Ruud Kempener is a team leader on industrial decarbonisation within the Directorate-General for Energy at the European Commission. Ruud joined the Commission in 2016 and has been responsible for the development of EU’s hydrogen policy, renewables financing, and international cooperation activities on renewables as well as a cabinet member for Commissioner Kadri Simson. Before that, Ruud was the Power Sector Transformation Strategies Analyst at International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and he was responsible for the initial development of IRENA’s global renewable energy roadmap. From 2007 to 2011, Ruud spend two years as a Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex, UK. Ruud received his PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sydney, Australia and an MSc in Technology & Society from Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands.

Boyana Achovski has been the Secretary-General of GIE since 2016. Boyana started her European affairs career in the European Parliament in Brussels and led the Analysis and International Operations Division in Bulgartransgaz, later joining GIE in 2012 as the first secondment of the Bulgarian gas infrastructure operator to the European association. She also chaired the Steering Committee of GasNaturally twice, the coalition of Europe’s whole gas value chain.

Boyana graduated in International Economic Affairs, specializing in International Finance. She holds a master’s degree in finance and management of international Associations from the Solvay Brussels School. She also obtained a certificate in women’s leadership from the University of Oxford.

In 2023, Boyana won the award of the most influential Energy Women Leader of Central & Eastern Europe. Committed to advocating for greater gender equality and diversity in the energy transition, she is a Member of the Board of WiRA (Women in Renewables Alliance), a global network of professional women in the renewable energy sector and is part of WoNY, an alliance promoting gender diversity in the CEE-SEE region.

As Director General of Fertilizers Europe Antoine Hoxha brings the united voice of the fertilizer industry. Dr Hoxha joined Fertilizers Europe in 2010, where he has since played an instrumental role in advancing the industry’s goals. Prior to Fertilizers Europe, he spent eight years in the fertilizer industry, holding various positions in research and development as well as licensing. His expertise in these areas has provided him with valuable insights into the technological advancements and innovative approaches within the industry.

Antoine holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Liège as well as an Executive MBA from Louvain School of Management.

Since July 2022, Frauke Thies has been Executive Director of Agora Energiewende. Agora develops evidence-based and politically viable strategies to advance the goal of climate neutrality in Germany, Europe, and internationally. The Think Tank informs policymakers, economists, researchers, and civil society while encouraging a productive exchange of ideas.

Previously, Frauke was responsible for the climate portfolio of the Open Society Foundations in Europe. Prior to that, she worked in European associations for eight years, including as Executive Director of the European business association for digital and consumer-driven solutions for the energy transition, smartEn, from 2015 to 2020, and as Policy Director at SolarPower Europe from 2012 to 2015. Thies started her career at the environmental organisation Greenpeace, where she held various positions in EU energy policy, with secondments to the USA and India. Frauke holds a Master of Environmental Sciences from the University of Lüneburg and a Master of Business Administration from Vlerick Business School in Belgium.

Giulia Cancian is the Secretary General at the European Biogas association. Before joining the EBA in 2022, Giulia led Bioenergy Europe’s advocacy strategy, coordinated the delivery of policy reports, and the organization of several working groups.  She gained experience on sustainability, energy and transports working with the biodiesel, non-ferrous metals and hydropower European trade associations in Brussels. Giulia holds a MA in International Relation from the University of Rome and a MSc in European Affairs from the Free University of Brussels.