The smarter E Europe Conference Opening Session: GET ENERGIZED: RENEWABLES 24/7

Zackes is one of the most established moderators on the topic of sustainable economic transformation and the founder of Gewinne Zukunft - one the top 3 sustainability podcasts in the DACH region. He specializes in building bridges: between the disruptive startup ecosystem and established companies, between traditional industries and the economy of the future, between sustainability pioneers and those who aspire to be. Whether as a keynote speaker, in his interview podcast 'Gewinne Zukunft,' or as a moderator, his mission is always to help decision-makers courageously drive the transformation to a sustainable economy. With over 100 pioneer stories under his belt, he can offer a broad insight into the crucial knowledge, strategies, and tactics of trailblazers. You can listen to Gewinne Zukunft on any available Podcast-platform.

Katharina Eickelberg is the Senior Vice President Global Communication & Sustainability at SMA Solar Technology AG, a leading global specialist in photovoltaic system technology. She is responsible for Communication, Brand, Public Affairs and Sustainability. Additionally, Katharina is a director on the board of Solar Power Europe. Before joining SMA, Katharina held different positions in the energy sector, most recently as Head of Business Communication at Swedish utility Vattenfall and member of the supervisory board of GASAG AG. Besides driving communication and sustainability at SMA, she concentrates on topics such as Leadership and Diversity & Inclusion. Katharina lives in Hannover with her two sons.

Marcus Fendt studied Industrial Engineering in Munich. Before joining The Mobility House in 2010, he held several management positions in the automotive and energy industry. As CSO and Managing Director at The Mobility House he is responsible for sales, international business development and marketing. Together with leading car manufacturers, utilities, fleet operators and e-mobility providers he realized partnerships and projects in the areas of smart charging solutions for electric vehicles and the underlying business models that arise out of the merge of the automotive and energy sector like V2G.

Markus Elsässer studied mechanical engineering at the University of Stuttgart. He worked for a German manufacturer of solar thermal systems before he founded several companies all in the field of renewable energies. Markus Elsässer is the founder and CEO of the company Solar Promotion GmbH, an internationally operating exhibition company with a focus on renewable energy, energy storage technologies, electric transportation and energy efficiency. In 1991 he founded Intersolar, the world´s leading exhibition series for the solar industry with events spanning four continents. In 2014 the ees (electrical energy storage) exhibition was started, which has become Europe's largest exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems. In 2018 he founded The smarter E, an innovation hub for events and topics driving the new energy world: renewable energies, decentralization, digitalization and electric transportation. Solar Promotion has currently 50+ employees in Germany and has representation offices in 14 countries.

Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade is CEO of EDP, a global leader in renewables, networks and client solutions, with operations across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. More than 85% of the energy produced by EDP comes from renewable sources, and the goal is to be all-green by 2030. Miguel accumulates more than 20 years of experience in the energy sector. He spent the early part of his career in Investment Banking and has been a leader at EDP since 2000, from several transactions and investments that laid the foundation for EDP Renewables, to CEO of EDP Spain, CEO of EDP's supply business in Portugal and Board Member of EDP Distribution. After being the CFO of EDP, Miguel became CEO of EDP and EDP Renewables in January 2021.

Franz-Josef Feilmeier studied business administration at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology and subsequently worked for various companies in the commercial vehicle and renewable energy sectors, including in China. In 2011, he founded FENECON GmbH, a manufacturer of home, commercial and industrial storage systems and energy management solutions, of which he is still the main shareholder and CEO. Awards such as the 'EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023' with the sustainability and audience award, as Top100 'Innovator of the Year 2023' or several The smarter E Awards underline the innovation orientation of the company with over 300 employees and production sites in Germany and soon in the USA. In terms of industry and energy policy, Franz-Josef Feilmeier is active in various IHK and DIHK committees, as well as the German Solar Association and other associations, in order to stand up for the vision of a '100% energy-positive world'.

- Mission: Electrify everything (that can be electrified) with clean and renewable energy. - Bruce Douglas has 25 years' international experience in the promotion of renewable energy and electrification. - He is currently CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, the single voice for the international renewable energy industry, representing wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, storage and green hydrogen. - Previously he has held the following positions: Director of Communications and Business at Eurelectric, Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe, Coordinator of the RE-Source Platform - the European alliance for corporate sourcing of renewable energy, founding Chairman of the Global Solar Council (GSC), Chief Operating Officer at WindEurope for 10 years, founding Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Managing Director of FLiDAR, an offshore wind company. - He has a Master degree in renewable energy systems technology and is fluent in English and French.