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Luca ABATELLO

Luca Abatello has been the CEO of Circle since 2012 and the President of Info.era since December 2017. Abatello has over a decade of experience in the ICT sector, business consulting, and digital marketing, where he has held increasingly senior positions, eventually becoming Head of Business Solutions and a member of the Board of Directors. He is currently the President of eXyond, the new company 92% owned by Circle Group and Aitek S.p.A. He graduated in Economics from the University of Genoa (1999) and obtained an Executive MBA - PIM from SDA Bocconi (2007).

Johannes BURGHOLD

Dr. Johannes Burghold is German, studied Economics and did his PhD at University of Augsburg. He is in Executive Search since 2007. He was Lecturer at the SIMTC, Shanghai Industrial Management Training Centre, the first ever established post-graduate business school in China. He held top management positions in international German and British companies in Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, UK, and Hungary. He worked for FMCG and Commodity companies as well as financial services. He was member of the Supervisory Board of a German construction company. All together he has over 22 years in Executive Search and top management positions in Eastern Europe. He is Managing Partner Romania and Regional VP Eastern Europe within TRANSEARCH

Michele FERREIRA, Global Customs Operations Manager - IVECO Group

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil 38 years ago. With a degree in Intl Trade, a postgraduate degree in Finance and Data Science, I built my professional career in multinational companies, always in roles related to Trade Compliance and Logistics. In these 18 years of experience, I have worked in different sectors, such as food and beverages, fashion, supply chain consultancy, and most recently, in the automotive, at Iveco Group, as Global Customs Operations Manager. To be successful in this area, I consider the main skills to be interested in learning and the ability to establish networking, as it is a very dynamic universe, in which information plays a fundamental role in the reliability of your strategic plan.

Gabriele GHINI

Gabriele is a senior Executive Search Consultant with about 30 years of experience as Head Hunter for top level positions both at Italian and international level. Before entering in the search business, Gabriele spent the first 10 years of his career in three chemical Multinationals (Du Pont, Uniroyal and Rhone Poulenc Agrochimie) working as international sales and marketing manager, holding responsibilities over multiple geographies for strategic products in the EMEA region. His experience in the search business begun in 1989 with the start up of a Swedish recruiting company in Italy, which in a few years became a market leader in its area of business. This experience was followed by several years in Spencer Stuart as a core member of the Industrial practice and as Executive Vice President responsible for the launch an internet-based recruitment division which in a few years grew to the 30% of the company’s turnover. In 2005, Gabriele joined Heidrick & Struggles as a Partner in the Industrial and Supply Chain Practices to participate in the development of a new strategy focused on global practices and strategic worldwide accounts. In 2013, Gabriele joined Transearch - one of the top ten leading international networks in the Executive Search Industry worldwide - as the Managing Director for Italy. Since 2022 Gabriele has been named Board Member of Transearch International Partner LTD. Gabriele has a vast experience in leading assignments both for Multinationals and Family owned companies. Since 2016, Gabriele has been Adjunct Professor of Personal Branding and Reputation Management at the International Department of the Catholic University of Milan. Gabriele holds a Master degree in Agricultural Sciences and a doctorate in Phytopathology. Author of the book: “Diario di un Cacciatore di Teste. Oltre Social e Algoritmi” – Este 2020. Co-Author of the book: “Ceo Branding in the Reputation Economy” – Egea – 2022 Co- Author od the book: “Perché I Nani non diventano CEO e alter 7 tossicità aizendali” – Este 2024

Thomas KOFLER

Thomas began his professional career in logistics, implementing software solutions across Asia for a Swiss-based freight forwarder. In 2000, he founded his own company, focusing on consulting businesses to optimize their supply chain and logistics processes.

In 2009, Thomas transitioned into software sales, joining Amber Road (now E2Open) to drive Go-to-Market (GtM) efforts in Europe. After successfully scaling operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, he shifted focus to support various U.S.-based start-ups entering the European market. Among these were Elementum, Tradeshift, and ClearMetal (now P44), where he contributed to their Go-to-Market strategies.

In 2021, Thomas joined Everstream Analytics, managing sales for the DACH region and Asia-Pacific. Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for a Swiss-based software company, where he developed and executed the Go-to-Market strategy. He is also founding member and acting president of the CSCMP Roundtable Switzerland (Council of Supply Chain Management Professional)

Riccardo MANGIARACINA

PhD in Management Engineering, Riccardo Mangiaracina is Full Professor at the Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, where he teaches “Management of Logistics and Production Systems”, “Logistics Management” and “Digital Business”. At Politecnico di Milano Riccardo is one of the founders of the B2c Logistics Center, Head of scientific research of “Digital B2b”, “B2c eCommerce” and “Extended Reality & Metaverse” Observatories. He is author of more than 50 papers published on international journals and conference proceedings, mainly about Logistics, Supply Chain Management, B2c and B2b eCommerce

Massimiliano MATACENA

Massimiliano Matacena serves as Director of Value Engineering at Celonis, contributing to driving the entire customer value cycle—from the sales phase to value realization, renewal, and expansion. Matacena is part of a team that stands out for its focus on direct business impact, helping clients transform data into strategic decisions and achieve tangible results. His work is positioned in one of the most dynamic and innovative areas of Celonis, integrating technology and business strategy to maximize customer value.

Stefano NOVARESI

Graduated from the Politecnico di Milano MSc Management Engineering in 1990. Master courses at SDA Bocconi ‘94, Hult International Business School-Ashridge in the UK 2000 and IESE in Barcelona 2013-14 For over 28 years C-level Executive and General Manager in national and multinational companies in the field of pharmaceutical distribution and automation. Lean Management initiatives in complex Supply Chain and Retail in Europe. Board Member in Italian associations (ADF Ass.ne Distributori Farmaceutici), VP of AILOG (Italian Association of Logistics and Supply Chain Management), VP Consorzio DAFNE, CSCMP Italy Enlarged Board and European associations such as the GIRP of Brussels. Adjunct Professor at Catholic University Milano, Master MEGSI Member of the Advisory Board Master Digital Supply Chain Management Graduate Business School Politecnico di Milano GSoM. Member of the Advisory Board of Studies in Management engineering Università di Bergamo Member of the SCM Club of MIT of Boston Collaborations as lecturer with Politecnico di Milano and member of the Healthcare Expert Group, SDA Bocconi, Liuc Castellanza, Bergamo University, Politecnico Torino, 24Ore Business School, Author of numerous articles and promoter of conferences on the topics of the pharmaceutical supply chain and healthcare 4.0 (Logfarma), Learning Organizations, Leadership, Lean management, Technological innovation, Artificial Intelligence. Member of the technical/scientific committee of “Logistica Management” and “Impresa Sanità” magazines. Currently KNAPP Italy CEO.

Alessandro PANARO

Transport Economist, with special reference to ports, shipping and logistics. Head of Service of the Research Area of SRM (study center linked to the Intesa Sanpaolo Group) called “Maritime & Energy”. Coordinator of Researches and Reports involving Italian and Foreign Universities and Research Centers in teams including the Universities of Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Copenhagen, the Shanghai International Shipping Institute, the Korea Maritime Institute, the Egyptian Arab Academy, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, Certet Bocconi, Prometeia, Bank of Italy. Author of articles and essays in national and international scientific and specialized journals. Lecturer at training courses and master's degrees. Board member of the International Propeller Club of Naples, member of GEI (Group of Business Economists). Member of the Scientific Committee of the Freight Leaders Council, the Sustainable Logistics Association (SOSLOG), the LNG Conference and IRGIT (Research Institute on the Geography of Territorial Innovation) under the Federico II University of Naples.

Speaker at numerous national and international conferences, conventions, seminars and meetings on the topics of ports, logistics, maritime transport, intermodal transport, SEZs and shipping

Alessandro RIZZOTTI

has built a distinguished career in international logistics, specializing in optimizing supply chain operations from upstream to downstream across multiple industries. As Outbound Logistics Manager at Gruppo Teddy, he oversees the efficient movement of goods across global markets, ensuring seamless coordination between supply chain stakeholders and delivering operational excellence in a rapidly evolving industry.

With a broad professional background spanning fashion retailing, packaging, and heating and cooling products for both residential and professional sectors, Alessandro has developed deep expertise in E-commerce operations, distribution strategies-particularly in Push and Pull replenishment—and store operations. His ability to adapt to different industries has enabled him to implement innovative approaches that enhance operational efficiency, supply chain resilience, and retail performance.

Beyond his corporate role, Alessandro is actively engaged in academia. He is currently pursuing an Industrial PhD at the University of Verona (graduating in 2025) as part of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management research group. His research focuses on On-Shelf Availability and the Design Science approach, addressing key challenges in inventory management and retail performance. He also collaborates with international scholars from leading institutions, including Aalto University and the University of Tennessee, contributing to global discussions on supply chain innovation and efficiency. His research bridges industry challenges with academic rigor, providing valuable insights into logistics and inventory management.

In addition to his research, Alessandro is deeply involved in teaching and knowledge dissemination. He lectures at ITS Last (Verona), LogiMaster at the University of Verona, and Luiss (Belluno), where he shares his expertise with the next generation of logistics and supply chain professionals.

Michel STEKELENBURG: A Visionary in Supply Chain Technology

Michel Stekelenburg is a seasoned supply chain professional with an impressive 25-year career in supply chain technology. He has worked with leading vendors such as Precision Software (QAD), Amber Road (E2Open), FuturMaster, and project44. Michel is an expert in TMS, WMS, IBP, and GTM, and currently holds the position of Senior Sales Director EMEA at ArchLynk. Michel's dedication extends beyond his professional role. He has been a CSCMP Benelux RT board member for over 6.5 years and served as President for nearly 3 years. His passion lies in leveraging technology to help supply chains evolve, becoming more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.

Federica STUFANO

Insights from Gartner Women in Supply Chain Research

Federica is an experienced Gartner Supply Chain Management Analyst with a more then 12 years demonstrated history of working in consulting firms and other industries. Skilled in Digital and Business transformation applied to Planning, Transportation, and Warehousing areas across different industries, functional and digital areas, geographies, environments. Oriented to project work involving Supply Chain processes analysis and design with a direct impact on business transformation, cost reduction, productivity increase, and savings generation.

Zeno POGGI

Zeno Poggi is the President of the AWOS – A World of Sanctions association, the first Italian project that integrates export controls investigations, geopolitical risk analysis, and predictive monitoring of sanction regimes into a public-private platform. He is the President and CEO of ZPC Srl – Società Benefit, a company specializing in international trade consultancy. He is a trainer, speaker, and author of publications on foreign trade, international sanctions, customs aspects, compliance, and product safety. He co-edited with Paolo Quercia “L’Italia e le sanzioni. Competere in un mondo complesso” (AWOS 2018), “L’Italia e le sanzioni” (AWOS 2019), and “Geopolitica e commercio estero” (Rubbettino 2020).

Charles Guowen WANG

Dr. Charles Guowen Wang is a recognized expert in regional economy, industrial development planning and well-known expert in logistics and supply chain management. He is awarded the title of ‘Top 30 Logistics Expert in China’ ‘Top 40 Logistics and Transportation Expert in China’ in 2018. Dr. Wang serves as Director of Center for Logistics and Supply Chain Management at China Development Institute, CDI, a leading think tank (Top 25) on policy advisory and strategic consulting in China. He is also Vice President of China Society of Logistics, China Chief Representative of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, CSCMP, Expert Member of Shenzhen Advisory Committee, and FTZ Expert Committee member of Chengdu and Yingkou City. He served as Chairman of Expert Committee on Blockchain Application in Logistics and Supply Chain (under CFLP), Chairman of CFLP Green Logistics Expert Committee. Dr. Wang has been project advisor/consultant for World Bank, Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Convener of China at APEC Supply Chain Alliance (A2C2). He also serves as independent director on board of public listed companies in China and Hong Kong. Dr. Wang has over 37 years of working experience in logistics business management, research and consultation. He acted as business manager of Chiwan Container Terminal in Shenzhen, Manager of shipping company and General Manager of freight forwarding and international logistics company. He has been on board of directors for several public listed companies in China and Hong Kong. Dr. Wang started working as senior research fellow at CDI since 2001. As supply chain thought leader, he introduced supply chain process standard and knowledge system into China. He has been project leader/main wirter of over 300 significant research and consultant projects, cover logistics policy, regional logistics planning, 3PL strategy, investment feasibility, as well as supply chain processes optimization and performance benchmarking for business and government agencies, blockchain application in supply chain, green supply chain, AI and Big Data analytics in supply chain management.

Dr. Wang is the author/chief editor of 16 books and over 80 academic papers. He holds doctor degree in world economics of Nankai University and fulfilled post-doctoral research in supply chain management in Guanghua School of Management, Peking University. He is guest professor of Nankai University, Beijing Jiaotong University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Dr. Wang has been editor on board for Supply Chain Quarterly, Port Economy, and Journal of Beijing Jiaotong University. Dr. Wang is a popular and welcomed speaker in China and the logistics world with more than 300 keynote presentations delivered in China and abroad.