2025 International Conference
Speaker Bios and Topics
Conference Home Agenda Delegates Speakers
We are honored to welcome such an outstanding group of speakers to the 2025 PCA International Conference. Thank you for bringing your knowledge, perspectives, and passion to our community. We look forward to learning from you in San Diego!
Nigel Risner
The Leadership Trifecta: Focus, Passion, and Communicating with Impact
Nigel Risner is one of today's leading high performance enhancing, motivational and communication speakers. He is the only speaker in Europe to have been awarded Speaker of the Year by all major CEO groups including Vistage Academy for Chief Executives and YPO.
He is the author of The Impact Code which has been translated in more than 10 languages and It’s a zoo Around Here which has been an Amazon No1 best seller many times over the last 20 years. His background running a successful finance Company and being one of the youngest CEO’s in the city at age 26 means he knows business and all the pitfalls that can occur when running several offices. Nigel has created a unique communication program and has licensed trainers around the world, sharing the message of 'How To Be An Effective Zookeeper'. He is better known as the Chief Zookeeper due to his program of dealing with the different animals in the workplace. After 25 years and 3000 paid speeches in over 50 countries Nigel is a firm favorite to close many international conferences.
Alessandro Visconti
Editor-in-Chief, Pine Chemicals Review
Resilience and Realignment: The Global Rosin & Turpentine Industry in 2025 – Current Trends, Regional Risks, and Future Opportunities
Following an early career in the paper, specialty and luxury packaging industries, Alessandro transitioned into leadership roles within medical technology startups before returning to his true passion: the dynamic world of raw material trading. In 2008, he assumed responsibility for the global pine chemical division at Petrofer AG,
developing sourcing and trading platforms across Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Today, Alessandro serves as Editor-in-Chief of Pine Chemicals Review, the industry's leading publication, where he drives thought leadership, promotes informed dialogue, and facilitates global market insight across the value chain. He also advises companies on sourcing strategies, market entry, and operational optimization in the rosin and turpentine sector.
With a balanced view, international experience, and a strong grasp of market dynamics, Alessandro is often invited to share insights at pine chemicals events – something he genuinely enjoys as part of a broader industry dialogue.
He divides his time between Basel, Switzerland and Belo Horizonte, Brazil, leveraging his global network and bicultural perspective to bridge market intelligence with on-the-ground execution.
Leonardo Siqueira
Editor, Argus Media
Navigating Pine Chemicals Amid Uncertainty, and Supply-Demand Shifts
Leonardo has over ten years of expertise covering the commodities and financial markets. With a specialization degree in Science Journalism from the Campinas State University (Unicamp) in Brazil, and a master's degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Lisbon, Leonardo has worked for consulting and publishing companies in the US and the UK, including RELX and USA Today.
Tad Razinski
President, Sustainable Solutions Corporation
Scope 3 Overview
With over 35 years of practical experience, Tad Radzinski is co-founder and president of Sustainable Solutions Corporation. Tad leads SSC in delivering consultative services to companies in a wide range of global industries. Formerly the EPA’s Waste Minimization National Expert, Tad has been a trusted advisor for Fortune 100 and 500 companies throughout his lengthy career.
He is a Co-Host of the Tad Talks Sustainability Podcast, where he explains complex sustainability topics and interviews guests from a variety of sustainable backgrounds and companies including: Subaru, Amazon, Kroger, and more.
Tad was instrumental in the development of Villanova University's Master of Science Degree in Sustainable Engineering. He was an adjunct professor at Villanova for 18 years where he taught classes including Advanced Life Cycle Assessment, Introduction to Sustainable Product Innovation, and Sustainable Buildings and Operations courses.
Lauren Amable
Regulatory Manager, Plasmine Technology Inc
ARN ALERT and Guidance for Public Consultation
Lauren Amable is an experienced Staff Scientist with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry spanning both chemistry, molecular biology, and medical sciences. Skilled in Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Mass Spectrometry, and ICP-MS. Strong research professional with a Ph.D. focused in Basic Medical Sciences from University of South Alabama, College of Medicine.
She currently works as the Regulatory Manager at Palsmine Technology and serves as Chair of the PCA Product Regulatory Stewardship Committee and Co-Chair of the PCA/H4R/HARRPA ARN TaskForce.
Michel Baumassy
**Virtual Presentation**
Consultant, SAS Fonterines Consulting
Overview of CST and CTO Markets and Trends
Michel Baumassy has been in the Pine Chemical business since 1977, upon graduating as a Chemical Engineer. During his career he held several positions: DRT: Sales manager Resin and Tall oil derivatives, Arizona Chemical: Sales office manager, Sales manager Ink resins and CEO of resin plant.
He joined Forchem’s sales team in 2002 , when the company was created in Finland. He has recently retired from Forchem and has begun a new adventure as President of Fonterines Consulting
Michel resides in Nice, France. He is a private pilot and enjoys mountain flying.
Johannes Bogren, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Södra Bioproducts
The Origin of Pine Chemicals - The Forest
Johannes Bogren is EVP Södra Bioproducts, a business area of the Södra Group which includes the company’s range of solid biomass, electricity, district heating, tall oil, turpentine and biomethanol from renewable responsibly managed Swedish forests, as well as textile pulp.
Johannes has overseen the development and launch of the innovative Liquid Forest™ range to the market, all of which are made using materials generated by Södra’s pulp production, replacing fossil-based materials with climate-smart alternatives. Johannes is an instrumental driver within Södra of innovation for a more sustainable future. He was previously Södra’s Product Manager Director and before that the Technical Product Manager for textile pulp. A chemical engineer, Johannes has a PhD from Chalmers University of Technology.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Bungert
Berlin University of Applied Science and Technology
MDF-Turpentine: Project Status and Worldwide Rollout
Bernd Bungert studied chemical engineering at the University of Dortmund, the University of California at Berkeley and at Technical University of Berlin. From 1998 to 2008 he worked in chemical industry at Hoechst AG in Frankfurt in process development, in global engineering and as a plant manager.
He joined the faculty of the Berlin University of Applied Science and Technology, Berlin in 2008. There he is working on energy- and resource efficiency. He is also serving as a consultant in the process industries. A focus has been in the wood-panel industry. For over 10 years he has been working as process-engineering manager for Fiberboard GmbH in Baruth, Germany.