- Current and future market assessment
- Key drivers and challenges
- Outlook for European competitiveness – impact of costs and pricing
- Opportunities for the value chain
Ciaran Little | VP, Global Consulting, Information Division, Smithers
Ciaran is responsible for delivering Smithers global growth initiatives and supporting Smithers Asian client base.
Ciaran has been working for Smithers for nearly twenty years supporting the packaging, print and paper value chains with key market and technical information in the form of conferences, reports and consulting. Ciaran has worked on winning and delivering a wide range of market consultancy projects to major industry players, recent projects include a global assessment of printing and packaging growth trends and market assessment for a major new product launch for one of the world’s largest packaging converters.
Ciaran has launched and managed many international conferences in this sector including Digital Print for Packaging, SustPack, Specialty Papers and Print Futures.
Ciaran is responsible for delivering Smithers global growth initiatives and supporting Smithers Asian client base.
Biography to follow
Maria Georgiadou is Recycling Manager at Cepi. She has been working in the paper industry since 2021. She is an EU policy professional, with a focus on circularity, recyclability, and waste management. She has seven years of experience on EU policy and public affairs. Maria has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Leiden University and a master’s Degree in European Public Affairs from Maastricht University.
Daniela Mondelli, Senior Research Engineer, Amcor
Daniela has 20 years R&D experience in specialty papers in a broad range of applications, from automotive and industrial filter paper, to labels, to high barrier paper for packaging.
Her expertise focuses on paper functionalization, via wet coatings and vacuum deposition, that is now expanding to paper functionalization via lamination and extrusion, thanks to her role within the Amcor 2D Core R&D Fiber team.
In her carrier, she has developed new products from the concept phase till the industrialization, leading, in some cases, to CAPEX investments. Her strength is not only in R&D, but also in sustainability; being part of working groups in the 4evregreen and Aticelca, and representative member at SPC, she has a global overview on recyclable fiber-based materials.
Daniela earned a Master Degree and a PhD in Chemical Science, and joined the Italian National Council of Research for a postdoc fellowship, building a strong foundation in analytical chemistry and interface chemistry.
David Skuse David has worked on FiberLean MFC manufacturing and applications since 2010 and has worked for FiberLean Technologies Limited in the UK since its formation in 2016. Prior to FiberLean, David was with Imerys for 26 years, where his work was largely focussed on new products for the paper and packaging industries. Prior to Imerys, David was a Research Associate at the University of British Columbia, Canada for 5 years with a focus on high added value applications for cellulose derivatives. David is named as an inventor on over 55 patent families and has been involved in over 30 new product launches. He has a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Wales, UK and a PhD in Colloid and Polymer Chemistry from the University of Bristol, UK. He is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, UK and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a member of TAPPI.
Maria Filomena Antonella Vitulli holds a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology from the University of Pisa and is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (MOCA). With over 20 years of experience, she has held leadership roles in Italian and multinational companies, focusing on analysis, consultancy, and regulatory compliance in the environmental, food and consumer goods sectors, with strong specialization in packaging. In 2016 she founded Food Contact Center S.r.l., a laboratory specialized in testing and analysis of food contact materials. In 2022 she established Food Contact Services S.r.l., dedicated to technical and regulatory consulting. She is an active member of the Order of Chemists and AIBO Food Contact Expert and regularly participates in technical committees (ILSI Europe, ISS, GDO), conferences, and university lectures both in Italy and abroad. She has extensive experience in managing ISO 17025-accredited laboratories, developing analytical methods, ensuring food safety, and conducting GMP inspections in compliance with European regulations (EC 2023/2006, UNI EN 15593). She is also a qualified auditor. Author of several scientific publications and a frequent speaker at international conferences, she is recognized for her technical expertise and innovative approach in the field of MOCA and food safety.
Dr. David Guerin is Master Scientist at L’Oréal’s Packaging Science Center. He is in charge of identifying new materials, technologies and partners that could bridge the performance gap between L’Oréal’s packaging needs and the current fibre-based packaging solutions. Before joining l’Oréal in 2021, David was leading the Functional Surfaces team of Centre Technique du Papier (CTP). David has more than 25 years of experience in the field of paper and paper packaging materials supported by an education background and a PhD in paper processing and material sciences from Grenoble INP.
Sandra Wiegman is Chief Commercial Officer at Kalpana Systems, where she leads commercial strategy, partnerships, and market introduction of roll to roll spatial ALD technology. She works closely with customers and industry partners across packaging and advanced materials to translate thin film innovation into scalable, industrial solutions. Her focus is on translating sALD technology into scalable barrier solutions that support the transition to sustainable packaging.
Mats Käldström
• Dr. Tech. from Åbo Akademi University (Industrial Chemistry, 2011)
• Background in R&D (catalysis of biomass)
o Max-Planck Institut für Kohlenforschung, Germany (Post-doc Researcher 2011-2013)
o Neste R&D (Researcher, 2013-2018)
• Current role: Manager -Development and Innovation at Walki Group Oy, with focus on product development (2018-)
Sami Selkälä is the founder and CTO of Innomost. Founded in 2016, Innomost is upcycling forest industry side streams and transforming birch bark into high-performing products for various applications, including cosmetics and personal care, adhesives and coatings. Selkälä holds a PhD in chemistry and has an extensive industrial experience in both product development and development of plant scale fine chemical processes.
Have worked in several different positions in Nordic Paper since 1998 including the current role as Product Manager in the business area Natural Greaseproof. Holds a PhD degree in paper technology from Karlstad University, Sweden
Dr Stefanie Federle is Chief Scientific Officer at Kelpi, leading the company’s materials R&D and regulatory strategy. With a PhD in Sustainable Chemical Technologies from the University of Bath, she has over a decade of experience in polymer chemistry, specialising in the development and testing of renewable polymers, with particular expertise in coatings and paper packaging applications. She has served as a technical expert on projects across academia and industry in Europe and the US, working with a diverse range of bio-based feedstocks, including seaweed, microalgae and terpenes.
Dr. Julie Willoughby is a chemical and biomolecular engineer with 30 years of experience bridging hard science and commercial innovation. As CEO of TerraSafe, she leads the transition to safe, circular performance materials for global packaging markets. Her career includes scaling textile-to-textile recycling at Circ®, leading materials innovation at Nike, Dow Silicones, and MeadWestvaco. As a former academic and grant recipient of a Bill and Melinda Gates Grand Challenge Initiative that scaled successfully, Dr. Willoughby merges scientific knowledge with creative design thinking to build what works.
EU R&D Manager for WB/ polymer based in Mindelo, Portugal, with deep expertise in emulsion polymers and water-based adhesives across diverse markets such as woodworking, bottle labeling, tapes & labels between others.
At H.B. Fuller, she currently leads global initiatives focused on developing innovative barrier coating solutions that enable more sustainable paper packaging.
Carla and her team are dedicated to the ideation, development, and commercialization of high-impact technologies. She played a key role in the development and launch of H.B. Fuller’s Barrier Coatings portfolio, leveraging advanced polymerization know-how to deliver differentiated performance and seamless compatibility with adhesives.
Prior to joining H.B. Fuller, Carla earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oporto and built a strong foundation in analytical chemistry, process optimization, and quality management through various industry roles.
Roland Eckerstorfer graduated the technical high school in 2001 and is already almost 25 years working for Röchling Industrial Oepping. After leading the product management for ceramic dewatering elements, he was responsible for the development of the SmartTable product family. During this time, he gained a lot of experience in managing these rebuild projects. Since 2023 he is Head of sales for Röchling Industrial Oepping´ s paper mills business.
Experience in global new business development in paper and board based packaging industry – focus on technology, processes and automation in retail and packaging. Corporate activities including venturing and spin-offs. Start-up founder and CEO. Currently a technology and business Innovator to accelerate technology transfer towards industry.
Nuha Siddiqui is the Co-Founder and CEO of erthos®, a climate technology company pioneering next-generation sustainable materials to transform the future of plastics. She founded erthos® at 20 while studying at the University of Toronto, and has since led its global expansion, raised over $12M USD, and commercialized with Fortune Global 500 brands. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and OYW Ambassador, Nuha champions young entrepreneurs and women in STEM, passionate about using her platform to advance sustainable innovation and inclusive leadership.