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Dr. Patricia Flor
Ambassador of Germany to the People’s Republic of ChinaPatricia Flor was appointed German Ambassador to China in 2022. Dr. Flor is a historian and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. Before joining the Foreign Service, she worked as a journalist. In her diplomatic career, she served – among other positions – as German Ambassador to Georgia, the European Union’s Special Representative (EUSR) for Central Asia and as Director-General in the Federal Foreign Office for International Order, the United Nations and Arms Control. From 2018-2022, she was Ambassador of the European Union to Japan.
Dr. Xu Niansha
President of China Machinery Industry FederationDr. Xu Niansha was born in April 1957 in Beijing. He is a Professor of Senior Engineering and received a Ph.D. in Economics from Peking University and a Ph.D. in Commercial and Civil Law from China University of Political Science and Law.
Dr. Xu is President of the China Machinery Industry Federation, a member of CPPCC (National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) and its Foreign Affairs Committee. Dr. Xu Niansha holds concurrent posts as the outside director of COFCO, the Executive Board member of ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) as well as the Co-Chair of Integrity and Compliance Taskforce of the B20.
Jens Eskelund
President of EU Chamber of Commerce in ChinaJens Eskelund was born in 1970 in Aarhus, Denmark. He holds an MA in philosophy and has studied at University of Aarhus and University of Texas at Austin. He has also pursued studies in Chinese at Renmin University in Beijing. Coming to Beijing as a student in 1998, Jens Eskelund began his career in China as Commercial Officer at the Danish Embassy to China before taking on a position in marketing for Maersk Line in Beijing in 2000. He has since held positions as General Manager for Public Affairs for Maersk Line in China and later Director of Public Affairs for North Asia before assuming his present role as Chief Representative for Maersk in the Greater China Area and North-East Asia. Primary focus areas comprise engaging government entities, institutions, trade associations and Chinese enterprises on matters of policy, regulatory environment, decarbonization and business development on behalf of the companies within the Maersk Group. Jens Eskelund is a former Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China as well as the Maritime Working Group of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC). Jens Eskelund has been active in the EUCCC since 2001 and was elected president of the EUCCC on 24th of May 2023.
Jens Eskelund is married and has two sons.
Gu Jiandang
President at Phoenix Contact (China) Holding Co., Ltd.Mr. GU Jiandang, the Executive Committee member of Phoenix Contact Group, President of Phoenix Contact (China) Holding Co., Ltd., Chief Senior Engineer, Chairman of VDMA China Advisory Board. He has served as a visiting professor at Tianjin Sino-German University of Applied Sciences (TSGUAS), a part-time professor at Tongji University. By the end of 1993, as one member of the entrepreneurial team, he joined Phoenix Contact China, starting his 30-year entrepreneurial career.
As the founder of Phoenix Contact China Smart Strategy Initiative, the builder and facilitator of China Smart Eco-System, he has been devoted to connecting China and German, building the bridge for Sino-German industrial cooperation all the time. In 2019, under the guidance of Gu Jiandang，Phoenix Contact China opened a new era of digitization-led Intelligence 2.0., devoted to be the practitioner and bellwether in the digital industry era; Phoenix Contact China will take the opportunities of digital transformation to create a truly digital industrial enterprise, connects reliable people and things, establishes a coordinated, open, symbiotic and win-win ecosystem, and lead the new future of digital industry.
He has also served as Standing director of China Instrument and Control Society(CIS)，Director of CMIF Intelligent Manufacturing Branch Association, Standing director of CHINA ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, Distinguished Expert of CES Digital Factory equipment and intelligent manufacturing technology Technical Committee, etc.
Yu Yuantang
Director of European Department at Ministry of Commerce of The P.R.ChinaFrom 1989 to 1992, he studied diplomatic English translation at China Foreign Affairs University and obtained a Master of Arts degree.
He joined the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation in 1992.
In March 2003, he served as the Director of the European Union division of European Department of the Ministry of Commerce (from September 2004 to August 2005, he received the British government Chevening Scholarship and studied in the Law School of the University of Edinburgh, UK, and obtained the Master's degree in Law, outstanding graduate).
From November 2015 to December 2017, he served as Commercial Counselor of the European Department (Deputy Department level).
From December 2017 to August 2022 he was Deputy Director of the European Department.
He is currently Director of the European Department of the Ministry of Commerce.
Corinne Abele
Representative Shanghai of Trade Information Section of Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI)Corinne Abele has been living and working in China for over 20 years. An experienced journalist and economist, she has documented China´s economic development with analyses, articles and lectures. A big part of her work focuses on the observation and analysis of innovation-driven technology markets, industrial digitalization and competition in China.
Since 2014, Ms. Abele has been leading the Trade Information Section of Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) in Shanghai. Prior to this she worked for GTAI in Beijing (2004-2012) and in Taipeh (1998-2004).
Daniel Berger
Partner at Eac International ConsultingDaniel Berger started his consulting career after completing his business administration studies in 1999 at EAC International Consulting in Shanghai and has been living in China ever since. As global partner, Daniel Berger is an expert in the field of automotive, renewable energy, chemicals & specialty materials, mechanical engineering and exhibition.
His focus is on the development and implementation of growth and resilience strategies as well as sustainability and decarbonatization roadmaps for international enterprises in China and Asia. Benefitting from his international exposure and business and institutional network, Daniel Berger also advises Chinese companies during their internationalization roadmap with focus on Europe and Asia.
Daniel Berger is frequently sought after and invited as key note speaker to share his insights on pivotal economic and industry subjects such as China business outlook, electric mobility, power batteries, hydrogen & fuel cell technologies and climate change.
Gong Gang
Managing Director and Chairman of Aumund Machinery Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.Mr. Gong Gang got his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. From 1992 to 1998 he studied Business Administration in Germany at the University of Cologne. After finishing his studies, he joined the company Walter (Wuxi) Ltd.
Since 2007 Mr. Gong is Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Aumund Machinery Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Konrad Knapp
General Manager at Linde Hydrogen FuelTech (Dalian) Co., Ltd.Konrad joined LINDE in 2014. After working in specialty & medical gases applications, he started in 2022 his current position in hydrogen refueling technology. Previously he was widely exposed to semiconductor equipment applications as well as optical materials and components. He holds a physics degree from University of Freiburg.
Audrey Ma
Vice President, International markets at REFIRE GroupMa joined REFIRE Group in 2017. After helming the Group and business unit brand expansions, she has led the company’s international growth in hydrogen and fuel cell technology markets. She holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from Canada’s Carleton University, and a postgraduate degree in Urban Design from the University of Hong Kong.
Headquartered in Shanghai, REFIRE is the world’s leading deployer of zero emission commercial hydrogen fuel cell mobility and power. Over 5,000 REFIRE fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles have driven a combined total of around 150 million kilometres, representing a saving of 90,000+ tonnes of CO2, and an aggregated power output of more than 400MW.
Volker Palm
Chief Executive Officer of Wago Electronic (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.Under his leadership, WAGO China has expanded the application of industry solutions in the three pillar industries, namely railway, lighting and elevator, to potential industries such as building construction, automobile manufacturing and logistics equipment, bringing about double-digit growth rate to its performance, breaking one billion RMB in revenue in 2021. At the same time, he has boosted the promotion of automation business, enabling the automation business to grow rapidly in the Chinese market. In recent years, in the face of fierce competition and dual circulation market trend, WAGO has actively strengthened its own competitiveness and implemented internal and external digital upgrades to enable itself to maintain own advantages and stable development in future market competition.
He has been granted such honorary titles as "Entrepreneur Most Concerning Employee Development in China", Tianjin "Haihe Friendship Award" in 2017, " Outstanding Person Award in the 25th Anniversary of Modern Manufacturing Innovation Drive ", and “Industry Leader in the 2022 China Automation and Digital Annual Selection”.
Dr. Ma Xiaolong
Chief Representative at Fraunhofer Representative Office BeijingDr. Xiaolong Ma, has been the Chief Representative of Fraunhofer Representative Office Beijing since the beginning of 2020. He is mainly responsible for the promotion of Fraunhofer's business in China as well as the management of the office in China, assisting Fraunhofer's research team in liaising with Chinese partners, supporting Fraunhofer's research projects in China and participating in a large number of collaborative R&D projects between Fraunhofer Institutes and Chinese institutions and universities.
Pietro Scattarreggia
CEO of Demag Plastic Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd.Mr. Scattarreggia has been working since 22 years in Sumitomo Demag. He graduated at TU Stuttgart in Electrical engineering and also studied Business Administration at Friedrich Alexander University in Nuremberg-Erlangen.
In Demag, Mr. Scattarreggia has accumulated a large experience in the field of Engineering, Service, Key account Management and also Business development.
Since 2019 his family and he moved to China where he took over the leadership as CEO of Demag Plastics Machinery in Ningbo and he is also member of the Board of Sumitomo Plastics Machinery China.
In the recent years Demag has adjusted their business model which before was very much linked to business with International (German , French, Italian, US...)customers 70 % share, to mostly Chinese customers which until 2018 represent only a 30 % share of their business.
Due to that strategical decision and approach the company could increase our turnover from 2019 to 2021 by more than 70 %.
The key parameter for that growth was mainly their localization strategy in terms of R&D and Supply chain which allowed them to reduce our dependency from European suppliers and increased our flexibility for R&D which at the end result in a more competitive market price and delivery time to China market.
Therefore Demag made the decision during last year Shanghai lockdown to further Invest into a factory extension and they are currently building an additional factory with 5000square meter to meet the future expected market demand. In addition to that they have invested into a Solar panel system in Q2 2022 which allows us to achieve Carbon neutral factory already in 2023.
Thomas Stopper
Group Vice President Sales Asia at Hansgrohe- BE LIKE WATER - Planet-centered & dualistic innovation system of Hansgrohe by Mr. Thomas Stopper, Group Vice President Sales Asia, Hansgrohe Sanitary Products (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
- Panel Discussion: China's Road to Carbon Neutrality – Opportunities and Challenges for Mechanical Engineering
In his role as Group Vice President Sales Asia of Hansgrohe, Thomas Stopper is leading the business of Hansgrohe across 5 Business Units (China, South East Asia, India, Japan and Australia) in which Hansgrohe has achieved 70% sales growth in recent 3 years.
Mr. Stopper joined the Hansgrohe Group in 2009 as Market Developer Far East back in 2009 after he returned from China as part of a scholarship program of the Heinz Nixdorf Foundation. In 2011, he took over the lead of the global corporate strategy team, until he moved back to China in 2014. First in his role as Director Project Business Greater China and from 2016 to 2019 as Vice President of Business Development, Services and Finance. Since 2019 he is serving Hansgrohe in his current role.
Key focus areas for regional development lies on the execution of the 2nd home market strategy which includes the establishment and expansion of the innovation center located in Shanghai, the further transformation and capability development of the regional operations footprint and the systematic expansion of the distribution across the region in line with strengthening of Hansgrohe as leading consumer brand.
Dr. Niels Peter Thomas
President and Managing director of Springer Nature, Greater ChinaDr. Niels Peter Thomas has been appointed as President for Springer Nature Greater China since August 1, 2021, and concurrently holds his current role as Managing Director Books. As Managing Director Books, Niels Peter Thomas is responsible for Springer Nature's book portfolio, which includes more than 300,000 academic books across all subject areas and 13,000 new books per year. He is also responsible for more than 600 publishing colleagues worldwide and coordinates the book business across Springer Nature's renowned book imprints such as Springer, Palgrave Macmillan, J.B. Metzler and others.
His main tasks also include the further development of printed and electronic books, innovative technical features, new business models and workflows. Building on his previous position as Chief Book Strategist, he is responsible for defining Springer Nature's global strategy to shape the future of book publishing and reading.
Niels joined Springer in 2005 and has worked in various editorial and management positions in Heidelberg and Wiesbaden, Germany, as well as in Beijing and Shanghai, China. While working in Springer’s Beijing office from 2011-2013, he set up a team dedicated to translating and publishing internationally the work of Chinese scholars across a wide range of disciplines. He also acts as a foreign expert for the "China Book International Program" at the invitation of the Chinese government. In December 2021, Niels received a Special Book Award of China from the State Press and Publication Administration of the PR China, in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the academic and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.
Niels holds a master's degree in electrical engineering and a doctorate in economics.
Tony Wang
Head of Sales Industrial Gases at MAN Energy Solutions China Production Co., Ltd.- MAN ES Hydrogen Technologies for Sustainable Future by Mr. Tony Wang, Head of Sales Industrial Gases, MAN Energy Solutions China Production Co., Ltd.
- Panel Discussion: China's Road to Carbon Neutrality – Opportunities and Challenges for Mechanical Engineering
Tony WANG, Master of Chemical Process Machinery. With more than 20 years experience, Tony has worked across key industries including Chemical and Fertilizer, Power Generation, as well as industrial Gases.
Now he is Head of Sales Industrial Gases in the company MAN Energy Solutions China Production Co., Ltd.
Richard Zhang
Senior Vice President Country MD Greater China at GEA Process Engineering China Ltd.Richard Zhang possesses extensive managerial experience in multinational companies. He has held executive positions in renowned foreign enterprises such as Rockwell, ABB, and Rittal. Since 2021, he has been serving as the GEA Country MD, Greater China. Under his leadership, GEA Greater China has been continuously exploring and innovating in the Chinese market, adhering to the strategy of "In China, for China." And he has been steadfast in enhancing localization of production while upholding the group's mission of "Engineering for a Better World." By providing sustainable solutions for industries such as food and beverage, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals, GEA assists industries and customers in decarbonization and energy reduction, promoting sustainable development practices. GEA promises to fulfill the vision: “We safeguard future generations by providing sustainable solutions for the nutrition and pharmaceutical industries."
Zhu Zixin
Hydrogen and fuel cell product manager of AVL List ChinaMs. Zhu Zixin joined AVL in 2014 and has been dedicated to vehicle powertrain system engineering development and technical consulting services. From 2021, Ms. Zhu Zixin took over the responsibility of AVL’s hydrogen business development in China as the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Product Manager. She is responsible for engineering services including PEM / SOC fuel cell and electrolysis system engineering, design, simulation, testing, development among other development activities.