Speakers

Jamal Al Ghurair, Managing Director and Principal Shareholder of Al Khaleej Sugar (AKS), leads the largest and most energy efficient standalone sugar refinery in the world. Thanks to his vision and drive, Al Khaleej Sugar has expanded capacity from 2,400 tonnes per day in 1995 to over 7,000 tonnes per day, at present. The company’s success as a standalone refinery has surpassed all expectations due to his deep knowledge of the industry and close business relationships with tier one Brazilian suppliers, who have provided AKS with consistently high-quality raw sugar for several years. Al Khaleej Sugar currently contributes 3% of the world’s refined sugar production. Jamal is also the Chairman of Canal Sugar, an integrated agro-industrial project incorporating reclamation and cultivation of around 76,000 hectares. The integrated facility is the world’s largest sugar beet processing plant with an annual production capacity of 900,000 tonnes of premium white sugar. Jamal is also the Vice Chairman of Emirates Investment & Development PSC, a recognized UAE private shareholding firm with a comprehensive portfolio of investments. Concurrently, he manages his own group of companies.

Jacob Robbins is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Emeterra, a Singapore-headquartered enterprise focussed on the food and agri sectors. With its strong emphasis on foodtech and agtech, Emeterra partners with promising companies and globally acclaimed research institutions on disruptive technologies. Its collaborations for novel ingredients address key gaps in the consumer landscape. Emeterra produces a wide range of value-added food – including sugars and sweeteners – for regional and multinational customers. Jacob is a Senior Adviser to Olympus Capital Asia, and also sits on the Boards of foodtech companies such as Ripple Foods. Previously, Jacob spent 20 years in global executive positions with The Coca-Cola Company. In his last role there as Managing Director, overseeing the principal global agricultural commodity spend of the company and its bottlers, he led the world’s largest supply chain of sugar and starch sweeteners, covering over 120 countries. Prior to that, as part of TAS within the Tata Group, he led Tata Steel’s international trading operations for soft commodities. Jacob has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics as well as a degree in Management, complemented by programmes at Wharton and the Harvard Business School.

Diego Herrera is Chief Executive Officer of the Pantaleon Group, a family-held corporation founded in 1849, with interests in sugar production, energy and commercial real estate. The group currently employs more than 18,000 people and operates in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile and USA. Diego leads Pantaleon into the future and its new realities, with a significant emphasis on innovation and embracing new technologies. Prior to Pantaleon, Diego was Managing Partner at Atlas Vivienda, a Mexican real estate development company, where he remains a Board Member. He has also worked for six years with BNP Paribas in New York. Diego has a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree from the London Business School.

Isara Vongkusolkit is the Honorary Chairman of the Mitr Phol Group. Under his leadership, Mitr Phol consolidated its position as Thailand’s leading sugar producer and successfully built the group’s presence in China, Australia, Laos and Indonesia. Khun Isara became the President of the Mitr Phol Group in 1989. He was Chairman of the company from 2008 to 2020. He also served as Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce from 2013 to 2016. Mitr Phol is the world’s fourth largest sugar producer and ASEAN’s largest green energy producer. It is ranked by S&P Global as the world’s leading sustainable company in the Food Products Industry. Completing a Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA, Khun Isara has received several honorary degrees from prestigious universities in Thailand, including an Honorary Doctorate in Agribusiness from Khon Kaen University, an Honorary Doctorate in Post-harvest and Processing Engineering from Rajamangala University of Technology and a Doctor of Philosophy of Agricultural Research & Development from Kasetsart University.

Jonathan Drake serves as the Technical Adviser for the Sugar division at Golden Agri-Resources. Throughout his career spanning over 35 years in the sugar trading industry, Jonathan has played a pivotal role in shaping and expanding the sugar business for leading companies such as Cargill and the RCMA Group. In 2012, he pioneered the establishment of the sugar trading product line for the RCMA Group, significantly contributing to its ascent as a prominent player in containerized flows of white sugar. This success culminated in the acquisition of the RCMA Group's sugar trading business by Golden Agri-Resources in 2019. Jonathan's contributions extend beyond business development – he also played a key role in founding The Dubai Sugar Conference and remains actively involved in its operations. Jonathan holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master's degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Dr Claudiu Covrig is Founder and Lead Agriculture Analyst of CovrigAnalytics, an independent provider of market research, analysis, forecasts, supply & demand, trade flows and policy information for the sugar and ethanol markets. Claudiu’s expertise includes market research, trade flows, forecasts, international arbitrages, futures and swaps trading combined with academic work focussed on management, economics and renewable energy markets and systems. He often serves as a speaker or chairman at international conferences. With over 18 years’ experience, prior to founding CovrigAnalytics, Claudiu worked as a market research analyst and consultant with S&P Global Platts and Kingsman in Switzerland, and traded futures and swaps with Sucden in Geneva. He was also a research associate and university assistant professor in Switzerland and Romania. Claudiu has a PhD degree from Transilvania University of Brasov, with a focus on renewable and conventional energy markets and systems. In addition, he has a Master’s degree in Engineering Design and Management of Renewable Energy Sources and a diploma in Economic Engineering.

Mauro S J Angelo is the Chief Executive Officer of Alvean. He started his career at The Boston Consulting Group and later moved to commodity markets at UBS (formerly Link Investimentos). In 2006, Mauro joined Copersucar in São Paulo as Sugar and Ethanol Trader. In early 2012, he became the Head of Raw Sugar Trading at Copersucar and continued in this position when Copersucar and Cargill formed Alvean in 2014. Since then, he has been based in Geneva. Mauro became Chief Commercial Officer at Alvean in 2019 and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2023. He also serves as Council Member at The Sugar Association of London (SAL) and is a Member of the World Sugar Committee at ICE Futures US. Mauro holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Finance and Economics.

Enrico Biancheri is Head of the Sugar Platform for Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC). Enrico joined the group in 2003 as a Trainee Trader. He was appointed Commercial Manager for Biosev – then LDC-SEV – in 2009, and later served as Commercial & Cane Origination Director, responsible for managing all marketing and logistics activities related to the output of sugar, ethanol and electricity. Enrico returned to LDC in 2017 as Head of Cash Trading for the Sugar Platform, he took up the position of Head Trader for the platform the same year, and served in that capacity until his appointment to his present role in 2019. Enrico holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Finance.

Bernardo Gama Rodrigues is the Head of Sugar at Raízen Energia, leading both international and domestic markets. With over three decades of experience in the commodities trading industry, Bernardo previously held significant roles, including Global Head of Softs Trading at COFCO Americas Resources and pivotal positions at ED&F Man Sugar and Marcellino Martins & E Johnston. He has managed extensive teams and trading desks, spearheading strategies across sugar and markets. Bernardo holds a degree in Business Administration from Faculdades Integradas Candido Mendes, Brazil.

Jose Eduardo Toledo is Global Head of Sugar Trading at COFCO International. Prior to sugar, he was engaged in fundamental research on the soybean complex at ABIOVE. Eduardo began his career in sugar at Copersucar in 2003, moving to Noble Group in 2008. At Noble, he initially worked on originating sugar in Brazil. In 2012, Eduardo moved to the Stamford office in USA to assist in the coordination of the global physical book. Noble’s agricultural division was acquired by COFCO in 2014, and since 2018, he has been responsible for the sugar trading division for both physical sugar and proprietary trading. Eduardo holds a degree in International Relations from PUC-SP and an MBA from the University of São Paulo.

Dimitri Varsano is Co-Global Head of Sugar Trading at Sucden. He began his career in 2017 as a trader in Sucden Americas following sugar flows in the Latin America region. A year later, he joined Sucden Paris to implement physical and hedging strategies for the global raw sugar book, contributing to its expansion in the past five years. As of January 2024, Dimitri assumed the role of Co-Global Head of Sucden’s sugar trading activities. Alongside his role in sugar, since 2020, Dimitri is a member of the executive committee of Sucden Ventures, the entity dedicated to investing in innovative early-stage growth companies in the food and agricultural sector. He is a graduate of Babson College, Boston.

Tracey Allen is Senior Commodities Strategist at JP Morgan in London. An agricultural economist, Tracey develops the firm’s fundamental and price outlooks across agricultural markets, in addition to her cross-commodity publications. She has worked in an analytical and advisory capacity across global agribusiness from paddock to plate, along with institutional investors and policy makers, and is regularly cited in financial markets press. Prior to joining the global research team of JP Morgan, Tracey was a member of Rabobank’s Research & Advisory team in London and Sydney. She spent much of her early career in the field of climate change and water economics, and her family’s farming background in eastern Australia drives her passion for the agricultural sector.

Jeff Bauml is Managing Director of J Bauml & Co. Starting his career at Philipp Brothers in 1971 as an intern, Jeff ultimately became a Senior Vice President specializing in tropical commodities (coffee, sugar and cocoa), while at the same time having management responsibilities for Latin America operations. After leaving the firm in 1989, he developed a new service concept for the Sugar Trade – one stop brokerage for futures, physicals and freight. Jeff has been an arbiter for the World Sugar Committee of ICE, and was appointed to serve on a US Federal Court panel involving sugar. He has also founded not-for-profit organizations which provide support and aid to ‘at risk’ communities throughout the United States.

Eder Vieito is the Chief Executive Officer of Green Pool Commodity Specialists, an independent analytics and consulting company covering the global sugar and biofuels markets. In addition to the strategic, managerial and administrative aspects of the role, Eder contributes to Green Pool’s statistical research and analysis across sugar and ethanol. He also engages directly with regional and international market participants to monitor market developments. Eder’s career began at Copersucar, one of the world’s leading sugar and ethanol producers. Initially working in the Strategic Planning division, he later headed the company’s Market Intelligence department, responsible for global sugar and ethanol crop and market analysis. In late 2015, he relocated to Brisbane, Australia to lead the biofuels and ethanol arm of Green Pool’s range of analysis, before taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer in early 2024. Eder holds a degree in Economics from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and a postgraduate qualification from Fundação Dom Cabral, also in São Paulo.

Jeremy Austin, General Director of Sucden do Brasil, has been in charge of the company since its inception in 1994. He started working with Sucres et Denrees in October 1985, covering the Brazil market and in 1988, was part of the whole privatization process. Jeremy moved from Paris to Brazil in 2003 to be more closely involved with the sugar industry. He was a Board Member of the FBA, from 2000 to 2005, and Tereos International, from 2010 to 2016. He is also a member of AEXA. Born and educated in UK, Jeremy studied Mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford, and in 1985 graduated from Oxford University with a Master of Arts and Fluency in French.

Vincent Bakx is the Commercial Director – Sugar, Ethanol and Bioenergy, at Viterra, Brazil. Based in São Paulo, he heads Viterra's sugar and bioenergy business, overseeing origination, logistics and production, including two sugarcane milling assets with combined crushing capacity of 7 million tonnes, producing up to 750,000 tonnes of VHP raw sugar, as well as fuel and industrial grade hydrous and anhydrous ethanol and bioelectricity from cogeneration. Vincent is in charge of the overall investment strategy for sugar and ethanol in Brazil, analysis of M&A opportunities and development of efforts around sustainability, GHG emissions reduction and decarbonization projects. He also focusses on margin improvement through cost reduction and efficiency enhancement programmes. Vincent has 15 years of experience in the sugar and ethanol industry, with various commercial and finance related roles at Viterra and Glencore Agriculture in Brazil and the UK. At Glencore he looked after oil and oil derivatives and in a previous role at BP in London, he played roles in structured finance and business planning. Vincent has a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Ricardo Busato Carvalho is Commercial Director at bp bioenergy. With around 25 years of experience in executive positions in the sugar and bioenergy sector, Ricardo has held positions of increasing responsibility, gained expertise in global markets and led the commercial function. In his current role at bp bioenergy, he is in charge of the trading & logistics and agricultural business areas with responsibilities that span market intelligence, sugar, ethanol, CBios, bioelectricity and biomass, as well as the management of sugarcane suppliers and partners. Ricardo is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Paraná, he has a degree in Agribusiness Management from the Agronomic Institute of Paraná and an MBA in Business Administration from Dom Cabral Foundation.

Guilherme Schaefer Francisco Correia is the Commercial Director at Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) Brasil. He serves as the head of origination for raw and white sugar – FCA & FOB, as well as head of the sugar book for Brazil. With a career focussed on the agricultural commodity sector, Guilherme has extensive experience in trading and manufacturing companies. He is responsible for managing market risks by applying the hedging mechanisms to mitigate risks of business units. Before joining LDC, Guilherme was Head of Brazil with Tereos Commodities from 2019 to 2023, where he oversaw purchasing raw sugar and white sugar and was responsible for both sugar and ethanol trading. Prior to that he was a Senior Trader, first at Alvean Hong Kong and then at Alvean Brasil. His previous experience has spanned roles at Copersucar, ETH Bioenergia and Coimex Trading. Guilherme is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Behavioral Economics at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). He is an Economics Major from University of São Paulo – FEA-USP, and subsequently completed a postgraduate programme in Finance and Economics from FGV.

Kona Haque is Group Head of Research at ED&F Man, responsible for the company’s commodity and macroeconomic research team (including Volcafe Coffee). She joined from Macquarie Bank where she was responsible for agriculture and soft commodities research for seven years. Prior to that, Kona spent four years as Senior Commodities Editor / Economist at the Economist Group. She has also worked for a shipping consultancy as Director of Bulk Commodities and spent four years at Metal Bulletin Research, specializing in base metals. Her other experiences include working as an economist for a grains market information provider and with the United Nations in Rome, Italy. Kona has an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from Reading University.

Jan Lambregts is the Head of RaboResearch Global Economics & Markets at Rabobank. He oversees a worldwide team of analysts and strategists who cover macro, FX, rates, credit, agri-commodities and energy markets for key clients. Before his move to London in 2009 to head up the global team, Jan lived and worked in Singapore and Hong Kong for seven years, covering macro, FX and rates strategy for Rabobank’s clients, with particular focus on Japan and China. A cum laude graduate of Tilburg University in the Netherlands, Jan holds a Master’s degree in Micro / Macro Economics, with further specializations in finance and international trade.

Marc Bonter is a Senior Trader for Cargill Risk Management. Over his 10 plus years at Cargill, he has primarily traded metals, energy and soft commodities. Before joining Cargill, Marc worked as a Proprietary Trader for JP Morgan, as a Commodity Analyst for Goldman Sachs and as Copper Analyst at CRU, all in London. Now part of the Trade Strategy and Analytics team, Marc leverages his experience advising customers on markets and volatility. Marc is an alumnus of Imperial College, London.

Claire Fajardy is Derivatives Director at Cargill Risk Management. Claire joined the team in 2020 and is based in Geneva, Switzerland, where she helps customers across the commodities space manage their price risk. Prior to Cargill, she worked at Engelhart Commodities Trading Partner for over five years. Claire started as a Junior Marketer in Singapore selling bulk feed grains and oilseeds to customers in Northeast and Southeast Asia before moving to Stamford, Connecticut, in 2018, where she was a Junior Trader on the Oilseeds desk. Claire has studied Public Administration at Sciences Po Lille and Strategy and International Business at Essec Business School.

Nereo Rodriguez is Sales Manager Biopolymer Technology Licenses at Sulzer. He is responsible for the sales and licensing of biopolymer technologies with a focus on polylactic acid (PLA) from sugar sources – both 1st and 2nd generation – and other renewable feedstocks, mostly in the western hemisphere. Nereo joined Sulzer Chemtech’s polymer business team in 2021 as Senior Sales Manager for foam extrusion lines with global coverage. Prior to this, since 2012, he worked with a number of technology providers in sales and application engineering roles for the oil and chemical industries around the world. Nereo has a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, and an MBA.

Sorin Albeanu is Head of Commercial at Covantis. A seasoned professional with over 17 years of experience in driving business growth for platforms and electronic networks in energy and commodities trading, Sorin has led the commercial department of Covantis since mid-2020. He focusses on sales, client relations, platform adoption and the digitalization of trade execution processes in agricultural markets worldwide. The initiatives managed by him aim to automate processes involving multiple market participants, but also solve specific issues seen by trading firms when performing contract execution for both bulk vessels and containers. Before joining Covantis, Sorin was based in London where he worked at Trayport, Deutch Börse and the CME Group. He is a Council Member for Gafta, the international grains trade association. Sorin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and has completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics in both Strategy and Corporate Finance.

Anup Kumar is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sucden India. In this role, since 2019, he has been instrumental in making Sucden the merchant of choice for sugar mills, industrials and public distribution networks across India. Sucden India connects its varied portfolio of suppliers to global and domestic buyers, and aims to be an efficient supply chain participant, focussing on controlled exposures and financial returns. It delivers these objectives through a motivated high-performance team. Prior to joining Sucden, Anup spent over two decades with Olam International Singapore in different roles, the last of which was as the head of their white sugar trading team. A voracious reader and an eager traveller, Anup is a Chemical Engineer from IIT Benares and an alumnus of IIM Calcutta.

Niraj Shirgaokar is the Vice President, Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). He is also the Managing Director of The Ugar Sugar Works, a leading manufacturer of ethanol in India and the parent organization of the Shirgaokar Group of Companies (SB Group) which has interests in sugar, power, ethanol, liquor foundries and IT. After gaining experiencing in professionally managed multinational companies for 15 years, Niraj joined the family business in 2005. Prior to joining The Ugar Sugar Works, Niraj worked with Siemens and Patni Computers in the US. He co-founded iResearch Services, one of India’s foremost marketing agencies providing thought leadership consulting and research. He has served as the President of South Indian Sugar Mills and is a past President of ISMA. He will once again take over as the President of ISMA from December 2025. Niraj has a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Bombay University.

Ravi Gupta is Director on the Board of Shree Renuka Sugars, a prominent global entity specializing in sugar and ethanol production. With a career spanning more than three decades in the agricultural commodities industry, Ravi has held pivotal roles, including that of Managing Director at Noble Agri (now a part of COFCO International) in India, Chief Executve Officer of Australian Wheat Board in India, President of Bajaj Hindusthan and Vice President at Louis Dreyfus in India. A respected figure in the global sugar industry, he plays a key role in shaping the ethanol policy in India. Ravi also serves as Co-Chairman of the committee on WTO, Trade & Investment at the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Member of the Task Force of the Sugar and Ethanol Committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Vice Chairman of All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA). Additionally, he is an Executive Member of the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and an Executive Committee Member of the West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA).

Deepak Ballani is the Director General of the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). Deepak has over 25 years of diverse experience in public policy, government affairs and organizational management. He drives growth and innovation within the sector, especially as the industry navigates evolving policies on ethanol and bio-energy aimed at reducing import dependence and achieving energy security for India. Before joining ISMA, Deepak was the Director General of the All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), where he led significant advancements in policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement and operational efficiency. His career includes notable positions with organizations such as PwC India, UNIDO and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), where he focussed on projects related to energy efficiency, technology transfer and international business development. Deepak holds a postgraduate degree in International Trade Management.

Sandeep Kadam is Chairman of the EXIM Committee of the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA). His primary role is that of Managing Director, in charge of trading of sugar and other soft commodities for South Asia – India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan – at ED&F Man. Sandeep joined ED&F Man as an Analyst in 2012. After a successful stint in research, he was asked to take on trading and management responsibilities for ED&F Man India. Sandeep started his research career in 2010 with Noble Agri (now COFCO Agri) covering sugarcane, cotton, coffee and major field crops for India, Australia and North Africa. He continues to leverage his extensive experience and expertise to drive strategic growth initiatives. Sandeep holds a postgraduate degree in Agri Business Management.

Harshwardhan Patil is the President of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories, New Delhi, representing 259 cooperative sugar mills and nine state sugar federations of India. He is also the Chairman of Indian Sugar Exim Corporation. Harshwardhan is the Founder Chairman of Nira Bhima Cooperative Sugar Factory, Chairman of Karmyogi Shankarravji Patil Cooperative Sugar Factory and Chairman of Dudhganga Utpadak Sangh Maryadit, all in Pune, Maharashtra. He has held several portfolios in the government, and was the Minister of State, Agriculture, Fruit Production and Water Conservation, Maharashtra, in 1995 and 1999. Harshwardhan has served as Chairman, National Committee of Agriculture Marketing Reforms Initiatives, Government of India, which was formed to bring reforms in the agricultural sector. With his vast experience and knowledge in the agricultural and cooperative sectors, Harshwardhan’s expertise in providing the right inputs and framing strategies for the design and implementation of reforms in these sectors is widely acknowledged.

Ashwini Srivastava is Joint Secretary – Sugar, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India. He is responsible for making policies related to the sugar sector and ethanol production capacity, including the monitoring of sugar production, prices, exports and implementation of various schemes and programmes initiated by the Government. Ashwini has wide-ranging experience in operations, logistics and supply chain management, terminal management, business development, railway administration and tourism. He has held key leadership positions in the Government of India, Indian Railways, Indian Railway Tourism and Catering Corporation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashwini led the challenging task of transportation of oxygen tankers and other essential items across the nation. He has worked as a faculty member in Disaster Management at the Indian Railways Institute of Transportation Management. Ashwini has been credited with the successful planning and operation of India’s first corporate train – Tejas Express.

Annie Denny is Director General of the World Sugar Research Organization (WSRO). Annie has worked in nutrition roles for over 20 years, spanning the food industry, food retail, charity roles and media work. She is a passionate believer in communicating science to individuals in understandable language. At WSRO, Annie’s motto is “Research isn’t finished until it’s communicated”. Annie joined WSRO as Director General in 2020. She leads a team of nutrition scientists who research the latest evidence on sugars and health, keeping WSRO’s members up to speed with international scientific and health policy developments on sugars and health. Annie trained in Nutrition at Newcastle University in the UK and holds a Master’s in International Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

José Orive has been the Executive Director of the International Sugar Organization (ISO) since 2014. Based in London, José directs the activities of the ISO, a UN commodities organization with 87 member countries, providing professional services, market analysis and perspectives for all stakeholders in the sugar chain. The scope of this role extends to anything produced from cane or beet, including biofuels, cogeneration of energy, bio-plastics and by-products. Prior to this, for nearly two decades, he was the Executive Director of the Central American Sugar Association (AICA), representing the sugar sector of Central America in international forums, trade negotiations and before governments. Prior to his tenure at AICA, José was a Partner in the legal firm of Arias & Muñoz at the Guatemala office.

Dr Deepak Dugar is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Visolis, a biotechnology startup focussed on commercializing renewable technologies for the chemical and fuel industries, where he brings his deep expertise in the bio-based products domain. Previously, he worked as a management consultant at PwC Advisory, helping cleantech clients with their commercialization efforts. Deepak has also consulted for numerous entities like Royal DSM, NREL and Flagship Ventures amongst others. Deepak completed his Dual Degree (B Tech and M Tech) in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology from IIT Delhi. He also did an MBA and MS, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering Practice from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he was the recipient of the Legatum Fellowship and the Martin Family Society for Sustainability Fellowship.

Mario Steinmetz is the Chief Executive Officer of Bionexus, a division of the Pantaleon Group, a leading agro-industrial organization dedicated to the processing of sugarcane for the production of sugar, molasses, alcohols and energy. Pantaleon operates in several countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Chile and USA, and is recognized as a leader in sugar production in Central America. Prior to this, Mario was Executive Director of Biorigin, a Brazilian company and part of Zilor, specializing in food ingredients and animal nutrition. Under his leadership, Biorigin expanded its international presence, including the acquisition of the North American company, PTX Food Corporation. This acquisition was part of its strategy to enhance its offerings in the global market, focussing on innovative solutions based on yeasts. He has a degree in Business Administration (CEAG) from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), preceded by a degree in Food Engineering from Universidade Estadual de Campinas.

Alex Battù is a Global Licensing Manager at Sulzer Chemtech, based in Winterthur, Switzerland. Alex is involved in leading licensing negotiations and strategies for biopolymers and biomonomers technologies derived from renewable feedstocks. He is adept at collaborating with executives and cross-functional teams to drive business development initiatives and achieve strategic goals. Before joining Sulzer, Alex held various roles at Beta Renewables, including Proposal Manager and Process Engineer, where he was involved in preparing techno-economic proposals and supporting sales for the world’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants. Alex is passionate about driving innovation and growth in sustainable technologies, making a real impact on a more sustainable society. He holds an MSChE in Chemical Engineering from the Politecnico di Torino, with a focus on sustainable technologies.

Samir Somaiya is the Chairman and Managing Director of Godavari Biorefineries and President of Somaiya Vidyavihar. He is the current President of Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Previously, he was the President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association in 2009, and the Chairman – Western Region – of the Indian Chemical Council from 2006 to 2008. With sales of over US$ 240 million, Godavari Biorefineries is engaged in the manufacture of sugar, ethanol, renewable energy, chemicals, biogas and compost, all from agricultural resources. More than 70% of the company’s inputs are from renewable resources. The company works extensively with 20,000 small farmers in over 200 villages to help improve productivity, yields and standard of living. Samir holds an MBA and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University as well as a Master’s degree and a BSc degree in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University, where he is a visiting instructor. He is a recipient of the American Institute of Chemists Award (1990) and of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers' Award for Scholastic Achievement (1989). Samir was made Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy in 2022.

Jaspreet Bindra is the Founder of AI & Beyond and Tech Whisperer, which does advisory and education on AI, digital transformation, blockchain and the future of work. He is the author of the best-selling book The Tech Whisperer: On Digital Transformation and the Technologies that Enable it, and writes a fortnightly column on technology and business for Mint and multiple other publications. Jaspreet was recognized as the inaugural Digitalist of the Year by Mint and SAP in 2017; he is a Global Moderator / Educator for Harvard Business School, Educator for Duke, Expert at Singularity University, Visiting Faculty at Ashoka University and was a Scholar-in-Residence at the Indian School of Business. He started his career with the Tata Group, as part of TAS, and later was the Group Chief Digital Officer at the Mahindra Group, a US$ 20 billion conglomerate, and a Regional Director at Microsoft India. Jaspreet is a Chemical Engineer with an MBA in International Business, followed by a Master’s degree in AI, Ethics and Society from Cambridge University.

Guillermo Medina assumed the role of Chief Digital and Analytics Officer at Pantaleon Sugar Holdings, in August 2024. His focus will be on integrating AI technologies to optimize operations and unlock new growth opportunities in the agro-industrial sector. Previously, Guillermo was Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at Pantaleon Sugar Holdings, where he managed assets worth approximately US$ 1.8 billion, steering the company’s financial strategy across USA, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Prior to that, he was Co-Chief Investment Officer at Applied Resources, Chief Investment Officer at Spectrum and Chief Disruption Officer at TPG Quest. Guillermo embraces the role of disruptor, driving transformation and aligning growth with world-class operational practices. An active venture investor, he is passionate about propelling innovation and leveraging technology, particularly in AI, to optimize shareholder value. Guillermo has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Engineering from Queen’s University, Canada and a Master’s degree in Applied Economics and Business from Mays Business School – Texas A&M University, followed by an executive programme in Corporate Level Strategy from Harvard Business School.

Charlotte Kingsman is the Founder of ECRUU Commodities Media Monitoring and is based in New Delhi, India. ECRUU, set up in 2016, is a media-monitoring agency for commodity professionals. ECRUU’s industry experts search, sort and summarize news that is relevant to specific commodity markets, filtering out the noise and ensuring that users can focus on important news. Previously, she was Managing Editor Agriculture for Platts, based in Singapore, and before that a sugar analyst for three years at Kingsman. Charlotte is an alumna of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Kannika Vongkusolkit is Vice President – Trading Business and Risk Management in the International Marketing department at Mitr Phol Sugar, Thailand. She joined the company in 2009 as a researcher in the Futures Market department. Kannika later moved to the International Marketing team, handling export sales to major traders as well as overseas industrial buyers. After gaining experience in various departments within the company, including Finance and Corporate Sustainability divisions, she moved back to the International Marketing team in 2022 to head the Raw Sugar Trading and Futures Trading team. Having worked closely with cane farmers, she believes that building relationships with them is the key to sustainable cane supply which in turn leads to sustainable growth in the business. Kannika started her career as an analyst for a local market research company specializing in consumer products. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (English Programme) from Thammasat University in Thailand and a Master’s degree in Management from the University of Bath, UK.

Yatin Wadhwana is a Director of Gradient Commercial, with over 36 years in the sugar business as a miller and trader. A member of the Committee of the Indian Sugar Mills Association for several years, Yatin served on the Board of Indian Sugar Exim Corporation as a representative of ISMA. He set up and headed the operations of Sucden India for 18 years. Yatin has a vast and rich experience of the global and Indian sugar sectors having experienced the famous “Indian Sugar Cycle” many times. Apart from sugar, he is also involved in the trade of other agri-commodities, including wheat, rice, edible oils and soybean. Yatin graduated with a degree in Management Sciences from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).

Wim De Waegeneer is Director Sourcing Sugar Europe at Barry Callebaut Group, based in Zürich, Switzerland. He oversees sugar procurement for the European region, covering all aspects of the value chain. Wim joined Barry Callebaut in 2007, initially managing Trade Regulatory Affairs. In 2010, he discovered his true passion for the sugar commodity market, a focus he has pursued ever since. Wim holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from HU Brussels and a Master ESC from KEDGE Business School in France.

Julian Price is Executive Director of the ACP / LDC Sugarcane Industries Group, an organization representing 18 sugar industries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which have tariff-free access to EU and UK markets. Julian is also an independent sugar trade analyst who brings ideas, expertise and market insights to his clients. He founded his consulting firm julianprice.com in 2018. Julian began his career at ED&F Man in London, joining the company in 1987 as a market analyst. In 1994, he moved to the trading desk as a broker of ACP sugar to the EU, and became Head of EU Raw Sugar Trading in 2012. Julian has served as Chairman of the Sugar Traders’ Association of the UK, from 1998 to 2002, and as President of ASSUC, the European Association of Sugar Traders, from 2010 to 2018. He graduated in Agricultural Economics from the University of Aberdeen and holds a postgraduate diploma in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde.

Ana Studen is the Head of Business Development for STUDEN Global, currently based in Dubai. In this capacity, she oversees agri-commodities market research and the development of various business initiatives across the group. Prior to assuming her current position, Ana was part of the research team. As a Market Research Analyst she conducted analysis of sugar, coffee and edible oil markets. Ana holds a Master of Business Administration degree.

Caroline Harfuch is Structured Derivatives Manager at Olam Agri and leads the OTC Desk in Brazil and Latin America. She focusses on helping clients manage price risks, mitigate losses and capitalize on market opportunities. Caroline also leads the grains, sugar and cotton business intelligence team, delivering strategic market insights to empower clients in their decision-making. Her expertise lies in combining market intelligence, risk management and financial innovation to deliver value-driven solutions for clients. Prior to joining Olam Agri, Caroline spent eight years at JP Morgan, specializing in structured derivatives, where she played a critical role in developing customized financial solutions for corporate clients. Before that, she worked in the sugar and ethanol trading industry, where she spearheaded strategic initiatives to optimize supply chain operations and expand market access. Caroline holds a degree in International Relations from UNESP and a postgraduate degree in Corporate Finance, with a published thesis exploring the impact of sustainable practices on company valuations.

Michael Levitz is Trading Manager at Sucden Americas, responsible for the physical trading in the Americas excluding Brazil. Michael started his career in sugar in 1982 as a physical broker in London. He joined ED&F Man in 1996 working in the London, New York and Miami offices until 2018, focussing primarily on the sourcing of sugar from Latin America. After working for a couple of years at Glencore, he joined the Sucden Group in 2020. Michael holds a BS and an MBA from The Ohio State University.

Emely Salazar is Director Commercial at Grupo CASSA, El Salvador's largest sugar producer. The company operates two industrial plants and manages integrated businesses across the entire production chain, ensuring sustainability at every stage. With over 20 years of experience, Emely oversees the management of physical and futures books, utilizing sophisticated risk management tools to optimize operations and strengthen the company’s industry position. Strategically located in the heart of the Americas, Grupo CASSA efficiently serves domestic, preferential and global markets with a diverse portfolio of sugar products and customizable packaging solutions. Under Emely's leadership, the company maintains the highest standards of quality to meet the needs of demanding clients. Emely holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Universidad Dr José Matías Delgado (UJMD), El Salvador, and an MBA from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Peter de Klerk joined the International Sugar Organization (ISO) as Senior Economist in January 2018. Prior to that, he was at Itochu Europe for four years where he was responsible for sugar market operations – ranging from analysis, logistics, futures to commercial transactions. Before Itochu, Peter worked at Armajaro, Czarnikow and ED&F Man, in their sugar analysis teams. During a separate tenure with ED&F Man, he worked in Nigeria and Tanzania trading a range of commodities, such as sugar, ethanol, cocoa and cashew nuts. Peter holds an MSc in Economics and is a part-qualified accountant.

John Adams is the Director of Sugar Research at GlobalData. John was part of LMC International which was acquired by GlobalData in 2022. He manages the full range of GlobalData’s sugar research on their Agribusiness IC platform. These include monthly reports on the world and EU sugar markets, cost of production benchmarking and an annual study on the long run outlook for the world sugar market. John has over 25 years of experience researching the world's sugar and sweetener markets. In his current role at GlobalData, his particular focus has been on the global sugar fundamentals (supply / demand and trade flows), cost and technical performance benchmarking of sugar industries around the world, price forecasting and the EU sugar market. With an academic background in Economics and Statistics, John started his career at LMC International before moving on to ED&F Man where he contributed towards setting up the research desk.

Marion Hoff Is Sales Director Europe at Tereos. In her current role, Marion’s responsibilities span the entire range of products from Tereos’s European operations, including sugar, starch products, beet alcohol and grain alcohol – for customers from the food, feed, pharmaceutical, paperboard and green chemistry industries, among others. Marion joined Tereos in 2011, starting out as Sales Manager for the sugar business unit, responsible for the commercial development of stevia extracts. Prior to her current role, she was in charge of sugar & starch and sweeteners for the Benelux and export market. Before joining Tereos, Marion worked in sales in the agri-food sector, in various managerial positions. She holds an engineering degree in Food Technology and Processing from UniLaSalle.

Josien Hermans joined Cosun Beet Company as Chief Commercial Officer in 2023, guiding the commercial endeavours of the cooperative’s sugar division with assets in the Netherlands and Germany. With her involvement, the company extended its future-proof sustainable chain for growers and customers. Previously, Josien held several commercial management positions within Cargill and Friesland Campina, in trading and marketing, which included wheat and grain derivatives, oils and fats, and a variety of ingredients for food, feed and infant nutrition. Josien started her career as a financial management trainee at Unilever, and holds an MSc degree in Business Administration from Erasmus University, Rotterdam.

Ilija Studen is the Co-founder and President of STUDEN & Co Holding, a holding company focussing primarily on agribusiness. He successfully developed an international portfolio of companies covering the processing, trading and distribution of agricultural commodities, such as sugar, edible oils, oil seeds, grains and coffee. Today, the group has well over 40 connected companies. Increased internationalization of the business has led to an eastward expansion of the STUDEN Group, and the establishment of STUDEN Global in Dubai, which acts as a regional headquarter and a commodity trading hub. The key distribution markets in the Middle East include Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Ilija is an Austrian and Bosnian entrepreneur, industrialist and investor with over 30 years of experience in sourcing, processing and distributing agricultural commodities. He has received a range of recognitions for his achievements, including the Mediterranean Leadership Award, the Great Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria and an Honorary Doctorate.

Robin Shaw is a Sugar Analyst at Marex, and has worked in the sugar market, in various locations around the world, for over 40 years. He was the former Head of Trading at Sucden in Paris until 1992, when he left to co-found CR Sugar. From 1999 through to 2016, Robin was a consultant to Cevital, and he has been with Marex since 2003. A leading analyst, his Weekly Sugar Report is one of the most highly regarded in the industry. Robin is a regular speaker at international conferences.

Andy Duff is Head of Food and Agribusiness Research – South America, at Rabobank. Based in São Paulo, Brazil, he is responsible for the bank’s analysis of international and national sugar markets and for research relating to specific transactions involving sugar. Before joining Rabobank in January 2001, Andy worked as a specialist in sugar for LMC International. Andy has a BA (Honours) degree in Applied Biology from Cambridge University and a Master’s in Agricultural Economics from Reading University.

Alessandro Gardemann is Chief Executive Officer of Geo bio gas&carbon. Alessandro founded Geo in 2008 with a team of entrepreneurs, who were driven by the advancement of biodigestion technology, particularly in Europe, and the potential of biogas in the green and renewable energy production chain in Brazil. Since then, Geo has combined the efficient gas generation concept with the potential of Brazilian agribusiness, establishing Brazil's first industrial-scale biogas plant in the sugar-energy sector. Geo uses biogenic carbon as high-quality raw material for high-value-added products, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and biomethanol. Alessandro co-founded the Brazilian Association of Biogas (ABiogás) in 2013. He was ABiogás’s Vice Chairman from 2013 to 2018 and Chairman from 2019 to 2023, and remains a Member of its Board. Alessandro has been an Endeavor Entrepreneur since 2015. Previously, he worked in finance, covering areas such as mergers and acquisitions, and public equity markets. Alessandro has a degree in Business Administration from Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo da Fundação Getulio Vargas (EAESP FGV). Currently, he is in the process of completing the Integrated USP, UNICAMP & UNESP Doctoral Programme in Bioenergy.

Anup Jagwani is Head of Global Agribusiness & Forestry at the International Finance Corporation (IFC). IFC is a member of the World Bank Group, and is the largest global development institution focussed on the private sector in emerging markets. Owned by 186 member countries and consistently rated AAA / Aaa, IFC aims to achieve its mission of promoting development by providing debt and equity to the private sector, through a range of benchmark and bespoke products. Anup has extensive experience in agribusiness and climate having spent over two decades in these sectors. He is responsible for the framing and implementation of IFC’s engagement in the agri space, and in his previous climate role he helped shape IFC’s Climate Change Action Plan, climate finance and Paris Alignment. Anup has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and an MBA from both the Asian Institute of Management and The Wharton School.

Dr Sanjay Awasthi is Chief Executive of ISGEC Heavy Engineering, the world's largest supplier of sugar plants and machinery. His career has spanned three decades, and at ISGEC, he has planned, designed and executed over 150 sugar plants, distilleries and sugar refineries in India and several other countries. Sanjay is President of The Sugar Technologists’ Association of India (STAI) as well as the Chairman of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT). In this role, he is associated with various other international organizations, such as the Philippines Sugar Technologists’ Association (Philsutech) and Sugar Industry Technologists (SIT). Sanjay is a Member of the Sugar Development Fund Sub-Committee of the Government of India, Member of the Sugar Advisory Board, Member of the National Sugar Institute and Member of the Sugar Standard Committee. He has published more than 200 research papers on sugar technology. Sanjay has a postgraduate degree in Sugar Technology from the National Sugar Institute, India, and a Master’s in Production Management. He is a gold medallist from the National Sugar Institute, where he completed a Fellowship in Bio CNG production, and has an Honorary Doctorate from the World Human Rights Protection Commission.

Stephen Geldart is Head of Analysis at CZ. Since joining CZ in 2008, Stephen has been leading the analysis team which provides leading-edge insights into the products CZ handles across the agriproduct, food, ingredients packaging and energy sectors. The team underpins CZ’s strategic consultancy work, supports the physical trading & corporate finance businesses and feeds into risk management services for major commodity producers, processors and end-users – all of which are delivered via CZ’s online platform. Before joining CZ, Stephen began his career in the oil refining industry. He holds an MSci in Chemistry from Imperial College London.

Alfredo Nicastro is Senior Vice President – Global Head of Carbon Markets at StoneX. In this capacity, he provides leadership to the climate solutions division, focussing on helping clients access carbon markets and achieve their climate mitigation goals. Prior to joining StoneX, Alfredo served as Senior Vice President of Operations at MGM Innova Group, a pioneer of the carbon markets and one of the large developers of offsets under compliance and voluntary markets, leading project origination, development and climate financing throughout the world. Previously, he was Executive Vice President at CH2M Hill, where he led the environmental, energy and industrial systems business in Latin America. Alfredo is a senior climate and environmental professional with expertise and proven record in the development and monetization of climate mitigation projects. He holds a Civil Engineering degree from the School of Engineering of Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia, Brazil, and postgraduate qualifications from the University of Michigan, USA.

Danielle Morley is the Chief Executive Officer of Bonsucro, an international membership organization which is the leading global organization for sustainability in sugarcane. Danielle has worked in sustainability for 25 years, across a range of sectors, including palm oil, water, climate and human rights. Prior to her appointment at Bonsucro in 2018, Danielle was European Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and Executive Director of the Freshwater Action Network at WaterAid. She also sits on the Board of ISEAL, the global membership organization for credible sustainability standards. Danielle is a qualified English lawyer and holds an MSc in Environmental Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Law.

Carlos de Mathias Martins Junior is the Chief Executive Officer of BlockC. The company was founded by Carlos in 2019, providing a platform that offers decarbonization solutions to corporations. He has been an active investor in carbon credits and renewable energy for over 20 years. Carlos is also the Founding Partner of Eqao and Ecopart, which are Brazilian companies focussed on the development and financing of renewable energy and emissions reduction projects. Since early 2000, Eqao has advised corporate clients in matters related to climate change and carbon credits, while Ecopart has invested in renewable energy companies spanning wind to biogas, biomass to energy. More recently, Carlos was appointed Chairman of the Board of ACX Brazil, a leading environmental asset trading platform. Carlos holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of São Paulo and an MBA from Columbia Business School.