BulkEx 25 Conference speakers
HOME – SPEAKERS
In 2025, our inspiring speakers took to the stage to explore a wide range of topical and technical themes, from the latest industry innovations to the challenges shaping the future of bulk handling. Their fresh perspectives and practical insights are designed to spark new ideas, encourage discussion, and provide delegates with valuable knowledge that can be applied directly within their own organisations. With relevance extending beyond bulk handling into associated fields, the programme promises to deliver thought provoking content that will engage, inform, and inspire.
Mr Ian Atkinson – Don Valley Engineering Ltd (Engineering Director)
Graduating in 1984 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ian became a Chartered Engineer in 1993 and now has over 41 years’ experience of working in the bulk materials handling and processing industry. Ian’s early career spanned the mining and quarrying sector, and in later years the power and port infrastructure sectors developing and delivering bespoke material handling solutions for PFA, Limestone, Gypsum, Biomass, Grain, Sand & Gravel, Cement, Coal & Iron Ore.
Joint Paper Title: The Breedon Cement Alternative Raw Materials (ARM) Project
Mr Chris Ashurst – Don Valley Engineering Ltd (Construction Director)
Chris Ashurst is the Construction Director at Don Valley Engineering, where he has spent over 15 years delivering complex material handling and heavy engineering projects across a range of industrial sectors. With a deep-rooted passion for all things engineering, Chris is known for his hands-on approach, combining technical experience and operational leadership to bring challenging installations to life – safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards. His experience spans the full lifecycle of project delivery, from design, constructability through to execution and commissioning.
Joint Paper Title: The Breedon Cement Alternative Raw Materials (ARM) Project
Professor Mike Bradley – Wolfson Centre for Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, University of Greenwich (Director)
Prof. Mike Bradley – Director, The Wolfson Centre. University of Greenwich
Mike is Professor in Particle and Bulk Technology, and Director of the Wolfson Centre at the University of Greenwich. He was awarded both his honour degrees and PHD from Thames Polytechnic (now the University of Greenwich) and as the Director, provides technical leadership in all aspects of bulk solids handling. Mike’s team provides research, consultancy and educational services in all aspects of bulk solids handling and processing, from conveying and silo storage, instrumentation and control, material quality to mixing, drying and feeding. He is the Chair of the Solids Handling and Processing Association (SHAPA), a Member of the Materials Handling Engineers Association (MHEA) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Bulk Materials Handling Committee (IMechE).
Paper Title: Large-scale Bulk Storage and Discharge in Silos and Stockpiles
Mr Jamil Bundalli – Kamengo (Project Manager)
Over the last 20 years Jamil has led the delivery of many storage and feed projects, published several articles and made dozens of presentations to his peers, explaining the theory and application of material flow properties in the design of storage and feed equipment for difficult flowing cohesive materials. Jamil holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. His passion is mentoring young engineers on the science underpinning good bin and feeder design.
Paper Title: Why Bins Plug – The Three Root Causes of Bin Plugging and Uneven Discharge
Dr. Rizwan Chaudhry – Clyde Pneumatic Conveying (Technology Manager)
Rizwan brings over 25 years of expertise in materials handling, with a specialist focus on pneumatic conveying systems. He currently serves as Technology Manager Clyde Pneumatic Conveying, where he leads system design, R&D initiatives and technology. Rizwan began his career in academia, earning his PhD in pneumatic conveying from the University of Greenwich. He has since held technical roles at Clyde Materials Handling and Portasilo, contributing to projects across multiple sectors, including power generation, minerals, metals, and the chemical industry. He is widely respected for combining academic rigor with practical engineering solutions and he continues to contribute to the advancement of materials handling technologies through research, development and industry engagement.
Paper Title : Compressed Air in Motion: Uncovering the Untold Evolution of Pneumatic Conveying.
Mr Eoin McQuone – Go Climate Positive (Chief Carbon Coach and founder)
Eoin is the Chief Carbon Coach and founder of “Go Climate Positive”, a specialist provider of carbon management services. Having worked in manufacturing companies for over 30 years, his career path has taken him from engineering, through marketing to company director. He finally became an ecopreneur in 2019 and has helped over 150 companies, SMEs to multi-nationals, to start the journey of decarbonising their businesses and products. He is a Practitioner member of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals and a founding member of the Carbon Accounting Alliance. His aim is to ensure that all business can take part in the coming low-carbon economy. He’s an optimist and passionately believes that business thrives when people and the planet also thrive.
Paper Title: Commercialising Carbon Reduction
Damien O’Neill – BIFFA (Group Head of Engineering – Maintenance)
Damien has over 25 years’ leadership and engineering experience spanning the Royal Navy, global manufacturing and the circular economy. Starting with an 8-year naval engineering apprenticeship, he led teams maintaining complex systems worldwide under challenging conditions. After leaving the Navy, Damien held senior maintenance and engineering roles working for customers such as Eaton, Parker Hannifin, Doncasters and Caterpillar, building deep expertise in lean processes, asset management and continuous improvement.
Since 2020 he has brought this experience to Biffa, where he heads up engineering maintenance, integrating manufacturing best practice into recycling and resource processing infrastructure.
Paper Title: Tender Trauma to Tender Triumph” Making large company procurement a positive, collaborative experience”
Mr Steve Phipps – Balfour Beatty VINCI | HS2 (Head of Materials Engineering)
Steve is a Senior Materials Engineer with Balfour Beatty and currently Head of Materials Engineering for Balfour Beatty Vinci on HS2 Area North.
Steve has 35 years’ experience in highways and high-speed rail construction, including the technical management of: concrete and cementitious products, earthworks, soil stabilisation, minerals processing and recycling, and contaminated land remediation including regulatory compliance.
Steve sits on Britpave Council, contributing to many of their technical guidance and best practice publications. Steve has recently led the technical working group responsible for developing industry guidance on the use of digital monitoring and measurement.
Paper Title: Digital Monitoring and Measurement of Fresh Concrete
Mr Mark Shayler – Ape (CEO)
Mark helps big companies think like small ones and small companies think like big
ones. He has worked in sustainability for over 30 years, he works on the creativity and
innovation of products, services and business models; and he is a coach and
facilitator for businesses and individuals. His clients include Patagonia, Nike, Samsung, EE, Audi, Bombay Sapphire, Seedlip, Universal Works, Unilever, Mars and many more.
He is author of three books: Do Disrupt, change the status quo or become it then
Do Present, how to give a talk and be heard. Latterly his third book “You Can’t
Make Money From a Dead Planet: The sustainable method for driving profits”
Paper Title: Sustainability, Selling the Dream not the Fear
Mr Luke Tetlow-Cross – ANDYS MAN CLUB (Area Lead)
Andys Man Club is responsible for supporting 16 clubs across the Greater Manchester & East Midlands and opening new ones. In addition to supporting and opening new clubs, Luke delivers talks and awareness sessions to businesses, charities, and other organisations across England, Scotland and Wales. In his talks, Luke shares his own personal journey with ANDYSMANCLUB with his main aim is to break down the stigma towards men’s mental health and spread the word that #ITSOKAYTOTALK.
Paper Title: The Power of Talking
Mr George Torr – enfinium (Ferrybridge 1 Maintenance Manager)
George holds a BEng in Materials Engineering from Sheffield Hallam University and has over 16 years of experience in the Power and Steel industries. He is currently Maintenance Manager at enfinium, one of the UK’s leading waste-to-energy operators, where he is responsible for maintaining plant performance, reliability and safety across a major energy-from-waste facility.
His career has spanned technical engineering, asset management and project delivery, with a strong focus on plant optimisation, materials performance and operational excellence. This broad experience provides him with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in keeping complex industrial assets running safely and efficiently.
Paper Title: Boiler and Ash Systems Integrity Management
Mr Jim Vingerhoets – Explosion Safety Consultant, Fike Corporation
Jim Vingerhoets has been with Fike since 2007 and is currently an Explosion Safety Consultant for Fike Europe. Based in Fike’s European office in Herentals, Belgium, Jim is an active working member of European Standardisation Committee CEN TC 305 WG3. He has coordinated multiple research activities and equipment qualification tests at several international test sites and lectures regularly on the subject of dust explosion protection.
Paper Title: Flameless Explosion Venting & Dust Retention Challenges and Prepare for the Future
David Wragg – Associated British Ports (Commercial Manager, Associated British Ports)
David brings over 40 years of operational and commercial expertise in the energy and bulk materials handling sectors. His career began at Drax Power Station, where he advanced through leadership roles in Materials Handling. At Eggborough Power Station, he managed Outage Planning and later led Supply Chain operations. David transitioned to Eastgate Materials Handling at Immingham Docks as General Manager, overseeing coal and petcoke logistics to multiple UK power stations. He then served as International Business Development Director for Hargreaves Industrial Services, delivering O&M solutions across Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and India. Currently Commercial Manager at ABP, David specialises in bulk cargoes including biomass, fertilisers, grains, coal, and aggregates applying deep sector knowledge to optimise customer value and operational efficiency. A long-standing CIS committee member, he has held roles as Vice Chairman, Chairman (twice) and now serves as President.
Paper Title: Overview of Associated British Ports and Key Engineering Projects
Mr Nigel Waldron – Power Minerals Ltd (Managing Director)
Nigel has more than 35 years of experience in the electricity generation industry starting as an apprentice with the CEGB and before joining the Ash Marketing Board in 1989. Since then he developed his knowledge, networks and relationships at all levels of the supply chain and coal ash industry. In 2003 Nigel co-founded Hargreaves Coal Combustion Products together with Peter Brennan and in 2010. Nigel became Managing Director of the newly-named Power Minerals Ltd (PML) following the purchase of the business by EP Power Minerals GmbH.
Paper Title: Sustainability and Beneficiation
