Speakers 2025
DAY 1 CHAIR
Prashant Soni
Technology strategist – Concept development and Technology
Aker BP
Prashant Soni has over 15 years of experience in Oil and Gas sector covering both technical and commercial aspect among other business strategy development and key customer management. He has a Master of Technology degree in ‘Offshore Technology’ along with a PhD in ‘Hydrodynamics of Slender structures’. He has held several management positions in the past and at present contributing to the technology agenda of the company. Thereby assisting in accelerating innovation efforts at Aker BP.
DAY 2 CHAIR
Amit Kar
Director Digital Solutions Leader for Heavy Industry Segment
Schneider Electric
Amit Kar is the global digital solutions leader for Energies & Chemicals at Schneider Electric, a role he has held since 2022. His 20+ years’ experience of exploiting digital technologies in Oil & Gas has also included stints with Shell, KBR and AVEVA. Throughout these roles Amit has established a reputation as someone uniquely able to marry a visionary understanding of technology trends with a pragmatic, value-driven approach to implementation.
In his current role Amit drives the development of the value proposition and messaging to convey the unique breadth and depth of Schneider Electric’s portfolio of industrial digital capabilities, which includes AVEVA, ETAP and Pi. He also supports engagements with customers embarking on strategic transformation journeys, and develops innovation leveraging partnerships.
Amit has lived in worked around the world, including the USA, Sultanate of Oman, Nigeria, the UK, Singapore, Indonesia and the UAE. He is currently resident in Dubai. Amit is a keen tennis player and a photographer with a growing international reputation, being an official ambassador for Leica Cameras since 2022.
Ahmed Al Saleh
Head of Process Control & IT Engineering Unit
Aramco
Ahmed is a distinguished OT cybersecurity influencer currently leading the Process Control & IT engineering unit in Saudi Aramco Gas operations. He is equipped with 18 years of expertise in safeguarding critical infrastructures, developing and managing information security management systems (ISMS), and a proven track in enhancing cybersecurity GRC & operation controls. He is also the Digital Transformation lead in his organization with demonstrated excellence in technology deployment and digital maturity.
Ahmed Holds a bachelor’s degree in MIS from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and a master’s degree in cybersecurity from Georgia Institute of Technology. He also has multiple recognized cybersecurity certifications.
Ahmed is a firm believer in the power and importance of knowledge sharing and volunteerism as he is a member of Information Security Association – Hemaya. He is also a passionate speaker with participation in multiple international summits and conferences.
Mohamed Ali Saafi, PhD
Senior R&D Scientist
Aramco
Dr. Mohamed Ali Saafi is a Senior Research Scientist at Aramco, specializing in transportation decarbonization and energy systems modelling. With a Ph.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Dr. Saafi’s academic work focused on advanced optimization methods for improves energy dynamics projections, culminating in a doctoral thesis that laid the groundwork for scalable solutions in sustainable mobility and energy transition planning.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Saafi has authored 13 peer-reviewed publications that span topics including energy systems modeling, transportation network analysis, and pathways to decarbonization including synthetic fuels production cost optimization.
At Aramco, Dr. Saafi leads the development of in-house optimization tools to support the company’s long-term sustainability and energy diversification goals. He is actively involved in multidisciplinary collaborations that leverage simulation, optimization, and scenario analysis to investigate infrastructure investment and policy development in the context of the global energy transition.
Stefan Bange
Managing Director Germany
Obrela
Stefan Bange is Managing Director Germany at Obrela, a global cybersecurity firm. He focuses on delivering Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) solutions. With over 15 years in cybersecurity, his work bridges technical depth and strategic response to help organizations navigate complex digital threats.
Vicente Bielza Galindo
Remote Assets Operations
Repsol Renewables
Vicente Bielza is responsible for remote operation (control centre and OT) at Repsol Renovables. He is an industrial engineer specializing in electrotechnical engineering and postgraduate degrees in Renewable Energies and Business Administration with more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy sector focused in their digitalization and automation. He has participated in the development and implementation of remote operation of renewable energy (photovoltaic, batteries, onshore and offshore wind) in the United States, Brazil, Chile and Europe.
Tjidde Boers
Vice President Business Development EMEA
Assai
Tjidde Boers is VP Business Development EMEA at Assai Software. During his international career as an entrepreneur and industrial technology leader, Tjidde has gained extensive experience establishing successful businesses and creating innovative products and services for asset-intensive industries.
Prior to joining Assai through the acquisition of Viewport.ai in 2024, he served as CEO of Viewport.ai and held senior roles at OSIsoft and AVEVA, including Global OSIsoft Cloud and Connected Services Principal. His work has consistently focused on using cutting-edge technologies to help engineering and operations teams stop wasting time searching for technical information and start making better, faster decisions based on reliable data.
At Assai, Tjidde now works with clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to help organizations improve control, accessibility, and trust in their technical asset information.
Stephen Boccioli
Vice President Oil & Gas Solution
Cognite
Stephen Boccioli is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry. Currently serving as VP of Oil and Gas Solutions at Cognite since September 2021, Stephen previously held the role of Technical Director at SCDM ENERGY Ltd and Exploration Manager at Bayerngas Norge AS. With a career spanning roles at renowned companies such as DONG Energy, Shell Oil Company, BG Group, and Schlumberger, Stephen has excelled in technical and management positions. He brings expertise in exploration, development, reservoir management, and G&G coordination. Stephen holds an MBA from IE Business School, earned in 2011.
Laurent Bourgouin
Chief Executive Officer
Samp
Dr Laurent Bourgouin has 20+ years experience in the Oil & Gas industry, at the crossroads of shopfloor reality and digital transformation. After many years as project manager in charge of Inspection & Maintenance of onshore facilities, he then became head of a Business United dedicated to engineering of complex offshore & subsea projects in a major Engineering firm. More recently, Dr Laurent Bourgouin was Technical Director for the leading software vendor Dassault Systèmes where he led the Digital Transformation of many Oil & Gas majors worldwide. He is now the CEO of the deeptech company Samp, leading the pack in the digitalization of 3D Asset Management, leveraging the latest advancements in AI and 3D scanning.
Nick Giannakakis
Chief Executive Officer
Motor Oil
Mr Nikos Giannakakis holds an MBA in Industrial Systems Administration & BA in Faculty of Physics.
He is an Alumni of the International Institute for Management Development – IMD with 18year experience in Information Technology Executive positions on recognizable Multinational Organizations.
Was included in the list of the top 100 Chief Information Officers for the year 2024.
Leading global teams in region of Digital Innovation and Product Management.
Pioneer of the setup of Global AI Centers of Excellence in Organizations as British American Tobacco and Motor Oil Hellas.
Davis Havas
Head of Industrial Data & AI
MOL Group
Senior Data Leader with proven track record in driving digital transformation through data solutions and cloud architecture expertise. Successfully built and developed high-performing data teams that delivered impactful results across sales, production, and finance functions. Created robust data products and implemented comprehensive data governance frameworks, ensuring data access, quality, and lineage. Extensive hands-on experience with architecture, cloud platform deployments, migration, budgeting, product management, and delivery. Demonstrated success in creating and scaling ML products and actively engaged in the genAI journey from concept to enterprise-wide adoption, ensuring guarded AI solutions
Stefan Hoppe
President & Managing Director
OPC Foundation
Stefan Hoppe is the OPC Foundation President since end 2018 coordinating the OPC expansion into the Internet of Things & Industrie4.0.
Stefan has been the Global Vice President since 2014 and the President of the OPC Europe organization since 2010 being the catalyst for initiating liaisons with other industrial consortiums that has resulted in OPC working groups developing companion specifications for the organizations respective information models.
Stefan Hoppe studied electrical engineering at the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany. Since 1995 he has worked for BECKHOFF Automation, starting as a software developer later as a lead Product Manager with focus on PC based Automation, connectivity, and embedded software products.
Kashif Iftikhar
Sales Director
Symphony AI
Kashif Iftikhar is the Sales Director for AI/Digital Solutions at SymphonyAI, bringing over 19 years of experience in driving data-led digital transformation across the oil & gas, refining, and manufacturing sectors. He currently leads European sales efforts focused on Industrial AI, Asset Performance Management (APM), and Industrial DataOps platforms.
Throughout his career, Kashif has held both technical and leadership roles at global organizations including AspenTech, Honeywell, ABB, and Weatherford. He has supported several key European refining companies in accelerating their digitalization efforts—delivering significant revenue growth, enhanced data interoperability, and improved operational agility.
Kashif holds an MBA in Corporate Strategy & Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial (Mechanical) Engineering. He is known for his consultative, value-based approach and deep understanding of upstream and downstream oil & gas operations with prime focus on data-driven innovation—making him a key contributor to strategic conversations around IT/OT convergence, legacy system modernization, and intelligent automation.
Jaime Laguna Ramirez
Global Practice Segment Leader for Oil & Gas and Mining
Nokia
Jaime Laguna is the Global Practice Segment Leader for Oil & Gas and Mining. With nearly two decades of experience at Nokia and deep specialization in the energy sector, Jaime brings proven expertise in driving digital transformation for oil, gas, and mining operations—focusing on connectivity, automation, and operational resilience in complex industrial environments.
Paul Lockley
Vice President EMEA
Device Authority
Paul is currently the VP of Sales EMEA at Device Authority leading both Partner /Alliance and customer engagement. He has over 25 years IT experience delivering value-based customer solutions, building GTM strategy and creating shared success. For the last 10 years Paul has focused on building rapid growth start-up technologies and markets, working with companies such as Veeam and Device Authority. Prior to that he worked within the Enterprise solutions divisions for companies such as EMC and Computacenter focused on the Global 500 sector.
Norbert Meierhoefer
Business Value Consultant
Seeq
Norbert holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering and (Advanced) Control from the Technical University (TU) Darmstadt, Germany from1983.
He started his career as a DCS trainer for Hartmann & Braun (ABB today). He moved to the US, Bartlesville, OK to support Applied Automation, the Engineering group of Philips Petroleum, bought by Hartmann & Braun.
During his time in the US, he was a member of the S88 standardization committee to define the standards for Batch Automation. In addition, he got involved in Historian systems and started a partnership with ISI in Seattle, which was bought by AspenTech in 1995.
Norbert joined AspenTech end of 1995 and was the first member in Europe, developing the IP.21 business in Europe.
As an AspenTech Dir. Business Consulting, in earlier years, he focused on developing AspenTech’s partner in the Historian Business. During such times he worked in various industries from Pulp and Paper to F&B and Chemicals.
Later he supported AspenTech’s direct business in integrated production optimization mainly in E&P, Chemicals and Pharma. AspenTech’s product portfolio from Historians, APC, MES to Supply Chain Optimization and including Advanced Analytics allowed him as consultant to develop a very comprehensive understanding of how to deploy an integrated set of technologies to achieve maximum value for AspenTech’s customers.
Norbert lives in Wiesbaden, Germany and has been working as a Consultant with Seeq since 2022.
Gordon Murray
Senior Vice President of Energy
Quvia
Quvia, formerly known as Neuron, is the first AI-powered QoE platform for ships, planes and remote sites. The platform seamlessly blends any combination of connectivity, including multiple service providers, satellite orbits and terrestrial networks, into one, vendor-neutral environment; continuously measures and analyzes real-time connectivity performance and its impact on quality of experience (QoE); and intelligently orchestrates the network to deliver the best possible QoE—even in the most remote places.
Today, Quvia works with industry-leading companies in aviation, cruise, energy, shipping and more.
Luis Morais
Chief Information Security Officer
Galp
With more than 18 years of experience in the Cyber field, most of them working and leading national and corporate CSIRTs, I’m currently based at home – the sunny Lisbon (Portugal) – leading the Cyber Resilience capacity of Galp, as their Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
Reflecting my interest in Academia, I’m also contributing as Invited Lecturer at ISCAC Business School (teaching Information Security Audits and Forensic).
Key Topics: Cyber Resilience; Cyber-Risk Management; Incident Response; Automaton, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as a Cyber enabler; Digital Forensics; Malware Analysis; Security Audits & Pentests and Cyber Security.
Bárbara Pereira
Head of Operational Technology Cyber Resilience
Galp
Bárbara Pereira is the Head of OT Cyber Resilience at Galp, where she is leading the strategy and execution of cybersecurity initiatives to protect critical operational technologies (OT) in the Galp. With over eight years of experience in cybersecurity — from Cybersecurity Operations to OT Cybersecurity leadership — she has been instrumental in advancing resilience across complex, high-stake critical environments.
Bárbara’s expertise lies in securing the intersection of IT and OT systems, building defense strategies against emerging threats, and enabling business continuity through robust cyber risk management and in partnership with the relevant stakeholders from the different business units.
Markus Pettersen
Platform Architect
Aker BP
Markus holds an MSc in Data Science from the University of Stavanger and has been working in the Oil & Gas industry since 2020. As a Data Engineer he has had a strong focus on real-time and near real-time data ingestion. Currently, Markus serves as a Platform Architect at Aker BP, where he is responsible for the end-to-end architecture of one of the company’s digital platforms. By enabling efficient, scalable, and high-quality data flows, Markus plays a key role in supporting Aker BP’s digital transformation efforts.
Ann Robin
Business Development Director
Gradyent
Ann Robin is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in energy efficiency, sustainability, and digitalization within the process industry. As Business Development Director, Industry at Gradyent, she focuses on optimizing industrial steam grids through end-to-end, physics-based Digital Twins, driving efficiency and decarbonization. Previously, Ann played a key role at Arup as Industry Sustainability Manager, where she led the design of Eneco’s sustainable electrification & heat storage solution for PepsiCo, a pioneering project in the Netherlands. She also held leadership positions at Emerson, spearheading digital transformation strategies across Europe. Her expertise spans business development, multidisciplinary project management, and energy transition technologies, with a strong track record in delivering innovative, low-carbon solutions for industrial operations.
Halen Rodrigues
Industrial ICT and IoT Domain Enterprise Architect
Petrobras
Halen Rodrigues is Domain Architecture Leader for IoT Systems at Petrobras, where he leads the development of scalable IoT architectures to enhance operational efficiency across industrial environments. Since joining Petrobras in 2009, he has held key roles in systems analysis, automation, offshore telecommunications, and IT operations.
With a background in Computer Science and specialisations in Control and Instrumentation Engineering from UCL, Halen also holds an MBA in Project Management and a Master’s in Business Management. His expertise lies in bridging IT and OT to deliver integrated, real-time solutions that support Petrobras’s digital transformation goals.
Folakemi Sanusi
NMA IT Programme Manager
Chevron NMA
Folakemi Sanusi is a results-driven data leader with over two decades of experience designing and implementing enterprise data strategies across Nigeria, the USA, and the UK. Currently serving as an IT Program Manager at Chevron, Folakemi is recognized as a Distinguished Engineer in Information Management for her contributions to data architecture and governance within highly regulated, complex environments.
Her expertise spans data governance, cloud platforms, business intelligence, and AI/ML-driven analytics. She has led the development of scalable data frameworks and process automation strategies that drive digital transformation and operational efficiency. Folakemi is also a strong advocate for data literacy and culture change—empowering organizations to make faster, smarter, data-informed decisions.
Throughout her career, she has successfully aligned data initiatives with business priorities, enhanced cross-functional collaboration, and delivered measurable business value. As a respected subject matter expert, Folakemi provides both technical leadership and strategic direction to executive stakeholders and delivery teams alike.
She is deeply committed to improving data quality, accessibility, and security to unlock insights that fuel sustainable growth in the oil and gas industry.
Selmane Sekkai
Principal Solution Consultant
Seeq
Selmane is a Principal Solution Consultant at Seeq, with over four years of experience helping customers solve business challenges through advanced analytics. He works closely with users to ensure they gain maximum value from Seeq, from initial engagement through long-term adoption.
Selmane’s background is in control systems engineering. He previously worked as a pre-sales engineer at OSIsoft (now part of AVEVA) and later as a Seeq customer at SBM Offshore, where he led the implementation of real-time applications to support the remote operation of floating production units in the oil and gas sector.
Sofia Silvestre
AI Lead
Galp
Sofia holds a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering, complemented by academic formation in Business Intelligence and Data Science. With eight years of experience in the Data and AI field, she now leads the AI Delivery team at Galp, driving innovation and impact through artificial intelligence. Passionate about technology, its transformative potential and meaningful value in people’s lives.
Sónia Sousa
Data Scientist
Galp
Sónia holds a BSc and an MSc in Biomedical Engineering with a specialization in Clinical Informatics and Bioinformatics from the University of Coimbra. Since 2023, she has been working as a Data Scientist at Galp within the Data & AI Delivery team, contributing to major projects focused on delivering time series forecasting models. Her interests include descriptive analytics, deep learning and model interpretability, with scientific articles published on the latter.
Sean Steen
Global Technology Alliances Lead
TGS Prediktor
Sean Steen leads Global Technology Alliances at TGS Prediktor, where he helps oil and gas operators streamline OT-IT integration through secure, standards-based solutions. With a background in structural geology and more than a decade of experience spanning digital transformation, industrial DataOps, and real-time data architecture, Sean has worked across the energy value chain, from subsurface analytics to production optimization. His career includes leadership roles at Apache Corp, PGS, and Cognite, where he specialized in scaling data platforms, driving new revenue models, and advancing customer adoption of digital solutions.
Peter Thiel
Team Leader IT/OT-Security
Obrela
Peter Thiel is an experienced OT security leader with over 12 years in the field. He has worked across critical infrastructure sectors such as power, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. His expertise includes securing OT systems, designing resilient OT networks, and ensuring governance and compliance in high-risk environments.
Evgeni Tochev
Sales Executive, Energy, Europe
Motorola Solutions
Evgeni Tochev is a highly experienced security expert with over 20 years in video surveillance and automation, having a thorough understanding of both the technical and commercial aspects of the industry. Possesses a Master’s degree in electronics and IT. Has proven track record assisting enterprise clients globally with cost-effective migrations of their surveillance systems, from analog to digital, IP, and Cloud, maximizing the outcome of their investment returns. At his current position at Motorola Solutions, he is focused on the Energy sector in Europe and the implementation of the Motorola Solutions safety and security ecosystem for better protection of people, property and places.
