PROGRAMME

Energy Fundamentals Master Class. In today's complex and volatile energy landscape, even experienced buyers benefit from revisiting core principles. This intensive training session strips away market noise to focus on the fundamentals of energy, strategies and proven practices that drive successful energy procurement, regardless of market conditions.

Why this training is for you: whether you're new to energy procurement or a seasoned professional, market volatility, regulatory changes, and new technologies can overwhelm daily operations. This session refocuses on the essential skills and frameworks that separate successful energy buyers from those struggling with reactive purchasing. 

Join us the evening before the main event!

We invite you to a welcome networking reception with fellow conference attendees; a fantastic opportunity to connect in an informal setting.

Meet professionals from a wide range of industries who share your passion and interests, exchange ideas, and start building meaningful connections ahead of the big day.

Time to check in, grab your badge and conference materials and kick off the day with coffee and good connections.

• Luca Pedretti / COO & Co-Founder
  at Pexapark

We’ll open the black box with anonymized examples from our client base to show what different companies actually paid and why. We’ll compare strategies, timing, and contract choices that outperformed (and those that didn’t) so you can refine your strategy with confidence.

Anecdotal, but probably very recognizable.

• Jens Lievens / CEO at E&C Group

Case study

Even the best market strategy fails without internal alignment. This session unpacks how governance, budget control, and cross-functional coordination can make or break energy decisions; especially under volatile conditions. 

Why it matters: Energy procurement touches cost, carbon, and continuity − yet, decisions are often fragmented across finance, operations, and ESG. We’ll explore how to centralize decision rights, manage conflicting priorities, and establish a governance model that drives speed, clarity, and accountability.

• Laurent Villiers / Associate Director Service & Energies Global Procurement EMEA at Merck Group
• Dina Karamarko / Lead Partner at E&C Group

Take a moment to recharge and connect with industry peers and experts. Discuss insights from the morning sessions and exchange on how outputs may impact your respective roadmaps.

1. Understanding energy suppliers
Navigate supplier relationships effectively. Understand their motivations, leverage their strengths, and avoid common pitfalls.

• Jasmin Ballach / Energy Procurement & Transition Consultant at E&C Group
• Carolina Muñoz Martín / Lead Partner & Consultants Team Leader at E&C Group

This session will be replicated by

• Ondřej Zicha / Lead Partner at E&C Group
• César Gil Colom / Energy Procurement & Transition Consultant at E&C Group

2. The final sprint: finish line or starting block? Synchronizing your decarbonization roadmap

2030 is approaching and so do first emission reduction targets. This workshop forces a critical evaluation of your existing decarbonization strategy against the new realities of hourly matching, Scope 3 supply chain mandates, and the rising standard for carbon offsets. 

• Kathleen Peters / Energy Transition Product Owner at E&C Group
• Sol González / Sustainability Consultant at Apala by E&C

3. Turning flexibility into revenue: how to maximize your asset value
Industrial flexibility is a strategic revenue opportunity, rather than just demand response. But how do you monetize it? Which markets offer the best returns? And how is the value proposition evolving?

• Bart Verest / Lead Partner at E&C Group
• Cyriel Poppe / IT Product Owner at E&C Group

 This session will be replicated by 

• Dina Karamarko / Lead Partner at E&C Group
• David Luna / Energy Procurement & Transition Consultant at E&C Group

4. Buying energy in North America
Deregulated markets, volatile commodity prices, cross-border grid dynamics, and evolving renewable mandates create both risk and opportunity for buyers. When considering energy purchases in the US and Canada, it is essential to stay informed about the latest trends and market conditions.

• Jens Lievens / CEO at E&C Group
• Alexander Vande Walle / Energy Procurement & Transition Consultant at E&C Group

More than a meal: this is your chance to connect with decision-makers and industry experts. Share challenges, exchange best practices, and build relationships that extend beyond the conference.

Same options as in 1st timeslot − choose your second preferred option! 

Take a moment to recharge and connect with industry peers and experts. Discuss insights from the morning sessions and exchange on how outputs may impact your respective roadmaps.

The best insights don't always come from certainty, they come from the moments we changed our minds.

To close the day, we bring three voices to the stage for an honest conversation about what's shifted. What did they believe about energy markets two years ago that they no longer do? What changed, and why does it matter for what comes next?

After hearing from our guests, we open the floor for questions and remarks.

• Luca Pedretti / COO & Co-Founder at Pexapark
• Jan Selbach / Senior Group Director Indirect + CSR Purchasing at SNOP Group FSD
• Jens Lievens / CEO at E&C Group
• Kathleen Peters / Energy Transition Product Owner at E&C Group