Alex Gordienko was born in Russia. He graduated in economics and management from N. Novgorod University. After his graduation, he worked in banking in Russia and the UK. In 1999, he joined Stemcor. In 2009, he began working at Celsa Group where he currently continues his career as an export director.
Branko Zecevic is the founder and the Chairman of Metalfer Group, the President of Steel Industry Association of Serbia and the President of Association of Serbian Energy Intensive Industry. Metalfer Group owns and operates steel mill in Serbia producing rebars and wire rod and supplying regional markets.
Ioannis Manessis is a principal of Hellenic Halyvourgia S.A., a Greek steel producer established in 1963. Over the past 25 years, he has held several senior roles within the company, including Export Director, Managing Director, and Vice President of the Board of Directors. Through these positions, he has developed extensive technical and commercial expertise in the long steel products sector In addition to his work in the steel industry, Mr. Manessis is actively involved in dry bulk shipping activities. Mr. Manessis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard University (1998).
Jerónimo Casas has 25 years’ experience in environmental services with a focus on climate change and impact assessment for a wide range of industrial clients, from the automotive industry to cement, ceramics, steel, fertiliser, aviation and many more. With SGS he has first covered the role of Environmental Department Manager in Spain and currently holds the position of Global Product Manager for Climate Change and Sustainability Solutions. In this role, he is responsible for the global development of climate change services such as GHG emissions verification for corporates (ISO 16064-1, ISO 14068, GHG Protocol, ISO 14083), mandatory reporting (EU ETS, CORSIA, CBAM), product carbon footprints (ISO 14067) and LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments).
With 26 years of professional and academic expertise spanning security, defense, and strategic foresight, Velina Tchakarova is a geopolitical strategist and founder of FACE — For A Conscious Experience. Her work centers on translating geopolitical complexity into actionable intelligence for corporations, institutions, and policymakers navigating Cold War 2.0, the rise of Middle Powers, and the structural shifts reshaping the global order. Through FACE, Velina develops bespoke strategic assessments, scenario planning frameworks, and foresight workshops for clients across the public and private sectors. Her approach combines rigorous analytical methodology with deep regional expertise, enabling decision makers to anticipate risks, identify opportunities, and act with strategic clarity in an environment of accelerating uncertainty. In 2024, she earned a certification in Mastering Foresight: Scenario-Based Planning from the George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (GW-CEPL), complementing her long-standing practice as a strategic foresight facilitator
Dr. Chevrier is General Manager – Technical Sales and Marketing for Midrex Technologies Inc., and is based at the Headquarters in Charlotte, NC but spends a significant time in Europe. His role consists in promoting DRI and studying of long-term market trends and evolution, which includes the transition to fossil-free steelmaking. He earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the Université de Technologie de Compiègne (France), a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech (USA) and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (USA).
Speaking Opportunities
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