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Krzysztof Bolesta is an appointed official of the European Commission, where he worked from 2004 to 2012 and from 2020 to 2024. From 2000 to 2004, he supported the accession negotiations and Poland’s adaptation to EU requirements in the areas of ‘energy’ and ‘research and development’.
Between 2012 and 2015, he was a member of the political cabinet of two Polish Ministers of the Environment and a member of the supervisory board of the provincial branch of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Lublin. He was involved in the negotiation regarding the second European energy and climate change package. In addition, he served as an advisor to the President of Poland at COP19 (United Nations Climate Change Conference).
From 2016 to 2018, he was a research director at the Policy Insight think tank. Moreover, he co-founded the NGO, the Foundation for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles, where he served as vice-president from 2018 to 2020.
He participated in two Euro-Atlantic exchange programmes, the US State Department’s International Leadership Programme and the German-American Marshall Fund programme.
In 2014, the President of the Republic of Poland awarded him the Silver Cross for services to strengthen and develop European integration.
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Kara Hurst is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon. In this role, she leads the worldwide teams who work on environmental sustainability and social responsibility across the company. Kara joined Amazon in 2014 to build its sustainability roadmap and now oversees the company’s evolution toward more sustainable operations, transportation, products, and packaging, as well as its efforts around water stewardship, and reduced waste. Under her leadership, Amazon announced its commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2040 and co-founded The Climate Pledge, which now has over 500 signatories. Kara holds an undergraduate degree from Barnard College of Columbia University and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of California, Berkeley. She serves on the Board of Directors of Water.org and Stolen Youth.
Born in 1991 and raised in Coimbra (Portugal). Graduate in Economics at the University of Coimbra and holding a Master degree in European Economic Studies from the College of Europe (Bruges, Belgium).
During her academic studies, Lídia had the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus programme, studying in Prague (Czech Republic) for one semester. Additionally, she was always involved and assumed several responsibilities in the Student Association and University/College bodies. After a traineeship at the European Investment Bank, Lidia became a consultant in the financial sector. Later on, she became politically active in JSD, the youth organization of the Partido Social Democrata (PSD, Portugal). In May 2016, Lidia has been appointed International Secretary of JSD’s Board (2016-2018). Since 2018, she serves as President of the Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP).
Elected to the European Parliament in 2019, she has since sat on the Committees on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, where she is the EPP rapporteur for COP, and on the Delegations for relations with the People’s Republic of China and relations with the United States. She is member of the standing Subcommittee on Tax Affairs, in which she is the coordinator of the EPP group. She is also the Co-Chair of Cleantech Friendship Group.
As SAP’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Daniel Schmid is globally responsible for sustainability at SAP SE since 2014.
Daniel Schmid started his career in CRM consulting and held various senior management positions within SAP Consulting before joining the sustainability leadership team established in 2009 to start SAP’s sustainability journey and lead the Sustainability Operations team. Schmid holds a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany.
He is chair of the board of econsense, a forum for sustainable development of German business.
Karen Massin leads Google’s Government Affairs & Public Policy team in Brussels. She drives the development and implementation of outreach strategies, and engages in various policy areas affecting the digital industry such as platform policies, AI, privacy, cybersecurity, content management, economic recovery and sustainability. She is a board member of DigitalEurope, DOT Europe and ITI. Previously, Karen was the CEO of a public affairs consultancy in Brussels and worked at the UN, the European Commission and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prof. Jeremy O’Brien is co-founder and CEO of PsiQuantum. He has dedicated 25 years to the mission of building the world’s first useful quantum computer, having identified quantum computing as the most profoundly world-changing technology, due to its potential to unlock critical solutions to otherwise impossible problems.
Prof. O’Brien has published over 150 papers with over 38,000 citations (h-index 87); he demonstrated the first photonic 2-qubit logic gate, invented the field of integrated quantum photonics, co-invented the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), and implemented VQE on a photonic chip. Prior to founding PsiQuantum, he was Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering at Stanford and Bristol Universities, and Founding Director of the Centre for Quantum Photonics/QET Labs. He received his Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales and is an undergraduate and postdoc alumnus of the Universities of Western Australia and Queensland, respectively. He holds a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Emerging Technologies, and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Institute of Physics.
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Ray joins DIGITALEUROPE with over 20 years of government affairs and communications experience in Brussels and across the EMEA region. Ray is responsible for the digital transformation strategy providing policy recommendations to government stakeholders on the disruption being caused to European industries including manufacturing, healthcare, transport, and financial technologies.
Ray leads the Digital Transformation Policy Group helping our members to advance important work on areas impacting vertical industries such as data, cybersecurity, data protection, international trade, emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT, etc), and skills development.
Previously, he worked at Microsoft responsible for socio-economic issues and strategies to improve relations with governments.
Ray holds citizenship with both Canada and France and is a graduate of McGill University in Political Science.
William Neale is Adviser on Circular Economy and Green Growth at the European Commission’s Environment Directorate General.
He previously served 11 years as a Member of Cabinet (private office) of two European Commissioners for Environment, Janez Potočnik and Karmenu Vella, and for Commissioner Potočnik when he was European Commissioner for Science and Research. In cabinets he has held responsibility for relations with the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, planning, resources and budget, and advised Commissioners on development of policies on circular economy, resource efficiency, sustainable production and consumption, environmental technologies, eco-innovation, waste policy, transport, aeronautics, research infrastructures and external relations.
Mr. Neale started his career in public service working for 7 years in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry. He previously spent 13 years in the private sector in the fields of international banking, retail and management consultancy. He holds a joint honours degree in economics and history, and a masters in political science, both from the University of Manchester (UK).
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Since October 2023, Mr. Kautz is Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation in the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space of the European Commission with responsibility for Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, as well as space policy.
Before that between September 2021 and September 2023 Mr. Kautz was Head of Unit for Secure Connectivity, Space Surveillance and Applications.
From January 2020 until August 2021, he was Head of Unit (acting) for Space Research, Innovation and Start-ups.
Between 2013 and 2019 Mr Kautz was Deputy Head of Unit for Galileo and EGNOS – Applications, Security and International Cooperation.
From 2008 to 2013 he was Deputy Head of Unit for Security Research and Industry.
Before that and since joining the European Commission in 2000 Mr. Kautz held several positions dealing with a variety of industry and Internal Market issues.
Prior to that he worked for 6 years as public affairs consultant.
Mr. Kautz holds a degree in History and Politics, as well as a Master in European Studies from the College of Europe.
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After graduating from the London School of Economics (LSE), Elizabeth Langlois joined Airbus Defence & Space as Sales manager, focusing on the development and commercialisation of Starling, a remote sensing solution leveraging satellite imagery to support private and public actors involved in the agro-food industry reach their no-deforestation and net-zero targets. After joining the Airbus Public Affairs office, Elizabeth has continued advocating for more emphasis on new space capabilities to reduce emissions, prevent catastrophes, and combat climate change.
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Carolynn Bernier is a computer engineer and researcher at CEA, one of France’s largest public research institute with a mission of innovation for industry. She has more than 20 years of experience in integrated circuit design for IoT and wireless communications. Her current research activities include smart embedded systems, digital technologies for the circular economy and the design of sustainable and circular electronic and microelectronic systems. She served as coordinator of the CIRPASS consortium, an EU funded collaborative initiative for a standards-based Digital Product Passport for the circular economy and in which a vision of the Digital Product Passport as the future information system of the Circular Economy was proposed. She is coordinating the follow-up project, CIRPASS-2, which will focus on wide-scale piloting.
Sonja Leyvraz is Associate Policy Officer for Circular Economy at the European Environmental Bureau and works on right to repair and product policy. The EEB is Europe’s largest network of environmental citizens’ organisations with over 180 member organisations from 41 countries. Sonja holds a master’s degree in Environmental Management and Policy from Lund University and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Leiden University. Prior to joining the EEB, she worked as a research assistant in circular economy in the built environment.
William Noah Glucroft is the deputy editor of The Parliament Magazine. Before coming to Brussels for the role, he lived 15 years in Berlin, covering German politics and policy, especially as they relate to European and transatlantic relations. His work has appeared in print, online, and broadcast for The Washington Post, DW, EUobserver, NPR Berlin, BBC, Times Radio, and his own German-affairs Substack, The ‘Schland, among others. A native of the United States, William is keenly aware of the pros and cons offered by the political systems on both sides of the Atlantic.
Javier Espinoza is the FT’s EU correspondent covering competition and digital policy from Brussels. Prior to that he was the paper’s private equity correspondent in London. He was part of the original group of reporters that formed the FT’s Due Diligence newsletter in 2017.
He was the Daily Telegraph’s education editor for two years prior to joining the Financial Times. Before joining the Telegraph in 2015, he was a multimedia reporter for the Wall Street Journal in London. He’s done stints at Forbes, the Observer and other UK and international outlets. He studied journalism at City University. He is also a Political Economist having completed a second Master’s degree at King’s College London. He recently completed an executive MBA at IE Business School.
Sue Biniaz is currently the State Department’s Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate. As the lead climate lawyer for the United States from 1989 through 2016, she played a central role in all major international climate negotiations, including the Paris Agreement. During her tenure as a Deputy Legal Adviser, she supervised the Treaty Office and issues related to the East Asian Affairs, Western Hemisphere Affairs, the environment, law of the sea, human rights and refugees, law enforcement, and private international law. Prior to that, she led the Department’s legal office for Oceans, Environment, and Science, as well as the legal office for European and Canadian Affairs. Between 2017 and returning to the Department in 2021, Ms. Biniaz taught at Yale University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago and was a senior fellow at the UN Foundation. She continues to be a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs
Francesca Poggiali is VP for global public policy at GS1 after 8 years as Chief Public Policy Officer Europe. Her career includes a mixture of public and private sectors experience within Ferrero, the European Commission and Parliament and a couple of trade associations.
She studied Corporate Social Responsibility at the Harvard Business School, and International and European Law in the UK and Italy where she received the highest recognition cum laude.
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Maarit has extensive expertise in telecoms, broadband and internet matters. She joined Connect Europe from the Internet Society, where she served as a Senior Manager Europe and where she has acquired strong experience of broadband policies as well as extensive links with internet and tech stakeholders. Maarit also had direct experience of the telecoms business during her 6 years at Cisco and has developed a strong service-oriented, hands-on profile acquired in leading consultancies Interel and Schuman Associates. She also has a strong European academic background from the College of Europe, LSE, King’s College and SciencesPo. Maarit is a Finnish national, she also speaks English and French.
David Minnis – Director of ESS EU Region. Having worked in the renewables industry in technical lead roles for over 20 years, David has established himself as a leading expert on solar PV and energy storage. He has led technical teams in design and implementation of over 5GW of PV projects as well as Solar & Storage integrated projects. David now holds a position as an ESS expert in Huawei.
Francesca Poggiali is VP for global public policy at GS1 after 8 years as Chief Public Policy Officer Europe. Her career includes a mixture of public and private sectors experience within Ferrero, the European Commission and Parliament and a couple of trade associations.
She studied Corporate Social Responsibility at the Harvard Business School, and International and European Law in the UK and Italy where she received the highest recognition cum laude.
Sue Biniaz is currently the State Department’s Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate. As the lead climate lawyer for the United States from 1989 through 2016, she played a central role in all major international climate negotiations, including the Paris Agreement. During her tenure as a Deputy Legal Adviser, she supervised the Treaty Office and issues related to the East Asian Affairs, Western Hemisphere Affairs, the environment, law of the sea, human rights and refugees, law enforcement, and private international law. Prior to that, she led the Department’s legal office for Oceans, Environment, and Science, as well as the legal office for European and Canadian Affairs. Between 2017 and returning to the Department in 2021, Ms. Biniaz taught at Yale University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago and was a senior fellow at the UN Foundation. She continues to be a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs
Bio to appear shortly.
Maarit has extensive expertise in telecoms, broadband and internet matters. She joined Connect Europe from the Internet Society, where she served as a Senior Manager Europe and where she has acquired strong experience of broadband policies as well as extensive links with internet and tech stakeholders. Maarit also had direct experience of the telecoms business during her 6 years at Cisco and has developed a strong service-oriented, hands-on profile acquired in leading consultancies Interel and Schuman Associates. She also has a strong European academic background from the College of Europe, LSE, King’s College and SciencesPo. Maarit is a Finnish national, she also speaks English and French.
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István Ujhelyi, Founder, Capital European Affairs and former member of the European Parliament (confirmed)
Krzysztof Bolesta, Secretary of State, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Republic of Poland (confirmed)
This session underscores the urgent need for policymakers, governments, and industry leaders to intensify their efforts in formulating policies that foster economic and social prosperity while advancing ambitious environmental and sustainability goals. By delving into key policy and industry considerations for the next five years, the session aims to offer a comprehensive overview of strategies essential for enhancing European Competitiveness while fulfilling its green objectives. Participants will have the opportunity to assess the current landscape, pinpoint challenges, and chart a course towards a Europe that is both sustainable and economically prosperous.
Moderator:
Speakers:
Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), European Commission (confirmed)
David Minnis, EU Solution Director ESS, Huawei Digital Power Europe (confirmed)
Karin Ekdahl Wästberg, Director of Innovation, City of Stockholm (confirmed)
Europe must adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by an AI-driven future. Striking the right balance between innovation and regulation, and ensuring innovation aligns with European values, is essential. Collaboration and partnerships, together with transparency and inclusivity in decision-making, are essential for building public trust. This session will explore how AI is being deployed responsibly and equitably, and the role it can play in building a sustainable and competitive Europe.
Moderator:
Speakers:
1:45pm – 1:55pm | Keynote Presentation
1:55pm – 2:05pm | Keynote Presentation
Mobile solutions and space-based technologies will play a critical role in driving European competitiveness. They facilitate efficient data collection, analysis, and observation, and pave the way for a greener and more prosperous future. This session will explore how mobile connectivity solutions and space tech will shape European competitiveness and a more sustainable future for years to come.
Moderator:
2:05pm – 2:25pm | Setting the Scene – the view from policymakers:
2:25pm – 2:55pm | Panel Discussion:
2:55pm – 3:05pm | The final word:
Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General, DG CLIMA, European Commission (confirmed)
This session explores innovative strategies to minimize waste, maximize resource efficiency, and promote sustainable consumption and production practices. Participants will learn from industry leaders and policymakers about the latest initiatives driving circular economy advancements and discover how circularity can enhance European competitiveness while mitigating environmental impacts. There will be a strong focus on the latest developments regarding the EU’s Digital Product Passport.
Moderator:
Speakers:
This session aims to convene a select group of experts to engage in thoughtful reflection and discussion on the day’s topics, as we work towards establishing a unified stance for COP29 and charting a forward-looking European agenda for the next five years, essential for driving sustained growth and competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Moderator:
Speakers:
István Ujhelyi, Founder, Capital European Affairs and former member of the European Parliament (confirmed)
To discuss speaking opportunities at the next event, please contact:
Tom Chinnock at tom.chinnock@techforclimateaction.com / +44 (0) 7785 795 015.
About:
https://www.sap.com/products/sustainability.html
By working together with our customers, we can put sustainability at the core of every business. Companies can make a significant sustainability impact if they harness the power of ERP-centric, cloud-based, AI-enabled technologies. SAP helps world’s global commerce producers use technology to organize their supply chains, transportation, and financial data in a way that enables a circular economy, net-zero emissions, and fair and equitable workplaces.
Why Partner: The conference is an opportunity to discuss how to turn AI’s potential into real-world results and manage carbon efficiently to accelerate a net-zero future in Europe.
Quote: We are looking forward to explore the intersections between innovation and sustainability and the role of technology in implementing the EU Green Deal and ambitious environmental targets (Daniel Schmid, Chief Sustainability Officer at SAP)
Visit: Bentley.com
Why Partnering: Bentley Systems is partnering with the Tech for Climate Action conference for the second year in a row, as we see this as a great opportunity to discuss how innovation can support climate action. By leveraging advanced digital infrastructure technologies, we aim to tackle pressing environmental challenges, optimize energy systems, and enhance climate resilience. This conference provides an opportunity to have important conversations and work with other leaders to drive positive change, as well as foster partnerships across government and industry to scale up solutions for a sustainable future.
Quote: “This partnership underscores our responsibility to provide cutting-edge technology to help today’s and tomorrow’s infrastructure professionals mitigate and adapt to climate change. I am excited to work with all contributors to develop innovative solutions for Europe and around the globe. I eagerly anticipate discussing how advanced digital infrastructure technologies will significantly help reduce carbon footprints, drive sustainable industry practices, and empower more resilient infrastructure and communities. Together, we are not just imagining a greener future; we are actively building it.” Rodrigo Fernandes, Director ES(D)G at Bentley Systems
About us:
EY works with government and public sector organizations around the world, from local and national governments to multilateral institutions. Our Government and Infrastructure business includes more than 27,600 professionals working on areas, such as transforming the public sector workforce, managing public money, adopting data and technology to improve public services, accelerating the green transition, financing and delivering major infrastructure programmes and contributing to policy making. Our teams are guided by the purpose of helping governments build a world that works better for the people and communities they serve.
Why partnering:
In such a pivotal time for the EU, we are keen to join the next EU Tech for Climate Action conversations and actively contribute to shaping the future of the green digital transition for a more prosperous and competitive Europe. This is an incredible opportunity to nurture the dialogue between private and public sector stakeholders, challenge existing narratives with evidence, and develop practical solutions to deliver progress.
Quote:
“Embracing the lessons of the digital transition is key to achieving the EU’s full scale sustainability revolution, building public trust and ensuring that the green transition is a competitive asset for Europe”
About us:
https://intelligence.airbus.com/
Airbus Defence and Space contributes to the defence and security of nations through its strong capabilities in military aircraft, intelligence and cybersecurity. Airbus’ space technologies have a growing impact on people’s daily life: from deep-space exploration and scientific missions to today’s most reliable secure telecommunications and Earth observation satellites. Airbus operates a constellation of high and very high resolution satellites that provides high quality imagery anywhere in the world. Airbus co-developed Starling with our partner the Earthworm Foundation, a satellite-based solution supporting companies reach their no-deforestation commitments, verifying compliance around no deforestation obligations (e.g. EUDR) as well as providing quality data for carbon calculations and forest positive activities.
About Starling:
Starling contributes significantly to sustainability and climate action by offering a powerful tool for monitoring deforestation, ensuring supply chain transparency, and supporting the achievement of EUDR and global climate goals. It bridges the gap between environmental commitments and the EO data needed to track and enforce those commitments, making it a valuable asset in the fight against climate change. Starling uses Copernicus satellite imagery, including high-resolution images from Airbus’ satellites, to provide precise, near-real-time data on forest cover changes. This enables companies, governments, and NGOs to detect illegal deforestation activities, monitor compliance with sustainability pledges, offer transparency and accountability in the sustainable sourcing of commodities.
Why partnering:
Airbus is partnering with the reasons that reflect its commitment to sustainability and technological innovation in the fight against climate change. Airbus is deeply committed to reducing environmental footprint. The conference is an opportunity to align with broader industry-wide goals and showcase how satellite technology and EO capabilities are instrumental in monitoring and mitigating climate impacts, such as deforestation and carbon emissions.
Quote:
As a participant in the European Tech for Climate Action Conference 2024, we are inspired by the collective drive for sustainable innovation. At Airbus, we believe that harnessing advanced technology is key to unlocking solutions that will decarbonize and protect our planet.
Visit:
https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/
About:
At Amazon, we combine data and science with passion and invention. We set big goals and work backward to achieve them, such as The Climate Pledge, our goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. We apply that same tenacity to how we address some of the world’s biggest environmental and societal challenges, striving to make every day better for our customers, employees, communities, and planet.
Why Partnering?
At Amazon, we think long term, and we’re committed to working collectively with our supply chain and industry partners to create and scale new decarbonization solutions. We know that driving change means staying focused on bringing entire industries along with us. Over the past five years, we’ve done this by encouraging companies to join The Climate Pledge—and we’re proud that over 525 have joined us and committed to be net-zero carbon 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
Cullen International helps organisations make effective decisions on policy, regulation and law in the digital world. Authorities and industry in over 90 countries gain clarity, time and insight from our neutral intelligence, supported by a network of real experts spanning the globe. Founded in Brussels in 1986, Cullen International has been the reference in digital regulation for four decades.
If you are interested in becoming an event partner at the next event, please contact:
Simon Hayman | simon.hayman@techforclimateaction.com | +44 (0) 7949 349 328.
Please kindly note that this is a fully in-person event, there will be no virtual element to this event, so please only register if you are able to physically participate in Brussels.
This is a paid event, please see registration fees for each organisation type in the table below.
***Early Bird prices will apply until midnight on 19 September, 2024***
* Please note that fees do not include Belgian VAT @ 21%, and this amount will be added to the total price when you are invoiced.
For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact Tom Chinnock at:
tom.chinnock@techforclimateaction.com
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