Our organisation

Ester Baiget is business president for Dow Industrial Solutions. She is responsible for ensuring long-term growth and profitability as well as the strategic direction and global business performance of this industry-leading portfolio that provides products used as functional ingredients or processing aids in the manufacture of a diverse range of products.

With several years of varied international experience as a technical and commercial business leader, she has driven transformational change and enhanced profitability across a diverse range of businesses. She has a track record of achieving results that outpace average market growth and of defining strategy to optimize the commercialization of innovative new product families and generate new margin sales. At the same time she shares her passion for science and inspires colleagues and future generations of STEM engineers.

Baiget joined Dow in 1995 as an engineer in Tarragona, Spain, part of the team accountable for the start-up and commissioning Dow’s first metallocence asset in EMEA. Since then, she has held a variety of technical, commercial and strategic roles of increasing importance and responsibility. Some key accomplishments include: technical sales leader for Dow Fiber Solutions where she led the development of Dow’s Global Textile Technology Centre; global director of strategic development, working directly with Dow’s chairman and CEO and global business director for the EO/EG and Technology business. Most recently, she served as EMEAI commercial director for Dow Elastomers, Electrical & Telecommunications, with responsibility for profit and loss as well as the commercial organization, end-use marketing and customer relationships for the business portfolio across the region. She took on her current role in 2016.

Baiget represents Dow as Vice-President of EPCA (The European Petrochemical Association) and is a STEM ambassador. Ester previously represented Dow on the board of MEGlobal, a joint venture between Dow and Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait

Based in Horgen, Switzerland, she holds a chemical engineering degree and an MBA from the University of Tarragona (Spain).

Over his 30 year long career in the Eni petrochemical business, Mr. Chiappani has held positions entailing growing responsibilities within industrial operations , sales, marketing, business service, technical assistance

Valued for his solid expertise in industrial operations management , mainly in Styrenics and Intermediates in Mantua site , from 2010 to 2012 Mr. Chiappani moved up to serve as site Director in Ferrara , which enabled him to enhance his experience across-the-board, by building competence in handling the polyethylene and elastomers businesses.

In 2012, Mr. Chiappani became an integral part of the Versalis Executive Team successfully by taking up the position of Executive Vice President of the Styrenics Business Unit , reporting directly to Versalis’ CEO and holds stewardship of both the unit commercial functions - sales, marketing, business service, technical assistance - and industrial operations  ,he has been instrumental in exceeding all performance targets until 2014, when he took on the new challenge of spearheading the Elastomers Business Unit. As Head of elastomers business was also in charge of the JV (with Lotte Chemical ) in Korea    ( Lotte Versalis Elastomers ) and Director of the Board of Chinese subsidiary Versalis Pacific Trading, with offices in Shanghai and Singapore and Director of the Board of Versalis Americas Inc., with head offices in Houston, Texas.

From July 2019 Head of the Intermediates Business Unit.

Marco Chiappani holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bologna.

Ronald Doesburg has worked with Shell in various roles in several Downstream businesses including, Lubricants, Supply & Distribution, and the Pernis Refinery.

In May 2011 Ronald joined Shell Chemicals as Product Manager Hydrocarbon Solvents EU/AF/ME, based in Rotterdam after which he moved to the Base Chemicals business in various roles where he is now the General Manager for Base Chemicals Europe.

John McNally was born in the UK but was raised and educated in the USA. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1982 and a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University in 1987.  

He has worked in the petrochemical industry for 27 years, first for BP and then INEOS, in a variety of Technical, Operational and Commercial Management roles in 5 countries. 

His most recent previous role was as Chief Operating Officer for INEOS Bio based in Florida, USA. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer for INEOS Olefins and Polymers, UK in August 2014. In the past four years, he has overseen over £500m of investment in the Grangemouth petrochemicals complex.

John is married and has two sons in university.  He currently resides with his wife in London near the INEOS UK Headquarters, but splits his time between the London and Grangemouth offices.

Hans-Christian Sievers
1985 - 1987: Helm AG Hamburg
1987 - 1994: Helm de México, Mexico City Product Manager Chemicals, Sales and Purchases
1994 - 2000: Managing Director of Helm de México
2001 - 2011: Member of the Executive Board of Helm AG, Hamburg responsible for Helm's foreign subsidiaries
As of 2012: Chairman of the Executive Board of Helm AG, Hamburg

Other activities:

- Ostasiatischer Verein, Hamburg Member of the Board

- Lateinamerikaverein, Hamburg Member of the Board

no information

Chet M. Thompson

President, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers

Chet Thompson began his role as president of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers AFPM) in May 2015. Thompson leads a staff that advocates for petroleum refiners and petrochemical manufacturers before Congress and the Executive Branch on a broad range of public policy issues. AFPM, under his leadership, works to emphasize the importance of petroleum refiners and petrochemical manufacturers and their positive impact on U.S. manufacturing, jobs growth, energy independence and national security.

Prior to joining AFPM, Thompson was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Crowell and Moring LLP, where he was chairman of the Environment & Natural Resources Group, one of the country’s premier environmental practices. His practice included counseling, litigation, and regulatory and legislative representation for a wide array of clients under major environmental statutes, including the Clean Air Act; the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, the Resource Conservation Act; and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability and Recovery Act. While at Crowell Morning he represented AFPM as external counsel for nine years.

Thompson previously served as deputy general counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where he provided legal advice to the Agency’s administrator, general counsel and program offices. Before joining EPA in 2004, he spent 10 years at Collier Shannon Scott PLLC, where his work focused on the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Thompson has been recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the U.S. by Chambers & Partners, and was awarded a Certificate of Accommodation by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2006. Thompson holds a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and a J.D. from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law. He and his family reside in Potomac, Maryland.

• 2015 – today  –  Covestro Deutschland AG Leverkusen, Procurement Global Logistics.
• 2010 – 2015  –  Bayer AG Leverkusen, Procurement, Global storage, bulk shipping and plant logistics.
• 2006 – 2010  –  Bayer AG Leverkusen, Procurement Global Plant Logistics.
• 1989 – 2006  –  Bayer Antwerp NV – different operational & site logistics management functions.
• 1988 – 1989  –  Steinweg NV Antwerp – shipping clerc.
• 1985 – 1986  –  Lloyd insurance  NV – insurance clerc.

• Swiss, married, two children
• Master degree in Corporate Finance
• 15 years with Bertschi, several positions as e.g. Head Merger & Acquisitions, MD of Nordic Bulkers (100% subsidiary of Bertschi), Group CFO, Head market entry MiddleEast and Plastics Hub Strategy Europe
• Most recent 5 years Managing Director of Business Unit Liquids Europe

Since August 1^st , 2018 Group CEO of Bertschi

Steffen Bauer, 38 years old, graduated in Economics and Business Management at the University for Economics and Management – University of Applied Sciences, Duisburg.

From 2004 until 2012 he held several positions at Lehnkering GmbH at least as Divisional Head of Contract Logistics Region West. After the acquisition of Lehnkering GmbH by Imperial Logistics International B.V. & Co. KG in 2012 Steffen Bauer was appointed as Director Business Unit Road at Imperial Chemical Transport GmbH and in 2016 as Chief Strategy Officer for the Division Transport Solution of Imperial International Group.

Since February 2017 he is Managing Director of Imperial Shipping Holding GmbH and Chief Operating Officer of Imperial Shipping Group with overall operational and commercial responsibility for all subsidiaries and participations within the Group.

Born: 1957 in Hall in Tirol, Austria

Harald Bortolotti joined LKW WALTER International in 1978 upon completing his education at the Innsbruck Commercial College.

Having started in UK operations he successively took on the role of Sales Manager for Italy, Spain and Germany.

He was then Director of Human Resources in Kufstein, before becoming Sales Director and Associated Member of the Board - positions he currently holds.

He has decades of experience as Key Account Manager for major players in the Petrochemical Industry. As Treasurer and Vice President of the European Freight Leaders & Logistics Forum, he is actively involved in working groups across industries and EU projects.

Michael Dries’ career with BASF started in 1990, when he joined BASF AG’s Logistics Procurement Department. In 1996 he became Head of Logistics at Shanghai BASF Colorants and Auxiliaries, Shanghai, P.R. China, followed by an assignment as Head of Logistics and Technical Procurement at BASF Company Ltd., Seoul, Rep. of Korea. After one year at BASF AG, Ludwigshafen he was in 2002 appointed Director, Logistics, BASF YPC Company Ltd., Nanjing, P.R. China. He was subsequently appointed in 2006 Vice President, General Services at BASF SE, Ludwigshafen and led as of 2010 the senior project Opal 21 / Logistics. Mr. Dries assumes his current position as Vice President, Global Logistics Procurement since 2015.
Michael Dries was born in Eltville, Germany, in 1961. He studied economics and business administration at the Universities of Mainz and Cologne.

Wijnand Hendrikse, 34 years of age and of Dutch nationality, has held various commercial positions at Nijhof-Wassink and is currently holding the position of General Manager Chemical Logistics where he leads the Dry Bulk Logistics, Liquid Bulk Logistics, Fuel Distribution and Warehousing activities. He graduated between 2004-2009 from the IVA in Driebergen (NL) as well as  Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe (UK) in different Management fields.

Ismail Mahmud

Global Chemicals Director, Royal Vopak of the Netherlands

Ismail has been with Vopak for 17 years and is currently Global Director for Vopak’s chemicals business with offices in HQ located in Rotterdam. Prior to this role (since the last 4 years), Ismail was located in Singapore for 10 years where he held the positions of Commercial Director Asia and Managing Director Singapore. Prior to Vopak, Ismail worked for Engro Chemical (previously an ExxonMobil Affiliate) for a period of 8 years.

Currently, Ismail is responsible for sales, marketing and commercial activities in Vopak for all chemical related storage activities. Currently about 50 of the 76 terminals owned and operated by Vopak worldwide are for chemical businesses. His experience in logistics and tank storage services spans over multiple regions with specific focus on Industrial Terminaling, where he leads one of Vopak’s core strategies in this service market segment.

He is a Mechanical Engineer from Lehigh University, USA and an MBA in Finance from St. Joseph’s University, USA.

Summary

Marcello Poidomani is a Chemical Engineer  born in Ragusa (Italy) 19/04/1960.

Many years of management experience with increasing levels of responsibility in the industrial sector within the petrochemical business, in Italy and abroad.

Work Experience

April 2018 – to date

Vice President Supply Chain, Versalis, San Donato M.se Italy

January 2014. –March 2018

Managing Director, versalis france s.a.s, Mardyck, France

February 2013 – December2013 …..

Industrial General Director, Polimeri Europa France  s.a.s.,Mardyck.,France.

December 2008 – January 2013 

Site Manager, Priolo and Ragusa Polimeri Europa s.p.a., Priolo,Ragusa, Italy.

May 2005 - December 2008

Technical Service Manager of the Priolo and Ragusa sites, Polimeri Europa S.p.a., Priolo, Ragusa, Italy

November  2002 – April 2005

Operations Manager, Polimeri Europa Gela and Ragusa plant, Italy

February 1997 – July 2003

Production, Process and Logistics manager, Polimeri Europa s.r.l., Gela, Italy.

March 1995 – February 1997

Polyethylene Process Manager, Polimeri Europa s.r.l., Gela, Italy.

Participation in the licensing project, working in Qatar on the design, commissioning and start-up of the LDPT unit.

August 1992 – March 1995

Manager of Process development and Unit operation Research Centre, Enichem spa., Ragusa, Italy.

September 1988 – July 1992

Scientist, Enichem spa., Ragusa, Italy.

Research in the ziegler natta catalyst field for LLDPE product

Education

Chemical Engineering 

Additional Information

Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of SCOB, a chemical industrial association for French Ethylene producers.

Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of AG2PDK, an association for industrial risk management in the Dunkerque industrial zone.

Member of MEDEF, an association of industrial companies.

Hans Schäfer joined Hapag-Lloyd in 1994. After completing a trainee program, the Hamburg native worked in the Sales department of Hapag-Lloyd in Milan, Italy from 1997 to 1998. He then acquired a Master Degree in Business Administration. From 2000 to 2003, he was employed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers before returning to Hapag-Lloyd in Global Account Development. From 2005 until 2008, Hans Schäfer served as Director of Sales in Vietnam and then in Trade Management Far East in Singapore until 2010. From 2010, he was responsible for Region Europe as Senior Director Sales and Customer Service. Hans Schäfer was appointed Managing Director Global Markets/Global Sales in July 2014.

Jean-Marc VIALLATTE, 45 years old, is a graduate engineer from IFMA (Institut Français de Mécanique Avancée) in France and from Cambridge University in the UK. He holds a Master’s in mechanical engineering and automated production systems, and an APICS certification.

In 1997 he joined the American group Avery Dennison as customer logistics Project Manager, before heading the introduction of an ERP system for France. He later held a number of Lean Sigma heavily oriented operational posts in plants, being consecutively production manager, plant manager and operations manager France.

In 2006 he joined the Hamelin group as Subsidiary General Manager before becoming Group Managing Director in charge of operations, supply chain and information systems. In this position he oversaw the complete transformation of the group, and put in place a new organization based on standardized processes and an SAP solution rolled out across the group’s 50 sites on the five continents.

In 2013 he joined the Tarkett group as supply chain Vice President for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, creating the group’s supply chain function, and later became the group’s Global supply chain Director in charge of the transformation.

Peter Devos is Managing Director at ECTA, the European Chemical Transport Association.

In 1988, he graduated as AgroEngineer from the University of Louvain, Belgium and holds a second master in Industrial and Business Management.

After a Supply Chain career of more than 25 years at Monsanto in different leading supply chain functions and disciplines across Europe, Peter started up his own independent company in 2016. As independent Supply Chain Practitioner, he is now focusing to further improve the Chemical logistics processes and this together with all stakeholders across the Chemical Supply Chain.

Having joined Repsol in 1998, Ana Montenegro currently holds the position of Technical Service and Development Manager at the Polyolefins Business Unit.
Ana previously worked as Product Manager in several Polyolefins applications (pipes, cable, adhesives, auto,…) and as Polypropylene Technician at the Technology Repsol Center.
Ana holds a Masters in Science and Technology of Polymers and Rubbers from the Superior Center for Scientific Research and a Master in Business Administration from the Institute of Business Executive also in Madrid.
She also completed an R&D Strategic Management training at INSEAD, France.

Nick Bastiaansen holds a Master degree in Applied Economics from the K.U.Leuven with a major in International Business. He joined the Total Group in 2007 and has held different positions within the Group since then, both in Paris and Brussels. He is currently Senior Trader Aromatics within the Refining & Base Chemicals Europe division.

Jasper de Kruif holds a Master in Sustainable Processes and Energy Technology. He joined LyondellBasell in 2008 as a Plant Support Process Engineer. In 2013, he moved to a new position in Operations planning and Optimization. Since 2016, Jasper is holding a position in Commercial Management.

Joris Goethals started his career with Adpo in 2006 where he currently holds the position of Supply Chain Manager. He previously worked in several departments within the Adpo Group. Joris is a strong operations professional with a focus on innovation

Marina Ismael Michen holds a PhD in Materials Engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany. She works for The Dow Chemical Company since 2011, where she experienced different positions from technical to commercial. Since March 2018 she works for the Industrial Solutions business as the Global Market Segment Leader for the Crop Defense segment and as the Market Segment Manager for Food, Feed and Crop Defense in EMEAI. She is Brazilian and lives in Switzerland with her husband and children.

Jarno Ott started his career in shortsea business and is now working for Huntsman since 2014 (Purchasing Department) as Senior Buyer of Logistic Services for the Huntsman Performance Products Division within EAME region.

Loraine is currently Executive Logistics and Distribution Manager for the Chemical division of Exxon Mobil in Europe, Middle East & Africa. Her organization is responsible for the efficient operation of the network chain while driving improvements to meet service needs to enable the execution of the business strategies. The span is broad, from raw material sourcing and production planning, managing imports and exports flows around the world through to delivery of finished product to the end customer. She is leading a global program to bring upgraded IT platform functionality to the logistics and distribution network. Her team is also responsible for infrastructure improvements that support the integrated supply chain aspects of multibillion $ capital growth projects. Her passion is the relentless pursuit of excellence in Safety, Health and Environmental performance. 

Loraine graduated in Chemistry at the University of Loughborough, UK, in 1987 and joined ExxonMobil Chemical in the commercial organization in Southampton, England.  She held a variety of positions in sales, manufacturing, quality, logistics, procurement and market development before joining the technology organization in 1993, based in Machelen, Belgium.  This was followed by roles in product management, marketing and financial reporting across a number of chemical businesses.  

In 2003 she relocated to Houston, USA, to take up a global business planning position, followed by supply and then manufacturing, including a focus on energy efficiency.  In 2010, Loraine returned to Belgium in the Intermediates business before taking up her current position in January 2013.   

For many years she has engaged in Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, both within the corporation and in more public settings. She sees this as a key enabler to drive innovation and operational improvements in the business and more broadly in industry. 

Loraine lives in Brussels and is married with 2 children.    

Born 16 June 1964 in Klagenfurt, Austria

Married, two children

Living in Pulheim, Germany

Academic background

University of Vienna, Vienna University of Economics and Business Communications and Publicity, Anthropology, Philosophy, Slavic Studies, Advertising, Public Relations

Work experience

Freelance journalist and author for Austrian and German media, broadcasters and PR/media agencies (e.g. ORF, GGK)

Lecturer for German as a foreign language

Casting and promotion for film directors and agencies

Employment

From 1995 PR Consultant in Vienna based agency Partners in Public Relations, with customers such as Plastics Europe, ECVM, API, Kooperationsabkommen Forst-Platte-Papier etc.

From 1997 Manager for Communications and QSHE for EVC (European Vinyls Corporation), later INEOS ChlorVinyls in Wilhelmshaven/Germany; API Board Member

Since 2008 Head of Communications for INEOS in Köln with 2,000 employees and 200 apprentices/dual students and INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe with 3,700 employees; responsible for internal and external communications; community relations, lobbying, emergency response, CSR (GO Run For Fun, The Daily Mile) etc.

Professional associations/membership

IPRA Germany Chair, IPRA Golden World Award, TuWaS!

Community Board, EACV, DPRG, BDP, VCI Deutschland, VCI North Rhine-Westphalia, Wirtschaftsrat Deutschland, Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce’ Diversity Workshop, Common Purpose Rhineland, University lecturer, NLP practitioner

Awards

International Corporate Media Award of Excellence, 2013

City of Cologne’s “Diversity wins!” Award, 2012

Hobbies

Sports, travelling, arts, Austrian cuisine

Having graduated in science from the University of Edinburgh, Gina’s career in petrochemicals spans the last 35+ years.

After a short period in biomedical research, she spent 10 years at Exxon Chemical in marketing, steam cracker operations, and shipping both in the UK and the Brussels international HQ.

During her time at Exxon she was a founding member of WISTA (Women In Shipping and Trading Association), with 5 industry friends. WISTA has since grown into a global organisation offering training, support and networking opportunities to women in the industry.

The last 26+ years have been spent working in international trading, having founded the trading and logistics company, Integra in 1989.

In addition to her Integra trading company and main board positions, Gina sits on the board committees of the SCIC (Singapore) and GPCA (Mid East), BTS Tankers Singapore, a charitable medical foundation in Europe, and is president of the board of governors of the German European School, Singapore.

Gina is a regular speaker at conferences on shipping, logistics and petrochemicals for the main consulting companies.

In Asia as part of her commitment to social welfare, training and education she talks and works with companies to develop strategies for social impact investing both at local start-up and government body levels.

On a personal level, Gina is married with 2 school aged children and is currently studying for her diploma in fashion jewellery design and manufacturing at JDMIS in Singapore. In her spare time she is busy co- writing a book on Scottish social history in conjunction with the Scottish and Celtic history dept. of the University of Edinburgh.

Kate joined Shell in the UK in 1986 after completing a chemistry degree. Her career in Shell has been largely in Chemicals - in commercial roles in 4 different product lines as well as in projects. Outside of Chemicals, she has enjoyed stints in crude oil Trading, Group Finance, procurement and our bitumen/sulphur business. Currently she is the global manager for the propylene oxide and derivatives business.

She also represents the Downstram Businesses in the Shell Netherlands Executive Committee for the Shell woman's network.

Mr. Mueller holds a degree in International Economics as well as an MBA and joined BASF in 2003 where he held several positions in Product and Project management as well as, more recently, in Talent management.

Born 1986, Andrea Pota finished her studies at Budapest Business School as an economist specializing in Export-Import Management (2009). Meanwhile, she started to work for Den Hartogh Logistics as a trainee. Within 3 years, she became the Head of Operations for their Hungarian subsidiary. May 2014 she joined the Bertschi Group in Switzerland and after a 3 months’ introduction program, Andrea joined the Italian dispatch team for dry bulk. In 2015 she took on a new challenge and moved to Austria, Schwechat for 6 months to drive the implementation of an on-site container storage concept at a major petrochemical producer. After finalizing the project, she returned to the Bertschi Swiss HQ and took over the position Tender Manager for Dry Bulk. Currently, as Project Manager, Andrea is mainly focusing on key projects within the Dry Bulk Team. During her career as part of the Dry Bulk Management Team at Bertschi, she also attended Front Leadership training and joined the Netlop Seminar organized by the Kuehne & Nagel Foundation.

I am an International HR Development and Training Manager (Versalis SpA) with almost 15 years’ experience in managing international cross-functional HR areas/projects. I have joined HR community after a Master Degree in Personal and Organization Management, awarded by Bocconi University – Milan.

I have been working for ENI since 2005, improving my knowledge and experience in the HR areas: Development, Organization and international management in Italy and abroad, with two years’ experience in Norway in the sphere of Development and Organization and one year in UK as an HR referent of a company acquisition project.

Thanks to my strong experience in HR, Development and International Management, in 2019 I started a new assignment in Versalis (Eni) as International HR Development and Training Manager.