Speakers

Director General, European Association of Chemical Distributors Belgium

Dorothee Arns is a seasoned business and public affairs executive with a proven track record in successfully leading profit and nonprofit organisations. Since June 2019, she is the Director General of the Brussels-based European Association of Chemical Distributors (Fecc), which brings together the entire value chain across all segments, including life sciences (food and feed). Up to 2013, she has held various senior business management roles at BASF Ludwigshafen - notably in marketing, sales, e-commerce and controlling. Of German nationality, Dorothee studied in Germany, Ireland and Spain and holds 2 Master degrees: an MBA with a focus on international management & marketing and another Master degree in Applied Languages & Linguistics, both from the University of Saarbruecken / Germany.

COLUMBIA signature and Chef Vico, Germany

Known as Chef Vico®, Victor Mancilla is a Corporate Chef and hospitality leader with over two decades of experience in global cruise operations. He is the driving force behind "Plate Smart," an initiative to reduce food waste at sea, and a strong advocate for sustainable culinary practices. Through his educational brand Chef Vico®, he inspires and trains the next generation of chefs, blending cultural storytelling with hands-on learning. As a motivational speaker, he shares insights on leadership, sustainability, and innovation, demonstrating how culinary creativity can shape both unforgettable guest experiences and a more responsible future for the hospitality industry.

Director & founder, Food Supply Chain Labs, Netherlands

Wilbert Hilkens leads Food Supply Chain Labs (FSCL) and co founded FoodInsights. He has over 30 years experience in food, agri and finance and worked both in the industry and in banking. FSCL sees supply chain finance as key to sustainable growth and offers capital optimization and tailored trade finance solutions to improve cash flow. FoodInsights develops blockchain based product passports like SmartShortChain and Poultry Chain. His team combines monitoring data across supply chains for the application in inventory management, carbon footprinting, quality metrics and financial risk. By linking trade finance with these applications FSCL helps companies build sustainable supply chains.

BloombergNEF, United Kingdom

Helen is an analyst in BloombergNEF's Food, Agriculture and Nature team focused on regenerative agriculture and agri-food corporate activity. Before this role, Helen led BNEF's new business relationships in the UK and Ireland. Prior to BNEF, Helen worked for a Peruvian farming company, Shared-X, analyzing their socioeconomic and environmental impact, and developing a go-to-market strategy for regeneratively and organically farmed specialty crops. Helen holds a degree in Biological Sciences from Imperial College London.

Business Unit Human Nutrition at Bühler, Switzerland

Christoph Vogel is leading the Business Unit Human Nutrition at Bühler, which agglomerates the 4 market segments Pasta, Cereals & Snacks, Proteins & Ingredients and Petfood. He works on today's challenge in how to feed 10 billion people sustainably within the boundaries of our planet and will present the innovative solutions from Bühler for the food industry. His has international work experience in the Chemical, Biopharmaceutical and Food industry. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical and process engineering and an international EMBA with a focus on emerging markets.

St. Clara Research Ltd, Switzerland

Anne Christin Meyer-Gerspach's research focuses on nutritional physiology and medicine, with a primary emphasis on understanding, preventing, and treating obesity and related metabolic disorders, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus. Her work investigates the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of metabolic diseases, including gastrointestinal satiety regulation and gut–brain interactions. She studies biological and clinical effects of therapeutic interventions, encompassing dietary strategies, metabolic surgery, and other treatment modalities. Her projects integrate translational approaches, bridging basic science with clinical applications, and aim to elucidate how nutritional and metabolic interventions influence energy homeostasis, appetite, satiety, and long-term metabolic outcomes.

Co-Founder of Pow Food, United Kingdom

Emily Warburton is the Co-Founder of Pow Food, a London-based B Corp catering company pioneering the connection between nutrition, workplace wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. With a background in nutrition and a passion for systems change, Emily champions food as a driver of both human and planetary health. She has led partnerships with leading organisations to reimagine workplace catering through nutrient-dense, transparent, and chef-crafted meals. A recent speaker at the Blue Earth Summit on "The Real Cost of Food," Emily advocates for corporate food systems that nourish people, protect the planet, and support long-term business performance.

Founder of Start a food story, Netherlands

Mary van Hoek-Hendriks is a leading food innovation expert known for bridging creativity and strategy with real-world impact. Through Start a Food Story, she helps start-ups build sustainable business cases and supports corporate teams in accelerating meaningful innovation. Her work has been recognised with awards such as the Dutch national sustainability award, the Healthy Food Innovation Awards and the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA). Named in the Food100 as one of the key changemakers in the food sector, Mary recently published Mastering Food Innovation, a practical guide for turning complex food challenges into lasting, market-ready solutions.

Co-Founder at C3M Leadership Group, Belguim

Dr. Svetlana (Lana) Zivanovic is Co-Founder and Innovation Strategy Partner at C3M Leadership Group, advising organizations across the food, agri-tech, and biotech sectors on R&D strategy, portfolio design, and commercialization pathways. With over 25 years of global leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, and academia, Lana has built a career at the intersection of science, innovation, and sustainability. Before founding C3M, she served as Global R&D Director for Alternative Proteins at Mars Inc., Chief Science and Sustainability Officer at InnovoPro, Novel Ecosystem Lead at Cargill EMEA, and Professor of Food Chemistry at the University of Tennessee. Her work has shaped corporate innovation roadmaps, IP strategies, and cross-sector collaborations accelerating the transition toward sustainable food systems. Lana holds a Ph.D. in Food Biochemistry and has advised governments and international agencies on food research policy. She is passionate about transforming fundamental research into market impact and using digital and AI-driven solutions to strengthen innovation ecosystems and accelerate sustainable growth.

Founder of Life is Bananas, Belguim

Sigrid Severijns is a food bio-engineer with 18 years of experience in product development, quality, and innovation across the food industry. She is the founder of Life is Bananas, a Belgian brand using freeze-dry technology to create nutritious, naturally colourful snacks and next-generation baby foods. With a strong scientific background and a passion for improving food for children, Sigrid focuses on making healthy options truly appealing and accessible. Her mission is to redefine how the next generation experiences food — proving that science-driven nutrition can also be playful and irresistible.

Givaudan International, Switzerland

With an academic background in Food Science and Engineering I have worked in global R&D and innovation B2C and B2B environments. Currently holding the position as a Senior Food technologist at Givaudan, where we work to advance the future of savoury products in the European market by combining innovations from the flavour industry with novelties from the processing and ingredient business, using a co-creation approach with our customers. I am passionate about applying scientific knowledge to the product development process to create the next generation of products in terms of nutrition, taste, and texture.

Lecturer and Programme Lead at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, France

Amelia Laplante is a Lecturer and Programme Lead at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, overseeing the Bachelor of Science in Culinary Design Management in partnership with Université Paris-Dauphine. With a foundation in food science, R&D, and product innovation, she combines technical expertise with a creative approach to culinary education. Amelia holds a Master's in Food Safety and Quality Assurance from the University of Guelph, and her published research on okara upcycling highlights her commitment to sustainable food innovation. Passionate about future food innovation, Amelia's teaching and research connect gastronomy, health, and technology to inspire the next generation of food leaders.

InnoGI Technologies, Netherlands

Dr. Kiers holds a PhD in Food Technology & Nutrition form the Wageningen University, and has over 25 years of experience in the nutrition and life sciences industry. He worked in various companies ranging from multinationals to start-ups and in various roles ranging from research to business management. Jeroen is eager to make a difference in improving quality of life through nutrition.

Co-Founder at Just Virtual Food, Switzerland

Joel Schüssler (27) is the Co-Founder & COO of Just Virtual Food, one of the fastest-growing virtual restaurant companies in the DACH region. Based in Switzerland, Joel has built — together with his team — a tech-driven virtual brand ecosystem that today operates across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and Canada. At Just Virtual, he leads international expansion, supply chain, operational systems, partner onboarding, and brand development. His company operates a diverse portfolio of successful delivery brands including Just Smashed, Pizza Junge, Happy Buns, Running Panda, Crispy Town, Dadis & Nanis, and international collaborations such as MrBeast Burger. Joel is known for his hands-on, highly operational approach, building hybrid virtual-plus-physical models and creating scalable revenue streams for restaurant partners through standardization, technology, and a fully integrated supply chain. He is also involved in multiple digital ventures and frequently shares insights on the future of food tech, delivery, and operational excellence.

Romanian Academy, Romania

I have systemic experience in knowledge and action for theoretical and practical frameworks related to urban and rural systems, knowledge transfer, living and policy labs, stakeholder communities, open science, participatory knowledge, and collaborative governance. I am a researcher in the Romanian Academy (Iasi Branch). My main domains of theoretical and exploratory research are: Knowledge Systems, Living Labs, Systems Thinking, Knowledge Anthropology, and Digital Anthropology. RIA Competences: Living Labs, MMA Stakeholder communities, Project development. Project experience: Cities2030, RURALITIES, SHERPA, SureFarm, RUBIZMO, TWIN-IN, LIFT. Research Grant in Romanian Academy (2025-2030): The consolidated theory of knowledge ecosystems.

ESAN University, Germany

Master of Science in Agricultural Economics at the Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany) and Master of Business Administration at the University of Liverpool (Great Britain). Bachelor of Economics at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. In-depth know-how to developing customized solutions for clients concerning risks along agricultural supply chains. Solid knowledge on the development of protocols and standardization of operational processes. International profile and multicultural experience having conducted professional activities in over 50 countries.

Founder at BUGMAN, Netherlands

Ferdy Molenaar (1995) is the founder of BUGMAN, an insect food storyteller, ento-chef, and entrepreneur in the Dutch and international insect industry. As a speaker, chef, and educator, he organizes lectures, private dinners, tastings, and educational programs for companies and organizations. His journey began in 2012, when, at 15, he assisted in creating the first Dutch insect cookbook under Prof. Arnold van Huis, Prof. Marcel Dicke (WUR), and chef Henk van Gurp. Today, he uses edible insects as a practical tool for sustainable protein transition, behavioral change, and circular innovation within the modern food system.

University of Balamand, Lebanon

Dima Mnayer, PhD, an Agriculture Engineer, Is a full time Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Health and Sciences, Balamand University since September 2023. She completed her Ph.D (2014) in Food Chemistry at Avignon University (France), Diploma in 2004 in Food Quality control and Management and her Diploma in Agricultural Engineer in 2003 from USJ (Lebanon). She worked as a member of coordination unit and program assistant with Italian NGOs (the Italian Cooperation and AVSI) in Rural Development Programs. After completing her PhD in 2014, she gave lectures at Private Universities as an associate Professor. More than 20 scientific peer-reviewed papers and 2 communications for scientific meetings document her research activity. It primarily focuses on Food Sciences, Food Safety, and Natural plant products extracts. During her career. Dr. Mnayer attended many international trainings abroad, such as France, Spain, China and Jordan. According to Scientific index 2026, Dr. Mnayer ranked one of top 1000 scientists in Lebanon. She has many certifications of achievements such as CQI-IRCA-FSSC 22000 v5.1 Lead auditor training course, flipped classroom, AI in education in addition to many entrepreneurships training programs. Along with her teaching career, she is collaborating with Food Industries on developing novel foods with many grants supporting her researches.

Chairman of RecyClass, Italy

Dr. Paolo Glerean is an Italian national with an Economics degree from the University of Trieste, Italy, currently Head of Sales and Marketing at Aliplast Spa. Paolo is Co-chairman of the PET Thermoforms Working Group of Petcore Europe, and is also involved in Plastic Recyclers Europe and PET Sheet Europe, of which he is Vice-President. In the past, he headed the R&D department of an Italian company and dedicated his time to consulting, focusing on plastics recycling companies and R&D on plastics.

Co-founder and Director of FOIRFE-Process and Product Solutions, Ireland

Dr. Paul Bouchier has spent over 20 years working in the Food Industry, leading technical teams in companies like Kerry, Wyeth Nutrition, Glanbia, Dairygold and Teagasc Moorepark Technology Ltd to deliver on innovation projects with global food companies. He is a past President of the "Society of Dairy Technology" and is a member on various advisory committees for Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Ireland. Paul is also Co-founder and Director of "FOIRFE-Process and Product Solutions" a consultancy company based in Ireland but working world-wide.

The Future of Nutrition and Longevity Institute, Germany

Alexander joined the Döhler Group in Germany as R&D the development of new functional ingredients and also identification of market opportunities was his major focus. After roles in Business Development on natural flavours, concept management and B2C product management he gained global responsibility of the Business Unit Flavours. He then joined Celanese as Innovation Manager with focus on natural sweetening and preservation systems before he took the role as Global Market Segment Lead Beverages and Bakery. In late 2017 he moved back to Döhler leading the business Unit Health. Since mid of 2025 he is leading the FNL Institute

University of Turin, Italy

Giancarlo Cravotto became a researcher at the Department of Drug Science and Technology (University of Turin), after four years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He is Full Professor of Organic Chemistry since 2005.His research focuses on green extraction and chemical processing, and is supported by more than 600 peer-reviewed scientific papers (H-index 88, with 33,300 citations on Google Scholar) and 23 patents. As an expert in non-conventional technologies for process intensification, ranging from laboratory to semi-industrial applications, he collaborates with several industries, including chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, biomaterials, and food production sectors. He is Editor-in-Chief of Processes (MDPI, Basel).

SCG Chemicals, Norway

Peerada Samunual is a former R&D researcher at SCG Chemicals, one of the world's leading plastics and materials innovation companies. She holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Texas A&M University and spent over 11 years developing advanced material technologies, specializing in PP resin design, barrier coatings, and mono-material packaging solutions. With a strong passion for practical, sustainable innovation, she has contributed to several key technology platforms within the company. Peerada now serves as a Partnership Manager, connecting market needs with research capabilities and collaborating with strategic partners to drive impactful, real-world solutions.

Foorban, Italy

36 years old, a degree in Economics from Milan, and over 15 years of international experience in food retail and food tech. Passionate about wellbeing, sports, and great food, Marco Mottolese founded Foorban with a clear ambition: encouraging people to eat better at work. By offering an innovative corporate F&B experience, Foorban puts quality and convenience first, helping companies create healthier, people-centric environments. With this vision, Foorban aims to become a European benchmark for Service Excellence and positive impact.

Center for Complexity & Biosystems, University of Milan, Italy

Prof. Caterina A. M. La Porta is a Full Professor of General Pathology at the University of Milan and the Group Leader of Oncolab. Her work sits at the intersection of health, technology, and complex systems, making her a key voice for the Next-Gen Food & Health Tech Summit. A highly cited scientist, her research extends beyond oncology to leverage Artificial Intelligence and Big Data for a One Health vision, encompassing human well-being, public health, and urban sustainability. This includes developing algorithms (like the STELLA algorithm) to disentangle complex biological networks, such as the human and soil microbiome. As CEO of the spin-off COMPLEXDATA, she drives the application of certified AI solutions for predictive health. Her focus on digital transformation, complex systems, and the integration of environmental and human health is directly relevant to innovations in food and nutrition policies.

Flint @ CEO & Founder, Spain

Pablo Quintero is the founder of FLINT, an AI-powered nutrition intelligence platform helping food innovators build evidence-based products. With a PhD in Nutrition and a background leading product strategy at cultivated meat pioneer Vow, Pablo brings a rare blend of scientific rigour and product execution to the food-tech space. He is a passionate advocate for leveraging AI to transform how we design foods for health, longevity, and sustainability. Pablo has spoken at global summits across Europe and is actively building the next generation of tools that connect molecular nutrition with consumer needs and regulatory reality.

Director at Innocuity, Chile

Food Engineer with a Master's degree in Management, Quality, and Food Safety, and more than 25 years of leadership experience across the agri-food industry. Specialised in food safety systems, GFSI standards, food fraud prevention, food defence, and food safety culture, she has led quality and operations teams in multinational retail environments, including 15 years at Walmart Chile. Currently working between Chile and Ireland, she is an independent consultant, auditor, and academic, supporting industry and higher education through risk-based training and strategic food protection approaches. Her professional impact has been recognised through international distinctions, including induction into a professional Hall of Fame.

Director of R&D, Quality, and Sustainability at Prinsen Berning

Petra Den Dikken is Director of R&D, Quality, and Sustainability at Prinsen Berning, where she leads international teams developing high protein bars and powders for major private label brands. With over 25 years of experience at companies including Unilever, FrieslandCampina, and Danone, she brings deep expertise in food technology, product development, and quality assurance. Her work focuses on improving taste, texture, and nutritional performance while advancing sustainable ingredient innovation. Petra plays a key role in industry collaborations such as Redesign Food for Value, driving science based, consumer focused solutions in the rapidly evolving Active Nutrition sector.

Co-founder of SaliGreen, Portugal

Raquel is a Co-founder of SaliGreen, a Portuguese food innovation company developing healthier alternatives to conventional salt based on Salicornia, a naturally occurring halophyte plant. With a background in sustainable food systems and product innovation, Raquel has focused his work on reducing sodium intake without compromising flavour, while promoting clean-label, natural ingredients. SaliGreen's flagship product, GreenSalt, has been recognised internationally for its innovation and nutritional profile, addressing growing public health challenges related to excessive salt consumption.

Founder & CEO at Neller Davies Ltd, United Kingdom

Julian Fris is Founder and Principal Consultant at Neller Davies and a recognised leader in food and facilities transformation. He was named Director of the Year for Innovation and is a Cateys Award winner, reflecting his impact in redesigning large-scale food systems across healthcare, higher education and complex private institutions. Julian has led many transformation programmes, pioneering collaborative partnerships that align policy, procurement and delivery around shared outcomes. His work focuses on translating food policy, nutrition standards and sustainability goals into operational models that deliver measurable improvements in health, resilience and long-term public value.

Investor at Oyster Bay Venture Capital, Germany

Flynn Seeger is an Investor at Oyster Bay Venture Capital, where he backs early-stage founders building the AgriFood champions of tomorrow. Since joining in 2023, he has worked on investments across robotics, food supply-chain, and AgTech. With a background spanning alternative investments, energy-sector business development, and capital markets consulting at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, he joined Oyster Bay after studying Economics at WU Vienna and graduating from ESCP Business School, where he studied in London, Turin, and Berlin.

Head of Strategic Development at Bene Meat, Czechia

Katharina Eist-Holland – Strategic Development Lead. Katharina brings commercial strategy experience, industry insight, and academic rigour to her role at BeneMeat. She has held senior positions in the alternative protein sector and worked with global corporations to help them understand and reach the ethical consumer. Through this experience, she has developed a clear understanding of how to bring innovative products to market. With a PhD in social science, Katharina combines analytical depth with practical thinking and is passionate about building a better food system.

Co-Founder & CEO at Zya, United Kingdom

Josh is driven by a passion to make nutrition healthier, tastier, and accessible to all. His mission is to connect groundbreaking bioscience innovations with everyday life, ensuring they create real, tangible benefits for people. With a chemistry degree and a PhD in bioscience from the University of Oxford, Josh combines technical expertise with a visionary approach to nutrition.

CEO & Co-Founder of 2nd Nature, United States

Dr. Effendi Leonard is CEO & Co-Founder of 2nd Nature, an Intelligent Upcycling Platform™ transforming food processing side streams into high-performance, sustainable ingredients. A biotech leader, he has a strong track record of scaling deep-tech companies and commercializing scientific innovations. Previously, he held leadership roles at Ayana Bio, Provivi, Ginkgo Bioworks, and Calysta. Dr. Leonard specializes in bridging biology, engineering, and strategy to drive real-world impact and is dedicated to advancing sustainable solutions through cutting-edge biotechnology.

Senior Advisor at Nestlé Research Lausanne, Switzerland

Fabiola Dionisi is a senior leader and thought partner in the transformation of food systems through science driven innovation. With a background spanning food technology, nutrition, and biotechnology, she has spent her career bridging fundamental research with real world impact. At Nestlé Research, she has held leadership roles across food chemistry, technology, and nutrition, driving innovation with a strong sustainability and health lens. Lipids have been the core focus of her work, from molecular understanding to system level design. Today, she explores how emerging technologies can enable purpose built foods for people and planet.

Partner of Morrison Foerster, United States

Brian P. Sylvester is a partner in the FDA & Healthcare Regulatory and Compliance Group and leads Food Regulatory. He advises global brands, startups, and investors on FDA and USDA regulations across food, beverages, and other regulated products. Recognized by leading legal publications, he specializes in regulatory strategy, compliance, and commercialization of food tech innovations such as alternative proteins. A former USDA regulator, he is also a frequent speaker and author on global food regulation issues.

CEO at Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, Switzerland

As CEO of Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley, Christina brings the Swiss food ecosystem together to co-create innovations and relations that shape the future of food. Because transformation is a team sport.

Founder & Managing Director of Origenal Story, Spain

Claudia Vasquez Alarcon is a Latin-European entrepreneur, international business consultant, and freelance journalist specialising in agrifood, ingredients, and circular economy. Founder of Origenal Story, she brings over 20 years of expertise in international branding and marketing, spanning telecoms, e-commerce, and food and cosmetics ingredients, to help business leaders transition from product-driven to purpose-driven strategies rooted in biodiversity and sustainability. Fluent in Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese, Claudia operates at the intersection of science, society, and nature, inspiring CEOs, R&D managers, and marketing leaders to reimagine their businesses through a conscious, circular, and human-centred lens. A sought- after speaker and moderator, she has shared her vision at leading B2B events, including Nutrevent France and Ecoliving Natural Organic Products Sweden, bringing her signature blend of strategic and creative insight, journalistic rigour, and cross-cultural intelligence to every stage she steps onto.

Managing Director EXPRA, Belgium

Joachim Quoden is Managing Director of EXPRA (Belgium) and a leading expert in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and packaging waste management with over 30 years of experience. He began his career at the German Environment Ministry, later joined Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland, and held leadership roles at PRO EUROPE. Since 2013, he has led EXPRA, representing PROs across 34 countries. He is also an environmental lawyer and actively contributes to global initiatives and expert groups on recycling, packaging, and circular economy policies.

Senior Project Manager at MC Sonae, Portugal

Daniela Correia holds a degree in Food and Nutrition Science and a Master's in Biotechnology and Innovation. A registered dietitian in Portugal, she combines expertise in nutrition with a strong focus on food tech and innovation. Since 2021, she acts as Project Manager in the R&D and Incentives team at MC, Portugal's leading food retailer, fostering collaboration with scientific institutions and industry partners. She also leads the strategic vision of the Continente FoodLab platform, driving food innovation, customer experience, and real market experimentation. Her work spans product development, packaging, and sustainability, from early-stage research to consumer validation and real-world implementation.

Regulatory Affairs & Marketing Management at Procibus, Italy

Founder & CEO of SaliGreen, Portugal

Chief Executive Officer at Innopearl, Switzerland

Olga Guerous is an innovation executive turned founder, and the creator of Innopearl – a decision intelligence platform helping companies turn complex innovation choices into clear, evidence-based decisions. Drawing on 20+ years leadership experiences at Mars, Danone, Novartis, and PepsiCo, she now works with global innovation, R&D and venture teams to accelerate how organizations identify and scale the right opportunities.