Speaker Biographies

Dr. Ali Abouimrane is a Senior Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with over 25 years’ experience in rechargeable batteries and materials. Before joining ORNL, Dr. Ali Abouimrane was Sparkz inc. VP of Technology from 2021 to 2022. From 2015 to 2020, Dr. Abouimrane was a Principal Scientist at Qatar Foundation and from 2008 to 2015 a Materials Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Ali Abouimrane published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal papers, 15 granted patents and around 15 patent applications in the areas of Energy Storage. Dr. Abouimrane received numerous awards, including best NRC-Canada employee award and R&D 100 awards.

Dr. Daniel Abraham conducts research on lithium batteries used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and grid energy storage. He has authored over 185 articles in peer-reviewed journals and delivered over 360 technical presentations in popular, academic, and industrial settings. His work enables the development of materials and components that enhance battery performance, life, and safety. Dr. Abraham is also a research advisor and mentor to various undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and junior scientists. He has received awards for “exceptional work in developing the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

20 years at leading universities and research institutes across Europe focused on R&D in small-molecule and materials synthesis/characterization/application. Commercial experience with start-ups through to sector leaders, including for Panasonic at the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada and now with Gelion in Sydney.

Varnika is a Battery Research Analyst at Rho Motion where her primary focus is on the technical side of electric vehicle, energy stationary storage and battery market analysis. Rho Motion, a Benchmark Intelligence Company is headquartered in London.

Shunsuke Amagai, Co-CEO of Beff, has 15 years of experience in lithium-ion battery R&D and manufacturing in the automotive industry. He joined Nissan Motor Corporation where he was involved in the development and manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries. After that, he transitioned to Mercedes-Benz Group, taking charge of the advanced and mass production development from cells to battery packs. Subsequently, he led the establishment of strategic partnership agreements between Mercedes-Benz and lithium-ion battery manufacturer.

With 7+ years dedicated to the battery ecosystem, hydrogen, biofuels, EVs, and energy storage, I've developed a deep understanding of the talent landscape in this dynamic industry. As the sole author of the industry's first Battery Talent Salary Survey and Program Director of Battery Workforce Development at the Volta Foundation, I've been at the forefront of addressing the critical talent gap. My expertise spans the entire spectrum of recruitment, from executive search and niche placements to high-volume projects. I've successfully partnered with both established cleantech giants and promising startups to build world-class teams. I'm committed to delivering exceptional results through quality, long-lasting client partnerships, ethical practices, efficient services, quick delivery, and creative solutions.

Mr. Anstey is the CEO/Founder of GDI. He has over a decade of experience as an entrepreneur, globally commercializing technologies in energy storage and advanced materials. He is a co-inventor on >15 patent filings, and 7 issued patents. He works on technologies that fight climate change, and focuses on the intersection between manufacturing, strategy, and business development. Mr. Anstey is a proponent of open innovation and accelerating technology development through partnerships.

Dr. Asadi joined the Chemical Engineering Department at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) as Assistant Professor in 2017. Asadi completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UIC and received his Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology. He spent seven years of working experience in the oil and gas industry before joining UIC. He has authored and co-authored 25 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Science, Nature, Advanced Materials, Advanced Energy Materials, ACS Nano, and Nature Communications, and has 13 US patents and four patent applications. He has more than 5000 citations (h-index 20) in the area of advanced functional materials, catalysis science, electrochemical energy storage, and energy conversion systems.

Rob joined Samsung in 2012 as part of the Open Innovation group for the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT). He supported internal technology strategy and external collaboration activities for SAIT until joining Samsung Ventures in 2023. He has experience in energy technologies, batteries, quantum computing, and advanced materials, and has a passion for bringing impactful new technologies to reality. He enjoys supporting the early-stage venture ecosystem, having previously served as a volunteer mentor for the Creative Destruction Lab's Matter stream and The Engine Blueprint program. Rob has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from MIT and a BS from NC State University. Prior to joining Samsung, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University in Belgium and worked for Exponent as a technical consultant in their Thermal Sciences practice.

Linh Austin was appointed President and CEO of Ascend Elements in March 2025. He had previously served on the company’s Board of Directors since 2024. Linh has 30+ years of progressive experience in directing U.S. and international oil & gas businesses, hydrogen companies, P&L management, mergers and acquisitions, strategy and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction). He has held senior-level roles at McDermott, BP and ARCO.

Dr. Brian Barnett serves as CTO for Nyobolt and leads the company's US operations. Dr. Barnett has extensive experience in development and commercialization of battery technology. He is recognized as both a technical and industry expert related to batteries and an expert in battery safety and has directed a series of successful lab-based, highly multidisciplinary battery technology development programs that resulted in technology licensing, spin-off or sale.

Dynami Battery Corp: Reducing Critical Mineral Dependence. China’s new export restrictions on high performance LFP cathodes (>156 mAh/g) have exposed a global supply gap. Dynami Battery Corp closes it by delivering more energy capacity and faster charging using unrestricted, domestic materials, significantly reducing the need for imported critical minerals. Dynami’s micro-structured electrode platform “hacks battery physics” rather than changing the chemistry, like most of the industry, boosting critical minerals utilization by ~10 % while adding 5X faster charging and remaining fully compatible with existing manufacturing lines. The result: a drop-in upgrade that enhances capacity and speed without retooling or supply-chain risk. Based in Binghamton, NY, Dynami secured its core patent in 2022, expanded its IP portfolio, and signed three clients, including the #1 car manufacturer in America. Led by Sergio Barón, MSc EE, the company is raising a $4 million pre-Series A to scale production and meet rapidly growing demand across mobility and defense sectors.

Dr.-Ing. Christoph Baum is a seasoned leader in production technology with deep expertise in precision engineering, automation, and digital manufacturing. He currently serves as Program Director for Battery Research at Fraunhofer USA, where he leads the strategic development of transatlantic research initiatives in energy storage and advanced manufacturing. Previously, Christoph held senior leadership roles at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT and played a central role in the conception and development of the Fraunhofer Research Facility for Battery Cell Production (FFB), Europe’s largest research infrastructure for battery manufacturing. He was instrumental in shaping the FFB’s strategic and technological direction, with a focus on digitalization and scalable production systems. Christoph holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, where he graduated with distinction. His academic background includes international studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing and extensive research experience across Europe and Asia. He is co-founder and Managing Director of polyscale GmbH & Co. KG, a company specializing in high-precision polymer manufacturing, and co-founder of MANUGY GmbH, which develops advanced machinery for battery cell production. Combining strong technical capabilities with a strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, Christoph has led numerous large-scale national and European research projects and is the author of numerous scientific publications and patents. His work is dedicated to translating cutting-edge research into industrial practice, driving innovation in the fields of energy, mobility, and manufacturing, and building effective bridges between academia, industry, and policy.

Lukasz Bednarski is an associate director at IHS Markit. He covers battery materials market with particular focus on lithium, graphite, manganese, cathodes, and anodes materials. Lukasz has worked in the commodity sector spanning physical trading, training, product management, and research. Prior to joining, his interest in battery materials led to the development of an independent industry portal covering the sector. In addition to his degree in economics and business administration from Aalborg University, Lukasz has studied financial topics in China, Russia, Germany, and Liechtenstein. He is the author of popular non-fiction book "Lithium: The Global Race for Battery Dominance and the New Energy Revolution.”

Keith Beers is a Principal Engineer and Director of the Materials Science and Engineering Practice at Exponent, a global, multi-disciplinary consulting firm of close to 1,000 full-time consultants dedicated to solving important science, engineering, health and regulatory issues for clients. He assists clients in solving the technical challenges and risks encountered during the full life cycle of their product ranging from the design stage, qualification, IP management, release and field failure issues, and litigation support. He has significant experience in the design, qualification, performance, reliability, safety, and failure analysis of batteries of varying formats, chemistries, and applications.

Dr. Ilias Belharouak is a Distinguished Scientist and the Leader of the Battery Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing Group in the Energy and Transportation Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Tennessee. Dr. Belharouak also serves as a Professor of the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Before joining ORNL, he was a Research Director and the Founding Chief Scientist of the Electrochemical Energy Storage Center in Qatar Foundation. He was a Material Scientist and Battery Expert in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Illinois. Dr. Belharouak is currently an Editor of the Elsevier’s Journal of Power Sources. He was recognized with several awards including R&D-100 innovation awards and topical society awards. Dr. Belharouak authored more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, 30 US Patents and Applications, 5 books, and holds an h-index of 55.

Kimberly is an independent consultant specializing in energy transition materials and related commodities working with firms such as Avicenne, Positive Materials and the World Bank Group. She has researched, written/co-written, and published numerous major papers and reports on lithium-ion and next-gen battery technologies, alternative fuels, electric vehicles, stationary power storage and the de-globalisation of battery supply chains. Previously, she worked at BMO Capital Markets and developed the firm’s proprietary industry knowledge around energy transition technologies.

House Mountain Partners, LLC (www.discoveryinvesting.com) was founded by Chris Berry in 2010 help investors, businesses, academia, and government interpret and understand the major changes underway in the global energy system. His focus is on how the battery metals supply chain can adapt to help meet the twin challenges of electrification and decarbonization. Based in Washington DC, Chris is an independent analyst with a focus on battery metals supply chains including lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, copper, vanadium, and rare earths. His work supports a roster of global clients across multiple industries. His advisory work has a specific focus on how battery metals supply chains are evolving to create opportunities and threats during the energy transition in the coming decades. Aside from traditional supply, demand and pricing analysis, his recent work has focused recycling, alternative extraction technologies, and how battery metals will play an increasingly strategic role in geopolitical and supply chain realignment. Before shifting focus to analysis of these trends in 2010, Chris gained twelve years of capital markets experience in New York City. He has visited and performed economic analysis of metals deposits on six continents and has been featured in multiple media outlets including the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NPR, the South China Morning Post and CNN International. Chris holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance with an international focus from Fordham University, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from The Virginia Military Institute.

Julian Bigi is a Senior Battery Technology Engineer for BMW of North America. For BMW he scouts battery technologies for integration into future BMW electric vehicles. Prior to joining BMW, Julian spent 11 years working as a materials scientist at battery and display start-up companies in Silicon Valley. Julian holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

Eula Billaut is a Project Engineer at EPRI with a background in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley. Her work centers on BESS safety and emerging energy storage technologies, and supports the deployment of safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible energy storage across the grid.

Dr. Burke holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Applied Mathematics from Carnegie Institute of Technology, a M.A. degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Ph.D. in Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences from Princeton University. Since 1974, his career work has involved many aspects of electric and hybrid vehicle design, analysis, and testing. He was the head systems engineer on the U.S. Department of Energy–funded Hybrid Vehicle (HTV) project while working at the General Electric Research and Development Center in Schenectady, N.Y. While a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Union College in Schenectady, he continued his work on electric vehicle technology through consulting with the Argonne and Idaho National Engineering (INEL) Laboratories on various DOE electric vehicle and battery programs. Dr. Burke was employed from 1988-1994 at INEL as a principal program specialist in the electric and hybrid vehicle programs. His responsibilities at INEL included modeling and testing of batteries and electric vehicles and the technical management of the DOE ultracapacitor program. Dr. Burke has authored over 150 reports and papers on electric and hybrid vehicles, batteries, and ultracapacitors. Dr. Burke joined the Research Faculty of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis in July 1994. He has performed research on and taught graduate courses on advanced electric driveline technologies specializing on batteries, ultracapacitors, fuel cells, and hybrid vehicle design, control and simulation.

Stephen Burkhardt is the Chief Technology Officer at Conamix. Stephen has been researching Li-S chemistry for 6 years with Conamix, starting as Director of R&D in 2018. Stephen has over 15 years in electrochemical energy storage R&D with past roles at General Electric and DuPont. His industrial research experiences cover a broad range of topics in energy storage including electrolyte design for Li-ion batteries, high temperature batteries and solid electrolytes, and packaging and thermal management materials for traction batteries. He is an inventor on >40 granted and pending patent families related to technologies for Li-based batteries and has commercialization experience for global products. He earned his Ph.D. in electrochemistry from Cornell University studying under Prof. Héctor Abruña.

Dr. Robert Burrell is a Research Manager at Project Blue covering research on the lithium-ion battery supply chain, focusing on end-use demand development and its impact on raw material outlooks. Robert combines prior market research experience with his PhD in chemistry to develop forward-looking views of the evolving lithium-ion battery landscape. Project Blue provides market-leading intelligence on raw material supply chains for the energy transition.

Ben Campbell leads battery research at E Source. Ben's expertise in battery technology and market dynamics helps organizations across the global battery value chain navigate the rapidly evolving energy storage sector. His analysis spans the full battery landscape—analyzing advancements in materials, manufacturing, and the supply chain while translating technical developments into practical insights for utilities and energy companies. Ben is a codeveloper of an industry-leading battery cost model used by OEMs and investors across the world, and forecasts markets for electric vehicle batteries and charging infrastructure. Previously Ben was the Mobility Analyst at Cairn Energy Research Advisors (ERA), which E Source acquired in October 2021. He is based in Boulder, Colorado.

Colin Campbell leads Redwood’s technology and product development as CTO. Colin joined after 17 years at Tesla as VP of Powertrain Engineering where he was responsible for the electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing engineering of high power electronics, as well as motors, gearboxes, battery packs, and charging systems across both the vehicle and energy businesses. Colin earned his BS in Physics and MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

Cameron Chase is a Technical Director at NXP Semiconductors focusing on Electrification Systems Engineering for Automotive and Industrial applications. Cameron partners with industry peers, customers, and colleagues to lead technical innovation across NXP Semiconductors for the industry. He focuses on optimizing battery management systems, leveraging NXP's best-in-class battery cell controller technology. NXP believes in responsible innovation for a brighter future, advancing towards a more sustainable world.

Grace Cho is the Head of Global Sales and Marketing at RFHIC, a world-leading supplier of Gallium Nitride (GaN) RF and microwave solutions. RFHIC’s technologies support a wide range of advanced applications, including radar, electronic warfare, jammers, UAVs, industrial heating, plasma generation, waste gasification, and 5G/O-RAN systems.

Grace leads global sales and marketing efforts across defense, aerospace, and RF energy markets, overseeing strategic growth throughout Europe, the Americas, and Asia. She focuses on building strong customer relationships, driving business growth initiatives, and increasing global awareness of GaN solid-state microwave technology for next-generation applications in defense, aerospace, industrial heating, and plasma generation. Grace brings a unique blend of technical understanding and commercial leadership, bridging innovation with practical, high-performance solutions. Under her direction, RFHIC continues to expand its global presence and strengthen its position as a trusted leader in GaN-based RF and microwave systems. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management and Engineering from Purdue University. With a global mindset and passion for advancing GaN technology, Grace is dedicated to driving RFHIC’s mission to enable a smarter, safer, and more energy-efficient world through cutting-edge RF and microwave innovation.

Tom is responsible for the development of battery thermal management solutions for EV. In his 15-year career with DuPont, he has developed materials and solutions across a broad range of industries including automotive, packaging, industrial coatings, consumer care, and agrosciences. He is an inventor of 34 US patents and has authored 11 peer reviewed publications. Tom received his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin Madison and completed two years of postdoctoral research at MIT.

Tom Croteau has been the Senior Managing Director at Maxis Advisors since 2019. Before joining Maxis, Tom served as Deputy Commissioner of Global Commerce for the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDECD). In his 25+ years in the public sector, Tom led his teams to more than 1,700 successfully located or expanded company projects, with over $23 billion in investment and 127,000 new jobs created. Tom's notable projects include 6K's recent full-scale manufacturing facility site search, Mercedes-Benz USA headquarters relocation, a national Honeywell Innovation Center, Facebook data center, and SK Innovation’s multi-billion dollar U.S. EV battery manufacturing operation. Tom holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Florida State University and has extensive experience in economic development at the state, local and electric utility levels prior to joining the private sector. At Maxis, Tom focuses on business development, site selection and incentives negotiation, specializing in the Southeastern U.S. region and serving clients nationwide. Outside of work, Tom enjoys RVing, hiking, fishing and spending time with his wife, 3 children and 2 dogs in the outdoors.

Eric C. Darcy, PhD, has spent his 36-year career at NASA in the areas of battery design, verification, and safety assessments for the rigors of manned spacecraft applications. As Battery Technical Discipline Lead at NASA-JSC, his main objective has been the development of safe, while high-performing, battery systems with a deep focus on understanding, preventing, and mitigating latent defects that could lead to catastrophic cell internal short circuits.

Neil Dasgupta is a Professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is the Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) MUSIC: Mechano-Chemical Understanding of Solid-Ion Conductors. He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 2011. Prior to joining University of Michigan in 2014, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a recipient of the Schmidt Science Polymath Award, NSF CAREER award, DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA), and AFOSR Young Investigator Award (YIP). His research focuses on the intersection of materials chemistry, energy conversion, and manufacturing.

Dr. Dawson holds a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He currently leads the next generation battery company Elementium Materials that's rapidly bringing a disruptive electrolyte solution to market. He's spent the past twenty years developing and commercializing next generation energy technologies. Over the course of his career he has served as a Board Director or Advisor on nine boards covering the oil & gas, automotive, finance, and renewable energy industries and has led emerging technology companies as a CEO, CTO, and Investment Director. He's founded multiple successful start-up companies, which have raised over $100 hundred million dollars and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in value across multiple industries.

Victoire de Margerie is Majority Shareholder and Executive Chairman of Rondol, a DeepTech SME that develops and markets precision engineering equipment for high quality and low cost drug formulations, food supplements or energy storage components. She has written papers in those fields in scientific journals such as International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutics, Physical Science & Biophysics Journal or SPE Polymers. Her background is in the industry of advanced materials since 1986 and she has held operational & executive assignments in various countries (Canada, Germany, USA, UK, France) until she joined Rondol in 2007. She also has a strong experience in non executive positions (now Boliden and Ivanhoe Electric, previously Arkema, Babcock, Eurazeo, Italcementi, Morgan Advanced Materials, Outokumpu or Norsk Hydro). She was elected an Academician at the National Academy of Technologies of France in 2020.

Shmuel De-Leon, Founder and CEO of Shmuel De-Leon Energy Ltd., is a leading international expert in the business of energy storage. Prior to founding the company, for over 21 years, Shmuel held various positions as an energy storage, electronic engineering, and quality control team manager. Shmuel holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Tel Aviv University, and an M.B.A. in Quality Control and Reliability Engineering from the Technion Institute in Haifa, as well as an Electronic Technician's diploma.

Mykela DeLuca is a Data Scientist and Product Manager at Micantis, a battery data analytics platform that helps manufacturers and researchers turn raw cycling data into predictive insights. At Micantis, she works closely with customers to develop cycle life prediction models across a range of lithium-ion chemistries, supporting faster, data-driven decisions in materials development, performance optimization, and cell qualification.

Matt Denlinger is a research engineer at Ford Motor Company’s recently announced Ford Ion Park. He has been working in Lithium-ion battery research since 2009, including 12 years at Ford. During this time, he has focused on battery materials development, safety characterization, and cell design. His current role is centralized on the evaluation and development of next-generation cell technologies for full electric vehicles. Matt also serves as the Technical Advisory Committee Lead for Ford within the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC).

John Du was named Partner, GM Ventures, in May 2019. Prior to this appointment, John was Director of General Motors Research & Development organization’s China Science Lab, which he led from its founding in 2009. He was responsible for building a strong and innovative research team and leading the research and development in intelligent and connected vehicles, battery, advanced materials, and electrified propulsion systems.

Hieu led the development of Dry Battery Electrode (DBE) manufacturing process at Maxwell Technologies beginning in 2011. He served as the Director of Electrode Engineering at Tesla for 4 years after its acquisition in 2019, driving scaling efforts leading to the commercialization of DBE. Currently, he is the Chief Manufacturing Officer at AM Batteries leading the development and commercialization of Powder-to-Electrode coating process and equipment for low-cost lithium-ion battery manufacturing.

After the engineering school, Asmae El Mejdoubi did her PhD in electrical engineering from 2012 to 2015. She continued her research on the SoC and the SoH diagnosis and prognosis models for Lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, to join TIAMAT in September 2018. Since 2020, Dr. El Mejdoubi is leading the product department, improving and optimizing the TIAMAT sodium-ion products to solve customers' problems and create customer delight.

Hosam K. Fathy is currently a Mechanical Engineering Professor at The University of Maryland, College Park, where he conducts research on the optimal control of energy systems, with a focus on battery management systems.

Zach has over 14 years of battery development experience and is currently VP of Performance, Abuse, and Reliability at Lyten for its US and EU operations. He currently manages an advanced test facility in Reno, Nevada with additional test engineering and failure analysis teams in Silicon Valley. Prior, Zach was CTO at NexTech Batteries where he worked for 6 years developing lithium-sulfur cell technology, and previously of ZAF Energy Systems as a senior scientist where he developed materials for NiZn and Zn-air secondary cells.

Dr. Alejandro A. Franco is a Full Professor at Université de Picardie Jules Verne (Amiens, France), Honorary Member of the Institut Universitaire de France, and Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington (Seattle, USA). With over 23 years of experience, he is a leading expert in multiscale modeling and AI for battery manufacturing. He is the recipient of two ERC grants, as well as the 2025 Battery Division M. Stanley Whittingham Mid-Career Award of the Electrochemical Society. Prof. Franco coordinates the Erasmus+ i-MESC Master Programme and serves as an Editor for the Journal of Power Sources. He has an extensive track record with over 180 publications, 23 patents, 165+ invited conference lectures, and 72+ invited seminars. Additionally, he is the co-founder and CSO of Aikemics, a startup leveraging digital twin technology to revolutionize the battery industry.

Dean is the VP of Product & Marketing at Elevated Materials and has 13 years of experience across the global battery and energy storage value chain. He is an expert spanning from raw materials to advanced battery technologies and their end-market applications. Dean has held leadership roles at Li-Metal and Solid Power and previously served as Lead Analyst for the Energy Storage service at Lux Research, advising clients on technology investments and partnerships. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy & Environmental Systems from the University of Pennsylvania.

Advised clients on both short- and long-term growth strategy while bridge-making between Asian-USA/European companies as a management consultant for 20 years. Expertise Area: Business strategy, Transformation, Cross border M&A, Business Due Diligence, Alliance advisory & PMI (Post Merger Integration). Industries: Chemical / materials and automotive / auto-parts / aerospace industries including lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle.

Linda Gaines is a Systems Analyst in the Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis Division at Argonne National Laboratory. She holds a BA in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Columbia. Her primary interest is problem solving, applied to efficient use of resources. She began her career at Argonne by writing a series of handbooks of energy and material flows in energy-intensive industries that provided background for studies of technical and institutional issues involved in producing and recycling advanced-design automobiles, trucks, and trains, and batteries. Her most recent work has involved studying ways to reduce impacts from transport by recycling of lithium-ion batteries. She is an editor of the journal Sustainable Materials and Technologies and on the Editorial Board of Scientific Reports (a Nature journal).

Dr. Paul Gasper is currently a Staff Scientist specializing in battery testing, data analysis, and predictive degradation modeling at the National Renewable Energy Lab, with a deep interest in using computational modeling and machine-learning to complement traditional materials science and electrochemical analysis methods. Paul’s interest in electrochemistry began during an undergraduate research internship at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on the recycling of lithium-ion batteries, and then worked for a year at Saint-Gobain North America manufacturing solid oxide fuel cell components. Paul conducted his Ph.D. research on the modification and performance characterization of solid oxide fuel cells at Boston University until his graduation in 2019. Dr. Gasper joined NREL as a post-doctoral researcher in the fall of 2019, working for the Behind-The-Meter-Storage, ReCell, and Rapid Operational Validation Initiative DOE research consortia as well as battery testing and modeling for industrial partners and international organizations. Dr. Gasper’s long-term research vision is to consolidate traditional materials science methods with modern data science approaches to accelerate scientific advancement.

Katharina has 15+ years of experience in the battery industry ranging from the direct lithium extraction to dry battery electrode process. Her mission is to bring value to a wide range of battery companies. In addition to her role at Siemens, Katharina is a Vice President of NAATBAtt International and a Co-chair of the “Electrode Materials Committee” at NAATBatt. Katharina holds a doctorate degree in Battery Materials from the University of Bonn, Germany.

Rohan Gokhale is the Applied Technology Manager for the Rechargeable Battery Materials Division of Umicore in North America. He has a strong background in materials science and electrochemistry. Rohan earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry (National Chemical Laboratory, India) working on novel ways to synthesize carbon materials for use in electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Subsequently, he contributed to the development of carbon based Pt-free electrocatalysts for achieving cost reduction in fuel cells, at the University of New Mexico. Before joining Umicore, he was a Research Scientist at the Nissan Tech Center of North America, working on solid state battery research program for next generation EVs. He has 20+ high impact publications and 3 awarded US patents to his credit.

With over 25 years of experience, Joshua Goldman with a background in Mechanical and Systems Engineering has been instrumental in the development of electrified Medium and Heavy Duty Buses, Trucks and their associated charging and fueling systems. Joshua's hands on expertise spans over 75 makes and models of electrified vehicles from dozens of OEMs and most types of engines, batteries and fuels, including helping to launch Proterra in 2008-2013. While at Proterra Joshua helped invent, develop patent and sell the world’s fast charge EV buses and first dual-port 1 MW (500 kW x 2) automated charging stations. During 2013-2020, Joshua also helped develop and sell some of the first V2G School Buses, and EV Semi, Yard Tractor, Box and Refuse Trucks. Since 2020 Joshua became an expert in Microgrids using Generators, Fuel Cells, Solar and Batteries to support EV Charging. Joshua brings his extensive experience and knowledge to help lead ABM’s eMobility Sales Team to support the infrastructure solutions for Public and Private Fleets. Joshua has been reliably and affordably charging his various plug-in cars since 2013 at his solar-powered home in San Diego, California and is an avid environmentalist, cyclist, sailor, and proud father of two teenagers, two dogs and two tortoises.

Emily Greenspan co-leads Oxfam America’s Natural Resource Justice global program based in Washington, DC. She has worked on natural resource issues for 20 years, with a particular focus on land and community rights. Her research includes Oxfam’s "Community Consent Index" (2015); "Free, Prior and Informed Consent in Africa: An emerging standard for the extractive industries" (2014); and "Watching the Watchdogs: Evaluating independent expert panels that monitor large-scale oil and gas pipeline projects" (2011). Before coming to work for Oxfam, Emily worked on oil, forestry, and indigenous rights issues with the World Wildlife Fund in Peru, and on a civil society strengthening program with the Pan American Development Foundation. She received her master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Jerome Gregeois is the Director of commercial vehicles development at the Hyundai America Technical Center where he oversees the Engineering and planning of medium and heavy duty vehicles for the United States market. Mr Gregeois joined Hyundai in 2008 and held positions in the powertrain development department on engines, transmissions and electrified systems, with a focus on performance and suitability to market expectations. In the past 10 years, he was involved in the development of the first hybrid electric, the first battery electric and the first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles by Hyundai for the North American market. Additionally he was engaged in the zero emissions refueling/recharging infrastructure development support. He is passionate about resolving environmental issues by developing innovative, relevant and cost effective technologies. Mr Gregeois holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Prior to joining Hyundai in 2008, he held positions in design, testing and quality for powertrain systems at Nissan in the United States and Renault in Europe.

Tom Gregory received his BS in chemical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 1978 and his MS in 1979, specializing in electrochemical engineering. His 34-year career at Dow Chemical encompassed a variety of R&D roles including development and scale-up of production technology for organic, inorganic, polymer, and ceramic materials. He led pioneering rechargeable magnesium battery R&D and engaged in development of novel lithium ion battery and fuel cell-related technologies. Tom is currently a consultant specializing in chemical process analysis, design, and scale-up and electrochemical energy generation and storage. He is active in both AIChE and The Electrochemical Society and frequently serves on proposal review panels for the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy. He is the inventor or co-inventor on 16 U.S. and 42 foreign patents and has published or presented 25 papers in scientific journals and conferences.

Oliver is the global Subject Matter Expert for Advanced Energy Storage and Conversion at Stellantis where he is responsible for the energy storage and fuel cell systems technology roadmaps and architecture. He is a member of the United States Advanced Battery Consortium Technical Advisory Committee, and chairs several additional committees, including manufacturing, 12V Stop Start and 48V Mild Hybrid batteries. He holds both a BS and a Master’s Degree in Materials Science, for the University of Toronto. Oliver has over 25 years’ experience in the advanced energy storage industry. He currently holds over 10 patents, and more than 20 publications.

Nicolas (Nico) Grosso Giordano is a chemical engineer with deep expertise across process R&D, scale-up, and intellectual property in the lithium extraction and critical minerals sector. At Lilac Solutions, he has held a range of technical leadership roles, including spearheading the company’s new process R&D initiatives, scaling strategies, and development of its intellectual property portfolio. Most recently, Nico has focused on advancing Lilac’s technical partnerships in emerging lithium markets, including produced water, battery recycling, and downstream processing. Nico earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, where he collaborated with Chevron to develop novel catalytic materials for petrochemical applications. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University. He is the author of over 20 peer-reviewed publications in leading scientific journals and is an inventor on four U.S. patents covering advanced materials, separations, and critical mineral extraction technologies.

19+ years of trajectory in the Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems at companies like Hitachi Energy, Powin, Bureau Veritas or Schneider Electric. Leading technical offering architecture and technical business development, with a proven ability to design next-generation solutions and close strategic deals in key global markets. With a 360º technical vision, including communications, power electronics control, distributed control, and the design of integrated renewable power and energy storage plants compliant with global grid codes, consistently delivering optimal solutions for customers and internal departments.

Dr. Habibi is the founder of EECOMOBILITY Inc., a Canadian start-up out of McMaster University. EECOMOBLTY specializes in AI software and has developed unique products for rapid characterization and production line testing of battery cells, modules, and pack. Dr. Habibi is also a Tier I Canada Research Chair and a full Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University. He is the founder and the Director of the Centre for Mechatronics and Hybrid Technologies (CMHT). CHMT has created one of the most advanced and best-equipped automotive research laboratories in Canada and internationally specializing in battery characterization, testing, prognostics, and diagnostics. CMHT researchers have collaborated with industrial partners to design and commercialize unique test equipment that are sold internationally and have created unique testing and characterization capabilities. CMHT currently supports a number of large projects as well as being a resource to automotive companies and start-ups. Dr. Habibi is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineers (CSME).

Katherine He is an investor at TDK Ventures, spearheading extensive research and landscape development in energy-storage materials and battery technologies. With a broad spectrum of expertise, she delves into battery startups developing next-gen battery materials, advanced manufacturing, recycling and mining, and electrification solutions across various applications. Katherine plays a pivotal role in supporting investments in AM Batteries, Ascend Elements, Novalith, and Peak Energy. Prior to TDK Ventures, she was a senior battery engineer at Nanoramic focusing on high energy density lithium-ion battery materials and electrode processing. Before that, Katherine led several research projects funded by DOE and NSF to commercialize lab scale innovations. Katherine holds a Ph.D. in materials science, boasts 12 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and is the Managing Editor and co-founder of the Volta Foundation, the world's largest community of battery professionals.

Sheldon He is the General Manager of Fujian Xinsen Carbon Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of advanced porous carbon materials in China. He holds a master's degree in Law from the University of Macquarie and has over ten years of experience in corporate operations and strategic management. Under his leadership, Xinsen Carbon has expanded its portfolio from automotive activated carbon to next-generation energy storage materials, including silicon–carbon anode precursors and functional carbons for environmental applications.

Sadatoshi Heiguchi is an engineer at ENEOS Materials Corporation and has seven years of experience as a R&D for binder materials of lithium-ion batteries. Prior to joining ENEOS Materials, he worked as an engineer at JSR Corporation from 2019 to 2022.

For nearly a decade, Ken Hoffman led McKinsey's global battery value chain work from capital raising and strategy advice to go-to-market work. He has assisted top private equity firms on more than 100 due diligence projects. Today, Ken sits on the Board of NEO Battery Materials, serves as an advisor to the CEOs of Pure Lithium and IBC Advanced Technologies, and is the commodity strategist for Canada's Redcloud Securities. He has been a keynote speaker at PDAC, Future Minerals Forum, FastMarkets, AABC, NAATBATT, LME, SMM, etc., as well as on the advisory Board for "The Battery Show". He was asked by the Chamber of Commerce forum in Washington, DC, to talk about batteries to more than 300 global CEO's. Before McKinsey, Ken had worked in financial markets as a portfolio manager and director of research among other roles.

Dr. Chao Hu received his B.E. degree in Engineering Physics from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, in 2007 and his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park in Maryland, in 2011. He worked first as a Senior Reliability Engineer and then as a Principal Scientist at Medtronic in Minnesota from 2011 to 2015. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University and has a courtesy faculty appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research interests are engineering design under uncertainty, lifetime prediction of lithium-ion batteries, and prognostics and health management. Dr. Hu has received several awards and recognitions for his research, including the Best Track Paper Award at the IISE Annual Conference & Expo in 2019; the ASME Design Automation Young Investigator Award in 2018; the Highly Cited Research Paper 2012-2013 in the Journal of Applied Energy in 2015; the Star of Excellence Individual Award at Medtronic in 2014; and the Best Paper Awards at the ASME Design Automation Conference and the IEEE International Conference on Prognostics and Health Management in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

William leads the Cell Engineering team at Archer which is responsible for the technical sourcing, qualification, and cell model development for Archer's aircraft programs. William holds a BS in Nanoengineering from the University of California, San Diego and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. William's PhD work with Professor Yi Cui at Stanford focused on structural and chemical characterization of the solid-electrolyte interphase with cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, along with its impact on battery degradation for advanced anode chemistries such as silicon and lithium metal. William joined Tesla following his PhD, where he worked on anode materials qualification for various cell programs.

Wenjiao Huang is a Principal Battery Data Scientist at Fluence. With a PhD in Chemical Engineering and a Master's in Computer Science, she specializes in applying machine learning and battery physics to improve battery performance, predict life trajectories, and advance safety diagnostics, especially in BESS.

Hana Huang is currently the Manager of Sales Division at HCM Co., Ltd. She is in charge of global business development relating to Lithium-ion batteries. Hana has worked extensively with numerous tier-1 car makers on strategic collaboration, establishing win-win solutions for HCM and partners.

Brian is the Vice President of New Technology and Innovation for the Load and Haul Division of Sandvik Mining. Brian has more than 30 years of experience working with battery electric vehicles. He holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Davis and worked as a DOE fellow and researcher there for 9 years prior to co-founding Artisan Vehicles. Artisan was a pioneer in the battery electric mining equipment industry and has had battery equipment with their technology operating in underground hard rock mines since 2010. Brian was awarded dozens of patents pertaining to batteries and electrification of mining equipment. Artisan was acquired by Sandvik in February of 2019.

Dr. Samantha Hung is a senior engineer on the Advanced Metal Anode Research (AMAR) team at the 21C Lab, part of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL). Her work centers on advancing fundamental understanding of battery technologies, both for lithium metal and lithium-ion systems. She has published in leading peer-reviewed journals on topics ranging from molecular dynamics—primarily stemming from her doctoral research at Stanford University (Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2023)—to applied battery research through collaborative efforts in academia and industry.

Viktor Irle has a M.Sc. in Management & Economics of Innovation from Chalmers University of Technology, where he learnt analyzing emerging markets and market disruptions from new innovations. Being passionate about automobiles and especially electric engines and clean technology, EV-volumes.com is the natural outcome of his set of skills. Viktor is convinced the future automotive history is both electric and autonomous.

Leon Ivezic serves as Business Development Manager for the Americas at Vianode, a leading producer of sustainable battery materials. In this role, he drives the company’s commercial growth strategy across North America, overseeing key customer relationships and advancing strategic partnerships that accelerate the transition to cleaner energy solutions. With a focus on profitability and long-term value creation, Leon leads initiatives that expand market presence, strengthen customer collaboration, and align product and operational excellence with Vianode’s global sustainability goals.

Sam Jaffe is the VP of business development and product at Mana Battery. He has been in the battery industry for two decades as an analyst, a consultant, and an executive. He was previously the founder and managing director of Cairn ERA, a company acquired by E Source in 2021. Prior to that he worked at Navigant and before that at IDC Energy Insights. He has also worked at 1019 Technologies and Addionics. He is the author of two books, Jewish Wisdom for Business Success and The New Korea, and lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Dr. Golareh (Goli) Jalilvand is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina (USC), and the principal investigator of the Laboratory for Materials Properties and Structures (LMaPS). Her research lies at the intersect of electrochemical engineering and materials science, focusing on advancing the fundamental understanding of dynamic evolution of materials under electrochemical operation. She is particularly interested in conversion redox reactions and investigates the coupling between multiscale material structures and phase evolution—examining how chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of materials change in operando. With a special focus on next-generation battery technologies, Dr. Jalilvand's team investigates lithium–sulfur and lithium-iron-phosphate cathodes, novel separator materials, battery materials recycling, and flexible energy storage systems.

Professor Xiulei “David” Ji holds the Bert and Emelyn Christensen Professorship at Oregon State University. His research focuses on advancing fundamental principles of battery chemistry. He has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by the Web of Science Group since 2019, with over 45,000 citations and an H-index of 96 (Google Scholar). His honors include the NSF CAREER Award (2016), Oregon State University’s Impact Award for Outstanding Scholarship (2024), and election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2024). He is also a Scialog Fellow of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. Prof. Ji serves as a founding Associate Editor of Carbon Energy (Wiley) and is the co-founder and CEO of A-Next Batteries Inc., a startup transforming cathode materials for next-generation Li-ion batteries.

Dr. Vibha Kalra is a Fred H. Rhodes Professor in the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell University. She also serves as an editor of Chemical Engineering Science journal since 2013. Prior to joining Cornell University in January 2024, Kalra was a George B. Francis Chair professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Drexel University, starting as an assistant professor in 2010. Kalra received her BS from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, India, in 2004 and PhD from Cornell University in 2009, both in Chemical Engineering. Her research group combines material assembly & characterization, study of fundamental electrochemical behavior, in-situ spectro-electrochemistry, and device assembly and testing to develop energy storage devices, including next-generation batteries and supercapacitors. She has published over 65 peer-reviewed journal articles and has 13 pending/issued patents in the field of energy storage. Kalra is a recipient of several awards including the NSF CAREER award (2012), ONR summer faculty fellowship award (2013), AIChE DVS Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award (2015), CBE Outstanding Service Award (2018), College of Engineering Outstanding Research Award (both at assistant professor level (2015) and at mid-career level (2020)), Provost Award for Outstanding Mid-Career Research Achievement (2020), and the COE Outstanding Innovation Award (2021). Kalra was also selected as a fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program in 2022-23.

Sungkwon Kang is a Director with LG Technology Ventures. Sungkwon has held various roles within LG Group, including global business development at LG Chem and open innovation and business development at LG Technology Center of America. Sungkwon was also a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. Sungkwon received his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Cornell University and B.S. in mechanical engineering and applied computational mathematics from Virginia Tech.

James Kaschmitter is the CEO of SpectraPower, which he founded in 2002. SpectraPower operates a battery research facility in Livermore, CA that performs contract energy storage research, consulting and expert witness services for government, private companies, law firms, startups and investors. Jim has founded, or co-founded, several companies in the energy storage field. He began research in Li-ion batteries in 1989 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). He was co-founder and CEO of PolyStor Corporation starting in 1993. PolyStor is the only U.S. company to have commercially manufactured in high volume in the U.S. all form factors of lithium-ion cells, including cylindrical, prismatic and polymer. In 1997 Jim founded PowerStor Corporation to commercialize the carbon aerogel supercapacitor that he co-invented at LLNL. PowerStor supercapacitors are now manufactured and sold in high volume by Eaton Bussman. He founded UltraCell in 2002, which successfully developed the world’s first reformed methanol micro fuel cell. UltraCell’s micro fuel cells are currently manufactured and sold by Brentronics and are deployed with U.S military and intelligence units, and are in use in combat in the Middle East. Jim holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and has a bachelor’s degree in the Physics Honors Program from the University of Utah. He holds more than 20 patents in the alternative energy field. He owns, maintains and operates an experimental aircraft and holds instrument and multi-engine ratings.

Brandon Kelly is the Vice President of Cell at Peak Energy, where he leads the development and scaling of advanced battery technologies. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and a specialization in energy storage from Colorado State University, Brandon has extensive experience in battery material science, characterization, and product development. Prior to joining Peak Energy, he played a key role at Solid Power, where he spearheaded multi-million-dollar efforts to scale solid-state battery production for automotive applications. Brandon’s work is driven by a passion for building effective development teams and a deep understanding of battery technologies. His expertise includes launching new products, managing large-scale projects, and fostering collaborative, innovative work environments to accelerate the development of hard tech solutions.

Kurt is currently the vice president of battery cell and pack for General Motors. Prior to that Kurt was the VP of Automotive at Sila Nanotechnologies, a battery materials company that enables lighter, higher energy density lithium-ion batteries for mass adoption of electric vehicles, longer-lasting portable electronics, and broader use of renewable power sources. Kelty brings more than 25 years of experience in the battery industry, including 11 years at Tesla, where he most recently served as Senior Director of Battery Technology. There he was responsible for leading numerous key initiatives, including setting the company’s battery cell usage strategy, delivering the batteries implemented in the Roadster, Model S/X and Model 3, and leading partnerships and material sourcing efforts at the Gigafactory, among many others. Prior to Tesla, Kelty was Director of Business Development at Panasonic, where he founded the U.S. battery R&D lab. Kelty holds a BA in Biology from Swarthmore College and a Master of Science from Stanford.

Kostya is a seasoned executive with more than 15 years of experience in the global technology sector. He is the Chief Executive Officer of GBatteries, an advanced battery technology company, based in Ottawa, Canada. His focus is to deliver advanced battery technology while driving operational excellence. He has a Master of Applied Science in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University. Prior to GBatteries, Kostya was the founder of several organizations including Wolna, a SatCom company, and Smart Rotor Systems (SRS), a company that developed vibration and noise reduction technology for helicopters.

Dong-Su Kim is the CEO and board member of LG Technology Ventures. He has over twenty-five years of investment, strategy, planning, and technology experience. As the founding CEO, Dong-Su established the fund structure, hired key people, and initiated investment operations. Under his guidance, LG Technology Ventures manages over $400 million of fund assets and invests in early-stage information technology, automotive, manufacturing, life-sciences, energy, and advanced materials companies. Portfolio companies include AmazeVR, Lygos, May Mobility, and Ridecell. Previously, Dong-Su was Vice President and GM of Samsung Ventures America where he managed offices in Menlo Park, Boston, London, and Tel Aviv. He has led the investment of over thirty companies in diverse sectors including semiconductors (Soft Machines, Verisilicon, Wave Computing), equipment (DCG Systems, IMS, Reno Subsystems), materials (Nanosys, NexPlanar, Voltaix), and storage systems (Pure Storage). Prior to joining Samsung Ventures, he was a Director at Asia Evolution, an investment bank in Korea covering mid-market financing, private placement, and M&As. Before that, he was a Director at the Technology Strategy Office of Samsung Electronics. As the CTO’s staff, he was responsible for strategic venture investments and technology alliances. He also worked in technology planning for Samsung’s Telecom R&D center, responsible for discovering new research topics. Dong-Su started his professional career as a Technical Leader at Samsung Fiber Optics Business Unit in development of fiber optic components. His past Board Director appointments include Datera, Digital Specialty Chemicals, Femtometrix, Inpria, Reno Subsystems, SBA Materials, SVXR, D2S, DCG Systems (acquired by FEI), NexPlanar (acquired by Cabot), Voltaix (acquired by Air Liquide), Panasas, and Pixtronix (acquired by Qualcomm). Dong-Su also served on the Investment Advisory Committee for Sierra Ventures. Dong-Su has earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University, and a B.S. with Honors in Applied Physics from California Institute of Technology

Daniel Knoblauch holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering from RWTH Aachen University and has built a career at the intersection of technology, customer relations, and global OEM partnerships. Starting as an OEM Liaison Manager at Lubrizol, he continued to expand his expertise in the role of OEM Liaison Manager at bp Castrol. Over time, Daniel advanced to Team Leader of the Global OEM Liaison Team, overseeing worldwide collaboration efforts with key automotive partners. He currently serves as Global Customer Relations Director, driving strategic engagement and strengthening long-term relationships with major OEM clients across international markets.

Mr. Konecky brings over 20 years of xEV experience to his work, having worked on multiple complex designs for battery system development, charging system integration, and high-voltage powertrain integration. He is skilled in new product design and development, product testing, product safety, integration of multiple sub-systems for vehicles, new product launches and has expanded his skillset beyond batteries into power electronics. His experience in batteries includes multiple technologies (Li-ion, NiMH, UltraCapacitors, Lead-Acid). Mr. Konecky has worked for multiple OEM and Tier 1 battery suppliers (GM, Fisker, Byton, Cobasys, EnerDel, Lockheed Martin) and has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University (Potsdam, NY) and MS from Purdue (IUPUI - Indianapolis, IN).

Alex Kosyakov is the Co-Founder and CEO of Natrion, a battery technology company based in Champaign, IL and Binghamton, NY. Kosyakov studied materials science at the University of Illinois and City College of New York (CCNY). His research has primarily concentrated on reinforced polymer composites and active materials for rechargeable lithium and sodium batteries. Natrion was started in 2018 to commercialize intellectual property developed by Kosyakov and collaborators at CCNY. The company now provides Li-metal battery technologies to automotive, defense, aerospace, and consumer electronics OEMs around the world.

Recognized for more than 25 years of developing and commercializing lithium-ion batteries, Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud is Founder and CEO of Cadenza Innovation, a growth-stage company transforming energy storage for grid, EV, commercial and industrial, and urban battery deployments. Previously, Dr. Lampe-Onnerud was Founder, CEO, and International Chairman of Boston-Power, a battery company providing products to the consumer electronics, transportation, and other end markets. Earlier in her career, Dr. Lampe-Onnerud held executive positions with Bridgewater Associates and Arthur D. Little, where she led the world’s largest non-captive battery lab. A two-time World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer and former co-chair of its Global Future Councils, Dr. Lampe-Onnerud is a co-chair of Li-Bridge, a public-private alliance convened by the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate the creation of a robust domestic manufacturing base and supply chain for lithium-based batteries. She is also a former board director with the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology (NY-BEST) Consortium, a coalition working to build a vibrant, world-class, advanced battery and energy storage sector in New York State. Dr. Lampe-Onnerud holds a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Uppsala University, Sweden, conducted post-doctoral work at MIT and currently sits on MIT’s Chemistry Department Visiting Committee.

Gaston is a battery engineer at FastLion Energy with first-hand experience in developing safer, longer lasting, and cheaper batteries with FastLion Energy’s 30x™ technology.

Dr. Eli Leland is a Voltaiq co-founder and serves as the company’s Chief Technical Officer. Prior to Voltaiq, Eli worked at the CUNY Energy Institute as lead engineer on an ARPA-E energy storage and power conversion research project. Before CUNY, Dr. Leland worked at Trilogy Software, where he successfully deployed large-scale enterprise software systems to Fortune 500 companies. He was a Mirzayan Policy Fellow in Energy and Environmental Systems at the National Academies in Washington, DC. Eli has an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and a BSE in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton.

Chief Commercial Officer at Zeta Energy for the last 6 years. Involved in everything binging this technology to market. Senior Vice President Business Development at Skeleton Technologies. Vice President Business Development at Maxwell Technologies, launching first auto programs, more then 7 million vehicles on the road with Maxwell products inside. BMW Group Designworks—Director Transportation Design. Boeing—Senior Technical Specialist, Mercedes-Benz—Assistant vehicle program manager. MS Mechanical Engineering, University of Karlsruhe.

Dr. Timothy Lin is the founder/CTO of Solid Energies Inc (www.solidenergies.com), which started its business in 2017, with a focus on the research, manufacturing, and commercialization of new-generation solid-state batteries. Dr. Lin is a veteran scientist and entrepreneur in developing and commercializing new generation renewable/clean energy technologies for over 20 years, having founded 3 companies including SEI and Bioenno Tech. Since 2009, his team has received more than 20 grants from federal agencies including DoE/DoD/NASA, and has collaborated with several major EV/defense companies for the technical commercialization related to all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSB). Recently, his team received grants from (1) the California Energy Commission (CEC) to establish initial commercial manufacturing of ASSB directed toward mass production for potential applications in renewable energy and electric vehicles, and (2) ARPA-E to develop and manufacture a new-generation of solid-state Li-air battery for applications in electrified transportations.

Dr. Lin Liu received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University in 2011, and subsequently spent one and a half years as a post-doctoral researcher at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, before joining The University of Kansas in 2013. Dr. Liu’s research focuses on the development of new theoretical models to predict both the electrochemical performance and the reliability of energy conversion and storage devices, such as solid-state fuel cells and Lithium-ion batteries. Dr. Liu and his students are also developing new fabrication techniques to synthesize materials and cell components. He has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed research articles. Dr. Liu also has industrial experience at General Motors and The Stanley Works. Currently, the research in Dr. Liu’s group has been supported by NSF, NASA, and the Kansas Board of Regents.

Tongchao Liu is currently a chemist in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division at Argonne National Laboratory. He received his PhD degree from Peking University. His research interests are focused on the interface of electrochemistry, cathode materials, and materials characterization, in particular, concentration gradient cathode design and fundamental understanding of failure chemistries through in situ synchrotron-based X-ray techniques. He is currently serving as editor in the high-impact journals of Nano Energy and Materials Today Energy.

Dr. Haodong Liu is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Tyfast. He is also Activate Fellow, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Before Tyfast, he was Project Scientist at UCSD’s Center for Memory and Recording Research. He is an expert in a variety of the electrochemical systems, from design, synthesis, processing, and characterization of advanced electrode materials for LIB and novel electrolytes for Li-metal batteries. He published more than 120 papers with more than 10,000 citations and 7 patents. He is the co-inventor of the disordered rocksalt lithium vanadium oxide anode material, the core technology of Tyfast.

Cell Technology Research Engineer in Ford Motor Company. 15+ years industry experience in battery research and development with applications on automotive electrification. Extensive experience in cell design and manufacturing scale-up in both China and USA battery industries. Currently focus on advanced cell technologies through USABC programs, government projects, collaboration with research entities, and internal research projects.

Jordan Loos is a Senior Battery Integration Specialist at Cummins Inc., where he works in the evaluation and integration of batteries for hybrid on- and off-highway applications. With a Bachelor’s in physics from Willamette University and a Master's in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University, Jordan has extensive experience in battery management systems (BMS), system engineering, validation, electrochemistry, and control strategies. His career includes development of lithium-ion BMS systems, battery supplier collaboration, and contributing to the mechanical, electrical, and thermal integration of battery systems. Prior to Cummins, Jordan worked at eChemion Inc., developing electrode materials for flow batteries. He holds multiple patents related to battery technology and continues to play a key role in advancing sustainable battery solutions for the automotive industry.

Mr. Lu graduated from Department of Business Administration in National Cheng-chi University, Taiwan, and continued to acquire an MBA degree from National Sun Yat-sen University. His first job concerned with the optical film in China for two years, then came back Taiwan to serve Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) as an analyst in Industry, Science and Technology International Strategy Center (ISTI) until now. As a certified industrial analyst of the biggest think-tank in Taiwan, he is responsible for the research about Taiwan battery-related industry, including material, cell, pack and related applications. Not only handling the official government statistics about Taiwan battery industry, sometimes he also plays a role to provide consulting suggestions for Taiwan government and firms. From 2010 to June 2020, he served as the secretary-general of the Taiwan Battery Association.

Mr. Lutz studied Electronics at the University Aalen, Germany. He started in automotive powertrain software development in 1989 at Robert Bosch GmbH in Germany working on fuel injection systems and On Board Diagnostic systems. He continued his career in the US developing alternative fuel controls for General Motors applications and focused his further work on hybrid vehicle controls development including fuel cell systems and high voltage battery systems. Since joining AVL in 2008 he is leading the development of hardware electronics for Battery Management Systems for LiIon battery applications at AVL North America. In this capacity as Chief Engineer at AVL, he is further concentrating his focus on the system design and specification for LiIon battery system development for automotive systems as well as stationary systems.

David Mackanic is the CEO and co-founder of Anthro Energy. David received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. He is listed on Forbes 30 under 30 and MIT’s 35 Innovators under 35 for his work on polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries. David has authored over 20 academic papers with over 4,500 citations total. David has served as CEO of Anthro from inception through recent milestones including raising a $20M Series A and obtaining UN 38.3 certification of cells containing Anthro technology.

Boaz Mamo is the Chief Revenue Officer at Addionics, a start-up transforming battery technology to power the future of electric vehicles. He has a strong background in building companies, leading partnerships, and driving innovation in energy and mobility. Boaz founded several leading platforms, including EcoMotion—Israel’s top smart mobility community. He brings global experience and a passion for scaling deep-tech solutions that make a real-world impact.

Monica Marinescu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. She has worked in the field of electrochemical energy storage for 13 years and leads a research group focussing on identifying the mechanisms that limit the performance of batteries (Li-ion and Li-Sulfur) and supercapacitors. She has developed bespoke modelling tools and experimental techniques that inform the design of battery cells and packs with increased performance, and enable their better use, focussing on thermal effects and degradation prediction. She is the author of 70 peer reviewed publications. She is also the Co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of Ionetic, a software-accelerated battery pack development company. She is passionate about enabling industry advancements, and collaborated with more than 20 industry partners to translate research outputs into products in electrification applications.

Tom Maull works as the Principal Product Manager—Innovation for Elysia Battery Intelligence. Prior to his current role, he lead battery modelling activities and algorithm development for several high-profile battery programmes ranging from large Haul Trucks to top-tier motorsport, including Formula E Gen 3 and LMDh. In his current role, Tom develops the R&D strategy for Elysia Battery Intelligence, working in close collaboration with academic and technical partners. Before joining Elysia, Tom worked as a mechanical engineering consultant, serving clients in the automotive and offroad industry.

Seamus McGrath is the Senior Director of Research and Development at Heliox, A Siemens Business. Seamus joined Heliox in 2019, where he now leads a world-class R&D division developing cutting-edge charging solutions that are scalable, efficient, and ready for the demands of next-generation mobility. His work combines hands-on technical expertise with strategic leadership to deliver game-changing infrastructure for zero-emission transport. Seamus has been a pioneer working in the electric mobility space since 2001. His contributions started in passenger vehicles while working on the Chevy Volt at General Motors. In 2011, he pivoted to heavy duty vehicles and took on the challenge high power charging at Proterra. In that role, he led the industry in on-route charging and delivered North America’s first 500kW charging stations across the country. Seamus received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology (aka University of Missouri-Rolla).

Urvi Mehta is a senior research associate at Lux Research, based in Houston, where she conducts analysis and provides insights into the energy storage sector. Urvi provides subject-matter expertise spanning a wide array of emerging storage technologies, including Li-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and other novel battery chemistries. This coverage expands to the entire value chain, including battery recycling, the regulatory landscape, and the shifting business models shaping the future of energy. Urvi’s role at Lux entails advising leaders in the chemicals, utilities, and oil and gas industries to effectively navigate and capitalize on the opportunities inherent in this rapidly evolving sector. Before joining Lux, Urvi worked as a research analyst at Customized Energy Solutions, where she delivered high-impact market analyses and strategic consulting in the field of microgrids, electric vehicles, and energy storage to C-suite executives. Urvi holds an M.Sc. in business analytics from the University of Houston and an MTech in energy systems and technology from Pandit Deendayal Energy University, India, which provided her experience in and understanding of grid modernization and government policies.

Arjun Mendiratta has been with Lyten for five years, where he currently leads development of Lyten's advanced cathode, anode, and electrolyte materials for Lithium-Sulfur cells. Prior to joining Lyten, he developed novel thermoelectric materials and devices for wearables and defense applications at Matrix Industries. He began his industrial career at Lam Research, where he helped invent and commercialize polymer formulations for managing defects during semiconductor manufacturing. He holds B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry from Caltech and MIT, respectively.

Professor Y. Shirley Meng received her Ph.D. in Advance Materials for Micro & Nano Systems from the Singapore-MIT Alliance in 2005, after which she worked as a postdoc research fellow and became a research scientist at MIT. Shirley currently holds the Zable Endowed Chair Professor in Energy Technologies and is Professor of NanoEngineering and Materials Science, University of California San Diego (UCSD). She is the founding Director of the Sustainable Power and Energy Center (2015-2020) and was named as inaugural director of the Institute of Materials Discovery and Design. Professor Meng received the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award in 2011, UCSD Chancellor’s Interdisciplinary Collaboratories Award in 2013, C.W. Tobias Young Investigator Award of the Electrochemical Society (2016), International Coalition for Energy Storage and Innovation (ICESI) Inaugural Young Career Award (2018), American Chemical Society ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Young Investigator Award (2018), a Finalist for the Blavatnik National Award (2018), International Battery Associations Research Award (2019) and Royal Chemical Society Faraday’s Medal (2020). She is the author and co-author of more than 225 peer-reviewed journal articles, 2 book chapter and 5 issued patents. Professor Meng serves on the executive committee for battery division at the Electrochemical Society and she is the Editor-in-Chief for MRS Energy & Sustainability. She is an elected fellow of the Electrochemical Society (FECS) and fellow of the Materials Research Society (FMRS).

Xiangbo (Henry) Meng is currently an Associate Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR, USA). Prior to joining University of Arkansas in 2016, Meng was a Postdoctoral Fellow at both Argonne and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Since 2009, Meng has been focusing on addressing interfacial issues of various battery systems using atomic and molecular layer deposition.

Dr. Tedjani Mesbahi is a Full Professor of Electrical Engineering at INSA Strasbourg and a Senior Staff Researcher at the ICube Laboratory (CNRS UMR7357). His expertise focuses on smart energy systems, with a specialized emphasis on lithium-ion battery safety, hybrid energy storage, and predictive modeling using multiphysics simulations and Explainable AI (XAI). He coordinates major European initiatives, including ENERGETIC (Horizon Europe) and VEHICLE (Interreg), and leads several innovation and technology transfer projects dedicated to developing circular and intelligent battery technologies. His work strongly emphasizes bridging academic research with industrial applications, maintaining active involvement in technology transfer, international collaboration, and advanced engineering education to ensure impactful innovation from lab to market.

Jake has spent over a decade in materials R&D including development of novel NMP-free cathode binder solutions. In the last 4 years, Jake has been focused on how data management and AI can accelerate materials design and commercialization for the broader chemicals and materials market.

Dr. R. Mohtadi is a Senior Principal Scientist at the materials research department at Toyota Research Institute of North America TRINA and has been in the decarbonization R&D field for over two decades. She has been spearheading and leading research for the creation, design and demonstration of materials for chemical and electrochemical energy storage technologies, including the research of novel battery electrolyte chemistries for liquid and solid-state batteries, and has contributed important advancements in these areas. She has published influential research and has been awarded over 30 patents. Notable recognitions include receiving the R&D100 award (2011) and being named in “40 under 40” by the Automotive and Crain’s news (2014). She was recognized and showed cased in the “We Run on Brain Power” initiative by the State Governor in 2015 as a face of cutting edge innovation in the State of Michigan, USA.

Since 2015, Victoria has served as a Conference Producer for Cambridge Enertech, with primary responsibilities for scientific conference program development within energy market sectors, with conferences based in the United States and Europe. She has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Since joining Cambridge EnerTech as Associate Conference Producer in March 2024, Ian has spearheaded the production of new conference programs dedicated to addressing the global bottleneck in electric vehicle fast charging and infrastructure. Prior to joining Cambridge EnerTech, Ian conducted mathematical research in physical oceanography before foraying into K-12 education for gifted and talented mathematics students. Ian enjoys engaging others in their fields of expertise and staying current on latest trends and developments in the battery, electric vehicle, and charging infrastructure space.

Frank has 20 years of experience in a variety of senior leadership roles in the mining industry spanning strategy, intelligence, metallurgy, digital transformation, and commercial operations – all during his tenure with Vale Base Metals. He recently joined CRU as the Vice President for Base and Battery Metals North America responsible for providing thought leadership and guidance to the commodity value chain industry. Frank holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and Engineering specializing in Mineral Processing from the University of Toronto, and an MBA specializing in Strategic Planning and Industrial Relations from York University.

Pontus Nilsson is the Director of Battery Processing Systems at Quintus Technologies Americas. In this role, he leads sales, strategy, and technology development for isostatic pressing solutions used in advanced battery components and solid-state battery manufacturing. Prior to joining Quintus Technologies, Pontus built a distinguished career in materials processing and capital equipment, with extensive experience in vacuum and thermal processing technologies. He holds a Master of Science in Materials Technology from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden.

Dr. Nowak studied Chemistry at the University of Münster and got his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry. After his doctorate, he joined the working group of Professor Winter at the MEET Battery Research Center at the University of Münster in 2009 as a postdoctoral researcher, where he established the Analytical department. From 2010-12, he was the Head of the Analytics and Recycling competence areas, and since 2012, he has held a position at the MEET Battery Research Center as Head of the Analytics and Environment division, which mainly focuses on electrolyte aging, transition metal migration and surface investigations, recycling, and second life, as well as toxicological investigations.

Zahra N. is a Senior Battery System Design and Architecture Engineer at Tesla Energy, where she contributes to the development and integration of advanced battery technologies for both industrial and residential energy storage systems. She brings over five years of combined research and industry experience in battery modeling, state estimation, and energy system integration. Her expertise spans the full lifecycle of battery systems, including cell characterization, modeling, reliability test development, failure analysis, and lifetime performance prediction. At Tesla, Zahra leads the introduction of new battery products by bridging the gap between cell design and system-level requirements.

Wyatt Olson is the Director of Technical Program Management at 6K Energy responsible for product development and commercial programs. He started his career in chemical R&D at Moses Lake Industries (MLI), spending ten years developing and launching electroplating products at global chipmakers. After spending three years developing lithium-ion battery products at MLI, Wyatt joined 6K Energy in 2022. He holds B.S. in Chemistry and an MBA from the University of Washington.

Bijan Palme is the Director of OEM Partnerships at Bluewater. Bijan has extensive experience in the battery and BESS logistics and supply chain industry complemented by his deep knowledge of market trends, challenges, environmental compliance and safety regulations in the USA and globally.

Dr Allan Paterson is Head of Battery Development for Fortescue Zero, leading cell technology and applications analysis for high performance battery systems development across breadth of technology areas including motorsport, road car and heavy-duty markets. Prior to joining Fortescue, Allan was the CTO for Britishvolt, leading the technology programme for development of a UK Gigafactory. Previously, Allan has held positions as the Faraday Institution’s Head of Programme Management, and as Chief Electrochemist at both Cummins and Johnson Matthey Battery Systems where he investigated new battery technologies and their application in next generation low carbon EV, PHEV and HEV applications. Allan has 25 years’ experience in the field of lithium-ion batteries and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of St Andrews on advanced cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Christina Peabody is the techincal lead for Datacenter IT UPS batteries and energy storage at Google. She is responsible for developing energy storage solutions for Google's critical IT infrastructure. Christina has over 8 years of experience developing data center battery solutions for high availability critical software systems. Christina earned a BE in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.

Dr. Pekala is Chief Technology Officer for ENTEK International LLC. He has a B.S. degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and a Sc.D. degree in polymeric materials from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Pekala began his career at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he worked for 11 years in the Materials Science Department on sol-gel chemistry and organic-based aerogels. In 1996, Dr. Pekala joined PPG Industries as a scientist working in the Silica Products business unit where he had responsibility for precipitated silica used in battery separators and synthetic printing media. In 1999, Dr. Pekala joined ENTEK where he helped to commercialize new products such as lithium-ion battery separators, Pb-acid battery separators, and waterproof breathable membranes. Dr. Pekala has over 100 technical publications, 2 R&D 100 awards, 1 BCI Innovation award, and 41 patents.

Barry is President of Perlmutter & Idea Development LLC. He has over 39 years of technical engineering and business marketing experience in the field of solid-liquid separation including filtration, centrifugation, process drying, mixing and recycling. His strong professional skills focus on process solutions, innovation strategy, market expansion and business development. Barry has published and presented worldwide on applications in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and energy/environmental industries and has been responsible for introducing many European technologies into the Americas marketplace. His two books, published by Elsevier, Amsterdam, "Handbook of Solid-Liquid Filtration" and "Integration & Optimization of Unit Operations" are used worldwide for process guidance.

Dr. Pesaran has dedicated his career at NREL to advancing energy-efficient technologies, with a focus on electrified vehicles and next-generation batteries. He led NREL’s Energy Storage Group, driving research in high-energy battery materials, advanced thermal management, safety and thermal-runaway, second-use batteries, techno-economic analysis, and recycling. He also directed DOE’s national Computer-Aided Engineering for Electric-Drive Vehicle Batteries initiative. From 2016–2018, he served as a technical advisor in DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office. Over the past seven years, Ahmad built a strong business-development portfolio, securing major new funding and projects for NREL. Prior to retiring, he led a major NHTSA’s EV-safety activities at NREL.

Wilhelm Pfleging is head of the group Laser Materials Processing at the Institute of Applied Materials (IAM-AWP) which is part of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). He received his Master and Ph.D. at the Fraunhofer Institute of Laser Technology (RWTH Aachen, Germany) in the field of pulsed laser deposition, laser micromachining, and electron spectroscopy. He has more than 30 years of experience in laser technology and material science. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, books and conference reports (h-index 32). He is member of scientific and programme committees in several international conferences (e.g., LAMP, CLEO, ICALEO, MRS, SPIE Photonics West, SPIE Photonics Europe) with focus on laser processing and energy storage materials. He has six patents granted. At KIT, he initiates and manages several industrial and academic collaborative research and development projects with emphasis on functional surfaces and energy storage systems. His research is focused on the development of laser-assisted processes, analytics (electrochemical analytics, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) and manufacturing of advanced lithium-ion batteries and related energy storage materials (3D Battery). Furthermore, he is Professor at university (KIT) for “Laser Technology” and “Laser-assisted methods and their application for energy storage materials."

Christophe has built up considerable expertise in the area of batteries. He joined AVICENNE 26 years ago and spent 3 years in Japan analyzing the Japanese electronic, mobile & battery market. Christophe has acquired extensive experience in marketing, strategy analysis, technology and financial studies for the battery and power management fields. He developed the Battery market analysis for AVICENNE, which serves more than 220 customers worldwide. Christophe has published several annual surveys such as "The Rechargeable Battery Market". He is also the founder & chairman of Batteries - an international industry conference held in France since 1999. He is now Director at AVICENNE ENERGY. Globally, he has been involved in more than 300 projects for 200+ customers in the Battery value chain. Before joining AVICENNE, Christophe held a key position in FRANCE TELECOM's innovation division. He has a degree in Chemistry & an MBA in Innovation Management from Paris IX Dauphine. His mother tongue is French, and he speaks fluent English.

As a Global Key Account Manager at EV Volumes, I leverage my background in automotive data and sales to drive strategic partnerships and deliver value to key clients. With a deep understanding of the evolving automotive landscape, particularly in the electric vehicle sector, I am dedicated to providing insights and solutions that empower my clients to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market.

Karthik has been the CTO at Sionic Energy for three years. He received his PhD in Electrochemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, and started his career at Duracell in the very early days of Li-ion battery development. In his R&D career, he has focused much of his efforts on the fundamentals of cell safety and the interactions between materials, chemistry and process, and their effect on performance and safety. During his long career in batteries he has worked on multiple battery technologies like Li/MnO2, Li/CFX, Alkaline MnO2 and Zinc/Air at Duracell, Rayovac, and EaglePicher as well as multiple start-ups. Most recently, Karthik led the Product Development organization for Implantable Medical Batteries at EaglePicher. Karthik is experienced in Research, Product and Process Development (especially electrode Development), and Pilot manufacturing.

Krishna is an Engineering Director at Google Data centers, where he leads teams for invention and delivery of power and energy systems, controls, microgrids, cybersecurity and other related hardware technologies. He has strong proven experience in both industrial and utilities domain, with a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Washington State University and a Mini-MBA from Rutgers Business School. He is a recognized hands-on leader with strong focus on engineering innovation and operational excellence for mission critical infrastructure. He has developed and delivered products and projects that contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the bottom line for industrial and utility programs. He holds 30+ patents, publications, and awards for various electric grid applications and technologies. He is passionate about identifying cutting edge industry trends, developing them and delivering innovation to Google's data centers. He also cultivates and maintains relationships with internal and external partners as a go-to technical and business leader for Google's power systems and controls infrastructure.

David Roberts serves as Li-Bridge’s Executive Director, helping advance the public private partnership’s mission to develop a robust US supply chain. As an initiative of Argonne National Labs with sponsorship from the DOE, Li-Bridge facilitates collaboration between the federal government and the battery industry to achieve this mission. David also helps lead Applied Research Institute (ARI), a non-profit organization focused on innovation and technology initiatives supporting national security. He previously led the team that created and implemented a cohesive $1B innovation & entrepreneurship strategy for the State of Indiana. He has been CEO of lithium-ion battery companies in both the private and public-private sector, patent and legal counsel for Caterpillar, engineer with Lockheed Martin, board member of domestic and international organizations, and is a private practice patent & business attorney.

Phil has over 15 years of advanced battery materials development experience, as co-founder of Xponential Battery Materials (XBM USA LLC) the developer of CarbonXâ„¢, a high-capacity Sulfur Cathode Active Material (CAM) made from industrial waste by-products. Prior to XBM, Phil was the CEO and co-founder of California Lithium Battery, a developer of a high-capacity silicon-carbon (Si-C) anode material named SiCAMâ„¢ via a Fluidized Bed-Chemical Vapor Deposition (FB-CVD) patented production process. For the past 35 years Phil has held leadership roles at ARCO Petroleum Products Company and multiple cleantech start-up companies and currently oversees the day-to-day operations at XBM.

Marco Romero is an entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in the technical services, mining and construction materials industries. He has held leadership roles in exploration, mine planning and operations, permitting and finance, as well as project and corporate development. He co-founded several Canadian companies, including Eldorado Gold, Polaris Materials, Delta Gold and Euro Manganese. He has received several international, national and regional awards for achievements in corporate social responsibility and environmental excellence.

The development of resilient supply chains in pursuit of in-country climate change goals and energy security has become the imperative of the century at both the national and international levels. Adele is responsible for reviewing regulatory and policy trends and risks impacting global critical mineral supply chains, from fractious geopolitical forces to the challenges of implementing effective policies. She has also completed extensive mine-level due diligence, providing an objective view of ESG and regulatory risks for critical mineral supply chains. With increasing scrutiny of how corporations operate in multiple jurisdictions, fulfilling and demonstrating high standards of ESG is no longer an option but a requirement from both a market access and investment perspective. She brings her techno-legal background and experience working with stakeholders throughout the mineral supply chain to identify effective ESG strategies in support of responsible business practices.

Donald Sadoway, a professor of materials chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has had an impressive career stemming from the influence of inspiring professors and his Ukrainian grandmother, who installed in him that to serve is a noble act. Pursuing service with a passion to change the world, Sadoway discovered engineering and has made valued contributions to the field of metallurgy. Sadoway emphasizes the importance of an idea, and it was his idea which led to the genesis of molten oxide electrolysis on his search for an inert anode. This discovery led Sadoway to a TED Talk, Time 100, and Colbert Report. Among research, Sadoway is also a passionate professor and has transformed his chemistry classroom into a link between the science, arts, and ethics. A TMS member since 1979, Sadoway notes the critical value societies offer for young professionals to present themselves and create a personal representation of their idea.

Dr. Kenan Sahin is an academic, scientist, inventor, technologist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the chairman/founder of TIAX and the hands-on president/founder of CAMX Power, whose patented GEMX® cathode platform for EV lithium-ion batteries is globally available through GEMX licensees Panasonic Energy, LGES, Samsung SDI, Umicore, L&F, and EcoPro BM. He previously served as a vice president at Bell Labs, founder and president of Kenan Systems, and a faculty member at MIT, UMass, and Harvard. He was named a “Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum and has received the Ellis Island Medal, Golden Door Award, and, in 2024, the Bolte Award.

Rodrigo Salvatierra is a chemist with more than 16 years of experience in materials designed for energy applications, including carbon nanomaterials, polymers, and metallic nanoparticles. CSO of Zeta Energy since 2018, coordinating materials and cell development. Principal Investigator of two major US government-funded projects in the development of Li-S batteries. Associate Editor and reviewer of scientific journals.

Mike has significant energy storage materials value chain understanding with an emphasis on lithium-ion batteries and systems with 13 years of market knowledge and relationships. Successful program leadership experience with significant business growth in ventures and existing businesses with a proven track record leading mergers and acquisition teams to enter the lithium-ion battery materials market. He joined AVICENNE in May of 2016 as a Senior Advisor. Since joining the AVICENNE team, Mike has been leading the US AVICENNE activity working with many clients holding strategy workshops, validation of growth opportunities, helping clients establish their growth plans in energy storage, and establishing M&A targets/diligence. Before joining AVICENNE, Mike had a very long career with DuPont, his most recent role was the Global Marketing Director – Energy Storage Venture where he developed significant understanding and insights for the energy storage materials market, device manufacturing, and systems while leading global marketing and customer interface efforts to establish programs to enter the $20B energy storage materials market. Executed strategic and market planning for opportunity evaluation, research, choices, and M&A activity for entry into rapidly growing new market. He has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Delaware and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and Electrochemical Society.

Andrew Saucer is a Battery Raw Materials Analyst for Fastmarkets, specializing in North American supply chains and lithium analysis. Prior to Fastmarkets Andrew was the US Minor Metals Reporter for Argus Metals and obtained and Honors degree in Metallurgy & Materials Science from the Colorado School of Mines.

Dr. Seo is currently the head of battery engineering design for the Hyundai Motor Company. Dr. Seo has been with Hyundai since 2011 in roles including senior research engineer as well as the head of the battery engineering design team. Dr. Seo has a phd in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Jon Shan is the Senior R&D Manager at Navitas Systems LLC. He earned his PhD in Materials Chemistry in 2004. Prior to joining Navitas, he worked as a battery and materials scientist and was proud to contribute as an active innovator at several technology start-ups, including Lyten, Amprius, and QuantumScape.

·2017-2025 Battery system engineer, Toshiba Corporation ·2011-2017 Development engineer of ECU for Electric Power Steering, ADTech Corporation ·2009-2011 Research scientist of optical for head up display, Toshiba Corporation ·2008-2009 Software Engineer for head up display, TOALAM Corporation ·2002-2008 Development Engineer of laser control for Digital Versatile Disc(DVD, HD-DVD), andCompact Disc(CD), Toshiba Corporation ·1999-2002 Research and Development Engineer of Head Up Display(HUD) and Head(Helmet) Mounted Display(HMD) for airplane avionics, Simadzu Corporation

Taylor, a Principal Consultant with CRU Consulting, delivers targeted, actionable advice to senior decision makers and stakeholders up and down the base metals, battery materials, and aluminum value chains, emphasising sustainability trends and the critical minerals enabling the energy transition. He has worked on projects on six continents, spanning mining and metals value chains from exploration to recycling, as well as strategic decision-making support concerning supply chains and sourcing, government policy, project development, production, and marketing. Taylor holds a Masters of Science degree in Engineering and Technology Management and a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics with an area of specialisation in Engineering Physics, both from the Colorado School of Mines.

Dr. Tina Shoa is an Associate Professor in the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering at Simon Fraser University, specializing in battery diagnostics and intelligent battery management systems. She received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of British Columbia in 2010. Dr. Shoa began her research career as a postdoctoral fellow and later as a Research Scientist at Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, where she focused on electrochemical modeling and advanced characterization techniques. In 2013, she joined Cadex Electronics as Director of Research, leading initiatives in battery modeling and diagnostics that were successfully integrated into commercial battery products. Before joining SFU, Dr. Shoa served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Energy Management at the New York Institute of Technology. She holds multiple patents in battery diagnostics technologies and has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications, including a book chapter.

Dr. Tal Sholklapper has an extensive record of success as a cleantech engineer and entrepreneur. Prior to founding Voltaiq, he worked as the lead engineer on a DOE ARPA-E funded project at the CUNY Energy Institute, developing an ultra low-cost grid-scale battery. Before joining CUNY, Dr. Sholklapper co-founded Point Source Power, a low cost fuel-cell startup based on technology he developed while at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley, where he also did his graduate work in Materials Science and Engineering. As a Materials Postdoctoral Fellow at LBNL, he successfully led the transfer of lab-scale technology to industry partners.

Dr. Tal Sholklapper has an extensive record of success as a cleantech engineer and entrepreneur. Prior to founding Voltaiq, he worked as the lead engineer on a DOE ARPA-E funded project at the CUNY Energy Institute, developing an ultra low-cost grid-scale battery. Before joining CUNY, Dr. Sholklapper co-founded Point Source Power, a low cost fuel-cell startup based on technology he developed while at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley, where he also did his graduate work in Materials Science and Engineering. As a Materials Postdoctoral Fellow at LBNL, he successfully led the transfer of lab-scale technology to industry partners.

Steve Sloop has pioneered comprehensive methods to improve safety and efficiency in recycling lithium-ion batteries and materials. These include deactivation of lithium-ion batteries to eliminate hazards in transportation and storage; electrolyte extraction; electrode harvesting and separation; and cathode-healingâ„¢, which is a direct method to reintroduce lithium, structure, and performance to scrap electrodes.

Ian Smith is currently the Automotive & Transportation Battery Product Manager at UL Solutions where he is responsible for maintaining, expanding and developing new battery testing, inspection and certification services for the North American market. Before coming to UL Solutions, Ian Smith was the Manager of the Electrified Powertrain section at Southwest Research Institute for five years where he was responsible for testing and R&D activities on lithium-ion batteries (cell, module and pack). As Manager, he provided technical oversight and direction for various battery test, certification and development programs, including those on MWh systems, and led industry consortia. Ian has direct experience with various cell chemistries, pack design & development and battery test standards such as the USABC BEV & PHEV Battery Test Manuals, UL 2580, UL 9540a, SAE J2464, UN 38.3, UN ECE R100, DO-311A, MIL-PRF-32565C and NAVY S9310 in addition to OEM-specific developmental test procedures.

Rengaswamy Srinivasan, Ph.D. is the primary inventor of the noninvasive Battery Internal Temperature Sensing-Battery Management System (BITS-BMS). He is the primary inventor on 22 US and international patents; 8 on BITS-BMS and 14 on batteries and corrosion. He has 10 publications in peer-reviewed journals on BITS-BMS. He is a member of the UL Research Institute Electrochemical Safety Research Institue advisory board; and a member of the NTSB-UL Battery Safety Counsel.

Ionel Stefan joined Amprius in its early days in 2009 as a Senior Scientist, initially to lead electrochemistry for silicon nanowire anode-based lithium-ion batteries. Dr. Stefan now leads Amprius' development of silicon nanowire electrochemistry, cell technology - including material design, cell design and engineering - and product development. At Amprius, he has served as Principal Investigator on multiple projects, including NASA, Army, DOE and USABC-funded research and development efforts.

Dr. Stefan received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University (2002) with research activities focused on the development of new materials and devices for energy production and storage.

Dr. Philip Stephenson is General Manager, PACCAR Technical Center. He has held this position since 2012. Dr. Stephenson leads teams responsible for advanced engineering, and is globally responsible for validation for PACCAR and its truck brands, Peterbilt, Kenworth and DAF. Before joining PACCAR, he worked as Director of Product Development and Engineering at A123 Systems where he led engineering teams in the US and Germany. Dr. Stephenson was also Chief Engineer for product development and validation at automotive supplier Behr in Michigan. His experience also includes 7 years with computational fluid dynamics software developers Fluent and CD-adapco Group, and diesel engine research experience at Daimler-Benz Research Institute in Stuttgart, Germany. Dr. Stephenson earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin (Engine Research Center) and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University.

Josh Stiling is an Investment Director at Anzu Partners with a focus on investing at the intersection of material science, electrification, and manufacturing technologies. Since joining Anzu in 2021, Josh has led and supported investments for several companies in Anzu's portfolio, including investments in AM Batteries, South 8 Technologies, e-Zinc, Xendee, and XGS Energy. Prior to Anzu and following undergrad, he competed professionally in the sport of water polo in Australia (Perth) and Spain (Barcelona) for two years before continuing on to work for an R&D industrial materials start-up in San Jose for 4 years. At Lyten, he served as a senior engineer in materials development and worked on applications such as batteries, super-capacitors, conductive inks and an IoT sensing platform for explosive materials. At Anzu he is supporting several portfolio companies, while also conducting diligence and sourcing new technologies in the industrial materials and energy space. He holds two degrees from UCSD, an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and an MBA.

Since joining Cambridge EnerTech in Feb 2024, Sarah has worked within the recycling, mining and mineral processing areas of the battery value chain. She has industry experience in power supply and conversion for clean energy applications, Li-ion battery cathode research, oil and gas and mineral processing. Sarah holds a PhD in Materials Science & Metallurgy from the University of Cambridge and a BEng in Mineral Engineering from the University of Leeds.

Evelina Stoikou leads BloombergNEF’s battery technologies and supply chains team, based out of New York. The team covers the battery value chain including technology, prices, costs, supply chain, markets and policies. Prior to joining BNEF, Evelina worked in management consulting, and she holds a dual degree in chemistry and engineering from Dartmouth and Vassar College.

Dr. Dee Strand is Chief Scientific Officer at Wildcat Discovery Technologies. Dr. Strand has over twenty years of experience in materials research, development, and commercialization, primarily in the areas of energy storage and electronic applications. Prior to joining Wildcat in 2013, Dr. Strand served as a Research Fellow at Dow Chemical, where she was the technical lead in Dow Energy Materials, as well as the Principal Investigator on external research programs with universities and national labs on battery materials. Dr. Strand also has extensive experience in patent analysis and technical due diligence of new technologies. Dr. Strand completed her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, under the supervision of Professor John Schrag. Her Ph.D. research focused on rheology and birefringence of polymeric solutions.

Soumitra Sulekar is a Staff Materials Engineer at Tesla Inc. He brings over 8 years of academic and industry experience in ceramic processing, pilot scale manufacturing, and scale up of solid oxide fuel cells, catalyst carriers, and lithium-ion cells. At Tesla, where he works on the development and scale up of dry battery electrode processes for Tesla’s in-house cells, with a focus on defining critical materials characteristics, developing new measurement techniques and establishing structure-property-processing relationships that enable robust process control, and improved quality, yield and throughput.

Valentin is co-founder and CEO of Ionworks, a battery simulation software startup building battery models for real-world applications. Ionworks provides fast, flexible, and accurate models of battery cells and packs, and support and training to integrate these models into existing workflows to drive battery innovation and deliver business value. Before Ionworks, Valentin was a researcher at various universities (Oxford, Michigan, Carnegie Mellon), where he worked on developing physics-based models for performance and degradation of batteries ranging from lead-acid to lithium-ion to lithium metal. He is also a co-creator and core developer of the open-source battery modeling package PyBaMM, the core software powering Ionworks.

Masanori Takagi is a Senior R&D Engineer at Nissan Technical Center North America. He joined Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in 2018 and has been engaged in the development of battery systems for xEVs. He specializes in battery system development and is currently working on next generation xEV technologies in Farmington Hills, MI.

Jonathan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Coreshell Technologies and is working to solve global cost and supply chain challenges for lithium-ion batteries.

Tanvir R. Tanim is an R&D engineer and the group lead for the Energy Storage Technology Group in the Energy Storage and Advanced Transportation Department at the Idaho National Laboratory. His research focuses on enabling next-generation high-energy and power lithium-ion batteries, developing advanced algorithms for reliable life estimation, and expanding and/or verifying advanced diagnostics and prognostics of these high energy and power batteries for electric vehicle applications. Between 2014 and 2021, he authored or co-authored 25 peer-reviewed scientific articles and patents. Tanim can be reached by email at tanvir.tanim@inl.gov

Dr. Venkataraman Thangadurai is a full professor and Chair in Energy at the School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom. He is the inaugural Faraday Adjunct Professorial Fellow at the University of St Andrews. He is elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), Royal Society of Canada, and the Electrochemical Society (USA). He has published more than 260 peer-reviewed papers in journals (H-index of 69). He has received the Keith Laidler Award from the Canadian Chemical Society (CSC) in 2016 and Research Excellence Award in Materials Chemistry from CSC in 2021. Dr. Thangadurai is founder of two start-ups based on his lithium-ion electrolytes research. His current research activities include the discovery of novel solid-state electrolytes and electrodes for advanced batteries and fuel cells.

As the Business Development Director at Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials, Carl Thoemmes leads commercialization of Orbia's domestic production of Custom Electrolytes, fluorinated electrolyte materials, and LiPF6 electrolyte salt for a wide range of battery applications and customer market segments. Having previously worked at both Flex and Inventus Power, Carl has a unique breadth of battery industry experience spanning raw material development, cell design, pack-level, and system-level integrations across a wide range of chemistries and applications.

I have been actively involved in advancing battery technologies, recycling, and end-of-life management strategies throughout my entire career. My work has focused on the sustainable recycling of EV batteries and the development of circular economy strategies. Currently, I am collaborating with the FTA on research related to fire suppression and residual values for electric bus batteries, all while supporting efforts toward sustainable electrification.

Antoni Tong, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Smartville, a company developing solutions for high-value, scalable EV battery circularity. He is a leading expert in battery energy storage system control, management, and their integration with grid modernization, renewable power sources, and electrified transportation. Dr. Tong's previous work includes serving as a research scientist at the University of California, San Diego, where he led projects on the integration of advanced energy storage systems across various emerging battery technologies. He also pioneered research, development, and commercialization of EV battery repurposing solutions, leading projects with Nissan, BMW, Cummins, Honda, and Pacific Gas & Electric.

Loraine Torres-Castro is the battery safety lead for vehicle electrification and grid energy storage at Sandia National Labs. The research that Loraine oversees focuses on evaluating batteries well outside of manufacturer recommended specifications and the severity of any catastrophic thermal runaway. In the Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory, her efforts are focused on understanding the mechanisms that lead to energy storage system safety incidents, and developing mitigation strategies for single-cell and system failures. Loraine has innovated abuse testing by targeting problems using a predictive approach (early detection for intervention) to eliminate failure rather than reacting to it. Her work has led to developments in advanced abuse testing, including a fundamental understanding of cell failure, to facilitate the design of safer energy storage systems. Her expertise and commitment to safety science have led to multiple cross-collaborations among sponsoring organizations, including the Department of Energy (Office of Electricity, the Vehicle Technologies Office, Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy), Department of Transportation, and NASA. On behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office, she authored and maintains the US Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) Battery Abuse Testing Manual, widely used by car manufacturers to evaluate new technologies. Loraine is also a member of the USABC, for which she provides technical advice and recommendations.

Professor Trimboli’s research focuses on development of control strategies for the management of high-capacity battery systems such as found in electric vehicles. He is currently involved in multiple projects where he leads investigation on battery modeling and the application of model-predictive control to improve the performance and extend the lifetime of lithium ion battery cells. Other research efforts include: reduced-order modeling methods, modeling of lithium-ion degradation mechanisms, empirical and physics-based modeling of lithium-ion battery thermal properties, as well as predictive methods for power estimation.

Electrical Engineer (University of Karlsruhe, today KIT); PhD in the field of modeling and development of control strategies for fuel cell systems (Fraunhofer ISE and University of Karlsruhe, today KIT); Since 03/2024 Energy Storage Chief Expert at Huawei Nuremberg Research Center; From 2017 to 02/2024 Head of Department “Electrical Energy Storage” and Coordinator of Business Unit “Electrical Energy Storage” at Fraunhofer ISE; From 2011 to 2016 Head of Department “PV Off-Grid Solutions and Battery System Technology” at Fraunhofer ISE; From 2005 to 2010 Head of Group “Off-Grid Power Supply”; Until 02/2024 Contact Person for Battery Systems at Fraunhofer Battery Alliance; From 2021 to 02/2024 Spokesman of R&D Advisory Board of German Energy Storage Systems Association (BVES); From 2022 to 02/2024 Member of Steering Committee and Technical Advisor of Working Group “Stationary Applications and Integration” of Batteries Europe / Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA)

Steven Visco is the Chief Executive Officer, CTO, and founder of PolyPlus Battery Company in Berkeley, California, as well as a Guest Scientist in the Materials Science Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Steven J. Visco currently holds 127 U.S. patents, more than 200 international patents and has authored over 80 journal articles, as well as books, monographs and other publications. Dr. Visco graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts in 1977 and received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Brown University in 1982. Dr. Visco then joined the staff at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a Principal Investigator in the Materials Sciences Division in 1984 where his research interests have included advanced batteries and fuel cells. Steven Visco co-founded PolyPlus Battery Company in 1991. In 2013 Dr. Visco was selected by the City of Berkeley for a “Visionary Award” for his work in next generation batteries. Steve also serves on the Technical Advisory the CIC Energigune Institute in Miñano, Spain and was awarded the 2011 International Battery Association Award for “Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Lithium-Air and Lithium-Water Batteries.” PolyPlus Battery Company was selected by TIME magazine for its 50 Best Inventions of 2011 Issue, and was selected for a Gold Edison Award in 2012. In May 2015 Dr. Visco was elected a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society.

Bairav's research focuses on understanding the mechanistic origin and evolution of reactive-transport, chemo-mechanical, and thermo-electrochemical interactions in porous architectures and interfaces for energy storage and conversion.

Dr. Aamir Iqbal Waidha, received a PhD in materials for energy applications from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. Following a year of postdoctoral research at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, where he specialized in recycling of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, he joined Theion GmbH. Joining as a Senior Battery Scientist in October 2022, he currently holds the position of Principal Battery Scientist. Dr. Waidha has received several awards for his research and authored more than 20 peer reviewed papers. In addition, he has also filed several patents related to lithium sulfur batteries.

Dr. Michael Wang is a Distinguished Fellow and director of the Systems Assessment Center, Energy Systems Division at Argonne National Laboratory. Dr. Wang leads the ongoing development of Argonne’s GREET software model for life cycle analysis of vehicle technologies and transportation fuels. The GREET model and his research results have been used by regulatory agencies such as the California Air Resources Board, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop automotive fuel regulations. In addition to his work in the U.S., Dr. Wang has collaborated with government agencies, automotive companies, energy companies, universities and research institutions in Asia and Europe. Dr. Wang is a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers and a member of the Transportation Energy Committee of the Transportation Research Board. He served on the boards of NGOs, companies, and Chinese automotive research organizations, and is on the editorial boards of four international journals. Dr. Wang has over 270 publications in the areas of transportation energy and environment effects. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Environmental Science from University of California at Davis and a B.S. in Agricultural Meteorology from the China Agricultural University, Beijing.

Keven Wang is the co-founder & CEO of UnitX, a robotics company automating visual inspection in factories. Keven previously led the desktop software team at RelateIQ (acquired by Salesforce for $390M). Keven graduated with an MS in Computer Science from Stanford University, and a BSE in Computer Science from University of Michigan.

Dr. Hansen Wang is Special Technology Officer for Advanced Metal Anodes at 21C Lab, CATL. He leads fundamental research, materials development, and product design of high-energy lithium metal batteries. He is also in charge of developing aqueous zinc batteries and other metal-anode-based next-generation battery systems. He was awarded his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Stanford University in 2021 and holds a B.E. in Chemical Engineering from Tsinghua University. He authored over 40 scientific publications, with an H-index of 37.

Dr. Matthew Wang graduated from Peking University with a Materials Science major in 2010. He has over 14 years of working experience in the Lithium-ion battery industry. At Amionx, his R&D focus is to make safer batteries by using SafeCore as a current interrupter and limiter to mitigate thermal runaway. He leads an internal team to develop next generation safety technologies, and he also oversees external technical programs with international customers and partners.

Dr. John Warner is a well-recognized figure in the battery industry. He is an authority on EV batteries, an experienced sales, business development, strategic marketing, and product management executive with more than 35 years of combined automotive and battery industry experience and author of three successful books on EV batteries. Today he serves as one of the co-founders and Chief Customer Officer for American Battery Solutions, a lithium-ion battery pack manufacturer based in Michigan and Ohio where he is focused in on- and off-road mobility battery development. He is Founder and President of Warner Energy Consulting LLC. Previously, he served as Chief Marketing Officer for Ener1, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for XALT Energy, Director of Sales & Marketing for Magna Steyr Battery Systems NA, Director of Product Management at Boston-Power, and nearly 20 years in the auto industry, much of that with General Motors where he served in a wide variety of leadership roles. Dr. Warner published his first book “The Handbook of Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Design” in 2015 with a second edition published in May 2024. His second book, “Lithium-Ion Chemistries: A Primer” was published in 2019. His books focus on simplifying the complex topics around battery chemistries making it easily understandable by a wide audience for both entry level engineers and all non-engineering professionals.

Uwe began his career at Daimler AG/Mercedes Benz, where he worked in research and development from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2007 to 2009. During that time, he contributed to NiMH battery technology and to the energy and battery management of Li-Ion systems, including Battery Management Systems. In 2006, Uwe joined Robert Bosch GmbH and participated in battery projects at the Hybrid Project House. From 2009 to 2016, he worked as the Senior Product Manager for Battery Technology at AVL List GmbH. Since 2017, Uwe has served as Managing Director of Sales & Business Development at Munich Electrification GmbH, where he applies his expertise to further developments in electrification technologies. His career reflects a commitment to innovation and excellence in the ever-evolving landscape of battery technology. MUNICH

Manuel has a passion for innovation and international collaborations, with areas of technical expertise that include batteries, materials science, and nanotechnology. Working in the lithium-ion battery industry, Manuel has gained extensive experience in lithium-ion battery R&D and technology commercialization, while being instrumental in taking technology from lab scale to pilot production ready. As Head of the Energy Division at AnteoTech his work is focused on enabling high silicon content anodes leading the development of the AnteoTech’s silicon anode program. With a Master of Engineering in Materials and a Master of Business in Entrepreneurship, Manuel is skilled at leading technology development as well as commercialization activities and has participated in several successful substantial capital raises. Previously, Manuel led and pioneered the development of super lightweight, metallized-polymer, current collector technology, for lithium-ion batteries and next generation lithium metal anodes.

Dr. Anna Windmueller is head of the Batteries Department within the Institute of Energy Technologies (IET-1) at Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), in Germany. She received her Ph.D. in 2019 from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, specializing in the synthesis and analysis of active materials for Li-ion and solid-state batteries. Previously, she was trained in mineralogy and crystallography at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. She joined IET-1 in 2021 to focus on post-Li-ion battery technologies, a field she further developed as a visiting scientist at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology with an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship and a National Science and Technology Council Grant in 2023/24. Currently, Dr. Windmueller is involved in various Li- and Na-based battery projects with a focus on solid-state batteries. Her research interests focus on the development of next-generation materials and cells for efficient and sustainable battery applications, with a strong emphasis on understanding the structure-property relationships that underpin their performance.

Martin Winter holds a professorship for “Materials Science, Energy and Electrochemistry” at Muenster University, Germany. He is a Director of the MEET Battery Research Center at Muenster University and of the Helmholtz-Institute Muenster (HI MS) “Ionics in Energy Storage”, a branch of Forschungszentrum Jülich. Martin Winter is the spokesperson of German Battery Research. He holds several president and chairmen positions in scientific societies and is the recipient of more than 50 awards and recognitions.

Craig currently serves as the General Manager of Cambridge EnerTech with primary responsibilities for scientific conference organization and program development within energy market sectors with conferences based in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. Prior to that and since 2014, Craig served as Executive Director of Conferences for Cambridge Enertech. Previously to joining CII and forming Cambridge EnerTech, Craig was the Founder and President of the Knowledge Foundation, a scientific conference and publishing company until it was acquired by CII in 2014. Additionally, Craig was a Director at IBC USA (now Informa), and has previous experience in conference development, publishing and technical marketing.

Dr. Qingliu Wu received his Ph D degree from University of Kentucky in 2011. Dr. Wu began his postdoctoral research at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in 2011, working in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division. He continued in this role until 2015. During this period, he contributed to ANL lithium-ion battery research, including co-authoring publications such as "Electrochemical Characterization of Lithium and Manganese Rich Composite Material for Lithium-ion Batteries," published in April 2015. He then joined Navitas Advanced Solutions Group as a Senior Research Scientist in 2015. During his tenure from 2015 to 2017, he worked on lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technologies, contributing to projects funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. In August 2017, Dr. Wu transitioned to academia, joining Western Michigan University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering. His current WMU research focuses include material development and characterization, and advanced manufacturing processes for energy storage and conversion systems.

Dr. Zhimin Xi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Rutgers University – New Brunswick, where he also contributes as the Founder and CEO of Reliable Autonomy LLC. He earned his BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2001 and 2004, respectively, followed by a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Reliability Engineering from the University of Maryland – College Park in 2010. Dr. Xi's scholarly work primarily focuses on the theoretical development of reliability engineering, optimization under uncertainty, and model validation, particularly in applications related to autonomous vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and additive manufacturing. He has authored over 90 publications in esteemed journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings, contributing significantly to the field. His research endeavors have received funding from prominent organizations such as the National Science Foundation, DARPA, and Ford Motor Company. Throughout his career, Dr. Xi has been recognized with various accolades, including the 2021 ASME Design Automation Young Investigator Award and the 2016 DARPA Young Faculty Award. His research excellence is further evidenced by multiple Best Paper Awards from the ASME Design Automation Conference. In his capacity as CEO of Reliable Autonomy, Dr. Xi has spearheaded the company to significant accomplishments, including winning the Grand Prize at the American-Made Data-Driven Distributed (3D) Solar Visibility Prize in 2025, as well as securing first place in the American-Made Net Load Forecasting Prize in 2023, and being named a semifinalist in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 7 in 2024. Dr. Xi actively engages in academic service as an Associate Editor for the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design and is a member of professional societies, including the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IISE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Dr. Albert W. Xiao completed his PhD in battery materials at the University of Oxford with Prof. Mauro Pasta. After working in both the academic and start-up worlds, Dr. Xiao moved to Japan in 2022 and joined Nissan Motor Corporation Ltd. as a team lead in charge of developing next generation cathode materials for All-Solid-State Batteries. From the beginning of fiscal year 2025, Dr. Xiao was promoted to a new position as senior researcher in charge of the experimental battery materials researcg at the new Nissan Advanced Technical Center in Silicon Valley.

Prof. Rachid Yazami, is a native of Fez, Morocco and a graduate of the Grenoble Institute of Technology (INPG) electrochemistry and materials science where he also received a Ph.D. on graphite intercalation compounds for lithium battery application, and began his career and rose to research director at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) in Grenoble. Recently, after over 40 years in academic research Prof. Yazami retired from the CNRS, pursuing his career as entrepreneur. Yazami is the inventor involved in over 150 patents related to battery technology, including the graphite anode used in most commercial lithium ion batteries an over $150b business. Dr. Yazami co-authored about 250 articles in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and international meeting proceedings. Yazami served a visiting associate in Materials Science and in Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in collaboration with JPL/NASA together with being the President of the International Battery Association (IBA). His name appears in International Scientific Board of several lithium battery conferences and events. In 2010, Dr. Yazami joined the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU) where he held the Nanyang Visiting Professor in Materials Science position together with being a PI of battery research at the TUM Create Center of e-mobility, jointly managed by NTU and the Technological University of Munich.In recognition of his invention of the graphite anode in lithium ion batteries, Yazami received several scientific awards, including from NASA, NATO, IBA, JSPS, Hawaii Battery Conference, the IEEE and the Draper Prize in 2014 considered as the Nobel Prize in Engineering. In 2014 Yazami was decorated by HM the King of Morocco. He is the recipient of the French Legion of Honor in 2016 and of the “2018’ Takreem Award” in Science and Technology Innovation, considered the Arab Scientist of the Year Award. Recently Prof. Rachid was the recipient of the 2019 Arab Investor Award during a Forum held in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris together with the Mohamed Bin Rached Medal of Scientific Distinguishment of Life Achievement given by the Ruler of Dubai in 2020.

Gleb Yushin is a Co-Founder & CTO of Sila Nanotechnologies and serves as a Professor of Materials Science at Georgia Institute of Technology and the Editor-in-Chief for Materials Today. Gleb has co-authored over 170 peer-reviewed publications and over 100 patents. For his contributions to the development of energy storage materials, Gleb has received numerous awards and was recognized as one of the world’s most influential scientific minds by the Electrochemical Society. Gleb holds BS and MS degrees in Physics from Polytechnic Institute and a PhD in Materials Science from North Carolina State University.

John is the CTO/CSO of Polypore International (Celgard)/Asahi Kasei. He received IBA (International Battery Association) Technology Award 2024 for his invention of Ceramic Coated Separator and Outstanding Contribution in Understanding of Internal Shorts Events of Li-ion Cells that lead the broad application of Ceramic Coated Separator (CCS). This technology has made a significant contribution to the evolution of humanity (SVP/CTO Panasonic). He is recognized as the leading authority on lithium-ion battery safety and separators. Through IEEE, he leads in establishing lithium-ion battery industry standards (P1625, P1725). John pioneered the Sulfide SSE with ~ 40 papers (1984-1991). He has chaired and/or organized more than 60 international conferences and delivered more than 120 invited keynote or plenary speeches at various international conferences. John has published more than 300 patents, papers, and books. John received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He also attended Sloan School of MIT.

Jingyi Zhang is an Energy Systems Analyst at Argonne National Laboratory, specializing in life cycle assessment (LCA) and renewable energy systems. She holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. Her past work includes LCA of all-solid-state batteries and material flow analysis of battery recycling. Jingyi is actively involved in efforts to understand Battery Passport LCA frameworks across different countries and explore how these insights can inform the development of a potential US Battery Passport LCA framework.

Preston Zhang is the Director of Strategic Materials Engineering and Procurement for Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America. In his role, he is focused on developing a domestic supply chain for lithium-ion battery materials as Panasonic continues to scale in the United States. Panasonic Energy is a global leader in cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells, with a long-standing history of innovation spanning both cell technology and battery business operations at sites including manufacturing facility known as Gigafactory Nevada, and the latest expansion in Kansas. Prior to joining Panasonic, Preston was at Tesla where he managed battery cell materials. He had previously held positions in supply management, manufacturing and operations at global organizations across the automotive, LED and semiconductor industries. Preston holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from McMaster University, and is a graduate of the Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Program from Stanford.

Dr. Jingyuan (Andy) Zhao is a research scientist at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, where his work focuses on AI-driven battery diagnostics, health prognostics, and scalable algorithms for real-world electric mobility applications. He previously served as Chief Engineer at BYD, leading the large-scale deployment of diagnostic systems across electric vehicles. His research bridges data-driven machine learning, battery system modeling, and edge-to-cloud implementation to enhance battery safety and reliability. Dr. Zhao has authored publications in top-tier journals and collaborates extensively with academic and industry partners to advance next-generation intelligent energy storage solutions.