David C. Carroll is President of the International Gas Union for its 2015-2018 triennium as the United States, with leadership from the American Gas Association, prepares to host the 2018 World Gas Conference in Washington, DC.
IGU’s mission is to advocate for natural gas as an integral part of a sustainable global energy system, and to promote the political, technical and economic progress of the gas industry.

Mr. Carroll also serves as the President and CEO of the Gas Technology Institute in Des Plaines, Illinois, USA. He joined GTI in 2001 after holding various technical and management positions with Praxair, Inc., Liquid Carbonic Industries (a subsidiary of Chicago Bridge & Iron), and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
He served as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the 17th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas held in Houston, Texas on April 16-19, 2013. He is a member of the Society of Gas Lighting and serves on the board of National Fuel Gas Company. Mr. Carroll is a member of the American Gas Foundation Board of Trustees and a member of the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative Governing Board.

Mr. Carroll earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s degree in business administration from Lehigh University, and has completed the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

Saeed Pakseresht is currently research and technology director of NIGC. He has over 25 years of experience in oil & gas industry with extensive institutional and research portfolios as well as experience managing large and complex technology development projects.

Since 2006, that he launched his career in NIGC, he has been responsible for managing NIGC & IGU ties. During these years he and his crew spent an extensive endeavor to promote NIGC role in IGU.

Prior to NIGC, Saeed began his job in Research institute of petroleum industry (RIPI), since 1993, as a senior researcher in gas industry. Just at the same time, he started his Ph.D. in chemical engineering, in Sharif University of Technology.

Working in both industry and university and involving in different industrial and scientific projects, especially in gas processing, Saeed has a vast understanding at technology development projects.

Saeed is the instructor for an undergraduate topics in gas processing in Sharif University, and supervisor for several MS and Ph.D. students. His expertise and research interests lie in the area of gas separation by adsorption and gas conversions, i.e. GTL.

In addition to membership of the board of NIGC, and some of its subsidiaries in different periods, he is presently member of the board of South Pars Gas Complex (SPGC), which is the responsible for the Iranian portion of the biggest independent gas reservoir in the world.

Dr. Pakseresht is honored to receive several national awards. He is one of the 50 selected graduated in 50 years history of Sharif University. Further to 3 patents, he is the author of around 40 scientific publications.

Hisataka Yakabe is general manager for Fundamental Technology Research Institute of Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.  He has PhD in Applied Physics and previously he was in charge of general manager for Energy Research Institute and Residential Fuel Cell Development Sect.-Residential Fuel Cell Development Dept.

He has extensive expertise in fuel cell and hydrogen related fields and lead commercialization of residential fuel cell systems in Japan.

He is a board member of Hydrogen Energy Systems Society of Japan, and a member of evaluation committee for Strategic Innovation Program of Japanese government. He is currently the vice chairman of R&D and Innovat

Karlsen comes from the position as Country Manager for Germany and head of the Statoil Berlin office. Previous positions include being head of Government Affairs at the Statoil Washington DC office. He has also been responsible for the Statoil Corporate Strategy function, Statoil’s global trading and supply in crude oil and wet products and the portfolio of Statoil’s gas sales contracts to Europe, as well as negotiating contracts for the sale of Norwegian natural gas in the UK, based in London. Karlsen joined Statoil in 1992 after working 11 years in Academia. He holds a M.Sc. in Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration.

Mr. Bertran has a Master in Business Management and Administration from the Spanish High School of Business Administration and Management , Barcelona, (ESADE in Spanish) , and has a degree as Chemical Engineer from University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona.

Mr. Bertran joined the Gas Natural Fenosa Company in 1984 working in gas plants, transportation and distribution responsibilities as well as commercial activities.

Mr. Bertran was assigned Technical Director Manager of Gas Natural in Mexico in 1998-2002 in his subsidiary of Mexico, and when he returned assumed the responsibilities for Asset Management Director , Transport and Distribution networks of Gas Natural Fenosa Group in Spain.

In 2005 Mr. Bertran was appointed General Manager of Gas Natural Europe in Paris until 2011. Then he assumed the position as Manager Planning and Services in Retail Energy Market of Gas Natural Fenosa.

In October 2014 Mr. Bertran was elected Deputy Secretary General of IGU until November 2016.

Then, by the Council approval since November 2016, he was appointed Secretary General of IGU up to October 2022.

Milton Costa Filho is presently Secretary General of IBP – Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Institute, an organization created in 1957, which represents the interests of the oil and gas sector in Brazil.

Milton joined IBP in 2013, after a 36 years carrier in Petrobras, where he occupied positions in the international business area, as well as in different subsidiaries of the company, working in E&P, trading and retailing, and as Advisor of the President.

Milton graduated in Chemical Engineering at the Universidade Federal de Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in 1977. He specialized in Process Engineering (UFRJ–77) and in Economic Engineering and Industrial Administration (UFRJ–78). In 1986, he obtained a Master of Science degree in Production Engineering at the Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ) and in 1995, an MBA in Marketing at COPPEAD Business School – UFRJ.

Graduated in Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Energy Planning Program and DSc in Industrial Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1995).

• Professor at COPPE / UFRJ
• Researcher at the areas of renewable energy; climate change, urban mitigation alternatives and sustainable mobility
• Coordinator of the UFRJ Green Fund
• “ad hoc” consultant for the Brazilian Research and Development Council
• President of Scientific Committee of Brazilian Panel on Climate Change.
• Member of the Sustainable Development Council of Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro
• Member of the Council of Museu do Amanhã

She was Sub Secretary of Green Economy of Rio de Janeiro State Government from 2010-2013 and she also worked at the Brazilian Federal Government as the National Secretary of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment from 2008-2010. From 2008 to 2015, she took part of IPCC – Intergovernamental Panel on Climate Change board, as Vice President of Working Group III.

She has published several papers and theses in the area of energy, transport, environment and climate change.

Graduated in Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Energy Planning Program and DSc in Industrial Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1995).

• Professor at COPPE / UFRJ
• Researcher at the areas of renewable energy; climate change, urban mitigation alternatives and sustainable mobility
• Coordinator of the UFRJ Green Fund
• “ad hoc” consultant for the Brazilian Research and Development Council
• President of Scientific Committee of Brazilian Panel on Climate Change.
• Member of the Sustainable Development Council of Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro
• Member of the Council of Museu do Amanhã

She was Sub Secretary of Green Economy of Rio de Janeiro State Government from 2010-2013 and she also worked at the Brazilian Federal Government as the National Secretary of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment from 2008-2010. From 2008 to 2015, she took part of IPCC – Intergovernamental Panel on Climate Change board, as Vice President of Working Group III.

She has published several papers and theses in the area of energy, transport, environment and climate change.

Raphael Schoentgen is, since April 2014, the Group’s Director for Research and Technologies (CTO).

He has been elected President of Hydrogen Europe in June 2016. He is since 2015 a Board Member of the French Institute of Petroleum and New Energies.

He was previously, from 2008 to 2014, President of the Group in China. Between 2004 and 2007, R. Schoentgen was diplomatic advisor to the French Minister in charge of Energy, Telecommunications and Industry. Previously, he also worked in the public sector as detached national expert to the European Commission’s Competition General Directorate and as Head of the State Economic Development Department of France’s Northern Region.

In the private sector, Mr Schoentgen held jobs in the textile sector and water sector in France,in telecommunications in China, in the power sector in the United States and Thailand, and in the gas sector in Mexico.

Raphael holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (member of the “French Corps des Mines”) and a Civil Engineering Degree of the Paris National Mining University (“Ecole Nationale des Mines de Paris”).

Raphael has been nominated in 2011 amongst the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum,in 2012 amongst the Young Leaders of the France China Foundation, and in 2014 amongst the Young Leaders of the World Cities Summit. He was until early 2014 a Member of the Advisory

Rod Rinholm is Executive Director, Business Development and Education for Gas Technology Institute (GTI). Primary responsibilities focus on the development and implementation of training programs and technical services that benefit the energy industry and its customers.

For over 25 years, Mr. Rinholm has been involved and led an array of energy technology, market analysis, and training programs for the North American and international gas industry – including positions in R&D Program Management, Business Development, and Strategy and Policy Analysis and Education. Mr. Rinholm is also currently the Acting Chairman of the Coordination Committee for the International Gas Union (IGU), where he coordinates an array of activities leading to the program for the 2018 World Gas Conference in Washington, D.C. Mr. Rinholm holds a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and an MBA from Northwestern University

Thiago Barral is currently Superintendent of Power Generation Projects at the Energy Research Office (EPE), where he is responsible for the analysis of feasibility studies of various energy sources, like wind, solar, hydro, biomass, natural gas, coal, etc, especially for the federal energy auctions. He joined EPE in Dec 2007 as Energy Research Analyst. He holds a degree in civil engineering and a MSc degree in water resources and environmental issues, as well as a post-graduation in public administration.

Thiago has been involved in the “Gas to Grow” iniciative, promoted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, working in the technical coordination of Subcommittee #8, dedicated to issues concerning integration of power and natural gas industries.

Professional experience

2009 to present: Head of Fuel Cell Business, Panasonic Corporation

2006 to 2009 – President, Panasonic Taiwan

2003 to 2006 – Director, Microwave Oven Business Unit – Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd

2000 to 2003 – Director, Microwave Oven Plant Matsushita Electric (UK) Ltd

1995 to 2000 – General manager, Microwave Oven Design Department – Matsushita Electric (UK) Ltd

1979 to 1995 – Engineer for Microwave Oven – Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd

Andy Cummings, Principal Consultant – DNV GL

Andy is the President and a Fellow of the Institution Gas Engineers and Managers in the UK. He is a Chartered Engineer with over 30 years in the Gas Industry. Andy started in British Gas on an apprenticeship in 1986 and is currently a Principal Consultant within DNV GL Oil and Gas business.

Andy has undertaken several overseas projects in the City Gas, Due Diligence and Petroleum Regulatory Frameworks. He has also developed Gas Safety Regulatory Guidelines for a Gas Safety Regulator in the Far East and in the Middle East for Qatar Petroleum. He is working with a number of clients assisting with them on development of gas markets,

He also recently chaired the City Gas Asia Conference in 2010 & 2012.

Cécile Boesinger has been in charge of Research and Innovation at TIGF since the end of 2015. TIGF is a natural gas transmission and underground storage company in France.

She started her career in 2003 as Manager of Research and Development in a water treatment company and she moved to the TOTAL Group in 2006 as an Environmental Engineer. She worked on several research projects with French Universities and other big industrial groups on bio attenuation and mass transfer of different compounds in underground gas storage.

She became Environment and Sustainable Development Manager at TIGF in 2013.

Cécile Boesinger is an Engineer specialising in Process Engineering and has a PhD in fluid mechanics and mass transfer in multiphase systems.

Clarissa Lins – Executive Director at the Brazilian Petroleum Institute – IBP

Clarissa is the founding partner of Catavento, a consultancy on strategy and sustainability. Clarissa has been advising major Brazilian companies on corporate and sustainability strategy for over a decade and her principal areas of expertise are energy transition and climate change.

Clarissa has been appointed Executive Director at the Brazilian Petroleum Institute – IBP, as of April 2016.

She also served on the External Review Committee – ERC of Royal Dutch Shell – RDS (October 2012 to June 2015) and chaired the Committee for two years. This Committee acts as an independent body to RDS senior management on issues related to sustainability strategy and reporting.

Previously, Clarissa acted as Executive Director of the Brazilian Foundation for Sustainable Development – FBDS (2004-2013), a non-profit organization promoting sustainable development in Brazil.

Prior to that, Clarissa worked for the Brazilian government – as special advisor to the economic team at the Ministry of Finance (1993-94); as special advisor to the CEO at National Development Bank of Brazil – BNDES (1995-99). From 1999 to 2002 she worked for Petrobras, as Special Advisor to the CEO and head of Corporate Strategy.

Clarissa is an economist by training and holds her Bachelor and Master degrees from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro – PUC Rio (1988 and 1990).

Cynthia Silveira has more than 30 years’ experience on the energy field, developing her career on the private sector, with a specialized profile on the whole extend of the natural gas chain.

Graduated in Electrical Engineering at UERJ (Rio de Janeiro State University), with a master degree in Mechanic Engineering from UFRJ. Also has a master degree in Natural Gas Transport from École des Mines at Paris, France.

Was the director of Gas & Power at Total, a French Oil Company where she worked for 17 years, until 2015.

Cynthia was an Executive Director of IBP – Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Institute, from 2010 to 2015. On 2012 she was elected for the Executive Committee of IGU as associate member and reelected on 2015. She was also member of the board of directors of several important Gas Transportation Companies: TBG – GASODUTO BOLIVIA-BRASIL E TSB – GASODUTO URUGUAIANA-PORTO ALEGRE. More than 10 years of experience as member on the gas transportation board of directors.

Currently works as a consultant at EXERGIA CONSULTORIA E PROJETOS LTDA, developing projects related to the Natural Gas and Energy sectors. Cynthia is also part of the executive board of the International Gas Union, reelected for the 2015-2018 mandate. IGU is responsible for the organization of the World Gas Conference that will take place in Washington DC. at 2018.

Cynthia recently took part at Gas para Crescer (Gas for Growth) – a program for restructuring the sector conducted by the Mines and Energy Ministry.

Konstantin Romanov graduated from Russian People’s Friendship University (Moscow). Completed advanced studies in Environmental diplomacy at the Geneva University (Switzerland). He has a PhD in Economics.

Since 2007 he has been working at Gazprom’s environment protection directorate. Currently he is a head of the Division for green innovations and energy efficiency and Executive secretary of Gazprom Coordinating committee on environmental protection and energy efficiency. Before, he worked for the Federal Ministry of natural resources and environment of the Russian Federation for 5 years. He has been a member of the Russian delegation of all UN Climate Conferences since 2006. He is involved in the IGU activities as a member Committees “Gas Transportation”, “Sustainability” and “Research, Development and Innovation” and “Methane expert group”.

As Senior Vice President of Research and Technology Development, Eddie Johnston leads Gas Technology Institute (GTI), driving integrated responses to energy needs. He oversees GTI’s research staff—leading efforts across unconventional supply, energy conversion, natural gas delivery, and end use markets.

GTI’s innovative technologies make energy resources economically viable, minimizing environmental footprint, and maximizing market impact, while reducing costs for consumers.

Johnston joined the company in July 2007. Prior to that, he worked for Atmos Energy Corporation for 15 years, and worked for nearly a decade, hands-on in the off-shore oil industry with Rowan Companies.

Johnston earned a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University and a M.B.A. from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. He serves on a number of Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards for tech start-ups, advocacy groups, and research organizations across the energy value chain.

Gert Müller-Syring studied Energy and Supply Engineering at the HTWK (Leipzig University of Applied Sciences) from 1997-2001 and has worked for DBI-Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH since 2002.

Since 2009 Mr. Müller-Syring has been the Head of Gas Grids and Gas facilities at DBI-Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH. In this capacity he has initiated, coordinated, and contributed on a wide range of R&D and industrial projects in diverse fields such as smart gas grids, power-to-gas, supply security, and methane emissions.

Mr. Müller-Syring is also an active member of the DVGW (German Association of Gas and Water) Technical Committee on Gas Distribution, the Cluster Gas Production and Energy Systems, as well as the Coordination Group for Operational Research.

Regarding emissions from the gas infrastructure Gert Müller-Syring was/is involved in the following activities:

• Since 2003 development/use of new-generation permeation cells for measuring emissions from gas pipes
• 2012 Improvement of the emission estimation of gas distribution for the German Federal Ministry of Economics
• 2014 Estimation of methane emissions from the gas transmission import routes (e.g. from Russia) and the German gas grid for German Federal Environment Ministry
• 2014/15 Assessment of emission data quality of the National Inventory Report (NIR) for German Federal Environment Agency (UBA)
• 2016 Carbon Footprint of Natural Gas “Critical Evaluation of Default Values for the Natural Gas Supply Chain of GHG emissions”
• “Development of an Accurate and Consistent Method for Methane Emission Estimation from the Gas Distribution Grid” (GERG-Joint-Industry-Project).

Mr. Müller-Syring is a member of the Project Committee for Gas Distribution/Utilisation of GERG (European Gas Research Group), the European Research Institute for Gas and Energy Innovation (ERIG), and the hydrogen working group of the Sector Forum Energy Management (CEN/CENELEC). He also initiated a European network (HIPS NET) for the exchange and alignment of knowledge on hydrogen in the natural gas grid.

Hisataka Yakabe is general manager for Fundamental Technology Research Institute of Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. He has PhD in Applied Physics and previously he was in charge of general manager for Energy Research Institute and Residential Fuel Cell Development Sect.-Residential Fuel Cell Development Dept.

He has extensive expertise in fuel cell and hydrogen related fields and lead commercialization of residential fuel cell systems in Japan.

He is a board member of Hydrogen Energy Systems Society of Japan, and a member of evaluation committee for Strategic Innovation Program of Japanese government. He is currently the vice chairman of R&D and Innovat

Howard Levinsky is Senior Principal Specialist in Combustion Processes at DNV GL Oil and Gas, and Professor of Combustion Technology at the University of Groningen. He is a specialist in elementary processes in gas combustion, studying ignition phenomena and the relation between flame structure and pollutant formation using laser-spectroscopic measurements. Understanding the effects of fuel composition on end-use equipment based on first principles has been a recurring theme in his research for more than 30 years. Recent work in his group varies from research towards characterizing the physical-chemical processes responsible for engine knock for stationary and LNG engines to providing the technical foundations for policy regarding the introduction of “new” sustainable and natural gases.

Jeongwook Khang was born in Oct. 1968 in Korea.

He earned his master’s degree in Industrial Engineering at Seoul National University in 1997. Afterwards, he joined Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) as an researcher. He earned his doctoral degree in Business Administration majoring Production and Operations Management in 2012.

Since 1997, Dr. Khang has developed his career at KOGAS with major researcher area of supply and demand of natural gas, natural gas industry restructuring, new and renewable energy field and climate change policy. As a member of R&D and Innovation Committee at IGU, he has been engaged in various analysis and research tasks.

He is a member of the Board of Director Member at Korean Production and Operations Management Society and Korean Resource Economics Association.

Kristin Skofteland is Director for marketing & transportation of Total’s Norwegian oil and gas production.

Kristin Skofteland is a graduate in law and has a TRIUM Executive MBA (NYU Stern, LSE and HEC Paris). She has 20 years of experience from a various trading, commercial and legal positions in the Total Group.

She has extensive expertise in the international gas markets including both gas pipeline transport and LNG transport with vessels. She is also experienced in commercial issues including contract negotiations and litigations.

Total is the largest international company on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in terms of production and reserves. In 2016, Total produced 235 kboe/d in Norway. The Norwegian affiliate represented 9% of the Total Group’s global E&P production.

Laura Barbosa joined Statoil in 2012 as Leader of Regulatory Affairs. She was responsible for the implementation and maintenance of a government relation plan in accordance to business strategy.

Laura is currently Statoil’s advisor on Natural Gas projects in Brazil.

Laura has 10 years of experience in upstream industry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, with a background in Economics, a MSc in Production Engineering from PUC-Rio and Postgraduate studies in Computer Statistical Methods from Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora.

Madeleine Lafon is the public affairs and communications Director of the French gas association (AFG) since March 2013. She has worked for the gas industry for 10 years as she was previously AFG’s head of communications. Previously, she has worked for the French communication agency Publicis in Brussels dealing with EU projects. She has also been in charge of running conciliation meetings for local projects. She studied politics and European policy process and graduated from Sciences PO Bordeaux, Science PO Strasbourg and Cardiff University.

She is currently IGU Task force human resources ‘secretary.

Marc Florette chairs the Board of Directors of the French gas TSO, GRTgaz. He is also a member of the French Academy of Technology.

On an international level, Marc Florette is a member of the Board of MARCOGAZ (European technological organization) and one of the previous Chairmen of GERG (European Gas Research Group). He is also a member of the Board of the Gas Technology Institute of Chicago. He organized two international Gas Union Research Conferences, in 2010 and 2011.

Recently, Marc Florette held the position of Chief Digital Officer of the ENGIE Group and from 2003 to 2014, he held the position of Chief Technology Officer in charge of Research and Innovation in energy issues along the energy value chain.

Menelaos (Mel) Ydreos serves as the Executive Director of Energy Vantage Inc. in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He launched Energy Vantage Inc. after a long career at Union Gas Ltd-A Spectra Energy Company where he held a number of executive positions in the areas of Storage, Transmission and Distribution Operations, Engineering, Public and Government Affairs and Customer Car.

He served as Interim President and CEO of the Ontario Energy Association in 2013-2014. Under the International Gas Union’s (IGU) Malaysian Presidency, he chaired the special task force on geopolitics and natural gas.  He was also the Interim President and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association in 2009.

Mr. Ydreos, currently serves as Chairman, Coordination Committee of the IGU for the 2015-2018 triennium as a member of the USA Presidency ahead of the 2018 World Gas Conference in Washington, DC.

Mr. Ydreos also currently holds the position of Executive Director, Public Affairs at the IGU working closely with the IGU’s Executive Committee and Secretariat leading the Union’s advocacy and strategic communications efforts.

He has served as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Waterloo Institute of Sustainable Energy and has served on the Boards of Pollution Probe, the Mowat Centre and the Canadian Standards Association

Mr. Ydreos earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Olivier Guerrini is Business Development Executive in Research and Technology Division (ENGIE Lab CRIGEN) of ENGIE and Key Expert in the field of Renewable Gas technologies. He had managed from 6 years R&D programs in the field of Bioenergies and Biogas in ENGIE and is teaching in different universities and school, chemical engineering and biotechnologies. Previously Olivier worked for other Oil and gas companies and had some experiences in the biopharmaceutical sector. Olivier is currently member of the industrial advisory council of European Biogas Association, Expert for European Commission on H2020 programs and advisor to some research agencies as CNRS and IRSTEA. He is graduated from School of Engineering of National Institute of Applied Science in Lyon and graduated with a PhD of process engineering from Toulouse and Washington University.

Pascal VERCAMER Head of Industrial Performance and Safety Department in Engie Lab CRIGEN (Center for Research and Innovation in Gas and New Energies) – Saint Denis near Paris (France)

Civil Engineer – PHD in Engineering Geology

Pascal has worked in Gaz De France, GDF SUEZ and ENGIE for more than 30 years.

He acquired a deep experience on gas network design, operation, metering and safety in R&D Division, in GRTgaz (main French Transmission Operator) and in GRDF (French main Gas Distribution Network Operator).

He coordinated R&D programs on gas networks and was involved in innovative projects regarding in particular smart metering and network new technologies.

In IGU Distribution Committee, he was chairman of the sub group about smart gas grids and is an active participant in the subgroup about injection of green gases in gas networks.

Hassan Panjeshahi is professor in Chemical Engineering Department and Dean of Institute of Petroleum Engineering at University of Tehran and head of Energy & Environment Department of Iran Academy of Science.

Professor Panjeshahi is a member of editorial board of eight scientific journals and several scientific societies, including Iran Academy of Science. He is founder and first president of Iran Energy Association and founder and first Editor-in-chief of Iranian Journal of Energy affiliated to the World Energy Council. Between 2003 and 2008, he was president of Petroleum University of Technology in Iran.

He has delivered many keynote speeches in conferences and published over 160 papers in scientific journals and proceedings, also several books and book chapters. He is recipient of many scientific awards.

Position: Special Advisor, Development and Innovation (DI), from April 2016.
Experience: Thorbjørn G. Svendsen joined Gassco in 2002 and has held various leading positions in Gassco including being in charge of the development of the gas infrastructure on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. His most resent position which he held from June 2012, Svendsen was member of the management group in Gassco responsible for Technology and R&D. Before joing Gassco in 2002 Svendsen had various positions in Statoil; within energy marketing, E&P, and gas transportation both in Norway and in the USA .

Education: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH, Norway). He also holds a Masters degree (Sloan Fellow) in Mangement from MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, MA, USA..

Jörg Leicher (born 1973 in Essen, Germany) studied Mechanical Engineering at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, and was awarded a PhD (Dr.-Ing.) in 2006. After working as a Post-Doc at the Institut Francais du Pétrole (IFP) in Lyon, France, and a brief stint at ANSYS in Munich, Germany, he joined the German gas research institute GWI in 2009. The focus of his work there is on the modeling of industrial combustion processes and the impact of natural gas quality on end-users in the industrial and power generation sectors, as well as the use of alternative fuels. He is the author of numerous articles on these topics and active in a number of national and international organizations (e.g. IGU, Marcogaz, DVGW).

Jesper is employed in Energinet (Danish Transmission System Operator) as a Senior Systems Analyst for 11 years. He works in the department of System operation. Scientific background in physics and chemistry.

Selected skills:

• Expert in gas quality
• Engineering assistance on the subjects of gas flow metering, gas quality analysis, Quality Tracking, biogas, hydrogen and gas chemistry
• Project management