SPEAKERS

SOO-DEUK SOHN

CEO & PRESIDENT – BEXCO

DIRK LUKAT

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER –  DB SCHENKER KOREA Ltd.

Dirk Lukat is a German citizen and is the CEO of Schenker Korea Ltd in Seoul since Jan 2015. Dirk Lukat started his career at the former Schenker & Co. GmbH in Frankfurt and held a number of management positions at DB Schenker in Singapore, Vietnam, and India. Before coming to Korea, He served as General Manager of Schenker-Seino Co., Ltd in Japan and was active in the Logistics & Transport Committee of the EBC. He has comprehensive experience in the logistics industry including Contract Logistics, Air & Ocean Freight, Fairs & Exhibitions, and Projects for over 20 years. Mr. Lukat joined the ECCK as a member from Jan 2015 and was elected in Feb 2017 to the ECCK Board. He then was appointed as the Chairperson of the ECCK in July 2020. Previously from 2017 to 2019, he served as the Chairperson of ECCK’s Logistics & Transport Committee of which he still is a member today.

JUDIT SANDOR

PROGRAMME MANAGER & EUROPE`S RAIL JOINT UNDERTAKING

Judit Sandor studied management engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. In 2006, she started to work at the Association of the European Rail Manufacturers in Brussels where she held various positions, including Project Coordinator of FP6 and FP7 projects, Sustainability Manager and the ERTMS project manager of UNISIG. In 2014, she joined to the European Commission (DG MOVE) as Policy Officer for ERTMS and Shift2Rail.  She has been working at Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking since June 2017; she is the Programme Manager for Flagship area 6 “Regional rail services” and Flagship area 7 “Innovation on new approaches for guided transport modes”.

Prof. HAK-MIN KIM

HEAD OF DAEJEON_SEJONG-CHUNAM REGIONAL INNOVATION PLATFORM & CEO CHUNGNAM TECHNO PARK

Head of Daejeon-Sejong-Chunam Regional Innovation Platform (2021-), Chair of Korea Regional Innovation Platform Association (2023-), CEO of Chungnam Techno Park (2007-2010; Chair of Korea Techno Park Association) & Professor of Soonchunhyang University (1995-; Vice President 2015-2016, 2021)

DR. MARTIN HENKELMANN

PRESIDENT & CEO OF KOREAN – GERMAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (KGCCI) 

Dr. Martin Henkelmann draws his extended personal and professional experience from working with companies at the crossroads of business and public affairs for over 20 years. Practicing as a lawyer in Germany for over 4 years, he  then joined one of the leading consultancies in Brussels where he managed very successfully a portfolio of international companies and associations. From 2014, Dr. Henkelmann led the German-Tunisian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, growing its membership and its team. Between 2018 and 2021 he managed the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) where he enlarged the service portfolio and augmented the Chamber’s outreach to political stakeholder. Since May 2021, Dr. Henkelmann heads the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) as President & CEO and has been innovating the service portfolio while strengthening and enlarging the cooperation with strategic partners.

ANDREW S. MILLARD

Busan Representative for the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea

Andrew S. Millard is a British national who has lived and worked in Busan, South Korea since 2006. After obtaining a PhD in International Studies he worked as an assistant professor at Busan University of Foreign Studies for eight years before moving to Changwon National University in September, 2022. As well as a professor in the department of International Relations, he is now also the Dean of International Affairs at Changwon National University, as well as the Busan Representative for the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea.

DAVID PISTONI

CEO & CO-FOUNDER ZELEROS HYPERLOOP

ANDRÉS DE LEÓN

CEO HYPERLOOPTT

Known globally for his focused management style and creation of growth-oriented businesses within the infrastructure construction and alternative energy sectors, Andres de Leon was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2019. Previously, Andres had served as Chief Operations Officer for HyperloopTT for three years. Andres brings 30 years of international experience as a senior executive in manufacturing, finance management, private/public business negotiation, and tax and audit supervision to HyperloopTT. Andres has initiated and executed corporate affairs in Spain, Belgium, Portugal, France, Italy, Mexico, Chile, and the United States.

MARS GEUZE

CEO & CO-Founder HARDT HYPERLOOP

Mars Geuze is Chief Commercial Officer at Hardt Hyperloop, a European company that develops the hyperloop: sustainable high-speed transportation for passengers and goods. Within Hardt, Geuze is responsible for all the non-technical aspects concerning hyperloop, such as public adoption, standardization, the financial and socio-economic business cases and the integration in the spatial environment as well as in the transport network. Hardt Hyperloop has realized Europe’s first full-scale hyperloop test facility and is spearheading a broad public-private development and implementation program to collaboratively create a world where distance does not matter.

JÖRG MARIENHAGEN

DIRECTOR MOBILITY CONSULTING – DB ENGINEERING & CONSULTING 

Jörg Marienhagen is a passionate railway and maglev engineer with substantial experience in the management of complex both national and international railway projects. His 25+ year career has covered the complete life cycle of rail-bound infrastructure, from feasibility studies to operations. He has worked as a project manager, bid manager, and lead engineer on several projects where he had successfully managed large project teams across multiple offices, disciplines, and cultures. Whilst traveling the world for business, focal points so far have been the Middle East and the continent of Africa. Having spent his entire career in the railway industry, he works for Deutsche Bahn since 2010. Jörg is currently appointed as Director for Mobility Consulting at DB Engineering & Consulting based in Berlin, Germany.

MEHMET ÖRGEN

HYPERLOOP LEAD – ERCIYAS

Mehmet Örgen is Electric & Electronics Engineer. After 30 years of experience in Turkish Navy and NATO, he has been a Senior Manager at Erciyas Holding since 2014. Besides his corporate responsibilities, he is working on startup discovery, innovation development, energy and technology projects acceleration in a broad ecosystem. In his capacity, he is leading Hyperloop activities in the conglemorate  and putting all his efforts to pioneer Hyperloop Development globally.

LEO TONIDANDEL

COUNTRY MANAGER KOREA – LUFTHANSA GROUP

DR. LUCIENNE KROSSE

THEMATIC LEAD SMART BUILDINGS & CITIES EIT INNOENERGY

Dr. Lucienne Krosse has a background in Chemical Engineering. She obtained her Master’s degree from the University of Twente in the Netherlands. At the Technical University of Delft she worked on her PhD ‘compact thermochemical storage’. Afterwards, she started to work for the Dutch Institute for Applied Scientific Research, TNO where she served in different scientific, business and management positions. During that time she also worked for a year at the Dutch Embassy in Beijing at the department of Economic affairs. Meanwhile, she was involved in setting up a joint venture for TNO in China, BBTDC. Currently she works for InnoEnergy as thematic leader of ‘Smart Buildings and Cities’. InnoEnergy is the innovation engine for sustainable energy across Europe supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. InnoEnergy invests in innovative products, services and start-ups.

DR. WOOYEON CHO

SENIOR RESEARCHER – POSCO STEEL SOLUTION RESEARCH LABORATORY 

Dr. Wooyeon Cho has been working at POSCO, a Korean steel company, for about 20 years as a tube structure development researcher, and has been conducting research to improve the performance of pipelines and tube structures using various steel properties.
He has been involved in designing optimal tube structures to improve the competitiveness of hyperloop infrastructure while participating in the European Hyperloop Development Program. He is interested in designing infrastructure to reduce total investment costs throughout the entire stage of hyperloop development (design/production/transport/installation), and leads a new concept of hyperloop tube development program considering large size.

KIWON LEE

BUSINESS LINE MANAGER SCIENTIFIC VACUUM – LEYBOLD

YOUNGMIN PARK

ACCOUNT MANAGER/ GROUND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS SOUTH KOREA –  THALES 

DAESHIN LEE ( 상무 이대신 )

BUSINESS LINE MANAGER INDUSTRIAL VACUUM – LEYBOLD 

Daeshin Lee has over two decades of experience in the vacuum industry, where he has gained extensive knowledge in various vacuum technology applications and markets. As the Business Line Manager for Leybold Korea, he has played an essential role in the design and simulation of the vacuum-based Hyperloop project since its inception. As a trusted partner, he and Leybold Korea provide expert consultation on vacuum technology-related challenges to ensure successful outcomes for the future of transportation innovation.

PROF. NOH-SHIN LEE

PROFESSOR OF HOSEO UNIVERSITY

Coordinator of Daejeon-Sejong-Chunam Regional Innovation Platform (2021-), Head of Research Group for Chungnam Industry-Economy Development (2022), Steering Committee of (National) Press Arbitration Commission (2020-2021), Professor of Hoseo University (2007-) & Expert of mobility industry 

MARTIN JOHANN FRÖHLICH

CEO – MOTHER EARTH VENTURES

Martin Johann Fröhlich belongs to a new generation of entrepreneurs. After his studies in International Management achieved around the world (Berlin, Paris, London, Chengdu/China) and his cooperation with Siemens in Denmark, he becomes self-employed. As an innovative and ambitious entrepreneur, he founds his sustainable fashion label Martin Joyeux and his Capital Fund Mother Earth Ventures, whose vision and aim is to transform our world into an ecologically compatible, socially just and economically efficient place to live in. In other words, its aspiration and contribution is to balance technology, people and planet. Currently Martin works as Senior Manager in the department Ecosystem Management and Partnerships at Deutsche Bahn. He deals with future topics, specifically he develops disruptive business models in the mobility sector and works on long-term sustainable mobility solutions such as flying taxis, hyperloop, autonomous hotel rooms.

HYEYOUNG KIM

VICE PRESIDENT OF SMART CITY INNOVATION GROUP – HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP

Hyeyoung Kim is the Vice President and Head of the Smart City Innovation Group at the Global Strategy Office of Hyundai Motor Group. Her focal areas in business spans from mobility for people & goods (logistics), energy and robotics sectors, and she is responsible for developing strategies as well as formulating pilot projects aligning with smart city visions and new business roadmaps of HMG. She has over 20 years of consulting experience specialized in Growth Strategy and Business Transformation for top-tier companies such as Hyundai, Samsung., SK an CJ. She is a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, and opt-in research community of business professionals.

ANDREA SANTANGELO

CIVIL STRUCTURAL ENGINEER – P.E.

Dr. Andrea Santangelo did his education as a civil structural engineer in Italy and took his major in the USA. He started his engineering career in Italy and quickly he expanded it to the four corners of the world. He works as a consultant for more than 25 years with some of the most relevant companies in the industrial and infrastructure field such as ENI, Enel Power, Taisei Corp., Caltrans, and Parsons among others. He has actually offices in Catania, Italy, and Las Vegas, Nevada (USA). Since 2015 he is actively involved in the design development of a reliable infrastructure system to be built around the hyperloop technology, working together with the most advanced hyperloop Companies, Universities, and Research Facilities that believe in this challenging yet fascinating project.

MICHAEL HENGST

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND ACTING HEAD OF SAFETY  HYPERLOOPTT

Studies of Aerospace Engineering and MBA, always had a strong focus on Operations, Customer Services, Digital Transformation & Innovation Experienced Executive with 22 years of management experience in different Transportation Industries (Aerospace, Automotive and Railways), ran several companies as MD/CEO. Hyperloop Enthusiast, active member of HyperloopTT since 2018, in charge of Operations and Support, Safety, Quality and Risk Management.

DR. NOANNE BOTHA

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER REGION AFRICA DB ENGINEERING & CONSULTING

Dr Noanne Botha is an accomplished executive with a deep expertise in rail mobility business management, infrastructure financing and syndication, and mega programme management. Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer for the African subsidiary of DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH, where she is entrusted with overseeing the strategy and operations of the Company’s railway business throughout the African continent. With over 16 years of experience in the field, Dr Botha has been instrumental in driving the development of the African railway market and has successfully managed mega railway programmes worldwide. Her extensive knowledge of project, and programme management, has been pivotal in delivering complex railway projects in diverse environments. In addition to her professional achievements, Dr Botha is also known for her dedication to giving back to her local community. She has been actively involved in various training and academic philanthropic initiatives aimed at promoting education, sustainable development and improving transportation infrastructure in underserved areas.

JACK JUNG

SENIOR MANAGER OF SMART CITY INNOVATION GROUP – HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP

Jack Jung is a Senior Manager of Smart City Innovation Group at the Global Strategy Office of Hyundai Motor Group. He started his career at Samsung SDS as a software engineer and later founded a government funded startup where he was in charge of software applications. In 2018, he joined Hyundai Motor Group and worked on projects including establishing strategies for cross-country M&A and developing business models for autonomous vehicle based services. Furthermore, he was appointed as the executive assistant to the CIO of Hyundai Motor Group, where he engaged in high-level projects in the fields of smart factories, smart cities, and open innovation strategies. Since January 2023, he is in charge of establishing and updating business strategies and planning collaborative projects in various domains of smart cities.

JUHYUH KANG

APPLICATION & TECHNICAL SUPPORT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – LEYBOLD KOREA 

JUHYUH KANG leads the application and technical support team, and he is charge of the business and application development in Leybold Korea. Before Leybold join, He was R&D engineer for Semi market and he has experience about Display, Solar and Plant as process engineer. As application manager in Leybold Korea, he has supported reliable vacuum solutions to customer in Korea. Specially, his team supported hyperloop project in Korea and built up the demo and pilot test line with customer.

ÖMER KÖKNAL

PRODUCTION MANAGER – CIMTAS STEEL

Ömer Köknal is a Metallurgical & Materials Engineer graduated from Istanbul Technical University with a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering at the same university. He joined Cimtas Group in 2004 as a Welding Engineer. Having held several roles in different functions and locations of the Group Companies including Ningbo Plant in China, recently he is in the fabrication team of Cimtas Steel as Fabrication Manager for production of wind towers, pressure vessels, steel structures and offshore structures. Ömer has 20 years of experience in fabrication activities namely as welding, CNC cutting & drilling, machining, blasting & painting, and other fabrication methods with lean manufacturing skills acquired in the time.

MARCEL CRUIJFF

Researcher – TATA STEEL

Researcher and mechanical designer with experience in a wide area of technical disciplines such as high temperature and cooling issues, strength, motion and complex functional parts design for 3d printing. Expertise: Unconventional problem solver, knowledge and experience in mechanical FEA (finite element analysis) and flow simulations, project leader in metal coatings projects.

MICHAEL STEININGER

Business Development Manager – Leybold

Business Development Manager for HYPERLOOP, Solar, Lithium Ion Battery Expert in Vacuum Technology and application with 32 years of experience at Leybold. Physicist, studied at the University of Mainz, Germany 61 years old, married and father of 3 sons.

ALBERTO VICENT

Business Analyst – Zeleros Hyperloop 

Alberto is a Civil Engineer graduated from Polytechnic University of Valencia and M.B.A by the Menendez Pelayo University with additional studies in Economy and Big Data. He has developed his career as a consultant in the fields of Enterprises Internationalization and Business Intelligence. Prior to join Zeleros Alberto has held different positions in the Trade Department of the Spanish Government (Turkey and United Kingdom) and in the private sector, where he has acted as a Business Analyst in Rolling Stock and Engineering companies.  In his new role as a Business Analyst at Zeleros, he will use his cross-sectorial experience to make Hyperloop a reality.

HUIB SIMON

HEAD OF MARKETING – TATA STEEL EUROPE

Huib Simon (The Netherlands, 1975) leads the marketing activities of Tata Steel in Europe for the Engineering market sector. He holds an MSc in Polymer Chemistry and an MBA. In 1998 he joined the steel industry as a researcher at the R&D department. Since then he has been active in diverse functions across product and business development, marketing, strategy and business planning. With mobility as a key area of interest, he has worked on the hyperloop development since Tata Steel’s earliest involvement in 2018.

ZACH LAMOTHE

SENIOR BUSINESS ANALYST – TRANSPOD 

Zach works at TransPod, a Canadian-French company developing the next generation of ultra-high-speed tube transportation. He leads TransPod’s business development, working with partners, investors, and governments to establish TransPod transportation systems around the world. Prior to joining TransPod, Zach led a last-mile delivery startup and worked as a management consultant in Canada. Zach is passionate about innovating for a better future.

OLIVIER WAEBER

HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION MANAGEMENT – SCHWEIZER BUNDESBAHNEN

Olivier Waeber joined the SBB AG in 2017 and currently leads a team responsible for technology and innovation management at SBB Infrastructure. The focus is the validation and industrialization of new technologies for a secure, customer-oriented and efficient core business as well the development of new solutions for current challenges at SBB Infrastructure. Olivier coordinates SBB’s involvement in the field of vacuum transport. He received his diploma from ETH in Zurich and his Ph.D. in Strategy and Innovation from EPFL in Lausanne. Finally, he worked as a Business Consultant for Business Innovation and Digital Transformation in various industries. He has overseen many digitization initiatives and is an expert in innovation and technology management.