Key Markets Chemicals, Cement and Steel - Decarbonization as a Competitive Factor

Mike Edelmann (61) is the Managing Director of the Rohrdorfer Group. The graduate engineer (FH) in production technology has been leading the company since 1999. Previously, from 1992 to 1999, he gained international experience in controlling and M&A at Heidelberg Materials. He is also a member of the presidium and board of the Association of German Cement Works (VDZ) and the Association of the Austrian Cement Industry (VÖZ).  Rohrdorfer produces high-quality building materials at over 160 locations in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Hungary, including cement, ready-mixed concrete, precast elements, concrete products, drywall materials, as well as sand and gravel. Mike Edelmann is married and has two children.

Jürgen Pfeiffer is a moderator, host, and master of ceremonies specializing in the energy transition, green hydrogen, and the fuel cell and hydrogen industry. He hosts and produces edutainment formats such as 'GREEN PLUS CLEAN' and 'PFEIFFER FRAGT,' and is the presenter of the podcast THE HYDROGEN ELEVATOR. As a sought-after conference host, he leads high-level panels at international trade fairs and congresses, including events organized by the European Commission and HYDROGEN EUROPE in Brussels, as well as leading conferences such as WINDENERGY HAMBURG, HYDROGEN EXPO, and the HYDROGEN DIALOGUE SUMMIT + EXPO. Jürgen Pfeiffer has more than 20 years of media experience, including as a Berlin correspondent for RTL Nachtjournal and as editor-in-chief of the program 'Forum der Europäer' at ARTE Television in Paris.

Martin Kießling is Managing Director Technology at Lech-Stahlwerke GmbH. For 35 years, he has gained professional experience at leading companies in the steel industry across the entire value chain-from recycled raw material (scrap) through the liquid phase and hot forming to cold finishing. Prior to his current role, Mr. Kießling served as Managing Director at Mannesmann Precision Tubes GmbH and BILSTEIN GROUP. He studied materials engineering at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and wrote his diploma thesis on the vacuum hardening of high-speed steel. A key focus of his current position is to further expand Lech-Stahlwerke's leading role as a supplier of low-CO₂ steel and to advance the company's transformation strategy.

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis has been working at Hydrogen Europe since 2016. He currently holds the position of CEO of the association. He previously covered roles in the planning department of the Foreign Office of Germany, at Infineon Technologies and was Member of the European Parliament (2004-2014) inter alia in the ITRE Committee (Industry, Technology, Research and Energy) where he could contribute to lay the cornerstone for the first and the second Joint Undertaking on hydrogen and fuel cells. He was awarded Hydrogen Person of the Year at the World Hydrogen Awards 2022, 'as a major player promoting hydrogen in Europe and world-wide, accelerating collaboration and industry development'. Jorgo was born in Duisburg, Germany. He holds German and Greek nationality, and a degree in political science from the University of Bonn.

Dr. Sebastian Bolay has been Head of Energy, Environment and Industry at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) since 2022. Prior to this, he had already been working at the DIHK since 2011 on energy policy issues, particularly the electricity market and renewable energy. Before that, he worked for the Association of Municipal Companies (VKU) and in academia.

Veronika Grimm has been a professor at the Technical University of Nuremberg since 2024, where she heads the Energy Systems and Market Design Lab. Previously, she held positions at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, Humboldt University of Berlin, the University of Alicante, and the University of Cologne, and completed extended research stays at Université Libre de Bruxelles and Université Catholique de Louvain. Since 2020, Veronika Grimm has been a member of the German Council of Economic Experts. In addition, she serves on numerous committees and advisory boards, including the German government's National Hydrogen Council and the Expert Commission on Energy Transition Monitoring.