Speaker Biographies

Confirmed Speakers

Maja Bakran Marcich

Deputy Director-General for Transport and Mobility, DG MOVE, European Commission

Maja held various positions in the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs between 1996 and 2016. Based in Brussels from 1999 until 2011, she was responsible for horizontal coordination of the Croatian accession negotiations. In 2011, she moved back to Zagreb and was responsible for setting up and management of the system of national coordination of European Affairs. In 2015 she became Assistant Minister for Europe in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
On 1 December 2016, she became Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, responsible for coordinating the activities related to investment, innovative and sustainable transport, in support of President Juncker's political priorities.

Karima Delli

MEP, Chair of Transport and Tourism Committee, European Parliament

Mrs Delli was elected to the European Parliament in 2009 and again in 2014. In her first term, she served on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and moving on to the Committee on Transport and Tourism after the 2014 elections.

Mrs Delli has always expressed her support for the development of a more sustainable urban mobility model, especially reflected in her own-initiative report on the topic. In her report, she insisted on the importance to redirect urban mobility towards more sustainable modes of transport, with the goal of facing up to the challenges of our century: protecting the climate, public health and promoting the accessibility of mobility.

Convinced that a priority must be given to plans for sustainable urban mobility and clean transport, while actively working on modal shift and inter-modality, she supported and mentioned in her report the UITP objective to double the modal share of public transport by 2025.

Karima Delli is also very active in the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector, where she has been appointed Vice-Chair.

Claire Depré

Head of Unit for Sustainable & Intelligent Transport, DG MOVE, European Commission

In October 2016, Claire Depré was appointed Head of Unit for Sustainable & Intelligent Transport in charge of intelligent transport systems, low emission transport and urban mobility in DG MOVE. Since 2013, she had already served as Head of Unit for Intelligent Transport Systems.

Previously, Claire has worked as an assistant to the Director-General of Mobility and Transport. Before joining the Commission in 2001, she worked in the European Parliament with responsibilities encompassing industry, research and ICT.

Stefaan Vergote

Advisor, Climate Strategy Directorate, DG CLIMA, European Commission

Stefaan Vergote has been an advisor at DG CLIMA since April 2017.

Previously, he was the Head of Economic Analysis and Financial Instruments Unit at DG ENER since March 2014.

From 2010 to 2014, he was Head of Unit A4 in DG CLIMA, responsible for the development of strategic options for the EU's international and domestic climate action. His team was in charge of the 2050 Low Carbon Roadmap, and the 2030 framework for climate and energy policies.

Previously, as Deputy Head of Unit on 'Energy and Environment' in DG Environment, he led a team coordinating the preparation and economic analysis of the 2020 Energy and Climate Package, which implemented the EU's independent commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, including the review of the EU Emission Trading System, The Effort Sharing Decision and Directive on Renewable Energy.

Mr. Vergote has a diploma of civil electrotechnical-mechanical engineer at the Catholic University of Leuven (KULeuven) and holds a Postgraduate Degree in Environmental Management and Technology (KULeuven).

Prior to joining the Commission, Stefaan Vergote was, from 1990 to 1992 a Scientific researcher at the Engineering Department at the Catholic University of Leuven, followed, from 1994 to 1997, by a position of Scientific consultant at IWT (Flemish Institute for Science and Technology) in charge of the evaluation of industrial R&D projects and a Scientific researcher at VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research).

Eddy Hartog

Head of Unit for Smart Mobility and Living, DG CONNECT, European Commission

Mr Hartog has Dutch nationality and was born and raised in Utrecht (the Netherlands). He obtained a degree in political economics at the Erasmus University (Rotterdam) and subsequently a post-graduate degree at the College of Europe (Bruges, Belgium).

He has worked in the European Commission since 1989, first in Trade policy, then in Regional policy and in Maritime policy and lately in Information Society and Media policy. He is a Head of Unit since 2003. His present responsibility (since July 2016) is Head of Unit for Smart Mobility and Living in DG Communication Networks, Content and Technology. Mr Hartog is married and has two daughters.

Thomas Becker

VP Governmental and External Affairs, BMW Group

Dr. Thomas Becker graduated in business economics from Cologne University in 1991. Three years later he received his doctorate. From 1995 to 2002 he worked for the Federal Association of the German Industry (BDI) in the field of environmental politics. From 2002 to 2006 he was head of the economics department at the Confederation of the Automotive Industry (VDA) in Frankfurt. There he was appointed vice chairman in 2006.

Since 2007 he is Vice President of the Department of Government and External Affairs at BMW Group in Munich, Germany.

Karl Isaksson

EU Affairs Partner, Scania

Karl manages the Kreab office in Brussels with a staff of around 50 consultants and Senior Advisors. He has close to 20 years experience in EU politics and public affairs, representing the interests of clients towards key European decision-makers and opinion leaders, both in Brussels and in EU member states.

Kreab has hosted the Scania EU office for the last 20 years and as Scania EU Representative, Karl follows automotive issues such as decarbonisation, connected and automated mobility, and road safety closely.

He previously worked in the European Parliament as Chief of Staff for the Swedish Conservative Party, providing political and media counselling to the party’s MEPs.
Karl has a Master’s degree in Political Science from Lund University, Sweden, and has worked and studied in Singapore.

Petr Dolejsi

Director Mobility & Sustainable Transport , European Automobile Manufacturers' Association

Petr Dolejsi was born in 1977 in Prague. He has graduated PhD. in Economics and Social policy at the University of Economics in Prague, following the Masters´ degree in Economics and Reginal policy. He also passed several courses and stages, including scholarhip at the Universite Cathollique du Louvain in Belgium.

He has started his career within the public services on different, leaving the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech Republic at the Head of Unit post to Permanent representation in Brussels in 2004. He became member of the Presidency team in 2009 chairing the Competitiveness and Growth working party of the Council. In 2010 he joined ACEA and became a Director for Mobility and Sustainable transport, with a specific focus on CO2 policy, industrial policy and alternative powertrains.

John Cooper

Director General , Fuels Europe

John Cooper (BA CEng FIMechE) was appointed Director General, FuelsEurope and Concawe in April 2015. He started his career in the motor industry working on future powertrains, and after 3 years moved to BP Downstream where he has 27 years of experience.

His previous role was as Director, Renewables Strategy Downstream, leading BP’s commercial compliance strategy for renewables regulation. He has also had business leadership roles in aviation fuels and lubricants, transport energy policy, and fuels technology, in the UK and USA, and has represented the UK fuels industry at the UK Automotive Council Technology Group. He holds a BA in Engineering from Cambridge University.

Simon Warburton

Transport Strategy Director, Transport for Greater Manchester

Simon Warburton is the Transport Strategy Director at TfGM, leading on the development of a forward transport policy, investment and funding strategy that will support the city region’s ambitious growth programme and dovetail with major national interventions including HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

During his 18 years in transport policy work for Greater Manchester, Simon has been involved in the development of four Local Transport Plans, the Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund debate and the Greater Manchester Transport Fund, which has supported the £2 billion investment programme that is now coming to a conclusion.

In recent times, his work has included the establishment of Greater Manchester’s transport devolution policies, in preparation for the recently elected Mayor, the city region’s Growth Deal investment programme and the development of Transport for the North. Much of this work has now culminated in Greater Manchester’s forward-looking 2040 Transport Strategy, which provides an innovation-led blueprint for a future transport system that will meet the economic, social and environmental needs of the fast-growing city region.

Maciej Surowiec

EU Government Affairs Manager, Microsoft

The speaker's biography will appear here soon.

Bernd Kammholz

Automotive Chief Technologist, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

The speaker's biography will appear here soon.

Patrick Gagnol

Head of Project, Local Energy Systems Division , EDF

Patrick Gagnol has been working for ten years at the Electric Mobility Division of EDF. He is currently the coordinator of the European TEN-T and CEF projects Corri-Door and UNIT-E aiming at deploying interoperable multi-standard fast charging stations and eMobility services in Europe. He is part of the board of the European eMi3 initiative promoting interoperable eMobility. Previously involved in several eMobility projects with Toyota for testing a fleet of pre-market PHEV Prius, SAVE with Renault, he had been the leader of the French German CROME project demonstrating innovative interoperable public EV 22 kW infrastructures and eMobility between in Germany and in France

Elbert W. Lievense

Head of Global Solutions, e-mobility , E.ON

Elbert W. Lievense was appointed Head of Global Solutions for e-mobility at E.ON in 2017 where he is working on delivering E.ON’s ambitions to grow in the electric vehicle charging market.

A serial entrepreneur and creative thinker Elbert has been involved in the e-mobility sector for years. Most recently owning and leading a consultancy which provided expert business advice on e-mobility. He has also spent time at Allego where he was responsible for the growth of the FastCharge Corridor in the Netherlands and Belgium and worked on charging infrastructure in Austria and Germany as well. Prior to this he set up the charge satiation manufacturing business at Alfen, managed the installation of 10,000 charge points at E-laad NL and worked closely with municipalities on the creation of a grid of charging stations in the Netherlands while at Enexis.

Nicolas Erb

EU Affairs Director, ALSTOM

Nicolas Erb studied Political Science in France and graduated from the College of Europe. He joined UNIFE in 2001 where has was involved in contributing to and managing different research projects co-funded by the EU, ERTMS and the Railway European Technology Platform ERRAC.

He joined Alstom in 2005 and has held different positions in Strategy, Business Development and Mergers & Acquisition before becoming European Affairs Director in 2012.

Brian Moran

Vice President, Boeing Europe Government Affairs, Boeing

Brian Moran was named vice president of Government Affairs for Boeing Europe in March 2016. Since January 2014, Moran has been responsible for representing Boeing interests with all European institutions, most notably the European Commission, the European Parliament and NATO. With these expanded regional responsibilities, he works closely with Boeing’s national offices across the continent to build and manage an integrated government affairs strategy at the pan-European level. Moran is based in Brussels, Belgium, and reports to Sir Michael Arthur, president of Boeing Europe for Boeing International.

Previously, Moran led Boeing International activities in Northern Europe. Based in Berlin, Germany, Moran developed government and industry relationships, working closely with Boeing’s businesses to identify and assess new opportunities. Before that, Moran was director of Communications for the Business Development & Strategic Integration organization of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, where he led a team focused on the development, integration and delivery of strategic messaging in the areas of product and services strategy, aviation and environmental policy, and international strategy.

Moran holds a dual degree in international business and French from Lindenwood University in Missouri and a master’s degree in business administration from Washington University’s Olin School of Business in St. Louis. He completed executive programs at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and a Brookings Institution fellowship on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Moran is an alumnus of the Atlantik-Brücke German-American Young Leaders program. Born and raised in Belgium, he speaks English, German and French.

François Parniere

Director for Development, Sodetrel

The speaker's biography will appear here soon.

Alan James

Vice President Worldwide Business Development , Hyperloop One

Alan joined Hyperloop One as Vice President - Worldwide Business Development in 2015. He is the primary point of contact for cities, regions and countries around the world seeking to develop Hyperloop transport solutions. In Europe, Alan is leading the company’s engagement with the EU and the Governments of Member States where Hyperloop networks are proposed.

Hyperloop One is a new mode of transport operating at a design speed of 300 metres per second (1,080 km/h or 671 mph), not only revolutionising passenger and freight transportation, but also radically enhancing economic competitiveness.

Prior to his current role, Alan has led multi-billion infrastructure and strategic projects. As Project Director of HS2 The Stoke Route, he led a multi-disciplinary team to create a business case which saved £5bn capital costs, allowed the service to start 7 years earlier than planned, and which ultimately ensured that this important UK city secured a high speed rail link. As CEO of the UK Ultraspeed maglev project, he engaged at the highest levels of UK Government.

Yoram Berholtz

Business Development Director , Argus Cyber Security

Yoram Berholtz is Business Development Director at Argus Cyber Security with responsibility for cultivating and implementing partnerships and alliances.

Mr. Berholtz has experience in systems engineering and product, marketing and partnership management. Prior to joining Argus, Yoram worked in hi-tech companies such as Redbend, Marvell, Intel, Motorola as well as in several companies supported by venture capital funds. Mr. Berholtz holds a B.Sc. in electrical engineering from Tel-Aviv University and a MBA from Bradford University.​​

Hinde Boulbayem

Mobility Manager, SUMY - Sustainable Urban Logistics & Mobility

Ms Boulbayem holds a CPC, Certificate of Professional Competence, for the Road Transport and an MSc in Mobility Management. Since January 2008, she has been working on urban mobility and alternative use of vehicle technologies research projects.

In 2013 she founded SUMY for Sustainable Urban Logistics and Mobility in Brussels (www.sumy.be) and in 2015 she received the Saphira awards at the South Economic Women Initiative. Today, she is involved in initiatives such as European and regional mobility and transport research and action projects on innovative approaches for integrating cold urban speed freight corridors and on renewable, local and circular energy production projects such as “biogas” from urban organic and water treatment waste.

Greg Archer

Director, Clean Vehicles, Transport and Environment

Greg has been with T&E since 2012. He was previously the director of Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, a UK public-private partnership promoting the shift to clean vehicles and fuels. He has also worked as a non-executive director for the UK Government's Renewable Fuels Agency and Cenex, a centre of excellence for low carbon technologies.

At T&E, Greg leads the clean vehicles team, working on vehicle regulation and testing issues. A chemist by training, Greg describes himself as a “pragmatic environmentalist.”

Charlene Rohr

Senior Research Leader, RAND Europe

Charlene Rohr is a senior research leader at RAND Europe. Her research interest is in understanding factors that influence mobility and travel choices, using choice modelling and qualitative methods.

Rohr has been involved in developing travel demand forecasting models in the UK, Scandinavia and Australia. She has also contributed to the design and analysis of stated preference surveys to explore consumer behaviour more broadly in the transport, health and communication sectors. She has led a number of rapid evidence reviews, including one for the UK Department for Transport to identify factors influencing the levelling off of car travel in Britain. Her work also explores the influence of technology on travel demand. In 2015-16 she led a study for Innovate UK to develop future scenarios for Britain for 2035 exploring the impact of emerging technologies, including autonomous vehicles, on travel.

Currently she is leading a study for the European Parliament to quantify the social and economic impacts of changes to the Product Liability Directive on roll out of fully autonomous, or self-driving, vehicles, which includes undertaking interviews with key stakeholders (automobile manufacturers, insurers, policy-makers) and quantifying societal costs and benefits of different legislative scenarios. She has undertaken policy studies to examine travel behaviour of concessionary pass holders and to quantify costs and benefits of concessionary schemes and to quantify the impact of migration on transport infrastructure.

Rohr received her B.Sc. in civil engineering and her M.Sc. in transportation engineering from the University of Alberta, Canada.

Christian Egenhofer

Senior Research Fellow & Director, CEPS

Christian Egenhofer has more than 20 years' experience working with EU institutions on numerous policy areas. Over the last decade, he has been specialising in EU energy and climate change policy, with a particular focus on the EU energy, climate and transport policies.

He is currently Senior Fellow and Head of the Energy, Climate and Environment Programme at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a Brussels-based think tank. Christian is also Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium) and Natolin (Poland), SciencesPo (Paris/France) and LUISS University in Rome/Italy. From 1997 to 2010 he was Senior Research Fellow and Jean-Monnet Lecturer at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee in Scotland/UK (part-time).

Jesse Scott

Policy Analyst, International Energy Agency

Jesse Scott joined the International Energy Agency in 2015 to work on energy transformation through decarbonisation, electrification and digitalization.

She is currently focusing on an IEA report on the opportunities and risks of digitalization, to be published in October 2017. Jesse previously worked for ten years in EU energy and climate policy in various roles including as Head of Environment at Eurelectric, and as Head of Brussels Office at E3G. She holds a degree and masters from Cambridge University.

Frank Breust

Director Government and External Affairs, BMW Group

Frank Breust is heading the government and external affairs office of the BMW Group in Brussels, Belgium since April 2017. In this function, he coordinates corporate positioning with all relevant stakeholders in the fields of environmental, mobility and sustainability policies on a European level.

Between 2013 and 2017, Mr Breust headed up the BMW Group Representative Office in Sacramento, California. Prior to this, he was responsible for coordinating the political communication of the BMW Group in Munich with regard to human resources related issues as well as sustainability engagements. Mr Breust also steered social sustainability topics in the HR strategy.

Brian Maguire

Journalist & Producer, EBX MEDiA

Brussels-based journalist, producer and broadcaster, Brian Maguire, specialises in European politics and business; producing short documentary films exploring Europe’s competing policy dimensions.
Brian hosts live radio and television debates with European Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament and independent experts, and was co-anchor for one of the live European Presidential debates during the 2014 elections.
A graduate in Government and Law, he has worked across a broad range of publications, especially within the business-to- business sector. A specialist in corporate and political communications, his clients include start-ups, SMEs, blue chip companies, and NGOs with a human rights focus.

Paul Adamson

Chairman, Forum Europe

Paul Adamson is chairman of Forum Europe and founder and editor of E!Sharp, an online magazine dedicated to covering the European Union and Europe's place in the world.

He is a member of the Centre for European Reform’s advisory board, Rand Europe's Council of Advisors and the external advisory board of YouGov-Cambridge, a polling think-tank. He is a member of the board of advisors of the European Institute in Washington DC, the advisory board of the Washington European Society and the advisory committee of the EU chapter of Women in International Security (WiiS).

Paul is a Visiting Professor at the Policy Institute, King’s College London, a patron of the University Association of Contemporary European Studies (UACES) and a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences.

He founded the consulting firm Adamson Associates, which was sold to Weber Shandwick and The Centre, which was later sold to Edelman.

In 2012, Paul was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to promoting understanding of the European Union”, a part of the Queen's 2012 New Year Honours Diplomatic Service and Overseas List. In 2016 he was made a Chevalier in the Ordre national du Mérite by the French government.

Axel Volkery

Sustainable & Intelligent Transport, DG MOVE, European Commission

Axel Volkery works for the Directorate-General Mobility and Transport, European Commission, where he coordinates the work of the clean transport team in the Sustainable and Intelligent Transport Unit. The team covers policies on alternative fuels infrastructure and clean vehicles, including standardisation. Prior to joining the Commission, Axel has held different positions in the public and private sector in Belgium, Denmark and Germany.