Title:Distinguished Professor, University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University (NCSU),USA

About: Sunkyu Park is the Associate Department Head, Jordan Family Distinguished Professor, and University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University (NCSU). He joined the NCSU faculty in 2009 after earning his Ph.D. in the same department, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Dr. Park’s department is a national leader in Pulp and Paper education, where he teaches process simulation for pulp and paper operations and biorefinery systems. His research encompasses a broad spectrum of biorefinery development, emphasizing the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials, with primary funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

He is recognized as a leading researcher in bio-based graphite production, a field with significant potential to reduce dependence on foreign sources of battery-grade graphite. Dr. Park has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, holds an h-index of 54 with over 12,500 citations, and is currently leading seven DOE-funded projects, serving as principal investigator on four of them.

Title: Professor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA

About: Dr. Bruce E. Dale received his bachelor’s (summa cum laude) and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Arizona and the doctorate from Purdue University in 1979. Dr. Dale is currently University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at Michigan State University. He serves as Editor in Chief and Founding Editor of the journal Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. He won the Charles D. Scott Award (1996) for contributions to biofuel production and the Sterling Hendricks Award (2007) for contributions to agriculture. Professor Dale was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2011 and a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers in 2015. In 2017 he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Inventors. He has published over 325 archival journal papers which have been cited over 50,000 times and has received 63 US and international patents. His research interests are the relationship between energy use and prosperity and the design of integrated agroenergy systems to produce fuels, chemicals, animal feed, food and environmental services.

Title: Director, Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA

About: Dr. Simmons is the Director of the Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (biosciences.lbl.gov). He also serves as the Chief Science and Technology Officer and Vice-President of the Deconstruction Division at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (www.jbei.org), a DOE Office of Science funded project tasked with the development and realization of advanced biofuels and bioproducts produced from sustainable, non-food lignocellulosic biomass. After spending 15 years at Sandia National Laboratories, he joined Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has over 400 publications and holds more than 50 patents.

Title:Principal at Azolla Ventures, Massachusetts, Cambridge, USA

About:Jillian Chase is a Principal at Azolla Ventures, an impact-first climate fund that blends catalytic and full-cycle capital to support companies with gigaton-scale GHG emissions reduction potential. Jillian is trained as a biochemist, with a specific focus on structural biology, protein structure & function, DNA structure & function and biotechnology. Prior to Azolla, Jillian was Vice President of Flatiron Venture Partners. Her work at Flatiron fostered a keen interest in cellular manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing techniques and AgTech.

Jillian received a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences the University of Rhode Island, spent time working in the in vivo Immunology product development group at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and worked in the lab of Nobel Laureate Dr. Roderick MacKinnon at Rockefeller University / HHMI before receiving her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the City University of New York / City College of New York.

Title:Professor, Department of Bioengineering University of California, USA

About:Adam Arkin is the Dean A. Richard Newton Memorial Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley and Senior Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He and his laboratory specialize in the systems and synthetic biological approaches for discovery, prediction, control and design of microbial and viral functions and behaviors in environmental contexts

He is the chief scientist of the Department of Energy Scientific Focus Area, ENIGMA (Ecosystems and Networks Integrated with Genes and Molecular Assemblies, http://enigma.lbl.gov), designed to understand, at a molecular level, the impact of microbial communities on their ecosystems with specific focus on terrestrial communities in contaminated watersheds.

He also directs the Department of Energy Systems Biology Knowledgebase (KBase) program: (http://kbase.us) an open platform for comparative functional genomics, systems and synthetic biology for microbes, plants and their communities, and for sharing results and methods with other scientists.

He is the lead principal investigator for the three-year project Pro/Prebiotic Regulation for Optimized Treatment and Eradication of Clinical Threats (PROTECT). Berkeley researchers, in collaboration with a team from UC San Diego led by professor Karsten Zengler, will use microbiome engineering to create probiotic bacterial communities that prevent and treat lung pathogens — Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus — in immunocompromised people, such as those with cystic fibrosis or on respirators.

Title:Research Scientist, Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, USA

About: Nawa Baral is a Research Scientist in Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, United States, specializing in process modeling, technoeconomic analysis, and lifecycle assessment. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including the design and analysis of terrestrial and aquatic biomass feedstock supply systems, biomass-to-transportation fuels production system analysis (with a focus on renewable sustainable aviation fuels, ground transportation fuels for heavy-duty vehicles, and marine fuels). Additionally, he is actively involved in designing and analyzing biomass-to-value-added renewable commodity chemicals and biopolymers production systems, as well as exploring the conversion of solid and gaseous waste into biofuels, bioplastics, and other value-added bioproducts. He holds the position of Associate Editor at Bioenergy and Biofuels, a specialty section of Frontiers in Energy Research, showcasing his commitment to advancing the field. He earned his Ph.D. in Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering from The Ohio State University, United States.

Title:Dr. Wael Alnoby – Founder of Becom, Egypt

About:Dr. Wael Alnoby is an accomplished Egyptian entrepreneur and expert in bioenergy and sustainable waste-to-energy solutions, with over a decade of experience in developing clean energy technologies and advanced biomass processing systems.

He is the founder of Becom, the first company in Egypt and the Middle East registered with global bioenergy associations, with a clear vision to transform the region’s perception of renewable energy. Under his leadership, Becom specializes in converting agricultural residues and biomass into high-quality products such as wood pellets, biochar, and industrial-grade biofuel.

Dr. Alnoby drives innovation in the circular economy, focusing on reducing industrial carbon emissions, optimizing energy costs, and creating value from waste. He is also committed to raising awareness and educating communities and industries about sustainable energy practices and the benefits of bioenergy.

His leadership combines technical expertise, strategic vision, and a commitment to sustainable industrial growth and environmental impact.

Title:Professor, DFSP Chair, Professor at King Saud University , Saudi Arabia

About:Rafael Luque (PhD in 2005 from Universidad de Cordoba, Spain) has significant experience in biomass and waste valorization practices to materials, fuels and chemicals including nanoscale chemistry, green chemistry and catalysis as well as environmental remediation with a particular interest on plastic waste (>1000 publications, h-index 121, >65,000 citations, 7 patents, >10 edited books). He was named 2018-2022 Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate Analytics) and received Honorary Professor titles (Doctor Honoris Causa) at Universitá degli studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria and RUDN University

Prof. Luque is currently Head of B4 group (Bioresources, Biopolymers, Biotechnology and Biorefineries) and Project Director at National University of Science and Technology Polytehnica Bucharest (Romania), holding various positions as DFSP Chair Professor at King Saud University (Saudi Arabia), Distinguished Visiting Professor at University of Lahore (Pakistan) and International Distinguished Scientist and Rectoral Advisor at Universidad ECOTEC (Ecuador).

Title:Master and PhD candidate in Economic Development, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) Sao Paulo, Brazil

About: Stéphani Cetimia Mariotti Ruiz is a PhD Candidate in Economic Development at the Institute of Economics, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), with research funded by FAPESP and CAPES. Her work focuses on bioeconomy, biomass supply chains, advanced biofuels, and the application of Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) to analyze market dynamics and governance structures. She has participated in international research networks and conferences, including ICABR, BBEST-IEA Bioenergy, SOBER. At CEPAL (United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), she conducted research on the promotion of bioeconomy in the Caribbean, particularly on the development of biomass supply chains based on invasive seaweed (Sargassum fusiforme) for bioenergy and bioproducts. Stéphani has more than ten years of combined academic and consulting experience in sustainability, project management, and innovation policies. She has served as a consultant for strategic environmental projects and as a researcher at NIPE/UNICAMP, producing technical reports, policy analyses, and simulation-based studies on the transition to low-carbon energy systems. Her scientific contributions include articles and conference proceedings on biomass governance, risk and transaction cost analysis, and the role of institutional arrangements in supporting second-generation ethanol and other renewable energy pathways. She has received academic awards, including the Scientific Merit Prize from ABEIN (2023), and was a Santander Luso-Brazilian Fellow (2016).

Title:Professor, University of California, Berkeley, USA

About:David Zilberman is a Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Berkeley. He received the 2019 Wolf Prize in Agriculture and was elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Science in 2019. David was the 2018- 19 President of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and is a fellow of multiple associations. David's research analyzes water, innovation, supply chains, agriculture, energy, and the environment and the bioeconomy. He has served as a Consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA, the World Bank, FAO, MARS, BP, WWF, Shell and others. David got a BA from Tel Aviv University and a Berkeley Ph.D.

Title: Assistant Professor, UCD School of Civil Engineering, Ireland

About: Dr Yuansheng Hu is an Assistant Professor in the UCD School of Civil Engineering. His primary teaching and research area is Water and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Hu joined the School of Civil Engineering as an Assistant Professor in July 2023. Prior to that, he was a faculty member at the Department of Civil Engineering & Construction, Atlantic Technological University Sligo (2022-2023). Dr. Hu also worked as a faculty member at the Department of Municipal Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (2012-2017). Dr. Hu’s research interests include:

• Biological wastewater treatment: autotrophic nitrogen removal, anaerobic treatment, resource recovery
• Biosolids management: anaerobic digestion/fermentation, GHG mitigation, valorisation
• Microalgae biotechnology: wastewater treatment, biofuels, bioproducts, carbon capture
• Constructed wetlands: wastewater treatment, water pollution control, low-impact development

Title: Professor,University of California, Berkeley, USA

About: David Wells Roland-Holst is a Research Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resources Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Roland-Holst is a leading expert on economics related to energy, environment, international trade, and agriculture, authoring seven books and over 150 articles and chapters in professional journals and books. Professor Roland-Holst has served in academic posts in the United States, Europe, and Asia, conducting research in over 40 countries. He advised to public institutions including Federal and state agencies, the Asian Development Bank, Inter- American Development bank, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Bank, and several United Nations agencies, as well as governments in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa. Professor Roland-Holst holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and is a US citizen.

Title: Associate Professor, University of louisville, USA

About:Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Louisville (USA), where he leads research at the intersection of solvent engineering, biochemical conversion, and materials design. His work focuses on transforming lignocellulosic biomass into renewable fuels, bioproducts, and energy materials through integrated chemical–biological pathways for a circular carbon economy.

Title: Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University, USA

About:Cheryl Kerfeld is the Hannah Distinguished Professor of Structural Bioengineering at the MSU-DOE Plant Research Lab and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University. The Kerfeld Group (www.kerfeldlab.org) is focused on structural synthetic biology, specifically understanding and engineering of modular carotenoid-binding proteins that mediate cyanobacterial photoprotection and of self-assembling metabolic organelles in bacteria, with the goal of repurposing these protein-based architectures into nanoreactors and biomaterials. In this context she currently leads the Center for Catalysis in Biomimetic Confinement, a US Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Center. Professor Kerfeld received her B.A. in Biology and English from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Biology from UCLA. She also holds appointments in the Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology and the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Divisions of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Title: postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA

About:Xueli Chen, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory working with Dr. Blake Simmons, focusing on deconstructing lignocellulosic biomass, textiles, and plastics using advanced solvent systems. He received his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue University in 2023, where he was advised by Prof. Nathan Mosier and Prof. Michael Ladisch at the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering (LORRE). Prior to his doctoral studies, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from China Agricultural University, conducting research on ball milling and catalytic biomass conversion under the guidance of Prof. Weihua Xiao and Prof. Lujia Han. He also holds a dual Master’s degree in Applied Mechatronic Engineering from Harper Adams University in the UK (2019). Following his Ph.D., Dr. Chen joined the group of Prof. Shang-Tian Yang at The Ohio State University, where his contributions involved developing and evaluating novel bioprocesses and bioreactor systems for lignocellulosic butanol production. His research interests include biomass and waste resource valorization, reactor development, as well as process intensification and evaluation.

Title: Fermentation and bioprocess engineer ABPDU and LBNL , USA

About:Young Eun Song, Ph.D., is a fermentation and bioprocess engineer at the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). He is currently working with Dr. Eric Sundstrom, focusing on the optimization of biohydrogen production processes using lignocellulosic biomass and CO₂ gas fermentation for sustainable fuel and chemical production. Dr. Song earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2020 from Pusan National University, South Korea, under the supervision of Prof. Jung Rae Kim. His doctoral research focused on C1 gas conversion using bioelectrochemical reactors for power-to-gas and power-to-product (P2G/P2P) biological electrosynthesis, leveraging renewable electricity and microbial platforms. His current research interests include biohydrogen production using waste biomass, REE recovery, biological C1 gas valorization, and process optimization, contributing to the advancement of low-carbon energy and circular bioeconomy technologies.

Title: Associate Director, Wisconsin Energy Institute Madison, USA

About:Mary Blanchard is the Associate Director of the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) at UW – Madison. Blanchard’s career portfolio spans business development, international and domestic product management and marketing, and governmental relations. Formerly the Director of Marketing and Government Affairs at a bioenergy start-up company, Blanchard has extensive knowledge of the bioenergy industry and a broad understanding of energy technologies, challenges, and the economic, social, and environmental opportunities created by sustained, cross-disciplinary energy research. She has served on bioeconomy and biofuels advisory groups for the Midwestern Governors Association and the Wisconsin Legislative Council. Blanchard holds bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering and English from the University of Notre Dame, a master's degree from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from Northwestern University.

Title: Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India

About:Dr. Amit Ghosh is an Associate Professor of School of Energy Science and Engineering with a joint appointment in PK Sinha Centre for Bioenergy and Renewable at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He earned his PhD from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 2009. Thereafter done his Postdoctoral Research from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, during 2009 to 2011. He also worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, during 2011 to 2015. His research interest includes Systems and Synthetic Biology for systematic metabolic engineering for production of biofuels. Recipient of Faculty Excellence Award 2020 (IIT Kharagpur) and Ramalingaswami Fellowship 2015-2021, DBT govt. of India.