Eurogas Annual Regional Conference 'Focus on Portugal: The Energy Transition & The Role of Renewable Gases'

Speakers for this event

• Bernd Kuepker

  Bernd Kuepker

  Policy Officer, Decarbonisation and Sustainability of Energy Sources Unit, European Commission

  Working on energy topics in the Commission since 2012, Bernd Kuepker works since 2021 in the Unit “Decarbonisation and Sustainability of Energy Sources” of DG Energy with a focus on the promotion of renewable and low carbon fuels in the transport sector including hydrogen and hydrogen-based synthetic fuels. In this context he is also dealing with the sustainability aspects of hydrogen production such as additionality and the methodology to determine greenhouse gas emissions savings of such fuels.

  Policy Officer, Decarbonisation and Sustainability of Energy Sources Unit, European Commission

• Didier Holleaux

  Didier Holleaux

  President of Eurogas

  After graduating as an Engineer (Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale des Mines de Paris), Didier HOLLEAUX started to work as an Engineer in the car-manufacturing and in the oil industry. He then made a career in the French Civil Service which led him to the position of head of the departmental staff (“Directeur de Cabinet”) of the Energy Minister (1992-1993).

  Didier HOLLEAUX joined Gaz de France (merged in GDF SUEZ in 2008 and renamed as ENGIE in 2015), in 1993. Since then, he held different managing positions in the transmission, distribution, and LNG businesses of the company. He also founded and managed the North Sea Exploration and Production (1997-2000) and managed the worldwide Exploration and Production of the group (2007-2015). Since 1st of July 2015, he is Executive Vice President of ENGIE. He is currently in charge of special projects particularly in the field of renewable gases and external representation.

  Didier HOLLEAUX has been elected President of Eurogas in June 2021.

  President of Eurogas

• Federica Sabbati

  Federica Sabbati

  Secretary General, EHI

  Federica Sabbati is Secretary General of the European Heating Industry, which brings together companies that are leaders in the production of efficient heating systems. EHI members cover 90% of the European market for all heating solutions from heat pumps to hybrids, from green gas boilers to solar thermal systems, from mCHP (micro combined heat and power) to fuel cells, from radiators to underfloor heating. Since 2020 Federica is also Facilitator of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance’s Buildings Round Table.

  Secretary General, EHI

• Gabriel Sousa

  Gabriel Sousa

  CEO, Floene

  Gabriel Sousa is Chief Executive Officer of FLOENE ENERGIAS, S.A. since November 2016 and Chairman of the Boards of Directors of the 9 Subsidiary Distribution Companies.
  With more than 25 years of experience in the natural gas sector, began his activity as Head of Commercial Development of Lusitaniagás with the first steps of the natural gas project in Portugal, being appointed later as CEO in different Gas Distribution Companies.
  Before entering the natural gas sector, worked in the automotive and metallurgical industries as Commercial Manager and Quality, Health, Safety and Environment Manager.
  Holds a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Coimbra and an Executive MBA from AESE/IESE.
  Board Member of the following European Associations – EUROGÁS and GD4S – Gas Distributors for Sustainability; Board Member of APEG – Portuguese Association of Natural Gas Companies and Member of the Distribution Committee of IGU – International Gas Union.

  CEO, Floene

• Jéronimo Cunha

  Jéronimo Cunha

  Director-General for Energy and Geology, DGEG

  Director-General for Energy and Geology, DGEG

• Kamila Waciega

  Kamila Waciega

  Director, Energy & Infrastructure Policy, Hydrogen Europe

  Kamila Waciega is Director for Energy & Infrastructure Policy at Hydrogen Europe. Previously she was in charge of access to public funds and energy and climate policy for Dalkia Central Europe Department between 2010 and 2014. Before joining Hydrogen Europa Kamila was part of Veolia’s Public Affairs Department, where she acted as Director in charge of energy and climate issues. She graduated from Sciences Po Paris and London School of Economics and holds a PhD in Political Sciences, applied to decarbonisation policies in European regions.

  Director, Energy & Infrastructure Policy, Hydrogen Europe

• Luis Montero

  Luis Montero

  Home Comfort, Product Area Combustion, Bosch Termotecnologia

  Luís Miguel Pacheco Monteiro holds a Master’s in mechanical engineering from IST and a Master’s in IC engines from IFP School. With more than 20 years in technology, he manages sanitary water heating new technologies at Bosch Home Comfort division. Through experience in research, development, and team management, he contributed to award-winning projects, including the 2015 COTEC-NORS and a 2017 CES Innovation Award. His significant impact on innovation and technology was acknowledged when he received the Bosch ‘Inventor of the Year’ award in 2017.

  Home Comfort, Product Area Combustion, Bosch Termotecnologia

• MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho

  MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho

  Member of the ITRE Committee, European Parliament

  Maria da Graça Carvalho is currently a member of the European Parliament. She is vice-chair of the Fisheries Committee (PECH), a full Member of Industry, Research and Energy committee (ITRE) and a substitute member of Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Women’s Rights (FEMM) committees. She was a senior advisor to Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, from November 2014 to December 2015. Previously, she was a member of the European Parliament between July 2009 and May 2014. In that capacity, she was one of the rapporteurs of Horizon 2020. She was also Principal Adviser to President Barroso in the fields of Science, Higher Education, Innovation, Research Policy, Energy, Environment and Climate Change from 2006 to 2009. She served as a Minister of Science and Higher Education of the XV Constitutional Government of Portugal and Minister of Science, Innovation and Higher Education of the XVI Constitutional Government. She is a Full Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon).

  Member of the ITRE Committee, European Parliament

• Nuno Fitas Mendes

  Nuno Fitas Mendes

  CEO, REN Portgás

  Nuno Fitas Mendes is the CEO of REN Portgás, the leading investment DSO in Portugal with more than 400th clients. REN Portgás is a subsidiary of REN Group, which holds the Portuguese Electricity and Gas TSO.

  During his career Nuno worked both in financial and operational areas being responsible for the planning and management control, marketing, regulation, internal control and sustainability areas of a holding company and its subsidiaries within the gas business of EDP and REN Group (Sourcing, Transport, Distribution and Commercialization in Portugal and Spain for Natural Gas and LPG). Prior to this experience, Nuno worked in the electricity sector with responsibilities ranging from logistics, budgeting controlling and IT consulting.

  Nuno holds a Master in Business Administration – MBA from Porto Business School (Oporto) and a M.Sc. in Electrotechnical and Computer Engineering from FEUP — University of Porto. He also holds an Advanced Management Program – AMP from AESE (Lisbon) and an AMP from Católica University (Lisbon) and Northwestern Kellogg University (Chicago).

  CEO, REN Portgás

• Nuno Moreira

  Nuno Moreira

  CEO, Dourogás

  Nuno Afonso Moreira is PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management and as a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently CEO of Dourogás, one of the most innovative and important companies in the Portuguese sector of renewable gases, including biomethane and hydrogen, and natural gas, Coordinator of the Energy Commission of the Order of Engineers, and President of the Energy Counsil of CIP – Confederation of Portuguese Business.

  Among others, Afonso Moreira also stands as Chairman of SG Natural Gas-Industrial Utilization Committee in IGU- International Gas Union; Vice President of Colab Bioref – Collaborative Laboratory for Biorefineries; Board member and Portugal representant of Gasnam- Iberian Association for the use of natural gas, hydrogen and renewable gas in mobility.

  CEO, Dourogás

• Paulo do Nascimento Cabral

  Paulo do Nascimento Cabral

  Adviser Azores and Energy, Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Institutions

  Advisor for Azores and Energy in the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Institutions.
  Chief of Staff of the President of the Regional Government of Azores
  Chief of staff in the European Parliament,
  Accredited Parliamentary Assistant, local Assistant in the EP between 2009-2019.
  Master in EU Projects Design and Management 2021-2027
  MBA and master in Coaching Psychology.

  Adviser Azores and Energy, Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Institutions

• Rita Pinho Rodrigues

  Rita Pinho Rodrigues

  Director for Corporate Affairs and Board Member, DECO PROteste

  Rita Pinho Rodrigues is a Board Member and Head of Public Affairs & Media Relations at DECOPROTESTE. She has a law degree from Lusíada University and has been working for consumer protection since 1999.

  With over 300,000 DECO PROTESTE members today, Rita has a challenging and wide-ranging job at the head of an organization that is over 40 years old, dealing daily with communication actions and consumer campaigns, studies, technical and legal advice. Rita and her team work to provide the best information to consumers and demand their rights in Portugal and in international consumer organizations.

  Director for Corporate Affairs and Board Member, DECO PROteste

• Rui Costa Neto

  Rui Costa Neto

  Doctorate Researcher, IN+/IST & Professor, ULHT/ISEL

  Rui Costa Neto is an academic/engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry and academia. He has a PhD in Chemical Engineering and a Post-Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Técnico de Lisboa, IST). Currently Rui Costa Neto is a Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of Universidade Lusófona (ULHT). Researcher at IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, Técnico Lisboa. Senior expert in hydrogen and fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries and safety expert. Consultant on energy storage systems (Batteries, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Ultracapacitors and, Phase Change Materials).

  Doctorate Researcher, IN+/IST & Professor, ULHT/ISEL