2021 Advisory Board

Claire holds a PhD in biochemistry and has worked in the development of scientific networks and associations for over 15 years. She started her career as part of the Cambridge biotech cluster in the UK within the cluster business network and was a founder of the Council of European BioRegions, a network of biotech clusters across Europe. She brought herself and CEBR to Brussels in 2009 where she also took on the role of SG for the European Biotechnology Network, working across sectors, organisations and countries as part of the EBN mission to facilitate partnerships. In January 2017, Claire took up her role as DG of the Nanotechnology Industries Association which she successfully led until November 2020 when she joined EuropaBio.

Bernd Nidetzky is the scientific director of ACIB (CSO) and coordinates all research areas there. He is a technical chemist by training and is Professor of Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology since 2002. In 2004, he became Head of the Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering and in 2012, Head of the Field of Expertise “Human and Biotechnology” at Graz University of Technology. He also is Austrian representative in ESAB (European Society of Applied Biocatalysis) and Co-chair of the Biocatalysis Section in ESBES (European Society of Biochemical Engineering Sciences). Bernd Nidetzky is an expert in carbohydrate-active enzymes and biocatalytic process development with these enzymes.

In 1990 Christophe Rupp-Dahlem joined Roquette at its global headquarter in Lestrem, Northern France. At Roquette he has held a number of technical support, marketing, innovation and business positions. As Programs Vice-President, he managed the innovative programs related to the plant-based materials.

In 2008, the European Commission appointed Christophe Rupp-Dahlem as an expert in the ad-hoc advisory group for Bio-Based Products and later as an expert of the European Bioeconomy panel.

Between May 2008 and June 2016, Christophe Rupp-Dahlem was President of the Plant Based Chemistry Association (ACDV) in France.

He has led the Public Affairs activities for Roquette worldwide since end of 2015 to support the Nutrition and Health strategy of the Group.

In early 2020, Christophe Rupp-Dahlem was appointed President of Starch Europe, President of the French Bioeconomy Commission (FranceAgriMer) and since end of 2020 President of Protéines France and President of the competitiveness cluster IAR, the French Bioeconomy cluster.

Dr. Irene C. Latorre Martinez studied Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza in Spain and at the RWTH Aachen University. After receiving her PhD at the RWTH Aachen University on supramolecular and organic chemistry in the group of Prof. Dr. M. Albrecht, she gathered additional experience at CAT Catalytic Center on catalysis of industrial processes. In 2013 she started at Covestro in the manufacturing area as a Process Chemistry Expert. Since 2018 she works as a Senior Project Manager focusing on the search of sustainable new building blocks and modern alternative crosslinking technologies in the coatings and adhesives area.

Prof. Ludo Diels, Dr. in chemistry & biotechnology, works at the University of Antwerp, and is research manager Sustainable Chemistry for the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) in Mol, Belgium.
During 15 year he managed the Environment and Process Technology Business Unit and is now responsible for the transition toward sustainable chemistry and clean technology. He is responsible for the organisation of collaboration with the academic and industrial World and for co-financing projects. He coordinated and is involved in many international research projects. Ludo Diels is strongly involved in the set up of a biobased economy in Flanders. He is also responsible for the collaboration between VITO and India and he is managing the creation of a road map and Strategic Research Agenda for R&D on biomass and biowaste between India and Europe. He is a founding father of the Shared Research Centre on Bio-aromatics (BIORIZON) between the Netherlands and Flanders. He is also founder and Flanders coordinator of the BIG-C trilateral alliance between Flanders, the Netherlands and NordRhein Westfalia (Germany), focusing on a border denying collaboration for the chemical industry with focus on waste gases and biomass as renewable resources . He is case leader for bio-aromatics in the Vanguard Initiative, pilot Bio-economy, leading to smart specialisation of interregional collaboration.
He is the chairman of the working group FEED in the Energy and Resources PPP-SPIRE between 8 industrial sectors and the European Commission) and member of the SPIRE-BBI working group.

Babette is the Vice President, Europe for LanzaTech, a pioneer in gas fermentation technology. LanzaTech converts carbon-rich gas streams into value-added products using proprietary microbes that feed on gases to provide economic routes to ethanol, jet fuel and chemicals. LanzaTech technology feeds on a variety of gases, including industrial off-gases from steel, and syngas from municipal solid waste (MSW) and biomass to reduce carbon emissions from industry, while producing platform chemicals that serve as building blocks to consumer products such as plastics, fuels and synthetic fibers. Products made from recycled carbon from industrial emissions reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 70% when compared to equivalent products derived from fossil fuels.

Before joining LanzaTech, Babette was Director of Business Development at Ginkgo Bioworks, an early stage leader in synthetic biology. Prior to this, Babette was the Chief Business Development Officer at Capricorn Venture Partners, a European manager of venture capital and equity funds, Chief Commercial Officer for BioAmber, a market leader in renewable chemicals, and VP New Business Development for Performance Materials at Royal DSM. Prior to this, Babette held Marketing & New Business Development roles in different industry groups for over 20 years at Dow Corning.
Babette has a BSc in Biology from Wellesley College, USA and an MBA from INSEAD, France. She lives and works in Brussels, Belgium, and is on the Board of the United Fund of Belgium which helps disadvantaged people and those with disabilities, by investing in projects that improve their situation and their social integration.

Carsten Sieden was born in Hamm, Germany in 1966. He studied chemistry at the University of Münster. After obtaining his doctorate and conducting post-doctoral studies at Stanford University, Carsten started work in BASF’s Main Laboratory in 1994.