Simon Shepherd

Head of Hardware Development

Monumo

Simon joined Monumo in March 2024 with over 20 years of experience in automotive powertrain development. Having held senior engineering roles at Ricardo and Drive System Design, Simon recently helped Coventry University establish a leading centre for propulsion development at the Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS), a joint venture with the global engineering company FEV.

Simon currently works with a diverse team of powertrain engineers, data-scientists & machine-learning specialists to help partners leverage Monumo’s expertise and unique (deeptech based) Anser™ Engine for generating and prototyping electric propulsion systems and motor designs. 

Simon has always enjoyed leading multi-disciplinary teams to develop novel emerging technologies. Some of his favourite projects include the Bugatti Veyron Hypercar powertrain, a flywheel energy recovery system, magnet-free traction motor and an IC engine with an electrically actuated valvetrain.
 

Nabeel A Mancheri, PhD

Secretary General

REIA-Rare Earth Industry Association

Nabeel A Mancheri is the Secretary General of REIA-The Global Rare Earth Industry Association based in Belgium.

He was a senior researcher and project manager at the Department of Material Engineering, KU Leuven, Belgium. Before joining KU Leuven in 2018, he was a Marie Curie Fellow at the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Netherlands, where he worked on a Marie Curie project on REE Value Chain and Industrial EcoSystem in EU. Previously, he was a Research Fellow at The University of Tokyo. Prior to joining Tokyo University, he was an Assistant Professor at India's National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.

He has also worked as a consultant to OECD Paris, ICRIER New Delhi, and CUTS International and involved in research related to trade issues. He was a visiting Ph.D. scholar at Australian National University in Canberra in 2007 with a fellowship from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He was a visiting researcher at the Graduate School of International Development and Cooperation (IDEC), Hiroshima University in 2008-09 where he partly completed his PhD and was a visiting fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing in 2012. He was listed as a Young Strategist by International Institute for Strategic Studies, London and Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC in 2013. He also completed a certificate course on science and technology policy from the University of California, San Diego in 2014 with a fellowship.

Chi-Wan (Chris) Lee

Head of Chemical R&D

Samyang Chemical Group

Chi-Wan serves as the Head of Chemical R&D at Samyang Chemical Group, overseeing R&D operations in a company with a substantial revenue of US$2.5 billion. His professional interests lie in synthesizing highly functionalized, high-performance organic materials and developing practical chemical processes. His goal is to create safe, efficient, robust, and cost-effective solutions for challenging chemical problems in both research and manufacturing settings. His key role in Samyang involves providing leadership and strategic guidance for developing and producing a wide array of products. These include bio-based ingredients for adhesives, electronic materials, personal care items, and engineering plastics. Emphasizing a commitment to sustainability, he actively promotes the use of bio-based materials and implements recycling strategies to foster an environmentally conscious future. With a Ph.D. obtained from KAIST in 1996, he furthered his expertise through a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and subsequently delved into process chemistry within Dow Chemical's electronic materials sector. His contributions extend to coauthoring over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and patents. Beyond his professional life, he finds joy in travel and various outdoor activities, such as golf and hiking. Recently, he has developed a keen interest in understanding and overcoming cross-cultural differences both inside and outside the workplace.

David Pieronek

Product Manager NGOES

thyssenkrupp Steel Europe

David Pieronek is the Product Manager of Non Grain Oriented Electrical Steel (NGOES) at thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG and responsible for a valuable product portfolio in line with customer requirements and manufacturing capability. 

He has a mechanical engineering diploma from RWTH Aachen University and has been working for thyssenkrupp Steel since 2012 in various R&D-related positions with focus on lightweight steel solutions. After serving 4 years as an expat in China with focus on steel technology marketing and business development, he returned and joined the electrical steel team in 2023. 

Outside work, he enjoys quality time with his family and fast rides on his road bike.
 

Maximilian Güttinger

CEO & Founder

Emil Motors

Maximilian Güttinger is a young entrepreneur and CEO of Emil Motors. While studying mechanical engineering at TU München, he and his Co-Founder Johannes Unhold created a novel electric motor concept without rare-earth magnets.

Being experienced in the fields of engineering and entrepreneurship, he decided to start a company around that electric motor design.

Previously Maximilian was involved in several software projects, including innovative 3D rendering software and various web projects. There was always a strong interest in electric mobility and sustainable transportation, which is reflected in Emil’s rare-earth free design.

His personal hobby is flying glider planes, where he also became friends with Johannes and the first motor ideas were born. The company name Emil also originates from the local glider club.

After working on their electric motor for almost a year, they joined the startup accelerator UnternehmerTUM in 2022, founded the Company in 2023, built multiple prototypes as well as filed three patents in that same year.

 

Fernando Nuño

Clean Energy Transition Portfolio Manager

International Copper Association

Fernando Nuño graduated as an energy engineer in Bilbao (Spain) and ENSPM School (France) in 1998. He worked in the development of combined heat and power plants at Air Liquide, then he joined the French Energy Regulatory Commission, where he was in charge of electricity markets regulation. Later on, he worked in the automotive sector at Renault powertrain division, before joining the International Copper Association in 2007, where he has been in charge of regulatory and technology aspects of copper-based technologies, notably transformers, cables and motors. He also manages promotional campaigns and leads multiple publicly funded EU Horizon projects.

Kaitlin Vandemark

CAPEX and Indirect Category Manager

Hitachi Energy

Kaitlin has been with Hitachi Energy (formerly ABB) for 11 years. She has held roles in Proposals, Key Account Management, Supply Chain Planning and now works as the CAPEX and Indirect Category Manager for the North American Transformer Organization. She covers five factories in the United States and two in Canada.

In her work, she supports the factories in their purchases of large manufacturing equipment as well as indirect materials and services. Kaitlin is also the Chair of the Women in Energy Employee Resource Group for Hitachi Energy North America. Their mission is to promote a culture of diversity by cultivating an inclusive environment that supports and encourages women to advance their skills and leadership potential through connection, mentorship, collaboration, and discussion.

Kaitlin received her both her degrees in Physics and Communications from Cleveland State University and her M.B.A. from Lake Erie College in Ohio

Stefanie Klein

Initiative Lead

WoMen4Metals

Stefanie Klein is a dynamic professional with a diverse background in wholesale and foreign trade, complemented by her studies in business administration focusing on industrial management and marketing. She spent a year in the United States working for a foreign trade company, overseeing operations in the US market. With 14 years of experience in the metals industry at Aurubis AG, Stefanie has cultivated expertise and leadership in various capacities. For the past 5 years, she has spearheaded Aurubis’ social engagement efforts both domestically and internationally, showcasing her commitment to driving positive change. As the visionary leader behind the international WoMen4Metals initiative for the past 2 years, Stefanie has passionately championed empowerment and inclusivity within the industry. Transitioning into a full-time role for WoMen4Metals as of April of this year, she continues to amplify the initiative’s mission to network, inspire and support women while advocating for equitable conditions for all genders. Through her work with WoMen4Metals, Stefanie is dedicated to paving the way for a more inclusive and progressive metals industry.

Matthew Leach

Vice President of Innovation

Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire

Matthew Leach is the Vice President of Innovation for Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire.  In this role, Matt is responsible for research and development of break through improvements in products and technology. Prior to this role, Matt held a variety of progressive engineering and operations roles at Essex Furukawa, including Vice President of Operations for Essex North America, Director of Engineering for Essex North America, and Director of Project Development.  Matt earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a MBA from Indiana University.  He has been with Essex Furukawa for 29 years.

Marcel Hilgers

Vice President Customers, Markets & Technology

thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel

Marcel believes in listening to his customers and creating solutions to serve their true needs. With over 20-year experience in global steel business, and thereof more than 10 years serving the transformer industry, he now works intensely on the green transformation of both, steel and transformers.

Marcel leads the sales, technical customer engineering and communications team at thyssenkrupp Electrical Steel – the European and Indian market leader in grain oriented electrical steel.

His key priority today is to inform the electricity industry about options to decarbonize the grid and to form alliances across raw material suppliers, transformer makers and electric utilities.