Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer
Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer is a distinguished Spanish engineer specializing in sustainable energy and industrial decarbonization. Born in Vitoria, Spain, she pursued Chemical Engineering at the University of the Basque Country and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.
Currently, she holds the Robert Buchan Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, where she also serves as Deputy Principal for Global Sustainability. In this role, she leads initiatives to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across the university's global campuses. As Director of the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), she oversees a multidisciplinary team developing low-carbon energy systems to meet net-zero targets.
Professor Maroto-Valer is the Champion and Director of the UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC), focusing on transitioning industrial clusters to net-zero emissions. Her research encompasses energy systems, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), hydrogen technologies, and low-carbon fuels, resulting in over 580 publications and numerous international awards. She is a Fellow of several prestigious institutions, including the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Dr. Salim Mustafa
Dr. Salim Mustafa is the Director of Research and Innovation Infrastructure Partnership Strengthening at Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Prior to his current role, he served as a senior researcher at the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), where he specialized in thin films, Raman spectroscopy, supercritical fluid technology, pulsed laser deposition, and magnetic materials. His research has garnered significant recognition, with over 327 citations, reflecting his contributions to the scientific community. In his capacity at BRIN, Dr. Mustofa focuses on enhancing collaborations and infrastructure to bolster Indonesia's research and innovation landscape.
Professor Mohamed Saafi
Professor Mohamed Saafi is a Full Professor and Chair at Lancaster University's School of Engineering, leading the Zero-Carbon Built Environment with Integrated Sustainable Energy Technologies (BEST) research group. His multidisciplinary research encompasses materials science, computing, energy harvesting and storage, artificial intelligence, and structural health monitoring, all aimed at fostering sustainable and resilient built environments.
In materials science, Professor Saafi has pioneered the development of novel zero-carbon cementitious and polymer composites using advanced manufacturing technologies. His work includes creating carbon-negative infrastructure materials derived from COâ‚‚ and waste and upcycling plastic waste for structural applications.
A notable project led by Professor Saafi involves developing smart road surfaces embedded with piezoelectric ceramics capable of harvesting and converting vehicle vibrations into electrical energy. This innovation aims to transform roads into sources of renewable energy, potentially powering streetlights and traffic systems.
Additionally, his research explores the incorporation of nano platelets extracted from root vegetables into concrete mixtures, enhancing their mechanical properties and sustainability. This approach not only strengthens concrete but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with traditional cement production.
Throughout his career, Professor Saafi has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal papers, contributing significantly to advancements in sustainable engineering and smart infrastructure.
Ir. Ts. Farahdila Binti Kadirkhan
Ir. Ts. Farahdila Binti Kadirkhan is a distinguished engineer and scientist specializing in gas separation technologies, particularly focusing on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). She serves as the R&D Head for CCUS and Principal Scientist in Process R&D at PETRONAS Research Sdn. Bhd.
Farahdila's research primarily centers on developing advanced polymeric membranes to enhance COâ‚‚ separation processes in natural gas applications. Her work addresses critical challenges such as membrane plasticization and aging, aiming to improve the efficiency and stability of gas separation technologies.
In addition to her research contributions, Farahdila holds a U.S. patent for a method and system designed to remove carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons, underscoring her innovative approach to tackling industry challenges. She also plays an active role in the scientific community, serving on the sponsorship committee for the 15th Conference of the Aseanian Membrane Society.
Farahdila's dedication to advancing membrane technology and CCUS solutions significantly contributes to the development of sustainable and efficient energy practices.
Professor Ir Denny Ng Kok Sum
Professor Ir Denny Ng Kok Sum is Dean, School of Engineering and Technology, ºìÐÓÊÓÆµ University Malaysia. Prof Ng has published over 250 papers with an h-index of 44. He is active in various professional bodies, which include IChemE, Young Scientist Network - Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM), etc. He is a fellow of IChemE, UK and The Higher Education Academy, UK; Chartered Engineer, Engineering Council, UK; Professional Engineer, Board of Engineers Malaysia; ASEAN Professional Engineer; Vice Chair of YSN-ASM, Chair of Academic Research on Palm Oil Sustainability, etc. With his excellent contributions, he received various international and national recognitions.
Professor Patrick Cognet
Professor Patrick Cognet is a distinguished chemical engineer specializing in process intensification and green chemistry. He earned his Chemical Engineering Diploma from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Industries Chimiques de Nancy (ENSIC) in 1991 and completed his PhD in Electrochemical Engineering at the Chemical Engineering Laboratory in Toulouse.
In 1994, Professor Cognet joined the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs en Arts Chimiques et Technologiques (ENSIACET) at Toulouse INP as an Assistant Professor, advancing to full Professor in 2010. His research focuses on process intensification, microreactors, and sustainable chemical processes, aiming to develop efficient and environmentally friendly industrial methods.
Throughout his career, Professor Cognet has contributed significantly to the field through numerous publications and collaborations. He has co-authored works such as "Chimie et environnement: Cours, études de cas et exercices corrigés," which addresses concepts and methods for limiting emissions and pollution in the context of sustainable development.
His dedication to advancing chemical engineering education and research has established him as a leading figure in his field, both in France and internationally.
Professor Ir Mo Kim Hung
Professor Ir Dr Mo Kim Hung’s primary research interest is in concrete materials and technology, where he focuses on developing sustainable and low carbon cement and concrete. He has authored more than 150 WoS journal publications (h-index: 44) and has been recognized as the World’s Top 2% Scientist since 2020. His expertise has seen him involved in research projects amounting to more than RM 5.0 million as well as consultancy projects related to cement and concrete materials. He is supervising and has supervised to completion PhD/ Master students from different countries including China, Pakistan, India, Iran etc. He actively contributes in various professional activities, including journal editorial roles, delivering keynote talks and serving as committee in various organizations.
Professor Abdelbaki Benamor
Dr. Abdelbaki Benamor is a Research Professor at the Gas Processing Center (GPC) of Qatar University, specializing in chemical engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Malaya in 2003. With over two decades of experience in academic and industrial research, Dr. Benamor focuses on energy, water, and environmental challenges. His research encompasses developing technologies for COâ‚‚ capture from natural and flue gases, wastewater treatment using advanced materials, and innovative electrochemical techniques for detecting heavy metals in water bodies. Dr. Benamor has secured over $4.8 million in research and industry grants and has collaborated with institutions across Europe, Asia, and North America. He has authored more than 120 articles in Scopus-indexed journals, achieving an h-index of 43 with over 6,500 citations. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Qatar University Services Award in 2016.
Ir. Ts. Noraziah Binti Muda
Ir. Ts. Noraziah Binti Muda serves as the Head of the Renewable Energy and Green Technology Unit at TNB Research Sdn. Bhd., the research subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). In this role, she leads strategies for research and development in renewable and green technologies, focusing on decarbonization solutions from power generation to network integration.
She earned her Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Chemical Process Engineering with Fuel Technology from the University of Sheffield, UK, and a Master of Science in Process Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia. Professionally, she is a registered Professional Engineer with the Board of Engineers Malaysia, an ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer (ACPE), and holds the title of Professional Technologist (Green Technology) from the Malaysian Board of Technologists.
Noraziah's expertise encompasses green energy transition projects, notably Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), and green hydrogen production and utilization. She has been instrumental in research and development initiatives, including grid-connected floating solar photovoltaic systems, waste-to-energy technologies, and low-speed wind technology. Her contributions extend to technical committees under Jabatan Standard Malaysia, MOSTI, SwCorp, and TNB, and she serves as a technical reviewer for various journals and as an external examiner for higher learning institutions in Malaysia.
Associate Professor Dr. Munawar Khalil
Dr. Munawar Khalil is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia. He earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Bogor Agricultural University in 2007, followed by an M.Eng.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Malaya in 2011. In 2015, he completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at New Mexico Tech, USA, where he conducted research under Dr. Ning Liu and Dr. Michael D. Heagy. Dr. Khalil's research focuses on the rational design of low-dimensional functional nanomaterials for applications in catalysis, renewable energy, biomedical devices, electronics, sensing devices, the oil and gas industry, and energy storage. His scholarly contributions include over 120 publications, with a citation count nearing 3,000 and an h-index of 29. Dr. Khalil has been recognized with the NMT Founders Award and the Ambassador Award for Excellence from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington, D.C.
Professor Unalome Wetwatana Hartley
Professor Dr. Unalome Wetwatana Hartley is a distinguished chemical engineer specializing in catalysis and reaction engineering. She earned her Ph.D. in Catalytic and Reaction Engineering from Imperial College London, UK, following an M.Sc. in Advanced Chemical Engineering from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and a B.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry from King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB).
Currently, Prof. Hartley serves as a lecturer and researcher at the Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS) at KMUTNB. She leads the Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Laboratory (CATRE), established in 2015, which focuses on clean technologies such as COâ‚‚ conversion to methanol and bio-ethanol to ethylene.
Her research interests include hydrogen production, biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals, COâ‚‚ utilization, and the development of materials and technologies for catalytic processes. Prof. Hartley has collaborated internationally, notably with Professor Kang Li from Imperial College London, on projects like the development of novel electrochemical reactors for renewable methane synthesis from COâ‚‚.
In addition to her research, Prof. Hartley contributes to academic governance as an academic representative on the KMUTNB University Council. Her dedication to advancing chemical engineering and sustainable energy solutions is evident through her extensive research, leadership, and collaborative initiatives.
Dr. Hasliza Bahruji
Dr. Hasliza Bahruji is an Assistant Professor and Deputy Director at the Centre for Advanced Materials and Energy Sciences (CAMES) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). She earned her Ph.D. from Cardiff University and both her M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Prior to her tenure at UBD, Dr. Bahruji served as a Research Associate in environmental catalysis at the UK Catalysis Hub from 2013 to 2018 and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute between 2012 and 2018. Her earlier academic roles include Lecturer at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris from 2005 to 2008 and Visiting Scientist at the Catalysis Research Centre, Hokkaido University, in 2004. Dr. Bahruji's research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis, particularly in developing multifunctional catalysts for COâ‚‚ hydrogenation and photocatalytic water splitting. Her work contributes significantly to environmental remediation and sustainable energy production.