WCA announces speakers for its global conference in China

19 Apr 2024 CW Team

At this year?s conference, the WCA will address the various complex and pressing issues being faced by the cement industry currently, by sharing the latest successful advances and discussing solutions to the evolving challenges in our sector.

The event will host CEOs, VPs, Chairs, CTOs, COOs and Executive Directors from the cement and concrete industries, industrial decarbonisation, finance, and technology, as they gain insights into contemporary issues faced by the cement industry through a range of presentations and panel sessions from industry experts.

Topics covered will include: the impact of carbon trading systems, achievements in cost reduction and efficiency improvement, global outlook: opportunities and challenges successful management transformation, and developments in supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and the effect on clinker demand.

Wei Rushan, WCA?s President will be drawing on his extensive experience in strategies, investments and capital management, and transformation and development during his closing remarks to the attendees. Mr Wei has been the President and Executive Director of China National Building Materials Co. Ltd. (CNBM) since 2022, having held a range of senior roles within the company for over 15 years. In acknowledgement of his industry knowhow, he has been awarded with the First Prize of National Enterprise Management Modernization in 2018, the First Prize of National Building Material Enterprise Management Modernization Innovation Achievement in 2019 and other awards.

Other speakers and panellists include: Emir Adiguzel, Founder and Director of the WCA. During his 30 years in the international cement business, Emir was the former Global CEO of Heidelberg Materials Group International Trade (HCT) and now leads as the Executive Chairman of ACG Consultancy Group. Emir will be speaking at the ?Global Trade Opportunity and Challenges? session where he will be presenting his insights on ?Conquering the Global Market: Unveiling the Trade Strategy in an International Company.?

Frank Li, Deputy General Manager of CNBM Green Energy Co. With over 17 years of knowledge in the carbon trading and management field, he has specialised in allowance and offset product trading within European and Chinese carbon markets since 2007. Frank will leverage his experience to deliver insights on ?China?s ETS Expansion: Opportunities and Challenges for the Cement Sector? during the ?Impact of Carbon Trading Systems? session.

Matthias Mersmann, CTO at KHD Humboldt Wedag. Matthias has gathered 30 years of experience within the cement sector and will be drawing on his work in the development of efficient machines and processes for manufacturing cement in his presentation on ?The Latest Achievements in Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement? during the ?New Process Technology? session. Additionally, the WCA will be revealing the winners of several awards as they recognise excellence and outstanding achievements in the cement industry. The awards presented will be in the following 4 categories: Model Plant, Climate Action, Innovation, and Health & Safety.

The World Cement Association (WCA) has announced the first line-up of speakers for its 7th annual conference and exhibition, which will take place on May 18th and 19th 2024, at the Hilton Nanjing Niushoushan, in Nanjing, China, and will focus on the theme of ?Strategy and Performance.? At this year?s conference, the WCA will address the various complex and pressing issues being faced by the cement industry currently, by sharing the latest successful advances and discussing solutions to the evolving challenges in our sector. The event will host CEOs, VPs, Chairs, CTOs, COOs and Executive Directors from the cement and concrete industries, industrial decarbonisation, finance, and technology, as they gain insights into contemporary issues faced by the cement industry through a range of presentations and panel sessions from industry experts. Topics covered will include: the impact of carbon trading systems, achievements in cost reduction and efficiency improvement, global outlook: opportunities and challenges successful management transformation, and developments in supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and the effect on clinker demand. Wei Rushan, WCA?s President will be drawing on his extensive experience in strategies, investments and capital management, and transformation and development during his closing remarks to the attendees. Mr Wei has been the President and Executive Director of China National Building Materials Co. Ltd. (CNBM) since 2022, having held a range of senior roles within the company for over 15 years. In acknowledgement of his industry knowhow, he has been awarded with the First Prize of National Enterprise Management Modernization in 2018, the First Prize of National Building Material Enterprise Management Modernization Innovation Achievement in 2019 and other awards. Other speakers and panellists include: Emir Adiguzel, Founder and Director of the WCA. During his 30 years in the international cement business, Emir was the former Global CEO of Heidelberg Materials Group International Trade (HCT) and now leads as the Executive Chairman of ACG Consultancy Group. Emir will be speaking at the ?Global Trade Opportunity and Challenges? session where he will be presenting his insights on ?Conquering the Global Market: Unveiling the Trade Strategy in an International Company.? Frank Li, Deputy General Manager of CNBM Green Energy Co. With over 17 years of knowledge in the carbon trading and management field, he has specialised in allowance and offset product trading within European and Chinese carbon markets since 2007. Frank will leverage his experience to deliver insights on ?China?s ETS Expansion: Opportunities and Challenges for the Cement Sector? during the ?Impact of Carbon Trading Systems? session. Matthias Mersmann, CTO at KHD Humboldt Wedag. Matthias has gathered 30 years of experience within the cement sector and will be drawing on his work in the development of efficient machines and processes for manufacturing cement in his presentation on ?The Latest Achievements in Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement? during the ?New Process Technology? session. Additionally, the WCA will be revealing the winners of several awards as they recognise excellence and outstanding achievements in the cement industry. The awards presented will be in the following 4 categories: Model Plant, Climate Action, Innovation, and Health & Safety.

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Infrastructure Energy

05 Nov 2025

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..