Carlo RUBBIA

Carlo RUBBIA, an Italian Physicist shared the 1984 Physics Nobel Prize with Simon Van der Meer for the discovery of the W and Z particles. He has been Director General of CERN from 1989 to 1993. He has held a number of high level advisory positions among which for the EU President Barroso and the United Nations Special Commission for Latin America. Since June 2010. He is Scientific Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) based in Potsdam. He still maintains a front line activity in fundamental physics, leading the ICARUS collaboration that has installed at the Gran Sasso laboratory, a very sensitive liquid Argon neutrino detector, than can be called an electronic bubble chamber. Simultaneously, since the ‘90s he has pioneered novel approach to nuclear energy – the Energy Amplifier –also able to destroy long-lived nuclear elements which are in the waste of present reactors. He has after that been a pioneer into using parabolic mirrors to focus solar energy a field that is now becoming industrial and known as CSP (Concentrated Solar Power). His mission at IASS includes exploring and assessing several projects in the field of sustainable energy. He will report at our conference on a promising way to Gigawatt quantities of Electric Power over long distances by a using Mg B2, a novel supraconducting material. On August 30th, 2013, Carlo Rubbia was appointed Senator for life by the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.

Olivier GRABETTE

Olivier GRABETTE is a French, 47 years old Engineer, graduated from the Aeronautic and Space Engineering School. He ‘s been holding different positions at Electricité de France and Réseau Transport Electricité in the fields of engineering and maintenance of the high and extra high voltage electrical network in France and abroad for more than 20 years. He’s been coordinating the RTE’s R&D program since 2010 and is presently the director of the Research Development and Innovation Direction of RTE which was created on January 2012.

Giovanni GRASSO

Giovanni GRASSO is General Director of Columbus Superconductors SpA. Previous Positions : Since 1990, he is active in the development and application of high temperature superconductivity. He carried out his PhD on the development of BSCCO superconductors at the University of Geneva under the supervision of Prof. René Fluckiger, until 1997. Afterwards he joined INFM as Senior Scientist, with the goal of establishing a new National Laboratory for Innovative and Artificial Materials, before leaving for Columbus Superconductors in 2006. While to the present position, he was Technical and Commercial Director. He is co-author of more than 200 publications on international journals and he is inventor of several international patents.

Johannes STUHLBERGER

Johannes STUHLBERGER, Vice President, Head of Global Innovation Network Power & Flight Propulsion, Energy & Control, Chief Technical Office – Airbus Group. In this role, Mr. Stuhlberger is responsible for key project reviews within the areas of propulsion, energy, flight physics and test. In addition, the responsibility includes coordination and planning, implementing and monitoring the Airbus group R&T program, identification and enabling of synergy implementation. Mr. Stuhlberger serves as internal and external focal point for technical issues within propulsion, energy, flight physics, aeromechanics, aero acoustics and environmental effective technologies. Mr. Stuhlberger was formerly a vice president of EADS and Astrium, responsible for in-space propulsion systems and rocket engine testing. He served in various capacities of Astrium and Dasa as vice president, director and system engineer. Education: Dipl. – Ing. Aviation and Space Technology, Technical University Munich 1988, Cand. – Ing. Mechanical Engineering, Technical University Munich 1984.

Ronan STEPHAN

Ronan STEPHAN Alstom Group Chief Innovation Officer. Graduated Engineer from ENSI engineering school and holds a PhD in physics from University of Caen (France). Ronan STEPHAN started his career in 1984 with Thomson-CSF group up to 1997, then he was executive director of Brest’s Science Park from 1997 to 2002. In 2003 he was appointed Director for industrial affairs and technology transfer with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and member of the executive board, and executive director of France Innovation Scientifique et Transfert, a subsidiary of CNRS and OSEO. From 2005 to 2009, he was President and CEO of Compiègne University of Technology, and joined the French Ministry for higher education and research as General Director for research and innovation in 2009. On March 2012, he was appointed Alstom Group Chief Innovation Officer, reporting to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thierry DE MARGERIE

Thierry DE MARGERIE joined Alstom in 1995. Based in Paris, Hong-Kong, and Morocco, Thierry de Margerie is presently the Vice President of Alstom International for Africa. From 1980 to 1995, he was a part of LEROY-SOMER (EMERSON Electric Group) as the industrial plant and industrial division general manager, serving in the business of electric motors and generators. A Consultant at the “Délégation à l’Aménagement du Territoire” (France) from 1976 to 1980 he advised small and medium size companies willing to develop in rural regions. From 1974 to 1976, he was a part of the French Entrepreneurs Association (CNPF, Paris) as a junior advisor for housing and regional development policies. Thierry de Margerie is a graduate from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, and from Paris University (Economics) (1967-1972). He also served in the French army (Cavalry) as a junior officer.

Jean Louis LACOMBE

Jean Louis LACOMBE est engagé de façon bénévole dans de nombreuses activités tournées vers le renforcement de la place des sciences dans la société. Avant de prendre la retraite, il était Vice-président Technologie et Innovation d’Airbus Group (EADS) et Délégué Général de la Fondation d’Entreprise EADS dont il a organisé la création. Il a conduit sa carrière dans les entreprises du secteur de l’espace, des systèmes d’informations, de l’aéronautique et de la défense. Ingénieur des Arts et Métiers, il a été membre du Comité National de la Recherche Scientifique et a participé à de nombreux comité scientifiques de laboratoires.

Bruno WEYMULLER

Bruno Weymuller has been Executive Vice President at Total, member of the Executive Committee (2000-2008) in charge of Strategy and Risk Assessment. After joining Elf Aquitaine group in 1981 he has held various management positions in the upstream division both in France and abroad, and has been Chief Financial Officer from 1994 to 2000. He has begun his career in the French civil service at the Ministry for Industry from 1972 to 1978. He joined the Prime Minister Raymond Barre’s cabinet from 1978 to 1981.

He is presently director in the board of the French Energy Council. He is a professor at « L’Institut Français du Pétrole et des Énergies Nouvelles. » and a member of Total Professors Associates. He works on the economics of energy and on the interactions between energy and environment. Bruno Weymuller is an alumnus from the École Polytechnique. He is also a graduate of the École des Mines in Paris. He holds a Master of Science of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Harkness Fellow).

Jean Bienvenu DINGA

Jean Bienvenu DINGA est Directeur Scientifique de l’IRSEN, Brazzaville, République du Congo. Je suis Physicien- Hydrologue, Directeur scientifique du groupe de recherche en sciences exactes et Naturelles au Ministère de la recherche Scientifique et de l’Innovation technologique, je suis le conseiller en Hydrologie du représentant Permanent du Congo auprès de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Météorologie. J’ai en charge le service hydrologique du Congo. Dans le cadre du Bassin du Congo, je suis le point focal et la personne ressource dans les programmes CongoHycos et MESA dans la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau dans le bassin du Congo qui est le deuxième Bassin au monde après celui de l’Amazon. Au niveau local, l’un des projets far est la sécurisation du barrage hydroélectrique d’Imboulou sur la rivière Léfini, la réhabilitation des stations hydrométriques.

Antonio COSTA SILVA

António COSTA SILVA is Chairman of the Management Commission of PARTEX OIL AND GAS Group. PARTEX is involved in oil and gas operations in Abu Dhabi, Oman, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Algeria, Angola and Portugal. He is also Professor at IST (Technical University of Lisbon) where he got his aggregation in Planning and Integrated Management of Energy Resources. He holds a MSc in Mining Engineering from (IST), a MSc in Petroleum Engineering from the Imperial College (University of London) and a Doctorate Degree from the Technical University of Lisbon and Imperial College.

João A. PEÇAS LOPES

João A. PEÇAS LOPES is Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of Porto University (FEUP). He is presently member of the board of Directors of INESC Porto. He is also Director of the Sustainable Energy Systems PhD program in Portugal and FEUP. He was the leader of several R&D projects, consulting projects and contracts with the industry in Portugal and abroad. His main domains of research are presently related with large scale integration of renewable power sources, Off-shore wind generation, power system dynamics, microgeneration and microgrids, smartmetering and electric vehicle grid integration. He is author or coauthor of more than 250 papers and co-editor and co-author of the book “Electric Vehicle Integration into Modern Power Networks” edited by Springer.

Jacques CHENAIS

Jacques CHENAIS est Directeur délégué des SMRs au sein de la Direction de l’Energie Nucléaire du CEA et coordinateur du consortium SMR réunissant EDF, AREVA, DCNS et le CEA. Jacques Chénais a été préalablement : Directeur de la Propulsion Nucléaire au sein de la Direction des Applications Militaires du CEA de 2001 à 2010. Directeur de l’Ingénierie chez Technicatome (devenu AREVA TA) de 1996 à 2001. A différents postes à responsabilité dans le domaine de la Propulsion Nucléaire, depuis son entrée chez Technicatome en 1975. Jacques Chénais est diplômé des universités de Nantes et d’Orsay (maîtrise de Physique et DEA de Physique des réacteurs) et Ingénieur du génie atomique (INSTN Saclay). Il est chevalier de l’ordre national du mérite et chevalier de la légion d’honneur.

Jean-Christophe DEBAR

Jean-Christophe DEBAR, trained as an agronomist, started his career as an agro-economist at the Embassy of the United States in France. He has been a consultant in international farm policy and agricultural economics, and the editor of Agri US Analyse, a monthly newsletter on US agriculture. Since 2011, he has been the director of the Foundation for World Agriculture and Rurality (FARM), based in Paris. FARM is a think tank devoted to the promotion of productive and sustainable agricultures and food value chains in developing countries. It also supports producer organizations in Africa. FARM’s entrepreneurial vision of agriculture focuses on the emergence of small and medium farms, and their ability to supply to local markets.

Albert SASSON

Albert SASSON is a founding member of the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology. He has had a distinguished scientific career as a Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Sciences of Rabat and thereafter at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, Paris). He was Assistant Director-General of UNESCO and Special Adviser to UNESCO Director-General from 1993 to 1999. He has been a Senior Visiting Professor at the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (Yokohama, Japan) and is a senior consultant to United Nations specialized agencies, several governments, national and regional institutions, as well as to the European Commission. He is President of the Association BioEuroLatina that aims to promote cooperation between Europe and Latin America in biotechnology. Albert Sasson has been appointed by the King of Morocco as member of the Kingdom’s Human Rights Consultative Council (CCDH), the governing board of the Royal Institute of Strategic Studies (IRES), and the Economic and Social Council. His research and work have culminated in over 200 publications, including many books and reviews on biotechnology in developing countries over the last 38 years.

Lionel GBAGUIDI

Lionel GBAGUIDI is a veterinary epidemiologist. Private practitioner and consultant for FAO and USAID, he is working in West Africa since 2003 on agricultural value chains and on the control of Transboundary Animal Diseases. He has also developed competences in the implementation of the one health concept for public and veterinary health systems in developing countries. He holds an MSc in epidemiology (Data collection and analysis) from Institute of Tropical Medicine of Antwerp (Belgium), a DVM from Tunisia National Veterinary Medicine School, a Master in Toxicology from Tunis Medical School and a graduate certificate in avian pathology from French National veterinary school of Alfort.

Didier MONTET

Didier MONTET leads the team of Master of contaminants along the food chain at CIRAD in Montpellier, France. He got his Ph.D in Food microbiology in 1984 at the University of Montpellier and his HDR in 1993 at the University of St Jerôme Marseille. He is also vice-chair of Biotechnology group at the National French Agency for foodsafety (Anses). His main research topic concerns the understanding of the microbial ecology of food and food-safety. He has published nearly 120 articles in the field of food. He currently runs a Europe Aid Project in Côte d’Ivoire and participates in different European projects (Collab4Safety, After). He was food expert for the French Embassy to 12 the south-east Asia and was professor at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand (1997-1999). He managed also in this region an Asia link program concerning an international master in food technology. His main actual topics are linking process to microbial ecology, organic food to microbial ecology, geographical origin to microbial ecology and fungal ecology to mycotoxin production.

João CRESPO

João CRESPO. Professor of Chemical Engineering at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, where he is Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, and Director of Nova Doctoral School. Former Vice-President of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portuguese National Science Foundation) and former Academic Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at NOVA. Member of the editorial board of Journal of Membrane Science, Journal of 5 Biotechnology, and Desalination and Water Treatment. Member of the portuguese “Academia de Engenharia”. Author of more than 160 publications referred in the Web of Science. Founder of the spin-off company “Zeyton Nutraceuticals”. Research interests: Membrane separation processes; Membrane bioreactors; Process monitoring.

Jean-Pierre FAVENNEC

Jean Pierre FAVENNEC, Consultant WDCooperation, Professor, IFP School, President of the Association for the Development of Energy in Africa. Jean Pierre Favennec, was Director, Expert up with IFP Energies Nouvelles up to 2009. He is the manager of WDCooperation, specializing in consulting and education. Jean Pierre Favennec is a specialist in energy, including energy economics, geopolitics and the strategic aspects. He has written a number of papers on these subjects. He is the author of several books: Refining Economics and Management; Research and Production of Oil and Gas : Reserves, Costs, Contract; Energy : at which price ? and The Geopolitics of Energy. Jean-Pierre Favennec is teaching in many Universities. He is also speaking in many international conferences and seminars. Jean-Pierre Favennec is also the director of the Energy Summit in Africa, held each year in Africa.

Muriel TOUATY

Muriel TOUATY est Directrice générale de l’Association Technion France depuis 2002. Elle a vécu à Tel Aviv, en Israël, pendant 19 ans (1982-2001). Elle est diplômée de l’Université de Tel Aviv avec un diplôme de maîtrise en science politique et de droit international. Muriel Touaty, à ses débuts a travaillé dans une start-up israélienne à forte croissance centrée dans les domaines de la communication améliorée et des relations publiques entre la France et Israël. Elle a été également Directrice Marketing et des relations publiques pour l’Europe de «Business Layers», une start-up qui a développé le e-provisioning logiciel. C’est cette mission qui l’a ramenée vers la France. Elle dirige aujourd’hui l’Association Technion France, représentation française de l’Université du Technion, l’Institut Technologique d’Israël, à Haïfa. Sa mission est de faciliter et d’établir des coopérations bilatérales industrielles, universitaires et scientifiques avec le Technion et la France, de promouvoir l’innovation, de recueillir des fonds pour les étudiants du Technion. Membre de la commission scientifique de la FFI, elle a été, en 2009, promue Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Mérite par Mme Valérie Pécresse, Ministre de l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche.

Pascal COLOMBANI

Pascal COLOMBANI: chairman of the board, Valeo; also member of the boards of Alstom, Technip, Energy Solutions, and chairman of the advisory board, A.T.Kearney Paris. Dr Colombani has been chairman and CEO of the French Atomic Commission (CEA), founding chairman of Areva, member of the boards of Electricite de France, British Energy, Rhodia, and of Institut Français du Pétrole. He began his career at CNRS in nuclear physics in France and California, and spent twenty years with Schlumberger, the oilfield service company, in the USA, Europe, and Japan. He is regularly consulted on energy, defense, and high technology topics and has been an advisor to the French government and the European Commission.

Amal HADDOUCHE

Amal HADDOUCHE is a chemical Engineer. She started her career in 1985 in the private sector (ceramic) before joining the Ministry of Energy and Mines in 1987. She covered several positions: Head Division of Petroleum Products, Head Division of Exploration and Natural Gas and Director of Electricity and Renewable Energy. On May 2005 Mrs Haddouche was appointed General Director of the Renewable Energy Development Center (CDER). In particular, she contributed to the preparation of the National Strategy for Renewable and Energy Efficiency: 2020 Vision. This strategy has been presented during a national conference (Assises de l’Energie) on march 2009. On June 2009, she is appointed General Engineer (Ingénieur Général) at the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment. She covered the position of Technical Advisor for two former ministers of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment.

Alison PARKER

Alison PARKER has a large research activity in technologies for urban sanitation. She is leading Cranfield University’s response to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s challenge to “Reinvent the Toilet”, using novel membrane technology to treat human waste on-site. She is working at both ends of the technology development process – helping to develop a novel technology for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and in testing “off the shelf” systems for Water and Sanitation for Urban Poor (WSUP). Supporting stakeholders to provide safe water supplies is another research focus through Alison’s work in WASHTech project, a European project aiming to help African decision makers decide which water and sanitation technologies to use in their projects and Community Water Plus, an AusAID funded project aiming to understand what support communities in India need to manage their water supplies. She also has research students working on Water Safety Plans in Malaysia, Nigeria, Jamaica, India and Uganda and on the transition of urban communities between informal supplies and piped systems in Kenya. She is the Course Tutor of the MSc in Community Water and Sanitation.

Zoé DRUILHE

Zoé DRUILHE is Liaison Officer at United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Brussels, Belgium. Professional in development aid and humanitarian affairs: • Eight years experience at the World Bank and the United Nations, headquarters and field • Development economist with also a Masters in business & management • Expert in programme development, coordination and advocacy in coalition settings • Hands-on experience of project and team management • Worked extensively with multistakeholders/interagency initiatives • Specialized in rural development, livelihoods resilience and food security.

Pedro HORTA

Pedro HORTA presents a 12 years experience on the Solar Thermal energy field. Researcher at the University of Évora, develops research activities on the field of linefocus concentration systems design, testing and their applications on the medium and high temperature ranges: CSP, polygeneration, process heat, solar Desalination. Its expertise includes the optical design and assessment of concentrating systems and the development of multi-component solar-driven systems.

Miriam Balaban

Miriam BALABAN is a graduate in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. She is the founder of Desalination, the international journal for desalting and purification of water, and was its Editor-in- Chief from 1966 to 2009. In 2009 she launched the monthly journal Desalination and Water Treatment to accommodate the growing flood of papers in the field and enable prompt publication. She is editor and publisher of the Desalination Directory, the international online database in desalination water reuse. She is the Secretary General of the European Desalination Society with its headquarters in Italy, where she organizes courses, conferences, and workshops in desalination. She is associated with the desalination program – Center for Clean Water and Energy – in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Desalination Association and Star of Honor from the President of Italy. She has been adviser to the African Academy of Science in establishing the journal “Discover” and establishing the African Association of Science Editors.

Abdelrahman TAMIMI

Abdelrahman TAMIMI has worked in the field of water resources in the Occupied Territories, since his graduation. During the last 25 years the activities were focused more on water resources conflict and planning on the regional and national levels. He was also a member in the Palestinian counterparts to the EC and the World Bank before the establishment of Palestinian authority. He shared an initiation of the priorities and planning of the strategic projects.  He also worked as a consultant for institutions working in developing water and environmental projects in the Occupied Territories (UNDP, GTZ, EU, World Bank etc.). He puts more emphasis on water governance, water policy, water institutions, social conflicts and water and environmental conflicts in the Middle East. Additional to that he has worked as a coordinator for many international research projects. He has recently been appointed as a member of National water council and the national reform committee, and the national committee for social agenda and poverty alleviation. He has also been the resource person for climate change adaptation national strategy and a member of water sector strategy. He is the co-author of the report prepared for EU: Mediterranean challenges 2030: he coordinated several multinational projects related to water policy, food security and climate change while working as part time lecturer in Alquds University-Sustainable Development Institute –Post Graduate Program and serving as the Director of Palestinian hydrology group. He is the author of the book “Water Privatization and Regional Political Agenda”. Recently he was elected as chairman of water group in UN-ESCWA.

Shimon TAL

Shimon TAL holds B.SC and M.Sc in Soil & Water Sciences from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He has over 37 years of experience in water supply and integrated water resources management. Shimon Tal own a private consultancy and he teaches sustainability in water management in the Interdisciplinary College in Herzeliya. He is involved in the dissemination of Israeli Water and Agricultural Technologies around the world. Shimon Tal served as the Water Commissioner of Israel for 6 years. Before that he was the VP for Engineering & Technology in Mekorot.

Dominique LEGLU

Dominique LEGLU est une scientifique et une journaliste. Après avoir obtenu un doctorat en physique nucléaire et physique des particules (1978), Dominique Leglu a suivi une formation au Centre de formation des journalistes à Paris (CFJ, promotion 1980). Elle travaille comme journaliste reporter à Libération, où elle devient responsable des pages Sciences à partir de 1985. Elle crée le supplément scientifique EUREKA en 1990. Elle devient rédactrice en chef adjointe de Libération en 1997. Collaboratrice de la production télévisuelle Téléimages en 2000-2001, elle est l’auteur d’une mini-série à caractère scientifique pour France 2 Parlez-moi d’amours et d’émissions spatiales pour France 3. Elle est rédactrice en chef de la revue Ciel et Espace d’octobre 2002 à août 2003. Elle est directrice de rédaction du mensuel scientifique Sciences et Avenir depuis septembre 2003. Elle collabore aussi chez Laffont.

Boubakar BARRY

Boubakar BARRY is CEO of WACREN, the West and Central African Research and Education Network. Prior to joining WACREN, he was Coordinator of the Research and Education Networking Unit at the Association of African Universities (AAU). He was Director of the Computer Centre of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, where he is also lecturer in Computer Networks and Electronics. Mr. Barry is Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Network Information Centre of Senegal that manages the country-code top level domain.

Oum Kalthoum BEN HASSINE

Oum Kalthoum BEN HASSINE is a Professor of Biology at the University of Tunis, Founder and Director of the Research Unit of Biology, Ecology and Parasitology of Aquatic Organisms which consists of 55 researchers and PhD students. Oum Kalthoum holds a Scientific Baccalaureate, License in Natural Sciences, Advanced Studies Diploma in Marine Biology and Oceanography, Doctorat of specialty in Marine Biology and Oceanography and «Doctorat d’Etat ès Sciences». She is the author of many publications in international scientific journals and of many presentations at national, regional and international congresses. Oum Kalthoum has supervised many Masters and PhD students, is a member of numerous commissions on scientific research, agriculture, sustainable development & women in sciences. She is the Founder and coordinator of Masters in “Integrative Biology of Coastal Ecosystems, Founder and the first President of the Tunisian association “Women and Sciences”, member of several international research networks and training such as GRACE, OWSD and Network for the training of women trainers in the Mediterranean basin in the field of science and biotechnology. Oum Kalthoum received the “Mérite de l’Education et des Sciences” awards in 2000 and 2008, and the Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Volunteer Services by the United Nations in 2001. She is also a member of the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters and Awarded the «Emeritus Honor Diploma» of the Academy in 2013. In 2016, she received the Rammal Medal 2015.

Rokhsana M. Ismail ABDULRAHMAN

Rokhsana M. Ismail ABDULRAHMAN worked for Woman’s Research & Training Center – Aden University (WRTC) since 1998 until May 2010. She established this center and led it during (1998-2010). Since May 2010 she appointed as Director of Science & Technology Center at Aden University. She founded WRTC and Yemeni Chemical Society as well as Yemeni Women Association for Science and Technology for Development. Ismail has more than 15 years experience in management and leadership of integrated applied research project related to various field of science also she has more than 12 years experience in management and leadership in integrated Gender Research for development and in curriculum. In her capacity as Director for WRTC she had been responsible for research related to gender and Development. She established a Referee Journal for Gender and Development, the first referee journal issued by Arab governmental universities. She was Chief in editing of this journal during the period 2007- 2010. And she was elected as Vice President of Third World Organization for Women in Science for the Arab Region, during the period 2005 – 2010, and she is elected in the same organization as member of Executive Board for the Arab Region for the period 2010-2014. She has been awarded from various International, Regional and local Organizations. She is member of GRACE- MENA.

Gisèle M. YITAMBEN

Gisèle M. YITAMBEN, economist by training, is an expert on entrepreneurship development, ICT and gender equality who founded and is President of the social enterprise, ASAFE. An ardent defender of the rights of underprivileged persons, with actions always targeted to improving their welfare through searching for access to productive resources and technical services. She is a member of the Reference Group of experts that advises the Director General of UNESCO on issues related to education for sustainable Development and researcher-member of the research network GRACE. Her expertise here earned her two books on women and ICT. A Schwab foundation fellow, Gisele has won several global prizes. She is the President of New Faces New Voices Cameroon, an organization that work in changing policies and lives through investing in African women.

Chomora MIKEKA

Chomora MIKEKA is a young professor holding a PhD from the Division of Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Yokohama National University, Japan. His PhD research was about power autonomous sensor radio based on cellular and digital TV RF energy harvesting. He has vast experience on research in ICT for agriculture, health and education. He is an innovator and has collaborated in the design, simulations and fabrication of an ultra low power DC-DC buck boost converter with regulated output for less than a milliwatt RF energy harvesting used in modern day communications devices. This was done with colleagues in Spain. He has held a Lecturer position at the Graduate School of Information Technology (Kobe Institute of Computing), training 30 African participants on Problem Resolution for Development Issues by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) *(J11-30012 )* (a JICA funded project). Apart from being a lecturer, Dr. Chomora Mikeka coordinates the e-Communications Research Group (eCRG) on several research topics and projects, one such being on TV White Spaces Technology for Broadband Rural-Connect in Malawi. In 2013, this unit became the Center of Excellence in the country on ICT as awarded by the National Commission of Science and Technology. Dr. Mikeka has several Awards including the 2009 European Microwave Association Student Challenge Prize in Rome (Italy). He won the 2011 IEEE RWW, Biomedical Radio and Wireless Technologies, Network and Sensing Systems Second Best Paper Award in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). He won the IEEE RFID-TA 2011, Third Best Paper Award in Sitges, Barcelona (Spain). He won the 2010 Yokohama National University International Science Exchange Encouragement Award in Yokohama (Japan). He is the 2014 – 2019 Junior Associate of the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy. His biography is included in the 27th edition of Marquis Who’s Who in the World. He is the Laureate of IBC TOP 100 ENGINEERS in 2010.

Alain BUCAILLE

Alain BUCAILLE, diplômé de l’Ecole Polytechnique et du Corps des Mines, commence sa carrière par plusieurs postes à l’international notamment en Nouvelle-Calédonie, Japon et Australie. Il revient en France dans les années 80 et participe à l’instruction de diverses réformes fiscales (Crédit d’Impôts Recherche, Taxe Professionnelle, IS). Il est rapporteur de la Commission Recherche & Innovation du 10ème Plan. Il rejoint ensuite en 1989 le groupe Lafarge en tant que Directeur de filiale, puis Directeur de la recherche et de l’Innovation du groupe. En 1997, il devient Directeur Général chez Hermès et assume cette fonction durant quatre années. Il préside à la commission de la lutte contre la contrefaçon du Comité Colbert. Il enseigne de 2000 à 2010 l’histoire de la pensée à HEC, puis l’avenir de l’énergie depuis 2011. Il rejoint AREVA en 2001, comme Conseiller auprès de la Présidente du Directoire jusqu’en 2005 puis de fin 2005 à début 2011 Directeur de la Recherche et de l’Innovation du groupe. Il est redevenu depuis Conseiller auprès du Président du Directoire d’AREVA. En janvier 2010 il est nommé professeur à l’Imperial College de Londres et publie un rapport disponible sur le net intitulé « A global legal framework to meet the climate change challenges ». Deux ans plus tard, l’Imperial College conduit une modélisation chiffrée des coûts pour l’humanité de la transition énergétique qui sera publiée d’ici mars 2013. Toutes les compétences énergétiques concernées ont été mobilisées aux fins de rendre cette prospective la plus étayée possible au vu des savoirs disponibles.

Patrick FASSNACHT

Patrick FASSNACHT started his career in Experimental Nuclear and Particle Physics at the University of Strasbourg in 1979. Later moving to the Centre de Physique des Particules in Marseille he also shifted his focus to High Energy Physics joining the CPLear (asymmetry matter/anti-matter) collaboration and finally to ATLAS (one of the four large LHC experiments at the LHC (Large Hadron Collider)). To the latter he contributed as Test Beam coordinator and later, for six years, as Technical Coordinator of the ATLAS Liquid Argon Calorimeter system. He was responsible for getting the calorimeters assembled, integrated into the cryostats and commissioned. From April 2004 onwards, for a period of more than six years, he was acting as CERN ATLAS Team leader, leading a group of close to 200 users. During that period he had numerous interactions with the many ATLAS Users coming to CERN; which lead him to become an Advisor to the DG for the MENA, 2012 onwards. Since 2018, Patrick is also the Vice President, Communications of SKF.

John ELLIS

John ELLIS is the Clerk Maxwell Professor of Theoretical Physics at King’s College in London. After his 1971 PhD from Cambridge University, he worked at SLAC, Caltech, and CERN (Geneva), where he was Theory Division Leader for six years. His research interests focus on the phenomenological aspects of elementary particle physics and its connections with astrophysics, cosmology and quantum gravity. Much of his work relates directly to interpreting results of searches for new particles. He was one of the first to study how the Higgs boson could be produced and discovered. He is currently very active in efforts to understand the Higgs particle discovered recently at CERN, as well as its implications for possible new physics such as dark matter and supersymmetry. He also studies possible future particle accelerators, such as the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) and future circular colliders, and is known for his relentless efforts to promote global collaboration in particle physics. John Ellis was awarded the Maxwell Medal (1982) and the Paul Dirac Prize (2005) by the Institute of Physics. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1985 and of the Institute of Physics in 1991, has several honorary doctorates and is an Honorary Fellow of King’s College Cambridge and of King’s College London. He was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2012.

Frédérick BORDRY

Frédérick BORDRY, has a degree in engineering and a PhD in energy conversion from the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse (INPT). After a two-year teaching post at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil), he took up a teaching and research post in Toulouse before joining the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in 1986. From 2009 to 2013, he was the Head of the CERN Technology Department. Since January 2014, he is the Director of Accelerators and Technology, responsible for the operation and exploitation of the whole CERN accelerator complex, with particular emphasis on the LHC and for the development of new projects and technologies. As a convinced advocate of international exchange in the cultural, political and scientific fields, he has devoted a considerable amount of time towards reflecting on issues relating to education, research, and multilingualism.

Eliezer RABINOVICI

Eliezer RABINOVICI is Professor of Physics, holding the Leon H. and Ada G. Miller Chair of Science at the Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He received there his BSc (1969) and MSc degrees(1971). He completed his PhD at the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1974. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Fermilab (1975-1976) and at Lawrence Berkeley Lab (1977). He has been at the Hebrew University since 1978 as Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor (1981) and Professor (1985). His area of research is theoretical high-energy physics, in particular quantum field theory and string theory. He was awarded the Miller Visiting Professorship at UC Berkeley (2003) and a Simons Distinguished Visiting Scholar at KITP UCSB (2014). He has been a fellow at the IAS Princeton and a visiting professor at the Michigan-Ann Arbor, Rutgers and Stanford Universities. He has also been a visiting Professor at several European institutes, among them CERN, a Kramers Professorship at Utrecht (1996), a Humboldt Fellow at Golm/Berlin and Munich (since 2008), a Leverhulme visiting professor at Imperial College London (2011) and a visiting position in SISA, Italy (1989-1993). He was awarded a Blaise Pascal International chair at Paris VI and ENS (2013). He was awarded the Louis Michel visiting chair at IHES, France (2015). As part of his service to the scientific community in Israel, he was the chair of the Racah Institute of Physics, the director of the Israeli Institute for Advanced Studies (2005-2012). He is the current chair of the Israeli Committee for High Energy Physics. He serves on the Editorial Board of JHEP and until 2014, was on the editorial board of Nuclear Physics B. He was a member of the advisory committee of many large and small international meetings. He has served for over eight years in such capacities at the GGI Institute in Florence, Italy. For nearly 20 years he has been one of the leaders in the creation of the SESAME light source, a unique, regional, high-quality scientific laboratory now under construction in Jordan. In the development of SESAME he works closely with US scientists and with APS representatives. He is currently an Israeli delegate to the SESAME Council and SESAME’s Vice-President-elect.

William GARNIER

William GARNIER is in charge of all aspects of communications and outreach at the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Organisation and coordinate communications activities around the world with partners from about 15 countries. William has been working in the science communication and outreach fields for 12 years. He first started as a freelance journalist in France and then as a science communicator in major international astronomy organisations. After 2 years at the ESO (European Southern Observatory) offices in Chile, he set up and led the communications department of the world’s largest radio telescope, ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) in 2007. One of the projects he is most proud of is the implementation of an educational programme in a rural and remote village close to the telescope site in Northern Chile, which had a tremendous impact locally not only on the students but on the the entire population, acting as a real boost for the local development. In November 2012, he accepted the challenge to lead the global communications effort of one of the greatest scientific enterprises of the 21st century: the SKA telescope.

François PIUZZI

Physical chemist (basic research) PhD in Physical Chemistry, Research engineer at the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) since 1982, retired 2014. Teaching: application of lasers in Physical Chemistry at University Paris XI (Orsay) and at the University Paris VI (Jussieu).

Research management: Member  to the National Agency for Research. (ANR) “Scientific Committee Sciences for Engineering” (2005-2007). Project officer for Nanosciences at the French ministry of high Education and Research (MESR  2010-2013), French delegate to the NMP (Nanosciences Materials Production) committee of the EU commission at Brussels. Member of the committee of the “Photoniques” Journal  (Journal of the French optical Society) (since 2006). Founder of the Instrumentation award in Physical Chemistry (2007). Member of the Board of the Division of Physical Chemistry (SFC-SFP) (since 2004).

International cooperation in science : Chairman (2016-now) of the “Physics without Borders” commission of the French Physical Society. Former Chairman of the Inter-division group “Physics for Development” of the European Physical Society (EPS) (2009-2015). Founder and former president of the association “Puya Raimondi”, Franco-Peruvian and Latino-American scientific cooperation association (2004-now). Member of APSA committee (Association pour la Promotion Scientifique de l’Afrique) and co-organizer of the « Rencontres des Jeunes Chercheurs Africains Francophones » (2014 and 2016). Honorary Professor of the National University of Engineering (UNI) (2005) and the University Ricardo Palma (2013), Lima, Peru.

Lionel ZINSOU

Lionel ZINSOU is CEO of the French Equity firm PAI. Prior to PAI, he has been since 1997 General Partner of Rothschild (1997-2008), the investment bank. Lionel Zinsou started his professional career as an associate Professor of economics at Paris University (Paris XIII and Ecole Normale Supérieure) and a member of the Department of Industry Minister’s Office, and the Prime Minister’s Office. In 1986 and until 1997 he had joined Danone where he held various positions as Financial Controller, Corporate Development Director and member of the Executive Committee. Lionel Zinsou graduated from Ecole Normale Superieure, Sciences Po and La Sorbonne in history and economics. He is a citizen of France and Benin.