Naveen Ahlawat
Head – Power to X, Green Hydrogen, Green Steel & CCUS
Jindal Steel & Power
Naveen Ahlawat
Head – Power to X, Green Hydrogen, Green Steel & CCUS
Jindal Steel & Power
Naveen currently leads the Power to X vertical at Jindal Steel, overseeing key initiatives such as Green Steel, Green Hydrogen, and CCSU across the group. With over 13 years of experience in various sectors, including manufacturing of specialty chemicals, coal gasification projects, co-products marketing, and integrated steel plants (both brown and greenfield), Naveen has built a distinguished career in the industry. Beginning as a process engineer at Jubilant Organosys Limited, he went on to serve as Manager of Operations in the Petrochemical division at Reliance Industries Limited. Notably, Naveen was part of the executive team that played a pivotal role in establishing the world's first coal gasification-based DRI plant in Angul, Odisha. Naveen also holds key positions in global energy and sustainability initiatives, serving as a member of the UN Council of Engineers for Energy Transition (CEET), an advisory board member of ET Now's Supply Chain Management Council, and as a representative on the technical committee for Oman Climate Week and the CHEMTECH Nuclear Energy Advisory Council. Naveen holds a degree in Chemical Engineering with honors from the Government Engineering College, Thrissur, Kerala, and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.
Derek Langston
Global Head of Dry Research
Braemar
Derek Langston
Global Head of Dry Research
Braemar
Derek Langston was appointed Global Head of Dry Research at Braemar in April 2023, one of the world’s largest shipbroking companies. Previously, Derek was Head of Research at shipbroker SSY from 2019 to 2023 as part of a 19-year career at the company, working in London and Singapore. Derek has been engaged in shipping research and consultancy work by a diverse client base, including shipowners, operators, trading houses, utilities, mining companies, agricultural producers, government departments, banks and investment funds. He has spoken at a wide variety of conferences and industry events around the world.
Venkateswara Rao
Chief Logistics Officer
Jindal Stainless
Venkateswara Rao
Chief Logistics Officer
Jindal Stainless
Mr. Venkateswara Rao V is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in supply chain and logistics management, with extensive expertise in the mining and metal industries. As the Group Head – Logistics at Jindal Stainless Limited, he has been at the forefront of driving innovative practices and transformative solutions that have redefined operational efficiency in the industry. Renowned for his strategic acumen and leadership, Mr. Rao has spearheaded initiatives that set benchmarks in logistics, including the implementation of advanced digital systems and the introduction of sustainable practices that align with global standards. His ability to navigate complex challenges and foster collaboration has been instrumental in establishing streamlined processes and enhancing productivity across the supply chain. His tenure has been marked by transformative achievements, a recent such initiative is bringing container cargo operations to Paradeep Port, an initiative that has reinforced the logistics ecosystem in Odisha. A double gold medallist during his MBA from LIBA, Loyola College, Chennai, and a B.E. (EEE), Mr. Rao combines his academic brilliance with a deep understanding of industry dynamics. With a proven track record of driving excellence and innovation, he continues to be a pivotal force in shaping the future of logistics and supply chain management.
Suhrid Bose
Vice President – Head Indian Ocean
Klaveness Asia Pte Ltd
Suhrid Bose
Vice President – Head Indian Ocean
Klaveness Asia Pte Ltd
Suhrid Bose serves as the Vice President – Head of the Indian Ocean Desk in the Dry Bulk Division of Torvald Klaveness Group. Part of the Senior Management team, Suhrid is responsible for building the Indian Ocean cargo book and ensuring that the pool and period vessels are strategically employed. Suhrid has completed close to two and half decades in the maritime industry. He has sailed for 10+ years on bulk carriers with sizes ranging from handies to capes. After moving ashore he has varied commercial shipping experiences with a Broking shop, Commodity Trading Freight Desk, Ship Owing and now with the Oldest and Biggest Panamax/Kamsarmax pool operating entity. Suhrid has always worked in multicultural and multinational setups with stints in New Delhi, Kolkata, Singapore and Dubai and his key focus area has always been the Indian Ocean region.
Pawan Kumar
Head – Coal Sourcing & Logistics
SEIL Energy India Limited
Pawan Kumar
Head – Coal Sourcing & Logistics
SEIL Energy India Limited
Capt. Pawan Kumar is a seasoned professional with 24 years of experience in the Commodity and Logistics space. As the Head of Coal Sourcing and Logistics for SEIL Energy India Limited (SEIL), he leads the coal procurement function for the company. Before this, Capt Pawan held various positions across the commodities and logistics spectrum, including commercials, shipping operations, and supply chain management. Since the project phase, he has been associated with 2.6GW worth of supercritical thermal assets at SEIL. He has been crucial in establishing the overall fuel management desk and subsequent optimisations. Capt. Pawan specialises in comprehensive commodity market analysis, including the corresponding supply chain nuances, to formulate the most effective strategies. Capt. Pawan is a Master Mariner in the Merchant Navy. He is a qualified finance graduate and a graduate of maritime law. He is an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, London Metropolitan University and the University of Wales.
Sanket Singh
Partner
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
Sanket Singh
Partner
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
Sanket is a partner with Grant Thornton Bharat in Metals and Mining. He has over 17 years of experience in areas such as strategy formulation, transaction advisory, operations improvement, market assessment, business planning, project management, etc. and has been involved in leading sector defining works in the coal sector in the country. He also critical minerals and the energy sector.
Yiannis Parganas
Head of Research
Intermodal Shipbrokers
Yiannis Parganas
Head of Research
Intermodal Shipbrokers
Over the last six years, my professional path has brought me to Athens, where I currently hold the position of Head of the Research Department at Intermodal Shipbrokers. My expertise is centered on both the dry and tanker sectors within the maritime industry. Prior to this role, I gained valuable experience as a dry cargo charterer at Simpon Spence Young and Intermar Chartering in London. Additionally, I contributed as a researcher at the Central Bank of Greece and also held a position in the Finance Department of Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited. My educational background includes a bachelor's degree in economics and a postgraduate degree in International Shipping and Finance, which I completed at Henley Business School, University of Reading.
Devendra Arolkar
Director
Mohit Minerals Limited
Devendra Arolkar
Director
Mohit Minerals Limited
Mr. Devendra Arolkar is Director & Board Member, Mohit Minerals Limited (a Rs 6,500 Cr Company). He is also heading the Western India Region of Coal Consumers Association of India, an Organization that was established before the Independence of India. Mr. Devendra Arolkar is a well-known industry professional and a regular speaker at various events in the Energy Sector. He areas of interest are Energy Transition and Commercial Coal Mining in India. Mr. Arolkar has over four decades of Corporate experience; 2 decades in L&T- Caterpillar JV for Mining Equipment and thereafter one and half decade in Coal & Power Business of L&T. He is an avid learner, has excelled in academics throughout; being Topper of Bombay University in Mechanical Engg, Board Topper for HSC, Board Rank holder for SSC (7th Rank); has Master’s Degree in Management from Narsee Monjee (Mumbai), Diploma in Foreign Trade from Welingkar etc. He is a certified Lead Auditor for ISO 9000 and ISO 14000. Has successfully completed online course in Financial Engineering and Risk Management of Columbia University and more recently on Sustainable Tourism from University of Copenhagen.
Thomas Cherian
Managing Director
Essel Mining
Thomas Cherian
Managing Director
Essel Mining
Thomas Cherian, Managing Director of EMIL, has over three decades of experience in the mining sector across geographies. With expertise in mining value chain, supply chain systems and project management, his competencies include strategic planning, new business development, mergers and acquisitions, and stakeholder and community engagement. Prior to joining the Aditya Birla Group, Thomas was the Managing Director of Tata Steel Mining Ltd. Thomas is a mining engineer from Osmania University with management education from XLRI Jamshedpur in addition to executive development programme from CEDEP, France.
Sareena Patel
Associate Director, Thermal Coal Research
McCloskey by Opis, a Dow Jones Company
Sareena Patel
Associate Director, Thermal Coal Research
McCloskey by Opis, a Dow Jones Company
Sareena Patel is Associate Director, Thermal Coal Research. Sareena has almost 15 years’ experience in the energy sector covering gas, power, and coal. In her current role, Sareena primarily focuses on the global seaborne market for thermal coal and is responsible for producing strategic insights and outlooks for thermal coal supply, demand, and prices. She is the author of the service’s flagship publication ‘Steam Coal Forecaster’ and over her career has covered a vast array of topics including coal-gas competition, energy transition, and the impact of wide-ranging policy changes. Sareena joined McCloskey by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company (previously IHS Markit’s Coal, Metals and Mining team) in 2012 from IHS Markit’s European Gas team, where she focused on midstream supply and demand analysis, infrastructure development, gas storage, and gas market flexibility. Her expertise also extends to the European power sector. Sareena has a BA (Hons) in Economics with French from the University of Durham, in the United Kingdom.
Prantik Dasgupta
VP & Country Director – India
Coeclerici
Prantik Dasgupta
VP & Country Director – India
Coeclerici
With more than 20 years experience in the Commodities Industry, having worked across leading Corporates across 3 geographies, Prantik is now spearheading the Thermal Coal Business in India for Coeclerici Group, a 125 year old Italian company . He has rich experience in the metals and minerals space and has enabled his previous employers to increase their footprint across the world in terms of products and markets. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow and a graduate degree in Electronics Engineering. He has spent considerable time in Indonesia and has developed a strong network within the industry. He has also introduced new coal mines in the market through his extensive reach with the miners and traders in various parts of the world. He now brings his experience of sourcing of thermal coal from across origins to the Indian market and aims to bring down their cost of fuel using a techno-commercial approach.
Kopal Agrawal
Chief Procurement Officer
Hindalco Industries Limited
Kopal Agrawal
Chief Procurement Officer
Hindalco Industries Limited
Kopal has 20 years of rich and diversified experience in Metals & mining, Oil & gas and banking. She has held several leadership positions in India and globally, having worked with Indian and MNC groups, with strong functional expertise in the areas of procurement, sales, general management and strategy. Kopal joined Hindalco in 2018 in a business transformation role where she led projects across sustainability, recycling, and strategic project management. She transitioned into the procurement vertical in 2020 and is the Chief Procurement Officer at Hindalco. Prior to joining the company, Kopal worked in Schlumberger for 14 years with her last role being the Business Head for one of their largest verticals for the Indian subcontinent. She continues to remain on the Advisory committee of Women in Energy. Kopal’s diverse experience and business acumen have been instrumental in building high performance teams, leading organizational change and driving growth in sales, profit and productivity across the various companies she has worked with. Kopal is a Chemical engineer and Master’s in Management from Birla Institute of Technology & Sciences, Pilani.
Vasudev Pamnami
Director
iEnergy Natural Resources Limited
Vasudev Pamnami
Director
iEnergy Natural Resources Limited
Mr. Vasudev Pamnani is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in finance, accounts, and coal trading. With more than 9 years in the coal industry, he is recognized as a business leader, having played a key role in pioneering the US coal market in India and the growth of the Anthracite market on the west coast. Currently, Mr. Pamnani serves as Director at iEnergy Natural Resources Ltd. and Head – West at Anand Carbo Pvt. Ltd. He is also the Founder and Director of Lavi Coal Info (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. and Westeagle Overseas Pvt. Ltd. His career began in 2009 as an accountant at AMUL, followed by roles at ABF plc and Xcoal Energy & Resources. He later served as GM – Sales & Marketing at Iman Resources and GM – Marketing & Retail Sales at COMSOL Energy. Mr. Pamnani holds an M.Com, MBA in Financial Management, and MFA, demonstrating his commitment to ongoing professional development.
Rishi Nyati
Managing Director
Emarat Maritime
Rishi Nyati
Managing Director
Emarat Maritime
Capt. Rishi Nyati has worked at sea, and ashore in leadership positions in Asia, America, and the Middle East. He worked with Guardian Navigation Services New York (previously called TBS Shipping) for about 14 years. 1st 6 years in NY, and the remaining 8 years in the Asia, where he set-up their most successful office in Mumbai. Capt. Rishi sailed for about 9 years with Pacific International Lines Singapore. He is a certified Master Mariner, and holds a Masters from State University of New York Maritime College, and London Metropolitan University. He is the Managing Director of Emarat Maritime LLC Dubai, and sits on the board of Bimco, and Emirates Shipping Association.
Durgesh Sharma
CEO
Cotecna India & Sri Lanka
Durgesh Sharma
CEO
Cotecna India & Sri Lanka
Dr. Durgesh Sharma, CEO of Cotecna India & Sri Lanka, brings over 25 years of experience in the global commodities and mining sector. He holds a PhD in Geology with a specialization in Mineral Processing and has deep expertise in quality control, supply chain inspection services, and project management. Dr. Sharma's key strengths include strategic planning, business development, team leadership, and optimizing business operations. He has extensive experience in minerals and metals inspection, particularly in coal, coke, and iron ore, having worked in Brazil and Indonesia's iron ore and coal mines. Before joining Cotecna, Dr. Sharma was the Head of Quality & Processing at Zamin Group. His leadership in large-scale coal sampling projects with Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research (CIMFR) and Coal India has significantly contributed to Cotecna’s growth in India.
Neeraj Patel
General Manager (Coal Marketing)
Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (GMDC)
Neeraj Patel
General Manager (Coal Marketing)
Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (GMDC)
Neeraj Patel has dedicated 18 years to the coal industry, excelling in various roles including coal trading, procurement, sales, and marketing. Throughout his enriching career, he has worked with esteemed organization’s such as Sanghi Cement (now a part of Adani group), Adani Power, Agarwal coal and Devendran Coal. Currently, Mr. Patel is associated with Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (GMDC), a state-owned mining company recognized as India's largest merchant seller of lignite. With over sixty years in the mining sector, GMDC plays a pivotal role in meeting the mineral and solid fuel needs of industries across the State of Gujarat. At GMDC, Mr. Patel is leading the coal marketing initiatives for the newly allocated commercial coal blocks—Baitarni West, Burapahar, and Kudanali Lubri—in the State of Odisha.
Simon Nicholas
Lead Analyst, Global Steel
IEEFA
Simon Nicholas
Lead Analyst, Global Steel
IEEFA
Simon Nicholas is IEEFA’s Lead Analyst for the global steel sector. Simon’s focus is on the long-term outlook for steel production, as well as on the implications for the global iron ore and metallurgical coal markets. Before joining IEEFA in 2016, Simon had 16 years’ experience in the finance industry at ABN Amro, Macquarie Group and Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney and London. Simon is a fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, has a BSc in Zoology and a Master’s in Environmental Management, for which he was awarded the Orica Ronnie Harding Prize by the University of New South Wales.
Sambit Basu
Head (Policy Research & Data Analytics)
Power Foundation of India
Sambit Basu
Head (Policy Research & Data Analytics)
Power Foundation of India
• Sambit, Head (Policy Research & Data Analytics) of Power Foundation of India (an autonomous Society under the aegis of Ministry of Power), has more than 30 years of experience as an Energy Policy & Regulatory Economist. • In his professional journey he has engaged with Regulators, Government, Private Sector, Development Banks (ADB, World Bank, DfID) and Communities, in India and abroad, to undertake economic analysis and research for energy sector projects, demand analysis, supply planning, power environment modelling, regulatory economics, governance, advocacy and programs in the energy and sustainable infrastructure space. • Sambit for several years has also led, designed & managed rural development initiatives involving Public-Private-Community Partnership to improve infrastructure access & sustainable livelihood of the beneficiaries. • He has worked for organizations like Fichtner Engineers Consulting, IDFC, IDFC Foundation, Rio Tinto, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Crisil Advisory Services, ICRA, Administrative Staff College of India. As an Independent International Consultant, he has also engaged with ADB, Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR), etc., and is also an empaneled advisor/expert to several entities like Adam Smith International, Arup, India PPP Capacity Building Trust. • He has experience in India (various States), Oman, Bangladesh, Australia, Singapore, and worked for Ghana, UAE (Dubai), ECOWAS, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka • Sambit also held a Professorial position in NTPC School of Business, (where he is still a visiting faculty), offering courses in Energy Economics and Energy in Transition. • Sambit as a nominee Director also served on the Boards of iDeck, UDeck, DIMTS, Ayushraj Enterprises. • Sambit after graduating in Economics from Presidency College (Kolkata), completed his post-graduation with an MPhil & PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi). His specialization was in Economics of Power System Modeling taking into consideration Environmental Issues. • Sambit loves reading, listening to music of all genre, watch movies of all hues and shades, experience all kinds of food.
Haryanto Damanik
Secretary General, APBI-ICMA and President Director
PT Manambang Muara Enim (MME)
Haryanto Damanik
Secretary General, APBI-ICMA and President Director
PT Manambang Muara Enim (MME)
Haryanto Damanik currently serves as President Director of PT. Manambang Muara Enim (MME). He also serves as the General Secretary of Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI-ICMA). Haryanto Damanik has more than 13 years of experience in several mining companies in Indonesia. Haryanto Damanik acquired his Bachelor’s Degree in business law from University of Padjajaran and Master’s Degree in Business Law from University of Indonesia.
Kirit Chhaganlal Gandhi
President (Energy)
Shree Cement
Kirit Chhaganlal Gandhi
President (Energy)
Shree Cement
Ritu Raj Jha
Senior Management Consultant / Manager India
Worley Consulting
Ritu Raj Jha
Senior Management Consultant / Manager India
Worley Consulting
Rituraj Jha is an experienced consultant working with Worley’s global consulting arm, Worley Consulting. Designated as Global Senior Management Consultant and India Manager, he sits in Worley’s Mumbai office and work for the Houston-based Worley Consulting team. Rituraj is team’s India SME and covers various sectors in oil, gas, refining, downstream, and renewables. He is the key member of Worley Consulting’s flagship report Pace Petroleum Coke Quarterly © (PCQ) and the editor of monthly Market Perspective Report (MPR). India customer outreach and business development for the team are some of his additional responsibilities. Background wise, Rituraj is a chemical engineer from one of India’s top engineering colleges, with a specialization in oil refining and gas processing.
Scott Dendy
Executive Director Coal, Metals & Mining
McCloskey by OPIS (a Dow Jones Company)
Scott Dendy
Executive Director Coal, Metals & Mining
McCloskey by OPIS (a Dow Jones Company)
Scott Dendy leads McCloskey’s Coal Metals and Mining’s index and business development operations in Asia, based in Singapore. He was instrumental in designing, developing and launching the McCloskey/Xinhua Infolink South China CFR 5,500kc marker as well as API8, API5 and API3 (in conjunction with Argus Media). He has also overseen the rapid uptake in traded derivative volumes based against the McCloskey’s M42 index, which tracks Indonesian low-rank coal prices. His role demands a good understanding of trading, both in physical and derivative/futures markets, through from how they work and how they are developed, launched and adopted. Previously, Scott was the editor of UK Powerfocus for The McCloskey Group, where he closely followed the design, development and implementation of the UK’s New Electricity Trading Agreements (NETA). He has work on a number of European power modeling projects for Power Ink Limited, where he also co-edited a quarterly UK power generation report for Financial Times Energy. He was also the Managing Editor of IHS’ International Nuclear Business. During the early 2000s Scott worked within the Power Development division of international engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald. Before that he worked at energy purchasing consultancy, John Hall Associates. He has over 20 years of experience in observing and covering energy related traded markets. He has both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in History from the University of Leeds.
Ravi Gupta
Chief Representative India
Century Commodities Solutions
Ravi Gupta
Chief Representative India
Century Commodities Solutions
With 16 years of experience in the global commodities market, Ravi Gupta is a seasoned expert specialising in the trading of thermal coal, petcoke, fuel oil, and bunkering. Throughout his career, Ravi has built a diverse portfolio, negotiating complex deals and managing multi-million-dollar transactions across multiple energy sectors. His deep understanding of market trends, pricing dynamics, and logistics has enabled him to successfully navigate the complexities of global supply chains, delivering strategic solutions for clients and suppliers alike. Ravi holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on International Business, equipping him with both the technical expertise and strategic acumen to excel in today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving markets. His ability to identify profitable opportunities, maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, and implement sustainable trading practices has made him a trusted leader in the industry.
Alok Sahay
Secretary General
Indian Steel Association
Alok Sahay
Secretary General
Indian Steel Association
Mr. Sahay has been at the forefront in ensuring trade remedial measures are put in place especially when the Indian steel industry went through a rough patch in 2015-2016. He has worked closely with the steel industry and the Government as one of the core industry representatives to advocate on trade-related matters at national and international forums. Mr. Sahay has all through championed the cause of the Steel industry. He also represented India in the first meeting of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) held in Paris. In his previous stint at the Steel Authority of India (SAIL), he was instrumental in bringing together R&D establishments of SAIL, the Defence Ministry and other Governmental units to ensure critical import substitution of products within defence manufacturing. These efforts led to the successful launching of fully indigenous warships and warranted that India moves towards Aatmanirbharta in steel requirement for the defence sector.
Rudhi Pradhan
Programme Lead
Council on Energy, Environment and Water
Rudhi Pradhan
Programme Lead
Council on Energy, Environment and Water
Rudhi is a Programme Lead at The Council in the Power Markets team. He has more than 12 years of experience working in resource management, energy analytics, and decarbonisation. He has translated complex concepts into actionable strategies and policies, contributing to various national missions such as green steel and green hydrogen. He has experience in developing decarbonisation roadmaps for key sectors and supporting power sector transformation through resource adequacy planning and deepening power markets. He has collaborated with multilateral organisations, government agencies, and subnational governments in the sustainability domain. Rudhi holds an engineering degree and a postgraduate degree in power management. He is also an energy auditor certified by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
Rahul Chaudhary
Founder & Consultant
Shivani India Solutions
Rahul Chaudhary
Founder & Consultant
Shivani India Solutions
Chaudhary leads Shivani India Solutions as its Founder and CEO, with over two decades of deep-rooted expertise in the coal and railways sectors – Ex- Adani & Ex- Hindalco (Aditya Birla Group). Under his leadership, SIS has carved a niche in providing strategic consulting services aimed at optimizing supply chains and enhancing procurement processes within the power generation sector. Known for his strategic vision and operational improvements, Rahul has been pivotal in steering SIS towards sustainable growth and operational excellence. His efforts have been recognized across the industry for strategic sourcing and logistics management.
Durgesh Pathak
AVP Marketing – India
XCoal Energy & Resources
Durgesh Pathak
AVP Marketing – India
XCoal Energy & Resources
Durgesh joined Xcoal Energy and Resources in November 2014 and is currently working as AVP (Marketing, India) and heading the India business. He has had had the opportunity to identify and develop potential markets for US High CV Thermal coal across the various retail and industrial sectors and has succeeded in introducing some the premium US Coking Coal brands and create a long term customer base amongst the leading Steel majors in India. Prior to Xcoal, Durgesh has had an enriching tenure in the Steel Industry for 17 years from 1997 to 2014, working for leading names like Essar Steel, Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc and SIMEC Resources. This span of 17 years includes major portion of handling International Trade encompassing imports and exports for key markets like US, Europe, Middle East and Central Asia, South East Asia and Latin America. Have pioneered in developing niche overseas markets for all products of steel majors like JSW Steel, Uttam Galva, Essar Steel and others in India and also been successful in developing long term client base in Auto, Defense, White and Yellow Goods, Shipping and F&B industry in India for highly specialized Steel products from Japan. He played a leading role in developing some of key strategic value added business models like JIT models for Auto industry, Special Steel Service Centres and technology transfer and development projects. One of the key highlights being a core team member to facilitate and promote the JFE – JSW joint venture discussions and the final execution. Apart from International trade, have a rich experience in areas of shipping, logistics, downstream management, production planning and control, trade finance and International trade issues.
Sakkie Swanepoel
General Manager Marketing & Logistics
Exxaro Coal (Pty) Ltd
Sakkie Swanepoel
General Manager Marketing & Logistics
Exxaro Coal (Pty) Ltd
Qualifications: BCom Economics, BSc Mechanical Engineering, Masters in Business Administration. Experience: Involved in the mining industry since 1990, Sakkie Swanepoel has filled various positions in Iron Ore, Base Metals and Coal. He was appointed as the Marketing Head in Base Metals, the Programme Director for a major corporate restructuring project and currently heads up Exxaro Coal’s Marketing and Logistics division, as General Manager, Marketing and Logistics, responsible for getting Exxaro’s 42 Mtpa of coal production to the markets.
Nirmalya Deb
Executive Editor
BigMint Technologies Private Limited
Nirmalya Deb
Executive Editor
BigMint Technologies Private Limited
Mr. Nirmalya Deb, Executive Editor at BigMint, specialises in editorial operations, analytical research, and content curation for domestic and international conferences. He joined BigMint in 2018, bringing over 11 years of experience as a senior editor with leading national dailies. Mr. Deb has contributed extensively to reputed journals on business, sustainability, and politics. He has a keen interest in steel market dynamics and the industry's green transition. Academically, he holds an MA in English from Calcutta University and a postgraduate degree in Mass Communications.
Nishtha Mukherjee
GM – Operations Iron Ore, Ferro Alloys & Coal
BigMint Technologies Private Limited
Nishtha Mukherjee
GM – Operations Iron Ore, Ferro Alloys & Coal
BigMint Technologies Private Limited
Nishtha has more than 10 years of experience in the iron ore & ferroalloys industry. She has represented BigMint at several events as a speaker like SEAISI, ISA, MRAI, IFAPA, Asia Steel Forum, etc. She holds a Management degree in Finance & Marketing from the School of Management & Research, ITM University, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Telecommunications.
Sean Cuddihy
Head of Coal Trading
Anglo American Marketing Limited
Sean Cuddihy
Head of Coal Trading
Anglo American Marketing Limited
Sean Cuddihy is the Head of Coal Trading for Anglo American Marketing Limited, a global leading trading division of Anglo American PLC. In his role, he is responsible for sourcing and trading Steel-Making and Energy Coal from Australia, South Africa, Indonesia, and United States. With over 18-year’s experience in global commodity markets, Sean has a wealth of experience and market knowledge.
Atanu Mukherjee
CEO
Dastur Energy
Atanu Mukherjee
CEO
Dastur Energy
Atanu Mukherjee is the CEO of Dastur Energy. Dastur Energy works with the energy, industrial and commodity sectors globally in areas related to energy strategy, technology, engineering, economics, and finance. Atanu works with enterprises, governments and international institutions on energy transition, industrial transformation & industrial decarbonisation, and climate engineering. In the recent past, he has also been working with the US Department of Energy, the US National Carbon Capture Center, Government of India, G20 Presidency and other governmental institutions on energy innovation, policy, economics, and technology directions for transitioning to low-carbon fuels, clean power, clean chemicals, clean cement, and clean steel. His firm also advises enterprises, private equity firms and investors on project development, project engineering, project finance, asset revitalization, M&As and investment strategies for metals, mining, energy and commodity related businesses. Prior to working in the energy sector, Atanu was in senior leadership positions at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, WA and Digital Equipment Corporation in Boston, MA. Atanu holds a joint graduate degree in Engineering and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Engineering and The MIT Sloan School of Management and is a graduate fellow at Stanford University in Energy & Chemical Engineering. He was a Research Fellow at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, where his team’s pioneering research laid the groundwork for powering core components of today’s internet infrastructure. He has over 50 publications in energy, materials, economics, and computer science and holds multiple patents. He was elected to the World’s Who’s Who in Science and Engineering in 2012. Atanu is an avid golfer, a pianist and a private pilot and shares his time between Austin, TX and India.
Chithra Mary Eapen
Senior Dry Bulk Analyst
Clarksons Singapore
Chithra Mary Eapen
Senior Dry Bulk Analyst
Clarksons Singapore
Chithra is the lead dry bulk analyst in Singapore for shipping services company, Clarksons – the world's largest shipbroker. She has been with the company since 2019 and works on all key dry bulk trade flows with particular focus on Asian and Australian markets. Prior to Clarksons, Chithra worked in consulting at Deloitte and British Telecom in their research and strategy teams. Chithra has a Master’s degree in Data Science, an MBA in Operations and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
Parth Goyal
Head of Marketing Strategy, Steelmaking Coal
BHP
Parth Goyal
Head of Marketing Strategy, Steelmaking Coal
BHP
Parth Goyal heads met coal and potash analysis at BHP, based in Singapore. In his current role, Parth is responsible for developing BHP's proprietary views of these commodities, guiding short and long-term decision making. Parth's work has been critical to BHP reshaping its metallurgical coal portfolio. An Economist by background, Parth hails from New Delhi and has spent over a decade in the metals and mining industry.
Firat Ergene
Senior Dry Bulk Analyst
Kpler
Firat Ergene
Senior Dry Bulk Analyst
Kpler
Firat Ergene joined Kpler’s Insight Team in 2024 as a London-based Senior Dry Bulk Analyst, bringing over seven years of experience in the seaborne thermal coal market. Prior to joining Kpler, Firat worked at Argus, contributing to key coal assessments, including the benchmark coal price index API 2. In this role he worked closely with decision-makers to analyse the complex dynamics in the seaborne coal market, including geopolitical shifts, macroeconomic trends and regulatory factors across the Atlantic and Asia-Pacific basin. His primary focus at Kpler is modeling the global supply-demand balance for the seaborne coal market and conducting long-term scenario analysis to deliver data-driven insights by leveraging his knowledge on the broader energy markets including gas and power. Firat also delivers in-depth research and analysis on recent developments and events, enhancing transparency in the commodity markets. Earlier in his career, Firat worked in sales and structured finance roles in banking at QNB Finansbank and Burgan Bank (formerly Eurobank Tekfen) in Turkey, where he managed and executed large-scale transactions.
Kush Singh
Power Sector – Head
RP Sanjiv Goenka Group
Kush Singh
Power Sector – Head
RP Sanjiv Goenka Group
A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from BIT – Mesra, Ranchi (1982-1986 batch), he worked in National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, India’s largest power utility and energy conglomerate from 1986 to 2007 in various leadership roles and was responsible for O & M and setting up of Mega Power Projects. He worked in Adani Power Limited for 2007-2008 as Head of Tiroda Project. Thereafter, he worked with Essar Group from 2008 – 2024, where he held the position of CEO – Essar Power, overseeing a robust portfolio including 5000 MW of combined Thermal, Gas and Multi Fuel Fired Power Plants in India and Canada, Coal mine in Indonesia along with conceptualization and initial development of Substantial renewable energy projects, Solar module manufacturing, Lithium Battery manufacturing, Small and Micro Nuclear Reactors, Coal Gasification Ventures in India, UAE and Canada. Subsequently, Mr. Kush has joined CESC Limited, RP – Sanjiv Goenka Group as Sector – Head Power on 1st October 2024.
Lynne Evans
Conference Producer
Fastmarkets
Lynne Evans
Conference Producer
Fastmarkets
Lynne is a Senior Conference Producer with over 30 years’ experience in launching, planning and delivering a wide range of events, providing high level speaker services and VIP management and protocols. Whilst delivering content across a wide range of industries, she has developed a specialism for the energy sector since 2001 and along with most recently producing the Coaltrans portfolio of events for Fastmarkets, has in the past, been Conference Director for Gastech and ADIPEC (2004-2008), and was Event Director and Co-Founder of the World Future Energy Summit (2007-2009).
Pratik Thakkar
Country Head – Indonesia; General Manager
DVK Resources Pte Ltd
Pratik Thakkar
Country Head – Indonesia; General Manager
DVK Resources Pte Ltd
Pratik Thakkar is the General Manager at DVK Resources Pte Ltd., a coal trading company based in Singapore. He currently lives in Jakarta and specializes in coal trading. In his role, Pratik oversees the sourcing and trading of thermal coal from Indonesia, which is then exported to various countries around the world. With over 16 years of experience in global commodity markets, Pratik has a well-rounded background that spans nine years in Singapore, nearly two years in Indonesia, and five years in India. His journey has given him deep insights into sourcing, operations, shipping, and marketing.