Plenary Speakers

Raffaella Ocone OBE, FREng, FRSE holds degrees from the Università di Napoli, Italy, and Princeton University, USA. She is the Chair of Chemical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, UK, and Guest Professor at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. Currently, she serves as the Deputy President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and will become the 84th President in 2025.

In 2007, Raffaella was honoured with the title of Cavaliere by the President of the Italian Republic. In 2019, she was recognised as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Engineering Sector by Inclusive Boards, in partnership with the Financial Times. In 2017, she became the inaugural Caroline Herschel Visiting Professor in Engineering at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, in recognition of her contributions to engineering ethics.

Raffaella’s research primarily focuses on modelling multiphase reactive systems, with a particular emphasis on developing responsible technologies in the energy sector. Her current work centres on advancing low-carbon hydrogen production.

Dr Jon-Paul Sherlock is a highly influential chemical engineer, differentiated throughout his career in pharmaceuticals by his passion for technical innovation.

He has played a major role in the transformation of medicines manufacturing both within AstraZeneca and across the sector, through introducing continuous processes and digital technology. His management and leadership of major projects and his personal innovative ideas have led to significant new products, processes and practices. He has been instrumental in creating, growing and nurturing a strong engineering community within AstraZeneca.

He has also provided leadership and influence across the UK research and innovation ecosystem by creating impactful pre-competitive industry–academia collaborations.