Abstracts
Mr. Racha U-Thaichan
PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
ROLE: Senior Executive Vice President, Lubricants Business
BIO: Mr. Racha U-Thaichan leads the lubricants business at PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR), overseeing strategic growth, market expansion, and supply chain development. With over a decade of executive leadership in Thailand’s energy sector, he has played a key role in strengthening PTT Lubricants’ regional and global presence. He holds a degree in Petroleum Engineering from Chulalongkorn University and an MBA from Assumption University.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: As mobility systems evolve, lubricant producers must balance commercial growth with rising regulatory and sustainability expectations. This keynote explores how PTT Lubricants integrates product innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability initiatives to remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry. The session will highlight advancements in engine protection technologies, EV fluid readiness, and circular initiatives across the value chain, offering insights into how lubricant companies can navigate the transition toward cleaner and more resilient mobility ecosystems.
Session 1 | Regulation, Standards & Market Integrity in a Fragmented Global Landscape
Hasnol Bin Zakaria
SIRIM Berhad
ROLE: Assistant Vice President I, Product Certification & Inspection (Industrial & Consumer Certification), Conformity Assessment Division
BIO: Hasnol Bin Zakaria is a product certification specialist with over 15 years’ experience leading certification programmes across multiple sectors, including automotive and consumer products. His work focuses on strengthening compliance systems through structured testing, certification marks, and market verification frameworks.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: An overview of SIRIM’s Certification Scheme for Genuine Engine Oil—how product testing, certification, and conformity labelling support enforcement and consumer trust, including digital verification mechanisms and transitional labelling processes.
Bill O’Ryan
American Petroleum Institute (API)
ROLE: Director, Engine Oil Licensing & Certification System (EOLCS) / DEF Certification
BIO: Bill O’Ryan leads API’s engine oil and diesel exhaust fluid certification programmes, bringing 30+ years of industry experience spanning additive development and drivetrain testing. He oversees API’s Aftermarket Audit Program, which purchases and tests thousands of samples globally to verify performance claims and mark usage.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Insights from API’s global aftermarket audit work on counterfeit and sub-standard engine oils, including how certification marks are verified, how quality failures appear in market sampling, and how industry and regulators can work together to reduce risks.
Mike Boyer
SAIL (Services to Associations and Industry in the Lubricants sector)
ROLE: Director, SAIL
BIO: Mike Boyer manages SAIL’s administration and compliance monitoring for the Letter of Conformance registration system and related industry programmes. With 24 years in automotive lubricants across technical and commercial roles, he has extensive experience in lubricant qualification programmes and future technical requirements.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: How ACEA performance claims are governed through the European Engine Lubricants Quality Management System (EELQMS), including the Codes of Practice, marketer responsibilities, and how monitoring and registration processes protect credibility and confidence in performance claims.
Mattia Adani
Union of the European Lubricants Industry (UEIL)
ROLE: Chairman, UEIL; CEO, Nowal Chimica
BIO: Mattia Adani chairs UEIL, representing European lubricant manufacturers with a strong focus on SMEs. He is also CEO of Nowal Chimica, an Italian SME specialising in lubricants and metalworking fluids, with experience across industry, government, and international development.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: A perspective on how Europe’s evolving policy and regulatory environment is shaping lubricant development, and where Europe–Asia collaboration can unlock opportunities in sustainability, circularity, digitalisation, and OEM engagement in a transforming global market.
Session 2 | Sustainability in Practice: Lubricants Excellence, Lubricant Lifecycle
Aaron Said
International Lubricant Distributors (Australia)
ROLE: National Technical Manager / Head of Technical
BIO: Aaron Said leads technical services at International Lubricant Distributors, specialising in lubrication excellence and oil condition monitoring. With 20+ years’ experience and multiple STLE/ICML credentials, he focuses on reliability improvement in high-demand industrial environments.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Why sustainability outcomes depend on execution—how lubrication excellence (handling, contamination control, monitoring, and skills) reduces waste, emissions and lifecycle costs, supported by case studies from mining and processing operations.
Inga Herrmann
Ergon International Inc.
ROLE: Sales Manager & Sustainability Lead; Co-Chair, ATIEL/UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee
BIO: Inga Herrmann has nearly 30 years’ experience across industrial lubricants, sustainability programmes, and strategic sales. She previously led lubricants sustainability work within Germany’s industry association and now supports global sustainability initiatives while helping develop practical guidance on product carbon footprint and lifecycle transparency.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Practical tools and harmonised approaches for lifecycle assessment and product carbon footprint reporting—how to identify lifecycle “hot spots,” improve transparency, and implement measurable interventions (logistics, circularity, extended oil life) that strengthen competitiveness and trust.
Stephan Baumgärtel
UNITI (formerly VSI)
ROLE: Manager Lubricants / Senior Industry Lead (post UNITI–VSI integration)
BIO: Dr. Stephan Baumgärtel is a long-standing industry leader in HSE, regulatory affairs, and sustainability within the European lubricants sector. He has led technical committees and stakeholder engagement across industry and policymakers, translating complex regulation into practical guidance for the sector.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: What the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Digital Product Passport could mean for lubricants—expected requirements, timelines, and the implications for sustainability claims, data disclosure, and future market access.
Session 3 | ALIA AGM & Launch of RRBO White Paper
Charlotte Kehoe
ALIA Council Chair
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION: The ALIA Annual General Meeting will include key association updates, followed by the launch of ALIA’s RRBO White Paper—highlighting recent work by the Sustainability Working Group and its relevance to circularity, compliance, and market readiness in Asia.
Session 4 | Base Fluids & Feedstocks: Resilience, Quality, and the Role of RRBO
Kalpendra Rajurkar
Veedol Corporation Limited
ROLE: Head of Technology and Services
BIO: Dr. Kalpendra Rajurkar leads Technology and Services at Veedol Corporation Limited, focusing on advanced formulation pathways that address evolving performance demands and sustainability goals. With over two decades of experience in lubricants technology, tribology, and process innovation, he has held technical leadership roles at Castrol-BP, TotalEnergies, and GP Petroleums (REPSOL). Dr. Rajurkar holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and combines deep technical expertise with a strong focus on practical, industry-relevant solutions that support the transition toward more sustainable lubricant technologies.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: The case for bio-derived Group V base oils as a next-phase performance and sustainability lever—how molecular engineering and Asia-available feedstocks can support high performance, circularity goals, and new growth opportunities.
Charlotte Kehoe
Castrol (bp)
ROLE: Technology & Sustainability Director, Asia Pacific
BIO: Charlotte Kehoe leads technology and sustainability strategy for bp’s Castrol business in Asia Pacific. With 20 years at bp across refining, fuels, technical advocacy and business development, she drives innovation programmes that connect customer needs with commercially competitive and lower-carbon solutions.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Castrol’s MoreCircular programme and the practical adoption of re-refined base oil—how verified circular pathways, accreditation, and customer collaboration can help reduce footprint and support emerging policy requirements across the region.
Thorsten Bauer
TotalEnergies Fluids
ROLE: Global Market Manager
BIO: Thorsten Bauer supports global development and market strategy for specialty fluids, including bio-based and biodegradable solutions for lubricants and metalworking. His experience spans formulation development, technical performance validation, and sustainability-driven innovation pathways.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Bio-based, ISCC PLUS-certified fluids and how they deliver both regulatory readiness and high performance—covering traceability, lifecycle impact, and formulation compatibility for industrial applications.
H. Ernie Henderson
Pentas Flora
ROLE: Technical Director
BIO: Ernie Henderson supports technical leadership in re-refining and circular base oil development, with a focus on quality evolution, sustainability outcomes, and application readiness for modern lubricant formulations.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: How re-refining has evolved into premium-quality base oil production—why modern base oils are effectively “indestructible” in a closed-loop system, and what this means for sustainability and supply resilience in Asia-Pacific.
Day 2 — Session 5 | Industrial Fluids & Greases: Performance, Productivity, and Reliability
Rita Chee
Richful Lube Additive (Singapore)
ROLE: Product Manager
BIO: Rita Chee brings three decades of experience spanning upstream and downstream metalworking operations, supporting customers across Asia with formulation strategies that improve performance, reliability, and cost effectiveness in metalworking applications.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: How synergistic additive design can improve metalworking performance while managing cost pressures—showcasing formulation approaches aligned to Asia’s manufacturing and productivity demands.
Mikael Kruse
Axel Christiernsson
ROLE: Group Product Manager (Industrial Greases)
BIO: Mikael Kruse has 30+ years in grease analysis, development, and product management at Axel Christiernsson. He supports industrial grease portfolios, technical education, and product performance optimisation, and serves on the ELGI board.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Why grease sustainability must be application-specific—how carbon footprint, biodegradability, toxicity, energy efficiency and long-life performance trade-offs differ across open and closed systems.
Dr. Djitt Laowattana
Digital Infrastructure Association, Thailand
ROLE: President, Digital Infrastructure Association of Thailand (DIAT)
BIO: Dr. Laowattana is a leading system architect in Thailand’s robotics and Industry 4.0 landscape, holding a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University and advanced training in the Management of Technology at MIT Sloan. Leveraging this foundation, he drives digital transformation at both institutional and national levels.
As the founder of FIBO, he has developed over 280 robotic prototypes and recently served as a strategic technical advisor to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). His work focuses on optimizing S-Curve industrial ecosystems, advancing AI integration, and strengthening high-tech supply chain frameworks to scale national technological infrastructure. He currently serves as President of the Digital Infrastructure Association of Thailand.
Terry Dicken
European Lubricating Grease Institute (ELGI)
ROLE: Chairman, ELGI
BIO: Terry Dicken is a veteran lubricant chemist and industry leader with 50+ years’ experience across R&D, technical services and manufacturing. He chairs ELGI and advises companies on compliance and specialty lubricant development.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Global factors reshaping the grease sector—sustainability assessment complexity, ELGI’s sustainability consortium approach, and evolving constraints on materials (including PFAS) and lithium-related developments.
Session 6 | Future Frontiers of Lubricants: New Uses, New Markets, New Geographies
Michael Liang
Patech Fine Chemicals
ROLE: Product Manager & APAC Sales Manager
BIO: Michael Liang combines a decade of R&D and regional commercial leadership in ester-based and advanced fluid technologies. He supports APAC customers across automotive, industrial lubricants and immersion cooling solutions.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: How machine learning and molecular modelling accelerate dielectric fluid development for immersion cooling—optimising performance, compatibility and lifetime prediction to support AI-driven digital infrastructure growth.
Salman Saadat
Petrolube Group
ROLE: CEO
BIO: Salman Saadat leads Petrolube Group’s regional and export operations, with 30+ years’ experience across downstream transformation, market expansion, ESG integration and digital change. He previously held senior roles at Chevron and in refining and petrochemicals.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: A market outlook on GCC and MENA lubricants—demand drivers, segment trends, technology shifts, and practical opportunities for Asian companies seeking expansion into adjacent growth markets.
Session 7 | Future Mobility Reality Check: EVs, Hybrids, EV Fluids & the Role of ICE
George Zhang
Valvoline Global Operations (Aramco)
ROLE: Vice President, R&D
BIO: Dr. George Zhang leads R&D for Valvoline Global Operations and has over two decades of lubricant technology leadership. He holds a PhD in physical chemistry, an MBA, is a published inventor and author, and serves on boards supporting Valvoline’s operations in Asia.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: A practical framework for “future-proofing” lubricants amid Asia’s multi-powertrain reality—how fluid requirements are evolving across ICE, hybrids and e-drivelines, and how data/AI can accelerate innovation and sustainability outcomes.
Serena Yei
Lubrizol Additives
ROLE: Senior Manager, Technology Development
BIO: Serena Yei is Senior Manager of Technology Development at Lubrizol Additives, supporting customers across Asia-Pacific with advanced lubricant solutions and product development initiatives. Since joining Lubrizol in 2008, she has held several technical and commercial roles, working closely with OEM projects, testing programmes, and field trials across multiple lubricant applications. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University and an MBA from the University of Bradford.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: Hybrid transmission architectures and the new fluid requirements they create—copper protection, material compatibility, friction performance, and validation pathways as OEM specifications and test methods evolve.
Suphot Sukphisarn
Federation of Thai Industries (FTI
ROLE: Chairman, Auto-Parts Industry Club, Federation of Thai Industries (FTI),
Deputy Secretary General, Thai Autoparts Manufacturers Association (TAPMA)
BIO: Suphot Sukphisarn represents Thailand’s automotive parts manufacturers as Chairman of the Auto-Parts Industry Club at the Federation of Thai Industries and Deputy Secretary General of TAPMA. He works closely with industry stakeholders to support supply chain development and strengthen the competitiveness of Thailand’s automotive sector.
PRESENTATION ABSTRACT: ASEAN remains a major automotive production and consumption hub, with Thailand at the center of regional manufacturing. This presentation examines how internal combustion engines, hybrid systems, and electric vehicles are shaping a multi-powertrain future in the region. Drawing on industry insights and market trends, the session will explore production shifts, EV policy incentives, and supplier opportunities as ASEAN transitions toward electrified and software-defined mobility.
Session 8 | SMEs in Focus: Independence, Agility, and Innovation in a Fragmented Market
Jeremy Kriska
Tulstar Products, Inc.
ROLE: Vice President, Business Development
BIO: Jeremy Kriska has 25+ years in the lubricant sector, building domestic and international supply and distribution networks for base oils, synthetics, additives and specialty fluids. His work focuses on long-term distribution partnerships and bringing technical solutions to blenders and manufacturers.
Jordan Lee
Lubeworld Holdings (Malaysia)
ROLE: CEO
BIO: Jordan Lee has led Lubeworld Holdings since 2005 and has driven major expansion and modernisation, including ISO-certified, highly automated manufacturing. With deep experience in the Asian lubricants market, he is recognised for operational transformation and quality-led growth.
Watcharapong Pathompanich (Alex)
PSP Specialties (Thailand)
ROLE: Business Development Director
BIO: Alex Pathompanich is Business Development Director at P.S.P. Specialties and Co-Chair of the ALIA Membership & Events Sub-Committee. With over 20 years of experience across Southeast Asia, he specialises in strategic business development, market expansion, and commercial performance within the lubricants and automotive sectors. Combining an engineering background with strong commercial leadership, Alex has played a key role in building regional partnerships and expanding industry networks across the ASEAN region.
Herman Nugroho
PT ALP Petro Industry (Indonesia)
ROLE: CEO
BIO: Herman Nugroho leads PT ALP Petro Industry and has nearly three decades of experience in re-refined base oil manufacturing in Indonesia. He has been involved in RRBO projects since the early 1990s and is driving expansion toward higher-grade base oils.
Steve Puckett
Tri.Zen International
ROLE: Executive Chairman of Tri.Zen International
BIO: Tri.Zen International, a consultancy advising Asia’s oil and gas sector for over 20 years. He has more than 45 years of experience in the energy industry, including senior executive roles with ExxonMobil in Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore. An expert on the Asian business environment, he has worked with major oil companies, financial institutions, and government agencies on energy strategy and industry development. Steve is a co-founder of the Asian Lubricants Industry Association (ALIA) and was awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to British business.
PANEL OVERVIEW: An interactive discussion on how SMEs stay resilient entering 2026—managing regulatory expansion, driving practical innovation, using networks and partnerships, and executing efficient, sustainable operations.