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.

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.

Past President of FINAT and Managing Director of UK-based converter OPM (Labels & Packaging) Group Limited, a company established over 40 years ago and today serving more than 600 clients in both domestic and export markets.

OPM are a multi-award winning printers of high quality self-adhesive labels, laminates, sachets, medical and pharmaceutical packaging.

Passionate for product innovation, investors in the development of its people and early adopters of total process automation, the company’s vision is to remain one of Europe’s top performing self-adhesive label and flexible packaging providers.

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

Will Parker is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the packaging and containers industry across the UK and Europe. Primarily in distressed turnaround, operational improvement and divestiture challenges. As ELF programme leader he will be mainly involved in the business and management tracks. 

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.'

Corey is President and CEO of AWA. 

Marius Tent is a recognized leader in Packaging Sustainability, passionately driving innovation for People, Planet, and Business. With over 20 years at top companies like Wrigley, Mars Wrigley, and Danone SN, Marius has led transformative packaging strategies and championed groundbreaking innovations.
In 2024, Marius founded ViaPackaging UG, providing tailored solutions in Packaging Innovation and Sustainability. Later that year, he co-founded 360packmastery.com, an essential digital platform simplifying the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), offering compliance solutions and key insights across Europe.
Widely recognized as Packaging Sustainability ambasador, Marius frequently contributes to industry webinars and discussions in partnership with Packaging Europe and 360PackMastery. Additionally, he actively collaborates with CEFLEX, advancing circular economy practices for flexible packaging in Europe & Member states, and with CELAB Europe, promoting circularity for Release liners & Matrix.
Marius remains dedicated to empowering businesses with sustainable packaging solutions that drive compliance, sustainability, and commercial success.
 

Diederik Samsom studied physics at Delft University of Technology before working as a Greenpeace activist and campaigner in the field of energy and climate. Samsom entered politics in 2003 and was a member of the House of Representatives until 2016. During his tenure, he focused on energy and environmental issues and advocated for renewable energy and combating climate change. In 2012, Samsom became leader of the Dutch Labor Party, leading the party in national elections and in a coalition government later that year.

Between 2017 and 2019, Samsom worked as a consultant in both the public and private sectors, where he helped establish the Dutch Climate Agreement and provided strategic advice to investors and energy companies. In 2019, he became chief of staff to Executive Vice President Timmermans at the European Commission. He played a key role in the design and implementation of the European Green Deal and other signature European policies, such as the Recovey and Resilience Fund to restore European economies after COVID and the RePowerEU plan to make Europe independent of Russian gas after the invasion of Russia. of Ukraine in 2022.

As right-hand man of European Commissioner Frans Timmermans, he was the architect of the European Green Deal. Throughout his career, Samsom has remained committed to tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development, making significant contributions to both Dutch and European politics.

Diederik Samsom, a Dutch politician and former leader of the Labor Party, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to each event. With a background in physics and a strong focus on sustainable energy, Samsom offers insightful perspectives on climate change, renewable energy and environmental policy. His tenure as leader of the Labor Party and his involvement in shaping policy at both national and European levels provide valuable insights into the workings of government and the political landscape.

Samsom's engaging speaking style and ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner make him an ideal choice for our session focusing on sustainability, politics and leadership. Whether discussing the challenges of the transition to a low-carbon economy or advocating for social justice issues, Samsom's passion and commitment shine through, inspiring the audience to take action and create a positive to make a difference in the world. As a speaker, Samsom brings depth, credibility and a compelling vision for a more sustainable and equitable future, making him a valuable addition to any event.

Steve Metcalf is the founder and CEO of IMAGINE AI LIVE, the world's first truly AI-native conference and event platform for enterprises and businesses, and AD LEGENDS AI, the world’s first fully-functional AI-powered advertising agency.

As a former co-founder and CEO of a global industrial technology company, Steve brings decades of experience in leadership, technology, operations, and enterprise digital strategy, including significant executive roles at Accenture and SAP-Ariba.

Steve is dedicated to transforming how organizations connect and collaborate through AI. As a Chief AI Officer, he leads the strategic vision of Imagine AI Live, and advises other organizations in the same capacity, focusing on practical AI applications, automation, and innovation for enterprises. His work spans the Fortune 500 to the Fortune 5000, along with startups, associations and foundations of all sizes.

His leadership philosophy emphasizes imagination in AI, fostering innovation and knowledge sharing. Metcalf's passion for mentoring and influencing the next generation of entrepreneurs and technologists drives his commitment to accelerating AI adoption across industries.

Dominique is one of the few female military pilots in the Dutch Air Force, a skilled mediator, and a behavioural influence psychologist. She was trained by former Vietnam War veterans in the United States. As a woman, she has successfully held her ground in a male-dominated field, excelling through the most challenging training sessions and missions. Serving in Afganistan, her helicopter was hit by the Taliban and her narrow escape ending in a crash landing at a US base bacame an important part of her story (in het presentation, Domique will also use video material of that life changing experience).

Dominique has extensively studied the exceptional skills of military pilots. By combining this knowledge with her expertise in behavioural psychology, she delivers transformative experiences. She has an exceptional ability to clearly articulate and reveal the strengths of each individual or team. With a unique blend of discipline, adaptability, and a deep understanding of human behaviour, Dominique empowers individuals to surpass their limits. She has brought together some of the most experienced Air Force pilots to train organisations and businesses worldwide.

Drawing from her vast experiences, Dominique delivers exceptional speeches that captivate and inspire. She captivates and emotionally moves her audience as she shares stories of her extraordinary training and deployments, including the harrowing story of her helicopter being shot down by the Taliban—a crash she narrowly survived. She shares her lessons and teaches you to view life, others, your team, and most importantly, yourself from a new perspective.