Keynote Speakers

Talk title: Hydrogen-rich bond (N-H and B-H) for Energy Storage and Transfer

Biography

Professor Zhenguo Huang is Director of the Centre for Green Technology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he leads a cross-disciplinary team advancing renewable fuels. His research centres on boron chemistry for energy conversion and storage, spanning hydrogen-storage materials, electrolytes, and two-dimensional boron-containing nanosheets. Professor Huang has held an ARC DECRA and an ARC Future Fellowship, serves as a Research Advisor at Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science, and is a Humboldt Research Fellow (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation). He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, received his PhD from the University of Wollongong (2007) and completed a postdoctoral appointment at The Ohio State University (USA).

Talk title: Design of solid oxide structures by numerical modeling

Biography

Prof. Meng Ni is a Chair Professor of Energy Science and Technology, Head of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, Associate Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is a Humboldt Fellow, RGC Senior Research Fellow, and a Fellow of Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). His research focuses on high temperature solid oxide fuel cells and electrolyzers as well as metal air batteries. He is a Co-Editor-in-Chief of Energy Reviews (Elsevier) and a Senior Editor of Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments (Elsevier).

Talk title: Preparation and kinetics study on solid hydrogen storage materials

Biography

Yuqi Wang, Ph.D, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor. School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, P.R.China. Director of Xi’an Key Laboratory of Green Hydrogen Energy Production, Storage and Application Integration Technology.
In 2006, he received his Doctor’s degree from Xi’an Jiaotong University and was awarded China Young Backbone Teacher Scholarship in 2008. From Mar 2009-Sep 2009, he worked as a visiting scholar in Low Carbon Green Technology Laboratory, University of Nevada (Reno). He has been honored with Vebleo fellow and professional members of International Association of Hydrogen Energy (IAHE); dean of institute of Fine Chemical Engineering at NWU; China Eminent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Supervisor, Chemical Engineering & Environmental Protection Committee of Shaanxi province. Reviewers of well-known academic journals including Nat. Commun., Int. J. Hydrogen Energ., Chem. Eng. J., Appli. Energ., J. Clean. Prod., IECR, Small. Since 1996, he has worked at Northwest University and has been engaged in research projects in chemical engineering, energy and reaction engineering, and supercritical fields. He possesses excellent research capability and has rich experience in hydrogen storage & utilization, reactor R & D, and supercritical fluid technology. As a host, he has undertaken over 40 projects, including 2 Natural Science Foundation of China (22078262, 21276209) and over 10 provincial projects. As a co-researcher, he has been involved in 21 research projects including DOE’s Renewable Energy Program (NAX-9-66014-06) and NSFC(50676070, 51106118, 50276052). He has published more than 180 academic papers, authorized 20 China invention patents, and he was awarded over 30 teaching and scientific research prizes.

Talk title: Eliminating hydrogen embrittlement in alloys with gradient nanostructures

Biography

Prof. K. Lu is a material scientist. His research interests include processing, structure characterization, stability, properties and performance of nanostructured metals and alloys.

Talk title: The state of Hydrogen Deployment in Spain: From Strategy to Implementation

Biography

Javier Brey is a PhD engineer and Professor at Loyola University in Spain. He has more than 25 years of professional experience in the hydrogen sector, combining research, technology development, and executive management roles across different industrial and innovation-driven organizations.

He currently serves as Chief Technology Officer at H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies, where he is involved in the development and deployment of advanced hydrogen technologies. Since 2009, he has also been President of the Spanish Hydrogen Association (AeH2), playing a key role in shaping Spain’s hydrogen ecosystem and fostering collaboration between industry, research institutions, and public authorities.

In addition, Javier Brey actively represents the Spanish hydrogen sector in a wide range of national and international forums, contributing to strategic discussions on hydrogen policy, market development, and the global energy transition.

Talk title: Green hydrogen and ammonia: collaboration project between Japan and South Africa at HySA Infrastructure

Biography

Professor: North-West University, South Africa; Director: DSTI HySA Infrastructure Center of Competence. Prof. Bessarabov is a recognized expert in hydrogen energy and electrochemical technologies with extensive academic and industrial experience in Canada and South Africa. Since 2010, he has been leading the HySA Infrastructure Center of Competence at NWU and CSIR, focusing on hydrogen storage, water electrolysis technologies and refueling systems. He received his PhD in membrane technology from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where he was awarded the SASOL Medal for the best PhD in chemistry. 
His expertise includes PEM water electrolysis, membranes, hydrogen storage, electrochemical compression, fuel cells, and renewable hydrogen production and refueling systems. He previously held leadership roles in hydrogen R&D at Aker Kvaerner Chemetics, Ballard Power Systems and AFCC in Canada. He is also PI for South Africa – Japan SATREPS research program in the area of green hydrogen and ammonia https://www.jst.go.jp/global//english/kadai/r0304_southafrica.html and a member of jury panels for the Palladium Global Science Award https://www.palladiumaward.com/