Aristotle University, Greece
CATSA2025 Eminent Visitor and Plenary Speaker
Angeliki Lemonidou is Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Prof. Lemonidou received her B.Sc. with honors in Chemistry from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and her Ph.D. from the Department of Chemical Engineering in 1990. Since 1992 she has been a faculty member of the Department of Chemical Engineering. She served the Department as Director of the Petrochemical Technology Laboratory since 2007 and as Chair from 2020 to 2022. Prof. Lemonidou is also an associate faculty member of the Institute of Processes and Energy Resources at CERTH. During sabbaticals in 2002 and 2008 she visited and stayed for research at universities abroad, at Technical University of Munich, Germany and at University of Delaware and University of California at Berkeley, USA.
She is the author of over 160 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals. Her work has been internationally recognized with over 14000 citations and h-index 65 according to google scholar. She is in the top 2% of scientists worldwide with the highest recognition of their research work according to the list compiled by Stanford University. In 2021 she was awarded by Aristotle University for the impact of her research work. She is Executive Editor of the leading international scientific journal “Chemical Engineering Journal” of Elsevier. Prof. Lemonidou served the Catalysis community in Europe as member of the European Federation of Catalysis Societies, EFCATS Board (2019-2023) and Vice President (2017-2019).
Her research activities are in catalysis and reaction engineering of sustainable processes. Target processes currently studied are the selective oxidation of hydrocarbons, the CO2 capture and utilization, the sustainable production of hydrogen through intensified steam reforming of natural gas and oxygenated feeds, the hydrodeoxygenation of biomass intermediates and the catalytic upgrading of plastic pyrolysis oil and gases. Research includes the synthesis of nanomaterials, the structural and morphological characterization using various physicochemical techniques, as well as detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies of catalytic materials under reaction conditions.
University of Cape Town, South Africa
CATSA2025 Plenary Speaker and Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Professor van Steen holds the DSI-NRF South African Research Chair in Reaction Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and was an integral contributor to the now expired DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis (c*change). His research has had a profound impact in key areas of catalysis, particularly in COx hydrogenation (including Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and CO2 hydrogenation), selective aerobic oxidation of methane, and water splitting. Central to his approach is a thorough understanding of catalysis fundamentals, achieved through the development of model systems such as mixed iron-copper/silver oxides as catalyst precursors, hybrid catalysts, inverse model catalysts, and complementary theoretical work using Density Functional Theory.
Professor van Steen obtained his MSc from the Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands and earned his Dr-Ing from the Karlsruhe University of Technology in Germany. Since joining UCT in 1995 as a Senior Lecturer, he has demonstrated consistent academic and leadership excellence, becoming a full Professor in 2001 and serving as Head of Department from 2002–2007 and again from 2015–2018.
Over the span of his illustrious 30-year career, Professor van Steen has supervised over 200 students: 26 PhDs, 47 MScs, and more than 135 BSc students. Notably, he has prioritized the transformation agenda in his selection of postgraduate students. His BSc cohort reflects the university’s demographics with 68% African and 33% women. Among his MSc and PhD students, African students make up 64% and 58%, respectively, with women accounting for nearly half of MSc students and over a third of PhD candidates. In the past five years alone, he has also supervised three postdoctoral fellows.
His academic impact is further highlighted by his research metrics: an h-index of 42 and, over 6,800 citations. These indicators are reflective of his influence and thought leadership in the field of catalysis.
Vice President, Fundamental Science Research, Research and Technology, Sasol
CATSA2025 Plenary Speaker
Theo Mudzunga holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Cape Town and completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the University of the Witwatersrand. With nearly two decades of experience in the petrochemical industry, Theo currently serves as Vice President for the Fundamental Science Research Department in the Research and Technology (R&T) division at Sasol – an international integrated Chemicals and Energy company.
Since joining Sasol in 2006 as a Senior Scientist, Theo has held various commercial and technical leadership roles, including Senior Manager Technology and Development, Senior Manager Polymer Export Sales, Technical Sales Support Manager and Principal Scientist.
In his current role, Theo leads a multidisciplinary team of researchers and specialists, driving research initiatives focused on sustainable technology solutions. The research focus areas are Feedstocks, Fischer Tropsch, Chemical Technologies, Product Applications, Environmental and Analytical. His work supports Sasol’s strategic vision of “Innovating for a better world” while also advancing licensing opportunities for Sasol’s proprietary technologies. Through his leadership, Theo fosters scientific excellence and value add innovation, ensuring the continued development of cutting-edge research to support Sasol’s sustainability goals
Principal Scientist, Research and Technology, Sasol
CATSA2025 Keynote Speaker
Dr. Ryan Walmsley is a Principal Scientist at Sasol and holds a PhD in Chemistry from Rhodes University, South Africa. Since joining Sasol, he has supported the company’s chemicals, refining, and iron Fischer-Tropsch technologies, gaining broad experience across a range of catalytic processes. He has played a key role in translating optimized catalytic solutions from research and development into commercial practice, contributing to improved plant performance and technology advancement.
Senior Scientist, Research and Technology, Sasol
CATSA2025 Keynote Speaker
Dr. Esna du Plessis holds a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Johannesburg and has over 20 years of experience in advanced materials characterization at Sasol’s Research and Technology division. She specializes in analytical techniques such as crystallography, synchrotron and neutron scattering, EXAFS/XANES, EELS and in situ XRD, with a focus on catalyst property quantification.
She has led multiple industrial beamtime campaigns and has been teaching crystallography and powder diffraction since 2007. As part of Sasol’s Foundation program, she has mentored postgraduate students at the University of Fort Hare since 2019.
In 2021, Dr. du Plessis joined the Fischer-Tropsch Research Group, supporting Gas Conversion projects in Secunda. Her current work focuses on catalyst optimization, online gas analysis, and enhancing selectivity through promoter design.
Scientist, Research and Technology, Sasol
CATSA2025 Keynote Speaker
Jerry Lamola completed his PhD studies in Organic Chemistry at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and joined Sasol as a Scientist-in-Training through the Graduate Development Program in 2022. Jerry has spent two years in the Fischer-Tropsch Science Research Group conducting scalable, systematic and strategic research on both iron and cobalt suites of catalysts, aimed at both operations support and driving innovation for the business of tomorrow. Additionally, he has also fulfilled roles as a Process Scientist at the Sasolburg Solvents Plants, and as a Technical and Regulatory Advisor in Marketing and Sales.
As an early career researcher, he has already received local and international recognitions for his scientific excellence. These includes the Royal Society of Chemistry Advances Outstanding Student Paper Award in Catalysis (2021), the South African Chemical Institute Postgraduate Award (2023), and selection by the Academy of Science of South Africa as a delegate to the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (2025). Currently he plays a key role as a young investigator in CARE-O-SENE (Catalyst Research for Sustainable Kerosene), a German-South African consortium which aims to develop next-generation catalysts for the production of sustainable aviation fuel to decarbonise the hard-to-abate aviation sector
Professor, Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersran
CATSA2025 Keynote Speaker
Professor Dean Brady is an Industrial Biochemist with experience in the chemicals, leather and food industries; including LIRI, SMRI, AECI and the CSIR. Research interests are in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, in particular Biocatalysis. Previously a doctoral student at Rhodes University, visiting research fellow at TU Delft, Professor Emeritus at TUT and Chief Scientist at the CSIR, he currently Professor of Biocatalysis at the University of the Witwatersrand and Director of the Molecular Sciences Institute. In he was a recipient of the CSIR President’s Award in 2008 and The Sasol Sustainable Chemistry Medal from SACI in 2023.
Professor, University of the Western Cape
CATSA2025 Keynote Speaker
Prof Trindade obtained her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Cape Town in 2003 and took up her first academic appointment as Senior lecturer at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in 2009. She rapidly advanced through the academic ranks and currently serves as the Director of the Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM) at UWC. She holds the DSTI-NRF SARChI Research Chair in Microbial Genomics and a NRF C1 rating. She is an Associate Editor for Microbial Cell Factories, Frontiers in Microbiology and Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, a recipient of the South African Young Woman in Science award, and elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.
Prof Trindade has played a pivotal role in building national capacity for genomics, establishing next generation sequencing and flow cytometry service platforms at UWC. Under her leadership, IMBM has gained international recognition as a go-to facility for omics and genetic engineering training. IMBM also hosts a core biobank within the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa (BBSA) network, specialising in the preservation and study of South African microbial biodiversity, particularly bacteria from indigenous environments.
Through her research she has established a microbial biodiscovery pipeline that develops and aims to commercialise innovative products and services through the sustainable exploitation of indigenous biodiversity for application in several (bio)technology sectors, using genomics approaches. Her research is multidisciplinary and highly collaborative and has led to the identification and functional characterisation of novel bacterial and phage species, biosynthetic pathways, enzymes, bioactivities and compounds for application in the human health, agriculture, environmental and industrial sectors. These innovations range from novel anti-infection agents and leads for the treatment of neurological disorders; compounds that can be used in agriculture as adjuvants, plant growth stimulants and for the control of crop pathogens; to natural and more environmentally friendly water treatment strategies and naturally sourced compounds for use in cosmetic formulations, to name a few. The products/services being developed address national and global socio-economic priorities listed in many of the UN SDGs.
Jagiellonian University (Poland)
Francois Gault Lectureship Award (EFCATS 2023) Speaker
The primary focus of Prof Kotarba’s research is catalysis. His goal is to understand processes at solid/gas interfaces and apply this knowledge to design surfaces with specific properties. This includes preparing new solid materials, surface modifications, and studying reactivity such as catalytic screening. Motivation stems from both fundamental (interaction of small molecules with surfaces, surface electronic properties) and applied aspects (catalyst surface characterization, patenting new catalytic materials, engineering metal implant surfaces).
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Keynote speaker
Prof Bickelhaupt’s research focuses on developing chemical theories and methods rooted in quantum mechanics for catalysis design. Collaborating closely with experimental groups, he applies these theories to enhance understanding and optimize chemical processes. His work encompasses exploring catalytic reactions, molecular recognition, and theoretical biochemistry, aimed at advancing fragment-oriented catalyst design.
https://www.theochem.nl/fmbickelhaupt
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=y2uuNcwAAAAJ&hl=en
University of Johannesburg
Keynote speaker
Specializing in electrochemistry, Prof Arotiba’s core research centers on electrocatalysis, particularly its applications in material, biomedical, and environmental domains. His focus is on developing electrochemical catalysts and processes to address challenges such as water treatment, pollutant removal, and biomedical sensing.
https://www.uj.ac.za/members/prof-omotayo-a-arotiba/
https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=FtKBpAcAAAAJ&hl=en
Graz University of Technology (Austria)
Keynote speaker
Prof. Winkler, a globally recognized biocatalysis expert, and her team push boundaries in enzyme utilization for eco-friendly and selective organic chemical production. Their projects uncover and harness novel biocatalysts through various methods, including directed evolution, to boost productivity and selectivity. Collaborating across academia and industry, Prof. Winkler strives for greener biocatalytic solutions, advancing sustainable chemical manufacturing.
https://www.tugraz.at/institute/imbt/research/cell-and-protein-engineering-group/winkler-team
Ecole européenne de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux
University of Strasbourg (France)
Keynote Speaker
Vincent Ritleng earned his PhD from Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France, in 2001, studying under Dr. Michel Pfeffer. He completed postdoctoral research at MIT with Professor Richard R. Schrock (2001-2003) and then at the University of Groningen with Professors Ben L. Feringa and Johannes G. de Vries. In 2004, Ritleng became a Maître de Conférences at the University of Strasbourg, was later made a Fellow of the University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (2012), nominated Junior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France in 2014, and promoted to Full Professor in 2018. His research focuses on the development of nickel complexes featuring NHC ligands for cross-coupling, hydrofunctionalization, and C-H bond functionalization reactions, and structured catalytic supports like open cell polyurethane foams.
