GREENTECH FESTIVAL SPEAKERS

Sibylle Günter studied and completed her PhD in physics in 1990 at Rostock University, Germany . After an extended research stay in the USA, she became staff member at the Max-Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in 1996. In 2000, she was appointed Member of the Max Planck Society and director at IPP. In 2011 she was appointed Scientific Director of IPP. Sibylle Günter is elected member of several scientific institutions, among them the Academia Europaea.

Dr. Ulf Zillig is responsible for Group Research, Sustainability and R&D functions at Mercedes-Benz Cars. Under his leadership, he combines central governance topics for the R&D unit, in particular sustainability, innovation, digitalization, product safety and compliance. In his function, he reports directly to the CTO for Development & Procurement, Markus Schäfer. As Vice President, he heads the development of the sustainability strategy at Mercedes-Benz and promotes product sustainability in all areas of product creation and across the entire value chain.

Konrad Schlösser holds a diploma in industrial engineer and started his career with various international supply chain projects, both in consulting and industry. At Mubea, he has been working in the corporate development department, before switching to the business unit “Micromobility” three years ago. Since 2025 he is heading the unit as Managing Director, being responsible for the e-cargo bike and e-scooter business of Mubea.

Kai works as Director Global Marketing at „myclimate“, a Swiss-based NGO focusing on climate and sustainability measures. He is also as Co-Executive Director a member of myclimate’s collaborative leadership group. Before tapping into sustainability, Kai worked in communications and brand management for „Nike“. Born and raised in Germany, he holds a « Master of Arts » degree in Ancient History. Kai is a football aficionado, a passionate gravelbiker and a snowboarder with “great style and attitude, but very limited skills”.

Dr. Ralf Belusa is a visionary international executive, board member, and advisor with deep expertise across various highly complex Industries. With a remarkable career spanning over nearly three decades, Dr. Belusa (49) has consistently delivered exceptional results, building global businesses with revenues exceeding multiple billion euros. He is known for seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies, sustainable strategies, and agile methodologies into large-scale, high-performance sales, marketing and IT organizations, achieving operational excellence across 144 countries.

Andreas Krönke is a communications expert for sustainable technology companies and leads the Greentech & Sustainability unit at PIABO Communications. Since several years, he has been responsible for clients in Greentech, Cleantech, Climatetech, Sustainability, and ESG. He oversees the company’s sustainability strategy and advises clients like Stripe, Kyon Energy, Patagonia and AXA Climate. Additionally, he mentors at RESPOND Accelerator, Greentech Alliance, and SpinLab. He has spoken at the Sustainability Summit, Greentech Festival, and numerous other conferences.

Prof. Dr. Johan Rockström is the Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor at the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science at Potsdam University. Rockström is an internationally recognized scientist on global sustainability issues, who led the development of the new Planetary Boundaries framework for human development in the current era of rapid global change at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. He is a leading scientist on global water resources, with about 25 years of experience from applied water research in tropical regions, and more than 150 research publications in fields ranging from applied land and water management to global sustainability. Rockström provides strategic scientific guidance as a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group ‘Mission Board for Adaptation to Climate Change, including Societal Transformation’ and the ‘Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ and consults several governments and business networks.

Tilmann leads Quantis Germany’s work on Chemicals. Previously he directed Systemiq’s program on sustainable automotive and batteries, where he created and led The Battery Pass Consortium. He holds degrees with distinction from Maastricht and Lund University.

Elissa Brunato is the CEO of Radiant Matter. Previously, she worked in the design and production of textiles and garments. While overseeing international production sites, she noticed significant amounts of unnecessary waste at multiple stages of manufacture, harming the environment and exposing workers to hazardous materials. Realizing that the industry lacked sustainable options for embellishment components and surface finishes, Elissa founded Radiant Matter, a material technology start-up that develops sustainable, brilliantly colored, bio-inspired material solutions from cellulose. Their growing platform technology helps reduce microplastic pollution, shift dependence on petroleum, and is less resource-intensive, promoting a circular economy.

Since joining Ragn-Sells Pär has been instrumental in transitioning the company from a traditional linear actor to circular leader. Before Ragn-Sells he began his journey in the food industry, where he championed both ethical and climate initiatives., for that his efforts have earned him international recognition. Beyond his role at Ragn-Sells he serves as co-chair at the International Chamber of Commerce’s working group on circular economy as well as in the steering committee for UNEP Global Partnership on Nutrient Management.

Apsara Mitra, 23, is a Bengali-American, engineer, scientist, climate and civic justice mobilizer with expertise in conservation, housing justice, and technology development previously working in commercial aviation and now as a researcher/aerospace engineer at NASA. Among her engagements, she has also served as a Climate Fellow at the Philadelphia Regional Center for Children’s Environmental Health at the University of Pennsylvania, advocates for appropriations for conservation with WWF, and currently serves as the Deputy Technical Director at Re-earth Initiative.

Showcasing the results of a Swedish study funded by Climate-Leading-Process Industry. The project utilizes BASF’s “Chain Extender” technology to enhance the quality and viscosity of degraded landfill plastics and OceanWaste, upgrading them into spinnable yarn for textiles.Key highlights:*The successful conversion of waste into yarn, *Reparells plans for industrial scalability*Collaboration opportunities to drive systemic change. * World premiere of first product created using this technique, demonstrating a scalable and sustainable solution to landfill and marine litter.

Benjamin Cassou is a Franco-American entrepreneur and innovator dedicated to redefining materials through circular economy solutions. As the co-founder of ReStalk, he transforms agricultural co-products into high-value, sustainable materials, replacing fossil-fuel-based and tree-based packaging and goods. With a background in film, storytelling, and business, Benjamin brings a creative and strategic approach to sustainability, bridging industries to build scalable, regenerative solutions. He is currently leading global initiatives to develop Agri-Hubs, fostering collaboration between agriculture, technology, and manufacturing. Passionate about systemic change, he champions innovation that harmonizes economic growth with environmental responsibility.

Clément is Head of FoodTech at REWE Group, leading a team to drive FoodTech ventures and innovations. Previously, he co-initiated NX-Food, Metro’s Food Innovation Hub, gaining expertise in startups, sustainability, and corporate venturing. With a diploma in economics from the University of Cologne, he is passionate about shaping the future of food. His core strengths include Business Innovation, Innovation Development, and Startup Innovation.

Erik has been with Schenker for more than 25 years in various positions and, in addition to various IT areas, has also headed the innovation area for Schenker Germany since 2011. Since 2016, he has been responsible for the Innovation division for DB Schenker globally. The focus of his area is, among other things, on researching/observing social and technical trends, their impact on the logistics industry and the derivation of future business models for the logistics of tomorrow. He is also responsible for DB Schenker’s own Lab, all start-up activities and innovative pilot projects.