After more than two years hunched behind computer screens it is finally happening: We are meeting face-to-face. I am delighted to invite you to the first EPCA in-person event for petrochemical professionals in three years. It is hard to believe that we last met in Berlin in 2019!
The theme we have chosen for 2022 is From Resilience to Transformation. This is a natural progression from our previous theme, Future Reimagined.
Now, as we progress from the pandemic crisis, we face heightened geopolitical stress due to the Russian conflict in Ukraine. It is impossible to predict all the consequences, but we may see the greatest period of transition for Europe since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
What, therefore, does transformation mean for the petrochemical industry today? It is an acknowledgment that sharing knowledge and skills is the way to make our societies and our organizations sustainable in this new period of disruption. As professionals, we can help achieve what we want: a humane planet, a climate-friendly planet and a digital-connected planet.
EPCA’s Annual Meeting in Berlin is one of those rare opportunities to step back, look at the world and shape partnerships for the future. We will discuss how we can work together within our organizations, with our partners and key stakeholders. We can discuss concrete and innovative solutions and revitalize trusted partnerships. The 56th Annual Meeting is your opportunity to influence that endeavor. The program will feature visions for the future from creative scenarios to the entrepreneurial thinking of CEOs and the next generation. We will have keynote speeches, panel discussions and plenty of networking opportunities to foster meaningful dialogues among our members.
Join me and our colleagues to become leaders in this fast-changing world, let’s reconnect face-to-face in Berlin!
Wishing you all a peaceful summer break and look forward to seeing many of you in October!
All the best,
Hartwig Michels
President - The European Petrochemical Association (EPCA)
