Speakers

Jose SentmanatDirector, Strategic Planning & Analysis, LyondellBasell

Jose (Joe) Sentmanat is the Director, Strategic Planning & Analysis for LyondellBasell responsible for corporate strategy development and M&A activity assessment.  Joe joined Arco Chemical (a LyondellBasell predecessor company) and has held roles in manufacturing, project management, raw material supply and trading, business decision and analysis, operations planning and optimization, sales and marketing, manufacturing finance, and financial risk management.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Houston Christian University.

Dr. Raja M. AlmarzoqiChief Negotiator, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

The GCC Chief Negotiator, the Chief Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, a faculty member in the Economic Division at Prince Saud Alfaisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, and an Expert at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He plays a pivotal role in advancing economic security as a cornerstone of national security strategy.

Previously, he served as the President of the Gulf Monetary Council (GMCO) and as an Economic Advisor at the IMF in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for private sector policies across the Middle East and Central Asia, leading IMF missions to Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. He also held the position of Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of the Monetary Union Unit at the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Dr. Almarzoqi boasts extensive consulting experience with major international organizations, government agencies, and private sector entities, including the World Bank, ARAMCO, the General Investment Authority (SAGIA), the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), Alkhabeer Capital, Euro Praxis in Spain, among others. He has also served as an independent director on the boards of several investment funds licensed by the Capital Market Authority.

In the academic realm, Dr. Almarzoqi has taught and lectured at premier institutions such as the MIT Sloan School of Management in the USA, Thunderbird School of Global Management, and King Saud University in both undergraduate and graduate programs. He has also conducted training sessions for parliamentarians and Shura Council members across the Middle East and Central Asia.

Dr. Almarzoqi is a prolific author with a rich portfolio of specialized economic studies, research papers, and books on economic integration, monetary union, economic modeling, macroeconomic analysis, monetary and fiscal policies, and international finance. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics (with a supporting specialization in Finance) from Oklahoma State University, an M.A. in Applied Mathematical Economics from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. in Economics from King Saud University.

Dr. Abdulwahab Al-SadounSecretary General, Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA)

Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun has been Secretary General of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) since 2009, following a career of more than three decades in the GCC region’s petrochemical and energy sectors. His career began in 1990, as a Senior Researcher at SABIC (R&D) Center in Saudi Arabia. He has since taken senior executive positions at several prominent regional agencies, including the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC). 

In 2020, he served as the B20 Sherpa, Saudi Arabia responsible for operational management of the B20 Secretariat. Dr. Al-Sadoun had been a member of the Steering Committee of the International Council of Chemical Associations since 2012 and also served as ex-member the Board of Trustees of the Riyadh Economic Forum and the Arabian Society for Human Resources Management. Dr. Al-Sadoun is the author of two books narrating the evolutionary journey of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf region – ‘Molecules, Mind and Matter: How the Arabian Gulf Became a Global Petrochemical Hub’ (2015); and ‘A Voyage to Leadership: How the Arabian Gulf Became a Global Petrochemical Hub’ (published in Arabic, 2019).

David BadalManaging Partner, Morgan Stanley

David Badal is the Managing Director and Global Head of Chemical at Morgan Stanley. David joined Morgan Stanley in 2013. He spent 14 years as a Chemicals Investment Banker at JPMorgan. Prior to JPMorgan, David was a Chemical Engineer, managing the day-to-day operations of two chemicals facilities for Monsanto at its Chocolate Bayou facility in Alvin, Texas for 4 years.

David received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis with cum laude honors. He completed his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Carlo BarrasaVice President, Energy Insights, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company

Carlo Barrasa is the Vice President of Energy Insights at OPIS, A Dow Jones Company

In this role, Carlo stewards the development of energy market content to help OPIS’ clients navigate the complexities of the oil, gas & natural gas liquids markets. Previously, Carlo led the North American Light Olefins service, which provides clients with valuable insights into the regional market dynamics of cracker feedstocks, ethylene, and propylene.

Before joining OPIS, Carlo was a Senior Strategy Advisor at Anadarko Petroleum, where he was responsible for guiding the company’s market strategy for its natural gas liquids business. After beginning his career in various downstream and chemical roles with ExxonMobil, Carlo held senior consulting and research positions at IHS Markit legacy companies PFC Energy and CMAI.

Sameer BharadwajCEO, Orbia

Sameer S. Bharadwaj is the Chief Executive Officer of Orbia. With more than 20 years of experience, Sameer is a strategic leader with a track record of fostering business growth through technology-led innovation, operational excellence and talent development across the advanced materials, technology, energy and pharmaceutical industries.

Prior to assuming the role of CEO in 2021, Sameer served as President of the Orbia Polymer Solutions and Fluor & Energy Materials business groups. He joined Orbia in 2016 to steer the company’s compounds business, subsequently taking on leadership of the Polymer Solutions and Fluor & Energy Materials businesses and bringing Orbia’s fluorine-based and PVC and vinyl polymer solution portfolios to competitive market positions and global teams to high levels of performance.

Before joining Orbia, Sameer held numerous executive leadership positions over the course of an 11-year tenure at Cabot Corporation, most recently as Vice President and General Manager, where he steered go-to-market strategy and commercialization of new technologies with a key focus on the energy and materials spaces. Prior to that, Sameer worked as a strategy consultant for The Boston Consulting Group, where he served clients in the metals, telecommunications, technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He started his career as a senior research engineer at The Dow Chemical Company.

Sameer has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Ph.D in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Bombay, Department of Chemical Technology (now ICT).

Deon CarterVice President & President, Chlor-alkali Products & Vinyl, Olin

Deon Carter, Vice President & President, Chlor Alkali Products & Vinyls is a Corporate Officer and serves as a member of Olin Corporation’s Executive Leadership Team reporting to Olin President & CEO Kenneth T. Lane.

Before joining Olin in June 2024, Deon was Chief Operating Officer of Continental Industries Group since April 2023. Earlier, he served as President and CEO of Scientific Design Company. Deon started his career in the chemical industry at Engelhard Corporation, where he held various international positions. Following the acquisition of Engelhard by BASF, Deon served as General Manager of Global Polyolefin Catalysts and was later promoted to Vice President of Oil Refining Catalyst. He then served as Senior Vice President of Precious Metals before assuming the role of Senior Vice President of Performance Chemicals.

Deon holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of
Cape Town in South Africa.

Duncan ClarkVice President, Global Aromatics & Fibers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Duncan Clark is the Vice President of the Global Aromatics and Fibers at Chemical Market Analytics.

Duncan Clark is the vice president of Global Aromatics and Derivatives, based in Chemical Market Analytics’ London office. Duncan joined the company in 2013 as the EMEA Aromatics Director, taking over the global Aromatics team leadership in 2017. Duncan has 40 years of experience working in the global petrochemical and chemical industries in various Sales, Marketing, Corporate Business Development, Business Management and Consultancy roles.

Duncan maintains a view of global developments in all major aromatics markets and works closely with petrochemical producers, consumers and financial institutions worldwide, providing insight and future expectations. He has specific expertise in the polyester feedstocks markets. He is a regular speaker at Chemical Market Analytics’ regional conferences. He leads a global team of Aromatics consultants and analysts. He is responsible for the commercial strategy and client support for a broad portfolio of Aromatics services focused on individual aromatics value chains. He also regularly forms part of the project team for Chemical Market Analytics’ single client studies.

Before this, Duncan spent ten years working in an ExxonMobil / Shell joint venture company involved in fuel and lubricant additives and visited refineries worldwide. He also spent 12 years working for Air Products in various chemical and industrial gas businesses in the UK, U.S., and Netherlands. He now provides insights into the global aromatics and derivative markets, including paraxylene, purified terephthalic acid, ethylene glycols, polyurethane feedstocks, and the global benzene, toluene, and xylenes markets.

Mr. Clark has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from University College London and a Master of Business Administration from Manchester Business School.

Adrian CooperCEO, Oxford Economics

Adrian Cooper is responsible for coordinating and managing Oxford Economics’ global economic analysis, forecasting and consultancy activities, and overseeing its global team of over 450 professionals including 300 economists and analysts. He has led Oxford Economics’ work on a wide array of consultancy projects, ranging from policy advice to government departments in Europe, the US, Africa, and Asia to detailed analysis of the economic impact of particular industries and investment proposals.
Adrian spent the first seven years of his career with HM Treasury, England. During this time, he worked on the analysis of tax and other economic policy changes as part of the preparations for the UK Budget. He was also the coordinator of the government’s macroeconomic forecast for two years.

Prior to joining Oxford Economics in 1994, Adrian was UK economist for James Capel & Company, responsible for analysing and forecasting the UK economy for institutional investors, as well as briefing Capel’s own traders. Adrian was educated at the University of Bristol, England, where he gained a first-class degree in Economics; and at the London School of Economics and Political Science, England, where he achieved a distinction in the MSc in Economics and won the Ely Devons prize for outstanding performance in the degree examinations.

Keith CouchSenior Director Business Development & Integrated Projects, Honeywell UOP

Keith A. Couch is Senior Director of Business Development & Integrated Projects within UOP’s Process Technologies business. The focus of his organization is to drive bankable project development ranging from single process units to fully integrated refinery and petrochemicals complexes. 

Since joining UOP in 1990, Keith has held numerous domestic and international positions across a broad range of manufacturing, technical, service and business management roles. Keith holds 32 patents and has authored 21 industry publications. He has a strong background in both oil refining and petrochemicals and is driving UOP’s thought leadership for the Refinery of the Future.

Keith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.

April CrowSenior Advisor, Corvus Advisors

April Crow is a visionary sustainability leader and trusted advisor with 25+ years of experience developing and
operationalizing ESG strategies that drive both business transformation and measurable environmental and
social impact. She brings deep expertise in governance, risk management, circular economy, and sustainable
innovation, with a proven track record of aligning ESG priorities with commercial objectives and shareholder
value.

April’s global career spans work in 50+ countries across six continents. She began at The Coca-Cola Company,
where she held roles in operations, manufacturing, quality, and scientific and regulatory affairs before
advancing to lead Global Environmental Sustainability. She pioneered initiatives in ESG integration, circular
economy, and sustainable packaging, and served as a strategic advisor to Fortune 100 CEOs, senior government
officials, activist investors, and influential partners on sustainability topics ranging from business model
innovation to new product and packaging design.

In 2018, April transitioned to investment management, helping launch Circulate Capital — securing over $150M
from leading global brands (PepsiCo, Unilever, P&G, Coca-Cola) to advance recycling, circular economy, and
climate solutions. As VP of External Affairs & Investor Relations, she built governance frameworks, reporting
structures, and external partnerships that positioned the firm as an ESG leader. Today, she provides strategic
counsel to private equity firms, boards, and executive teams on high-impact sustainability initiatives that create
commercial value and scalable impact

Tracy CuiDirector, Energy Insights & Feedstocks, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company

Tracy is a Director with the Energy Insights team at OPIS, A Dow Jones Company.

Tracy Cui is an associate director with the Energy Insights team at OPIS in Houston, Texas. With a keen focus on market dynamics, price forecasting, and supply/demand analysis, Ms. Cui specializes in the intricate domains of oil, gas, and chemical feedstock markets.

She leads Energy Macro Service, which empowers clients with valuable insights into the global oil and gas landscape. Previously, Ms. Cui was a principal analyst with the North American Light Olefins team. In this capacity, she delivered insights into regional market dynamics, particularly in cracker feedstocks, ethylene, and propylene.

Ms. Cui holds a doctoral degree in chemistry from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University.

Stephen DonofrioHead of Carbon Intelligence, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company

Gordon FaircloughWorld Coverage Chief, The Wall Street Journal

Gordon Fairclough is the world coverage chief for the Wall Street Journal, a position he’s held since 2017. 

Drawing on his extensive experience in foreign posts, he directs the Journal’s coverage outside of the United States. He was previously the Journal’s politics and economy editor for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. From 2013 to 2016, Fairclough was the Journal’s South Asia bureau chief. He was part of the Journal’s team in China that won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. He has also had postings in the Prague, Seoul and New York. 

Fairclough earned his bachelor’s in history from Yale University and a master’s in international economics and foreign policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. 

Jean Marc GilsonPresident & CEO, Westlake

Mr. Gilson has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since July 2024. Mr. Gilson has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Westlake Partners’ general partner since July 2024. Prior to joining Westlake, Mr. Gilson served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Representative Director of Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation (formerly known as Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation), an international producer of specialty chemicals and industrial products, from April 2021 until April 2024. From September 2014 until December 2020, Mr. Gilson served as Chief Executive Officer of Roquette Frères, a family-owned global leader in plant-based ingredients and a leading provider of pharmaceutical excipients. Before that, Mr. Gilson served as Vice-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of NuSil Technology LLC, a global manufacturer of medical- and space-grade silicone technology. Earlier in his career, Mr. Gilson held various leadership roles at Dow Corning Corporation, including Executive Vice President, Specialty Chemicals Business, before becoming Chief Executive Officer of Avantor Performance Materials, Inc. Mr. Gilson holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Liege in Belgium and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland.

Pablo GiorgiVice President, North America Light Olefins, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Pablo Giorgi is the Vice President of the North American Light Olefins business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Pablo Giorgi is the Vice President for North America Light Olefins at Chemical Market Analytics. With over 25 years of industry expertise, Pablo is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the olefins sector of the petrochemical industry.

Within the Americas he works closely with the petrochemical, energy, refining and financial industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. His current area of focus includes oversight of the North America Light Olefins Service and primary input and insight for the World Ethylene and Propylene analyses.

Mr. Giorgi’s professional experience includes working in styrenics, aromatics, olefins, and polyolefins businesses. Before his current position at Chemical Market Analytics, he held roles in commercial, purchasing, supply chain, strategy, and market intelligence functions across various organizations in Brazil and the USA.

Mr. Giorgi holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), later acquiring an MBA in Logistics from Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV) and an MBA in Management from Fundacao Dom Cabral (FDC).

Samantha GrossDirector Energy Security & Climate Initiative, Brookings Institute

Samantha Gross is the director of the Energy Security and Climate Initiative at the Brookings Institution. Her work is focused on the intersection of energy, environment and policy.

Prior to Brookings, Gross was the director of the Office of International Climate and Clean Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy and director of integrated research at IHS CERA. She has been a Brookings Robert Bosch Foundation Transatlantic fellow in Berlin and a visiting fellow at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh.

Chris JahnPresident & Chief Executive Officer, American Chemistry Council

As President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), Chris is responsible for advancing ACC’s mission to advocate for the people, policy, and products of chemistry that make the United States the global leader in innovation and manufacturing. Chris has been named by The Hill as one of Washington, DC’s “Top Lobbyists” and by the Washingtonian as one of DC’s “Most Influential People” for representing the U.S. business of chemistry and its customers within the halls of Congress.

In 2021, Chris partnered with Harris County officials in Houston to expand an extensive state-of-the-art air monitoring system to continuously track and evaluate air quality. The partnership included a $1 million donation from ACC’s foundation for mobile and stationary monitors. In 2020, Chris spearheaded ACC’s role as a founding partner of the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI), which provides scholarships for students pursuing STEM degrees at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Chris received the AIChE “Doing a World of Good Medal” and the CME STEM Leadership Award™ for his commitment to supporting a skilled, diverse workforce. Also in 2020, Chris oversaw a strategic review of Responsible Care®, the chemical industry’s environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) performance initiative, resulting in enhancements to the Responsible Care Process Safety Code and Responsible Care Security Code.

Prior to joining ACC in 2019, Chris served as President and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute, president of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, and president of the Contract Services Association. He began his career on Capitol Hill, including time as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY).

Chris earned an MBA from the University of Maryland and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University in New York.

Dewey JohnsonSenior Vice President, OPIS and Global Lead of Chemical Market Analytics

Dewey Johnson is Senior Vice President of OPIS and the Global Lead of Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones company (“Chemical Market Analytics”).

Dewey is responsible for the global business, including insight and research covering the major chemical value chains, including Aromatics and Fibers, Olefins and Derivatives, Inorganics (chlor-alkali, vinyls, and soda ash), Plastics and Polymers, and Syngas Chemicals (methanol, acetyls, and ammonia). Dewey is based in Houston.

Prior to Chemical Market Analytics, Dewey joined IHS Markit (through legacy CMAI) in 2009. His experience in the petrochemical industry covers all aspects of the business- financial, commercial, operations, research, strategy design and business planning, business development, as well as consultancy. Prior to IHS Markit, he was with Eastman Chemical Company, where he spent more than 25 years in strategic and commercial roles with various business groups and corporate functions. Dewey held management positions in commercial development, global sourcing, P&L for key businesses, market development, and market & strategic analysis of chemical markets and businesses. Dewey has led multiple complex engagements in strategy development and execution, global sourcing of Aromatics & olefins derivatives and industrial gases, business simulation & game theory and dynamic modeling, sales/ marketing, and business development. Dewey received BS and MS engineering degrees from Tennessee Technological University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He also earned an MBA in General Management. Dewey has been a frequent guest lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, UVA Darden School of Management, and SUNY at Albany School of Public Policy.

Roger KearnsPresident and CEO, NOVA Chemicals

Roger Kearns joined NOVA Chemicals as President and CEO in June 2023. Kearns leads the company’s ambition to reshape plastics to be our customers’ first and best choice. He is a senior executive with extensive international and industry leadership experience in the commodity and specialty chemicals spaces.

Prior to joining NOVA Chemicals, Kearns was Chief Operating Officer at Westlake Corporation, the global diversified manufacturer of essential products (NYSE: WLK). He joined Westlake as Executive Vice President of Vinyl Chemicals in 2018 after previously serving for 32 years at Solvay, a global leader in materials, solutions, and chemicals. A member of Solvay’s Executive Committee for 10 years, Kearns held progressively senior roles on both the operational and investment sides of the business across a number of international markets, including the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Kearns holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech and a MBA from Stanford. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and is a former member of the Georgia Tech President’s Advisory Board.

Kearns also is a board member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) where he formerly served as Chair of the Audit Committee. In addition, he serves as a board member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), sits on its Board Global Strategy, and serves as chair of the Board Plastics Committee.

He is chair of the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) America. He has been listed as “one to watch” in the 2024 Top 40 Power Players by ICIS, a global ranking of the leading CEOs and senior executives making the greatest positive impact on their companies and the chemicals industry.

Dr. Thomas KlosterPresident, Petrochemicals Division, BASF

Thomas Kloster was born in Germany in 1971. He studied at Mannheim University and at University of Waterloo, Canada. In 2002, he earned his PhD at the faculty of Business Administration, Mannheim University. Before joining BASF in 2001 he worked for the management consultancy McKinsey & Company in Frankfurt.

Nick KovicsVice President, Global Inorganics, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Kovics is the Vice President of the Global Inorganics team at Chemical Market Analytics.

Nick Kovics serves as the Vice President of Global Inorganic Chemicals at Chemical Market Analytics, which includes Chlor-alkali chemicals, Vinyls, Bleaching Chemicals, and Soda Ash.

Nick brings over 25 years of chemical industry experience to the Chemical Market Analytics Inorganic Chemicals insights team. He was promoted to his current role in 2024, where he leads twenty analysts who research, forecast, and report on chlor-alkali chemicals, vinyls, bleaching chemicals, and soda ash from five global locations. Previously, Nick held a variety of roles in the Inorganics value chain at Chemical Market Analytics, including leading the Chlor-alkali, Bleaching Chemicals, and Battery Materials advisory services.

Nick held various functional roles in several companies before joining Chemical Market Analytics. He began his career as a process engineer in the chlor-alkali sector at Canadian Occidental. Nick next moved into the energy sector as a field engineer with Schlumberger Canada cementing and hydraulic fracturing services. He transitioned from oil and gas to new energy and spent a decade in the hydrogen fuel cell sector in technical, commercial and financial roles. Nick continued in the electrochemical industry by joining Canexus (now Chemtrade) and held commercial leadership roles in chlor-alkali and sodium chlorate marketing.

Nick is originally from Canada and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He is a registered Canadian Professional Engineer and a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant. He has resided in Houston, TX, since joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2017.

Udo LangeCEO, Stolt Neilsen

Dr Udo Lange joined Stolt-Nielsen Limited as Chief Executive Officer in September 2023.

With more than 25 years of experience in the international trade industry, including expertise in global freight forwarding, road freight, express and parcel, shipping, customs brokerage, contract logistics and airline catering, he has held senior positions with Lufthansa, Deutsche Post DHL, Exel and DB Schenker.

During his time at Fedex, Dr Lange held several leadership roles, including president of Healthcare, Logistics and Americas International at FedEx Express, where he led a team of more than 50,000 in over 80 countries. During Covid-19 he was appointed to the White House task force on supply chain disruption.

In August 2025, Dr Lange was elected non-executive Chairman of Freightos (CRGO), the leading digital platform in the cargo space, connecting customers, forwarders and carriers to simplify trade.

Dr Lange holds a PhD in economic science from the University of Duisburg, Germany and an MBA from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School and a member of the WSJ CEO Council and the Arts Club of London.

In 2020 he was named one of the ‘Top 10 Logistics Leaders’ globally by Supply Chain Digital, the industry’s leading magazine.

Cedric LienhartVice President Global Resins, AMCOR

Cedric Lienhart serves as Global Vice President Resins at Amcor, where he leads the company’s worldwide procurement strategy for resin raw materials, including polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, and masterbatch.

He is responsible for Amcor’s global resin procurement portfolio, driving strategy, supplier partnerships, sustainability, and innovation initiatives across multiple categories and regions. With more than 15 years of international procurement leadership, Cedric has managed categories including resins, aluminium, paper, liquids, and indirects. Prior to joining Amcor, he held procurement roles at Procter & Gamble.

Throughout his career, he has focused on building resilient global supply chains while advancing circular economy solutions, increasing recycled content, and driving decarbonization initiatives in packaging. Cedric holds a Master of Science in Biotechnology from ETH Zürich.

Steve LewandowskiVice President, Global Olefins & Derivatives, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Lewandowski is the Vice President of Global Olefins & Derivatives at Chemical Market Analytics.

Based in Houston, Steve Lewandowski is the Vice President – Olefins at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company, a leading global provider of information, insight and consulting services to the global chemical and petrochemical.

During a career spanning 30 + years in the refining and chemical industry, Steve has experience across the spectrum of refining and petrochemical hydrocarbon value chains covering various financial, strategic, technical and commercial roles. Before his move to Chemical Market Analytics, Steve was Senior Manager of Base Chemicals at TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining, Inc. In that capacity, he managed the P&L of the base chemicals business, including joint venture relationships, strategic guidance to the partnerships, plant operational interfaces, project development, and commercial responsibility for olefin and aromatic monomers, including styrene.

Before the Base Chemical Senior Manager role, Steve had increasing responsibilities within the Petrochemical business at TOTAL. The latest assignment was overseas, in Brussels, Belgium, where he was responsible for the Global Aromatics long-term commercial business activity. The assignment included P&L responsibility and strategic project development for TOTAL worldwide. Before the Belgian assignment, he worked as manager of the US aromatics business. Before 2000, Steve was involved in the refining and fuels side of the Hydrocarbon chain both for what was then FINA Oil and Chemical and for Star Enterprise (a joint venture between Texaco and Saudi Aramco), working as a process engineer, optimization engineer, fuels blending optimizer, branded/unbranded fuels marketing and supply lead, and in a business development role.

Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1987 and an MBA with a focus on finance and economics from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2000.

Kyle MathisVice President Corporate Planning and Development, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP

Kyle Mathis has 30+ years of leadership experience in the petrochemical industry. He currently serves a Vice President of Corporate Planning and Development at Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP.  Kyle began his career with Phillips Petroleum in 1990 and joined the Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (CPChem) Joint Venture in 2000. Prior to his current role, Kyle served as the General Manager of the Alpha Olefins business with assets in the US gulf coast, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Throughout his career, he has held roles of increasing responsibility in manufacturing, sales, commercial management, and corporate planning.

Kyle serves on the advisory board of the school of engineering at the University of Kansas and is a board member of The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership in The Woodlands, Texas. Kyle earned a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas and an MBA from the University of Houston

Joe McCabePresident & CEO, Autoforecast Solutions LLC

As President and CEO of AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS), Joe leverages his decades of industry experience and knowledge to provide production forecasting and advisory services to the global automotive community. Joe manages the automotive turnkey operations at AFS including the global light vehicle, powertrain, drivetrain, and alternative propulsion forecast as well as a suite of AFS proprietary opportunity and sales planning software. AFS supports all tiered suppliers, VMs, government agencies, financial institutions, and the academic community with data, planning solutions, and a personalized support to help identify new business opportunities while mitigating risk.

Joe’s 25+ year career in automotive forecasting ranges from his tenure at AutoFacts, PwC, AutomotiveCompass, and now as founder of AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS). Joe earned his Bachelors of Chemical Engineering degree at Villanova University and an MBA at Pennsylvania State University.

Kenneth B. Medlock III, Ph.DJames A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy & Resource Economics & Senior Director of the Center for Energy Studies - Baker Institute

Marco MensinkDirector General, CEFIC

Marco Mensink is Director General of CEFIC since May 1st, 2016, and one of the leading industry advocates in Europe. With members adding over 655 billion Euro to the EU economy annually and employing 1,2 million workers. Cefic is the largest industry sector representation in Brussels, employing 170 staff. Supporting the Cefic Board of 30 industry CEO’s, Mr. Mensink shapes the strategy and direction of the European chemical industry, uniting more than 22 national federations, 8 associate federations and 650 members and affiliates from all over Europe. A key role in CEFIC is the interaction with Brussels based and global stakeholders.  In addition, Mr Mensink has the role of Council Secretary of the International Council of Chemical Industries (ICCA), uniting 95% of global chemical production. For this he actively engages with the US, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian counterparts of Cefic and the CEOs of the global companies, speaking up for Europe in global UN discussions and conventions. 

Marco Mensink has spearheaded the push for a competitive European Industry as a key cornerstone for the European economy, the provider of high-quality jobs for European workers in Europe and the European targets in the Green Deal. Cefic has been the initiator of the two European Industry Summits in Antwerp and the follow up Antwerp Declaration for an Industrial Deal, now signed by over 1300 CEO’s.

Franco MeropialiHead of Recycling, Versalis

Franco Meropiali has a strong international perspective and over 25 years of experience in the chemical industry.

After graduating in Economics and Commerce from the Bocconi University in Milan, he joined EniChem (now Versalis) in 1995.
In the course of his career, he has held various roles, first as Head of Finance at Polimeri Europa, where he consolidated his experience in managing financial, insurance and credit activities. From 2007 to 2016, he was Head of Planning and Control, contributing to the definition and implementation of Versalis’ turnaround plan, and prior to his current position, he was Head of Business Development and Licensing, coordinating international partnership initiatives and M&A operations.
He also serves as a Director of Versalis subsidiaries and investees in Italy and abroad and as Chairman of Eni Insurance in Dublin.

Geoff MoodySenior Vice President of Government Relations & Policy, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers’ (AFPM)

Geoff Moody serves as the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers’ (AFPM) Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Policy.  Geoff leads AFPM’s federal and state advocacy on issues impacting the refining and petrochemical industries, including fuels, environmental regulation, trade, transportation and infrastructure, chemicals management, and tax policy.  Geoff started his career on Capitol Hill and has spent more than 15 years working in various policy and energy and environmental advocacy roles.  He holds his law degree from the George Mason University School of Law.

Joel MoralesVice President, Polyolefins Americas, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Joel Morales is the Vice President of Polyolefins Americas at Chemical Market Analytics.

Joel joined the company in March 2013 to cover Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) in North America. He began his career in 1999 with polyolefins manufacturer Solvay Polymers, which later became Ineos, in technical services and product development before he moved into field sales. After five years at Solvay Polymers, Joel moved into resin distribution sales for both Muehlstein and then United Polychem as a Product Manager, where he managed and sold polyethylene and polypropylene resins into various customer segments. In his most recent role before joining Chemical Market Analytics (CMA), Joel was a purchasing manager for Silgan Plastics, a major blow-molding and injection molding plastics converter. He has brought a wealth of industry knowledge to Chemical Market Analytics through multiple stints along the plastics value chain.

Joel works closely within the Americas with resin producers, converters, and third parties covering the polyolefin markets. Joel speaks regularly around the world as a polyolefin market expert. He is the service leader of three market advisory subscription services: The Global Plastics and Polymers Report, the North American PE Report and the North American PP Report.

Joel graduated from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a minor in psychology.

Chris MussoSenior Partner & Global Leader Specialty, McKinsey & Co

Brian NewsomeVice President, Global Chlor-alkali, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Brian Newsome is the Vice President of the Global Chlor-alkali at Chemical Market Analytics, by OPIS

Prior to joining CMA, Brian served in several roles at Westlake Corporation, including as Director of Strategy, Business Manager for Chlorine and Chlorine Derivatives, and Market Manager for Calcium Hypochlorite. He has also previously worked in commercial and technical roles for Kureha Corporation (Japan), Motorola Semiconductor and ExxonMobil LNG. Brian has over 17 years of chemical industry experience including over 13 years of global chlor-alkali and vinyl’s industries experience in marketing, sales and business line management roles. He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Lars Eirik NicolaisenSenior Partner and Deputy CEO, Rystad Energy

Lars Eirik Nicolaisen has been with Rystad Energy since 2008 and is currently deputy CEO and senior partner, residing in Oslo, Norway. He holds a M.Sc from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He has wide experience as an adviser in facilitating strategy processes with stakeholders in the energy industry including energy companies, suppliers and investors/banks. The Energy Transition has been a red thread in this work. Nicolaisen has a particular foothold in the offshore Oil and Gas industry and hereunder a core client base amongst the offshore drillers. He is a seasoned speaker and represents the firm on a wide array of industrial topics at external events.

Anthony PalmerVice President, Global Circular Plastic Sustainability, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Anthony J. Palmer is Vice President of Chemical Market Analytics (by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company), where he is responsible for the Circular Plastics & Chemicals Sustainability business within the Base Chemicals & Plastics group. In this role, he coordinates research and insight activities related to carbon emissions and plastics reuse, reduction, and recycling. His work focuses on mechanical and chemical recycling technologies and economics, plastic waste supply and logistics, company ESG initiatives, and strategic responses to sustainability, as well as broader macro-industry implications.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Palmer managed the Chemical Consulting Group at IHS Markit, where he led engagements for clients with interests in the business, technical, and financial aspects of the energy, chemicals, and related process industries. His expertise includes strategic business management, financial and acquisition analysis, technology assessment, capital project planning, manufacturing strategy, international project development, expert witness and litigation support, and material supply strategy.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Palmer worked at CMAI (acquired by IHS Markit in 2011), CPI Consulting Associates, Chem Systems, and Exxon Corporation. He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College, as well as a Master of Business Administration in Finance and International Business from Fordham University in New York, U.S.

In addition to his professional roles, Mr. Palmer is an Adjunct Professor of Management at Connecticut State University’s Ancell School of Business Administration, where he teaches courses in Strategic Management using the case analysis approach.

Bob PatelIndustry Expert

Bhavesh V. (Bob) Patel is a transformational business leader with over three decades of experience driving growth, operational excellence, and shareholder value in global industrial and chemical companies. Most recently, he served as President of Standard Industries, overseeing a $12.5 billion portfolio of industrial businesses across building materials and specialty chemicals, and as CEO of W. R. Grace, where he led a major restructuring that enabled the company to significantly increase earnings.  Prior to Standard Industries, Bob was CEO of LyondellBasell, where he guided the company from its post-bankruptcy recovery to industry leadership, delivering strong earnings growth, reducing debt, and executing multi-billion-dollar organic and inorganic growth initiatives. His earlier career included senior leadership roles at Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and Chevron.  Bob has held leadership roles in all the major regions of the world including the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Bob holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Temple University, where he graduated in the top 5% of his class. He currently serves on the board of Air Products and is a director of the Houston Branch of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank. His past board service includes Halliburton, Union Pacific Railroad, and chairmanship of the American Chemistry Council. A champion of sustainability and innovation, Bob was a founding member and vice chair of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and continues to advise leading institutions through his roles on the engineering advisory board at Ohio State and the business advisory board at Temple University.

Dave PettitManaging Editor, Strategy & Operations, Barrons

Dave Pettit is managing editor of Dow Jones Media Group, which comprises titles including Barron’s, MarketWatch.com and Financial News. Previously, he held senior roles at The Wall Street Journal, most recently editor for editorial ventures, in which he oversaw development of news initiatives, including the WSJ/THE College Rankings and other ventures to expand the reach of WSJ journalism. During his tenure at the Journal, his roles included project leader of initiatives to sharpen WSJ’s focus on digital journalism and enhance engagement with its digital audience. He held a variety of top editorial positions at WSJ.com and was part of the original team that launched the Journal website. He began his career as a reporter, covering Wall Street, investing and securities regulation. He is a co-author of “Online Investing,” published by Crown Business, and has been an adjunct professor at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

Mark PlamondonExecutive Director, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association

Mark Plamondon is Executive Director of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association.  Mark has over 30 years experience in management, operations, business development, and financial analysis of mineral and refining operations.  He has extensive international experience and works to enhance the Heartland’s brand across the globe with investors, governments and stakeholders. Prior to his current role as Executive Director, Mark was Senior Vice President with Sherritt International Corporation, responsible for Sherritt’s nickel mining, processing, and refining operations in Madagascar.  His education includes a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering from the University of British Columbia.

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH) is guided by an association of five municipal partners, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA), which was created in 1999 by the City of Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont County, Strathcona County, and Sturgeon County.  In 2010, the City of Edmonton became the fifth municipal partner.  All five municipalities have heavy-industrial-zoned land within the boundaries of AIH. The five-member Association is dedicated to coordinating, advocating, and promoting the long-term sustainable development of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.  This reflects the interests of the community, industry, as well as the environment.  As a not-for-profit association, AIHA is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the senior elected official from each municipal partner. The Board provides overall vision and strategic priorities for the organization. Ensuring responsible, productive, and environmentally sound development, the Board and AIHA staff work closely with numerous stakeholders including government, private industry, and local communities.

José Carlos PonsChief Procurement Officer, Alpex and President, ANIQ

José Carlos Pons is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Alpek, where he has developed his career over the past 29 years within Alpek and its parent company, Alfa. Prior to his current role at Alpek, he held several senior positions at Nemak, including Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning, Business Unit Director for South America, and Director of Mergers and Acquisitions.

He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree and an MBA from Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM), as well as executive education from the Top Management Program (D-1) at IPADE Business School. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, José Carlos serves as the President of the National Chemical Industry Association of Mexico (ANIQ) and actively participates on various boards, including the Citizen Council of San Pedro Garza García, the Finance and Investment Committee at ITESM, and the boards of Indelpro and Polioles, Alpek’s joint ventures with LyondellBasell and BASF, respectively.

Nick RedmanDirector Analysis & Head of Oxford Analytica, Dow Jones

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Scott RookPresident & CEO, Chemtrade Logistics

Scott Rook joined Chemtrade in September 2019 as Chief Operating Officer and assumed the role
of President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2021. As COO, Scott was accountable for
delivering improved profitability and free cash generation from all Chemtrade businesses. He has
more than 28 years’ experience in the chemical industry, including commercial, operational, and
business leadership roles. Before joining Chemtrade, he was Senior Vice President, Commercial, at
Ascend Performance Materials, focusing on delivering business results, long-term growth
strategies, capital allocation, and M&A activities. Prior to Ascend, he held executive positions at
Eastman Chemical Company. Scott has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from
the University of Tennessee and an MBA in Finance from Auburn University in Alabama.

Ben ScriberDirector, North America NGLs, OPIS, A Dow Jones Company

37Ben Scriber, the Director of Natural Gas Liquids and LNG, joined OPIS, A Dow Jones Company, in 2015. With over 20 years of experience in the North American NGL industry, Ben has experienced several bearish and bullish markets, and witnessed the ever-changing evolution of the NGL industry, including the growth of Mont Belvieu and its importance in the global NGL market. Prior to joining OPIS, he was a retail and wholesale supply manager for AmeriGas, the largest propane retailer in North America, and began his career as an analyst for a startup company called Chalkboard, which was then acquired and absorbed into the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). As a balance, Ben also actively serves on the board of the LPG Charity Fund and the Petrochemical Feedstock Association of the Americas.

Alexandra TennantDirector, Global Recycled Plastics Service, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Alexandra Tennant is the Director, Global Recycled Plastics Service at Chemical Market Analytics (by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company).

Alexandra is responsible for content regarding market dynamics for recycled plastics within the Base Chemicals & Plastics group. As service lead for the Global Recycled Plastics Service, Alexandra monitors momentum across the recycled plastics value chain in areas such as supply, demand, pricing, regulations, and brand strategies.

Ms. Tennant joined Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS in 2025 and brings over 15 years of experience across the energy and chemicals industry. She is recognized for her expertise in recycled plastics and PET/RPET markets. She has held positions in finance and consulting, including ExxonMobil, Wood Mackenzie, and, most recently, McKinsey & Co.

Alexandra graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with dual degrees in Economics and the History of Art; she later earned her MBA from the School of Management at Yale University.

Mitch ToomeyVice President Sustainability & Responsible Care, American Chemistry Council (ACC)

As Vice President of Sustainability and Responsible Care, Mitch Toomey is responsible for leading the strategic implementation of ACC’s world-class EHS&S performance initiative and executing the industry’s commitment to sustainability – through innovation, collaboration, and technologies that enhance the safety and environmental impacts of ACC member products and operations.

Previously, Mitch served as Director of Sustainability for BASF Corporation and also spent more than 15 years with the United Nations and UN Development Programme (UNDP), where he helped champion the United Nations global social responsibility and sustainability movement. He also led UN engagement and expert dialogues for the 2012 Rio Conference on Sustainability, launched the UNDP Innovation Facility, and served as lead author for the UNDP Knowledge Management Strategy. Prior to joining the UN, Mitch worked in the private sector building two startups.

Mitch earned both an MBA and BA from New York University.

Nick VafiadisVice President, Global Plastics & Polymers, Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Vafiadis is the Vice President of the Plastics & Polymers business at Chemical Market Analytics.

34 years, including critical roles in sales, sales management, product management, and business line management in the plastics, surfactants, and consulting industries.
Nick is a 30+ year chemical and plastics industry veteran and manages Chemical Market Analytics’ global plastics practice. Nick’s daily responsibilities include analysis, consulting, and reporting on the global polyolefins market and managing global operations associated with producing and developing various plastics reports. Concurrently, he contributes to single-client projects and studies related to the polyolefins industry. In his earlier assignments, he was responsible for consulting duties associated with the Chlor-alkali and vinyl product chain. He has contributed to the Monomers Market Report, the Chlor-Alkali Market Report, and the Global Plastics & Polymers Market Report.

He has been with Chemical Market Analytics and its predecessor companies since 2002. Before 2002, he spent twelve years with Vista Chemical Company, where he held assignments in marketing, product management, and sales management in the vinyl and surfactant business areas. Mr. Vafiadis holds a Management BBA from The University of Texas at Austin, United States.

David YankovitzPrincipal – US Chemicals Marketplace Leader, Deloitte

With 30+ years experience, David develops growth strategies to strengthen the Chemical and Specialty Materials sector. He is known for building enduring client relationships with CEOs and C-Level executives at premier international companies in both growth and cost containment initiatives. David’s breadth of experience encompasses business strategies, innovation, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, supply chain and operations across Energy and Chemicals. High impact results include leading growth strategies, digital transformation, and environmental strategies focused on sustainable products, lowering GHG emissions, sourcing renewable energies, and increasing circularity.