Invited speakers
Prof. Eric PIRARD is a geological engineer and professor at the University of Liège. He is the academic coordinator of the European Master in Resources Engineering programme (EMerald) which offers an engineering diploma specializing in the evaluation and beneficiation of both primary and secondary mineral resources. This programme benefits from the EIT-label delivered by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). He leads a research team of around 30 engineers who develop new technologies for the characterisation, sorting and extraction of metals from complex and low-grade raw materials. In addition to several European projects his team is heavily involved in the Walloon Reverse Metallurgy initiative. Professor Pirard is a visiting professor at the Universities of Lorraine, Madrid and Lubumbashi. He regularly speaks in the media and at conferences for the general public on issues relating to critical metals and the circular economy.
Prof. Michał BODZEK was graduated at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology (Gliwice, Poland). Now he is professor in Polish Academy of Science, in Institute of Environmental Engineering.He is specialist on Environmental Engineering. His research subject is connected with membrane techniques and other separation processes and their application in solving environmental problems. In particular studies are associated with the use of membrane processes primarily in hybrid systems, industrial wastewater treatment technology and treatment and desalination of water, using the membrane processes in biotechnology. He is the author of numerous publications in reputable scientific journals, monographs and books and conferences.He is a member of the Polish Chemical Society, Polish Membrane Society, European Membrane Society) and other scientific societies and the Editorial Board of scientific journals.
Prof. Wojciech NOWAK have begun at the Czestochowa Polytechnic University in 1979, in the Department of Boilers and Thermodynamics. Since 2000, He was Head of the Department of Atmosphere Protection at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering of the Czestochowa Polytechnic University renamed as the Institute of Advanced Energy Technologies in 2011, which is currently he is a Director of this institute. In 1987-1989 he served as a research assistant in Tokyo University and from 1991 to 1994 as a professor in Nagoya University in Japan. He was Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (1996-1997) and the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment (2005-2012), from 2014 Vice-Dean for Science at the Faculty, and currently serves as a P.O. director of the Centre of Energy, AGH University of Science and Technology. From 01.03.2014 Professor at the Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH UST. New solutions to problems of hydrodynamics and combustion in a circulating fluidized bed. Specific achievements related to the issues centered on interdisciplinary environmental engineering and energy. New energy technologies - another significant achievement is implementation of several industrial unique technologies including desulphurization, innovative systems of oxygen supply to the combustion chamber, high efficiency of cyclone separation, drying atoms, and the reduction of nitrogen oxides and absorption of heat pumps. Coal combustion technology integrated with oxygen uptake, transport and storage of carbon dioxide is a new research direction in the field of energy research in the country carried out under the direction of the Candidate within the framework of the Strategic Project NCBiR 'Advanced technologies for energy generation'.
Prof. Majeti NARASIMHA VARA PRASAD is currently Emeritus Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India. Formerly Dean, School of Life Sciences. Formerly Head, Dept of Plant Sciences. Formerly Co-ordinator, Biotechnology Program. Formerly Co-ordinator of PG Diploma in Environmental education and management. He did M.Sc (Botany) from Andhra University, Waltair 1973-75;Ph.D (Botany) Lucknow University, Lucknow 1975-79. (Research conducted at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, An autonomous Inst. Under the Dept. of Sci & Tech, Govt. of India). Lecturer, June 1980-85, Department of Botany, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. University of Hyderabad, School of Life Science, Lecturer, 1985-86, Lecturer (Senior Scale) 1986-90; Reader, February 1990-98, and Professor since August 1, 1998 to May 10, 2018 in the Department of Plant Sciences. Made significant contributions to the field of plant-metal interactions, bioremediation, and bioeconomy. He has published 216 research articles in peer-reviewed Journals, 141 book chapters.
Karolina KMAK. International cooperation and marketing specialist at Schwander Polska. Author of texts and articles on membrane technology, water recovery from sewage and its recycling, speaker at many national and international industry conferences related to water recovery, organized, among others, by the "Polish Waterworks" Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Mineral Resources and Energy Management of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. Coordinator of international cooperation with the Balkan and Scandinavian countries and the Russian Federation.
Dr Alexandros STEFANAKIS is Assistant Professor at the School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete in Greece. He is also Regional Coordinator for Africa and Middle East for the ‘Wetlands for Water Pollution Control’ Specialist Group of the International Water Association. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal ‘Circular Economy and Sustainability’, and Associate Editor of other scientific journals.He is an Environmental Engineer and Researcher focusing on water engineering and specifically on nature-based solutions and ecological engineering. He is an expert on sustainable and decentralized water and wastewater treatment systems. He has designed, managed, and constructed several wastewater treatment facilities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, USA and South America using nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands. He also studies the principles and content of circular economy and how this new growth model can be implemented to reach the goal of a sustainable society.In the past, he worked as Researcher and Lecturer at the University of Brighton in the UK, the University of Beira Interior in Portugal, the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research – UFZ in Germany, and the Democritus University of Thrace in Greece. He also has extensive experience in the industry as he was employed by environmental companies (Ecosafe in Greece, Bauer in Germany & Oman) as Wastewater Specialist-Wetland Expert and Tender Manager.His publication record includes several articles in international scientific journals and conference proceedings, as well as three books and various book chapters. He is known in the related international field as an enthusiast of green technologies for water management and reuse, always trying to promote and disseminate such technologies and transfer his knowledge to young engineers and students.
Prof. Jiří Jaromír KLEMEŠ is Head of a Centre of Excellence “Sustainable Process Integration Laboratory – SPIL”, NETME Centre, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology – VUT Brno, Czech Republic, and Emeritus Professor at “Centre for Process Systems Engineering and Sustainability”, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary. Previously the Project Director, Senior Project Officer and Hon Reader at Department of Process Integration at UMIST, The University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh, UK Founder and a long-term Head of the Centre for Process Integration and Intensification – CPI2, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary. Awarded by the EC with Marie Curie Chair of Excellence (EXC). Track record of managing and coordinating 96 major EC, NATO, bilateral and UK Know-How projects. Research funding attracted over 42 M€. Co-Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Cleaner Production and Chemical Engineering Transactions, Editor in Chief Cleaner Technologies and Engineering and Cleaner Chemical Engineering (Elsevier); Subject Editor of Energy and Emeritus Executive Editor of Applied Thermal Engineering. Managing Guest Editor of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. The founder and President for 24 y of PRES (Process Integration for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction) conferences. Seven years Chairperson of CAPE Working Party of European Federation of Chemical Engineering, a member of WP on Process Intensification and of the EFCE. A Member of the IChemE, UK, Sargent Medal International Committee on CAPE. Invited lecturer at 62 universities worldwide. He has many years of research and industrial experience.
Mr. Peter CHRABAK is an earth-science and material process industry based environmental (MSc) and geoinformation engineer (BSc), with 20 years of experience. His position is Circular Economy Research Group Leader at Bay Zoltan Research Institute, Hungary’s most relevant entity for applied research. Peter is a registered waste management expert at Hungarian Chamber of Engineers. His main research fields are Circular Economy, Industrial Symbiosis and Resource Efficiency in order to find proper solutions for waste management and recovery industries. He has gained strong professional experiences at:European expert activity on evaluation of technologies aiming recovery and processing of secondary raw materials (from TRL 4-8), international project (RIA, IA, CSA types) participations and consultancy by technical reporting and presentation (FP7, CARE-CBC, INTERREG, H2020, KIC Raw Materials) with strong knowledge on technical English, participation in development of techno-economic feasibility analysis and strategic decision making documents especially on packaging waste, MSW, WEEE, ELV, life Cycle Assessment considerations (LCA, LCC, SLCA), leading project teams (up to 10 members), vocational education activity in higher education, expert cooperation in development of project proposals on national and EU level.
Prof. Magdalena WDOWIN is the Head of Division of Applied Geochemistry and Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland. In 2004 she graduated from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland – Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, obtaining a master’s degree in engineering in mining and geology, specialization: mineralogy and applied geochemistry. After completing her education, she began doctoral studies at the same faculty, obtaining in 2010 the title of Doctor of Earth Sciences, in field of geology, specialization: mineralogy. In 2015, at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering of the Lublin University of Technology, she obtained the academic degree of dr hab. Eng. in the field of technical sciences in the discipline of environmental engineering. Since 2007, she has been an employee of Mineral and Energy, Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences in which she has been the head of the Division of Applied Geochemistry and Environmental Engineering since 2016. During her professional career, she specialized in waste management, in particular the use of combustion by-products in engineering and environmental protection. In 2020 she was awarded by Intelligent Development Center as Meritorious for Intelligent Development at scope of circular economy activities.
Bartosz ŁUSZCZEK is a graduate of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering of the Krakow University of Technology, the Faculty of Management of the University of Economics in Krakow and MBA in Public Management at the Krakow Business School. He has been working in the Waterworks of the City of Krakow for 16 years, currently as the Director of Technology and Innovation. For 3 years he has been the President of the Galician Waterworks Forum Association, which brings together representatives of the water and sewage industry in Małopolska and Podkarpacie. As a representative of the "Wodociągi Polskie" Chamber of Commerce in EurEau, he participates in consultations on European legal acts and policies relating to the water and sewage industry. Professionally, he deals with, among others water and sewage technology, innovative projects and legal and environmental issues in the water and sewage industry.
Dr Klara RAMM graduated from the Faculty of Precision Mechanics at the Warsaw University of Technology. She also holds an Executive MBA diploma. She obtained a doctorate in technical sciences in the specialization of environmental engineering. She completed post-graduate studies at the Faculty of Management at the University of Warsaw, as well as studies conducted by HEC (School of Management) in Paris and the Warsaw School of Economics. For several years she has been associated with the environmental protection sector, especially water and sewage management, gaining experience in Warsaw waterworks, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, the National Water Management Board, Veolia. Since 2006, she has been actively cooperating with the Polish Waterworks Chamber of Commerce. She represents the Polish water and sewage industry in the EurEau federation, which brings together the European community of this sector. As a member of the EurEau General Assembly, she participates in activities to protect water resources and improve the functioning of water supply and sewage services in the EU. She is a member of the Water Supply and Sewerage Technical Committee at the Polish Committee for Standardization, a member of the Board of the Horizon Europe Mission for healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters.
Dr Marzena SMOL is the Head of the Division of Biogenic Raw Materials at the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences (IGSMiE PAN). She completed a master’s degree in Environmental Protection at Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa and a master’s degree in International Project Management at the Częstochowa University of Technology. She completed the PhD in technical sciences – Environmental Engineering, 2015, Częstochowa University of Technology. Manager and contractor in national and international projects in the field of biogenic raw materials management in the context of the implementation of the principles of sustainable development (SD), circular economy (CE) and the strategies for the Green Deal in the water and sewage, fertilizer and agri-food sectors. Founder of the Division of Biogenic Raw Materials at IGSMiE PAN, member of the Scientific Council of IGSMiE PAN. She participated in the work on the preparation of the Roadmap Transformation towards circular economy in Poland (Ministry of Development). Holder of the Minister’s Scholarship for Outstanding Young Scientists.
Dr. Jolita KRUOPIENĖ is a professor and researcher at Kaunas University of Technology, Institute of Environmental Engineering. She analysed sediment – water interactions during her PhD research. The current research interests include chemical risk management, management of natural resources and waste, environmental impact assessment. She is an editor-in-chief of Environmental Research, Engineering and Management journal. A board member of municipal waste management company, a member of advisory committee for registration of plant protection products in Lithuania.
Arkadiusz STACHURSKI - Senior Process engineer at Nijhuis Industries Central Europe Sp. z o.o. Has been working in the water and wastewater industry for 15 years. Responsible for start-up of key installations, their optimisation and technological supervision during their operation. Has commissioned over 40 industrial wastewater treatment plants and water recovery installations. Currently involved in research and implementation projects related to the recovery of water from wastewater in various industries, including food, cosmetics, chemicals and oil refineries.
Maciej WOSZCZYK is a policy advisor at NCBR Office in Brussels since January 2021. His primary scope of interest is cluster 5 of Horizon Europe programme (climate, energy, mobility); he also tackles general principles and policies within the European Green Deal. Previously he worked for a wide range of institutions, including business, ministry and other bodies dealing with European funds. At NCBR he was involved in launching series of pre-commercial procurements in the field of R&D, predominantely in energy and transport.
Bertrand VALLET is a water engineer holding a master and a PhD in water quality modelling. With more than 20 years of experience in the water sector and expertise in waste water treatment and integrated water management, he is currently senior policy officer at EurEau, the European Federation of Water Services. Since 2014, he is representing water services interests towards the European Institutions.
Mr. Ludwig HERMANN is the President of the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP) and specialist in Proman Management GmbH. He has over 35 years of experience as technology and business development consultant on 3 continents; co-inventor of ash decontamination and phosphorus recovery processes; co-founder CTO and CEO of ASH DEC AG; organised and supervised design, engineering and assembling of ASH DEC’s pilot plant; conceived and managed test programs and co-authored the patents EP 191803, EP 2016203, WO 20125035, WO 2013190116, WO 20135020, WO 20145029, WO 2015189333.
Prof. Eugeniusz KODA, Ph.D. (Eng.) – geotechnical engineer and professor at Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering, Warsaw, Poland. He has gained his professional and research experience since 1984. He was awarded Ph.D. and D.Sc. (Hab.) at Gdańsk University of Technology. Areas of his principal research interest and expertise embrace remedial works on brownfields and contaminated sites; groundwater flow and transport modelling of pollutants and assessment of protection systems; environmental risk assessment; soil and groundwater environmental protection systems. He has been involved in international scientific cooperation, e.g. Geoenvironmental Engineering Infrastructure Co-operation Network in Europe “GeoEnvNet”; active member of Technical Committee 215 on Environmental Geotechnics of ISSMGE and International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). He has published more than 270 scientific articles and conference papers. He was the supervisor of six doctors in in the scope including slope stability analysis, soft soils reinforcements, geotextiles durability, remedial works and landfill engineering. He is a Member of Management Committees of COST Action TU1202 “Impact of climate change on engineered slopes for infrastructure” and COST Action CA18135 “Fire in the Earth System: Science & Society”. Frequently awarded for scientific achievements in the field of engineering, investment projects and construction processes.
Dr. Anna PODLASEK – Assistant Professor, Head of the Department of Revitalization and Architecture in the Institute of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences. She has obtained the academic degree of doctor of agricultural sciences in the field of environmental protection and development. Her scientific activities are related to environmental engineering and environmental protection. She is mainly interested in the issues of the soil-water contamination, numerical modelling techniques, landfills, and waste management. She is involved in teaching activities in the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering of WULS-SGGW. She was also a Principal Investigator of several research projects, financed by the National Science Centre in Poland and the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Co-investigator in the national and international projects supported by the European Regional Development Fund under the Innovative Economy Operational Programme, and Erasmus+ programme.
Assoc. prof. Zuzana ŠIMKOVÁ , MSc., Ph.D., ING-PAED IGIP – Associate Professor at the Institute of Earth Resources at the Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies at Technical University of Košice (Slovakia). Within her habilitation thesis she solved the issue of raw materials policy in Slovakia in the context of the circular economy. In her professional activities deals with the issue of Circular Economy as well as economics of earth resources, within which she prepares and implements education and training of professional subjects: Evaluation of mineral deposits, Efficiency of investments in the process of evaluing earth resources, Strategic management of earth resources. The publishing activity represents more than 70 outputs (scientific and conference articles, skripts, monographs). Within the framework of international projects, she has experience in submitting and project management of the H2020 and EIT Raw Materials type, within which she led her own educational project concerning the circular economy and participates in the H2020 project under the name MIREU. She is also a participant in the first Green Circular Academy in Slovakia under the leadership of the Institute of Circular Economics.