joined CRU in February 2023 as part of the sulphur and sulphuric fertilizer team. She has a background in Economics and holds an MSc (Distinction) in Development Economics from the University of Sussex. Before joining CRU, Viviana worked as an economic analyst at the tax administration of Colombia.

Sam Adham

Head of Battery Materials
CRU

Sam Adham leads CRU's research on the global battery value chain. His team covers the entire supply chain from mining to end-use. He is a battery expert with previous experience at major automotive manufacturers, working on advanced engineering projects and strategic planning.

Johannes Hofer

Head of Technology Catalysts & Analysis
P&P Industries AG

In his current position, Dr. Johannes Hofer is the Head of the Catalysis and Analytics group of P&P Industries AG, based in Austria. Innovating at the company since 2018, he has held several positions as a Project Manager, R&D Manager and Head of Research and Development. His work is focused on the development of new catalytic systems for the oxidation of SO2 in Sulphuric acid plant systems to hydrocarbon and ammonia removal in waste gas treatment. With international experience from working on plant systems of international clients he applies a scientific approach to solving problems at industrial scale. He received his doctorate in 2016 from Montanuniversitaet Leoben in materials science.

Kevin Esmunaldo

Assistant Vice President Operation Plant
PT Petrokimia Gresik

Kevin Esmunaldo, ST, MM, CSCA, QRMA, is a  chemical engineering professional with over eight years of experience at PT Petrokimia Gresik. Currently serving as Assistant Vice President of NPK Phonska I and Research Product Development Operation Plant, he manages a production capacity of 450,000 metric tons NPK Fertilizer annually while spearheading innovative projects, including organic NPK certified fertilizer and liquid NPK fertilizer. Kevin holds a Master’s in Management and Bachelor degree in chemical engineering and certifications in supply chain and risk management. Recognized for his contributions, he has received various awards related to improvement quality and Productivity from company level to international level.

Adnane Mahmoud

Engineer
JESA

Adnane Mahmoud has more than ten (16) years of experience in conducting studies in modeling, process engineering, energy, sustainable development, in managing project teams and and training. He holds a public engineer's degree in process and energy engineering from the ENSMR (Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Rabat) Adnane is experienced on project management and consultancy iin sustainable development, environmental impact studies, "eco-construction", ISO 50001 certification, HQE certification of buildings and waste management according to international standards for on behalf of several Moroccan organizations "OCP, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of the Environment ...) s professional experience also includes many industrial and civil projects, mainly involving the thermodynamic, acoustic and quality modeling of the air in the industrial and building sectors(tertiary and residential). He knows the sectors related to clean energy, such as wind turbines, solar thermal and photovoltaics, as well as studies relating to the urban microclimate within the framework of green city projects. Currently, Adnane have been promoted to Environment and sustainability department head.

John Carr

Global Technical Director – Alumina and Industrial Minerals
Syensqo

John Carr currently holds the position of Global Technical Director for the Alumina and Industrial Minerals business segment. John has been employed by Syensqo for 18 years with positions in research and innovation (R&I), business development and the commercial technical service development groups. John has been focused on the development and application of novel technology and reagents for the mining industry and specifically for the Industrial Minerals since 2010. John has extensive experience in the phosphate and phosphoric acid production processes. Application expertise includes froth flotation, defoamers, dewatering aids, antiscalants, flocculation and heavy metal removal from phosphoric acid.

Thomas Kießling

CEO
ERCOSPLAN Ingenieurgesellschaft Geotechnik und Bergbau mbH

Thomas Kießling is the managing director and chief operating officer of ERCOSPLAN Ingenieurgesellschaft Geotechnik und Bergbau mbH. He has a degree in mining engineering from the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. In addition, he attended the EMC – European Mining Course at the Helsinki University for Technology/Finland, Technical University Delft/Netherlands, Royal School of Mining, Imperial College London/UK, RWTH Aachen University/Germany from 2002 to 2003. He has been working as an engineer in the mining and processing industry for 20 years. His professional career began in 2004 when he was responsible for setting up a fluorite mine in Germany. The main fields of business were hard rock drifting, shaft remediation, narrow vein ore mining, backfill, ore processing and permitting. From 2009 – 2022, he worked for a German rock salt mine and former potash mine. As production manager and later as the managing director of technology and chief operating officer of the mine, he was responsible for an annual turnover of 35 million euros and 220 employees. The core businesses of the mine focused on rock salt mining, backfill, underground hazardous waste disposal, surface tailings remediation. In the course of his career, he was also involved in projects in Europe, Africa, Mexico and China as an expert for brownfield and greenfield projects. His experience includes salt and ore mining, mine planning, the backfilling of mines and underground waste deposits, production and investment planning, permitting and mine rescue. For 16 years, he was a member of mine rescue teams and more than 5 years of this time, he was active as a rescue section commander and head of mine rescue squads. He was active as an explosives engineer for 17 years and he is still a holder of the explosives license for underground blasting. He is experienced in the introduction of new technologies and in the selection and implementation of equipment in underground ore and evaporite mines. He holds a certificate of competence in accordance with the Explosives Act - valid for underground blasting - and has 17 years of active experience in planning and carrying out blasting. He is a Qualified Person registered with the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America since 2023. Certificate ID: 1581QP.

Dr. Eike Kaps

General Manager and Head of Process Engineering
ERCOSPLAN Ingenieurbüro Anlagentechnik GmbH

Dr Eike Kaps is the general manager and head of process engineering at ERCOSPLAN Ingenieurbüro Anlagentechnik GmbH. He obtained his degree in chemistry from Friedrich Schiller University Jena in 2003 and his doctorate from Ludwig-Maximilian Universität München in 2007. He has over 20 years of professional experience in the industrial processing of potash salts and natural brines. His professional career in the mineral salt industry began in 2004 with the investigation of possible Kalistrontite processing options. During his work at ERCOSPLAN, Dr Kaps has been involved in various projects regarding the beneficiation of mineral salts containing valuable minerals like Sylvite, Carnallite, Langbeinite, Kainite, Halite, etc. to various demanded industrial products by the use of e.g. hot/cold leaching, crystallization, evaporation, flotation, screening and milling processes. Besides his involvement in process design, process adaption, process calculations as well as process development by laboratory and pilot tests execution, Dr Kaps is also versant with mechanical plant engineering and plant design. He joined ERCOSPLAN in 2008 and has since then gained a lot of project experience in Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Dr Kaps is a Qualified Person registered as a Fellow (FIMMM) at the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining since 2017. Membership Number: 479994

Liliek Harmianto Purbawinasta

Vice President of Production 3A
PT Petrokimia Gresik

Liliek Harmianto P, ST, MM is an engineer with more than thirteen years’ experience in the fertilizer industries. Currently, Liliek is the Vice President of Production 3A, leading 3 Plant namely Sulfuric Acid Plant, Phosphoric Acid Plant and Ammonium Sulfate Plant. Liliek holds a Master’s in Management and Bachelor degree in chemical engineering. Recognized for his contributions, he has received various awards related to improvement quality and Productivity from company level to international level.

Theo Warner

Director of Engineering
J.R. Simplot Company

Theo Warner is the Director of Engineering for Simplot’s Mining & Manufacturing division, leading regulatory compliance, production optimization, engineering best practices, and long‑term technical innovation.

With more than 15 years of experience in fertilizer manufacturing and chemical processing at Simplot, he works closely with mining and manufacturing teams to advance engineering excellence across all sites. Theo holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering, as well as a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management from the University of Idaho.

David Högnelid

Vice President Minerals
LKAB

David Högnelid is Vice President Minerals at LKAB, leading the company’s global industrial minerals business across 11 countries. With extensive experience in strategy and market development, David drives LKAB’s ambition to deliver sustainable, high-quality mineral solutions for industries worldwide.

LKAB Minerals offers over 30 products for applications in construction, agriculture, energy, and environmental technologies, generating SEK 3.7 billion in revenue. LKAB is also spearheading initiatives to recover critical raw materials like phosphorus and rare earth elements from mine waste, strengthening Europe’s supply resilience and supporting the green transition.

Alexandre Gonçalves Andrade

Director of Innovation
Metal7 Inc.

Alexandre Gonçalves Andrade, a metallurgical engineer with over 18 years of expertise in iron ore pelletizing and manufacturing. He has built his career within the mining companies, including Samarco and Vale, before joining Groupe M7 in 2019 to lead innovative technological advancements. Alexandre holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Resources with a focus on decarbonization pathways. His work is dedicated to driving sustainability initiatives and contributing to the global green transition, supporting Groupe M7 and its business unit, in reducing environmental impacts in different industries.

Ava Blagoeva

Senior Conference Producer
CRU

Alan Lec’hvien

Operations Director
Phosphea

Alan Lec'hvien is the Operations Director of Phosphea, the animal nutrition subsidary of the Roullier Group. With over 6 years at Phosphea, and a background in the automotive industry, Alan is in charge of raw materials purchasing, global supply chain, manufacturing and quality. 

Humphrey Knight

Principal Consultant
CRU

Humphrey Knight is Principal Consultant, phosphates and potash, at CRU Consulting. 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).

Hannes Storch

Vice President, Metals & Chemical Processing
Outotec GmbH & Co. KG

Before joining Outotec in 2002 as a process engineer in Sulfuric Acid Technologies, Dr. 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, Dr. Storch held various positions, including several years in Chile. Today, he is a member of the management team of Metso’s German subsidiary and heads the Metals and Chemical Processing business line. Dr. Storch is also a member of the board of the VDMA - AG Großanlagenbau (Large Plant Building Section).

Dr. Kyle Isaacson

Formulation Scientist
Phospholutions, Inc.

Dr. Kyle Isaacson is a research scientist at Phospholutions, Inc. He obtained his PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Utah and specializes in formulation chemistry, nanotechnology, and materials science. With the Phospholutions R&D team, he focuses on achieving sustainable agricultural innovation through improving the nutrient use efficiency of phosphorus. He is the lead developer of Phospholutions’ RhizoSorb technology, which controls the supply and release of phosphorus in soils and improves manufacturing of chemical fertilizers.

Ronald Davis

Senior Staff Scientist
Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company

Ron Davis is a Senior Staff Scientist at Nalco Water, the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources.  

Ron joined Nalco Research in 1990 and during his career he has worked in a wide range of research areas in a variety of mining industry segments including mineral scale control, ferrous metal corrosion control, reagent dosage and process automation, and contaminant removal. 

Ron received his B.S. in Chemistry from St. Ambrose College in 1983 and his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Iowa State University in 1989.  Ron is an inventor on more than 15 patents.

Dr. Hannes Storch

Vice President – Metals and Chemical Processing
Metso

Before joining Outotec in 2002 as a process engineer in Sulfuric Acid Technologies, Dr. 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, Dr. Storch held various positions, including several years in Chile.

Today, he is a member of the management team of Metso’s German subsidiary and heads the Metals and Chemical Processing business line.

Dr. Storch is also a member of the board of the VDMA - AG Großanlagenbau (Large Plant Building Section).

_________________________

Bevor Herr Dr. Storch im Jahr 2002 bei Outotec als Prozessingenieur im Bereich Sulfuric Acid Technologies begann, studierte er an der Technischen Universität Clausthal und am Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). Herr Dr. Storch hat einen Doktortitel in Chemie-Ingenieurwesen.

Im Rahmen seiner Tätigkeit für Metso hatte Herr Dr. Storch verschiedene Funktionen, u.a. einen mehrjährigen Aufenthalt in Chile.

Heute ist er in der Geschäftsführung der deutschen Niederlassung von Metso und leitet die Business Line Metals and Chemical Processing.

Herr Dr. Storch ist zudem Mitglied des Vorstands des VDMA - AG Großanlagenbau.

Edward DeRose

Global Director of Phosphates
Hatch

Edward is an innovative licensed Professional Engineer with over 16 years of experience in operations leadership, process engineering, design, process improvement, startup, and commissioning of phosphate plants.  He has supported large scale greenfield and brownfield phosphate projects across the globe in the areas of phosphoric acid production, granular phosphate fertilizer production, and purified phosphoric acid production. Edward's operational experience has served to enhance his ability to assist in making the optimal process design decisions for his clients, while maintaining efficiency and control of cost and quality.   Edward has worked with clients in numerous brownfield areas including plant debottlenecking, increasing plant capacity, and improving gas scrubbing efficiencies to comply with environmental regulations. Edward also has experience working with clients on greenfield Phosphoric Acid Plant (PAP) design, greenfield Phosphate Granular Fertilizer Plant design, and greenfield Purified Phosphoric Acid (PPA) design, through all of the engineering design phases.  Edward's process design experience includes heat and material balances, process flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment data sheets, operations manuals, operator training, plant safety, plant commissioning and start-up.   Edward is currently the Global Director of Phosphates for Hatch and supports Hatch's global portfolio of phosphate work within the areas of beneficiation, phosphoric acid production, and downstream production of fertilizer, animal feed, and high purity phosphoric acid.

Philippe Chaboche

Technology Manager
Yara

Technology Manager in charge of Process engineering activities for all Yara Fertilizer plants linked to NPK, CN, P-Acid, S-Acid, Feed Phosphates processing units. Working for 20 years in Production plants (P-Acid, NPK, N-Acid and AN Plants) in France.

Maria Gamboa

Phosphate Analyst
CRU

Maria is a market analyst at CRU. She primarily works as editor of the Phosphate Rock Market Outlook, but supports other phosphate related publications such as the Phosphate Fertilizers and Specialty Phosphates Market Outlook. Though she is based in our London office, she is originally from Costa Rica. Maria holds a master’s in development economics from the University of Sussex, and a bachelor’s in Economics from the University of East Anglia.

Simon Inglethorpe

Editor
CRU Communities

Simon has been editor of Fertilizer International magazine since 2015, having joined BCInsight Ltd from Haymarket Media Group, where he was business editor at The ENDS Report, the UK’s leading publication for environmental professionals. A frequent participant on the conference circuit, he regularly chairs sessions at leading international events for CRU, the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) and others. A geology graduate, Simon previously enjoyed a successful scientific career with the British Geological Survey, working extensively in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe and the Middle East. He joined CRU in January this year and currently serves on the council of the International Fertiliser Society (IFS).”

James Byrd

Manager of Phosphate Technology
JESA Technologies

James is a seasoned professional with over 27 years of extensive experience in the fertilizer industry. Currently serving as the head of the Process Department at JESA's Lakeland Office, he plays a pivotal role in overseeing projects related to phosphoric acid technology and managing fertilizer technologies for the company.His expertise spans a wide spectrum of activities within the fertilizer industry. James excels in leading both greenfield projects, which involve the construction of entirely new facilities, and optimizing existing plants to enhance their efficiency and productivity through processes known as de-bottlenecking.

Alfonso Fernandez

Technical Director
Loesche

Alfonso Fernandez was born in 1978 in Madrid, Spain. Industrial Engineer by the Universidad Pontificia Comillas of Madrid (ICAI) in 2002, he worked as a designer of hydraulic turbines for the company Andritz Hydro for five years. In 2008 he joined the Loesche Group as Project Manager, and in 2011, he took the position of Technical Director. Since then, he has been involved in grinding projects with vertical roller mills, being an expert in the grinding process. He is also involved in project execution within the Loesche Group, actively participating in plant commissioning and customer service.

Guoxin Wang

Global Director, Mining Technologies
Arkema

Guoxin Wang, “GW” is Global Director for Mining Technologies and Task Force Leader at Arkema. During his almost 28 years tenure at Arkema, GW has opportunities to work on many different ore bodies worldwide. The result has been to expand Arkema’s flotation chemical and defoamer chemical businesses into new markets.  

Altogether, Dr. Wang has over 40 years’ experience in the field of Mineral Processing, including ~28 years supporting phosphate industry. GW received Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering at University of Nevada-Reno.

Jan Tytgat

Process Engineering Manager
De Smet Agro

Mr. Jan Tytgat is a chemical industrial engineer with 35 years of experience in process engineering, technical audits and commissioning activities mainly in the Phosphoric Acid field. He was involved in the design and start-up of various new and revamped dihydrate phosphoric acid plants and acidic cooling towers. He started in 1989, with SNC-Lavalin, fertilizers division in Brussels as a process engineer and since 2020, he works as Process Engineering Manager with De Smet Agro in Belgium.

Robert Van Spingelen

President
European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP)

Robert van Spingelen is President of the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP),where he heads Europe-wide cooperation on sustainable phosphorus and nitrogen management,nutrient recycling, and circular fertiliser innovation.

With more than twenty years in the cropnutrient and fertiliser sector, he works at the interface of industry, regulators, and researchcommunities to accelerate the deployment of recovered nutrient products and improve regulatorypathways under the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (2019/1009).

Robert actively supports policy development, stakeholder alignment, and technical dialogue across wastewater, agriculture,and recycling industries, promoting evidence-based solutions that strengthen Europe’s strategicautonomy in essential nutrients and reduce environmental pressures.

Jens-Michael Bergmann

Segment Manager Industrial Minerals
TOMRA Sorting GmbH

Mr. Jens-Michael Bergmann is a specialist in sensor-based machine sorting with more than 25 years of experience. After graduating with a master’s degree in mining engineering, Mr. Bergmann became plant and operations manager of a German company owning multiple mines and quarries. There he learned the challenges of the mining and mineral processing business hands-on.

Before, during his university time, Mr. Bergmann worked in underground coal mines and oil rigs around Europe. His practical background created the necessary experience to offer even technical consultancy around sensor-based sorting technologies to TOMRA’s international clients now.

Juan von Gernet

Market Intelligence Manager
ICL

Juan von Gernet is the Market Intelligence Manager for Growing Solutions at ICL Group, a role he has held since April 2023. A seasoned industry expert with over 15 years of experience in the commodity and fertilizer sectors, Juan specializes in economic modeling, strategic forecasting, and market analysis.

Prior to ICL, Juan served as Head of Industry Analysis and Forecasting at EuroChem and headed Market Intelligence at PhosAgro Trading. He spent a significant part of his earlier career at CRU, where he began as a metals & mining consultant. In 2012 he shifted focus to become a fertilizer analyst, eventually leading CRU’s research in phosphate markets and costs.

Juan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Stellenbosch University and is member of the International Fertilizer Association’s (IFA) Market Intelligence Strategic Advisory Team, The Fertilizer Institute’s (TFI) Economics Council, and the European Potash Producers Association (EPPA).

Timothy Cotton

CEO
Novaphos

Timothy Cotton is the CEO of Novaphos Inc. He has been active in the fertilizer industry for over 30 years, including with Agrifos Fertilizer, Gulf Coast Ammonia, Baobab Mining and Chemicals. Previously he was an investment banker focused on leveraged transactions. He also serves on numbers Boards of Directors and is a member of PAPSAC at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is a graduate of Yale University.

Ernesto Lima

COO & Director
Bifox LLC

Ernesto Lima is a professional civil engineer with 26 years of experience in the mining industry. Dr. Lima graduated with a B.ASc. degree in Civil Engineering, holds an MBA degree and a PhD in Management. He, among others, developed the Las Cristinas gold mine project in Venezuela, the Pirquitas silver project in Argentina, Tucano gold project in Brazil, was General Manager of Business Development for Luna Gold, COO of Valor Resources, and more recently Director Project Development of Endeavour Silver. Dr. Lima's expertise includes leading all stages of project development, including conceptual and detailed operational and economic studies, mine engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. His strengths include project evaluation, safety performance, strategic analysis, team building and business.

Danny Luu

Process Engineer
Derrick Corporation

Danny Luu is a Process Engineer at Derrick Corporation with a background in Chemical Engineering.

His expertise includes being the technical expert in fines separation technologies, especially infines screening for both wet and dry applications.

Ian Keith Hancock

Vice President Sales and Operations
Bradley Pulverizer

Ian has 35 years’ experience in Engineering and is registered as an IEng Engineer in a variety of disciplines including mechanical, electrical and instrumentation and is a fellow of the IMechE and member of the IET.

Chair of the IMechE Bulk material handling committee and IMechE Process industries board.

He now works for Bradley Pulverizer as Vice President sales and operations, managing projects from quote to commissioning as well as managing upgrades and modernisation of existing plants. Specialising in fine powders production and size classification for a wide range of industries from power generation, steel manufacturing and Fertilizer as well as the Broadfield acidulation units for SSP and other acidic salts.

Brian Ostroff

President
Arianne Phosphate

Brian Ostroff is a graduate of the University of Toronto (1986) having joined RBC Dominion Securities in 1987. In 1999 Mr. Ostroff joined M&A advisory firm Goodrich Capital where he was the Canadian managing partner overseeing mandates across several industries with a focus on mining. In 2004, Mr. Ostroff moved over to the trading side of the capital market’s business as a proprietary trader with a large Canadian bank. Mr. Ostroff joined Windermere Capital in 2009 until 2022, serving as a Managing Director; his area of focus was the junior and mid-tier mining sector. Mr. Ostroff joined the Board of Arianne Phosphate in 2014 and subsequently joined the Management team in 2016.

Karl Wyant

Director of Agronomy
Nutrien

Dr. Karl Wyant currently serves as the Director of Agronomy at Nutrien. In this position, Dr. Wyant contributes proven agronomic leadership in growing the Nutrien commodity and premium fertilizer product lines and promotes advanced sustainability initiatives. Before working at Nutrien, Dr. Wyant served as the Vice President of Ag Science for Heliae Agriculture (2019-2022) and as an agronomist for Helena Agri-Enterprises in California and Arizona (2014-2019).

Dr. Wyant earned his advanced degrees at Arizona State University (PhD - 2014) and Colorado State University (MS - 2008). Dr. Wyant is a Certified Crop Advisor and Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg) and has his CA and AZ Pest Control Advisor licenses. Karl and his family reside in Tempe, AZ.

Joe Garofoli

CEO
Roc Global

Joe Garofoli is Founder and CEO of Roc Global, a NYC-headquartered financial advisory business specialized in the Mining and Clean Energy sectors. Joe and his team have developed expertise in critical, agricultural and specialty minerals-including in-depth experience financing phosphate and potash projects. Roc Global has closed transactions across multiple jurisdictions, providing M&A, strategic equity and debt advisory services.  

Before founding the firm in 2011, Joe led KBC Financial Products derivatives businesses after managing D.E. Shaw & Co.’s global equity-linked securities business in New York. Joe serves on the board of Astrea Farnihas e Olios, a Brazilian agricultural recycling business.

Ludwig Hermann

Board Member
European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform

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

Vice President, Market and Strategic Analysis
The Mosaic Company

As Mosaic’s Vice President of Market and Strategic Analysis (a.k.a. chief economist), Andy provides analysis supporting the company’s short-term operating decisions, as well as evaluation of strategic initiatives and long-term growth opportunities.

He is a member of Mosaic’s Commercial Leadership Team, which provides oversight of Mosaic’s commercial functions.  

Prior to joining Mosaic in 2013, he worked as a fertilizer industry consultant at CRU for 10 years, including as manager of their phosphate research program and led a wide range of strategic consulting assignments around the world across agriculture, crop nutrient and raw material sectors.

Lucas Moore

Vice President of R&D
Colonial Chemical, Inc.

As Colonial Chemical’s VP of R&D and Regulatory Affairs, 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 personal care, HI&I and car care, oil and mining, metalworking fluids, and others. Lucas joined Colonial Chemical in April of 2022.

Lucas has nearly 20 years of experience in the specialty chemicals industry with positions at Arkema-ArrMaz, Kemira, and Ciba Specialty Chemicals. He is the author and co-author of more than 80 publications and conference presentations, and is the co-inventor of more than 30 patent applications. Lucas obtained a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with an emphasis in Ligand Design for metal catalyzed reactions from the University of Alabama, and completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship from the University of Arkansas where the research interest continued to explore Ligand Design and Organometallic Chemistry.