The people who shape the debate

First Vice President of the NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association) and President of Sanders Tile & Stone (USA).

Vicente Aparici founded Systemfoc in 2001. The company specializes in the design and construction of industrial machinery focused on decarbonization and energy efficiency. One of its most significant recent milestones has been the development and installation of 100% electric kilns for the ceramic tile industry, helping to drastically reduce gas consumption and emissions. Currently, his son, Vicent Aparici, serves as the company’s General Manager.

CEO of Systemfoc (Sistemes Tecno-Energètics Aplicats de Castelló S.L.), a Castellón-based company pioneering the development of 100% electric kilns for the ceramic industry.

Head of Eastern Planning at i-DE Iberdrola. An executive in the Spanish energy sector with a strong track record in infrastructure management, electricity distribution and the transition to smart grids within Grupo Iberdrola.

Director of Intertile Research, a consultancy specialising in tile installation systems and slip resistance. Former President of the International Ceramic Federation, Honorary Distinguished Life Member of the Australian Ceramic Society and its current president.

Associate Director of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) of the United States.

Electrical Engineer, Systemfoc

Head of Risk at Bonasystems, a UK company specialising in solutions to prevent slips, trips and falls. President of the UK Slip Resistance Group (UKSRG), the leading independent authority on slip resistance in the United Kingdom.

Construction Projects Quality Manager at Lendlease. 25 years of experience in construction, encompassing both trade-level and technical and management roles.

Civil Engineer and IVACE-accredited building energy certification technician. He is currently part of the energy efficiency department at Equipe Cerámicas. In recent years he has served as Operations Director in the ceramic sector in Castellón.

Scientific Director of the Ceramic Centre. With over 20 years of experience in research, innovation and technology transfer, she is an expert in construction materials and sustainability, with numerous competitive projects and an established network of partnerships with international universities and research institutes.

A key figure in the international development of the ceramic industry through Ceramics of Italy, recently retired and currently active in editorial projects.

PhD and founding CEO of IGL Innovation Foundry (Italy), as well as scientific and technical consultant to various companies.

Professor of Economics in the Business Department at ESIC Business and Marketing School in Valencia (Spain). International executive and consultant with over 25 years of experience in business management, international negotiation and expansion into Asian markets.

Director of the International Technical Network for North America, Schluter Systems (Canada). He contributes to industry standards and methods and ensures that the interests of the tile industry are properly represented in numerous associations and standardisation bodies.

President of Kephart Group Inc, he leads the Tennessee Workforce Development Project on behalf of TCNA, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the ceramic tile manufacturing workforce in the state of Tennessee.

Industrial engineer and partner responsible for Artificial Intelligence and Data & Analytics in Spain at EY Transforma Services and Consulting. Specialist in business transformation with a focus on digital change and responsible use of AI and emerging technologies.

Industrial Engineer. His experience in the ceramic industry combines a strong background in the technical management of high-demand industrial plants with a solid business vision built over years in various roles within the ceramic sector both in Spain and internationally.

Director of the Higher School of Ceramics of l'Alcora. He holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences and a Master's in Business Communication, and has been linked to the world of ceramics for 30 years, holding various positions always related to R&D&I departments.

General Director of Grupo Lamosa Spain, where he leads the integration of Baldocer and Roca Tiles and the group's European expansion. He holds degrees in Law and Economics and has a solid international career in the ceramic and construction sectors.

Head of Electrification and Demand Technologies at Iberdrola Spain. He participated in the design of Iberdrola's first 20 MW Green Hydrogen project in Puertollano.

Head of the Research and Innovation Area for the Ceramic Sector at Gruppo Italcer. She operates at the intersection of R&D, production and sustainability, ensuring technical consistency, data traceability and scientific rigour across innovation projects.

Manager of the Industrial Sector Transformation practice at EY Spain, specialised in consulting and business transformation services for industrial companies.

Professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Faculty of Chemical Sciences. PhD in Metallurgical and Ceramic Engineering.

Director of the University Institute of Ceramic Technology (IUTC) and Full Professor. He has participated in more than 60 R&D and Technological Advisory projects funded by ceramic manufacturers and public bodies including the Valencian, Spanish and European Community governments.

Appointed Production Manager in 2011, Factories Director in 2013 and Vice President of Operations in 2015. Since 2017, Süleyman Soysal has served as Deputy General Manager of Operations at Kaleseramik.

Managing Director and Principal Consultant at Safe Environments Pty Ltd (Sydney, Australia). With 20 years of experience, he is a leading expert in slip resistance and hazardous materials testing, having conducted thousands of tests to Australian and international standards and published in scientific journals.

Senior Industrial Engineer from the Universitat Politècnica de València, he complemented his education with a Junior MBA from EDEM Business School in Valencia. He began his professional career at Pamesa in 2014 as an assistant in the Production department and is currently Technical Director of the Castellón and Almazora plants.

Chemical Engineer. He develops his activity at Equipe Cerámicas SLU, currently the benchmark company in the small-format floor and wall tile sector. Equipe is now present worldwide, with Europe and America as its main markets, and is a pioneer in the ceramic industry with the implementation of the first 100% electric roller kiln for firing ceramic tiles.