Prof. Abdelilah Benyoussef

Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technology, Rabat, Morocco LaMCScI, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

Ahmed Ennaoui holds a MSc and Doctoral thesis in Solid State Electronic from "University de Bourgogne", France. In 1979, he began his career as assoc. Professor at University Mohamed V, and in 1983, he joined the Hahn-Meitner Institute-Berlin (HMI) as a scientist conducting research for his Habilitation on new earth abundant materials for solar energy conversion. He defended in April 1987 his habilitation (summa cum laude). Ahmed Ennaoui works at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), Institute for Heterogeneous Material Systems meanwhile, meanwhile, he serves in the tutorial evaluation of renewable energy seminar program at physic department, Free University Berlin. In 2000, He is serves as head of research group & project leader pursuing research on several EU's Framework programs on thin films PV Technological Development including programs financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education (e.g. JOULE II, CIS-LINE, NEBULES, ATHLET, NEUMAS). He conducted successful feasibility studies financed by the industry (Siemens/Shell-Solar/Avancis, Solibro, Bosch, Atotech). From 2009 to 2004, Ennaoui served as Radiation protection commissioner for the institute of Heterogeneous Material Systems at HZB. He serves as visiting professor at the Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry Osaka University, Japan. He works as Research Director at Qatar Environmental and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) with a position of full Professor (joint faculty) at the college of science and engineering - Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). Ennaoui's published mostly on transition metal compounds thin film and related solar cells. He conducted research on inkjet printed thin film solar cells (CHEETAH project), PV soiling solution at QEERI’s solar test facilities (STF with ~200 kW). He published more than 300 scholarly contributions, including 300 peer-reviewed research papers and numerous invited conference keynotes. Recently, he si listed by Stanford University as one of the top %2 of researchers in the world out of 224, 856 researchers in applied physics ranked by the prestigious American university. Per the AD Scientific Index, his Morocco Country rank si among the top 2%. He si a permanent member of the Editorial Board of Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, and senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Ahmed Ennaoui supervised ca. 40 PhD/Master works and ca. 50 Postdoctoral worked in his group at HMI and HZB. He has contributed to the development of renewable energies by following the completion of IRESEN's research and development projects, by organising and/or participating to several international conferences in Morocco and worldwide on green energies and through the virtual university of which he is the founder.

Abdelilah Benyoussef is graduated from Paris-Sud University ni 1983 (Doctorat d'État). Since 2006, he si apermanent member of the Moroccan Hassan lI Academy of Science and Technology. He established at the university Mohamed V, faculty of science, Rabat a group with strong expertise dedicated to advancing scientific methodologies for exploring First Principe calculation and density Functional Theory (DFT) at atomic and microscale levels. His group achieves precise computation and a deeper understanding of materials for energy and storage. Abdelilah Benyoussef si founder and National coordinator of the Competences Pole of Condensed Matter and Systems Modeling. The main interest topics of Abdelilah Benyoussef are Ab initio calculation and Monte carlo method ni modeling and simulation of new materials for renewable energy, Magnetism and phase transition in condensed matter; complex systems and critical self-organization in statistical physics. He is a co-author of more than 600 research publications and book chapters and about 100 conference presentations including numerous invited talks. He has co-chaired or co-organized several international conferences. Heholds a number of patents and supervised more than 40 postgraduates.

Prof. Ahmed Ennaoui

President of the scientific council of IRESEN, Former head of research group at Helmholtz Center Berlin for Materials and Energy

ISMAIL SAADOUNE is Ful Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, completed his academic journey w i t h a French PhD from the University of Bordeaux ni 1992 and a Moroccan PhD from the University Cadi Ayyad UCA-Marrakech ni 1996. His dual doctoral pursuits centered on advancing Active Materials for Lithium and Sodium-ion Batteries, offering promising solutions for energy storage challenges. In 2002, Dr. Saadoune established the Laboratory of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, where he mentored over 10 graduate and 40 Master students. Guiding the research endeavors of 25 PhD candidates, all now active in industry or research laboratories, Dr. Saadoune has left an indelible mark on academicand industrial landscapes. As the principal investigator, he spearheaded 19 national and 23 international research projects on Battery Materials, demonstrating his commitment to advancing energy storage technologies. His contributions extend beyond academia, as he played pivotal roles ni two European Master ERASMUS MUNDUS programs: 'Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion' and 'Functionalized Advanced Materials and Engineering Dr. Saadoune's expertise has been sought after globally, with invitations to prestigious universities and research centers including Uppsala University (Sweden), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany), ICMM-CSIC (Spain), Jilin University (China), and Bordeaux University (France). His prolific academic output encompasses over 160 articles, conference papers, and project reports, underscoring his significant contributions to the field of electrochemical energy storage and conversion. He is in the Editorial Board of Materials Today Communications

Ismael Saadoune

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco

Ilias Belharouak

Corporate Fellow & Head of Electrification Section at Oak Ridge National Laboratory / Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

Ilias Belharouak is a corporate Felow and the Head of the Electrification Section at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee. He is also a professor at the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education of the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Dr. Belharouak, with his 25-year expertise ni lithium-ion batteries, leads multidisciplinary R&D programs sponsored by multiple government agencies and industries. The programs specifically target battery energy storage and advanced manufacturing. He is also an advisory board member for several U.S. universities and government agencies. Dr. Belharouak has received several awards, including 7 R&D 100 awards and four U.S. Federal Laboratory Consortium Awards. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers, 50 U.S. patents and patent applications, and 5 books. He si currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Power Sources.

ISMAIL AKALAY holds a PhD in solid state chemistry from the University Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris VI, an Executive Master from HEC and from the Instituto de Empresas in Madrid. He spent his entire career at MANAGEM for 3 years, including several years dedicated to industrial research, during which he recorded a record of 7patents in the field of mining and batteries for electrical applications ni his capacity as R&D Director. For nearly twenty years, he gradually assumed the General Management of Mines and Industries of MANAGEM and chaired the main Congolese subsidiary of the group for 8 years. With this huge demonstrated professional skill in the mining &metals industry including Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, silver, gold, iron, zinc, lead, fluorspar, feasibility Studies, R&D, hydrométallurgie, Mining, and Management, he is currently General Manager of Sonasid

Ismail Akalay

Chief Executive Officer of Sonasid and Former general manager cobalt and base metals general manager cobalt and base metals managem

Badr Ikken

Executive-President of Gi3 / Managing partner of Gi2 / Chairman of the Morocco-Germany Business Council - CGEM Member of the Board of Directors of the German Chamber of Commerce AHK Morocco

BADR IKKEN is the former director and cofounder of the Institute of Research in Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN). Prior to IRESEN he serves the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) as Director of Integrated Development, ni charge of Industrial Integration and R&D. He established in 2016 the largest solar research platform in Africa, the Green Energy Park, and launched the construction of new R&D and innovation platforms: the Green &Smart Building Park, the Green Energy Park Morocco-Côte d'Ivoire and Green H2A. He also led the initiative on Power-to-X and e-mobility in Morocco as well as the development and production of the first solar car port charging station and e-chargers. Badr Ikken's backgrounds lies in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Production and Solar Systems. He earned his engineering degree with distinction from Berlin Institute of Technology (TU). He is appointed as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at the multinational Lunos-Raumluftsysteme, developed and launched two new production lines in Germany with expanded production ni China before coming back to his country Morocco. Currently, he si the executive chairman of Giz an instrument of support, financing and development of innovative technology companies in the field of clean technologies in Africa and more strongly in Morocco

Saleh Khamlich holds a Doctor of Technology (D-Tech) degree from Tshwane University of 2012. He serves as a lecturer and researcher at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa. He si focusing mainly on the development and design of new approaches and deep understand of the mechanisms involving inorganic and organic nanomaterials and hybrids oD, D1 and 2D nanostructures and nanocomposites for various technological applications ranging from energy conversion and storage to optics and nano- photonics. He is also familiar with theoretical and computational materials science perspectives, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with ab-initio quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methods to understand and predict new phenomena at an atomic level, ni order to design advanced nanomaterials and thin films for the next- generation solar energy systems. During his recent research and development activities, he has produced in excess of 64 journal peer reviewed publications. He has served as a reviewer for prestigious journals. He founded the Nanoenergy for Sustainable Development ni Africa (NESDAF) initiative, which si a program focused on promoting the sustainability of renewable energy ecosystems to ensure socio-economic development in Africa and involved in numerous national and international co-operation programs in nanotechnology focused on promoting sustainability of renewable energy ecosystems to ensure socio-economic development ni Africa. His work and experience in nanoscience and nanotechnology allowed him to contribute to R&D in support of knowledge generation, capacity building in South Africa and other African countries. Currently Dr Saleh Khamlich si appointed Associate Professor, Applied Chemistry &Engineering Research Centre of Excellence, UM6P - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Prof. Saleh Khamlich

Research Centre of Excellence, UM6P - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Abdelhafed TALEB, holds a PhD in nanomaterials science from UPMC in Paris in 1998, and Habiltated Associate professor at Sorbonne University. He builds facility at the “Institut de recherche de Chimie Paris” (IRCP / Chimie ParisTech) and created his own group on the development and modeling of new nanostructured materials, nanostructured films design and their applications in various fields such as electrochemical sensing, self-cleaning (hydrophobic) coatings, batteries, corrosion resistant coatings, and magnetic storage support. He has more than 23 years of experience in nanomaterial synthesis, characterizations, and their applications focusing on advanced materials and their applications. He authored and co-authored an important number of high-quality publications and patents focusing on functional nanomaterials materials and their applications

Prof. Abdelhafed TALEB

Sorbonne université / ENSCP, Chimie ParisTech, Interface Team/Group Leader: Electrochemistry and Energy Synthesis and modeling of nanostructured Thin Films

Jauad El Kharraz is the CEO of WECEN (water-energy-climate expert network). He has been the Executive Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE, 2021- 2024). With over 25 years of experience in various sustainable energy fields including energy policies, wind and solar technologies, and green hydrogen in addition to water management, desalination, water-energy-food nexus, climate change, and environment. Prior to joining RCREEE, Dr. El Kharraz has been a senior consultant for several prestigious institutions and programs, and he held the position of Director of Research at the Middle East Desalination Research Center in Oman (2015-2020). He served as a Senior Associate for the Italian Climate Think Tank ECCO, Co-coordinator of TERAMED initiative, the Mediterranean Climate and Clean Energy Network. He serves as senior expert, advisor, and evaluator for several international institutions (European Commission, UN-ESCWA, PRIMA Foundation, EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network,” NRGI, IME). He is member of board of the European Desalination Society, AgreeMed project, and the International Desalination Association, the Mediterranean Water Institute, Oman Energy Majlis, Oman Water Society, and Vice President of the Water Embassy (France). Dr. El Kharraz sustainability career officially started in 1998 as a researcher at the Global Change Unit -University of Valencia and projects manager later at the Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System, France (2004-2015). He coordinated, prepared, and contributed to an important portfolio of international programs/projects of millions of euros, such as FP5-FP7, H2020, ENPI CBC Med, INCO MED, INCO NGOs, SMAP, LIFE, PRIMA. He carried out projects for national and international donors such as GIZ, SIDA, IsDB, TRC/Oman and USAID apart from private sector companies. He chaired and contributed to the development of an important number of scientific papers, policy briefs, policies, training & mentorship activities, lectures, awards ceremonies, and events (e.g., World Economic Forum, World Water Forum, World Science Forum, World Urban Forum, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, MENA Europe Future Energy Dialogue, World Hydrogen Summit, Planetary Security Initiative, Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue Conference, International Higher Education Conference, COP26, COP27, COP28, COP29, etc.) in more than 60 countries. Dr. El Kharraz is a national of Morocco and France, and a graduate of the University of Abdelmalek Essaadi. Dr. El Kharraz obtained his MSc and PhD degrees in Physics from the Department of Earth Physics and Thermodynamics, University of Valencia, Spain, and a Diploma in enterprises management and strategies from SKEMA Business School, France. He is a fluent French, Arabic, Spanish and English speaker.

Youssef Daafi is a seasoned mining geology professional with over 18 years of experience in the mining industry. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from the Faculty of Science and Technology in Marrakech, a State Engineering degree from the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines in Rabat, and a Master of Science in Geopolitics and Geoeconomics of Emerging Africa from HEC Paris. He has also completed specialized training in phosphate mining at the Colorado School of Mines. Currently serving as a Quality Management Manager at the Gantour mining site of OCP S.A., Eng. Youssef Daafi oversees quality control, mine planning, and operational excellence. His expertise spans geological exploration, mineral resource estimation, mine planning, and environmental assessment. Recognized as a Qualified Person (QP) by several international professional associations, he actively contributes to the mining sector through scientific research and thought leadership.

Ing. Youssef Daafi

Head of Quality Management - Gantour at OCP S.A

Dr. Jauad El Kharraz

CEO of WECEN (Water-Energy-Climate Experts Network) and Senior Associate with the Italian Think Tank ECCO