SPEAKERS

Senior business development executive in TYPSA, a Consulting Engineering Group headquartered in Spain, and currently serving as President of the European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA), with extensive experience driving international expansion and strategic growth across global markets. She has a proven track track in working with multilateral development banks (MDBs), particularly the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), successfully positioning the firm in complex, donor-funded environments and securing international opportunities. Actively engaged in sector representation at Spanish, European, and global levels, contributing to industry dialogue and policy shaping through key institutions and associations. Combines deep knowledge of the engineering consultancy sector with a strong international network, enabling effective advocacy, partnership building, and business development worldwide.

After having a Bachelor’s Degree in the Department of International Relations at Middle East Technical University in 1999, he completed the Master’s Programme on the European Union Economy at the EU Institute of Marmara University. Subsequently, he attended Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Programme in 2011. Bülent ÖZCAN is now working as the Director-General for Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for EU Affairs in Türkiye since December 2018. Prior to this position, he served as assistant expert, expert, coordinator and Director within the same institution. Having almost 20 years of experience in Project Management and Implementation, Mr. ÖZCAN is responsible for the overall coordination, monitoring and evaluation of Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Funds provided to Türkiye by the EU. In that vein, he takes responsibility in management of Bulgaria-Türkiye IPA Cross Border Cooperation Programme and Black Sea Basin Cross Border Cooperation Programme. He also coordinates the work on participation of Türkiye in EU Programmes and Agencies such as Erasmus + and Horizon 2020..

Ali Kerim Orhon was born in Ankara in 1969. After completing his secondary education at Ankara Atatürk Anadolu High School and Ankara Fen High School, he earned his BSc degree in Civil Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU) in 1992, followed by an MSc degree in Water Resources Engineering from the same institution in 1995.

He began his professional career at SUİŞ PROJE Engineering and Consultancy Ltd., one of Türkiye's pioneering firms in the field of water and land resources development, covering all phases from master planning, feasibility and design to construction supervision. Starting as a design engineer, he took on roles of increasing responsibility and served as engineer and project manager on numerous dam, irrigation, potable water supply, hydroelectric energy, and flood protection projects both in Türkiye and abroad. He has been a partner of the firm since 2009, and has served as its General Manager since 2012.

Ali Kerim Orhon has been serving as President of the Association of Turkish Consulting Engineers and Architects (ATCEA) since 2025, having previously served three consecutive terms as a member of its Board of Directors beginning in 2018. He is married and has two children.

Yulia Dvorakovskaya is CEO of CBM Forum, a certified consulting engineer, and a member of the Public Union “Interstate Consultants Engineers Guild” (ICEG) in Ukraine, which she represents at the conference. She has extensive experience in construction and project management, specializing in complex development projects, EPCM delivery, and technical supervision. Active in the industry for over two decades, she has successfully led and managed large-scale projects under challenging conditions, including healthcare infrastructure, rehabilitation centers, commercial real estate, and reconstruction initiatives across Ukraine. Her recent work includes projects implemented in cooperation with charitable foundations, government institutions, and international organizations such as UNDP. Dvorakovskaya is a certified project management professional and an active contributor to the development of industry standards and professional communities. She holds degrees in environmental sciences and project management from leading Kyiv universities and has completed advanced training in leadership, project management, and international construction contracts (FIDIC).

Wolfgang Gomernik is CEO of the international DELTA Group and CEO of DELTA Ukraine. He represents a strong focus on business development, internationalization, alliances & partnering, and empowerment. Active in Ukraine since 2005, he has managed projects under complex and challenging conditions. Gomernik serves as an independent supervisory board member and long-time start-up mentor. He holds a Global Executive MBA from WU Vienna and the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in building technologies and management.

Cem Aker is an international civil engineer and project coordinator with over 15 years of experience in large-scale infrastructure projects. He holds an M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Middle East Technical University. Since 2015, he has led international project coordination at DOLSAR Engineering, managing projects across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. His expertise includes business development, contract negotiation, and multi-country project execution. Aker has contributed to major motorway, dam, and hydroelectric power plant projects throughout his career. He is actively involved in international business councils, serving in leadership roles within DEIK and TOBB organizations. With professional memberships spanning the U.S., U.K., and Türkiye, he brings a globally integrated engineering perspective.

Chairman of the Board of B-Act S.A., Member of the Board of FIDIC, Representative of the Board of Reconstruction of Ukraine in National Association of Designers and Engineers. Expert in project and contract management, optimization of financial flows in construction contracts, public procurement, contractual terms and conditions, claims strategy and customer relationship management.

Graduate of Harvard University (Master of Management) and Leon Kozminski Academy (Finance and Accounting), and Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia (Bachelor of Business Administration).

Nele De Smet - CEO Evolta, EFCA Board Member and Treasurer, Chair of EFCA’s Water Resilience Working Group - is an entrepreneur with extensive experience in the civil engineering sector. Since 2020, she has led Evolta, following a family buyout, and has driven strong company growth while focusing on sustainable and value-driven development. She combines strategic leadership with a hands-on approach, building multidisciplinary teams and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration. In addition to her executive role, she serves as a board member of ORI and a council member at Buildwise. Before becoming CEO, she held several roles at Evolta in business development and consultancy, and started her career at Accenture, working on transformation projects for public sector clients. Nele holds an MBA from Vlerick Business School and a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences from Ghent University.

Liv Kari Skudal Hansteen is CEO of RIF representing around 100 member companies with approximately 500 local offices and 14,000 employees across Norway. With more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across the public and private sectors, she has led strategic development, policy influence, and industry collaboration within the built environment.

She serves on the FIDIC Advisory Board and has held several leadership roles, including Vice President of EFCA. She also serves on the board of NORSAR, an independent research foundation specializing in seismology and monitoring of earthquakes and geohazards, and Green2050 – Centre for Green Shift in the Built Environment at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), which brings together academia and industry to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral built environment.

She holds a Master’s degree from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), with specialization in planning and sustainable development, and has completed executive courses within strategic management at BI Norwegian Business School. Hansteen is a frequent speaker at conferences on infrastructure, climate adaptation, public procurement, and digital transformation in the built environment.

Kadi Metsmaa is CEO and Chair of the Management Board of ESPLAN Group, Estonia’s largest AEC consultancy group. With more than 20 years of senior leadership experience, she has led digital transformation, growth strategy, and international collaboration across the built-environment sector. She also serves as Chair of Estonia’s Association of Architectural and Consulting Engineering Companies. Kadi holds an MBA from Estonian Business School and has completed executive education at INSEAD and Harvard Business School. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences on construction, workplace evolution, and digital innovation.

Klaus Winther Ringgaard is a member of the board of The Danish Association of Consulting Engineers, FRI and Senior Vice President of Renewable Energy in COWI, a European leading consulting engineering company headquartered in Denmark.

With more than 25 years’ experience including 15 years from leadership positions within three continents, Klaus brings extensive experience in the energy sector, and a strong track record in driving the transition towards resilient, secure, and sustainable energy systems. Klaus has worked closely with public authorities, utilities, and international stakeholders to design robust energy solutions that support both decarbonisation and system stability. In recent years, Klaus has been actively engaged in initiatives related to strengthening Europe’s energy independence and resilience.

He holds a master’s degree from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and has completed executive courses within strategic management from institutions like Vlerick Business School (BE) and IMD (CH).