Keynote Speaker
Prof. Stefan Pischinger
Owner, FEV Group, Professor Aachen Technical University
Professor Stefan Pischinger is Chair of Thermodynamics of Mobile Energy Conversion Systems at RWTH Aachen University and former Chairman of the Management Board of FEV. He earned his Ph.D. at MIT and held key engineering roles at Daimler-Benz before entering academia and leading FEV’s global innovation strategy. He is a member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and a leading voice in engine research and thermodynamic systems. Professor Pischinger has guided both research and industrial developments in clean mobility for over two decades. Since 2023, he serves as Chairman of FEV’s Shareholders’ Meeting.
Presentation: The Role of Hydrogen Combustion Engines in a Sustainable Future
Speakers
Exciting speaker announcements are on the way. Check back soon for the full lineup.
Alberto Ayala
Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Dr. Alberto Ayala is the Executive Director and Air Pollution Control Officer of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. With nearly 30 years of experience, he has led research and regulation on air quality and climate change policy in California. He previously served as Deputy Executive Officer at the California Air Resources Board and has authored over 150 technical publications. Dr. Ayala is a mechanical engineer with B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from UC Davis. He has also worked in industry and academia, including roles at Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical and West Virginia University.
Panelist
Ryan Bradley
aftertreatment engineering specialist, fiat powertrain technologies of north america, Inc.
Ryan Bradley currently works at Fiat Powertrain Technologies under the IVECO Group as the Aftertreatment Specialist for North America. He oversees the technical aspects of installing advanced catalytic diesel exhaust systems into over 200 models of Case New Holland construction and agricultural vehicles. Prior to joining FPT, Mr. Bradley worked from 2006 to 2013 in Copenhagen, Denmark for Amminex A/S in Research & Development and later as a Project Manager in the field of high-density ammonia storage for SCR applications. During this time, he obtained two patents for emission reduction technologies and assumed responsibility for the company’s prototype testing at several global OEMs.
Presentation: Technology and Component Decision Making Pathways for Hydrogen Powertrains
Dave Edwards
Hydrogen energy advocate, air liquide
Dave Edwards is a Hydrogen Energy Fellow for Air Liquide in the US. He is responsible for establishing and maintaining internal and external partnerships with industry, academia, and government entities to advance the technology, policies, and business opportunities in Hydrogen Energy. Employed by Air Liquide for more than 25 years, he has experience across a wide range of energy related roles in hydrogen, carbon capture, and gas separations.
Panelist
Amgad Elgowainy
Group leader, hydrogen and electrification analysis, argonne national lab
Dr. Amgad Elgowainy is a senior scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, where he leads the Electrification and Infrastructure Group. He specializes in life cycle and techno-economic analysis of hydrogen systems, vehicles, and fuel infrastructure. Amgad has developed widely used models like GREET and HDSAM, supporting agencies and industries worldwide. He serves as a technical expert for U.S. and international hydrogen and vehicle partnerships. Dr. Elgowainy holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New York at Buffalo and has authored over 200 technical publications.
Panelist
Kevin Mhren
Director, Michigan Infrastructure Office
Kevin Mehren is the Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office, where he leads statewide coordination on federal funding pursuits and infrastructure program implementation. He previously served as Program Director at OurEnergyPolicy Foundation in Washington, D.C., supporting the development of responsible energy policies. Kevin brings a cross-sector perspective rooted in both public policy and energy expertise. He holds degrees from Michigan State University and The George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy. His work centers on aligning policy, funding, and implementation to strengthen Michigan’s infrastructure systems.
Panelist
Nathan Peters
Technical expert, Dumarey USA
Nathan Peters is a Technical Expert in the R&D department at Dumarey USA, working on development and integration of advanced powertrains in the areas of electrification, fuel cells, and combustion engines. He has a BSc in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University. Nathan has over ten years of experience in combustion engine research for alternative fuels including hydrogen and ammonia. He is Principal Investigator on Department of Energy projects working on H2 ICE development and methane aftertreatment.
Presentation: Technological Approaches for Addressing Near and Long-Term Challenges in Heavy Duty H2-ICE
Chris Sharp
Institute engineer, southwest research institute
Chris Sharp is an Institute Engineer in Southwest Research Institute’s Powertrain Engineering Division. Since joining SwRI in 1991 after earning his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Michigan, he has focused on engine emissions research and the integration of advanced aftertreatment systems across diesel, natural gas, and hydrogen engines. He currently leads aftertreatment calibration in the SwRI-led H₂-ICE consortium, which recently demonstrated a hydrogen-fueled Class 8 truck achieving ultra-low NOₓ levels below 2027 EPA standards while maintaining commercial performance. An SAE Fellow, Sharp has twice received the John Johnson Award for Outstanding Research in Diesel Engines.
Presentation: TBA
Yekuan Shentu
Senior technologist, BP Castrol
Yekuan Shentu is an automotive engineer by training (MEng Engineering Science, Oxford; CEng, MIMechE) and is currently a Senior Technologist in bp Castrol’s Advanced Fluids Research team. In addition to lubricant research, he has experiences on several other hydrogen mobility topics, including infrastructure, logistics modelling, and cryogenic fluids research.
Presentation: Lubricants for Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines
Tim Slusser
Chief of Mobility Innovation, City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation
Tim Slusser serves as Chief of Mobility Innovation for the City of Detroit, overseeing the development of public-private partnerships and forward-thinking mobility initiatives. He brings over 14 years of experience in technology strategy, business, and economic development. Tim played a key role in securing Michigan’s first $6 billion in EV and energy storage investments in 2009. At the city level, his work supports smarter, more sustainable transportation systems. He continues to position Detroit as a leader in mobility innovation.
Panelist
Tim Wallington
Research Specialist, MI Hydrogen Initiative, University of Michigan
Tim Wallington is a Research Specialist in the Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) at the University of Michigan. He joined the CSS in 2023 after spending 35 years at the Scientific Research Laboratories of the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan where he led the Environmental Science Research Group. He holds D.Phil. and D.Sc. degrees in physical chemistry from Oxford University, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and an Honorary Doctor of Science from Copenhagen University. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on understanding transportation sustainability including vehicle and fuel technology lifecycle assessments, energy use, and atmospheric chemistry. He is a member of the EPA Board of Scientific Counselors, EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Chairman of the IUPAC Task Group on Atmospheric Chemical Kinetic Data Evaluation, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was the lead author of the MI Hydrogen review of hydrogen as a transportation fuel (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115725). He is married, has two sons, and lives in Ann Arbor, MI.
Panelist
Sameera Wijeyakulasuriya
project manager, convergent science
Sameera Wijeyakulasuriya is a Project Manager at Convergent Science. He is the team lead for the Internal Combustion Engine team, and the Application owner for Gas Turbines and Burners. He is a key resource for CONVERGE support globally, working on various aspects related to H2 engines such as combustion modeling, chemistry mechanism generation, NOx reduction, injector modeling, storage tank leakage fire prevention and flame arrestor modeling. Sameera received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.
Presentation: Challenges and Progress in Modeling H2 Combustion in IC Engines
Roy Zakrzewski
Solution Train Engineer – ICE & Fuel Cell, TRATON GROUP
Roy Zakrzewski is Solution Train Engineer at the TRATON GROUP. He leads value flow coordination for internal combustion engine and fuel cell programs across Scania, MAN, International, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus. Before joining TRATON, he spent more than a decade at MAN Truck & Bus developing heavy-duty diesel and hydrogen engines. His work focuses on practical calibration methods, cost-efficient design, and advancing hydrogen technologies to support sustainable global transport.
Presentation: H2ICE @ Traton — Igniting the Future with Direct Injection