Eng. Marwan ABDELHAMID is the past President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) since September 2013. He is a graduate Civil Engineer from the University of Belgrade, and General Secretary of the General Union of Palestinian Engineers (GUPE). He has been devoted to the WFEO for over 36 years as a member of the Executive Council as well as Vice President, and has been awarded three times for outstanding services to the WFEO.

He served as President of the Federation of Arab Engineers from 1987 to 1989, and was involved in several Committees and task forces also as chairman of Standing Committee for the Promotion and Creation of Engineering Institutions in Developing Countries within WFEO.

He has held many positions such as, Director of Department in the National Company in Algeria, Advisor to the Algerian Minister of Housing, Member of the Council of Arab Ministers representing Palestine, Permanent representative of Palestine in the United Nations Organization for Human Settlements, Technical Advisor to late President Arafat, Deputy Minister of Housing in the Palestinian Authority, Ambassador of Palestine to Greece, Technical Advisor to President Abbas, and President of Palestine Mortgage & Housing Corporation and Consultant in Housing Policy and Strategy.

He is as a multicultural citizen, fluent in English, French, Serbian and Arabic, and his deep interest and passion for Sciences and Engineering has influenced his two children respectively serving as Dr Urologist and Architect.

Prof. Dr. José Vieira is a civil engineer with extensive experience in engineering education, research and management. He is Full Professor at University of Minho, Portugal, where he served as Pro Rector (1990-1998) and Vice Rector (1998-2002). He has coordinated large number of graduation and post-graduation study programmes in civil engineering, and develops his research activities in the fields of water resources planning, hydrodynamics in estuaries and coastal zones, and drinking water and public health.

Prof. Dr. José Vieira was President of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI) from 2014 to 2020. Under his leadership, strategic initiatives were launched to enhance the visibility of the value of engineers to society, stressing the relevance of promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals in future engineering education and practice.

Prof. Dr. José Vieira was the National Vice President of the Portuguese Association of Engineers from 2010 to 2016, responsible for effective international cooperation in mutual recognition of engineering education and capacity building standards in the Portuguese speaking countries.

He has been involved in WFEO activities since 2015 as a member of the Executive Council and chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

He was elected President-Elect of WFEO at the General Assembly in Melbourne in November 2019 and became President of WFEO at the General Assembly in San José, Costa Rica in March 2022.

Prof. Dr. GONG Ke was President of WFEO (2019-2021). He is an electronics engineer with expertise in information, communication technology, and more than 30 years’ experience in engineering education, research, and management.

Since 2009, he has dedicated himself to WFEO activities and has made great contributions to the development of WFEO with his efforts and experience. As the chairman of China National Committee of WFEO, he has organized and led Chinese engineers to actively participate in WFEO’s activities and given full support to WFEO’s activities in China.

He has also stressed the essential role of engineering and engineers in the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda through his engagement in drafting relevant documents and his attendance in high-level forums of the UN.

He was one of the 26 members of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board. He has established strong bonds with the United Nations, other international organizations and industrial communities.

Dr. Marlene Kanga was President of WFEO (2017-2019), she is a chemical engineer and was National President of Engineers Australia in 2013.

Dr. Kanga was Chair of the 6th World Engineers Convention (WEC2019), held in Melbourne in November 2019.

During her term as WFEO President she led the initiative for the member states at UNESCO to declare 4th March, the founding Day of WFEO, as World Engineering Day. The inaugural World Engineering Day was held on 4th March 2020.

The focus of WEC2023 on 8 of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals is a continuation of her strategic vision and communication on the essential role of engineers in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This was first stated in the WFEO Engineering 2030 Plan in November 2017 and the WFEO UNESCO Paris Declaration, March 2018. This has resulted in collaborative initiatives with UNESCO, other international engineering organizations and member in projects that advance the 2030 Agenda.

Dr. Kanga is a board member of the large organizations in Australia including Sydney Water Corporation, AirServices Australia, Standards Australia and other boards involving innovation. She is a director of iOmniscient Pty. Ltd. which has developed artificial intelligence for video technologies and is a mentor to start-up companies as they commercialize advanced technology and research.

Dr. Kanga is an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK), a Fellow of the Academy of Technology Science and Engineering (Australia) and a Foreign Fellow of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology.

She has been listed among the 100 engineers making a contribution to Australia in the last 100 years as part of Engineers Australia Centenary celebrations on 2019, among the Top 10 Women Engineers in Australia (2019), Top 100 Women of Influence (2014) and the Top 100 Engineers in Australia (several times) and is a Member of the Order of Australia, a national honor, in recognition of her leadership of the engineering profession.

Prof. RNDr. Eva Zažímalová, CSc. completed her studies at the Faculty of Science of Charles University in Prague in 1979 in the field of chemistry with a specialization in biochemistry. In 1983, she received the scientific degree of CSc. (equivalent to PhD.) in biology (physiology of plants) at the Institute of Experimental Botany of the former Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (now the the Czech Academy of Sciences - CAS).
Since 1983, she has worked as a researcher at the Institute of Experimental Botany of the CAS (IEB). In 2004, she became Head of the Laboratory of Hormonal Regulation in Plants in the IEB, a position she held until 2016. From 2003 - 2007 she served as Deputy Director and from 2007 – 2012 as Director of the IEB.
In 2013 she has been elected member of the Academy Council of the CAS, and from 2017 she has been named President of the CAS.
In 2004, Eva Zažímalová was appointed Associate Professor and in 2013 Professor for the field of anatomy and physiology of plants at Charles University in Prague.
She has supervised students in MS and PhD studies and has lectured in the advanced semester courses of the MS and PhD study programmes at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague and the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. She is a member of the Council of the doctoral study programmes in subject areas Anatomy and Physiology of Plants and Biochemistry at the Faculty of Science of Charles University in Prague, and Anatomy and Physiology of Plants study programme at the Faculty of Agronomy of Mendel University in Brno. She is a member of the scientific councils of Charles University in Prague, Palacký University in Olomouc, Masaryk University in Brno, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, and Komenský University in Bratislava, Slovakia, and also serves as a member in the board of directors of University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno. She is a member of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and honorary member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Since 2007, Eva Zažímalová has worked for the European Research Council as an expert, and since 2013 as panel member or panel evaluator (ERC – Starting Grants). Since 2008 she has served European Commission as Life panel member (FP7 – Marie Curie Fellowships and Horizon 2020 – Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships).
In her research work, Eva Zažímalová deals with the plant signalling compound (phytohormone) auxin – its metabolism and molecular mechanisms of its transport and activity in plant cells. She has been a coordinator and investigator of many national and international projects and contributed significantly to the organisation of several international symposia. She is the author or co-author of original scientific articles published in renowned international journals (including Science, Nature, Cell, PNAS etc.) and chapters in specialised monographs. Her work has been cited more than 4,600x (according to WoS, excluding self-citations).

Academician Dato’ Ir. (Dr.) Lee Yee Cheong, BE Hons (Adelaide), Hon. Doc Eng (UNITEN), DPMP, KMN, AO is the Malaysian Honorary Chairman, Governing Council, International Science Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC), Kuala Lumpur after being the founding Chairman of ISTIC Governing Board 2008-2016 ; President, Academy of Engineering and Technology of the Developing World (AETDEW), STEM Advisor to former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia; Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable; Pro-Chancellor, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur; former Board member, Energy Commission Malaysia; former Chairman, Global Council, InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Science Education Program; Jury member of "OECD Award for Taking Innovative Development to Scale"; former Chairman of Governing Board, the Institute of Energy Policy and Research (IEPRe), University Tenaga Malaysia (UNITEN); former Advisor to MIGHT International; former Member of Global Science Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC); Advisor to the Council of UN Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN) Malaysia; former Member of the National Science and Research Council, Malaysia; former Patron of the International Young Professionals Foundation; former Member of the International Advisory Board of “Engineers Without Borders” Canada; Member of International Committee, La Main a la Pate Foundation, France; Vice President, Belt & Road International Science Education Co-ordinating Committee, China; Member, International Advisory Board, ECO Science Foundation, Pakistan; Member of Executive Committee, Malaysia China Friendship Association, Director of Malaysia Australia Foundation and Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK, the Institution of Civil Engineers, UK, Engineers Australia, Myanmar Engineering Society and the Institution of Engineers, Mauritius.

He was President and now Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia; Member of the Board of Engineers Malaysia and the Board of Architects Malaysia; Chairman and now Honorary President of Commonwealth Engineers Council (CEC); the first Asian President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) 2003-2005; He represented WFEO as Co-chair of the “International Science and Technology Community” Major Group of UN Commission on Sustainable Development 2000-2006 and attended UN World Summit on Sustainable Development Jo’burg 2002 and World Summit on Information Societies Tunis 2005. He was Co-chair of Task Force “Science, Technology and Innovation” of the United Nations Millennium Project 2002-2005; Member of the Board of Trustees of Engineers Against Poverty, U.K; Member of the International Commission for Education for Sustainable Development Practice, Earth Institute, Columbia University 2006-2008; Member of International Advisory Board of Grand Challenges Canada and Member of the National Economic and Social Council Kenya.

He served with the National Electricity Board, 1961-1979. He then founded and was CEO of Tenaga Ewbank Preece and later KTA Tenaga 1980-2002. He was the Director in charge of Sabah projects. He became a Partner of Ewbank Preece Consulting Group, UK; He was a Board Director of UMW Holdings Berhad 2000-2008; and a Council Member of Badan Warisan Malaysia (Heritage Organisation Malaysia), 2005-2009.

He is founding Secretary General and Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia; the founder President of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology; Foreign Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering; and a Corresponding Member of the Pan-American Academy of Engineering. He served as a founding Board member of the InterAcademy Council (IAC) of the world’s scientific academies 2001-2004 and Special Advisor to IAC Co-Chair on Sustainable Energy 2008-2009. He was Advisor to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia 2006-2007.

He was Co-author of the UN Millennium Project Science Technology and Innovation Task Force Study Report “Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development”, 2005. He published his autobiography “Think Malaysia, Act Global” September 2010. He was awarded the International Prize for South-South Cooperation of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation; the Jang YoungSil Grand International Science and Culture Prize, Korea; the Malaysian State Awards of DPMP and KMN and the Honorary Officer in the Order of Australia (AO).

University Titles: DIC Nuclear Power (Imperial College, University of London, U.K.); Génie Atomique Engineer (INSTN-University of Paris, France); Mechanical Engineer (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); Industrial Engineer (University of Uruguay).

Professional Experience: Director, Nuclear Research Center Project, University of Uruguay. Professional Officer, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Nuclear Power Technology and Economic Studies. Project management functions at CBTN (Brazilian Nuclear Technology Company), NUCLEBRÁS, NUCLEN and ELETRONUCLEAR of Brazil. Director of UNDP/BRAZIL Project on Manpower Qualification and Training. IAEA Consultant for Nuclear Project Management, Operational Safety Services and Nuclear Safety Culture. Advisor to the President at INB (Nuclear Industries of Brazil) and ELETRONUCLEAR (State Nuclear Utility).

Activities at Professional Organizations: Currently: Executive Director, Pan American Union of Engineers (UPADI). Previously: Past President, World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO); WFEO Representative at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development; Chair, WFEO Standing Energy Committee; Vice-Chair of WFEO Standing Committee for Technology Transfer, Exchange and Evaluation; Member, Board of Directors of the American Nuclear Society (ANS); Member, Pro-Tempore Committee of the Engineering and Technological Academy of the Developing World (AETDEW); Member of WFEO-UN Relations Committee; Vice-Chair, Advisory Board of the UNESCO-China International Centre for Engineering Education (ICEE); Governing Board Member, UNESCO International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC); Vice President of the Brazilian Federation of Engineering Associations (FEBRAE); Member of the Executive Council of FEBRAE; Chair, INSC (International Nuclear Societies Council); Chair, INEA (International Nuclear Energy Academy); Chair, Latin American Section of ANS.

Professional Societies and Academies Membership: Fellow, American Nuclear Society; Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), U.K.; Member, Pan American Academy of Engineers (API); Member, International Nuclear Energy Academy (INEA); Member, Editorial Advisory Panel of “Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Energy”, U.K.; Honorary Member, Uruguayan Society of Engineers (AIU); Fellow, AETDEW.

Awards and distinctions: INSC – “Global Award”; ANS - 2015 Bennett Lewis Award for Sustainable Energy and Development; LAS/ANS – Award on “Publication of the Year” and Award on “Personality of the Year for Nuclear Energy Development in Latin America”; 2016 UPADI Pan American Award for Integration and Solidarity “Carlos Lopez Rivera”.

Publications: More than 140 publications on Engineering for Sustainable Development, Energy Generation and Economics, Education and Professional Qualification.

Ralph Appel, born 1958 in Hamburg, is married and father of two children. He studied industrial engineering at the University of Hamburg and the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, where he graduated as a certified industrial engineer with specialized knowledge in automation, product engineering, materials management, industrial management and economics.

Career
Since 2013: VDI – The Association of German Engineers e.V., Düsseldorf

• Executive Director and Member of the Board of VDI
• Managing Director of VDI GmbH
• President of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations FEANI
• Vice President of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations FEANI (2015 – 2020)
• CEO of the accreditation agency ASIIN e.V (2015 - 2020)

2002 – 2013: Cargill BVBA

• Managing Director of Texturizing Solutions global business unit, Mechelen (B)
• Managing Director of Cargill Deutschland GmbH, Krefeld (D), and Country Lead of Cargill in Germany

1987 – 2002: Cerestar SA/NV, Paris, Brussels and Krefeld

• Held a number of leading positions in international functions, finally as Commercial Director Food Sector Europe, Paris

1986 – 1987: Maizena GmbH – Hamburg

• Financial Trainee and Controller

Dr. - Ing. Willi Fuchs is the Honorary President of European Federation of National Engineering Association FEANI since 2009. He has been affiliated with FEANI in different positions: as President (2005 – 2008), Vice President (2002 – 2005}; he also served as Vice President of WFEO (2003 – 2007), President of the German Quality Association (1996 – 1998), Director of VDI Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (1999 – 2013), as well as CEO of the Dr. Reinold Hagen Foudation, Germany (1991 – 1998), and Head of R&D and Quality Management at Lemmerz Werke, Germany (1987 – 1990).

After gaining doctorate at the University of Siegen, Germany in 1986 he was Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Houston, USA in 1986 – 1987. In the years 2014 – 2017 Dr.- Ing. Willi Fuchs was a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Sankt Augustin, Germany.

Qualifications and Professional Membership
I have a Ph.D degree from the Ohio State University, USA, an M.Sc degree from Cranfield University, UK, and a B.Sc degree from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
I am a Registered Professional Consulting Engineer (R. Cons. Eng.) with the Engineers Board of Kenya. I am a Lead Consultant with the National Environment Management Authority, NEMA, as well as a Chartered Environmentalist in the United Kingdom.
I am a member of several learned societies including the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK), the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Kenya Society of Environmental, Biological and Agricultural Engineers (KeSEBAE), the American Society of Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE), UK, and the Kenya National Academy of Sciences (KNAS).

Governance and Management
I have had vast experience in governance, management and personnel recruitment and deployment in the public, private and civil society sectors. At the University level, I have served as Chairman of Department at the University of Nairobi 1998- 2006. I am Head of Academic Department, Technical University of Kenya, 2019- Date.
I am a member of the Kisumu City Board since 2018. I was responsible for producing the organogram and job descriptions for all staff of the Kisumu City Board in 2019.I am also chairperson of the

Planning and Infrastructure Committee I was chairperson of the Centre for Mutliparty Democracy- Kenya, CMD-K, in the period 2007 to 2012. During this period, I chaired many relevant meetings and negotiations which resulted in important actions in the country.
I am currently the chairperson of the Kenya Society of Environmental, Biological and Agricultural Engineers, KeSEBAE, which advocacy society for its members on pertinent issues in society. I am also in the council of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya and the Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya.

Academic Experience
I was an academic member of staff at the University of Nairobi from 1981. In 1998-2006, I was Chairman of Department at the University of Nairobi.
I have taught many courses in engineering at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I have successfully supervised many doctoral and master’s degree candidates.
I have researched and supervised theses in the following areas: Energy Systems; Electrification Through Conventional and Renewable Sources; Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit; Renewable Energy: Biogas, Solar Energy; Bioprocess Engineering; Environmental Simulation and Control in Buildings; Geographical Information Systems (Remote Sensing and Infrared Spectroscopy); Grain Storage Structures (Silos, Cribs); Granular Mechanics: Soil Mechanics, Mechanics of En-masse Grains Heat and Mass Transfer; Mechanical Properties of Soils; Oilseed Processing; Physical Properties of Biological Materials; Structural Composites (Ferrocement, Fibre Reinforced Concrete); Thermal Properties of Building Materials; Timber; and Waste Management.

Professional Work
I worked as a coffee factory engineer in the Ministry of Agriculture in 1980. I was the director of programmes at the Africa Centre for Technology Studies in the period 2005 to 2007. I have also worked as a researcher, lecturer and examiner at the Ohio State University, USA, Silsoe Institute, UK, Kenya Polytechnic University College, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, University of Malawi, University of Zambia and University of Ibadan.
I have practiced as a consultant in industry in the fields of economics; energy; trade and policy analyses; feasibility studies; water supply; valuation of machinery; design and construction supervision of factories; design, construction and testing of machinery; project appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of industries; and structural design.

Political Party Governance and Mediation
I was elected Chairperson of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy- Kenya in January 2007. I was re-elected in March 2009 for a final term of two years. CMD- K is an umbrella institution of political parties in Kenya. Its role is to further the interests of political parties in order to promote a vibrant and effective multiparty system. The centre effects policy research and analysis on pertinent political issues as well as acting as a forum for mediation amongst political parties.
CMD- K has been funded by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, USAID, UNIFEM, German Foundations, UNDP and European Union amongst others.CMD- K during my chairmanship facilitated the Multisectoral- National Salvation Forum in January 2008. This forum gave pertinent inputs which led to the development of Agenda 4 which was part of the National Accord facilitated by Kofi Annan. I was also Chairman of the Eastern and Southern African program for political parties associated with the NIMD it was within this context that I chaired the Deepening Voice and Accountability in African Democracy conference in Naivasha that brought together delegates from political parties in the East, Central and West African countries. I also chaired in the same month a conference on Documenting Democratic Impacts which brought delegates from political parties in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe.
In 2010, CMD- Kenya spearheaded the formation of the CMD- Multi-Sectoral Salvation Front, which was one of the registered National ‗ “YES” campaign committees. The CMD- Multi-Sectoral Salvation Front worked tireless prior to and in the run-up to the referendum campaign to ascertain that Kenya got a new constitution. Without the direct efforts of the Front, the vote is likely to have been very different. The Front is therefore associated with the YES win and also in the development and defense of the constitutional content.
Between 1993 and 1997, I was the Assistant Secretary of the NGO, Clarion. In 1997, I was involved in the formation of MODAN, Movement for Dialogue, which was instrumental in the political dialogue amongst political parties. This dialogue led to the Inter- Parties Political Group, IPPG, agreements which led to important reforms to electoral and human rights laws.
The reforms were crucial to the peaceful general elections of 1997 and 2002. The erosion of the reforms was the single greatest contributor to the debacle which followed the 2007 general elections.
In late 2002, I was in the Rainbow Alliance. I was involved in the negotiations between Rainbow and Liberal Democratic Party, LDP, which resulted in the former joining the latter. In November 2002, I became a member of the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) Elections Board (NEB) as an LDP nominee.
I was in charge of Research and Logistics. My duties included: Research for the party; establishing ICT systems; and supervising the nominations process and campaigns for 2002 elections. I was also involved in processes of arbitration and mediation between various civic and parliamentary candidates as well as party officials.
From January 2003, I became the Chairperson, LDP National Secretariat and Elections Board. My duties included the following: Organisation of the LDP Secretariat; development of draft LDP Constitution and Programme; organisation of workshops; nominations processes and by- elections campaigns; organising and leading the party elections in 2006; national and international networking; production of proposals and fundraising; production of statements, press statements and organisation of press conferences; advocacy at political rallies and other forums on behalf of the LDP. I was also involved in processes of arbitration and mediation between various civic and parliamentary candidates as well as party officials. I became the Registered Chairperson of the LDP in January 2004.
I chaired the first ever political party conference in this country for the LDP. No other political party in Kenya has held one since. I worked for the Orange Movement in the 2005 referendum as an LDP nominee. In November 2006, I was appointed Deputy Director, Orange Democratic Movement– Kenya (ODM-K). In August 2007 to April 2008, I was Deputy Director, Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya (ODM). At ODM – K and ODM, I was involved in: General planning for the party; and preparation of materials and background papers with the Technical Team and 3 party committees; Structure and Membership; Party Policy; Ideology and Programmes and Constitution, Nomination Rules and Procedures. I was the National Chief Agent of the ODM in the 2013 general elections.

International Experience
I have worked In Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Nigeria, UK and USA.

Education and Qualifications
Sept. 1984-Sept. 1987 - Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio, USA (Ph.D)

Sept. 1980-Sept.1981 - Cranfield University, Silsoe College, England (M.Sc)

Sept. 1977-July, 1980 - University of Nairobi, Kenya (B.Sc)

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kretschmann is Past President of the TH Georg Agricola University, Bochum and CEO of DMT-LB GmbH since 2006 as well as External Professor at RWTH Aachen University since 2005. His fields of research are Mining Management, Sustainable Development, Strategic and Risk Management, Organizational Development and Post-Mining. Regarding his fields of study, prof. Kretschmann received degree Dipl. Kaufmann (equivalent to MBA) in Business and Management Studies at the Universities in Aachen, Bochum, Dortmund, Dr. rer. pol. (equivalent to PhD) at the Georg-August-University Göttingen, Department of business and management studies, he habilitated at RWTH Aachen University, Department of Mining and received degree Associate Professor in 1998. His career development prof. Kretschmann started in the German Hard Coal Mining Industry (RAG Group) in management positions (1990 – 2001), he was CFO of the Managing Board of RAG BILDUNG GmbH (2001 – 2006).

Selected International Awards:

• 2019 - Günter Fettweis Award of the Society of Mining Professors
• 2019 - Full Member of the Eurasian Academy of Mining Science
• 2019 - Full Member of the National Academy of Mining Science, Moskow, Russia
• 2018/19 - President of the Society of Mining Professors/ Sozietät der Bergbaukunde
• 2018 - Award of Merit of the Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam
• 2017 - Member (academician) of the Section Mining-Metallurgy of the International Academy of Ecology, Man and Nature Protection Science, St. Petersburg, Russia
• 2017 - Honorary Member of the National Academy of Mining Science, Astana, Kasachstan
• 2016 - Visiting Professor St. Petersburg Mining University, Russia
• 2012 - Best Paper Award of the Coal & Energy Division of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Seattle, Washington, USA

Professor Dušan Petráš from Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia, is the former vice-rector of STU and dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering. Also, he is the president of Slovakian HVAC-Association SSTP (Slovak Society of Environmental Technology (and past-president REHVA (Representative European Heating Ventilation Association). At present he is the professor and at the Department of Building Services and dealing with HVAC-systems in buildings.

His scientific work is focused on the energy conservation of the buildings with respect to the providing the heat and comfortable indoor environment. He is author and co-author of15 books (Energy Auditing of Buildings, Renewable Energy Sources for Low Temperature Systems, Low-Temperature Heating and High Temperature Cooling…), 50scientific papers for foreign journals / and international conferences as well as about100 lectures in 25 countries in 3 world languages.

Professor Petráš is also member of ASHARE, AEE and Academy of ISIAQ, he is the ASHRAE and REHVA Fellow, he was also the Guest Professor in DTU Lyngby (Denmark) and Guest Lecturer in FH Pinkafeld (Austria).

Professor Petráš is actually President of Association of Slovak Scientific and Technical Societies, also the member of Executive Board of FEANI (European Federation of Engineering Associations) and AEE (Association of Energy Engineers). At the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava he is still serving as the head of Building Services Department.

Dr T M Gunaraja is an engineering professional and successful entrepreneur with rich experience in higher technical education and a deep interest in social development and inclusivity.
A Mechanical Engineer, Dr Gunaraja has Master degree in Engineering and Business Administration and is a PhD in the domain of organizational dynamics.
Dr Gunaraja, displaying strong entrepreneurial skills and foresight has founded three renowned educational ventures – Madras Institute of Engineering Technology, TMG College of Arts and Science & TMG College of Hotel Management located in Tamilnadu. He is having collaborative ventures in Europe and Canada.
Dr Gunaraja has been a Council Member of the Institution of Engineers (India) for nearly two decades and has been Chairman of the Tamilnadu State Centre. He has served as Chair of all important Committees of the Institution. In recognition of his exceptional services rendered, the Council of the Institution of Engineers (India) elected him as President of the Institution during the centennial year with a significant majority.
Dr Gunaraja has been nominated as the chairman of WFEO-Committee for Information and Communication for the session 2020-2024.

Dr Gunaraja was also the Founder Chairman of Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Member of Institution of Automobile Engineering (India), Institution of Civil Engineering (India) and the Council of Engineering & Technology (India).
Besides his keen business acumen and engineering background, Dr Gunaraja is deeply committed to social causes and actively supports initiatives in health and education. In recognition of his valued contribution to social causes, the Lions Club, of which he is a longstanding Member had elected Dr Gunaraja to the coveted position of District Governor (Metro Central) in Chennai.
His unwavering passion for professional excellence has earned him many laurels, like Technology Excellence Award presented by the former Prime Minister of India, H D Deve Gowda at Indian Technology Awards -2014 and Bharat Vidya Shiromani Award by the International Institute of Education and Management in February 2015.
Dr Gunarja has always believed in the philosophy of continued professional development of engineers and envisions the inclusion of contemporary learning techniques in this paradigm. As President of the largest engineering professional body in the country, The Institution of Engineers, his vision has manifested in a digital transformation of the services being offered by the Institution which would lay a strong foundation for future growth and development of the engineering community at large.

His strategic view of institutional development has resulted in the Institution of Engineers developing effective synergies with important professional bodies in the country which would contribute significantly to the professional competence of engineers in a challenging environment of disruptive technologies and sustainable development.
Dr Gunaraja’s effective and mission oriented leadership would be a catalyst to the Institution of Engineers (India) as it ushers in its Centenary Year.

Valerie Ifueko Agberagba is a graduate of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering. She worked as a Quality Control Engineer for almost 20 years and was appointed in 2010 to work in the Presidential TaskForce on Power. THE TaskForce was to drive the Power Reform programme of the Power Sector and the Privatisation of the government owned Power Utilities. Valerie, presently is the Head of the Renewable Energy Department at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Nigeria.

Valerie Agberagba is a Past President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria. She served as Vice President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and just completed her four year term as Vice President, World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and Chair of the Committee for Women in Engineering of the Organization. She also served in the same capacity for the Federation of African Engineering Organizations. She got The Royal Academy of Engineering, UK Grant through the African Catalyst Project, to lead a research on the Statistical data for women in Science & Engineering in three African Countries. She is the Founder and Executive Director of a mentoring organization Science Engineering and Technology Network (SciEtech). Valerie, in addition to her work continuously advocates gender balance and mentoring in the work place and is passionate about building the next generation of Engineers & Scientist.

Irene Mbithe Kathukya is a graduate of Aerospace Engineering from the Czech Technical University in Prague.

She worked in the Aerospace Industry for almost 13 years at Walter SRO in the Czech Republic, Kenya Airways and General Electric (GE). She was instrumental in forming and running the engineering marketing division when working for Kenya Airways and was also part of a team handpicked to introduce and run Six Sigma projects in the organization.

When working for GE, she played a critical part in forming strong alliances with the civil aviation authorities and representing the voice of local customers.

With time, Irene has reinvented her career by venturing into leadership training and development and improving customer experiences by customer journey mapping and design thinking.

Irene is passionate about continuous learning, mentoring and exploring her world. She climbed the 3rd highest peak of Mt. Kenya this summer and plans to go back soon. When she is not busy at work you will find her spending time with her daughter and husband and extended family.

Dr. Ying is the Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships for Ampaire. She is also a Director and Board member for the Lindbergh Foundation, and the immediate past President of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) serving on the Executive Committee which leads in shaping the agenda of this multinational professional aerospace organization. Dr. Ying has devoted over 38 years to the aerospace industry, with experience at NASA, Boeing, and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). Most recently Dr. Ying was selected as the VP Aerospace to serve on the Board of the SAE International starting 2021.

Demonstrating success both at individual and team levels, Dr. Ying has been the recipient of many honors, including the People’s Republic of China Friendship Award, Asian American Engineer of the Year Award, Boeing Professional Excellence Award from the CTO, NASA Group Achievement Award, AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Best Paper Award, and the Professional Achievement Award for Women of Color in Technology. Dr. Ying is also recognized as a Fellow of the AIAA and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). With a deep passion for flight, Dr. Ying holds a Commercial Pilot License and is a FAA Certified Flight Instructor. She received her PhD and MS degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University and BS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University.