FEICA 2024 European Adhesive & Sealant Conference and EXPO
NH Conference Centre, Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands - 11-13 September 2024

Ms Kim Suetens is Chair of the FEICA Mixture Assessment Technical Task Force (TTF) and Vice Chair of the Polymers TTF. The Mixture Assessment TTF was created to raise awareness of the impact that the implementation of an MAF on REACH would have on the A&S industry. It also covers the implementation of FEICA use maps. The Polymers TTF participates in the discussions for future amendments to the legal text/annex in order to get exemptions for polymer groups based on sound scientific principles. Kim is also a Member of the FEICA Sustainable Development (SD) Committee, the Chemical Legislation Technical Working Group, the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) TTF and the Poison Centres TTF.

At Soudal, Kim Suetens holds the position as Regulatory Affairs Manager. She joined Soudal in 2017 after having worked in the pharmaceutical sector. She has a great passion for human and environmental welfare, this made her achieve an MS in Bioscience Engineering with specialisation in Environmental Technology.

Ms Flor Peña Herron is Chair of the FEICA Sustainable Development (SD) Committee. The SD Committee aims to engender support for the EU Green Deal and the new Circular Economy Action Plan throughout the adhesives and sealants industry supply chain. Flor is also a Member of the FEICA European Advocacy Group (EAG), the FEICA European Technical Board (ETB), the FEICA Sustainability & Recycling of Adhesives in Paper & Packaging Applications Technical Task Force and the Electronics Technical Task Force.

Flor has been working in different departments at Avery Dennison since 2005. Since September 2017 she has been working in Sustainability & Circular Economy projects internally and externally. Flor currently holds the position of Senior Sustainability & Circular Economy Manager EMEA at Avery Dennison.

Mr Peter Boris Schmitt is Chair of the FEICA European Advocacy Group. The European Advocacy Group (EAG) anticipates and addresses adhesive and sealant industry-critical and high-level issues. The EAG is responsible for the coordination of all FEICA’s advocacy efforts. Peter Boris Schmitt is also a Member of the FEICA European Technical Board (ETB).

Peter Boris Schmitt joined Henkel in 2009 and is since 2015 Head of the Henkel EU Office, Public Affairs & Governmental Relations. He started his career as Deputy Head of Office, political advisor and parliamentary assistant to K.-H. Florenz MEP, and also as Administrator at the European Parliament, at the Secretariat of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change.

Ms Elizabeth Staab is Chair of the FEICA Sustainability & Recycling of Adhesives in Paper & Packaging Applications Technical Task Force (TTF). The Sustainability and Recycling of Adhesives in Paper and Packaging Applications TTF exchanges, prepares and co-ordinates expertise and input for packaging value chains, regulators and other stakeholders as needed. Elizabeth is also a Member of the FEICA Sustainable Development Committee.

At H.B. Fuller, Elizabeth leads the sustainable packaging product strategy for the Packaging segment and ensures that product and solution developments meet future sustainability and circular economy needs. She has 15 years of B2B marketing experience, has led regional and global teams and has a deep passion for sustainability.

Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist at 3M and currently holds 77 patents for a variety of innovations. She joined 3M in 1993 after an MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, New York. Jayshree was appointed 3M’s first ever Chief Science Advocate in 2018 and is using her scientific knowledge, technical expertise and professional experience to advance science, and to communicate the benefits of science and the importance of diversity in STEM fields. She is also a member of Carlton Society which is the 3M Science and Innovation “Hall of Fame.” In 2020, she was awarded Society of Women Engineers (SWE) highest Achievement Award. She is also the first-ever winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the new Female Thought Leaders of the Year – category in 2021. Jayshree was featured in a docuseries titled Not the Science Type that premiered during the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. She is the author of two books, and a sought-after speaker, globally, on a multitude of topics such as innovation, leadership and STEM advocacy.  We are excited to have her with us today and look forward to her presentation.

Lars Kissau studied Chemistry in Freiburg and Business Administration in Hagen, Germany. After receiving his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Max-Planck-Institute in Dortmund in 2002 he joined BASF in 2003. After various management positions in Germany, Singapore and Shanghai, he has been leading BASF’s Net Zero Accelerator unit since 2022. The Net Zero Accelerator focuses on implementing and accelerating projects on low-carbon production technologies, the circular economy and renewable energies to achieve global CO2 reduction targets.

Before joining the EPC, Georg served as diplomatic adviser to the EU’s Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier and Head of strategy, media and diplomatic relations in the European Commission’s Task force for EU-UK negotiations.

Previously, Georg was an adviser for security and defence at the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC), the European Commission’s in-house think tank. In that capacity he helped initiate and develop Commission initiatives in the areas of defence as part of President Juncker’s programme, and worked on EU-NATO relations.

Georg also served as member of cabinet to Commission Vice-President and commissioner Michel Barnier in the period 2010-2014, working on single market reforms, industrial and digital policies, as well as inter-institutional relations in the context of the post-financial crisis regulatory agenda.

Before moving to Belgium, Georg worked in the French Ministry of Foreign and European affairs and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as in the private and non-profit sectors in France.

Georg holds a master’s degree in political science from l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and studied economics and philosophy at the London School of Economics.

Mr Otto Linher is a senior expert at the European Commission, DG Internal Market, Industry, Enterprise and SMEs, REACH Unit. He deals with the implementation of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and in particular the planned revision of the REACH Regulation. Previously he dealt with the implementation of the REACH regulation, in particular files related to authorisation, restrictions and the relations to the European Chemicals Agency, competitiveness aspects of the chemicals industry, classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals, waste legislation and a number of other environmental files.

Educational background in organic chemistry, BSc obtained in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Working 18 years for Kraton Pine Chemical in The Netherlands as member of the R&D team. Current job is technical service to support EU customers and new product development projects focused on the adhesives market. Responsibilities include the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) program to understand environmental impact of Kraton Pine Chemicals products.

Adam has over 20 years’ experience in project management, directing market research and working with clients to deliver high-value strategic studies and analysis. During his time at Smithers he has published or delivered hundreds of market studies, reports, technical books and single-client projects across a range of industries including raw materials. During his time at Smithers, Adam has established and developed a global network of experts, consultants and researchers who contribute to hundreds of primary research-based projects every year. Adam is a member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals.