Speakers & presentations

Alessandro Carano

Senior Advisor // EU Recovery Taskforce, European Commission

Session 1: The Recovery Plan for Europe `Next Generation EU`

Presentation: Recovery and Resilience Facility - State of Play on Implementation

Alessandro Carano is Senior Adviser to the Director General in European Commission’s Recovery taskforce, which is responsible for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and related partnership with the EU Member States. He is in particular responsible for strategic advice on investments, synergy with other EU funds, financial instruments and sustainable transport.

Between 2016 and end 2019, he has been Expert Member of Cabinet of the EU Commissioner for Transport V. Bulc: responsible for the transport investment and financial instruments. Between 2014 and 2016, he was Senior Adviser to the Deputy Director General of the European Commission's DG Economic and Financial Affairs, working on the design and start-up of the External Investment Plan to mobilise € 44bn in EU Neighbourhood and Africa by 2020.

He was previously Managerial Adviser and Head of Unit at the European Investment Bank, responsible for the institutional relationship with EU Institutions and other International Financial Institutions on policies and activities outside the EU.

Benoît Chauvin

Senior Vice-President Business Development // Colas and President of EIC

Opening Speech

Benoît Chauvin is Senior Vice-President Business Development at Colas. He received his engineering diploma from Ecole spéciale des Travaux publics, du Bâtiment et de l´Industrie in 1982 and furthermore graduated from Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP).

Before his engagement for Colas Group in 2012, Benoît Chauvin was CEO and PDG at Sofresid Engineering and Director for Engineering, Process and Major Projects for Saipem and Bouygues Offshore.

Stephen B. Christensen

President // Brad Cole Construction

SESSION 1: Infrastructural Plans at the heart of strategies for relaunching the world

Presentation: The Challenges of Doing Business with the U.S. Department of Defense

Mr. Christensen has over 40 years of documented success in overseeing all phases of construction operations both nationally (U.S.) and internationally, primarily within the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Transportation (DoT) market place.

He has directly managed projects exceeding $400.0M and programs exceeding $2.0B. Mr. Christensen began his construction career as a Project Superintendent, since then he has held numerous positions during his advancement including, Project Manager, Division Manager, VP of Construction and CEO/President.

His experience includes managing all facets of a construction company, in both the traditional bid-build as well as the design-bid-build market place. Mr. Christensen prides himself with a working knowledge of the construction industry—craft trades, equipment operations, contractual guidelines, project safety, and all direct and indirect management roles needed for all phases of managing a profitable, safe and successful construction company.

Enzo de Laurentiis

Chief Procurement Officer // Worldbank

SESSION 2: Key Factors in the supply chain & new contractual arrangements to meet the challenges

Enzo de Laurentiis is the World Bank’s Chief Procurement Officer, in the Operations Policy and Country Services Vice-Presidency.  Previously, he served as Manager of the Procurement Policy Unit in the same Vice-Presidency, as a Practice Manager in the Governance Global Practice, and as the Regional Procurement Manager for the East Asia and Pacific and the Latin America and Caribbean Regions of the World Bank.

Prior to joining the World Bank as Procurement Specialist in 1998, Mr. de Laurentiis was Projects Director and later Vice President of an international consulting firm providing advisory services on procurement to Multilateral Development Banks, countries and the private sector.

Mr. de Laurentiis has been a member of the adjunct faculty at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., from 1992 to 2004, teaching international contracts and international procurement law.  He has also prior legal and international banking experience.

Mr. de Laurentiis holds a law degree (Dottore in Giurisprudenza) from the University of Trieste in Italy and a Masters of Laws (LL.M.) in International Legal Studies from American University Washington College of Law.

Carmine Di Noia

Director of the Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs // OECD

SESSION 1: Infrastructural Plans at the heart of strategies for relaunching the world

Presentation: Prospects for Global Infrastructure Development

Carmine Di Noia was appointed Director of the OECD’s Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs in February 2022, where he leads the OECD’s standard setting and policy work on corporate governance, anti-corruption, responsible business conduct, competition, financial education and consumer protection, capital and financial markets, investment, pensions, insurance, public debt management, and blockchain.

He brings over 30 years of experience in the area of Financial Markets and Enterprise Affairs. Prior to his appointment, Dr Di Noia was Commissioner for the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission (CONSOB) and Deputy Director General at ASSONIME (the Association of Italian Corporations).

An Italian national, he holds a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctorate Degree in Economic Theory and Institutions from the Università di Roma Tor Vergata. He is also a full Professor of Financial Markets and Banking, at the Business School of Luiss University, in Rome.

Mathias Fabich

Country Manager // PNC Norge, PORR Group

Session 2: Interactive Discussion

Mathias Fabich is a construction professional with 20 years of experience at the PORR company in Vienna. With over 20,000 staff and production output of around EUR 5.7 bn (2021), the PORR Group is one of Austria’s largest construction companies and a leading player in Europe. Mathias is currently representing the PORR group in Norway as country manager.

Mathias holds a master degree in Civil Engineering from the Vienna Technical University and a master degree in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution from the King’s College London.

Chairing the Working Group Contract Conditions at EIC (European International Contractors) is keeping him up to date with the latest developments in construction contract and procurement issues.

Francesco Falco

Group Commercial Officer // Webuild

Session 1: Interactive Discussion

Francesco Falco is Group Commercial Officer at Webuild Group, Global. He has+20 years of international experience in the Energy & Infrastructure industries, building global corporate value, focusing on project business, innovation, system engineering, EPC operations and financial success.

Before joining Webuild in 2019, Mr. Falco was Vice-President of Wolong Electric and prior has build a career at General Electric from 2000-2018.

Mr. Falco graduated cum laude in Mechanical Engineering from University of Naples, Italy and participated at the Executive Leadership Program (MDC and BMC) at GE Management Development Institute, Crotonville in the United States.

Federico Ghella

Vice-President for International Affairs // ANCE

Welcoming Remarks

Federico Ghella is Vice Chairman of Ghella S.p.A.

He has a degree in law cum laude at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. During the first part of his carrer in London, he worked as Investment and Portfolio Manager at different financial companies. In 2018, Federico joined the family business, Ghella S.p.A., as Head of Corporate Strategy. In 2020 he was nominated President of the Italian International Contractors committee and Vice President of the Italian Contractors´ Association, ANCE.

Founded in 1894, Ghella provides expertise for underground works, as in the use of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM), being involved in the construction of many infrastructure projects such as subways, railways, motorways and major road, water and hydraulic works. Whilst having its corporate office in Rome, Italy, the Company has most of its workload in the international markets, mainly in Oceania, Europe and North America. Along with its presence in major infrastructure works, Ghella is involved in the renewable energy sector, with more than 482MW already built. 

German Grüniger

Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer // Implenia

SESSION 2: Contractual Tools to Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions

German Grüniger took over the role of Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer in 2014 and is since 2019 a member of the Implenia Executive Committee. Before joining Implenia, he was in private practice for more than 15 years commercial law firms in Zurich, the last 8 years focusing as a partner on dispute resolution, commercial contracts and real estate transactions.

At Implenia, he manages all global legal affairs of the company’s operations. As Group General Counsel, he is responsible for both large infrastructure and other constructions projects as well as for national and cross-border transactions. The Implenia in-house counsel is a permanent member in the value assurance process of the company and included in executive level conversations about the organization’s future, its mission, and overall strategy goals.

German Grüniger identified the need to enable the legal department to better serve their clients by applying digitalized and automated business and technical practices for the efficient, qualitative, and cost-effective way of innovative legal service delivery.

German Grüniger created a new multidisciplinary Legal Operations & Strategy department which provides strategic planning, financial and project management, and technology expertise that improved the overall efficiency of the legal department and enables legal professionals to focus on providing innovative legal advice.

Vincent Leloup

Chairman of the FIDIC Contracts Committee, Founder & Managing Partner // Exequatur

SESSION 2: Key Factors in the supply chain & new contractual arrangements to meet the challenges

Presentation: The FIDIC Perspective on Current Contractual Challenges and Future Strategic Priorities

Vincent Leloup (FCIArb, FDBF, DRBF, MSc.) is the Chairman of the FIDIC Contracts Committee, a FIDIC Certified Trainer and Adjudicator, member of the FIDIC President’s List of Adjudicators. He delivers training, consulting and dispute resolution services worldwide for the construction industry.

Professional engineer by trade (MSc Water Management, MSc Agronomy, EUR ING), with legal qualifications (MSc Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, King’s College, London), he comes from a contractor then consulting engineering background with 25 years of experience on international building and infrastructure projects (water and wastewater, ports, roads) across Asia, Africa, Europe and Central America in 40+ countries. Beside training on FIDIC forms of contracts for which he holds a leading international first-hand command and knowledge, Vincent acts as a consultant in procurement strategy, contract drafting, negotiation and management assignments, and regularly serves as dispute board member on projects across the world, as well as in arbitration proceedings (arbitrator, expert witness).

Vincent is a co-drafter of the FIDIC 2017 Suite of Agreements, and is the principal drafter of the FIDIC 2021 Green Book. He is the founder and Director of Studies of the Postgraduate Diploma International Construction Contracts (I2C) at Paris Pantheon-Assas University.

Nigel Lewis

Chief Operating Officer // Mantrac Group

SESSION 2: Sponsor´s Adress

Presentation: Meeting Developing Markets Infrastructure Demands During a Supply Chain Crisis

Mr. Lewis has 25 years of experience in distribution of capital equipment across the globe having held executive responsibilities formally with CATERPILLAR in Europe, Asia, United States, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia.

Before assuming the role of Chief Operating officer at MANTRAC Group, Nigel was a Vice President at CATERPILLAR Inc with responsibility for Distribution and Aftermarket.

Today he leads MANTRAC Group with operations ranging across 14 countries including Africa, Middle East, and Russia serving customers in the Mining, Construction and Power Generation industries.

Gustávo Martínez

Commercial, Digitalization & Documentation Director // Ferrovial Construction

Session 1: Interactive Discussion

Gustávo Martínez is Commercial, Digitalization & Documentation Director at Ferrovial SA as well as Executive Director B, Board Member, at Ferrovial SE. He joined Ferrovial's Construction Division in 2001, since then he has been involved in the company's international business development in markets like the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Poland and others in Europe, Latam and Asia.

Gustávo has a Bachelor´s degree in business administration and management from Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, ICADE E-2 (1995) and Master of Advance Studies, Ph.D. (ABD) from the same University (2006).

Prior to his engagement for Ferrovial, he worked at Credit Agricole Group and DBCH.

Lara Muller

Global Head of Public Affairs // Royal Boskalis Westminster

Session 1: Interactive Discussion

Lara Muller is currently Global Head of Public and Governmental Affairs at Royal Boskalis Westminster and has been appointed by the European Commission in the Platform on Sustainable Finance. The Platform is a permanent advisory body of the European Commission and is crucial to deliver on the aims of the EU Taxonomy Regulation and ultimately of the European Green Deal and the EU climate targets for 2030 and 2050.

Lara is also vice-president on the National International Business Committee of the largest employer federation of the Netherlands, VNO-NCW, and member of the CR and anti-corruption Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce.

She is an expert in international trade policy, sustainability policy, export finance and export credit insurance. She is a visiting professor at Nyenrode Business University. Lara has enjoyed her academic education at Leiden University’s law school and at Harvard Business School.

Prof. Gustavo Piga

Professor of Economics // Tor Vergata University of Rome

SESSION 2: Key Factors in the supply chain & new contractual arrangements to meet the challenges

Presentation: Revitalising Infrastructure in Times of Serious International Tensions and Rising Commodity Prices

Gustavo Piga holds a Ph. D. in Economics from Columbia University in New York. He is full professor of Political Economy at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" where he directs the three-year degree course in English Global Governance and the Master in Procurement Management.

Prof. Piga is and is an expert in public procurement, anti-corruption and European macroeconomic policy and he was a member of the Council of Experts of the Ministry of the Treasury and President of the Italian National Procurement Agency for Goods and Services, Consip S.p.A.

He is the author of the controversial 2001 report on "Derivatives in Public Debt Management". He was among the curators for the MIT Press types of "Revisiting Keynes" and for Cambridge University Press of the Handbook of Procurement.

He is a Member of the Scientific Committee of the Parliamentary Budget Office, he was President of the Referendum Committee for the "stop to austerity". He regularly intervenes in the media in the debate on the future of Europe. Prof. Piga also writes regularly for the financial daily ‘Il Sole 24 Ore’.

Francesco Sciaudone

Managing Partner // Grimaldi Studio Legale

Session 2: Interactive Discussion

Perspective for Europe: Comparative Analysis Concerning Price Adjustments Mechanism in Commercial Contracts

Francesco Sciaudone is Founding and Managing Partner of Grimaldi Studio Legale which - with over 400 professionals and with over 1500 professionals in the more than 50 Countries in which it operates with the partners of the Grimaldi Alliance – represents, as of today, one of the most dynamic professional entities in this sector, capable of offering legal, tax and financial advice on numerous markets at national and international level.

Since January 2020, Grimaldi has implemented a strategic cooperation agreement with Yingke, one of the leading law firms in China, confirming Grimaldi's ability to assist clients in all international markets.

Francesco boasts a deep and specific experience in European Union law, competition law and administrative law, with a particular focus on: infrastructure  and transport, public procurement, public services, energy, project finance, environment, urban development and planning, assisting, with reference to such practice areas, public administrations, public companies, public works and services concession holders, private operators and EU Institutions.

Francesco is Chairman of the Technical Committee on Finance and Procurement of the World Road Association (PIARC), and author of several monographs and in-depth studies on public contracts, PPPs and the implementation of the PNRR (Italian National Recovery Plan).

Massimo Seregni

Key Account Director // Mapei

Session 1: Interactive Discussion

Massimo Seregni is Key Account Director at Mapei, a multi-national for adhesives and chemical products for the construction industry active on all five continents. He is an expert for concrete repair, strengthening and protection of infrastructural projects, and has in-depth knowledge of building chemicals such as repair mortars for concrete, products for the renovation of masonry structures and historic buildings, structural adhesives, sealants, coatings, polymers, etc.

Massimo Seregni holds a degree in Civil Engineering and started his career at Mapei 16 years ago as a Major Projects Division advisor and technical consultant for general contractors, supporting engineers and architects for specifications. He later became Regional Product Manager Building for the North-East Europe Region, supporting all the subsidiaries and local technicians and product managers.

Massimo Seregni regularly authors articles in construction industry magazines, shares his expertise during international training courses such as the 2018 ICCRRR in Cape Town on corrosion protection of embedded steel bars in concrete. He is further a member of the technical scientific committee of CISE consortium of Polytechnic University of Milan.

Alessandro Speciale

Bureau Chief Rome // Bloomberg

SESSION 1: Infrastructural Plans at the heart of stretegies for relaunching the world

Alessandro Speciale is Bloomberg's bureau chief in Rome since 2019. He started his career in Rome covering the Vatican as a freelance journalist for several Italian and international media outlets. He also worked as a TV and radio journalist and producer in Italy and around the world.

 

In 2013 he joined Bloomberg in Frankfurt, covering the European Central Bank and its president, Mario Draghi, for most of the Italian central banker's term. His book "Mario Draghi, l'artefice" (with Jana Randow) was published in 2019 by Rizzoli. "Whatever it takes. Mario Draghi a parole sue," (also co-authored with Jana Randow) was published in 2021 also by Rizzoli.

 

Alessandro studied comparative literature at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa and journalism at London’s City University.