With a distinguished career spanning over 40 years, Dieter Härthe is a dynamic personality recognised for his significant contributions to small and medium-sized enterprises, business and international relations.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate of Wirtschaft International and as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Senegal. He is also a driving force behind the German-African Foundation.

Dieter's journey began at the age of 14 and led from an apprenticeship to business owner, elected spokesman and beyond. In the 1970s, he founded the Verband Selbständiger Gewerbetreibender (VSG) and established the Institut für Unternehmensberatung, Wirtschaftsentwicklung und Forschung (IBWF).

His visionary spirit led to the founding of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) Germany, which later developed into the independent Senate of Economy. As Chairman of the Executive Board, Dieter Härthe's leadership drives innovation, economic growth and diplomatic relations on a global scale.

Meet Florian Huber, a passionate advocate for Decarbonization and Transformation, celebrated as a Connector, Entrepreneur, Mentor, and Speaker. This devoted Family Man, blessed with four children, channels his enthusiasm not only into Softball and Handball but also into finding innovative solutions to challenging questions like, "How can we achieve a 50% reduction in emissions within a single year?"

Florian is an experienced transformation specialist who excels in motivating and mobilizing people, instilling urgency, and sparking creativity to accelerate decarbonization efforts for his clients. With a diverse career that includes roles such as consultant, CRO, startup entrepreneur, advisory board member, coach, and Chief Development Officer (CDO) at EY in the DACH region, Florian has a proven track record of effecting change.

Currently, as the founder of EYCarbon and Leader of EYSpark, Florian is spearheading a transition from a B2B model to a Human-to-Human (H2H) approach. This client-centric shift leverages technology, agile organizational support, and a customer experience-first (CEX) culture to maximize impact and long-term value creation.

Florian firmly believes that the people behind a project are as vital as its quality for success. His insatiable curiosity drives him to uncover key success factors for implementing innovative strategies and motivating individuals to drive effective and sustainable change.

Don't miss Florian Huber's inspiring insights at the EU Tech Forum 2023, where he'll reshape our approach to decarbonization and transformation in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Dr. Martina aus der Beek is a distinguished expert in the field of Civil Engineering, specializing in climate change and its impact on infrastructure and the environment. Holding a Ph.D. in the subject, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the forefront of discussions surrounding sustainability and environmental preservation.

Throughout her career, Martina has assumed key leadership roles in globally renowned firms, where she spearheaded initiatives aimed at mitigating climate-related risks and fostering sustainable practices. Her deep-seated commitment to environmental causes has been the cornerstone of her professional journey.

As the current Managing Director at seecon and the Groundwater Engineering Office, Martina leverages her extensive background in environmental science and engineering to drive innovative solutions for sustainable infrastructure development. Her visionary approach and strategic insights have garnered recognition in the industry.

Marius Raabe is an authorised signatory of M&P ENERGY. He established his roots in Mull und Partner Ingenieurgesellschaft as a trainee in 2008 and then consolidated them in the context of his diploma thesis in cooperation with M&P Hannover. He started his professional career in 2009 at the newly founded M&P Osnabrück and has since decisively shaped the office location and the development of the renewable energy department.

In addition to initial activities in water management, remediation of contaminated sites and soil management for large construction sites, he discovered his field of interest in renewable energies while studying technical environmental protection.

His focus is on the planning of geothermal plants and their integration into systems for the heating and cooling supply of buildings and neighbourhoods.

Innovative technologies are just as important to him as planning that is individually adapted to the location and requirements. His goal is to make renewable energies so economical through highly efficient systems that they are attractive to the market, and not only for reasons of image and sustainability.

Sibylle Zavala, Senior Consultant and Managing Director of M&P Climate GmbH. M&P Climate GmbH is a climate protection consultancy based in Munich with the aim of assisting companies in the fields of sustainability and climate protection. Ms. Zavala holds a degree in biology and environmental engineering. Her most recent professional experience included a term in policy consulting in the areas of environmental and climate protection. Since 2021, she has been a climate protection consultant at M&P Climate and, as of this year, a member of the management team.

The M&P Climate team calculates corporate and product-related carbon footprints, develops individual sustainability strategies, as well as carbon reduction plans, and prepares ESG reports. M&P Climate is accredited by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) as a qualified consulting company, allowing its services to be subsidized with up to 80 percent funding.

As a subsidiary of the M&P Group with approximately 30 locations nationwide and engineering services in the fields of renewable energy, infrastructure, construction management, and water management, M&P Climate has the capability to comprehensively support client companies beyond its own core competencies and capacities.

Gerd Kerkhoff is a respected leader and entrepreneur and is considered a driving force in the field of supply chain management. He has a business background and a strong focus on marketing, human resources and business management. His success story began at the Hubert Tempelmann coffee roasting company. As a visionary strategist, he drove the company forward and made it the second largest private coffee roasting company in Germany.

But Gerd's expertise extends far beyond classic business. In 1999, he founded Kerkhoff Consulting GmbH and led it to the highest recognition as a first-class purchasing consultancy. Over the years, he led the establishment of several foreign subsidiaries, creating a global presence.

In his role as CEO of the Kerkhoff Group, he manages a broad range of consultancies and is responsible for finance, public relations/marketing, services and partnerships. Gerd Kerkhoff's deep insights make him one of the most sought-after speakers offering dynamic perspectives on supply chain innovation and breakthrough business strategies.

Andreas Dölecke is an experienced professional with an impressive career in corporate management and purchasing. As a partner and member of the management team at KERKHOFF Consulting GmbH, he has played a key role in the company's success. In over four years, he has made a significant contribution to growth and development with his expertise.

Before joining KERKHOFF Consulting GmbH, Andreas held key positions at HELLA, where he honed his skills in global procurement and material group management. Over 12 years, including as Global Head of Series Purchasing Lighting and Head of Purchasing for various components, he made his mark on the company.

With his extensive background in procurement and materials group management, Andreas brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. His contributions have had a lasting impact on the companies he has worked with and he is highly respected in the industry.

Isabell Lopez Alguiar is currently serving as a Climate Consultant at M&P CLIMATE in München, Bayern, Deutschland, where she passionately advocates for economic growth within rigorous environmental standards.

Additionally, she holds the position of Amazon FBA Account Manager & Consultant at Autónomo, a role that allows her to further contribute to sustainable business practices.

With a rich background encompassing corporate sustainability consulting and sustainable supply chain management at Drees & Sommer, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland, Isabell brings a multifaceted perspective to environmental stewardship. Her dedication to securing a sustainable future is deeply ingrained in the belief that safeguarding the planet is a shared responsibility.

Through her dynamic roles and steadfast commitment, Isabell exemplifies the potential for harmonizing economic progress with ecological integrity.

Anett Barsch brings over two years of experience at Swiss Life Asset Managers Deutschland, where she currently serves as the Head of Real Estate Project Development and Managing Director. In her role, Anett leads real estate project development and oversees operations, playing a pivotal role in the company's success.

Additionally, Anett Barsch has been serving as Geschäftsführerin Projektentwicklung (Managing Director for Project Development) since August 2021, further solidifying her expertise. Her dedication to the real estate industry extends to her role as Aufsichtsratsmitglied (Board Member) in Unternehmensgruppe Sahle Wohnen since September 2022.

Anett also contributes her expertise as a Vorstand (Board Member) in the BFW Bundesverband Freier Immobilien- und Wohnungsunternehmen e.V., focusing on vital topics in the middle-sized real estate industry to promote informed decision-making and knowledge sharing.

Anett Barsch's multifaceted experience and leadership roles in real estate project development, her commitment to overseeing operations, and her active involvement in the industry as a board member reflect her dedication and ability to drive positive change.