Olaf Larsen studied chemistry and obtained a PhD in physics at the Free University in Amsterdam. After postdoctoral work in New York City and Amsterdam, he continued his career in industry. Olaf worked for ASML, TNO, as consultant life sciences, and headed the science department for Yakult Netherlands for more than 12 years. Next to this, he acts as Asst. Professor for the Free University in Amsterdam. Since September 2025, he is heading research for Ausnutria in The Netherlands.

Betty van Esch is Senior Scientist with a broad background on immunology and allergy. She has received her PhD degree on her research on “Cow’s milk Allergy; Avoidance versus tolerance: new concepts for allergy management” at the department Pharmacology, UIPS, Faculty of Science at Utrecht University.

Her main interest field is immune modulation and immune imprinting by dietary interventions, environmental factors and experimental agents and she published >75 papers related to this topic. She has conducted a project on the immune-modulatory capacities of specific probiotics in allergic disease within BIOASTER, a Foundation for Scientific Cooperation sponsored project (under the laws of France).

She supervised projects on the anti-inflammatory role of short-chain fatty acids in cardiovascular disease (China Scholarship Council) and Nutrition-based approaches to support oral immunotherapy in Food allergy. Current programs include research on the health benefits of raw milk, the immune modulation by fermented raw milk Kefir (SAGST, Germany subsidized project), the immune profiling of eosinophilic esophagitis (NWO, the Netherlands subsidized project followed by a Sanofi subsidized grant) and the effect of nutritional concepts on the microbial composition of gut, lungs and esophagus in relation to disease.

Next to her research, she teaches in the Bachelor and Master program of Pharmacy and she is an elected member of the EAACI Immuno-pharmacology taskforce and the Ethical Committee for Animal Experiments.

Thijs has been working as a sector economist for ING’s economic research department since 2012 after three years at Rabobank.

He writes articles and opinions for ING’s economic research platform THINK, presents his insights to clients and speaks to media. He focuses on major economic trends in the food industry, especially sustainability and geopolitics, aiming to help business leaders make better informed financial choices. In addition to his economist role, he leads a team of sector economists.

Petter Aagesen is representing Thise Dairy. An organic cooperative established in 1888. He comes with + 25 years of experience working with FMCG in Denmark and internationally.

David Kennedy is Head of Dairy at Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board. He works closely with Irish dairy processors and international customers to drive value creation, market differentiation, and long‑term competitiveness for Irish dairy. David brings deep international market experience, having held senior commercial roles across the food and FMCG sectors, including with Unilever, Britvic, and Richmond Marketing, and having led Bord Bia’s activities across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He holds a business degree from the University of Limerick and a master’s degree from UCD Smurfit Business School.

Jakob Skovgaard is the Co‑Founder and CEO of PlanetDairy, where he leads the development of innovative hybrid dairy products that blend traditional dairy with modern, sustainable technologies. His work positions PlanetDairy at the forefront of transforming the dairy industry with solutions that reduce environmental impact while maintaining taste and quality.

Dr. Kevin Deegan is Vice President, Innovation in Valio, Finland’s largest food company and food exporter. He holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from University College Cork, Ireland and a PhD in Sensory Science from the University of Helsinki, Finland. He has led the development of consumer insight and research in both Valio and on the executive board of the Finnish food company Saarioinen. His passion lies in unlocking and interpreting consumer behaviour as a driver for consumer-centric business development and innovation in international markets.

Kevin is a board member of the Irish Business Club of Finland, an advisory board member of the Innovation Practitioners Community of Finland and a member of the Enterprise Ireland Nordics Advisory Panel.

Lorraine Moran is a registered dietitian with deep clinical, medical nutrition and food industry expertise, recognised for advancing evidence‑based nutrition. She also holds leadership and governance roles across national and European dietetic and regulatory bodies, contributing to professional standards and quality frameworks. In her role as Senior Nutrition Manager at Tirlán, she guides the application of evidence‑based nutrition to product innovation, research and public health initiatives. Lorraine is committed to improve health outcomes and supports the translation of robust science into real‑world impact.

Will Blackett brings over 25 years of Drinks, Retail and Foodservice experience to GlobalData. Prior to joining GlobalData, Will worked clientside at Sainsbury's, McDonald's and Heineken, working in various innovation, brand and commercial roles. Will also has extensive consultancy experience, leading a global vertical at Dunnhumby and heading the Consumer division of Savanta, a full-service insight agency, where he partnered with some of the world's largest drinks companies.

Morgane has over 7 years of experience in the beverages and foodservice sectors. She first joined GlobalData in 2016 as an analyst, leading the development of the company’s Foodservice Intelligence Centre and regularly contributing her expertise to custom research projects.

Since joining the consulting division in 2019, she has specialized in the delivery of large-scale market sizing and segmentation projects, as well as competitive analysis, transformation strategy, NPD and consumer trend studies.

Lorenzo van Haelst is Managing Director for the market France and Benelux at Tetra Pak, the
world leading food processing and packaging solutions company, since August 2024 and is
based in Paris.
Since the beginning of his career in 1988, in Central Planning with Tetra Pak International in
Switzerland, Lorenzo has held a number of business leadership positions across several
geographies and developed a career-long expertise in packaging. In 1990, he moved to Brazil
as Regional Sales and Marketing Manager. At the beginning of 1993, he joined Sintercast, a
Swedish company specializing in process control technology for the iron foundry industry, first
as Sales Director for the Americas and Italy, then as General Manager for the Americas. Four
years later, he returned to Switzerland to head up marketing in the packaging market for the
petrochemicals manufacturer Amoco Chemicals Europe. In 1999, he returned to Tetra Pak
and held various roles within the plastics division of Tetra Pak, from Sales Director PET
Packaging Materials to Managing Director of Novembal, the group's plastic closures business,
in France, Switzerland and USA until July 2024.
Lorenzo holds a MSc degree from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) and an MBA from
the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne (Switzerland). In
addition to his native Italian, Lorenzo is fluent in English, French, Portuguese, Dutch and
German.

Himanshu Upreti is the Co-founder and CTO of Ai Palette, an AI-powered deep-tech startup founded in 2018 that enables global CPG brands to accelerate product innovation through its patented predictive Gen and Agentic AI technology.

Leading a team of over 50+ members, he scaled Ai Palette to 27 markets across six continents, serving clients such as Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kellogg's, and ITC, before its acquisition by GlobalData Plc in 2025. The startup raised millions in funding from global investors, including the Singapore Government, Pi Ventures, and Exfinity Ventures.

Himanshu was included in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list; his work has been featured in CNBC and TechCrunch. His startup has won global accolades, including Top 10 Global Food & Retail Tech Startup (Switzerland) & Top 50 Nasscom Emerge Awards (India)

Before founding Ai Palette, Himanshu worked at Visa Data Labs, where he filed 2 trade secrets and played a major role in restructuring Visa's tech stack. He is an IIT graduate with bachelors in Mathematics and Computing

Mirko Markovic is the Growth Countries Sales Manager and International Key Account Manager at E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions GmbH (EIS). He plays a leading role in E.ON EIS by helping businesses around the world transition to sustainable energy. With extensive experience in international energy sales, EIS and Mirko helps large companies navigate the challenges of lowering carbon emissions, ensuring energy security and meeting new regulations.

He is particularly skilled at balancing technical infrastructure needs with financial goals in the projects. Mirko provides custom plans that cover every stage of a project. At EIS, his work focuses on, from the initial design and financing to long term operations. Together we're delivering "Energy as a Service" models that help businesses cut costs while significantly reducing their environmental impact. By building strong international partnerships, Mirko helps organizations turn sustainability into a real competitive advantage. He is dedicated to creating future proof energy solutions that work for both the planet and our business.

Meet Anna Ranki, a dynamic figure in dairy industry. Her diverse background brings a fresh perspective to the dairy industry, infusing it with new sustainability-focused ideas and methodologies. Her commitment to environmentally friendly practices and efficiency has enabled her to develop strategies that not only benefit the bottom line but also contribute to the broader goal of creating a more sustainable future. As we delve into the discussions at the Dairy Innovations Congress, Anna's insights promise to inspire new perspectives and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the future of dairy.

Caroline has been with GlobalData (and formerly LMC) since 2000 and works with clients globally across all agri-business sectors. Frequently travelling to meet clients in person, she acts as the principal point of liaison in the delivery of tailored consultancy projects. She has extensive experience in the biofuels, oils and sugar sectors gained primarily as a researcher. She served on LMC’s Board of Directors prior to its acquisition by GlobalData. She has also worked for ED & F Man, a commodity trading company based in London. She holds a degree and a PhD from Durham University.

Since joining GlobalData, Magda has been creating FMCG content on a cross-sector basis including case studies and syndicated projects on product innovations and emerging market trends. Being a part of the Consumer Division, she specializes in packaging, foodservice and consumer goods industries. Magda holds an BSc Honours in Economics and MSc in Economic Policy and Analysis.

After graduating for chemical engineering in 2007 from Technical university of
Munich, Matthias got a detailed scientific education in working as a scientist at the
university of Munich.

In 2011, he joined Quantachrome GmbH/later 3P Instruments GmbH for leading the
product group for scientific instruments for measuring the stability and optical
rheology of dispersed systems.

In 2021, Matthias set up and managed the German subsidiary of Formulaction SAS,
a French company in the field of scientific instruments. In this position, business
development and management of the company was the main task. Two years
later, he decided, together with two former colleagues from Formulaction, to found
an own company named speclz in order to invent scientific instruments on the
base of Multi-Speckle Diffusing Wave spectroscopy. The first innovative product
they launched is called Lucie and is fully dedicated to the dairy industry, With Lucie,
the determination of milk coagulation parameters is going to be a kid’s play.

Meleknur specializes in translating technical dairy capabilities into commercial clarity. By bridging market analysis and product innovation, she helps shape focus areas that turn consumer insights into relevant, scalable product solutions.

Roy supports customers with formulation and pilot-scale validation in dairy and cheese systems. His work focuses on building robust structure and texture that survives processing, transport, and shelf life.

I am responsible for the sales development and application of enzymes and dairy cultures from Sacco System within the Food Business Unit, with 35 years of hands-on experience in the field. My role focuses on driving business growth, supporting customers with technical expertise, and ensuring product performance across diverse markets.

My current area of responsibility covers Northern Europe, the Baltic countries, DACH, Central Europe, and the Balkans down to Greece. I manage distributor relationships and maintain direct contacts with key accounts (KA) and local key accounts (LKA), ensuring alignment between market needs and our solutions. Combining deep technical knowledge with strategic sales management, I strengthen market presence and create sustainable business opportunities.

I am a Marketing Business Partner specialised in the food and dairy industry. With a strong background in business analysis and market research, I combine data-driven thinking with creative marketing execution. I translate business objectives into actionable marketing strategies that drive growth, brand positioning, and commercial performance.

I manage the communication and advertising for Sacco System within the Food Business Unit gloablly, ensuring all messaging aligns with our brand and business goals. I collaborate cross-functionally with sales and product management to ensure alignment and measurable impact. Passionate about innovation, I actively explore market trends, consumer insights, and new opportunities to create a competitive advantage.

With long-standing experience in category management, product management, marketing, and sales. Salla is committed to foster collaboration and bring a positive, forward-looking perspective to every project and audience.

More than 20 years in the packaging industry. Eleven years in Huhtamaki managing global FMCG accounts.

He is very well experienced on existing and new paperboard packaging solutions while he is already working on upcoming new technologies for molded fiber solutions.

Owner and Founder of UK-based natural flavour manufacturer, I.T.S. Mike is an experienced flavour innovator who has spent over 25 years in the food and beverage industry. With a background in science and food ingredients, he then founded I.T.S. in 2009. Building it up from his kitchen table to the international flavour business it is today. Mike remains proudly independent and always passionate about creating market-leading natural flavours for the food and beverage market. Mike spends his days exploring the food and drink industry, playing rugby and brewing beer.

Davy Rosseel is Global Key Account Manager at Resilux Group and experienced in business development PET preforms and bottles. With his strong focus in Dairy and Plant Based Drinks Resilux can offer true sustainable packaging solutions for valuable and innovative food and drinks opportunities.

Benoît Duculot graduated from ESA Business School in Belgium, and began his career in the hygiene industry in 2004. Over the years, he has held various positions, including Business Developer and Application Specialist, gaining diverse experience in industrial hygiene challenges across multiple sectors.

Today, Benoit holds a position focused on Innovation and Technical Expertise in biofilm control. In this role, he drives the eco-design of environmentally responsible solutions that combine high effectiveness in biofilm prevention, detection, and removal with a reduced environmental footprint. His work aims to deliver robust hygiene performance while optimizing the use of resources, limiting chemical and energy consumption, and contributing to sustainable practices that preserve environmental integrity for future generations.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in numerous industrial cases where microbiological deviations could not be effectively detected or prevented using standard routine methods. To address these challenges, he promoted alternative identification techniques beyond conventional tools and integrated innovative cleaning and disinfection solutions specifically targeting biofilms. His objective is to strengthen process control, enhance microbial risk management, and contribute to more sustainable and resilient hygiene systems.

Dennis is an experienced executive with nearly 20 years in the Fast Moving Customer Goods industry. As Head of Customer Development at Valio Ltd, Finland, he leads efforts to support the dairy industry clients in developing new product categories and addressing market trends.

Ronald van der Knaap is Global Head of Dairy and Plant‑Based Foods at AAK, where he leads the strategic development of two core global industries. With over a decade of international experience in specialized nutrition and plant‑based ingredients, he brings a rare blend of commercial leadership, scientific expertise, and innovation‑driven thinking.

Ronald’s background spans commercial strategy, M&A, and partnership building across global markets, underpinned by a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and a Master’s in Science and Business Management. Passionate about bridging dairy and plant‑based innovation, he supports customers in navigating the transition toward more sustainable, value‑adding nutrition. His work centers on collaboration across the broader B2B ecosystem, helping shape the future of food through solutions that balance performance, sustainability, and consumer expectations.

Francisco Arévalo is an expert in dairy and plant-based innovation, bringing over a decade of international experience in product development, customer innovation, and cross-functional team leadership. He currently serves as the Team Lead for Global Customer Innovation in Plant-Based Foods and Dairy at AAK’s Global Innovation Center of Excellence in the Netherlands. In this role, he leads a multidisciplinary team of experts in application and sensory domains, focusing on driving global innovation pipelines and market launches.

Before joining AAK, Francisco held roles in R&D and innovation at Friesland Campina and Danone Nutricia Research, where he contributed to new product development, value engineering, and technology projects in various global markets. His background combines deep technical expertise with strong stakeholder and ecosystem collaboration, including partnerships with customers, startups, and academia.

Francisco holds a European MSc in Food Innovation and Product Design (FIPDes) as well as a BSc in Food Engineering.

Marcus Kavaljer holds an MSc from Åbo Akademi University in Turku, Finland, and is the co-founder and CEO of KxS Technologies Oy. He brings over 20 years of specialized experience in process refractometry, focusing on optimizing industrial process control through inline, real-time refractive index measurement in demanding operating environments.

Throughout his career, Marcus has collaborated closely with end users, OEMs, and research partners to implement robust and reliable measurement solutions across food and dairy processing, semiconductor manufacturing, chemical processing, and other global process industries. His work centers on translating measurement science into practical instrumentation that enhances process efficiency, product quality, and operational stability.

Known for combining strong technical expertise with a hands-on, application-driven mindset, Marcus bridges academic research, advanced instrumentation development, and real-world industrial performance to deliver measurable results for customers worldwide.

Jonatan Wahren is a PhD student at Lund University, Department of Process and Life Science Engineering, Sweden. He has a background in the dairy industry and holds a M.Sc. in chemical engineering from Lund University. His research is focused on membrane filtration for dairy applications and particularly fouling and cleaning of membranes.

Currently, Jonatan’s research is centered around detection and quantification of organic fouling on polymeric membranes from dairy processing. He has experience working with a range of different techniques for fouling and cleaning analysis like FTIR-ATR, SEM-EDS, membrane staining and QCM-D.

The overall aim for his PhD thesis is to increase the sustainability of membrane processes by optimizing costs and reduce environmental impact of membrane cleaning in the dairy sector. The research is heavily dependent on pilot scale trials and input from the project’s industrial partners.

Paolo serves as the Head of Marketing Europe for SIG Group. He joined the company six years ago, bringing with him extensive experience in various marketing roles within leading global Food FMCG companies (Nestlé and Ferrero). Since 2020, Paolo has advanced his career at SIG, starting as the Marketing Manager for South-East EU and later becoming responsible for the entire European market. His background enables him to effectively integrate BtB and BtC skill sets, strategic marketing, and a comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior and the retail landscape.

Richard, Innovation and Technology Business Development Director at CCL Label, brings over 25 years of technical and operational expertise to the packaging industry. A chemist by training, his career has evolved from R&D and technical management to leading technical partnerships with major international brands, working globally,  implementing tailor made solutions to meet local requirements.

He is focussed upon the development and implementation of sustainable and innovative packaging solutions for multiple container types, providing balanced legislative compliant solutions whilst maintaining brand identity and impactive shelf impact. 

Dr. Carolina Diaz Quijano has been leading the Consumer Solutions technical services team at Omya since 2018 that drives the successful introduction of value‑added ingredients globally across Food, Pharma, Nutra as well as Home, Personal and Oral Care markets. She joined the company in 2013 and during this time brought multifunctional excipients to market, established technical support laboratories, and led strategic ingredient replacement projects that address supply chain challenges, cost optimization, and sustainability goals. Passionate about advancing health and nutrition, she focuses on delivering solutions that create meaningful impact.

Dries Cauwenbergh is a Senior Technical Account Manager for Dairy & Dairy Alternatives, bringing over two decades of experience across food technology, food formulation, and food safety and quality. He holds a Master’s degree in Bio‑Engineering from the University of Ghent and joined Cargill in 2010, where he built a strong foundation in refined vegetable oils, working closely with customers on nutritional, physico‑chemical, quality, sustainability, and regulatory topics.

Over the course of his career, Dries has expanded his scope beyond oils into holistic dairy and plant‑based applications, combining technical expertise with business development leadership. After leading the dairy category team for Cargill Edible Oil Solutions Europe, he assumed his current role in 2023. Today, he partners with dairy, hybrid, and fully plant‑based manufacturers across Europe, supporting end‑to‑end product development, troubleshooting, and formulation optimization across Cargill’s full ingredient portfolio. His work bridges ingredients, processing, and application know‑how to help customers deliver high‑performing, future‑ready dairy solutions.

Sarah Haddad holds a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Geneva, specialised in cancer research, genetics and nutrition in diseases. She has built her career at the intersection of science, innovation and entrepreneurship, working across academia and business ventures. Her work focuses on translating life-science knowledge into improved food and nutrition products that can support better consumer health and help reduce diet-related diseases over the long term.

Jeroen Lustig, founder and CEO at A-INSIGHTS, a leading SaaS provider that empowers Dairy companies to build and scale their Market Intelligence capabilities. With over 16 years of experience, he has supported more than 300 organizations in transforming data into strategic insights and competitive advantage. Blending AI-driven analytics with real-world application, Jeroen shows how strong Market Intelligence helps businesses cut through the noise, outsmart the competition, and win in tomorrow's market.

Monica Battistella is the Group Sustainability Manager at Taghleef Industries, a leading global BOPP films producer.

With over 20 years of experience, she has held key positions across various functions, including Sales and Product Management for Ti Europe.

Active in cross-value chain associations like CEFLEX and Recyclass, Monica is a sustainability and circular economy advocate with deep insights into regulatory compliance and the strategic role of suppliers in addressing industry challenges.

Fosca Vezzulli holds a degree and a PhD in Food Technology, with a focus on coffee supply chains and sensory analysis.

She is part of Vinhood, a company operating globally to help F&B brands understand and activate consumer taste preferences through data-driven insights. Over the past year, she has been working on translating sensory data into actionable strategies, supporting companies worldwide in product development and consumer understanding.

With over a decade of experience in sensory analysis of food and beverages, she contributes to bridging scientific research and real-world applications, enabling brands to better align their products with evolving consumer tastes.

She is also an internationally certified Q-Grader and the author of several scientific publications on sensory analysis, and currently serves as adjunct professor of Sensory Analysis at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.

Veronica Martinelli is a Junior Account Manager at Vinhood, a company operating globally to help F&B brands understand and activate consumer taste preferences through data-driven insights.

In her role, she manages relationships with complex international clients, translating business needs into clear and actionable projects and ensuring seamless execution across teams. She oversees timelines, priorities, and deliverables, contributing to the successful delivery of data-driven strategies that align products and experiences with evolving consumer tastes.

With a background in Economics and Management, she brings a strong client-centric approach, combining analytical thinking with a focus on delivering measurable results.

Remy Nohar is a Process Engineer with a background in Chemical Engineering and Food Technology, specialized in sustainable food process engineering. He has worked extensively with membrane filtration both at pilot scale and industrial scale. As a Process Engineer at CFR, he supports the design and implementation of membrane filtration systems. As part of the engineering team, Remy is involved in developing mass balances, system sizing, and process design. His work also includes creating functional descriptions and control logic (PIN charts), supporting FATs and system startups, delivering operator training, and conducting technical service and system audits.

Senior Technical Support Engineer (Central and Eastern Europe, German speaking and CIS countries).

Currently based in Czech Republic. He is a Graduated Chemical Engineer specialized in water treatment technologies. He has more than 16 years of experience in the water treatment industry. Since 2014, he is with Hydranautics focusing mainly on membrane technologies for water treatment and process separation. Has extensive working experience in different natural and cultural environments. He is passionate to develop and deliver advanced membrane technologies that minimize negative impact on the environment and bring various benefits to the clients.

Born in the Czech Republic. Graduated in the International Business at University of Economics Prague.

In 2025, successfully completed Nitto Regional Business Academy held at Vlerick International Business School. Experienced professional in sales, strategy and marketing

Communicating in seven languages. 14 years in membrane industry focused on F&B, especially Dairy market segment

More than 10 years at Hydranautics – A Nitto Group Company developing Process Separation Membrane Business within EMEA region focusing on big accounts as well as new applications

Relaxes during sports and hiking (record to mention is 44 km trail run at Menorca in 2019), loves good food, fashion, design, cinema and opera.