Moderator
News anchor at Digi24, “Focus on Europe” host, “Planeta ești tu” host, Journalist, MC for events
Journalist since 2008, with good years spent on radio and television. He studied journalism in Iasi, where she was born, and completed it with a scholarship in Brussels.
She believes that every experience helps us to become, in the end, our best option.
Agile Strategy Lab
The founder of the Purdue Agile Strategy Lab and now the Director of the Lab at the University of North Alabama, Ed’s work emphasizes the strategic value of focused regional collaborations and open innovation, network-based models in today’s global economy. He is co-author of Strategic Doing: 10 Skills for Agile Leadership.
Ed developed a new discipline called Strategic Doing to accelerate these collaborations that is now widely used across the U.S. and is now gaining attention internationally. His work won the first Arthur D. Little Award for excellence in economic development presented by the American Economic Development Council.
Prior to starting his economic development work, Ed worked for Telesis, a corporate strategy consulting firm. In this position, he served on consulting teams for clients such as Ford Motor Company, Volvo, and General Electric. He conducted manufacturing cost studies in the U.S., Japan, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Sweden, and France.
Ed started his professional career in Washington, D.C., where he has served as a legislative assistant to an Ohio Congressman, staff attorney in the Federal Trade Commission, and staff counsel in the US Senate. He holds a BA degree cum laude with honors from Yale University, MBA and JD degrees from the University of Virginia, and a PhD degree in economics from the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Site Director Ford Otosan Craiova
Mujdat started in Ford Otosan Craiova as Site Director responsible from Powertrain Operations and Non-Manufacturing Organizations after the acquisition of the plant by Ford Otosan. Mujdat had held the position of Manager in manufacturing between 2010 and 2012 to support Ford transformation, so he is a known person in Craiova Plant.
He started his career with Ford Otosan in 2000 right after university graduation, and has been one of the core team members during the growth of the ompany. Before coming to Romania as Site Director in 2022, Mujdat served as Director Plant Manager, where he was leading Golcuk Plant with more than 6000 employees. During his service in Golcuk Plant, Mujdat had got the chance of launching the first electrified products of Ford Otosan, Plug in Hybrid Electric 1T Ford Custom and Battery Electric Transit 2T, respectively. In 2019, under his leadership, Golcuk Plant has been recognized as Lighthouse Plant by McKinsey and World Economic Forum, indicating that Industry 4.0 applications and use cases in Golcuk Plant are sample to all other industriescin the world.
Mujdat is married and has a son. He was a decent football, basketball and table-tennis player in his youth, enjoys watching sports, he is inspired by reading and listening to bios, and likes travelling and observing social life and culture all around the world. He holds a BS degree from Industrial Engineering Dept, and MS degree from Science Faculty.
Groupe Renault, Dacia
Cornel Tașcu graduated The Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, Faculty of Civil Engineering, and an executive management program at ESCP Business School (Paris, Europe).
Before starting his career at Renault Group Romania, Cornel Tașcu held various positions within Nortel Networks France. He joined Automobile Dacia in 2003, where he was in charge of Organization and Reengineering of processes, customs flows and spare parts for a period of three years. In 2005, he became the Systems client manager for the after-sales and service activity within Renault Commercial Romania, and a year later, in 2006, he took over as the Head of the Information Systems Organization department for the company's support functions.
Since 2010, he has held the position of Head of the Organization and Information Systems Department for the entire industrial platform from Mioveni, and in 2014 he was appointed Head of the Information Systems synergy implementation project for the Euromed-Africa region. From September 2014, Cornel Tașcu took over the role of Director with the Renault Romania and Renault Turkey Information Systems Division.
Agile Strategy Lab
Elizabeth (Liz) Nilsen (MBA) is senior program director of the Agile Strategy Lab at Purdue University. Her background includes leadership of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives at local, regional, and state levels, as well as work with a number of higher education change initiatives. Her nonprofit experience includes program design and management, fundraising, operations, and executive leadership. Liz has authored a number of research articles as well as publications for organizations seeking to address issues of community vitality.
Total Technologies
Catalin Ivana has an overall experience of 10+ years in consulting customers through IT solutions and equipments at Total Technologies. A professional with strong engineering background and high education, he has a Bachelor’s degrees in Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering from Politehnica University of Bucharest.
Catalin is Business Development Manager & Coach, leveraging his extensive experience and know-how in Business Planning, Operations Management and Supply Chain. Skilled in negotiations and people management, he oversees the operational activities of sales department in order to achieve the business objectives of Total Technologies.
ARILOG vice president
Vice President of ARILOG and Supply Chain Operations Expert, Aptus
Belgium Embassy
Pierre is the Economic and Economical Counsellor for the Belgium Embassy, competent for Wallonia, Brussels and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. He covers 4 countries of the region (Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria and North Macedonia).
Its primary mission is to support companies based in Wallonia, Brussels and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in their international business development. Its market prospection support consists of annually more than 150 trade promotion initiatives in 70 countries and 30 sectors. Awex is also a one-stop shop for foreign companies that has the project to invest at the heart of Europe.
Pierre holds a Master of Law from UCL (Catholic University of Louvain), Belgium. He also holds the title of Associate Professor of Law. Before working abroad for Awex, Pierre worked as a lawyer for the Brussels Bar. His career with Awex has taken him all around the world, in Africa, the Middle East, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. His outside interests are travelling, outdoor activities, gastronomy and socializing.
Microsoft & Endava
Radu Vunvulea - Group Head of Cloud at Endava | Microsoft Regional Director | Microsoft Azure MVP
ifm electronic
With telecommunication engineering studies, first year PhD in automation and an MBA from HEC Paris, Jan-Remi Fromentin started to work in several American telecom companies as project and product manager.
He joined ifm electronic 25 years ago and had various responsibilities in marketing and sales management at ifm France and South West Europe.
After 6 years as the CEO of ifm France, he’s now in charge of sales and marketing of Industry 4.0 solutions at ifm corporate, reporting to the CEO of ifm group of companies.
competitiveness. “
He’s also involved in the Open Alliance for Industry 4.0 as one of the ifm representative in charge of Early Adoption projects.
Phoenix Contact
His passion for electronics guided his steps towards microelectronics engineering studies and early jobs in applied electronics for audio-video products, followed by several years of experience in radiocommunication field
The vast product portfolio of Phoenix Contact, from the innovative connection technologies up to the cutting edge communication and control modules aimed for the automation wold, need to be seamingly integrated in today and tomorrow industrial control applications. Cătălin ofers consultancy to industry proffesionals for chosing the right technology for the right task or project and promotes the company future oriented concepts like “All Electric Society” or “Digital Factory Now”
ACAROM
Manager for ACAROM SPRINT cluster and coordination of daily activities related to the member companies, partner organizations, domestic and foreign companies/associations.
Management of projects including support activities for strategy and development of industrial, commercial activities in Romania for automotive groups like: Renault, Hyundai, Daimler, VW, GM, BMW, FORD, PSA, VW, Skoda, and Nissan North America.
Providing advisory services for foreign companies in order to support establishment of their activities in Romania.
Leading board meetings and top level meetings, speaker presence to conferences, product launches, seminars at national and international level.
Building, developing cooperation and projects with universities, especially with technical faculties including EU and government projects financed and training programs.
Providing support for purchasing and outsourcing activities, including commercial negotiations and validations. Developing analysis, reports and statistics concerning automotive suppliers Tier 1, 2 and 3 related to various products, commodities and services.
Coordinator of the national pavilion at international automotive industry fairs. Member in the board of ACAROM and The Romanian Automotive Partnership. Member of the Liaison Committee of ACEA - European Automobile Manufacturers Association
KUKA
My name is Dominik and I’m a Sales & Process Manager in the Digital Services Team at KUKA. Starting 2020 I’m responsible for all the sales topics regarding our Digital Services Portfolio. In our daily business my colleagues and I are focussing on the opportunities and challenges of digitalisation in the robot based industrial shop floor. With our existing products and services we try to connect our robots and thereby create new added value for our customers. Every single day we are working very hard to change the mindset in the industrial sector to a more digital one.
FREE
Experienced Business Development Manager with a demonstrated history in the industrial energy and environmental services field, Adrian Ghita graduated the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute - aeroengines engineering department and he completed his studies with an MBA course (ASE – Bucharest and Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers – Paris).
He has strong professional results in the development and management of "turn-key "energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste to energy (or waste to fuels), industrial utilities and environmental projects, working within multinational companies like Shell Gas Romania, Butagaz – France, Lukoil Romania and Veolia Romania. Also, he activated within a start-up company, Societatea pentru Energie – Generare si Servicii (SE-GES) SA, owned by Investment Funds present in Romania, such as the Romanian American Enterprise Fund or Balkan Accession Fund.
Adrian has relevant practical experience covering the entire process of due-diligence for industrial activities, energy audits and financial analyses required for energy efficiency and energy renewable investment projects, including ‘Build-Own-Operate-Transfer’ (BOOT) contracts for cogeneration units or several ESCO contracts with industrial companies from Romania.
Since 2021, Adrian Ghita took over the role of Executive Director of the Romanian Energy Efficiency Fund, a financial organization of national interest, dedicated exclusively to financing the energy efficiency and renewable projects of private or public institutions in Romania.
Chair ENVISIA Business School / Chair of Henley Business School Directorate Forum
Andrew is Professor of Governance and Strategic Leadership at the UK’s Henley Business School, and also an Emeritus Professor of International Management Development at Cranfield University’s School of Management. He is currently embarked on a major million global study of boardroom effectiveness and governance practice, with the participation of a number of governments including British Ministers of State. His top team database covers 43 nations and many thousands of private and public-sector organizations. He holds a number of international Visiting Professorships and Fellowships and has published 45 books, over 230 articles and 18 monographs. Andrew has been made one of ten lifelong members of Thinkers50, the listing of the world’s top 50 business and policy thinkers.
INEA RBT
Andrej Vrbančič is a specialist in the field of OPC communication platforms and Intesis communication interfaces for building automation at INEA RBT, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
During his industry business career, he dealt with production planning, controlling and management.
Through Robotina Company, his business journey also brought him to India, where he was faced with the transfer of technology and running a JV company.
During his business journey, he got to know IT and production-logistics processes, various industrial and cultural environments, the world of automation and business in an international environment. Digitization of production factory processes is the latest passion.
He is a big fan of sports (basketball, running, cycling), yoga&meditation, traveling and reading good literature.
EIT Manufacturing
Monika Primožič is an Education Developer at EIT Manufacturing CLC East and holds a Bachelor in Education from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and a Master in Applied Psychology from the University of Liverpool, UK.
As Education Developer at EIT Manufacturing, she is responsible for the management of the EIT Manufacturing Education portfolio across Central and Eastern Europe including the following activities: EIT Manufacturing Master and PhD programmes, Teaching and Learning Factories, the EIT Manufacturing e-learning platform Skills.move, Blended learning courses and trainings, and others. Her passion lies in the implementation of upskilling and reskilling activities to fill the skills gap in Industry 4.0.
As former Programme Officer for the World Food Programme of the United Nations, Monika has gained expertise over the years in Monitoring and Evaluation of international projects, with focus on developing Capacity Strengthening strategies and various Learning and Training programmes implemented across 52 countries world-wide.
Personal motto: “Never stop learning and always challenge yourself!”
CEO Adrem & President of CRE
The Romanian entrepreneur Corneliu Bodea is a shareholder of the international ABBC Group and CEO of Adrem. A brand with almost 30 years of history on the Romanian market, Adrem consists of companies active in the energy industry. Corneliu extended his engineering education with management studies and an MBA from the Open University, UK, and most recently with the Board Directors’ Programme at Henley Business School.
Since 2014, Corneliu Bodea was elected President of the Romanian Energy Center (CRE), a non-governmental organization which activates in the energy industry, effective both in Romania and Brussels. CRE represents the interests of the main stakeholders on the Romanian energy market and facilitates communication with their corresponding European interlocutors, while also providing a European platform for dialogue for the energy industry.
With significant experience in the energy industry, in managing complex projects and over 1500 employees, Corneliu is very committed to contributing to all initiatives that foster the Romanian entrepreneurial environment and to actively supporting economic, environmental and social sustainability. He believes it is our responsibility, as companies and individuals, to engage in activities without exhausting the available resources and affecting the environment, thus ensuring that the needs of future generations are being met.
Romanian Energy Center
Currently Head of Projects Department within Romanian Energy Center, Mihai has a large experience of over 15 years in management consulting, EU funding and technical assistance projects, holding the positions of manager and senior consultant in a multinational, cross-industry environment.
He is certified in Project Management and Business Process Management, having an extensive experience as Project Manager and Senior Advisor in the implementation of 11 large international energy research projects, funded through the H2020 and ERASMUS programs, but also in several transnational and cross-industry management consultancy projects, business development activities, and administration of state aid schemes.
The area of expertise and involvement in research projects is mainly aimed at the coordination of the work packages on business modelling, economic impact assessment, dissemination, exploitation of the project results, policies, and regulations.
Enel X
Andrei Horhoianu has an overall experience of 12+ years in engineering and operations. Before starting his career at Enel X, Andrei held various technical positions in Romania and abroad.
Since January 2018, Andrei is Head of Operations & Engineering Department for B2B Enel X business unit, leveraging his extensive experience and know-how in project management and operational excellence. He oversees managing the operational activities of the department in order to achieve the business objectives of Enel X.
Andrei has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Energy & Power Engineering from Politehnica University of Bucharest and a PhD Degree in Microgrid.
Univ. of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest
Prorector Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie “Carol Davila” București
Univ. of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest
Asistent Universitar
Coordonator Nucleu Analiză BigData
Centrul de Inovație și eHealth
Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie Carol Davila București
Universidad Europea
Leila has a wide experience in strategic management, digital transformation and business development, advising companies on digital transformation, tech solutions and strategies that can help build a more sustainable business, with the human component and talent at the centre of the digitalization process.
Over the past 10 years she has developed markets and a network of international partners through new strategies in the IT sector. She is an advocate of a new commercial model, that focuses more on helping, building trust and not selling. Therefore, she is working with CONNECTS towards achieving a B4B (business for business) approach and platform, where businesses can grow stronger together, become more sustainable and also as a teacher of new business models at the Master in Industry 4.0 and digital transformation strategy within Universidad Europea Madrid.
With a Business Economics PhD in innovative methodology from the European University in Madrid in 2016, and a second PhD in Communication, focusing on communication and marketing strategies, from Malaga University in 2022, she is researching and publishing on topics like digital transformation, strategic management and marketing, sustainable business models.
i4Cube
Emil Širić is an experienced IT Technical and Quality Assurance Consultant with a
demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry.
Skilled in Technical Solution Design, Test Automation, Software Development
Methodologies, Solution Architecture, and Industry 4.0.
Before designing and developing i4cube smart factory platform, he was active in the area of
digital transformation, successfully completing projects for Deutsche Telekom (NGSSM
digital transformation IP@BNG), SMM (Custom ERP Solution) and RoboticsX (Industry 4.0
Solution).
For creating I4Cube smart factory platform he brought together experts with years of
experience and specialized knowledge in the field of digital transformation and digitization
of processes within production companies.
ANFP
Planning, organizing and controlling the National Agency of Civil Servants' activity, leading, guiding and motivating the personnel, representing the institution in public relations and official functions and ensuring compliance with the Agency's commitments.
Chamber of Deputies
Cătălin Renghea joined Public Affairs Solutions as Government Relations Associate in April 2021. He has begun his career in 2014 with an internship at the Ministry of Economy, Department of Energy, for a period of 6 months.
Afterwards, he made his way to the Romanian Parliament, Chamber of Deputies and Senate, working closely with key decision makers at the top of Romanian politics. In 2020 he joined the team of the Romanian Government, coordinating projects in the field of culture.
Cătălin developed a political career in the activity of the main center-right party in Romania. He worked directly with the party president, by exercising the position of President of the Youth Organization of a one of the most important branches in Bucharest.
Moreover, Cătălin is a PhD student in the 3rd year at the Doctoral School of Political Science within the University of Bucharest, researching and analyzing the migration of the Romanian labor force on the European markets during 2003 until now.
TIAO – CONNECTS
There’s an African proverb that says it takes a whole village to raise a child. Likewise, it takes a whole community to build a successful business that can grow and contribute to a healthy economy.
This is the motto of TIAO, the company behind CONNECTS, the global B2B matchmaking and collaboration platform for business networks and their members, co-founded by Joost in 2016.
Joost’s career spans over 25 years as a marketing, sales and strategy expert working in senior executive roles in multinational FMCG businesses in Europe and the Americas and as management consultant and entrepreneur in other sectors and industries.
In the last 10 years Joost has increasingly been working with international business networks, public and private sector trade development organisations, using digital tools and new ways of working to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of (international) trade development for SMEs and entrepreneurs.
CCIFER
Adela Jansen is an independent board director, being active on the boards of several companies, business organizations and start-ups, private investor, business consultant and associated professor, bringing added value through her vast experience and expertise.
She has over 25 years of experience in top management positions in several multinational companies in financial services sector, telecom, FMCG and hospitality, while being a non-executive director in various boards in insurance company, business and professional organizations.
In various contexts, she was involved in business launches and development, strategy roll-out, restructuring and transformation processes in high demanding and regulated industries, in listed company with more than 10k employees, creating in the same time performant and motivated teams. Adela accumulated expertise in business development, leadership and strategic management, stakeholders’ management and advocacy, operations and human resources – some of these topics she is currently teaching at the MA and MBA level or dealt with in local and international committees.
Adela is partner in Druid SA, an artificial intelligence company in international expansion, Adela is founder and board member in Envisia Boards of Elite, advisory board member in EMI International, listed company Holde Agri Invest, Bucharest Business School, Cambridge School Bucharest and several start-ups. She is board member in the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania, Steering Committee member of Coalitia pentru Dezvoltarea Romaniei and its coordinator in CCIFER’s rotative mandates. Adela is ASE’s and BBS’ associated professor, member of Independent Administrator Association and Professional Women Network, active in Mentoring and Women on Board committees.
Adela holds a Polytechnic Institute systems control and computer science, CNAM Paris EMBA degree, Henley Business School diploma for Board Practice & Directorship. She is certified mediator and has an ongoing PhD with ASE and EM Strasbourg, beside other international prestigious trainings.
EasyPay System
The founder of EasyPay Group with a history of 12 years in Romanian market who developed self-service kiosks for many business domains and expanded the business not only in Europe, but also to other continents.
APDETIC
Valentin Negoita has acted as President of APDETIC Romania since 2003.
He is the founder and coordinator of the Skills 4IT Coalition, member of EC Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.
In this capacity he coordinated the European awareness campaigns eSkills for Jobs in Romania between 2010-2016.
Formerly, he was Chief editor and Executive Director of Capital business magazine (1992-2000).
He is a graduate of the Faculty of Philology of Iasi (1976) and of the Business Journalism School of Bucharest (1981) and an alumnus of the Salzburg Seminar of American Studies (1991).
Technical University of Iaşi
An attentive and passionate Associate Professor of Faculty of Automatic Control and Computer Engineering, Technical University from Iași – Romania, focused on creating an attractive study environment where students can discover the knowledge of actual and new technologies.
15+ years of experience in the industrial automation field from the Romanian market, going all the way from automation engineer to General Manager in TECH-CON Company.
Researches in the direction of Industry 4.0 technologies focused on autonomous mobile robots used in the intelligent logistics field and digital twin solutions for industrial facilities and applications.
Involved in more interactions between academia and industry for a win-win situation.
FACTORY 4.0
MARIUS HĂRĂTĂU is the founder and CEO of FACTORY 4.0 national initiative, a digital consulting and training company in industrial management and industry 4.0.
MARIUS founded FACTORY 4.0 in 2019, a national initiative supported by the most important technology companies. FACTORY 4.0 national initiative is positioning itself as a catalyst in the Romanian training and consulting market in the field of digital transformation.
MARIUS has over 18 years of experience in multiple fields, covering a large range of competencies in management consultancy in the area of industrial production and IT technologies.
Groupe Renault
Undersecretary of State
Concordia Employers' Organization
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