Baiba Miltovica has been appointed in 2020 President of the “Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and Information Society” Section (TEN) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). At the same time, Ms Miltovica serves as Board Member of the Latvian National Association for Consumer Protection (LPIAA) and actively co-operates with the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) on the European Commission Horizon 2020 and DG Justice and Consumers projects. She is member of the European Consumer Consultative Group (ECCG) of the European Commission, subgroup on Energy and Sub-Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI), connected products and other new challenges in product safety.

In her previous mandate at the EESC, Ms Miltovica held a position as Vice-President of the Diversity Europe Group of the European Economic and Social Committee and was an active member of TEN, appointed Rapporteur of 6 opinions (on energy and climate policy, energy performance of buildings, internal gas market, heating and cooling, etc.) and of the Single Market, Production and Consumption Section (INT) and Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion Section (ECO) of the EESC.

At the national level Baiba Miltovica continues to fulfil responsibilities in the LPIAA and is Member of the Advisory Board of the Latvian Public Utilities Commission.

Ms Miltovica holds a degree in political science and lectures at Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Economics and Social Development.

Dr. Virgil Popescu was elected as a member of the European Parliament in June 2024. Prior to this, he was appointed Romanian Minister of Energy in December 2020, a mandate he completed in June 2023. He also served as the Minister of Economy, Energy, and the Business Environment from 2019 to 2020. Also, he served as interim at Romanian Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, in 2022.

Additionally, he held the position of Vice President of the Commission of Industry and Services in the Romanian Parliament's Chamber of Deputies from 2016 to 2019, and was the President of the Environment Commission from June 2023 to June 2024. Dr. Popescu has been a parliamentary representative in the Romanian Parliament from 2016 to 2024.

Beyond his political career, Dr. Popescu is actively involved in academic and research activities, serving as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Craiova University. He holds a Ph.D. in management from Craiova University and a BS in engineering/automation and computing from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Romania.

Mr. Eduard Kloboucek is an expert with more than 13 years of experience in nuclear, administrative and environmental law. He joined the State office for Nuclear Safety of the CR in 2011 and since then have been working as a lawyer in its Legal Division, in 2023 became the head of Legal Division of SUJB. Mr. Eduard Kloboucek obtained a doctor degree in administrative law and in environmental/nuclear law (Ph.D.) from Charles University in Prague and post gradual diploma in international nuclear law from Université de Montpellier 1, France.

His experience in nuclear sector encompasses a range of activities from licensing, administrative procedures, enforcement, environmental impact assessment, public participation in nuclear activities, civil liability for nuclear damage to nuclear security. He has also experience in drafting the nuclear legislation.

He is a member of bureau in Nuclear Law Committee of NEA OECD and represented actively Czech Republic in many international activities including IAEA and NEA expert and review conferences.  

Presently an associate senior researcher in the Romanian Academy’s Institute for Economic Forecasting, and Executive Director of the Advisory Center for Energy and Environment, Dr.Purica was also President – State Secretary of the Romanian Agency for Nuclear Energy and Radioactive Waste and counselor of the Minister of Research, the Minister of Economy and previously the Minister of the Environment and an expert for the Parliament of Romania He participated in the elaboration of the EU accession strategy for Romania and the energy (electricity and heat) strategy (for the Ministry of Economy and Trade) and did risk analysis and transaction structuring and project management with the World Bank, USEA, JBIC, MARSH, ITOCHU, MVV, etc. 

Previously he worked as a project officer for energy and infrastructure in the World Bank, in Romania and the Balkans (e.g. energy Assessment in Kosovo 1999), being trained in project guarantees, value at risk, procurement to complete his expertise in engineering acquired as director for international projects of the Romanian Power Company RENEL and senior engineer managing a joint Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd-IMG-Bucharest quality engineering group for the manufacture of nuclear reactor components for the CANDU units in Romania. He worked also 3 years as an international researcher for ENEA Rome – the Italian Commission for Energy New Technology and Environment – and 5 years as an associate researcher at ICTP Trieste. 

Prof.Purica has authored books in his field of expertise published by Imperial College Press, Academic Press, Elsevier, etc. and published articles in journals like Risk Analysis, IEEE Power Engineering Review, Foundations of Control Engineering, etc. He took his second PhD in economics, (the first one in Nuclear Energy Engineering) and, he is also a Professor teaching a course in Risk management to masters of science in the Polytechnic University of Bucharest and Hyperion University. He is a member of the WEC study group for energy scenarios 2050 and 2060 and a member of the Advisory Group for Energy of the EU Commission. He is also a member of the Advisory Council for Sustainable Development of the Prime Minister of Romania. 

Vladimír Wagner (1960) is nuclear physicists graduated from Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University at Prague. He acts at the Nuclear Physics Institute of CAS in the fields of very hot and dense nuclear matter study and accelerator driven transmutation research. He lectures on the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering of CTU at Prague and he is member of Commission for Energy of CAS. He is promoter of science, physics and energy technologies. He gives lectures for students and public, and is an author of hundreds of articles, and wrote a book about the Fukushima accident

A manager with many years of experience working in large capital groups, government, and local administration.
he was involved in investment and legal consulting.
he sorted out capital group structures, optimized costs, and maximized company benefits.

 Recently President of PGE Polish Energy Group 2020-2024, the largest producer and distibutor of  energy in Poland.The key directions of the PGE Group's development will be offshore and onshore wind energy,energy storage, photovoltaics, grid infrastructure, low-emission heating, energy services and Nuclear Power Plant.

 In 2018-2024 Chairman of the Supervisory Board PGZ Polish Armament Group, is a capital group concentrating several dozen production plants, service facilities and research centres crucial for the Polish defence industry. PGZ manufactures innovative systems and solutions used by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and allied formations.

 Currently Member of Council for Strategic Development Projects under the President of the Republic of Poland

Per Nyström is a special adviser in the newly established Secretariat for financing new nuclear power, residing within the Swedish Ministry of Finance. He was one of the secretaries in a recently concluded investigation on financing and risk-sharing for investments in new nuclear power. Prior to joining the Ministry of Finance, Per worked at the Swedish National Debt Office and the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority with topics relating to nuclear waste financing. Per holds a degree in financial economics from the London School of Economics.

Slavomír is an experienced professional in the field of nuclear engineering and engineering project management.

He currently serves as the Director of Asset Management at Slovenské elektrárne a.s., where he oversees the planning and implementation of asset management strategies and coordinates projects in the nuclear energy sector.

Previously, he held various leadership positions at companies such as Rolls-Royce and Framatome, contributing to the licensing and execution of nuclear power plants worldwide.

He holds a Master's degree from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava.

In addition to his professional achievements, he is also a winner of several running races. He is fluent in Slovak, Czech, English, and German, and has basic knowledge of Hungarian and French.

Laban Coblentz’s career crisscrosses multiple sectors of science, technology, education, and sustainable development. At the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, he applied mathematical models of probabilistic risk to improve safety practices at nuclear power plants. In the U.S. Congress, he led Senator Joe Lieberman’s effort to create The E-Government Act of 2002. At the International Atomic Energy Agency from 2000 to 2008, he worked with Director General Mohamed ElBaradei on nuclear diplomacy in Iraq, Iran, and other political hotspots – while also promoting hi-tech improvements to agricultural productivity, medicine, and groundwater management in developing countries. From the IAEA, he returned to New York to create new university- and community-based models for entrepreneurship, drawing on the Maker Movement and the democratization of advanced manufacturing. For the past 9 years, he has been the Head of Communication at ITER, in the south of France, where 35 countries are collaborating to make fusion power a practical reality for clean energy generation.

Donald R. Hoffman has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and Science, and a Master of Science Degree in Management and Leadership.

He served in the US Nuclear Submarine Navy as a Senior Reactor Operator and Engineering Officer from 1970 – 1979. 

He was the Manager in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Licensing and Technical Specifications Division reviewing License Applications and Technical Specifications for the 26 nuclear plants that were licensed in the US post TMI from 1980 – 1985. 

Donald founded EXCEL SERVICES CORPORATION in 1985, a global nuclear engineering consulting company. In the thirty-nine years since the formation of the company, EXCEL has become globally recognized as the premier supplier of licensing, regulatory, engineering, technical, operations and critical infrastructure services to nuclear facilities worldwide.

He has pioneered multiple initiatives that have led the enhanced safety and improved performance of reactor plants globally.

He has served as Executive Advisor to Government and Industry Leaders.  

Donald is a Past President and Fellow of the American Nuclear Society (ANS).

He has served as a former and current member of the Secretary of Commerce’s Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC). He also holds and has held senior advisory positions in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Daniel is a senior financial advisory and former investment banking executive who possesses more than 25 years of experience in the infrastructure and energy sectors.   Daniel is the founder, President & CEO and Board Member of the new not-for-profit oganisation: the International Bank for Nuclear Infrastructure Implementation Organisation (“IBNI-IO”).  He is based in Vienna, Austria, Daniel is also the owner and CEO.  Previously, Daniel formed and led the Infrastructure Advisory Group within the Mergers and Acquisitions division of Raiffeisen Bank International AG in Vienna, Austria, where he has led numerous high-profile infrastructure and energy sector transactions). Prior to Raiffeisen, Daniel served as the co-head of the U.S. Infrastructure Advisory Group within Bank of America Merrill Lynch (formerly, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Inc.) ("BAML") in Chicago.  Before working for BAML, Daniel was employed as an investment banker and financial with George K. Baum & Co. and Piper Jaffray Inc.  Daniel holds a BSc in Mathematical Economics from the University of Minnesota, and additionally completed two years of studies toward a Ph.D in Statistics at the University of Minnesota.

Stine Strand holds the position as Research Manager and Business Developer within Human Factors at the Institute for Energy Technology in Norway. She has background in Psychology, specializing in Social Psychology and Human-Machine Interaction. Strand is dedicated to advancing understanding of the collaboration between humans and advanced technology & automation. She is passionate about creating safe, secure and efficient Human-Technology Systems.

She has 20+ years of experience in conducting controlled and realistic simulator studies, focusing on evaluation of human performance in digital control rooms.

Her experience is mainly within the nuclear industry, but she has also been deeply involved in Human Factors research in other safety-critical domains, such as the Maritime industry and Air Traffic Control.

Nicolas BREYTON is the founder and CEO of STELLARIA, the first GEN 4 SMR that can renew 100% of its fuel incore.

He has an extensive international experience of 24 years in the industry, and 17 years in the electrical business.

Passionate about energy, he has worked in many strategic positions in Europe and Africa, mainly for Schneider-Electric, powering industries, data centers, mines, industries and O&G projects.

His deep knowledge of the electrical markets and electro- intensive customers led him to create STELLARIA, who design a disruptive Breed and Burn Molten salt reactor that is laureate of France 2030 innovating reactors.

Kostadin Sirleshtov

Managing Partner | Head of Energy & Climate Change

Kostadin Sirleshtov is Managing Partner of CMS Sofia and Head of Energy & Climate Change for Central and Eastern Europe and for Bulgaria.

Kostadin is leading the CMS nuclear initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe and in Bulgaria and is coordinating the ongoing nuclear energy assignments that the firm has across CEE.

His particular area of expertise is in conventional power, nuclear, electricity, oil & gas, renewables, infrastructure, projects, PPP, public procurement, underground resources. He has worked on the largest nuclear energy projects in Bulgaria.

Some highlights of Kostadin’s nuclear energy experience include advising:

·   Enel in relation to the EUR 7 billion Belene nuclear power plant project. The transaction involved a competitive bid to participate in a joint venture arrangement with the national electricity provider, NEK. The matter involved preparing legal due diligence, full review of the EPC pre-agreement and of the draft EPC agreement, advising the client on the terms and conditions of the draft project agreements, advising in relation to electricity market deregulation issues, nuclear power plant regulation and project finance matters (with BNP Paribas).

·    Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Authority in relation to various public procurement and regulatory matters.

·  Iberdrola Nuclear, a leading European utility company, on a project financed by the Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund of the EBRD. The work included advice on various regulatory matters related to nuclear damage and decommissioning.

·  An international energy company on implementation of an upgrade project of the existing Units 5/6 of the Kozloduy NPP.

·   A Bulgarian energy company on providing legal assistance with potential nuclear opportunities in the Balkan region.

Jan Blomgren is CEO and founder of INBEx (Institute of Nuclear Business Excellence), providing independent nuclear executive advice and business leadership training globally. The INBEx team comprises over 20 former CEOs, Director Generals and similar. 

 He was the youngest professor ever in Sweden in nuclear physics, holding the chair in applied nuclear physics at Uppsala University. His research was focused on neutroninduced nuclear reactions, an area in which he has published over 200 papers in refereed international journals and conference proceedings.

 When plans to build new nuclear power in Sweden were initiated, he was recruited to Vattenfall, one of the largest nuclear power operators in Europe. At Vattenfall, he was responsible for planning the competence development needed for nuclear new-build, as well as coordinating training for nuclear power plant personnel. In addition, he was Director of the Swedish Nuclear Technology Centre, which is the coordination organization for nuclear research and education involving universities, industry, and the regulator. 

 He was involved in the creation of ENEN, the European Nuclear Education Network, in which essentially all European universities in nuclear engineering collaborate. Moreover, he has recently established a large collaboration with France on research and education. Finally, he is the father of several industrysponsored university programs, as well as having started several nuclear business training programs in industry. 

 Jan Blomgren is alone in Europe to have upheld high-ranked positions both at university and nuclear industry. He is frequently invited speaker at conferences, and he has served as invited expert advisor to the French Senate. 

 In 2021, his books “Allt du behöver veta om Sveriges elförsörjning” (All you need to know about the Swedish power supply) and “Jodå, Gud spelar tärning” (Yes, God plays dice) both became best-sellers in their respective categories. 

Summary Senior Underwriter with two decades of experience in Engineering and Property, proficient in facultative and treaty reinsurance, with a focus on CEE & CIS region

 Experience 

 May 2016 – present Swiss Re Europe S.A., German branch Senior Underwriter Engineering 

• Fac & Treaty Reinsurance Underwriter for CEE & CIS 

• Successfully marketed and sold traditional and innovative reinsurance solutions 

• Servicing as a subject matter expert for nuclear power projects, leveraging technical knowledge to guide underwriting decisions 

• Contributing to the company's Centre of Competence for Renewable Energy, specifically focusing on o0shore wind energy 

 2010 – 2016 Zurich Insurance Company (Russian branch) Head of Engineering Lines 

 2007 – 2010 ERGO Insurance (Russian branch) Deputy Head of Property & Engineering Lines  

Graduated in Nuclear Engineering at University of Rome "Sapienza", has more than 30 years of experience in the Nuclear field.

He has worked at ENEA since 1999 in the nuclear sector, where he is currently Director of the Nuclear Department; as director he:

·     coordinates ENEA's research and development activities in the field of fission new-generation nuclear reactors and is responsible for the collaborations that ENEA has underway with the major national and international players in the nuclear sector.

·     holds the role of Italian Program Manager within the European Fusion Energy Program and coordinates, on the ENEA side, the activities for the realization of the Divertor Tokamak Test facility; furthermore, since 2015 is the operator of two of the main national research reactors.

From 2013 to 2020 he was also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nucleco S.p.A. (private company, controlled by SOGIN and participated by ENEA, for the management of medium and low level radioactive waste deriving from the medical, research and industrial sectors).

Christine Lucas is an expert in legacy waste management, with a PhD in analytical chemistry from Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris, France and an extensive academic background in nuclear fuel cycle chemistry. She worked for the French Atomic Energy Commission for 15 years starting as a research engineer. She managed two R&D labs (analytical, isotopy, characterization and fuel cycle activities), and became the CEA’s R&D waste management and long-term disposal project manager. In 2014, she

moved to AREVA (now Orano) as Technical Director and Strategic Affairs at the Waste Management divisions. Prior to joining Veolia, she was responsible for a business unit dealing with defence, demolition and fuel cycle in France's first independent nuclear engineering company.

Christine is also a graduate of ESSEC Business School, France, where she earned a master’s degree in change management. She joined Veolia in December 2022 spending nine months as the Veolia Nuclear Solutions (VNS) Chief Technical & Performance Officer before becoming the VNS Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Lízal graduated at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University. He obtained a PhD in economics and serves as an associate professor in economics.

In 2003–2008 he has been Director of both the Economics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences and CERGE, Charles University. He was a member of the National Economic Council of the Government and a member of the supervisory board of energy company ČEZ. Lubomír Lízal has been a member of the Czech National Bank Board in 2011-2017. In 2020-2021 he was CEO of Expobank CZ, where he was (among others) responsible for business.

Currently he works on analysis of financing energy transition and is an associate professor at Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics, both at the Czech Technical University and at The University of Finance and Administration.

Attila Hugyecz is an economist, materials engineer and nuclear power plant operation engineer. He has been involved in the Paks II. project since its beginning, 2014. He worked on different topics of the project, like environmental licensing, electricity market analyses, state aid related questions. Currently Mr. Hugyecz works as the chief international officer of Paks II Ltd., he is responsible for establishing the international relationship network of Paks II.

Ilkka Poikolainen has a diverse executive level background from ffnal disposal of spent nuclear fuel to forest industries (pulp, packaging, paper, corrugated medium/ffuting, cartonboard, sawmills/timber and label). 

 During career Poikolainen has taken care of several P&L responsibilities and strategy development, overseen corporation’s operations, multi-site development and operational functions at corporation level e.g. asset management and portfolio, production performance, M&A experience, strategical and change management projects, harmonization management /uniffed operations, development of maintenance, equipment technology etc.

For 15 years as the head of a reactor unit, in a nuclear power plant, managed the operation of the VVER 440 unit. Since 2001 at the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic, since 2002 as the director of the Division of Nuclear Materials. Head of the division responsible for state supervision on nuclear safety and nuclear security of, among other things, the storage of nuclear materials and spent nuclear fuel. Since taking the position, licenses for an existing interim spent fuel storage facility, including storage containers, and a new interim spent fuel storage facility have been issued. Also, a license for a transport container for transporting spent nuclear fuel was licensed.

Holding a degree in nuclear engineering; including a PhD. in Thermal Power Engineering Machinery and Equipment. In addition, a degree in management from City University.

Dr. Linus Bettermann 

 GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH, Essen / Germany 

Professional Experience 

Since 03/2021 GNS: Vice President Sales and Marketing 

Since 01/2023 CEO of WTI (GNS-Subsidiary) 

 01/2021 – 05/2024 CEO of GNS Japan K.K. 

 2016 – 2021 GNS: Head of Sales Department (Nuclear Casks) 

 2012 – 2016 GNS: Product Development Team Manager (Cask Design) 

 2011 – 2012 GNS: Project Manager Product Development (Cask Design) 

Education 

 2008- 2011 PhD Studies Nuclear Physics, University of Cologne / Germany 

 2009 Doctoral Researcher Nuclear Physics, Yale University / USA 

 2003- 2008 Physics, University of Cologne / Germany  

An ethical professional, an inspirational leader, with extensive experience in the nuclear development and EU nuclear new built construction industry, leading major global transformation programmes as well as commercial, procurement, supply chain, QA/QC/SQA, contract & claim management deliverables. Specific expertise in delivering projects within demand and supply environments, in both the private and public sectors through embedding apt management systems, technology and culture change programmes.

An in-depth understanding of the interaction between design, engineering, construction methodologies, procurement and business requirements, end user and stakeholders need/wants and the supply-delivery, legal and commercial implications, enables objectives to be delivered successfully on time and in budget, aligned with organisational strategy. Highly experienced in translating corporate mission and vision into a workable delivery plan which can be successfully delivered.

Andre has over 35 years of experience in managing large projects and subsidiaries around the world within the VINCI Group headquartered in France.

He started as a project manager to then became Branch manager of the South West area of France for Civil Works.

In 2001, he decided to give an international touch to his career and accepted the position of Section Manager on the Channel-Tunnel Rail Link in London UK.

He then took the position of CEO of Freyssinet, Inc. for more than 8 years (2003-2011) and was the General Manager of Freyssinet Canada Limited for 5 years (2007-2011).

André has joined the Major Project Department of Freyssinet in 2012 as Business Unit Manager:

-       Firstly the “Cable and Structural Equipment” BU, overseeing the Cable Stayed Bridges, Stadium Roofs and Seismic Protection for Freyssinet Worldwide.

-       Secondly the “EMEAA – New Civil” BU, overseeing all the New Built for Freyssinet in that region.

Andre is now the Director of Business Development for Freyssinet International Worldwide.

Andre is a Professional Engineer and holds a Master in Civil Engineering from INSA Toulouse, France.

Lorenzo has more than 20 years of experience in International nuclear projects (Italy, USA, France, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria) for the engineering and construction of GENII, GENIII, GENIII+ NPP, SMR, experimental facilities and compact innovative nuclear power plants. He obtained a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from Milan Polytechnic on a experimental and theoretical study for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) developed by a consortium led by Westinghouse.

Lorenzo’s main professional roles covered a wide spectrum of activities ranging from the design, feasibility studies, experimental investigations, expertise activities, construction management, project engineering, project management, relations with nuclear regulators and business development. He managed, as direct responsible, NPP EPC contracts for approved budget of over € 800 M. Today Lorenzo is Director of Nuclear Business Development for Worley.