Meet Our Speakers – Global Expertise, Shared Vision

Over 60 speakers. More than 20 countries. Six continents. One shared ambition: a just and sustainable energy future.

The 4th International Academic Conference Energy Justice & Energy Transition: Global, Europe, State will bring together an exceptional international community of scholars, policymakers, legal experts, industry leaders and representatives of major energy institutions in Chorzów, Poland, on 22–23 October 2026.

Our speakers represent more than 20 countries across six continents, bringing perspectives from Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. From Australia and the Philippines to Chile and Colombia, from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to leading European research institutions, the conference will offer a truly global perspective on the opportunities and challenges of the energy transition.

The programme features internationally recognised professors, pioneering researchers, senior government officials, energy regulators and executives from some of Poland's largest energy companies. Together, they will address the defining questions of our time: How can we deliver a just energy transition? What role should nuclear energy play in future energy systems? How can governments reconcile energy security, economic competitiveness and climate commitments? And how will artificial intelligence and digitalisation reshape the global energy landscape?

What makes this conference distinctive is the diversity of voices it brings together. Academic research will meet practical experience, international perspectives will engage with national priorities, and established experts will share the stage with emerging researchers. This exchange of knowledge and ideas lies at the heart of our ambition to build a truly international platform for dialogue, cooperation and lasting academic partnerships.

Discover the distinguished speakers who will shape the discussions at Energy Justice & Energy Transition 2026.

22 October 2026

A/Prof. Marzena Czarnecka

University of Economics in Katowice, Poland

Associate Professor Marzena Czarnecka is Head of the Department of Energy Transition at the University of Economics in Katowice and a former Polish Minister of Industry. Her expertise includes energy law, energy regulation and public economic law.

Presentation: Owner, Guarantor, Regulator: Who Carries the Risk of a Just Energy Transition?

Time: 09:30–09:50

Prof. Raphael J. Heffron

Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates

Professor Raphael J. Heffron is an internationally recognised scholar specialising in energy law, energy justice and the global energy transition. He chairs the Presidium of the Conference Programme Council.

Presentation: Resilience in the Just Energy Transition

Time: 09:50–10:10

Prof. Tina Soliman-Hunter

Macquarie University, Australia

Professor Tina Soliman-Hunter specialises in energy and natural resources law, with particular expertise in nuclear energy, energy regulation and the legal challenges of transitioning towards low-carbon energy systems.

Presentation: Novel Applications of Existing Technologies for the Decarbonisation of the Arctic and Beyond: The Role of Floating Nuclear Power Plants

Time: 10:10–10:30

A/Prof. Ricardo Javier Bustos Salvagno

University of Chile, Chile

Associate Professor Javier Bustos specialises in energy economics, electricity markets and energy policy, with particular interests in the economic and regulatory challenges of energy transitions in Latin America.

Presentation: Model, Many Bills: Regulatory Independence and Who Pays for the Energy Transition in South America

Time: 10:30–10:50

Prof. Franklin Obeng-Odoom

University of Helsinki, Finland

Professor Franklin Obeng-Odoom is a scholar of political economy whose research explores ecological economics, inequality, urban development and the social dimensions of sustainable development and energy transitions.

Presentation: Energy Cities and the Quest for a Just Ecological Political Economy: A Study in Stratification Economics

Time: 10:50–11:10

Prof. Andrés Escobar

University of Cartagena, Colombia

Professor Andrés Escobar specialises in energy law, public regulation and the legal and socio-economic challenges of energy transitions, with particular attention to Latin America and the Caribbean.

Presentation: Clean Energy Transition and Energy Justice in the Caribbean: Regulatory Challenges and Socio-Economic Implications

Time: 11:10–11:30 | Online

Session A: Nuclear Energy in the Era of the Energy Transition

13:00–14:55 | James Watt Hall

Dr Marcin Kraśniewski

University of Economics in Katowice, Poland | European Federation of Energy Law Associations (EFELA)

Dr Marcin Kraśniewski is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Energy Transition and Chair of the Conference Organising Committee. His research focuses on energy law, nuclear energy regulation, energy justice and the legal challenges of the energy transition. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of EFELA.

Presentation (with Wojciech Wrochna): The Nuclear Energy Renaissance: New Challenges for Polish and European Energy Law

Time: 13:00–13:20

Wojciech Wrochna

Deputy Ministry of Energy, Poland

Wojciech Wrochna is a senior government official involved in Poland's energy policy, nuclear energy development and strategic energy infrastructure. His professional work focuses on energy security and the regulatory and institutional conditions for major energy investments.

Presentation (with Dr Marcin Kraśniewski): The Nuclear Energy Renaissance: New Challenges for Polish and European Energy Law

Time: 13:00–13:20

Prof. Milan Damohorský

Charles University, Czech Republic

Professor Milan Damohorský is a legal scholar specialising in environmental law and the regulation of natural resources, including the legal dimensions of nuclear energy and environmental protection.

Presentation: Czech Nuclear Energy and Its Future from the Legal Point of View

Time: 13:20–13:40

Dr Strahinja Obrenović

University of Belgrade, Serbia

Dr Strahinja Obrenović conducts research on energy policy, international relations and the regulatory and strategic challenges associated with energy security and nuclear energy development.

Presentation: Development of the Serbian Nuclear Energy Sector: Challenges and Lessons

Time: 13:40–14:00

Marinella De Focatiis

European Federation of Energy Law Associations (EFELA), Italy

Marinella De Focatiis is an energy law expert actively involved in European cooperation on energy regulation, energy policy and the legal challenges of the energy transition.

Presentation: Rethinking Nuclear Regulation in Italy: Lessons from the Past, Rules for the Future

Time: 14:00–14:20

A/Prof. Bruna Žuber

University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Associate Professor Bruna Žuber specialises in public and administrative law, with research interests in regulatory governance, public participation and legal accountability.

Presentation: Public Acceptance of Nuclear Energy Projects: Legal and Governance Challenges

Time: 14:20–14:40

Session B: Long-Term Energy Security as a Challenge for the State and the Economy

13:00–14:55 | Mezzanine Level

A/Prof. Valeria Lymar

Vasyl’ Stus Donetsk National University, Ukraine

Associate Professor Valeria Lymar conducts research on international economic relations, energy security and the role of emerging technologies in shaping the global energy landscape.

Presentation: Artificial Intelligence as a Driver of International Energy Security

Time: 13:00–13:20

Dr Anna Górczyńska

University of Łódź, Poland

Dr Anna Górczyńska specialises in public procurement law, including green public procurement and regulatory challenges associated with public investment and strategic infrastructure.

Presentation: Actual Challenges for Public Procurement in the Energy Sector: Green Procurement and Procurement in Defence and Security

Time: 13:20–13:40

Dr Ernesto Bonafé

University of Dundee, United Kingdom

Dr Ernesto Bonafé specialises in energy law, European energy regulation and the legal and institutional frameworks supporting renewable energy development and energy market integration.

Presentation: Offshore Wind and the Energy Transition in the United Kingdom

Time: 13:40–14:00

Prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė

Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

Professor Saulė Milčiuvienė specialises in energy law and regulation, with particular expertise in European Union energy policy, energy efficiency and the legal implications of technological developments in the energy sector.

Presentation: Regulatory Gaps in the Integration of Digital Technologies into EU Energy Efficiency Policy

Time: 14:00–14:20

A/Prof. Damiano Fuschi

University of Milan, Italy

Associate Professor Damiano Fuschi conducts research on European Union law and the legal dimensions of sustainability, industrial decarbonisation and the just energy transition.

Presentation: “No Right Is Tyrant”: The ILVA Case as a Paradigm of Unbalanced Just Transition in Steel Decarbonisation

Time: 14:20–14:40

Session A: Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in Energy Sector Transition

15:10–17:05 | James Watt Hall

A/Prof. Elsoghair Mahdy

Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates | Aswan University, Egypt

Associate Professor Elsoghair Mahdy conducts research on legal regulation, governance and the implications of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, for energy markets and public accountability.

Presentation: Algorithmic Governance and Energy Justice: Legal Accountability for AI-Based Decision-Making in Smart Energy Markets

Time: 15:10–15:30

Prof. Robert Szuchy

Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Hungary

Professor Robert Szuchy specialises in energy law, European Union regulation and the legal challenges of electricity markets, energy infrastructure and the digital energy transition.

Presentation: Who Pays for Artificial Intelligence? Hyperscale Data Centres, Energy Poverty and the Allocation of Grid Costs in EU Electricity Law

Time: 15:30–15:50

Dr György Kovács

Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Hungary

Dr György Kovács conducts research on technology regulation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the legal challenges associated with digitalisation in the energy sector.

Presentation: AI Governance in the Digital Energy Transition: Energy Regulation, Cybersecurity and Fundamental Rights under the EU AI Act

Time: 15:50–16:10

A/Prof. Dariusz Michalski

University of Bielsko-Biała, Poland

Associate Professor Dariusz Michalski specialises in economic and financial aspects of energy markets, including energy-sector management, investment and digital transformation.

Presentation: The Megawatt-Hour — A New Unit of Value in the Digital Economy? Electricity, Data Centres and the Energy Transition

Time: 16:10–16:30

A/Prof. Rabai Bouderhem

Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia

Associate Professor Rabai Bouderhem conducts research on computational approaches to energy policy, sustainability and the development of analytical frameworks supporting energy-sector decision-making.

Presentation: A Computational Framework for Energy Policy Coherence

Time: 16:30–16:50 | Online

Session B: The Future of Energy – Shaping the Global Energy Landscape

15:10–17:05 | Mezzanine Level

A/Prof. Alex Godoy-Faúndez

Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile

Associate Professor Alex Godoy-Faúndez specialises in sustainability, environmental policy and the water–energy–food nexus, with particular attention to climate change, resource governance and just energy transitions.

Presentation: Beyond Decarbonisation: Embedding Nexus-Based Energy Justice in Chile’s Long-Term Climate Strategy and NDC

Time: 15:10–15:30

Dr Joane V. Serrano

University of the Philippines, Philippines

Dr Joane V. Serrano conducts research on sustainability, science communication and collaborative approaches to renewable energy transitions, particularly in the Global South.

Presentation (with Dr Roberto B. Figueroa): Immersive Science Communication and the Renewable Energy Transition: A Collaborative Approach from the Global South

Time: 15:30–15:50

Dr Roberto B. Figueroa

University of the Philippines, Philippines

Dr Roberto B. Figueroa conducts research on science communication, digital technologies and innovative approaches to public engagement in sustainability and renewable energy development.

Presentation (with Dr Joane V. Serrano): Immersive Science Communication and the Renewable Energy Transition: A Collaborative Approach from the Global South

Time: 15:30–15:50

Prof. Volker Roeben

Durham University, United Kingdom

Professor Volker Roeben is a scholar of international and European law, specialising in energy law, global governance and the legal frameworks governing energy markets and international economic relations.

Presentation: Market Integrity in the Service of the European Energy Transition?

Time: 15:50–16:10

Georgia Patsaroucha

European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), Belgium

Georgia Patsaroucha is an energy-sector professional whose work addresses electricity transmission systems, energy infrastructure and the challenges of maintaining secure and resilient European electricity networks.

Presentation: Double Challenge of TSOs: Safeguarding the Present while Navigating the Future

Time: 16:10–16:30

Dr Halima Hussein

Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour & CNRS, France

Dr Halima Hussein conducts research on international economic law, trade regulation and the relationship between global trade rules, sustainability and energy justice.

Presentation: Tariffs, Subsidies and the International Trade Law Toolkit: Is the World Trade Organization Pro or Against Energy Justice?

Time: 16:30–16:50

Session A: Energy Justice & Energy Transition – Lessons, Pathways and Perspectives (Part 1)

17:40–18:55 | James Watt Hall

Dr Alicia Phillips

Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour & CNRS, France

Dr Alicia Phillips conducts research on sustainability, energy justice and the legal and policy dimensions of equitable energy transitions.

Presentation: Integrating Sustainability Science and Energy Justice to Advance an Equitable Energy Transition

Time: 17:40–17:55

A/Prof. Jurgita Malinauskaite

Brunel University of London, United Kingdom | Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania

Associate Professor Jurgita Malinauskaite specialises in energy law, competition law and European Union regulation, with particular interests in renewable energy and the legal challenges of sustainable energy development.

Presentation: Geothermal Energy and Social Acceptance

Time: 17:55–18:10

A/Prof. Luiz Ugeda

University of Campinas, Brazil

Associate Professor Luiz Ugeda specialises in energy law, spatial governance and the legal and regulatory dimensions of energy infrastructure and territorial planning.

Presentation (with A/Prof. Rute Saraiva): From Territorial Sludge to Energy Transition: A Geospatial Audit of Legal Friction in Renewable Acceleration Areas

Time: 18:10–18:25

A/Prof. Rute Saraiva

University of Lisbon, Portugal

Associate Professor Rute Saraiva specialises in law and economics, behavioural approaches to regulation, public policy and the legal and economic challenges of sustainable development.

Presentation (with A/Prof. Luiz Ugeda): From Territorial Sludge to Energy Transition: A Geospatial Audit of Legal Friction in Renewable Acceleration Areas

Time: 18:10–18:25

A/Prof. Luigi Maria Pepe

eCampus University, Italy

Associate Professor Luigi Maria Pepe conducts research on energy law and regulation, with particular interests in renewable energy development, public acceptance and the legal dimensions of the energy transition.

Presentation: Energy Justice and Local Acceptance in Italy’s Renewable Energy Transition

Time: 18:25–18:40

Session B: Energy Justice & Energy Transition – Lessons, Pathways and Perspectives (Part 2)

17:40–18:55 | Mezzanine Level

A/Prof. Erman Eroğlu

Ankara Social Sciences University, Türkiye

Associate Professor Erman Eroğlu conducts research on international law and dispute resolution, including legal challenges arising in the international energy sector.

Presentation: Dispute Resolution in the International Energy Sector

Time: 17:40–17:55 | Online

A/Prof. Maciej Nyka

University of Gdańsk, Poland

Associate Professor Maciej Nyka specialises in environmental law, energy law and sustainable development, with particular interests in climate governance and the financing of energy transitions.

Presentation (with Dr Jakub Plebański): From Pledges to Progress: Financing a Fair Energy Transition in the Post-COP Era

Time: 17:55–18:10

Dr Jakub Plebański

University of Gdańsk, Poland

Dr Jakub Plebański conducts research on legal and regulatory issues relating to sustainable development and the energy transition.

Presentation (with A/Prof. Maciej Nyka): From Pledges to Progress: Financing a Fair Energy Transition in the Post-COP Era

Time: 17:55–18:10

A/Prof. Fatih Buğra Erdem

Ankara Social Sciences University, Türkiye

Associate Professor Fatih Buğra Erdem conducts research on energy law and the legal and regulatory challenges of nuclear energy development, including small modular reactors and energy justice.

Presentation: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Global Energy Justice: Decentralizing Nuclear Power for the Energy Transition

Time: 18:10–18:25 | Online

Dr Mohammad M. Jaber

John von Neumann University, Hungary

Dr Mohammad M. Jaber conducts research on the social and economic dimensions of energy transitions, including household energy access, affordability and energy justice.

Presentation: Cooling Access as an Energy Justice Challenge: Household Evidence from Jordan

Time: 18:25–18:40

23 October 2026 – Polish Conference Day

Session A: The Geopolitics of Energy Transition – Security of Supply, Strategic Infrastructure and Energy Sector Resilience

14:00–15:00 | James Watt Hall

Monika Gawlik

Ministry of State Assets, Poland

Monika Gawlik represents the Ministry of State Assets, contributing a public policy perspective on strategic investment, electromobility and the resilience of industrial supply chains.

Presentation: Electromobility as a Pillar of Poland’s Strategic Security: New Investments, Infrastructure and Supply Chain Resilience

Time: 14:00–14:15

Dr Zdzisław Muras

Energy Regulatory Office (URE), Poland

Dr Zdzisław Muras is an energy regulation expert whose work focuses on energy law, electricity markets and the regulatory frameworks supporting energy security and market transformation.

Presentation: The New Distributed Structure of the Energy Market as a Challenge and an Opportunity in the Context of the Need to Ensure Energy Security – The Role of Regulation

Time: 14:15–14:30

Grzegorz Zych

University of Economics in Katowice, Poland

Grzegorz Zych is associated with the University of Economics in Katowice and has experience at the Polish Ministry of Industry. His interests include energy policy, energy security and the strategic dimensions of the energy transition.

Presentation: Green Transition in a World of Conflict: Will Security Take Precedence over Climate?

Time: 14:30–14:45

Dr Bartosz Sobik

SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland

Dr Bartosz Sobik conducts research on electricity markets, energy economics and the economic implications of energy transition policies.

Presentation: Stress-Testing Electricity Market Design under Extreme Price Shocks: Merit-Order Dynamics and Energy Transition in Poland

Time: 14:45–15:00

Session B: The New Energy Landscape – New Law, New Technologies and New Strategic Challenges

14:00–15:00 | Mezzanine Level

Dr Dorota Benduch

University of Economics in Katowice, Poland

Dr Dorota Benduch conducts research on legal and regulatory issues associated with digitalisation, technological innovation and the management of economic assets.

Presentation: Energy Digital Twins in Real Estate Management

Time: 14:00–14:15

Piotr Mikusek

University of Warsaw, Poland

Piotr Mikusek conducts research on European Union climate and energy regulation, including the EU Emissions Trading System and its implications for industrial transformation.

Presentation: New Instruments in the ETS Directive: Towards an Accelerated Energy Transition or the Decomposition of Strategic Industrial Sectors?

Time: 14:15–14:30

Dr Ilona Szwedziak

University of Warsaw, Poland

Dr Ilona Szwdziak conducts research on European Union energy policy, energy security and the legal and institutional dimensions of strategic energy governance.

Presentation: From Security of Supply to Strategic Energy Management: The Evolution of EU Energy Security Architecture amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

Time: 14:30–14:45

Dr Jakub Ochmann

Silesian University of Technology, Poland

Dr Jakub Ochmann conducts research related to energy technologies, infrastructure and the development of local energy systems.

Presentation (with Patrycja Zubień): Municipal Energy Security through Gas and Biogas Cogeneration: A Study of Energy Balances in Polish Energy Communities

Time: 14:45–15:00

Patrycja Zubień

AGH University of Krakow, Poland

Patrycja Zubień is associated with AGH University of Krakow and contributes expertise relating to energy systems, including gas and biogas cogeneration and local energy security.

Presentation (with Dr Jakub Ochmann): Municipal Energy Security through Gas and Biogas Cogeneration: A Study of Energy Balances in Polish Energy Communities

Time: 14:45–15:00

Closing Session: Nuclear Energy in the Energy Transition – Innovation, Investment and Legal Challenges

15:10–16:25 | James Watt Hall

A/Prof. Łukasz Bartela

Silesian University of Technology, Poland

Associate Professor Łukasz Bartela specialises in energy engineering, power generation technologies and the integration of nuclear energy into modern electricity systems.

Presentation: Nuclear Energy in a System with a Growing Share of Renewable Energy Sources – Challenges for Operations and the Energy Market

Time: 15:10–15:25

Dr Piotr Bielarczyk

Industrial Development Agency (ARP), Poland

Dr Piotr Bielarczyk is associated with the Industrial Development Agency and contributes expertise on the legal and organisational challenges affecting energy-sector enterprises.

Presentation: New Labour Law and the Operations of Energy Undertakings in Poland

Time: 15:25–15:40

Zuzanna Brocka, LL.M.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Zuzanna Brocka conducts research on European Union law and the legal and regulatory challenges of nuclear energy development, including investment in the Italian nuclear energy sector.

Presentation: Investment in Italy’s Nuclear Energy Sector

Time: 15:40–15:55

Bartłomiej Kupiec

Jagiellonian University, Poland

Bartłomiej Kupiec conducts research on energy law and the legal dimensions of public participation, energy justice and nuclear energy investment.

Presentation (with Artur Tyński): Public Participation in Investment in Nuclear Power Plants in the Context of Energy Justice

Time: 15:55–16:10

Artur Tyński

University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

Artur Tyński conducts research on legal issues associated with energy development, public participation and the governance of energy infrastructure projects.

Presentation (with Bartłomiej Kupiec): Public Participation in Investment in Nuclear Power Plants in the Context of Energy Justice

Time: 15:55–16:10

Tomasz Codogni

University of Economics in Katowice, Poland

Tomasz Codogni is associated with the University of Economics in Katowice and focuses on technological and strategic challenges related to nuclear energy, small modular reactors and hydrogen development.

Presentation: The Polish SMR–H₂ Hub

Time: 16:10–16:25