Business Event Speaker 2026
Richard Annilo
Richard Annilo runs Operations at Spiral Hydrogen, covering hiring, grant writing and partnerships. His background spans Computer Science, Machine Learning and AI policy strategy.
Shena Britzen
Shena Britzen is a proven expert in large-scale projects and heads Rheinmetall’s group-wide Hydrogen Programme, responsible for strategic developments relating to green hydrogen and synthetic fuels (e-fuels).
Johannes Emigholz
Johannes Emigholz is CEO of AKROS Energy, where he leads the commercialization of the company’s safe, high‑efficiency, salt‑based hydrogen storage technology.
Dr. Niklas Friederichsen
Dr. Niklas Friederichsen is a German entrepreneur and RWTH Aachen alumnus. He co-founded Greenlyte Carbon Technologies, where he serves as Chief Product Officer, sharpening the company’s product strategy and unit economics to drive Greenlyte’s technology toward commercial scale.
Ulrike Garanin
Ulrike Garanin is Managing Director of DILO Hydrogen GmbH, where she is building the company’s hydrogen business with a focus on safe, modular and commercially viable solutions for H2 handling, service and refueling.
Henning Hatje
Henning is the Co-Founder and CCO of Hyca Heat. He is responsible for all customer and partnership-related topics. Before starting Hyca Heat with his two Co-Founders, he built a B2B SaaS Procurement technology company and spent several years in strategy consulting with BCG.
Dr. Samuel Heiniger
Samuel Heiniger is CEO and Founder of Iron Energy, where he leads the commercialization of the company’s safe, ultra-low cost, iron‑based energy storage technology.
Bernd Haveresch
Bernd Haveresch is Director of Business Development at Ammobia Inc., a U.S.-based deep tech company developing low-cost, low-carbon ammonia production technology. Based in Germany, he leads international market entry, with a focus on European partnership development and early commercial project opportunities .
Dr. Thomas Hüwener
Dr. Thomas Hüwener is the Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO) at Open Grid Europe GmbH, one of Europe’s leading gas grid operators. He is also a member of the National Hydrogen Council.
Dr. Wiebke Lüke
Together with her co-founders, Dr. Wiebke Lüke founded WEW GmbH, a start-up specializing in water electrolysis. In addition to her role as founder and managing director, she is primarily responsible for development and marketing, as well as for securing funding.
Philipp Lückerath
Philipp Lückerath is Vice President Product Management at Sunfire, a leading global electrolysis company. Throughout his career, Philipp has worked with various electrolysis companies, giving him a deep technical as well as business perspective on the hydrogen market.
Dr. Pit Yannick Podleschny
Dr. Pit Yannick Podleschny is the co-founder and CEO of Direct Matter GmbH in Gelsenkirchen, a deep-tech company that develops and manufactures innovative core components for electrolyzers and fuel cells.
Jack Samways
Jack Samways holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy. As a Business Development Manager, Jack has built extensive expertise in the hydrogen market, working for companies specialising in pressure regulators, filtration, and now fixed gas and flame detection at MSA Safety.
Dr. Katharina Schubert
Dr. Katharina Schubert has been the managing director of NRW.Energy4Climate, the state agency for energy and climate protection in North Rhine-Westphalia, since October 2025. Her professional background is further enriched by experience in both industry and consulting, specifically in the areas of renewable energy, innovation, and sustainable corporate transformation.
Dr. Gustav Sievers
Dr. Gustav Sievers is CEO and co-founder of elementarhy GmbH, the Hamburg- and Greifswald-based deep-tech company developing hardware and software solutions to increase durability and reduce raw material use for PEM electrolyzers. He is the inventor behind eight patents and a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded GDE Cell and Etteliot SAS.
Cihan Sönmez
Cihan Sönmez has been shaping the transformation of Europe’s energy system for more than a decade. As Head of Offtake & Growth (H2 and Molecules) at RWE, he develops hydrogen markets, builds strategic partnerships, and advances the commercialization of green molecules.
Thilo Städtler
Thilo Städtler serves as the Executive Director of Green Hydrogen at thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA. In this role, he holds overall responsibility of the green hydrogen business, while also leading global business development and sales activities.
Cristina Vicini
Vicini Strategy Founder and CEO, EIC (European Innovation Council) Ambassador, and EIC STEP Jury member, Cristina Vicini commands a 40-year multi-sector career across global technology corporations and international organizations.
