Polytalk 10 was the opportunity for the petrochemicals industry to organise an open discussion forum on how innovations can help spur economic recovery. Three expert speakers addressed the audience gathering petrochemicals and plastics industry representatives on the current economic situation (Andrew Monro, KPMG), on most needed new business models (Sébastien Delpont, BeCitizen) and on innovation trends and research (Gernot Klotz, SUSCHEM). This was followed by a discussion moderated by independent journalist Willy De Backer, and they all concluded that significant changes in policies and mindset are a priority. This debate took place in Châteauform La Ramée (Jodoigne) on the afternoon of Thursday 20th May 2010.
Willy De Backer is a Belgian journalist and professional conference moderator, living in Brussels, with more than 25 years experiences in European politics. For nearly ten years, he worked in the European Parliament as assistant to a Member of the EP and a staff member of the Green Group in the EP. After having set up his own internet company Polis.net, he joined Christophe Leclercq’s Internet Portal EurActiv.com in 1999 and helped him expand the service from a start-up to a successful online media company. From 1 June 2007, Willy moved on from EurActiv to set up his new independent 3E Intelligence project. From January 2008, Willy has started to work with the Global Footprint Network as its Director for Europe. Willy is a frequent moderator of conferences and debates in Brussels (European Business Summit, Green Week, Sustainable Energy Week, Friends of Europe, ECOSOC, European Commission and Parliament). He is also regularly involved in conference content preparation as a policy advisor. His hobbies: literature (especially Charles Dickens), film (favorite director: Krzysztof Kieslowski), music (from classical to pop, experimental and gothic).
Positive Factory™ Consultant
Sébastien is a Positive Factory™ consultant. He conducts Positive Factory™ Assessments to identify customer needs and participates in the selection of technologies that are best adapted to customers’ requirements. His work focuses specifically on energy efficiency, toxicity, and industrial ecology. He monitors the best industrial-sector environmental practices. He is currently working on two missions in the paper and agri-food industries.
Before joining BeCitizen, he conducted environmental analyses of industrial sites for the SNCF (the French national railway) and analysed industrial ecology initiatives in the Dunkirk region for the CERDD (French Resource Centre on Sustainable Development). He has also worked on technical water studies for Veolia Water in Denmark and conducted a study into wood energy for the ADEME (French environment and energy management agency).
Sébastien qualified in engineering from the Lille Ecole Centrale (France) and graduated in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in Copenhagen.
Working languages
Fluent French and English; elementary Danish and German
SUSCHEM
Gernot Klotz is the Executive Director for Research and Innovation at the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic). He coordinates and steers the innovation-related activities of the organisation: technology development, innovation policies, societal acceptance of new technologies and products, emerging science/policy issues and the Cefic Long-range Research Initiative (LRI). He is also responsible for the EU Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SUSCHEM). Prior to joining Cefic in 2007, he held various research and business positions in Bayer. Gernot Klotz currently sits in various advisory and steering committees at OECD, WHO and EU Commission level in areas such as innovation, technology development, impact on environment and health.
Head of Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, KPMG
Chris is one of KPMG’s most experienced Partners in the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals sector. Chris started his career as an auditor and transferred as one of KPMG’s founding Transaction Services Partners. He specialises in large complex cross-border transactions including acquisitions, divestments, mergers and IPO’s. Chris has worked closely with a number of large Chemical and Pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, Novartis, Syngenta and Petrochemical Industries Corporation (Kuwait) as well as other small UK corporations and Private Equity clients.
Chris leads the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals practices in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.