Jamal Al Ghurair, Managing Director and Principal Shareholder of Al Khaleej Sugar (AKS), leads the largest and most energy efficient standalone sugar refinery in the world. Thanks to his vision and drive, Al Khaleej Sugar has expanded capacity from 2,400 tonnes per day in 1995 to over 7,000 tonnes per day, at present. The company’s success as a standalone refinery has surpassed all expectations due to his deep knowledge of the industry and close business relationships with tier one Brazilian suppliers, who have provided AKS with consistently high-quality raw sugar for several years. Al Khaleej Sugar currently contributes 3% of the world’s refined sugar production. Jamal is also the Chairman of Canal Sugar, an integrated agro-industrial project incorporating reclamation and cultivation of around 76,000 hectares. The integrated facility is the world’s largest sugar beet processing plant with an annual production capacity of 900,000 tonnes of premium white sugar. Jamal is also the Vice Chairman of Emirates Investment & Development PSC, a recognized UAE private shareholding firm with a comprehensive portfolio of investments. Concurrently, he manages his own group of companies.

Jacob Robbins is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Emeterra, a Singapore-headquartered enterprise focussed on the food and agri sectors. With its strong emphasis on foodtech and agtech, Emeterra partners with promising companies and globally acclaimed research institutions on disruptive technologies. Its collaborations for novel ingredients address key gaps in the consumer landscape. Emeterra produces a wide range of value-added food – including sugars and sweeteners – for regional and multinational customers. Jacob is a Senior Adviser to Olympus Capital Asia, and has been on the Boards of foodtech companies such as Ripple Foods. Previously, Jacob spent 20 years in global executive positions with The Coca-Cola Company. In his last role there as Managing Director, overseeing the principal global agricultural commodity spend of the company and its bottlers, he led the world’s largest supply chain of sugar and starch sweeteners, covering over 120 countries. Prior to that, as part of TAS within the Tata Group, he led Tata Steel’s international trading operations for soft commodities. Jacob has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics as well as a degree in Management, complemented by programmes at Wharton and the Harvard Business School.

Tomás Manzano is the Chief Executive Officer of Copersucar, a role he has held since 2022. With extensive experience in agribusiness, bioenergy, logistics and international commodity markets, Tomás has been part of Copersucar’s leadership since 2012, contributing to the company’s strategic development and operational integration across the entire value chain. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Eco-Energy, a leading US platform for ethanol trading, logistics and natural gas, and as Chairman of Newcom, a renewable power trading company in Brazil. Tomás sits on the Boards of Alvean, Evolua and Logum. He is also part of committees dedicated to strategy, risk management and human capital. Prior to joining Copersucar, he held leadership roles in the orange juice, telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries with responsibilities in finance, strategy, market intelligence and business development. Tomás holds a degree in Business Administration from Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing (ESPM) and an MBA from the School of Economics, Business and Accounting at the University of São Paulo (FEAUSP).

Serge Varsano is Chairman of the Management Board of Sucden, he has actively steered the company for nearly four decades. In 1976 Serge joined Sucden – the company founded by his father Maurice in 1952 – as a trader. Working at various levels within the organization, Serge grew in his career and became the General Manager of the sugar trading division in 1980. In 1986, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer. He was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer and Chairman in 1988. Serge focussed on restructuring Sucden, diversifying the portfolio and bringing in multiple commodities, leading the company to its present size and scale. He continues to lead the organization and nurtures the next generation. Serge studied at the Business School of the University of Southern California, USA.

Jonathan Drake serves as the Technical Adviser for the Sugar division at Golden Agri-Resources. Throughout his career spanning over 35 years in the sugar trading industry, Jonathan has played a pivotal role in shaping and expanding the sugar business for leading companies such as Cargill and the RCMA Group. In 2012, he pioneered the establishment of the sugar trading product line for the RCMA Group, significantly contributing to its ascent as a prominent player in containerized flows of white sugar. This success culminated in the acquisition of the RCMA Group's sugar trading business by Golden Agri-Resources in 2019. Jonathan's contributions extend beyond business development – he also played a key role in founding The Dubai Sugar Conference and remains actively involved in its operations. Jonathan holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master's degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Dr Claudiu Covrig is Founder and Lead Agriculture Analyst of CovrigAnalytics, an independent provider of market research, analysis, forecasts, supply & demand, trade flows and policy information for the sugar and ethanol markets. Claudiu’s expertise includes market research, trade flows, forecasts, international arbitrages, futures and swaps trading combined with academic work focussed on management, economics and renewable energy markets and systems. He often serves as a speaker or chairman at international conferences. With over 18 years’ experience, prior to founding CovrigAnalytics, Claudiu worked as a market research analyst and consultant with S&P Global Platts and Kingsman in Switzerland, and traded futures and swaps with Sucden in Geneva. He was also a research associate and university assistant professor in Switzerland and Romania. Claudiu has a PhD degree from Transilvania University of Brasov, with a focus on renewable and conventional energy markets and systems. In addition, he has a Master’s degree in Engineering Design and Management of Renewable Energy Sources and a diploma in Economic Engineering.

Mauro S J Angelo is the Chief Executive Officer of Alvean. He started his career at The Boston Consulting Group and later moved to commodity markets at UBS (formerly Link Investimentos). In 2006, Mauro joined Copersucar in São Paulo as Sugar and Ethanol Trader. Early 2012, he became the Head of Raw Sugar Trading at Copersucar and continued in this position when Copersucar and Cargill formed Alvean in 2014. Since then, he is based in Geneva. Later, in 2019, he was appointed as Alvean’s Chief Commercial Officer. Mauro assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Alvean in 2023. He also serves as Council Member at The Sugar Association of London (SAL) and is a Member of the World Sugar Committee at ICE Futures US. Mauro holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Finance and Economics.

Sean Diffley is Head of Sugar Platform at Louis Dreyfus Company. He joined the group in 2025, bringing his extensive experience in the sugar industry, from his work at Tropix Capital Management, an asset manager that specialized in soft commodities, of which he was the Founder and Managing Director. Prior to that, Sean was with ED&F Man Commodities, where he held several trading and management positions covering multiple product lines and geographies, including Head of Global Sugar Trading. He is also Chairman of the World Sugar Committee, at the ICE US Exchange. Sean is a graduate of the University of London and Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Jose Eduardo Toledo is Global Head of Sugar Trading at COFCO International. Prior to sugar, he was engaged in fundamental research on the soya bean complex at ABIOVE. Eduardo began his career in sugar at Copersucar in 2003, moving to Noble Group in 2008. At Noble, he initially worked on originating sugar in Brazil. In 2012, Eduardo moved to the Stamford office in USA to assist in the coordination of the global physical book. Noble’s agricultural division was acquired by COFCO in 2014, and since 2018, he has been responsible for the sugar trading division for both physical sugar and proprietary trading. Eduardo holds a degree in International Relations from PUC-SP and an MBA from the University of São Paulo.

Dimitri Varsano is Co-Global Head of Sugar Trading at Sucden. He began his career in 2017 as a trader in Sucden Americas following sugar flows in the Latin America region. A year later, he joined Sucden Paris to implement physical and hedging strategies for the global raw sugar book, contributing to its expansion in the past five years. As of January 2024, Dimitri assumed the role of Co-Global Head of Sucden’s sugar trading activities. Alongside his role in sugar, since 2020, Dimitri is a member of the executive committee of Sucden Ventures, the entity dedicated to investing in innovative early-stage growth companies in the food and agricultural sector. He is a graduate of Babson College, Boston.

Guilherme Nastari is a Director at DATAGRO. Since 2005, he has been engaged in several agro-industrial market advisory projects at the company, and worked with sugar, ethanol, alcohol, biodiesel, biogas, SAF, cane, citrus, beet, cattle, coffee, corn, soya bean, trading companies, banks, financial funds, millers, fuel distributors, input suppliers, governments and NGOs. Guilheme is a Board Member of the Global Agribusiness Forum, since 2013; Director at the Brazilian Sugar and Ethanol Exporters Association (AEXA), since 2009; and former Director of the Brazilian Rural Society (SRB). Prior to joining DATAGRO, he had trading desk assignments at Cargill in Geneva and Hong Kong, and a research assignment at the ISO in London. Guilherme is a regular columnist in various technical publications and speaker in conferences in Brazil, USA, UK, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt and several other countries in LATAM, Asia and Africa. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from IBMEC (Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets), São Paulo, and an MSc in Agroenergy from Fundação Getulio Vargas, São Paulo. 

Jeremy Austin, General Director of Sucden do Brasil, has been in charge of the company since its inception in 1994. He started working with Sucres et Denrees in October 1985. As of 1988, he was covering the Brazil market, and following the privatization process and all its developments. With the acceleration of the growth of exports in the late 1990s and the continuation of this trend, Jeremy moved from Paris to Brazil in 2003 to be more closely involved with the sugar industry. He was a Board Member of the FBA, from 2000 to 2005, and Tereos International, from 2010 to 2016. He is also a member of AEXA. Jeremy studied Mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford, and in 1985 graduated from Oxford University with a Master of Arts and Fluency in French.

Ricardo Busato Carvalho is Commercial Director at bp bioenergy, and leads the company's sugar and ethanol trading in Brazil. From 2020 to 2024, Ricardo was the Commercial and Agricultural Business Director at bp Bunge Bioenergia. Prior to this, he worked at Bunge from 2002 to 2019, focussing on the industrial areas of soya bean crushing and the soya bean complex as well as corn trading and origination. Ricardo is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Paraná, he has a degree in Agribusiness Management from the Agronomic Institute of Paraná and an MBA in Business Administration from Dom Cabral Foundation.

Gabriel Carvalho is the Head of Physical Trading at Alvean, a leading sugar trading company within the Copersucar Group. Based in Geneva, he oversees the global trading of raw and white sugar, managing over 13 million tonnes per year. With 22 years of experience in the sugar market, Gabriel brings in deep expertise in the Brazilian industry. After seven years of rapid career growth at Cargill Sugar, he spent over a decade at major Brazilian sugarcane milling groups, serving as Director at Bunge, Clealco and Biosev, before joining Alvean in 2022. In addition to sugar, ethanol and electricity trading, Gabriel has held interim Chief Financial Officer and business development roles at Clealco, and led land lease and cane origination across multiple regions for Biosev, when it was the second largest sugarcane milling group. Gabriel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from EAESP – Fundação Getulio Vargas.

Brad Sullivan is Chief Operating Officer of ICE Futures US, a regulated futures exchange and subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange, where he oversees the day-to-day operations of the exchange, including market operations, technology, risk management and regulatory engagement. He is also responsible for the ICE Exchange Product Committees. Prior to joining ICE, Brad was Managing Director at TJM Institutional Services, an independent broker providing brokerage and execution of futures, options and OTC exchange products. Before that, he was Vice President of the Energy and Commodity Division at ICAP for over a decade following a role as a broker in ICAP’s Environmental Commodities business. During his time at ICAP, Brad worked in Houston, New York and London. He started his career as a Legislative Aide in the United States Senate. Brad is a graduate of Transylvania University, and also holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Jan Lambregts is the Head of RaboResearch Global Economics & Markets at Rabobank. He oversees a worldwide team of analysts and strategists who cover macro, FX, rates, credit, agri-commodities and energy markets for key clients. Before his move to London in 2009 to head up the global team, Jan lived and worked in Singapore and Hong Kong for seven years, covering macro, FX and rates strategy for Rabobank’s clients, with particular focus on Japan and China. A cum laude graduate of Tilburg University in the Netherlands, Jan holds a Master’s degree in Micro / Macro Economics, with further specializations in finance and international trade.

Anand Mahurkar is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Findability Sciences, a company which aims to equip enterprises with ‘The Ability to Find Information’. Headquartered in Boston, Findability Sciences progressed technologically in the AI and Data solutions space, adding Cognitive Computing and Machine Learning technologies to its repertoire. In 2017, he led the company to form a JV with Softbank and a Series A funding by the bank. Anand’s technological prowess and understanding of AI and Data earned him places on the IBM Watson Ecosystem Partner Advisory Board, Forbes Technology Council and the Fast Company Executive Board. In 2021, Financial Times recognized Findability Sciences as one of the fastest-growing companies in USA and INC Magazine recognized the company as being among the fastest-growing American private companies in 2020. Findability Sciences was also recognized in the AI & Data category of Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards. Anand is a Charter Member of TiE – Boston, where he mentors budding entrepreneurs. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

Guillermo Medina is Chief Digital Analytics Officer at Pantaleon Sugar Holdings and leads Stomata Labs, an AI Center of Excellence focussed on turning agro-industrial data into measurable EBITDA gains. He drives end-to-end transformation across farming, harvesting, manufacturing and energy operations – building modern data architecture, deploying advanced analytics, and scaling machine-learning optimizers and GenAI copilots to frontline teams. Guillermo's work bridges strategy, finance and execution, spanning the selection of high-impact use cases, structuring partnerships and proving value through rapid pilots that harden into production. Guillermo speaks on pragmatic AI adoption, operational excellence and climate-resilient agriculture, emphasizing how AI converts volatility into decisions – better yields, lower cost and safer, more reliable plants. Previously, Guillermo was Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at Pantaleon Sugar Holdings. Prior to that, he was Co-Chief Investment Officer at Applied Resources, Chief Investment Officer at Spectrum and Chief Disruption Officer at TPG Quest. Guillermo has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Engineering from Queen’s University, Canada, and a Master’s degree in Applied Economics and Business from Mays Business School – Texas A&M University, followed by an executive programme in Corporate Level Strategy from Harvard Business School.

Emmanuel Rapendy is the Global Business Unit Head for Polymer & Crystallization at Sulzer, focussing on technology for monomer and polymer production, including advanced biopolymers. With an international career spanning previous roles at SpecialChem, TotalEnergies and Eastman Kodak, he brings deep expertise across the chemicals and materials industries, combining strong technical capabilities with strategic market insight. Emmanuel and his team have a clear mission: to deliver innovative, sustainable production technologies to global markets and accelerate the development of next‑generation materials and processes. Through his leadership, Sulzer has strengthened its position as a market leader in PLA technology, supporting the global transition toward high‑performance, bio‑based materials and enabling customers to adopt cleaner, more efficient industrial solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future. Emmanuel holds a Master’s in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the École Supérieure de Chimie Organique et Minérale (ESCOM) in Paris, and a Master’s in Finance from the University of Paris Panthéon Sorbonne.

Nereo Rodriguez is Sales Manager Biopolymer Technology Licenses at Sulzer. He is responsible for the sales and licensing of biopolymer technologies with a focus on polylactic acid (PLA) from sugar sources – both 1st and 2nd generation – and other renewable feedstocks, mostly in the western hemisphere. Nereo joined Sulzer Chemtech’s polymer business team in 2021 as Senior Sales Manager for foam extrusion lines with global coverage. Prior to this, since 2012, he worked with a number of technology providers in sales and application engineering roles for the oil and chemical industries around the world. Nereo has a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, and an MBA.

Walid Fawaz is a Director at Cargill Risk Management, based in Geneva, where he leads risk management solutions for sugar and other commodities across EMEA. In this role, Walid is responsible for developing and implementing tailored hedging strategies that help producers, refiners and traders manage price volatility and protect margins. He works closely with clients to integrate SWAPs and other OTC instruments into comprehensive risk frameworks aligned with their commercial objectives. He brings a decade of experience in commodity markets, combining deep market insight with a client-focussed approach. Prior to his current role at Cargill, Walid worked in trade finance, OTC sales and strategy consulting. Passionate about collaborative problem-solving, Walid is committed to helping the sugar industry navigate evolving trade flows and regulatory landscapes while building sustainable, long-term partnerships. He holds an MBA from HEC Paris.

Marc-Antoine Ferreira is a Digital Sales Support Lead at Cargill Risk Management, where he drives global customer success across Latin America, North America, EMEA and APAC. Marc-Antoine joined Cargill in 2021, and his mission is to enhance platform usage, deliver strategic digital solutions and strengthen client relationships. He began his career at Thomson Reuters in 2005, supporting financial markets applications with a strong focus on client satisfaction. He quickly advanced to lead the Fixed Income interest group, driving product adoption and customer engagement. From 2008, he managed a high-performing team of 30 service professionals, spearheading innovative support models and elevating service standards across the organization. Marc-Antoine holds a Master’s degree in Business Management from IAE Lyon School of Management, France.

Ioana Slavici is Senior Derivatives Trader and Softs Portfolio Manager at Cargill Risk Management, focussed on trading and risk management across global sugar markets. Her role centres on risk positioning, portfolio management and volatility analysis, with an emphasis on how market structure and uncertainty shape price behaviour. With over 15 years of experience in commodity trading and risk management, Ioana has worked across multiple commodity cycles, bringing a market-driven perspective to navigating volatile price environments. Prior to joining Cargill, she worked at RWE Supply & Trading in Geneva, gaining experience in market risk, portfolio analysis and structuring across energy and commodity markets. She combines quantitative expertise with hands-on trading experience to analyze market signals and risk dynamics in soft commodity markets. Ioana holds a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering and Risk Management from HEC Lausanne.

Ravi Gupta is Director on the Board of Shree Renuka Sugars, a prominent global entity specializing in sugar and ethanol production. With a career spanning more than three decades in the agricultural commodities industry, Ravi has held pivotal roles, including that of Managing Director at Noble Agri (now a part of COFCO International) in India, Chief Executve Officer of Australian Wheat Board in India, President of Bajaj Hindusthan and Vice President at Louis Dreyfus in India. A respected figure in the global sugar industry, he plays a key role in shaping the ethanol policy in India. Ravi also serves as Co-Chairman of the committee on WTO, Trade & Investment at the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Member of the Task Force of the Sugar and Ethanol Committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Vice Chairman of All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA). Additionally, he is an Executive Member of the Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and an Executive Committee Member of the West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA).

Niraj Shirgaokar is President of the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), the premier organization of sugar and ethanol manufacturers in India. He was previously the President of ISMA in 2020-21. Niraj is also the Managing Director of The Ugar Sugar Works, the parent body of the Shirgaokar Group of Companies (SB Group) which has interests in sugar, power, ethanol, Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), foundries and IT.  He has been a key delegate and contributor to various sugar and biofuel panels, including expert studies involving sugar policy, bioenergy development, sustainability transitions and ethanol expansion. He co-founded and promoted iResearch Services in 2008, which is one of India’s leading B2B marketing agencies focussing on research-led Insights and Thought Leadership studies. Previously, Niraj served as the President of South Indian Sugar Mills Association (SISMA), which covers the interests of all private sugar mills in South India. After working in multinational companies for 15 years, Niraj joined the family business in 2005. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Mumbai University.

Prashant K Banerjee is Executive Director of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). In his role, he provides leadership in the formulation of technical standards, regulations and policy to support the growth of the automobile industry. Prashant's responsibilities include global harmonization, keeping national priorities in sync with sustainable goals of India-centric mobility, and the coordination for regular exchange of information among international associations. He drives initiatives on road safety, environmental sustainability and energy security, as well as advanced technology monitoring for the future of mobility. Prashant has over 30 years of experience working in various capacities in engineering development, localization, advanced technologies, certification testing, regulations and standard formulation in multinational companies, such as Toyota, Daewoo and Tata Motors (where he was Chief Engineer of the Car Platform at its Engineering Research Centre and then Head of the Centre). He represents the Indian automobile industry in various committees covering policy, regulations and standards at the national and international levels. He has been honoured by the Government of Brazil with the ‘Order of Rio Branco’ in 2023, for his contributions to the field of bioenergy. Prashant is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai. 

Deepak Ballani is the Director General of the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). Deepak has over 25 years of diverse experience in public policy, government affairs and organizational management. He drives growth and innovation within the sector, especially as the industry navigates evolving policies on ethanol and bioenergy aimed at reducing import dependence and achieving energy security for India. Before joining ISMA, Deepak was the Director General of the All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), where he led significant advancements in policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement and operational efficiency. His career includes notable positions with organizations such as PwC India, UNIDO and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), where he focussed on projects related to energy efficiency, technology transfer and international business development. Deepak holds a postgraduate degree in International Trade Management.

Anup Kumar is Managing Director of Sucden India. In this role, since 2019, he has been instrumental in making Sucden the merchant of choice for sugar mills, industrials and public distribution networks across India. Sucden India connects its varied portfolio of suppliers to global and domestic buyers, and aims to be an efficient supply chain participant, focussing on controlled exposures and financial returns. It delivers these objectives through a motivated high-performance team. Prior to joining Sucden, Anup spent over two decades with Olam International Singapore in different roles, the last of which was as the Head of their white sugar trading team. A voracious reader and an eager traveller, Anup is a Chemical Engineer from IIT Benares and an alumnus of IIM Calcutta.

Vishal Nirani is the Managing Director of Nirani Sugars, where he leads operational excellence across the agro-industry through process optimization and efficiency-driven initiatives. He’s also a Director at TruAlt Bioenergy, a flagship bioenergy enterprise in Asia, where he applies his technical expertise to strengthen manufacturing efficiency and enhance production and trading operations. Vishal’s strategic, hands-on approach has positioned him as a key contributor to operational advancement within the bioenergy sector. Since 2021, he has been the Managing Partner at Accutrade Global, overseeing trading operations and implementing innovative strategies to drive sustainable growth. Deeply committed to addressing climate challenges, Vishal actively promotes sustainable business practices aligned with TruAlt Bioenergy’s mission. His focus on operational discipline, innovation and long-term value creation continues to drive meaningful impact and support the transition toward a more sustainable energy future. Vishal is an alumnus of Brunel University, London, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Dr Daniel Schiemert is Executive Director at J P Morgan, leading Quantitative Research for Sales across Fixed Income, Commodities and Currencies (FICC). He partners with clients on market analysis, trade ideas and investment decisions, leveraging automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence. With 19 years in finance, Daniel has held roles at Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs in London and Frankfurt, working closely with trading, risk and sales teams through multiple market cycles and crises on quantitative analysis, market views and trading patterns. He began his career in credit and emerging markets and expanded his focus to the broader FICC spectrum. Daniel holds a Doctor rerum naturalium (PhD) from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, with a specialization in Stochastic Analysis.

George Barker is the Head of Sugar at StoneX, based in Miami. He has been with the company for 10 years and has 19 years of markets experience. George has actively put StoneX on the global sugar map, managing teams in multiple locations across the world that provide clearing, financing, OTC derivatives, and expert option and white premium execution services. The company’s clients comprise a diverse segment of the sugar industry supply chain and derivative market participants, including hedge funds, producers, refiners, end users, trade houses and the interbank market. Prior to managing the StoneX sugar business, George held senior positions at Societe Generale Newedge Corporate and Investment Banking, and BNP Paribas CIB in London. He graduated with BA Honours in Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan and Latin American Studies from Newcastle upon Tyne University.

Guilherme Gamba is the Commercial Manager at Sucden Brasil, based in São Paulo. Before moving to São Paulo, he worked with the company for 14 years, in Geneva and Paris. Guilherme joined Sucden as a Global Ethanol Trader in Geneva and later moved to Paris, where he served as a Senior Futures and Derivatives Trader on the sugar desk, with additional responsibilities on the cocoa desk. He began his career at Cargill as a graduate trainee in São Paulo before being expatriated to Geneva. Guilherme is highly data-driven, combining a rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis with a top-down view of macroeconomics and flow dynamics to optimize timing and position sizing. He holds a degree in International Relations from USP (Universidade de São Paulo) and an MSc in Quantitative Finance from Université Paris-Dauphine.

Luca Meierhofer is the Global Head of Raw Sugar Cash Trading at Louis Dreyfus Company. He joined the company in 2017, and is based in Geneva. Luca started his career with Cargill in 1996, covering all the different aspects of the sugar trading business, from hedging to origination and destination marketing. Sixteen years later, he joined Bunge as the Head of Raw Sugar where he developed the business for over five years, while taking over the risk management responsibility as well. Luca holds a degree in Economics and Finance from HEC Geneva.

Matthew Ryan is Senior Director, Global Soft Commodities, at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). He has over 30 years of experience in soft commodity markets, with an extensive background in options trading. Since joining ICE in 2015, Matthew has led the company’s Global Soft Commodities markets, overseeing its futures and options markets for sugar, coffee, cocoa, cotton, canola and frozen concentrated orange juice. Prior to joining ICE, he spent more than two decades trading physicals, futures and options, while holding positions at Macquarie Bank, ED&F Man, Vermillion Asset Management, Englehart and as a floor trader on the New York Board of Trade. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Mathematics from Northeastern University.

Annie Denny is Director General of the World Sugar Research Organisation (WSRO). Annie has worked in nutrition roles for over 20 years, spanning the food industry, food retail, charity roles and media work. She is a passionate believer in communicating science to individuals in understandable language. At WSRO, Annie’s motto is “Research isn’t finished until it’s communicated”. Annie joined WSRO as Director General in 2020. She leads a team of nutrition scientists who research the latest evidence on sugars and health, keeping WSRO’s members up to speed with international scientific and health policy developments on sugars and health. Annie trained in Nutrition at Newcastle University in the UK and holds a Master’s in International Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

John Adams is the Director of Sugar Research at GlobalData. John was part of LMC International which was acquired by GlobalData in 2022. He manages the full range of GlobalData’s sugar research on their Agribusiness IC platform. These include monthly reports on the world and EU sugar markets, cost of production benchmarking and an annual study on the long run outlook for the world sugar market. John has over 25 years of experience researching the world's sugar and sweetener markets. In his current role at GlobalData, his particular focus has been on the global sugar fundamentals (supply / demand and trade flows), cost and technical performance benchmarking of sugar industries around the world, price forecasting and the EU sugar market. With an academic background in Economics and Statistics, John started his career at LMC International before moving on to ED&F Man where he contributed towards setting up the research desk.

José Orive has been the Executive Director of the International Sugar Organization (ISO) since 2014. Based in London, José directs the activities of the ISO, a UN commodities organization with 87 member countries, providing professional services, market analysis and perspectives for all stakeholders in the sugar chain. The scope of this role extends to anything produced from cane or beet, including biofuels, cogeneration of energy, bioplastics and byproducts. Prior to this, for nearly two decades, he was the Executive Director of the Central American Sugar Association (AICA), representing the sugar sector of Central America in international forums, trade negotiations and before governments. Prior to his tenure at AICA, José was a Partner in the legal firm of Arias & Muñoz at the Guatemala office.

Jeff Bauml is Managing Director of J Bauml & Co. Starting his career at Philipp Brothers in 1971 as an intern, Jeff ultimately became a Senior Vice President specializing in tropical commodities (coffee, sugar and cocoa), while at the same time having management responsibilities for Latin America operations. After leaving the firm in 1989, he developed a new service concept for the Sugar Trade – one stop brokerage for futures, physicals and freight. Jeff has been an arbiter for the World Sugar Committee of ICE, and was appointed to serve on a US Federal Court panel involving sugar. He has also founded not-for-profit organizations which provide support and aid to ‘at risk’ communities throughout the United States.

Nidhi Goel is the Director of Sugar Procurement & Commodity Risk Management (APAC) at The Coca-Cola Company. With over 14 years of specialized experience in the sugar industry, she has been a driving force in optimizing procurement strategies and cultivating high-impact stakeholder relationships across the Asia Pacific region. Throughout her career, Nidhi’s core objective has been to deconstruct complex challenges and identify simpler, sustainable solutions that drive tangible efficiency for bottling partners. By combining strategic oversight of large-scale operations with a steadfast commitment to innovation, she consistently delivers results that balance operational excellence with long-term environmental and economic sustainability. She is deeply passionate about sugar market dynamics and leveraging data-driven insights to navigate the evolving landscape of global commodities. Nidhi holds a Bachelor’s as well as a Master’s degree in Finance from Delhi University in India. She is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). 

Kapil Nema is Deputy Executive Director for the Sugar and Ethanol Business at Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries. In his current role, he leverages his extensive experience and expertise to drive sales and strategic growth initiatives. During his almost two decades-long career in the sugar industry, Kapil played pivotal roles in prominent organizations where he made significant contributions. His ability to implement streamlined processes and harmonize regional market insights with global strategies has consistently enhanced profitability and mitigated risks. Prior to his tenure at Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries, the companies he worked with include Shree Renuka Sugars (a Wilmar Group company), Sucden, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Adani Enterprises and The State Trading Corporation of India. Kapil holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in International Business from Symbiosis Institute of International Business, India.

Desmond Ngiam is Senior Trader (Asia Region) at Golden Agri-Resources, since 2023. He began his career in commodities in 2011, trading biodiesel and distillates with Eni before embarking on his sugar journey in 2015 with ED&F Man, trading both white and raw sugar across the Indo-China belt. Desmond joined Louis Dreyfus Company in 2018 to run the Asia white sugar business and spearheaded the expansion of the group’s raw sugar portfolio in the Far East. In 2021, he joined Cargill’s Cocoa & Chocolate business – leading all regional sourcing and risk management activities of cocoa, sugar, dairy and edible oils. Desmond graduated with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Banking & Finance from the Nanyang Technology University (NTU), Singapore.

Steven Burke is a Senior Economist at GlobalData, where he specializes in fundamental analysis and consulting for the global sugar market. His focus is on sugar production costs worldwide, with in-depth coverage of key regions, including Brazil, Thailand and European trade flows. Steven delivers actionable insights on supply-demand dynamics, pricing trends and market forecasts to support strategic decision-making for industry stakeholders. His work bridges macroeconomic trends with granular commodity fundamentals, offering clients a comprehensive perspective on the evolving sugar industry. Previously, Steven provided essential support to agricultural growers at CRM Agri Commodities, advising on hedging strategies through options to manage price volatility in commodity markets. Earlier in his career, he honed his analytical skills in macroeconomic forecasting at FocusEconomics, contributing to consensus economic outlooks and country-level predictions. Steven holds a Master’s degree and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Toronto, which have provided him with a strong foundation in economic theory, quantitative methods and global market analysis.

Charles Funnell is Managing Director of CF Commodities, a Swiss risk management and trading advisory company, based in Schaffhausen. Founded in 2022, the company caters to well-established industrial clients and management consultancies. Its core services include commodity risk management strategy and governance, physical and futures advisory, and forex and freight risk management. Charles has extensive experience in risk management, and physical and futures trading across soft commodities, such as sugar, grains, dairy and vegetable oils. He has held senior trading and management roles at SASA, Cargill, Merchant Commodity Fund, and served as Head of global soft commodity risk management at Unilever. Charles holds a degree in French and Politics from the University of Bristol.

Carlota Valdivieso is the Sugar Market Analyst in the sourcing department at Barry Callebaut, where she develops in-depth research and market intelligence across the global and local sugar markets in which the company operates. Carlota's work focusses on analyzing supply-and-demand fundamentals, price dynamics and other developments that influence availability and costs. As sugar is a key ingredient in chocolate production, she works to help anticipate market trends and to assess their potential implications for procurement strategies and risk management. Carlota joined Barry Callebaut in 2023, and works closely with internal stakeholders to translate market data into actionable insights that support informed decision-making. She holds a Master’s degree in Data Science for Agriculture, which has provided her with a quantitative and analytical approach, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Bath.

Karina El Azar is the Commercial and Financial Resources Manager at Nicaragua Sugar Estates, the company that owns Ingenio San Antonio, one of Central America’s most modern and sustainable agro-industrial operations, founded in 1890. The company is Bonsucro and ISCC EU certified, and is regarded as a global leader in sustainable practices. Karina leads the strategic commercialization of sustainable sugar, energy, ethanol and molasses, while overseeing the organization’s financial resource planning and requirements. With more than a decade of experience in the sugar sector, she has developed strong expertise in aligning sales growth with financial stability. Karina is known for her passion for complex problem-solving and her commitment to building long-term client relationships. Prior to joining the sugar industry, she built a solid financial foundation in the banking sector, where she specialized in designing innovative financial solutions tailored to Nicaragua’s small and medium-sized enterprises. Karina holds a BSc in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and an Executive MBA from INCAE Business School.

Rafael Marcos is Manager, Commodity Price Risk Management, Sugar at Mondelez International, based in São Paulo, where he provides risk management solutions for sugar and fuels across LATAM and AMEA. In his role, Rafael prioritizes hedging initiatives and business strategies grounded in disciplined risk frameworks, developing and expanding capabilities for better global portfolio hedging. His expertise includes market research, fundamental analysis, futures and swaps trading, combining them with a risk management approach. Prior to joining Mondelez in 2023, Rafael worked as a sugar trader at LDC, in physical trading and origination, and at COFCO in wheat trading. He combines risk management and deep market analysis to effectively navigate volatility in the sugar and energy complex. Rafael is an Industrial Chemistry graduate from Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil. 

Jaspreet Bindra is the Founder of AI & Beyond and Tech Whisperer, which does advisory and education on AI, digital transformation, blockchain and the future of work. He is the author of the best-selling book "The Tech Whisperer: On Digital Transformation and the Technologies that Enable it", and writes a fortnightly column on technology and business for Mint and multiple other publications. Jaspreet was recognized as the inaugural Digitalist of the Year by Mint and SAP in 2017; he is a Global Moderator / Educator for Harvard Business School, Educator for Duke, Expert at Singularity University, Visiting Faculty at Ashoka University and was a Scholar-in-Residence at the Indian School of Business. He started his career with the Tata Group, as part of TAS, and later was the Group Chief Digital Officer at the Mahindra Group, a US$ 20 billion conglomerate, and a Regional Director at Microsoft India. Jaspreet is a Chemical Engineer with an MBA in International Business, followed by a Master’s degree in AI, Ethics and Society from Cambridge University. 

Anuj Magazine is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of AI&Beyond, a leading voice in AI literacy, cybersecurity and tech innovation. He is a tech innovator with 16 US patents. Leading a portfolio career focussed on AI and cybersecurity, Anuj has held leadership roles across organizations ranging from the Fortune 1 company Walmart to several Fortune 500 companies, such as Citrix, McAfee and Quark. He serves as an AI adviser to Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), an organization committed to India’s Olympic success, and to startups in the fields of cybersecurity and fitness / wellbeing. Anuj is a published author. His first book "What's Your Human Edge?" highlights timeless human skills for the AI era, while the more recently published "Winning With AI: Your Guide to AI Literacy" is a practical guide to AI literacy for work and life. 

Martin Todd is the Founding Consultant at MRT Advisory, which he established to offer his expertise based on more than 35 years in the global agriculture sector. His career has focussed mainly on the sugar sector, assisting private and public sector clients on issues including trade and industry policy, market analysis, industry and company competitiveness and investment feasibility. During his career, Martin has worked with numerous sugar companies and industries around the world. In addition to his extensive knowledge of sugar, he has a deep understanding of the broader commodity sector, including the competitiveness of major crops and their use as a source of renewable carbon. Previously, Martin was Managing Director for 15 years at LMC International, a global consultancy (now GlobalData). He began his career in the research department of an international trading company, Gill & Duffus, which specialized in cocoa. Martin has two degrees in Economics from the University of Sussex in the UK. 

Stephen Geldart is Head of Analysis at CZ. Since joining CZ in 2008, Stephen has been leading the analysis team which provides leading-edge insights into the products CZ handles across the agriproduct, food, ingredients packaging and energy sectors. The team underpins CZ’s strategic consultancy work, supports the physical trading & corporate finance businesses and feeds into risk management services for major commodity producers, processors and end-users – all of which are delivered via CZ’s online platform. Before joining CZ, Stephen began his career in the oil refining industry. He holds an MSci in Chemistry from Imperial College London.

Marion Hoff Is Sales Director Europe at Tereos. In her current role, Marion’s responsibilities span the entire range of products from Tereos’s European operations, including sugar, starch products, beet alcohol and grain alcohol – for customers from the food, feed, pharmaceutical, paperboard and green chemistry industries, among others. Marion joined Tereos in 2011, starting out as Sales Manager for the sugar business unit, responsible for the commercial development of stevia extracts. Prior to her current role, she was in charge of sugar & starch and sweeteners for the Benelux and export market. Before joining Tereos, Marion worked in sales in the agri-food sector, in various managerial positions. She holds an engineering degree in Food Technology and Processing from UniLaSalle.

Daniel Kerkhof is the Managing Director of Limako Suiker, a Dutch sugar trading company that is part of Royal Cosun. He joined Limako in 2004 and held several commercial and leadership roles within the organization, before being appointed Managing Director in 2012. In this capacity, Daniel has been responsible for steering the company through major changes in the European sugar market, strengthening its market position and deepening its integration with global trade flows. For more than 15 years, Daniel has also been an active member of ASSUC, the European Sugar Traders Association. He has served on the ASSUC board for many years, including the last five years as President, and since the summer of 2025, as Vice President. Through these roles, he has played a key part in representing the interests of European sugar traders at an industry level. Daniel brings deep expertise in the EU sugar market, combined with a strong insight into its connection to the global sugar industry, making him a respected voice on market dynamics, trade and policy developments.

Kuntal Malia is Chief AI Officer at Metro Brands, where she leads AI transformation initiatives across the enterprise's portfolio of brands. With over 20 years of experience in artificial intelligence and data science, Kuntal has held AI roles at Fortune 500 companies, including Yahoo!, Shutterfly and ModCloth in Silicon Valley. She co-founded StyleNook, India's first AI-powered personalization platform and was responsible for the entire AI, data and product functions from concept to serving 100,000+ users. Kuntal began her career as a strategy consultant at Bearing Point and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Her expertise spans personalization, GenAI, predictive modelling and enterprise AI transformation. She has been recognized as an innovative AI leader and recently as a Fast Company Middle East Top 50 AI Leader 2025. Kuntal holds a Master of Science in Analytics and Data from Northwestern University, an MBA in Marketing from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce from RA Podar College of Commerce & Economics in India.

Doriana Milenkova is a Senior Analyst at RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness at Rabobank, specializing in sugar and the broader farm inputs sector. Based in the Netherlands, she provides insights on fertilizer markets, crop protection trends and farm input affordability, with a growing research focus on how technological innovation and automation are reshaping crop production systems. Her recent work also explores how Europe’s sugar industry is adapting to market pressures and increasing demands for value‑chain decarbonization. Before joining Rabobank, Doriana served for many years as a policy adviser on agriculture, food and nature for Bulgaria and Moldova at the Netherlands Embassy in Sofia. Previously, she worked in grain and commodity brokerage, gaining hands‑on expertise in agricultural markets. Doriana holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia.

Mohamed Ahmed is an Industry Value Adviser, Agribusiness, at SAP. He is an agribusiness and enterprise-technology professional with over 15 years of experience spanning SAP solution implementation, industry advisory and value-driven digital transformation. Mohamed began his career at CIC, where he was directly involved in implementing SAP solutions. At SAP, Mohamed partners with senior leaders to define and realize value-driven transformation strategies across key SAP agribusiness segments, including crop production, agricultural inputs, processing and manufacturing, farm-to-market supply chains, integrated business planning and sustainability-led operations. He holds a degree in Computer Science from Sharjah College and is also a certified functional medicine health coach, bringing a systems-level understanding of nutrition, food systems and human health to agribusiness transformation.

Dr Sanjay Awasthi is Chief Executive of ISGEC Heavy Engineering, the world’s largest supplier of sugar plants and machinery. His career has spanned three decades, and at ISGEC, he has planned, designed and executed over 150 sugar plants, distilleries and sugar refineries in India and several other countries. Sanjay is President of The Sugar Technologists’ Association of India (STAI) as well as the Chairman of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT). In this role, he is associated with various other international organizations, such as the Philippines Sugar Technologists’ Association (Philsutech) and Sugar Industry Technologists (SIT). Sanjay is a Member of the Sugar Development Fund Sub-Committee of the Government of India, Member of the Sugar Advisory Board, Member of the National Sugar Institute and Member of the Sugar Standard Committee. He has published more than 200 research papers on sugar technology. Sanjay has a postgraduate degree in Sugar Technology from the National Sugar Institute, India, and a Master’s in Production Management. He is a gold medallist from the National Sugar Institute, where he completed a Fellowship in Bio CNG production, and has an Honorary Doctorate from the World Human Rights Protection Commission.

Arslan Khan is the Area Sales Director at Hapag-Lloyd Middle East, overseeing commercial operations across seven countries, managing large-scale sales organizations and multimillion-dollar revenue portfolios. His role focusses on strategic market expansion, customer engagement and performance optimization across diverse and complex markets. Arslan is a senior logistics and maritime executive with over two decades of leadership experience in the global container shipping and logistics industry. He has held multiple country, cluster and regional leadership roles across the Middle East and South Asia, in organizations such as Maliha and AP Moller-Maersk, with a proven track record in driving commercial growth, operational excellence and organizational transformation. Arslan holds a degree in Business Administration from Southeastern University, Washington DC, Pakistan Campus.

Ahmed Badri is Vice President – General Cargo and RORO Ports & Terminal Commercial at DP World GCC, where he is responsible for leading the commercial strategy and functions of general cargo and RORO operations at Jebel Ali Port. Ahmed spearheads the development and execution of initiatives aimed at increasing throughput, strengthening customer partnerships and enhancing the overall competitiveness of Jebel Ali as a regional logistics hub. He also plays a key role in identifying and developing new business opportunities across the wider GCC market. Ahmed joined DP World in 2020, bringing with him extensive experience in shipping, logistics and supply chain management. Prior to DP World, he held senior roles at several leading organizations including Emirates Global Aluminium, where he managed the import and logistics of strategic raw materials such as alumina and bauxite. Ahmed holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Dubai Men’s College.

Austin Detmer is a Global Accounts Director at Covantis, a global SaaS platform advancing digital and AI-enabled transformation in post trade execution for agricultural commodities. He works closely with executive and senior leadership teams across trading, operations and technology to support the responsible adoption of AI across contracts, documentation and settlement workflows. Austin’s work focusses on AI leadership, governance and change management. He supports organizations move beyond pilots to scalable, enterprise-wide deployment while managing operational risk, data integrity and organizational readiness. Austin brings a practitioner’s perspective on aligning technology strategy with people and process to deliver sustainable efficiency gains across complex global supply chains. He studied Entrepreneurship at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.

Jeremy Reynolds is the Managing Director of Crest Trade Services, a Geneva-based consultancy specializing in commodity trade execution and shipping operations. Jeremy has over 30 years of hands-on operational experience in commodity trade execution across global markets. He began his career in 1993 with Cargill in the UK, progressing through senior roles in supply chain, logistics and trade execution across sugar, grains and oilseeds. Jeremy's international career spans the UK, Russia, the Philippines and Switzerland, where he led global sugar operations and oversaw regional trade execution across Cargill International’s trading activities. He has also held senior operational roles at Alvean and Tereos. Jeremy helps organizations build execution capability within operations teams through targeted training, while strengthening overall performance through robust processes, effective governance and improved operational resilience – reducing contract performance and delivery risk in complex, volatile markets. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Studies from Nottingham Trent University, UK.

Dr Lars Gorissen is the Chief Executive Officer of Nordzucker and a recognized leader in the global sugar industry, bringing extensive expertise in strategy, agriculture, governance and leadership. He assumed this role in 2018, his responsibilities include overseeing group strategy across agriculture, cane sugar, communications & public affairs, human resources, legal & governance and sustainability. Prior to this, Lars served as Speaker of the Executive Board from March to August 2018. He was a Member of the Executive Board and Chief Agricultural Officer from 2014 to 2018. He previously headed Agriculture and Raw Material Procurement and the Legal Department, and held roles in the Supervisory Board. Prior to this, Lars worked for several years at Siemens, in the legal function. Deeply committed to driving Nordzucker's strategic development, Lars focusses on expanding the cane sugar business and integrating sustainability initiatives.  

Diego Herrera is Chief Executive Officer of the Pantaleon Group, a family-held corporation founded in 1849, with interests in sugar production, energy and commercial real estate. The group currently employs more than 18,000 people and operates in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile and USA. Diego leads Pantaleon into the future and its new realities, with a significant emphasis on innovation and embracing new technologies. Prior to Pantaleon, Diego was Managing Partner at Atlas Vivienda, a Mexican real estate development company, where he remains a Board Member. He has also worked for six years with BNP Paribas in New York. Diego has a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree from the London Business School.

Olivier Leducq is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tereos Group, a position he assumed in September 2023. He joined Tereos in 2015 as Head of Tereos France, in 2019, he was responsible for all sugar and renewables activities in Europe and was appointed Group Head of Trade, Sales & Marketing in 2022. Prior to joining Tereos, Olivier spent most of his career in the metallurgical industry, where he held financial, commercial and industrial responsibilities. At the Constellium Group – previously Pechiney and Alcan – he was Financial Controller for the metals business, before heading up sales for aluminium sheet products in the food and drinks cans sector. He also managed several of the Alcan Group’s operational industrial units and led operational excellence initiatives. Olivier is a graduate of HEC Paris.