Plenary speakers
Professor Jean-Yves Hihn
Prof Hihn is currently leading the SRS group at Institute UTINAM dedicated to academic and applied research in electrochemistry for metallic plating and anodic reactions i.e. electrolytes modifications as well as processes management (pulsed currents, ultrasound). He’s works concerns main industrial sectors such as aeronautic, automotive, energy, electronics or watchmaking. He is laureate of an academic chair at the IRT M2P (2023-2027), NASF research award grant recipient (2024-2028) and invited Professor at the university Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR, Canada).
Professor Jean-Yves Hihn
Prof Hihn is currently leading the SRS group at Institute UTINAM dedicated to academic and applied research in electrochemistry for metallic plating and anodic reactions i.e. electrolytes modifications as well as processes management (pulsed currents, ultrasound). He’s works concerns main industrial sectors such as aeronautic, automotive, energy, electronics or watchmaking. He is laureate of an academic chair at the IRT M2P (2023-2027), NASF research award grant recipient (2024-2028) and invited Professor at the university Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR, Canada).
Professor Martin Freer
A nuclear physicist and became CEO of the Faraday Institution in September 2024. He previously directed the Birmingham Energy Institute and the £200m Energy Research Accelerator, leading major programmes spanning hydrogen, battery technologies and nuclear energy. His research focuses on the structure of light nuclei, and he is the recipient of both the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Prize and the Institute of Physics Rutherford Medal.
Professor Jarka Glassey
Prof Jarka Glassey obtained her 1st class Ing biochemical engineering degree from the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava and her PhD in bioprocess modelling and optimisation from Newcastle University, UK. Until recently she was the Director of Education in the School of Engineering, responsible for all undergraduate and MSc course in all engineering disciplines. She is a Fellow of RAEng, IChemE and PFHEA. In January 2026 she took up the role of the President of the European Federation of Chemical Engineers (EFCE). She is actively involved in IChemE accreditation and other national programme accreditations and evaluations (e.g. Czech, Portuguese and Dutch). She also chairs the RAEng Engineering X Skills for Safety Board and she was a member of the RAEng Engineers 2030 advisory panel identifying knowledge, skills and attributes of future engineers. Her research interests centre around the use of AI/ML and advanced modelling techniques for rapid (bio)process development, optimisation and sustainable operation. She is also very active in (bio)chemical engineering education, currently chairing the education section of the European Society for Biochemical Engineering Sciences (ESBES). Her main interests in this area include active learning methodologies including VR/ XR, student participation software and AI in effective delivery of engineering programmes and educator as well as engineering professional skill improvement.