Speakers

Maria da Graça Carvalho is Minister for Environment and Energy, a former MEP and adviser to the European Commission. With a PhD from Imperial College, she has been pivotal in EU research, AI, and energy legislation. Her work merges scientific expertise and high-level governance to shape EU energy policy.

Irina is Team Leader at European Union DG ENER, where she contributes to the EU’s energy transition strategy. Irina develops policy and regulatory instruments that advance energy efficiency, grid integration, and decarbonization, while aligning member states under the goals of the SET Plan and Green Deal initiatives.

Pedro is the Head of Global Energy Management (GEM) at EDP with a career spanning risk management, energy planning, and trading. A former EFET Board Member, Pedro has driven EDP’s strategy in Iberian markets and across Europe, shaping regulatory engagement, investment decisions, and energy portfolio management.

Pedro is Director of Studies and Regulatory Affairs at REN, where he leads planning and regulation for electricity, gas, and renewable gases. With nearly 30 years in the energy sector, he has held key roles in infrastructure development, SCADA systems, and regulatory design, with a strong focus on hydrogen and energy transition.

Rita leads Competition and Energy Policies at EDP and chairs the Retail Market Design working group at Eurelectric. With a strong legal and policy background, Rita plays a strategic role in developing regulatory approaches for market liberalization, consumer engagement, and fair competition across Europe.

Ali specializes in power generation, energy storage, and market analytics. With leadership roles at GridBeyond, RPD Energy, and Key Capture Energy, plus experience at Constellation Energy and KKR, he offers expert consulting in power storage and retail markets. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering from UC San Diego and a master’s in financial engineering from UC Berkeley.

Pedro is full Professor at IST and researcher at INESC-ID. He is a top authority in electricity grids planning, smart grids and power systems. Pedro leads research on planning and operation of distribution networks and co-founded AmberTree. Pedro also serves at Smart Energy Lab, promoting technical innovation for resilient energy infrastructures.

Marcia is Head of European System Change at Octopus Energy and a Non-Executive Director at Eelpower. Marcia held senior roles at Ofgem and DECC, shaping regulation, strategy, and decarbonization frameworks. Marcia’s expertise includes governance, market reform, demand-side policy, and system flexibility.

Hélio is Technology and Innovation Officer at Siemens Portugal, with 20+ years of experience in automation, energy, and digitalization. Hélio led smart grid and electromobility initiatives and established R&D hubs, positioning Portugal in Siemens’ global strategy for energy innovation and sustainability.

Nuno is Head of Asset Management at EML / Marubeni, being an energy economist and engineer with a PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems. Nuno combines research at the University of Coimbra with leadership in asset management, aligning project implementation with sustainability principles and long-term infrastructure value.

Manuel is Director of Technology Strategy at Smartenergy with 30+ years across renewables, infrastructure, and international consulting. Manuel has led 1GW+ green hydrogen projects and held CEO roles, contributing to energy transition strategies in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, focusing on innovation and investment.

Nuno is Executive Board Member at R&D Nester. Nuno has led major R&D initiatives in smart grids, regulation, and market design. With prior roles in Martifer, KEMA, and government, Nuno’s work bridges policy, innovation, and system integration across European frameworks.