2026 International Conference
SPEAKER BIOS & PRESENTATIONS
Michel Baumassy, SAS Fonterines Consulting
Pine Chemicals Industry Global overview and Trends
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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.
Leonardo Siqueira, Argus Media
Supply Chain Disruption, Feedstock Constraints and Opportunities in Global Pine Chemicals
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Leonardo Siqueira is editor of pine chemicals at Argus Media, a leading provider of energy and commodity price benchmarks. He brings transparency and trusted market intelligence to complex global commodity and pine chemicals markets. With 11+ years delivering executive engagement across global commodities, Siqueira has a track record translating complex sectors into intelligence that supports commercial strategy, market positioning, and decision-making. 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 presented at various global adhesives, sealants and pine chemicals conferences in the US, the UK, Spain, and Brazil.
Bernd Bungert, Classen Group, Fiberboard GmbH
MDF-Turpentine: Startup of Production
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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.
Claudio Mereu, Bird & Bird
Reproductive Toxicity
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Claudio Mereu is a partner with over 26 years' worth of experience in EU regulatory law with an emphasis on chemicals, pesticides and biocides, as well as other regulated consumer, professional and industrial goods. His practice focuses on EU regulatory law with an emphasis on chemicals (REACH/CLP), pesticides and biocides, as well as other related regulated sectors (cosmetics, medical devices, f-Gas, etc.). His expertise covers all aspects of product regulations and restrictions under, including notification, registration, exemptions/derogations, mutual recognition, classification & labelling, marketing and use restrictions, parallel imports, environmental liability, product recalls and scientific data compensation negotiations, among others. Claudio has been involved in large chemical defense projects, such as chromium trioxide and PFAS under the REACH Regulation. His activities can be divided into three main streams: advisory, advocacy and litigation, at both EU and national levels. This includes assisting clients in navigating the EU regulatory landscape, policies and compliance requirements across various sectors, as well as litigation at EU and national levels against administrative decisions from EU Institutions/agencies and local authorities. Claudio also advises chemical companies on strategic and business law matters relating to their commercial agreements, as well as regulatory due diligence in relation to the acquisitions and divestments of product portfolios in the EU.
Natalie Konings, Bird & Bird
Understanding the PPWR
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Natalie Konings is a regulatory lawyer who helps clients navigate the complex world of EU chemicals law. She works alongside businesses to turn regulatory challenges into competitive advantages, particularly in the fast-evolving areas of REACH, plant protection and biocides. She specializes in EU regulatory law with a focus on chemicals regulation, an area where she has been helping clients succeed for the last 15 years. Her practice focuses on REACH, plant protection and biocides, guiding companies through the entire lifecycle, from initial registrations to complex enforcement procedures. She also manages task forces and joint registrations, for which she advises on legal, contractual and EU sanction schemes. Natalie also help clients across the health sector navigate the Intersection with chemicals. In this respect, she advises clients on the impact that chemicals have on their products, e.g. cosmetics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals and give advice on substances restricted under REACH, CLP, POPs, RoHS and PPWR. She is particularly skilled at identifying exemptions and derogations that can give clients a competitive edge whilst maintaining full compliance.
Ruud van der Eerden, PCA PRS Consultant
Jan Teuben, Penman Consulting-H4R
Key Regulatory Events Beyond the EU & H4R / HARRPA / PCA CLH Update
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Ruud van der Eerden is a senior business leader and renowned resin expert with over 35 years of global experience in the chemical industry. Throughout his career at Hercules, Eastman Chemical Co., and Synthomer Plc, he has held diverse leadership roles spanning strategy, sales, marketing, technology, and regulatory affairs. Notably, Ruud served a 10-year tenure as President of HARRPA (the CEFIC sector group for Hydrocarbon & Rosin Resins), leading the industry during critical regulatory challenges such as MOSH/MOAH and the Rosin ARN. As the founder of Resins-Insights-Consultancy, Ruud provides specialized market, feedstock, and regulatory insights to the adhesives and resins community, helping organizations navigate industry challenges and geopolitical tensions. In early 2026, he joined the PCA as a Consultant for the PRS Committee. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and serves as an Associate Director at The ChemQuest Group.
Jan Maarten Teuben, PhD, MBA has joined Penman Consulting as Head of Product Stewardship and Strategic Initiatives. He brings over 25 years of leadership experience at Shell, where he served as Global Product Stewardship Manager for Chemicals and Fuels. Jan’s career spans Chemicals, Refining, Catalysts, Trading, Upstream, Integrated Gas, and R&D. Committed to ensuring chemicals are used safely and sustainably, Jan combines strong technical foundations with business acumen. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from Leiden University and an Executive MBA from ESSEC Business School, Paris.