Jules Lejeune

FINAT

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juleslejeune/

Jules Lejeune was appointed as FINAT's Managing Director in 1998. He was closely involved in the launch of the FINAT Radar in 2014. Each year he presents the annual review of trends and developments in the self-adhesive label materials demand in Europe.

23 May, 11:00 Talk: The European label business landscape in 2023-2024

Bert van Loon

Independent Strategist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertvanloon/

Co-Founder Content Marketing Fast Forward #CMFF (NL). Bert van Loon will be moderating a few of the panel discussions during ELF.

I grew up in the publishing industry where I held positions in sales, marketing and business development. I was given the opportunity to lead multidisciplinary teams, where I was able to ensure that business and creativity joined forces to give birth to client happiness. I often worked in international alliances across Europe. After a few years as the managing director of a publishing group in Belgium, I decided that I preferred concepts, strategy and projects to corporate management.

I launched my independent strategy and concept practice in 1997. Over the years, I experienced the transition from ‘print only’ to digital and cross-media, right from within the heart of the industry. I learned while doing and I saw both success and failure up close. Along the most diversified set of projects from different clients during all those years, I also participated as an entrepreneur in various publishing and media initiatives. Some worked wonders, some didn’t: I learned on the job in a fast-changing environment.

My experience of bringing business and creativity together to realise organisations’ marketing and sales objectives is a valuable asset in today’s content marketing world. My strength lies in projects where I can develop new initiatives or re-engineer existing ones, while teaching new skills to my client’s teams as they earn and learn. I love to work in a multidisciplinary and international environment, bringing my half-Dutch and half-French background to the table with a mixture of Dutch bluntness and French finesse.

23 May, 09:00 Talk: Opening

Marzia Scopelliti

Europen

https://www.europen-packaging.eu/

Marzia Scopelliti is Senior Public Affairs Manager at EUROPEN, the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment, representing the entire packaging value chain in Europe.

Prior to joining EUROPEN, Marzia held different roles at Plastics Europe, the EU organisation of plastic raw material producers, focusing on the revision of different policies related to plastics’ end of life. Previously, she has been a Bluebook trainee at the EU Commission’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), where she worked on the implementation of the EU maritime and fisheries policy in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

Marzia holds a PhD in International Law from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) and a degree in International Relations from the University of Milan (Italy).

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Philippe Voet

Etivoet

https://www.etivoet.be/en

Philippe Voet is the current FINAT President and is the General Manager of Etivoet in Belgium.

24 May, 12:50 Talk: Closing of the ELF 2024
23 May, 09:00 Talk: Opening

Hassan Rmaile

President & CEO MCC Label

https://www.mcclabel.com/en

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Dr. Guido Spachtholz

HERMA Group

https://www.herma.com/

Since January 2021, Dr. Guido Spachtholz is Managing Director of HERMA Group and Head of the self-adhesive materials division.

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Fernando Giron

Fedrigoni Group

https://fedrigoni.com/en/

Fernando Giron is Commercial Director for the self-adhesive business unit of Fedrigoni Group. He is an experienced Commercial and Marketing professional with a demonstrated history of working in the packaging industry. Skilled in Business Development, Marketing and Commercial Strategy, Business Process Improvement, Digital Marketing, and IT Service Management. 

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Dieter Tschemernjak

Inno-Verse

https://www.inno-verse.com/en

Dieter Tschemernjak is strategy and innovation expert, co-creator of the AI-based digital platform INNO-VERSE. He is entrepreneur and partner in-manas at intelligent management solutions GmbH. He has a strong focus on strategy, innovation and organizational development. He has 25+ years of business experience in leading corporate and board functions and in the consulting industry. He has a Master degree in Strategic Corporate Management at the Leopold-Franzen University of Innsbruck.

24 May, 09:45 Talk: Using AI for innovations in the label industry

Dana Kilarska

Purgina

https://www.purgina.sk/en/

Dana Kilarka is Managing Director of Purgina since 2016. 'Leading a family business in the printing industry as 2nd generation. The hand in of the business was in poor condition and in last 3,5 years, the business developed and got healthy again as it was never in 28 years of history. This is not just about me, it's about every single colleague of mine wanting to climb the mountain with me. It's about to be better than yesterday. It's easy to improve the financial situation of a company but the challenge is to keep humble and goal-oriented in the best times of the company.'

24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Fabrizio Di Gregorio

Technical Director at Plastics Recyclers Europe (RecyClass)

https://recyclass.eu/

Fabrizio Di Gregorio is Technical Director at Plastics Recyclers Europe (RecyClass) and has a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Master Scientist in Environmental Science and Technology. He is able to assess and develop strategies in the field of packaging in the circular economy perspective (design for recycling, end-of-life treatment, recycling targets), assess and develop waste management and recycling strategies, develop Life Cycle Assessment for waste technologies and waste management scenario, develop mass and energy balances and material and substance flow analyses, and he is also an expert in chemical recycling (plastic waste gasification - in particular in fluidized bed technologies- and pyrolysis) and syngas purification.

Fabrizio is an author of several papers published in international scientific journals and he is a Referee for peer-reviewed scientific journals in the field of waste management, plastics, resources and sustainability, recycling, LCA, energy and fuels. He has presented several webinars on recycling for the FINAT community in the past years. 

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Linda Lichtmess

Euromonitor

https://www.euromonitor.com/

23 May, 11:30 Talk: 2024 Consumer attitudes to watch

Guy Verhofstadt

Member of the European Parliament, 47th Prime Minister of Belgium

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/

Guy Verhofstadt is a member of the ‘Renew Europe’ group in the European Parliament and former Prime Minister of Belgium. He still serves in the European Parliament today, where he is a champion of more European integration to tackle the multiple crises the EU faces for the moment.

“One of the architects of the current structure of power in the European Union”

Guy Verhofstadt served for a decade as the leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the centrist-liberal grouping in the European parliament. He led the EU’s negotiating team on the UK’s departure from the Union. He became an MP and then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Budget whilst still in his 30s. After losing power, Guy took control of the party and reinvented it, making it more attractive to representatives of other parties. After taking time away from politics, Guy returned as president of the VLD winning the general election and becoming the first liberal PM in over 60 years. Guy retained the office for eight years before becoming a Senator and then an MEP.

23 May, 09:15 Keynote: A vision of the future of Europe in a multipolar world

Katie King

AI Strategist & Influencer

https://www.aiinbusiness.co.uk/

24 May, 09:00 Keynote: Keynote: How to harness AI and maintain the competitive edge

Günther Birkner

President CCL Label & Innovia Films

https://cclind.com/

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Michael Wareka

CEO Marzek Etiketten + Packaging

https://www.marzek.at/en/

Dr. Johannes Michael Wareka - CEO and 4th generation of Marzek Etiketten+Packaging

Johannes Michael Wareka is CEO and 4th generation of Marzek Etiketten+Packaging. Founded in 1879, Marzek Etiketten+Packaging is a traditional family business that produces labels and sales-promoting packaging for thousands of small businesses and wineries as well as large international industrial customers throughout Europe at its headquarters in Traiskirchen/Austria and three other European plants, with over 700 employees.

He has been familiar with the industry since he was a child, growing up surrounded by printing machines, labels and packages. After completing his studies at the Vienna University of Economics and Business with the Ph.D., he worked in various IT jobs in different countries. Since 1991 he has been a co-owner and member of the Management Board, since 1993 he has been CEO / Board Chairman of the Marzek Etiketten+Packaging Group.

As a visionary leader, Johannes Michael Wareka was the driving force to expand the familiy business to Hungary and Ukraine which turned out to be excellent moves despite the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine. His ambition to pass on an even better company to the next generation is the driving force for his unconditional pursuit of quality which has earned the company many national and international awards for its high-quality labels – including many FINAT awards. It is also the reason for his tireless strive to meet the numerous challenges of our industry leveraging technology and innovation.

As member of the „FINAT Converter Committee“ 1991-1993 and as this year´s panelist Johannes Michael Wareka is convinced that professional exchange and networking are highly important for the industry. Therefore, he is looking forward to sharing his insights and discussing latest trends with industry professionals at FINAT in Athens.

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Michel Scholte

CSRD Academy

https://csrdacademy.com/

23 May, 14:30 Keynote: The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive – towards a more equitable future

Tim Foster

Olympic Champion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Foster

Tim represented Great Britain at 3 Olympics as part of the national rowing team from 1987 – 2000. During his rowing career he won a total of 9 World Championship and 2 Olympic medals – only twice in 14 years failing to medal.

Tim was renowned for his technical skill, ability to adapt to a team, producing peak performance under pressure, and enabling and facilitating others to perform at maximum efficiency. After achieving his goal of winning a gold medal as part of the Coxless Four at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Tim retired from international rowing.

50 stunning Olympic moments No4: Steve Redgrave's fifth gold medal | Rowing | The Guardian

On retiring as an athlete, Tim transferred straight into coaching. He coached the GB Team from 2001 – 2006; and was Head Coach of the Swiss National Rowing Team from 2007 – 2012. Tim has coached World and Olympic Champions and successfully transitioned the Swiss national team into their most successful period in 20 years. 
In transferring from top international athlete to top international coach, Tim achieved something that very few sports people have done – being successful in both. It is the false assumption that success in one will lead to success in the other, and the very short list of successful transitions proves this. Tim is still debating whether his previous expertise is a hindrance or a help to his coaching career.

Since 2012, Tim has focussed on translating his skills to business, having also studied for an Executive MBA at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He has mentored businesses and individuals across many sectors including financial, legal and professional services. Clients have ranged from FTSE 100 companies to over 300 start-ups that Tim has mentored through their early years.

Tim now runs his own consultancy business, works with both the Saïd Business School and Oxford Brookes University, and is also the Head of Performance for the League Managers Association – advising professional football managers at the top of the English game on their own performance and career development.
 

24 May, 12:00 Keynote: Closing keynote: How an Olympic gold winning rower turned Olympic coach

Anum Javed Beg

AWA Alexander Watson Associates

https://awa-bv.com/

Anum is currently working at AWA as a Manager Market Intelligence & Business Insights, conducting research into the specialty packaging, coating and converting industries. Before joining AWA, she worked in a management consulting firm after working in the shipping industry for almost two years. Before this Anum graduated from her Master's in Business Administration with majors in Marketing.

23 May, 11:00 Talk: The European label business landscape in 2023-2024

Laura Bas

Public speaker & Consultant

https://www.laurabas.com/en

Laura Bas (1996) is a multiple award-winning Changemaker, Public Speaker and Moderator. As a public speaker, she specializes in meaningful youth participation, millennials, Gen Z and gender equality. She knows exactly how to explain to an audience how to better engage young people in organizations and how to create equal chances for men and women. Laura has spoken at The United Nations, Tedx, Unicef and Microsoft

22 May, 09:00 Workshop: YPN workshop 'From energy eater to energy giver'
24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Jeremy Lagay

Iconex

https://www.iconex.com/

23 May, 12:00 Panel: Industry panel

Philip Barrett

Cartoonist

23 May, 16:30 : Intermezzo: visual wrap-up
23 May, 12:45 : Intermezzo: visual wrap-up
24 May, 12:45 : Intermezzo: visual wrap-up

John Eisses

Berenschot

https://www.berenschot.com/

23 May, 15:15 Talk: Towards a Smart Food Chain: Minimise Waste in Food Supply using smart packaging technology

Pablo Englebienne

FINAT

https://www.finat.com/sustainability

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Suvi Rasa

UPM Raflatac

https://www.upmraflatac.com/

Suvi Rasa joined UPM nearly 20 years ago and has extensive experience on sustainability, including developing UPM’s sustainable product design approach and advancing sustainability of new bio based materials and fuels. In UPM Raflatac's label business she embarked on a new journey over two years ago. Her current role is focused on driving product sustainability, circularity and label materials beyond fossils. She is member of FINAT’s PPWR task force and RecyClass Advisory Board. With Master of Science degrees in environmental science as well as economics and business administration she possesses a holistic understanding of sustainability considerations in business environment.

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Graham Houlder

Ceflex

https://ceflex.eu/

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Denise Haitoglou

President of ELSET

https://www.elset.gr/en/

Denise Haitoglou, CEO and Founder of Haitoglou Graphic Arts S.A

Warwick Business School, M.Sc

The industry of Graphic Arts fascinated me since my first day working for our family business, active in the food industry already for 100 years now. At the beginning of my career, I was responsible for the marketing side of packaging therefore, I had the chance to visit several factories during the printing process.  

This sector seemed very interesting and full of potential so I decided to differentiate from the food industry and started a new company for flexible labels : prepress , press , postpress.

The goal was and still is to do it the best possible way with respect to the customers, employees, and the environment. It’s been twenty years now and I keep learning and trying to advance, always motivated by the changes and challenges of the market year by year.  

23 May, 09:00 Talk: Opening

Sergio Collado

Sulayr Global Service

https://sulayrgs.com/en/

Director of Engineering , Innovation and Development at Sulayr Global Service, one of the leading recyclers in Europe and also a CEN participant.

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Noël Kasmi

Avery Dennison

https://www.averydennison.com/en/home.html

23 May, 15:45 Panel: Are we ready for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?

Tom Baker

Baker Labels

https://www.bakerlabels.co.uk/

24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Iban Cid

Germark

https://www.germark.com/en/

24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Anastasios Politis

IC - International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic-Media Technology and Management

https://www.internationalcircle.net/

24 May, 11:00 Panel: How to brand our industry in today’s battle for talent?

Joran van den Berg

Innovation Consultant at Berenschot B.V.

https://www.berenschot.com/

Joran van den Berg, Innovation Consultant at Berenschot B.V., The Netherlands.had an MSc. in nanotechnology physics, focusing on nanoelectronics for quantum computing applications. Employed at Berenschot for two years, forming consortia in several technology sectors with a focus on semiconductor technologies, and writing project proposals for both national and international subsidy funds.

23 May, 15:15 Talk: Towards a Smart Food Chain: Minimise Waste in Food Supply using smart packaging technology

Meet the 2024 leaders speaking this year
Be inspired by international success stories, learn from experts, and gain experience through exercise and engagement.

Guy Verhofstadt

Member of the European Parliament, 47th Prime Minister of Belgium

Katie King

AI Strategist & Influencer

Michel Scholte

CSRD Academy

Tim Foster

Olympic Champion

Meet the 2024 leaders speaking this year
Be inspired by international success stories, learn from experts, and gain experience through exercise and engagement.

Jules Lejeune

FINAT

Jules Lejeune

Bert van Loon

Independent Strategist

Bert van Loon

Marzia Scopelliti

Europen

Marzia Scopelliti

Philippe Voet

Etivoet

Philippe Voet

Hassan Rmaile

President & CEO MCC Label

Hassan Rmaile

Dr. Guido Spachtholz

HERMA Group

Dr. Guido Spachtholz

Fernando Giron

Fedrigoni Group

Fernando Giron

Dieter Tschemernjak

Inno-Verse

Dieter Tschemernjak

Dana Kilarska

Purgina

Dana Kilarska

Fabrizio Di Gregorio

Technical Director at Plastics Recyclers Europe (RecyClass)

Fabrizio Di Gregorio

Linda Lichtmess

Euromonitor

Linda Lichtmess

Günther Birkner

President CCL Label & Innovia Films

Günther Birkner

Michael Wareka

CEO Marzek Etiketten + Packaging

Michael Wareka

Anum Javed Beg

AWA Alexander Watson Associates

Anum Javed Beg

Laura Bas

Public speaker & Consultant

Laura Bas

Jeremy Lagay

Iconex

Jeremy Lagay

Philip Barrett

Cartoonist

Philip Barrett

John Eisses

Berenschot

John Eisses

Pablo Englebienne

FINAT

Pablo Englebienne

Suvi Rasa

UPM Raflatac

Suvi Rasa

Graham Houlder

Ceflex

Graham Houlder

Denise Haitoglou

President of ELSET

Denise Haitoglou

Sergio Collado

Sulayr Global Service

Sergio Collado

Noël Kasmi

Avery Dennison

Noël Kasmi

Tom Baker

Baker Labels

Tom Baker

Iban Cid

Germark

Iban Cid

Anastasios Politis

IC - International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic-Media Technology and Management

Anastasios Politis

Joran van den Berg

Innovation Consultant at Berenschot B.V.

Joran van den Berg