Speakers 2026

Jan Hermans is an independent consultant with more than 30 years of experience in process engineering and sulphur processing technologies. He began his career as Director of Sparkler Filter International before founding Sulphurnet, a specialist company focused on sulphur processing, sulphur melting and filtration technologies. Throughout his career, Jan has developed extensive expertise in process and equipment design, as well as supporting clients through plant commissioning and start-ups. His practical field experience also encompasses plant audits, process optimisation and operator training.

Following Sulphurnet’s acquisition by Elessent Clean Technologies / MECS in 2025, Jan continues to provide independent consulting support, helping clients address process- and plant-related challenges in sulphur processing.

Brandon Forbes has worked in the process heating and sulfur industry for over 18 years with a focus on product development and engineering design. He has helped develop and support CSI’s most successful products including the bolt-on heating product suite and the SxSeal above-ground sulfur sealing device.

Simon joined Optimized Gas Treating, Inc. as a Software Development Engineer in May, 2014. He completed three internships with OGT during his undergraduate years in the summers of 2011, 2012 and 2013. Following four years of software development experience, Simon became a Technical Applications Engineer in 2018 in which position he is responsible for key accounts, employee and customer training, and workshops. Simon received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in German from the University of Oklahoma in 2014 and is fluent in both English and German. He is an expert in fundamentals-based modeling of sulphur recovery operations and is a subject matter expert in sulphur recovery and gas treating.

Galih Yudhaprawira holds a bachelor's and master's degree in electrical engineering, then worked in plant maintenance and operations. He completed his undergraduate and master's degrees at Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia. With 12 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, he currently serves as AVP of the Sulfuric Acid Plant at Petrokimia Gresik.

Jonas Höwing has a MSc and PhD in inorganic chemistry from Uppsala University, Sweden. He has extensive experience working with material selection, failure analysis, remaining life assessment and corrosion studies at Alleima and other companies. He now holds the position of Technical Marketing Specialist at Alleima Tube division, working towards the EMEA region.

Jochen is a chemist with a PhD in polymer and colloid science from leading German research institutions. He joined BASF in 2017 as a Lab Leader in Research, where he managed innovation and technology development projects. Since 2022, he has been serving as Technology Manager for Sulfuric Acid Catalysts in BASF’s Process Catalysts Division, supporting sulfuric acid producers across the EMEA region. In this role, he helps customers optimize plant performance, increase production efficiency, and meet environmental requirements through the application of BASF’s advanced catalyst technologies.

Jochen is a specialist in Process Analytical Applications at Refineries, Oil & Gas Production facilities and Chemical plants. His focus is on optimizing Instrumentation to meet today’s requirements of process optimization and energy savings. He is also a specialist of process control instrumentation in Sulphur Recovery Plants. Jochen is providing technical training courses for those industries. He is frequently invited as guest speaker at various International Seminars and Meetings such as SulGas (member of the advisory team) and MESCon.

Sunil Umare is a refinery professional with 18 years of experience in operations, commissioning and turnarounds across key refinery units, including the Delayed Coker Unit, Hydrotreating Unit, Hydrogen Generation Unit and Sulfur Recovery Unit. He currently serves as Chief Manager in the Operations Department at HPCL Mumbai Refinery, India. Sunil has played a pivotal role in optimising refinery performance, ensuring operational excellence and troubleshooting complex process challenges. His expertise includes process optimisation and troubleshooting in the Sulfur Recovery and Hydrotreating Units, reflecting strong technical knowledge and a practical problem-solving approach. Prior to joining HPCL, he was involved in the commissioning of the Delayed Coker Unit at BPCL Bina Refinery.

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

Xiaowei Huang is a business development professional at RHI Magnesita, where he has served as Business Development Expert, EEC since January 2026. Prior to this, he held a number of technical and commercial roles within the company, including Senior Technical Marketing Manager, EEC from 2022 to 2025 and Technical Marketing Manager, EEC from 2018 to 2021. Before joining RHI Magnesita, Xiaowei was Manager, R&D at Ecoloop GmbH and previously worked there as Engineer, R&D. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from KIT Germany, completed in 2011, and a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from KIT Germany, completed in 2007.

Lisa Connock is Technical Editor and Managing Director of BCInsight, publisher of Sulphur, Fertilizer International and Nitrogen+Syngas magazines. As Technical Editor of Sulphur magazine, she has reported on the latest developments in the sulphur and sulphuric acid industries for over 30 years. She has also been an active member of the steering committee for the Sulphur + Sulphuric Acid Conference for many years.

Duc Tien Le is an Application Engineer and Head of Application at SensoTech GmbH, where he has been contributing since 2023. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Otto von Guericke University in Germany. In his role, Tien focuses on feasibility studies and the optimization of measurement technologies, supporting industrial processes with a strong emphasis on efficiency and performance. He is actively involved in technical sales, bridging the gap between innovative sensor solutions and real-world applications. Additionally, he leads laboratory operations and testing, ensuring reliable validation of technologies across various use cases.

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.

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.

Kumar Rajan Gopa is a Senior Product Engineer in Metso's Sulphuric Acid Product Group, specializing in sulphuric acid plant design, commissioning, and emissions reduction technologies. He holds a Master's degree in Process Systems Engineering from TU Dortmund University and has over five years of experience in process engineering and industrial operations. During his time at Metso, Kumar has contributed to the design and commissioning of sulphur-burning and metallurgical sulphuric acid plants across multiple global projects. His work has focused on plant performance optimization, operational support, and the implementation of NOx abatement technologies. Over the past two years, he has been actively involved in the development and deployment of Metso's DeNOx solutions, including recent commissioning activities for a commercial DeNOx installation in Australia

Ellen Stotz is Global Business Development Manager – Chemical Industry, Process Technology at Lechler. She is responsible for the chemical industry within the field of process technology and brings together technical expertise and commercial insight to address complex customer challenges. Holding a degree in Environmental and Process Engineering, Ellen has many years of international experience as both an engineer and a sales professional. As a key interface across Lechler’s international subsidiaries, she leads projects that create new processes and deliver measurable added value for the chemical industry, from process optimisation and redesign to customised nozzle solutions.

Nurettin Bayraktar is the Founder and CEO of Baymineral, an international trading company specializing in sulphur, fertilizers and raw materials. With over 15 years of experience in international trade and sulphur markets, he leads the company’s global growth, sourcing and commercial strategy. He holds a degree in Astronomy and Space Science from Ankara University and completed Executive MBA studies at Sabancı University and Columbia Business School.

Daniel has a Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical Engineering with Industrial Economy from Åbo Academy University, Finland. Daniel has broad experience from the process industry. Before joining Boliden AB, Daniel made a long career with many years of experience from other industrial companies i.e. as Business Area Director, as site Manager for Business Units and several roles as Production Manager both in Sweden and internationally. Daniel highly values the People side of change, to have common values that empower the organization and provides a common structure that simplify every day work, which is essential in the strive towards excellence and the company vision; To be the most climate friendly and respected metal provider in the world.

Mr. Craig Jorgenson joined The Sulphur Institute staff in 2014 as the Director of Regulatory Affairs overseeing TSI’s advocacy efforts in the area of safety, leading practice documents, and regulatory overreach that may affect the international sulphur and sulphuric acid supply chains. Now as President of TSI, Mr. Jorgenson oversees all aspects of TSI’s programs and services, budget execution, and growth in membership. He sits on several industry committees representing TSI including the Association of American Railroads Tank Car Committee; the American Society of Safety Professionals Hydrogen Sulfide Training Standards Committee; the Hydrogen Sulfide Coalition; and is an active participant in the European Sulfuric Acid (ESA) Association.

Marco Brunsendorf is Executive Director Sales, Smelter Products at Aurubis AG, one of the world's leading non-ferrous metals producers and Europe's largest copper recycler. He is responsible for the global sales of sulphuric acid, precious metals, lead, minor metals, platinum group metals, and iron silicate. Since joining Aurubis in 2011, he has held several commercial leadership roles and has extensive experience in international commodity markets, strategic sales, and long-term customer partnerships. Marco works closely with mining, chemical, and industrial customers worldwide and focuses on market developments, commercial strategies, and supply-demand dynamics across the sulphur and sulphuric acid value chain.

Maud Bergsjø is the Sector Group Manager for the European Sulphuric Acid Association (ESA), which belongs to the Halogen Industry Sector of Cefic. Before joining Cefic in 2025, she worked as a public affairs professional within Kreab, focusing on policies affecting the chemicals industry. She holds a Master's degree in European Affairs from the Sorbonne University and a Master's degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe. She is a French and Norwegian national based in Brussels.

Rob Marriott is the Alberta Sulphur Research Ltd (ASRL) Director of Research, ASRL Research Chair in Applied Sulfur Chemistry and Professor of Chemistry. He is responsible for guiding the ASRL Core Research Program and teaches as a Full Professor within the Department of Chemistry. His current research interests range from adsorbent technologies, applied chemical thermodynamics of complex systems, souring of reservoir fluids, sulfur deposition, hydrate formation, sulfur recovery, treatment, scavengers and high-pressure fluid purification. He has authored over 135 published research papers, more than 200 conference presentations and over 230 confidential research contract reports.

Wolfhard has Diploma degree in Mechanical Engineering of University of Applied Science Mannheim, Germany. He started working for Howden Turbo in 2007 as a Project Manager and is working in Sales since 2012. His focus is on applications like chemical plants, sulfuric acid plants and petrochemical plants. Howden Turbo GmbH, the former Siemens Turbomachinery GmbH / AG KK&K, is a turbomachinery manufacturer that was acquired by Howden in 2017. The company is based in Frankenthal / Germany.

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

After his Ph.D. at the Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, Hanno Hintze started working at the R&D department of Aurubis AG, Hamburg in 1999. From 2001 - 2015 he was Production Manager and since 2012 director of the sulphuric acid department of Aurubis Hamburg, being responsible for the copper smelter offgas and wastewater treatment. After being director of the Hamburg primary smelter Projects (2015-2018) in 2018 he took over responsiblility for the large acid and wastewater projects at Aurubis Group Technology. In 2006 Dr.-Ing. Hintze started leading the technical working group on sulphur within the German VCI, and he is a member of the IPPC technical working groups of the non ferrous metals BREF and the waste gas common BREF taking care of SO2 emissions off sulphuric acid plants.

Elmo Nasato is a process engineer specializing in sulfur recovery, amine treating and sour water processing. He has 35 years' experience including design, retrofit, start-up and optimization, On-site field activities have included support of construction activities, turnaround assistance and operator training. Elmo graduated from the University of Waterloo, Canada with a B.A.Sc. Chemical Engineering (1987) with an option in Management Science. He is the president of Nasato Consulting Ltd. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for Alberta Sulphur Research, Technical Advisory Committee for the Laurance Reid Gas Conditioning Conference, and the Brimstone Sulfur Symposium Technical Advisory Committee. He has eight patents for SRU operation, oxygen enrichment and sulfur degassing technologies, has published 42 papers and has made over 74 presentations at conferences worldwide.

Muhammad Idrees is a business leader with over 23 years of international experience across the fertilizer, petrochemical, polymers, energy, and industrial sectors. A Chemical Engineer and an MBA, he has held leadership roles spanning operations, major capital projects, commercial strategy, commodity trading, and business development. He previously served as Chief Commercial Officer of Engro Polymer & Chemicals and Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA). His experience covers ammonia, urea, syngas, chlor-alkali chemicals, polymers, hydrogen, and large-scale energy and infrastructure projects. He is currently involved in the international trading of fertilizers, chemicals, petrochemicals, sulphur, sulphuric acid and industrial raw materials, while also leading the development of greenfield and brownfield projects across fertilizers, sulphur, sulphuric acid, hydrogen and other process industries. Muhammad is an Executive Committee Member of CRU Nitrogen + Syngas Conference and also serves on the Industry Advisory Board of LUMS. His current focus is on industrial decarbonization, low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia, strategic investments, project development, and building integrated industrial value chains across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

Dimitrios Dimitrakis is a chemical engineer with more than 15 years of experience in energy research, technology development, and industrial innovation. He is currently a Group Leader at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Future Fuels, where he leads research on renewable hydrogen, sustainable fuels, thermochemical technologies, and industrial decarbonisation. Throughout his career, he has led numerous national and international research projects, as well as industry-oriented research and technology-development projects and services, bridging fundamental science, engineering and industrial application. He holds a Diploma and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has previously held research positions at the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH). His expertise spans thermochemical hydrogen production, solar fuels, CO₂ conversion, catalytic processes and renewable-energy integration, with a strong focus on translating innovative research into scalable, industrially relevant solutions for the sustainable energy transition.

Jacob Carpenter is a Senior Mechanical Engineer with Nevada Gold Mines. He is currently focused on capital maintenance projects while also supporting reliability and maintenance planning. Jacob brings 12 years of experience across heavy industry, mineral processing, refining and acid production.

Jenny started her carrier at TOPSOE in 2002, when she took up a position as process engineer for TOPSOE’s Wet gas Sulfuric Acid (WSA) technology for SO2 abatement. Between 2010 and 2023 she worked as a Project Manager executing engineering and supply projects, mainly within the WSA technology. In 2023 she took up the position as Project Director for Clean Air technologies, including the WSA technology. In 2024 she transferred to TOPSOE’s commercial department, taking up the position she currently holds as Senior Licensing Manager for Clean Air technologies in Europe and North America.

Jae Shi leads Wylton's client engagement across Africa, East Asia, Europe, and North America. For years, he has been dedicated exclusively to serving sulphuric acid plant customers in these markets, bringing deep hands-on expertise to every client partnership.

Edmundo Bardales is the Global Chemical Market Manager at Sensia, where he leads the development of Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) solutions for the chemical industry. One of his main areas of focus is the application of infrared imaging technologies for sulfur dioxide (SO₂) detection, supporting emissions monitoring, process optimization, and asset reliability in sulfuric acid plants. Working closely with industrial customers worldwide, he helps develop innovative monitoring strategies that provide operational insight, improve plant performance, and support safer and more efficient operations.

Daniela Boni, MSc in chemical engineering, is currently holding the position of Sulphur Technology Manager in KT-Tech. Her career started in 2014, when she joined KT Kinetics Technology as a Junior Process engineer in the Sulphur Recovery team. Since then, she has built her experience in Sulphur Recovery and Gas Treatment technology by participating in many different projects, involving basic designs, EPC, feasibility studies, commissioning and start-up activities. Today, within KT Tech, she is now moving forward in her career as Sulphur Technology Group Leader, leading the development of PDPs, new technologies and digital products in the field of Sulphur Recovery.

Martin Alvarez holds an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires and brings more than 10 years of experience in the chemical industry. Since joining Topsoe in 2019, Martin has held various roles, always focused on the sulfuric acid catalyst department. He has provided technical support and services to sulfuric acid plants worldwide, including numerous hands-on visits to plants in Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. His expertise spans plant optimization, catalyst design, turnaround planning, catalyst loading, and troubleshooting—helping customers achieve optimal plant performance and reduce emissions. Prior to joining Topsoe, Martin worked for 5 years as a Process Engineer in Argentina, specializing in revamps and equipment design for refinery and chemical plants.

Alexander Wolf is Global Segment Manager Chemicals at IPCO, where he leads the strategic development and growth of the company’s global chemical business. He joined IPCO in 2020 and has held positions in after-sales engineering and sales management for the DACH region, combining technical process expertise with a strong commercial and customer-focused approach. Since January 2026, Alexander has been responsible for IPCO’s Chemicals segment worldwide, driving market development, portfolio strategy, key customer relationships, and new business opportunities across the chemical and process industries. A particular focus of his work is solidification and cooling technologies for molten products, including sulphur, resins, and specialty chemicals. Working closely with customers, engineering teams, and R&D specialists around the world, he helps transform complex process challenges into reliable industrial solutions and supports long-term growth in global chemical markets.

Alvaro Jara holds a Chemical Engineering degree and MSc in Process Engineering from National University of Engineering - Perú. He joined Southern Peru in January 2015, where he has worked as a Metallurgist within the Smelter Technical department giving support to smelter, conversion, anode and sulfuric acid plant.Alvaro Jara holds a Chemical Engineering degree and MSc in Process Engineering from National University of Engineering - Perú. He joined Southern Peru in January 2015, where he has worked as a Metallurgist within the Smelter Technical department giving support to smelter, conversion, anode and sulfuric acid plant.

Mujahid S. Alturais is a Senior Project Engineer with over a decade of experience in the oil and gas industry, specializing in project development, execution, and innovation. He began his career with Schlumberger before joining Saudi Aramco, where he progressed from Process Engineer to Project Engineer, contributing to major projects across Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Professional in Business Analysis (PBA), Mujahid focuses on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, design standardization, and accelerating project delivery. He has played a key role in delivering strategic Saudi Aramco projects by integrating emerging technologies and innovative engineering solutions. Mujahid is a four-time published author and an international speaker on AI and project innovation. His contributions have earned multiple company awards, including the prestigious President Excellence Award in 2024. He is also passionate about community development and advancing initiatives that support Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

Saleh A. Aldhowayan is an accomplished Operations Engineer with over 13 years of experience at Saudi Aramco, specializing in operations, engineering, project support, planning, and program management. Throughout his career, he has held key roles within the Engineering Specialist, Project Support, and Planning & Program units, contributing to the successful delivery and continuous improvement of critical business operations. Saleh led the establishment of the Management of Change (MOC) process at his facility, developing its governance framework, workflows, and control systems from the ground up. His leadership significantly enhanced change management practices and positioned the facility among the company's top performers in MOC compliance and effectiveness. He has also played an important role in improving and updating corporate engineering procedures based on his extensive operational expertise. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) credential holder, Saleh is a three-time recipient of the Saudi Aramco CEO Operational Excellence Award, recognizing his sustained contributions to operational excellence, innovation, and organizational performance.

Ibrahim J. Alzahrani is a Senior Process Engineer with extensive experience in gas processing, facility start-up, process engineering, and the development of world-scale gas projects. He began his career commissioning and starting up new gas processing facilities before advancing into project development and engineering leadership roles. Throughout his career, Ibrahim has led multidisciplinary engineering teams and delivered complex projects in collaboration with international contractors, licensors, and key stakeholders. His expertise includes process optimization, design reviews, operational readiness, technical assurance, and project execution. Recognized for his commitment to operational excellence, Ibrahim contributed to a project that received his company's Operational Excellence Award for outstanding performance and value creation. He has also presented at technical conferences, sharing innovative approaches to mitigating foaming in gas treating systems. Currently broadening his international experience in the United Kingdom, Ibrahim is passionate about digital transformation, innovation, and developing practical engineering solutions that enhance safety, reliability, and business performance.

Stefaan Gouhie leads sales activities across Europe for CSI / AMETEK, working closely with customers in the refining and process industries. With an engineering background and extensive international business experience, he combines technical understanding with a practical focus on solving real operational challenges. He believes the best technical solutions are the ones operators actually use, and that successful projects tend to become wonderfully boring once they're running.

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

José Lama holds a Chemical Engineer degree from Engineering National University and MBA in Business Administration from Piura University. With experience leading industrial operations and process innovation. Since 2017, leads the integrated operation of hydrometallurgical and chemical processing facilities, with expertise in Sulfuric Acid production from acid gas and melting Sulphur using WSA Technology, as well as Lead and Silver concentrate treatment and Manganese Sulfate Production. His experience includes leading the research and piloting scale of Battery-Grade Manganese Sulfate, the development of new process for Copper cathode production from complex Arsenic-bearing concentrates, and the commissioning and start-up of industrial processing facilities.

Michael Schöber studied law at the University of Hannover following his military service and went on to complete a PhD on the development of international property protection, using the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) as a case study. He joined Metallgesellschaft AG in Frankfurt in 1991 and later became part of its chemical trading group, which evolved into SOLVADIS. Since then, he has been involved in a range of projects across the SOLVADIS Group. Following SOLVADIS’ acquisition of DUVAL in 2005, he played a key role in the construction of new tanks, the refurbishment of installations, and the expansion of terminal services at what was then the largest liquid sulphur tank farm in Europe. Since 2010, Michael has served as Managing Director of DUVAL, alongside other functions within the SOLVADIS Group.

Mr. Cotton is Chief Executive Officer and a board member of Novaphos Inc., which is commercialising sustainable phosphate-production technology. He is also co-founder and Vice Chairman of the Agrifos Group, a fertilizer and agriculture project-development firm and major investor in Novaphos. His experience includes phosphate, ammonia, mining and chemical projects, including the development of the $800 million Gulf Coast Ammonia project. Mr. Cotton is also Managing Director at Falls River Group, Strategic Advisor at Pantek Securities, and serves on several corporate boards.

Andreas Krobjilowski is the Technical Managing Director of MiRO, Refinery Karlsruhe in Germany. He has been in this role since 1 September 2021. He started his career with Shell at the Rheinland manufacturing site in Germany and has held a range of roles in Operations, including Production Specialist and Production Unit Manager. He moved to the Shell refinery in Fredericia, Denmark, in 2012 where he took the role as Production Manager, and subsequently from 2014 onwards as General Manager. In March 2018, he assumed the position as General Manager & Director at Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd. in Singapore.

Sundaram is currently the Global Manager for Sulfuric acid catalysts in the Business Unit “Catalysts” of Süd-Chemie. He has been in the field of catalysts for more than 15 years involved in Marketing and Technical services to Sulfuric acid plants globally. Prior to this assignment, he had been operating one of the largest sulfuric acid plant in India for 5 years. Besides, he is also responsible for the Product Management of sulfuric acid catalysts. Sundaram holds a Bachelor degree in Chemical engineering from Anna University, Chennai.

Hrsh Shah is a Manager for Sulfuric Acid Catalysts in the Business Unit Catalysts at Süd-Chemie. He has been responsible for Sales and Technical Services across international markets for over a year. With more than six years of experience in technical sales, his expertise spans sulfuric acid catalysts, adsorbents, and anti-corrosive lining solutions. Hrsh holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India.

Yifan Zhu is a Technical Director of Fluor Technology Group in the Fluor Aliso Viejo Office, California. Yifan has been working for Fluor for 27 years as a Lead Process Engineer for Fluor’s sulfur recovery projects in the US, Middle East, Europe, and Asia, in charge of process design, operator training/ commissioning/ startup/ troubleshooting, and Fluor’s SRU technology marketing development. Yifan graduated from the Chemical Engineering department, University of Southern California.

Patrick Pfeil 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.

Paul Zorn is an engineering executive with two decades of experience in industrial process and plant engineering. As SVP Process Engineering and Head of Proposal Management at P&P Industries AG, he leads the development of complex projects in sulfuric acid, hydrogen, energy transition, and decarbonization technologies. Drawing on a background in Technical Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering, Paul combines hands-on project execution with strategic business development to help industrial clients deliver innovative, scalable, and commercially viable process solutions.

Gerrit is Senior Specialist Process Engineer within Worley Comprimo in The Netherlands. Gerrit has extensive experience in the fields of (tail) gas treating, sour water stripping, sulphur recovery and carbon capture. He has been involved in all lifecycle stages of projects, from conceptual studies to detailed engineering for greenfield and brownfield projects. Next to his engineering tasks, he is frequently involved in training operators and start-up activities. He is also responsible for the continuous updating of the standards for sulphur recovery units (including tail gas treating units), amine units and sour water strippers.

Dr.-Ing. Carsten Düchting is the Chief Executive Officer of Düchting Pumpen and SICcast, a role he has held since 2005. He studied mechanical engineering at TU Dortmund, graduating as a Diplom-Ingenieur, and subsequently completed his doctoral studies through the Graduate School at the Fraunhofer Institute in Dortmund.

Martin Kürten is a chemical engineer with 30 years of experience in the sulphuric acid industry. He has held engineering, project management, maintenance and leadership roles within Bayer AG and Grillo Chemicals GmbH, managing projects from initial studies through to commissioning. Since 2025, he has served as Head of Project Management at the Grillo Group, overseeing the reconstruction of its Duisburg site. He also holds patents for sulphur combustion chambers, the BAQYIK®/CORE® Process, and SO₂ absorption and desorption technologies.

Florian Kistl joined CS Combustion Solutions in 2020 and gathered excessive insights and experiences in the field of customized burner and incineration projects in that time. In his role as Head of Sales, he is in touch with clients around the world, listening to their challenges when it comes to operating an acid plant or other thermal process plants. Combining engineering & commercial background it’s very easy for him to understand the different vocabulary different contact persons speak and what prospects/clients truly want.

Jawad Farisi holds a bachelor's degree of Chemical Engineering and master's degree in Management, then worked in plant Operation of Phosphoric acid, Sulfuric acid, and byproduct. He completed his undergraduate degree at Gadjah Mada University and master's degrees at Airlangga University in Indonesia. With 16 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, he currently serves as VP Plant Operations of the Plant III B at Petrokimia Gresik.

Dr. Sergey Vorobyev is Head of Global Technology – Gas Treatment at BASF SE in Ludwigshafen, Germany, where he leads the OASE® gas treatment technology team. With over 15 years of experience at BASF, Dr. Vorobyev has held technical, managerial, and commercial roles across Europe and Russia. His expertise spans gas treatment technologies, LNG and gas processing, process design, and digital solutions for gas treatment systems. He has contributed to major international projects, including LNG and refinery developments, and provides global technical support and troubleshooting for operating plants. Dr. Vorobyev is also actively involved in R&D and technology innovation, contributing to the advancement of BASF’s gas treatment portfolio. His work bridges fundamental chemistry and industrial application, focusing on efficient and sustainable gas processing solutions.

Khalid S. Ghazal - KFUPM Graduate in Applied Chemical Engineering - is a Technical Staff Process Engineer (Sulfur & Amine Specialist) at Samref Refinery Saudi Arabia with +23 years experience in Gas Treating and Sulfur Forming (this period includes his 4 years’ experience in the Caustic Incinerator, LPG Merox, MTBE & HF Alkylation Units). He supported Samref’s 2006 SRU Debottleneck Project part of the LSADOP (Low Sulfur Automotive Diesel Oil Project). Khalid was the Start-up and Commissioning Process Engineer for Samref’s New CFP (Clean Fuel Project) GR ARU/SRU & Decvo Forming Units in 2014. Was involved since the early design of Samref’s TGCU EuroClaus Pre-commissioning, Commissioning and Project deployment. In 2015 was assigned as the TGCU Technical Start-up, lead the PEMS & RATA Validation Tests in which Samref achieved the highest SRE for EuroClaus technologies up to date. As of 2017 have been supporting Samref’s Sulfur Port and ShipLoading Facilities Enhancement and Sulfur Dust Mitigation. Throughout his career, Khalid worked on several Sulfur Forming Technologies both Wet Forming (HUMPHEREYS & GLASGOW, Devco/Matrix and Enersul) and Dry Forming (BERNDORF and SANDVIK AccuDrop Pastillation) in which he identified areas of Sulfur Product Quality Improvement, Mechanical Strength (Friability) Enhancement and Fines & Sulfur Dust reduction and control. Khalid took part in Samref’s last 5 Turnarounds, support neighboring J.V. on SRU and Sulfur Product related challenges, presented several papers in Saudi Aramco’s SRU Roundtable, MESPON (Middle East SOUR Plant Operations Network), MEPEC (Middle East Process Engineering Conference and Exhibition), Axens SRU Seminar and co-authored with Jacobs in two technical publications, he currently holds the position as Samref’s Technical Staff Process Engineer (Sulfur & Amine Specialist).

Debopam Chaudhuri is a Process Engineer with Fluor India and a recognized Subject Matter Expert and Fluor Fellow in sulfur recovery processes. Mr. Chaudhuri brings 25 years of extensive experience across petroleum refining, petrochemical complexes, and upstream projects. Throughout his career, he has been deeply involved in all phases of Sulfur Recovery Unit projects, including licensor selection, serving in a licensor role, execution of Front End Engineering Design, detailed engineering, and providing critical support during plant start-up. He holds BSc and BTech degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of Calcutta.

Irina Pfeifer is a Chemical Engineer and MBA with more than two decades of experience in the sulphuric acid industry. She began her professional career in 2002 and joined HUGO PETERSEN in 2006 as a Process Engineer, where she led the Sulphuric Acid Process Group and contributed to a range of major projects, including the development of one of the world’s largest oleum plants for the BASF Group. From 2016 to 2025, Irina worked on the operator side at Grillo Chemicals GmbH as Head of Technical Department, overseeing maintenance, reliability and projects. From 2020, she also led Project Management and was responsible for managing, constructing and implementing the largest investment project in Grillo’s history. Since April 2025, Irina has been Head of Project Management at HUGO PETERSEN, with the planned succession to Managing Director in 2027.