Dr. Nuki Agya UtamaHead of Asia Zero Emission Center
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Dr. Nuki Agya Utama is a prominent energy expert currently serving as the Head of the Asia Zero Emission Center (AZE Center) at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). Formerly act as the Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), he has played a pivotal role in advancing regional energy cooperation and sustainability through high-impact collaborations with international organizations like the Green Climate Fund (GCF), USAID, the World Bank, and governments from Norway, the US, Japan, Germany, Russia and France. His expertise spans renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green design, with advisory roles at the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC), and the UN ESCAP.

With a PhD in Environment and Energy Technology, Dr. Utama has held key positions in both academia and industry, including NIKE Inc. He has also completed a Post-Doctoral fellowship at Kyoto University and during his initial career he worked with the UN Environment Programme and UN Development Programme.

Mrs. Carmela PAVLIC SEARLEDirector, Energy Diversification and Security Branch
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Carmela is specialist in promoting Australian capability internationally, specifically in strategic and operational delivery of global events, international relations, stakeholder engagement, media management, marketing and communications and policy implementation across government, industry and NGO's. Acknowledging Australia's ambitions to become a renewable energy superpower, she was appointed to lead the Department's Energy Diversification Section. She is responsible for leading international engagement relating to Australia's clean energy sector, including domestic policy making processes, developing priority sectors, clean energy transition, bilateral and multilateral clean energy dialogues, and renewable industry trade and investment issues, including DFAT lead on hydrogen, green steel, CCS, and cross-border electricity trade. This work will be instrumental in is Australia's domestic and international outreach on energy security and diversification - critical minerals, resources, traditional and clean energy and the path to decarbonisation.

She has worked on global brands The Economist, G'Day USA, South X South West the Australia Export Awards, and responsible for numerous large-scale marketing, communications and engagement strategies that have contributed to the safety and prosperity of Australia.

Dr. Timur GülChief Energy Technology Officer
International Energy Agency (IEA)

Timur Gül, a German national, was appointed Chief Energy Technology Officer of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in September 2023. In this capacity, he oversees the analysis of innovative new and emerging clean energy technologies and their supply chains across a range of sectors. Mr. Gül is also Head of the Energy Technology Policy Division, with responsibility for the IEA’s technology flagship publication Energy Technology Perspectives and the IEA’s Technology Collaboration network. Having joined the IEA in 2009, Mr. Gül previously was a lead author of the IEA’s World Energy Outlook (WEO). Prior to his time at the IEA, he was a researcher at Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.

Timur Gül holds a PhD from the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH) Zurich in Switzerland. He also holds a Master degree in Environmental Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Stockholm, Sweden, and a Diploma in Environmental Engineering from Stuttgart University, Germany.

Mr. Tsugio MITSUOKAChairperson / Chairman of the Board
Carbon Recycling Fund Institute / IHI Corporation

Apr 1980

Joined IHI Corporation

Jul 2003

General Manager, Aero-Engine Technology Department, Research & Engineering Division, IHI

Apr 2007

Division Director, Civil Aero-Engine Division, IHI

Apr 2010

Executive Officer; Vice President of Aero-Engine & Space Operations, IHI

Apr 2013

Managing Executive Officer; President of Aero-Engine & Space Operations, IHI

Apr 2014

Board Director; Managing Executive Officer; President of Aero-Engine & Space Operations, IHI

Apr 2016

President; Chief Operating Officer, IHI

Apr 2017

President; Chief Executive Officer, IHI

Jun 2020

Chairman of the Board; Chief Executive Officer, IHI

Apr 2021

Chairman of the Board, IHI

Panelists
Mr. TONE MasakiDirector, Carbon Management Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

July 2024

Director, Carbon Management Division, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, ANRE

July 2023

Counsellor, Headquarters for Digital Market Competition, Cabinet Secretariat

July 2021

Director, Commerce Supervisory Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group, METI

July 2020

Director, Device Industry & Semiconductor Strategy Office, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, METI

August 2019

Director, Policy Planning Office, IT Industry Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

August 2018

Director, Office for Nuclear Safety Improvement, Electricity and Gas Industry Department, Agency of Natural Resource and Energy (ANRE)

2000

Joined in Ministry of International Trade and Industry

Panelists
Mrs. Kara PeachDirector, Transboundary CCS Section
Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Kara Peach is a seasoned government professional with 17 years of experience in federal and state government roles across Australia. Holding a Honours Degree in Law from the University of Birmingham and supported by a robust legal background in private practice, Kara has dedicated her career to shaping and enhancing public policy, particularly in the area of carbon capture and storage (CCS). As a key advisor to various government departments, Kara has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of CCS policy and reviewing and managing Australia's offshore regulatory frameworks, including leading the acreage release process. Kara is currently the Director Transboundary CCS at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water responsible for delivering the Regional Cooperative Initiative on Carbon Sequestration which will establish regulatory frameworks and bilateral instruments to better support heaving industry to reduce emissions to meet Paris Agreement commitments, both in Australia and overseas.

Panelists
Dr. Sara BudinisEnergy analyst
International Energy Agency (IEA)

Dr. Budinis is a professional with 15 years of experience in the energy sector. She currently works as a technology and policy analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris (France), coordinating the agency's work program on carbon management, and is the technical lead for CO2 capture in the industrial sector and for carbon removal, with a focus on direct air capture. Before working at the IEA, she worked for 8 years in London (UK) at Imperial College London, initially as a Marie Curie Early Stage Research Fellow on process control and automation for turbomachinery applications, and later on as a Research Associate at the Sustainable Gas Institute, leading the development of decarbonization scenarios for the global industrial sector. Immediately after graduating in chemical engineering, she worked for a couple of years in Genoa (Italy) in the R&D division of Ansaldo Energia.

Panelists
Mr. Kiyoto TanabePrincipal Researcher
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan

He majored in meteorology in the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo in Japan and got a MSc degree (geophysics) in 1993 with a master thesis on analysis of CO2 uptake by ocean using a two-layer upwelling-diffusion model. After working as a researcher at the Sanwa Research Institute Corporation in Japan, he joined in the Technical Support Unit for the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI) under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1999, and assumed the position of Head of the Unit from April 2013 to October 2015. At the 42nd Session of IPCC in October 2015, he was elected as a Co-Chair of the IPCC TFI and held office until July 2023.

He has been engaged in various work relating to climate change, including development of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, review of national GHG inventories under the UNFCCC. He has also been serving on various international committees, such as Advisory Committee for the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Now he works as a Principal Researcher at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Japan.

Panelists
Mr. Tomoya NakamuraExecutive Officer, Chief Knowledge Officer
General Manager, Next Generation Business Division
TBM Co., Ltd., Japan

After joining the strategy group of Accenture Japan in 2008, he experienced a wide range of projects such as medium-term plan formulation for manufacturing clients, new market entry strategy formulation, sales reform, and digital transformation. In 2017, he joined TBM Co., Ltd. and was involved in overseas expansion and application development. In 2018, he was involved in the grouping of Bioworks Co., Ltd. and became a director. In 2021, he was involved in a capital and business alliance with the SK Group and assumed the position of director of SK TBMGEOSTONE, a joint venture with the SK Group. In 2024, he was appointed as genenral manager of Next Generation Business Division, in charge of launching carbon recycle business in TBM.

Panelists
Mr. Takayuki MatsubaraChief Executive Officer
KBC Process Technology Limited, UK

With more than three decades in the process automation industry, Matsubara stands as an accomplished leader with significant global business background, including marketing, project management and business development. His track record involves driving growth and innovation across industries such as energy transition, downstream, upstream, materials and pharmaceuticals.

Most recently, he served as president at Yokogawa Europe B.V., where he spearheaded development of the company's long-term strategy and digital capabilities. His previous positions include executive vice president at KBC and total solution business development at both KBC and Yokogawa. Earlier roles at Yokogawa include general manager of major accounts and downstream marketing, and vice president at Yokogawa China.

Panelists
Mr. Gunnar HolenCEO
Nordic Electrofuel

Corporate and investment finance professional with 31 years of Investment banking experience. Very extensive experience from fundraising and M & A Activity. Leading and participating in huge amount of Placements.

Previously top rated and highly profiled Investment analyst both domestically and internationally.

Has shown high entrepreneurship through founding and developing an Investment Bank from 2 to 50 employees and going from NOK0 to NOK80 in Revenues in five years.

Co-founder of two investments banks and CEO of both. Have advised many companies which under his guidance have grown to large companies. Have in all jobs been a significant contributor for the Companies where he worked.

Co-Founder and previous board member of Norge Mining and CEO of Norwegian subsidiary Norge Mineraler a company which has reported one of largest mineral discoveries in the world in the recent years.

Panelists
Mr. Yuji KOBAYASHISenior General Manager, e-methane Business Development Department
Green Transformation Company, TOKYO GAS CO., LTD.

2023 -

Senior General Manager, e-methane Business Development Department. Green Transformation Company, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

2021 - 2022

Executive Officer, General Manager of Corporate Planning Division.
Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions Corporation (100% subsidiary of Tokyo Gas)

2019 - 2020

General Manager
LNG Terminal Project Sect. Global Business Development Dept. Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

2017 - 2019

Chief Representative
Tokyo Gas Asia HCM Representative Office in Vietnam Deputy Director
LNG Vietnam Joint Stock Company in Vietnam

2015 - 2017

Senior Manager
Operation and Maintenance Management Section, Regasification & Power Generation Department.
Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

2012 - 2015

Operation Manager
Gas Production Section, Sodegaura LNG Terminal, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

2008 - 2012

Principal Commissioning Start-up Technical Engineer Pluto Onshore LNG Project
Woodside Energy Ltd in Australia. (Secondee from Tokyo Gas)

2005 - 2008

Manager,
Production Engineering Department, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

2001 - 2005

Senior Staff,
Gas Production Engineering Section, Negishi LNG Terminal, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

1997 - 2001

Process Engineer,
R&D Center of Production Engineering Department, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

Panelists
Mr. Surachate ChalothornChief Digital Officer (CDO) and Decarbonization Technology Director
SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited

Mr. Surachate Chalothorn has more than 30 years of experiences in petrochemical business. He took several process engineering leader roles in several growth projects from downstream polyolefins to upstream olefins. He was a founder and the first director of SCG Chemicals' research and development group, where he initiated several in-house technology developments and repositioned the company from a commodity producer to a high value added specialties player. He was also a founder and the first director of process technology center of SCG Chemicals, focusing on technology improvement and technology development at scale.

Now he is the Chief Digital Officer and Decarbonization Technology Director for SCG Chemicals.

Panelists
Dr. Corey MyersEngineer - Analyst　Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Dr. Corey Myers joined Waseda University's faculty of mechanical engineering after receiving his doctorate from the same institution. His designs for CO2 mineralization and carbon dioxide removal have led to projects and pilot plants across Japan, Europe, and the US. In 2022, he returned to the US, joining Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. There he is the lead engineer on the world's largest demonstration of ex-situ CO2 mineralization for CDR. He is also the PI for the development of LCA and MRV protocols for mineralization-based CDR for the DOE. He is actively working with multiple large mining companies and start-ups to deploy mineralization CDR in the US. He sits on the DOE's CDR innovation roadmap committee and also develops LCA and TEA models for non-pipeline CO2 transport options.

Panelists
Dr. Damian BarrettResearch Director - Energy Resources, Director - Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance CSIRO

Dr. Damian Barrett is Research Director of the Energy Resources Program in CSIRO Energy and Director of the CSIRO 'Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance' (GISERA). He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland.

Dr. Barrett has over 30 years research experience in CSIRO, the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Greenhouse Accounting, eWater CRC and The University of Queensland.

Dr. Barrett graduated with a PhD from the Australian National University in 1993. He was a CSIRO Plant Industry Post-Doctoral Fellow between 1993 and 1994 and a Carnegie-Melon Foundation Visiting Research Fellow at the Smithsonian Institution, USA, in 1995. From 1996 to 2003, Dr. Barrett worked in the CSIRO Climate Change Science Program and CRC Greenhouse Accounting on continental scale coupled models of the carbon and water cycle. Between 2004 and 2008, Dr. Barrett was appointed Research Stream Leader of the Environmental Remote Sensing Group in CSIRO Land and Water. He was also Principal Investigator of the NASA ‘Carbon, Water and Energy Fluxes of Tropical Savannas’ Project. In July 2008, Dr. Barrett was appointed Professorial Research Fellow at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, and was Director of the Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry between 2009 and 2012. He returned to CSIRO in 2012 where his research interests have focussed on environmental issues associated with the mining and petroleum sectors.

Dr. Barrett has presented at more than 40 national and international workshops and conferences in the last 10 years on topics as diverse as water availability forecasting, the global terrestrial carbon cycle and greenhouse gas mitigation, satellite modelling of water and carbon cycles, human impacts and global change, sustainability, mining and biodiversity, and water management in the resources sector. He has published more than 120 refereed papers, been cited more than 3700 times and has a H-index of 28. Dr. Barrett's research interests include environmental biophysics, mathematical inverse modelling, physical hydrology, ecosystem services and sustainable development.

Panelists
Mr. Michitaka OhataDeputy Director General, Circular Economy Department
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)

Michitaka Ohata supervises NEDO's R&D projects in Carbon Recycle field from 2024. Prior to joining NEDO, he was a Principal Administrative Patent Judge of Japan Patent Office (JPO), an external bureau of Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI).

In his government career of over 30 years, he has held various positions in JPO such as the Director of Battery Sub-Division, Third Patent Examination Department, the Deputy Director of Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy Section, General Affairs Division. Outside of JPO, he was Director for IP Department, Bangkok Centre of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) (2008-2011), Director for IP Team, General Coordination Department of Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) (2014-2016), Director for IP Department, Nidec Corporation (2017-2019) and Professor of Center for Innovative Integrated Electronic Systems, Tohoku University (2021-2023).

He graduated from the Department of Hydrocarbon Chemistry Engineering, Kyoto University.

Panelists
Dr./Assoc. Prof. Luwei CHENSenior Principal Scientist, Division of Carbon Conversion and Future Energy Carriers (CCFEC), Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE²) / Adjunct Associated Professor, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore

Chen Luwei is currently a senior principal scientist and division director of Carbon Conversion and Future Energy Carriers (CCFEC) at the Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE², A*STAR). She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Her research interests include the development of catalysts/materials for renewable/alternative energy, biomass valorization, carbon dioxide capture and utilizations. Luwei is active in both academia and industrial related R&D. She has published 8 patents with 2 was commercialized, 90 papers with more than 6700 citations (‪H index 42 Luwei Chen‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬‬‬‬‬‬‬). Luwei obtained her PhD degree from National University of Singapore, M.S. degree from Xiamen University (China) and B.S. degree from Fujian Normal University (China) in physics. Before joining A*STAR in Nov 2023, Luwei worked as a research assistant and research fellow at National University of Singapore.

Panelists
Ms. Kesinee KiatpradabDeputy director-Decarbonization Technology
SCG Chemicals Co., Ltd.

Ms. Kesinee Kiatpradab has more than 21 years experiences in the three different industry; petrochemical, pulp & paper, hard disk. For Petrochemical industry, She took several process technology roles in several growth projects of downstream polyolefins, focusing on process and product development.

She was a team leader to set up the new department called "technology strategy and new initative", perform technology insight leading to new business opportunities and decision making.

Now she is the Senior Technology Leader-Decarbonization Technology and assigned to work as Deputy Director - Decarbonization Technology for SCG Chemicals.

Panelists
Dr. Junichi HATANODeputy Director
Chemicals and Fuels Section, Carbon Recycling Unit, Circular Economy Department, NEDO

Dr. Junichi Hatano has 8+ years of experience in NEDO, one of Japan’s largest public funding agencies for research and development with two fundamental missions: addressing energy and global environmental problems, and enhancing industrial technology.

Since 2023, He has supported the management of Carbon Recycling RD&D Base project at Osaki Kamijima, Hirohshima Prefecture, as the Diputy Director of Carbon Recycling Unit in Circular Economy Department. He is also leading a research project this year to select the best carbon dioxide separation and capture technologies to combine, depending on the source of carbon dioxide emissions and the carbon recycling process to be utilized.

He holds a Ph.D in Chemistry and Biotechnology from the University of Tokyo and and an MBA from HEC Paris.