EVENT
PROGRAM
Steel Demolition Derby: Oversupply, Stagnant Demand and Protectionism Collide — Who Thrives, Who Survives?
TUESDAY, 17 JUNE 2025
8:30 a.m.
Conference Opening
Ronald Ashburn, Executive Director, Association for Iron & Steel Technology
8:50 a.m.
Tech Talk: Engage the Machine
More than just hype, these powerful tools deliver cost savings, enhanced safety, improved quality and greater customer service. Our panel will discuss real-world applications and trends for digital, autonomous tools.
Moderator: Timothy Van Audenaerd, Managing Director, Accenture
Panelists:
- Berk Birand, Chief Executive Officer, Fero Labs
- Jake Loosararian, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Gecko Robotics
- Raunak Bhinge, Chief Executive Officer, Infinite Uptime
10:05 a.m.
Networking Break
10:30 a.m.
Steel Raw Material Panel
Global raw material executives will provide their perspectives on future developments of regional and global scrap, iron ore, and coal markets.
John Lichtenstein, Managing Partner, World Steel Dynamics
Panelists:
- Andrew De Simone, Country Manager USA, Vale; Managing Officer, Vale USA LLC
- Al C. Behr, Executive Vice President, Raw Materials, Nucor Corp.
- Ernie Thrasher, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, XCoal Energy
- Martin Dionne, Global Director Iron Ore & Coal-Graphite Primary Processing, Hatch
11:35 a.m.
Presentation
Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland-Cliffs
12:10 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1:30 p.m.
Tech Talk: Better Outcomes Through OpEx Optimization
Energy, raw materials and labor are the top costs for producing steel. Prudent steelmakers also closely monitor their equipment operating costs. Technology partners are responding with an array of solutions to reduce maintenance, automate control and lower risk. This panel will delve into technologies reshaping operational efficiency.
Moderator: Ronald Ashburn, Executive Director, Association for Iron & Steel Technology
Panelists:
- Lee Morgan, Chief Executive Officer and President, The Systems Group
- Rolando Paolone, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technical Officer, Danieli & C. S.p.A.
2:10 p.m.
Interview
Máximo Vedoya, Chief Executive Officer, Ternium
Interviewed by: Adam Green, Managing Partner, World Steel Dynamics
2:45 p.m.
Interview
TV Narendran, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Steel
Interviewed by: John Lichtenstein, Managing Partner, World Steel Dynamics
3:15 p.m.
Willy Korf/Ken Iverson Steel Vision Award and Willy Korf Young Excellence Award Ceremony
- Steel Vision Award Recipient
TV Narendran, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Steel - Young Excellence Award Recipient
TBD
3:30 p.m.
Networking Break
4:00 p.m.
Interview
Mark Millett, Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Steel Dynamics Inc.
Interviewed by: John Lichtenstein, Managing Partner, World Steel Dynamics
4:30 p.m.
Reinventing Customer Centricity In The Metals Industry
Metals companies often focus on production and processes, sometimes misaligning efforts with customer priorities. This session will explore how understanding buyer needs and evaluating company performance can better align strategies and investments with customer expectations. By improving alignment, companies can achieve cost savings, unlock new sales opportunities, and enhance competitiveness.
Timothy Van Audenaerd, Managing Director, Accenture
5:05 p.m.
Interview
Mario Arvedi Caldonazzo, Chief Executive Officer, Gruppo Arvedi
Interviewed by: Philipp Englin, Chief Executive Officer, World Steel Dynamics
5:35 p.m.
Cocktail Reception
WEDNESDAY, 18 JUNE 2025
8 a.m.
Opening Session
Philipp Englin, Chief Executive Officer, World Steel Dynamics
8:35 a.m.
International Steel Perspectives
This panel will bring together association leaders from Germany, Latin America, India, and the United States to discuss the current state of the global steel industry and how region-specific developments are impacting their respective industries.
Moderator: Edwin Basson, Director General, World Steel Association
Panelists:
- Kevin Dempsey, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Iron and Steel Institute
- Martin Theuringer, Managing Director, Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl
- Ezequiel Tavernelli, Executive Director, Alacero
- Alok Sahay, Secretary General and Executive Head, Indian Steel Association
- Representative from CISA
9:50 a.m.
Interview
Chang In Hwa, Chairman, POSCO Holdings
Interviewed by: Philipp Englin, Chief Executive Officer, World Steel Dynamics
10:20 a.m.
Networking Break
10:55 a.m.
Presentation
Representative from Boston Consulting Group
11:30 a.m.
Presentation
Johnny Sjöström, President and Chief Executive Officer, SSAB
12:05 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1:15 p.m.
Tech Talk: The Transition to Carbon-Neutral Steel
While hydrogen-reduced iron remains a promising path to carbon neutrality, the hydrogen sector is not materializing at the speed and scale initially envisioned. Nevertheless, steelmakers continue to pursue greener iron units and steel production techniques. This panel will examine trends, feedstock and technological innovations.
Moderator: Ronald Ashburn, Executive Director, Association for Iron & Steel Technology
Panelists:
- Joseph Dzierzawski, Vice President of Sales and Strategy, Primetals Technologies USA LLC
- Stephen Montague, Member of the Board, Midrex
1:55 p.m.
Interview
O’Neil, a leading authority on global trade and supply chains, will offer insights into the current trade tensions, the prospects for re-shoring and near-shoring, and the future of global trade and supply chains
Shannon K. O’Neil, Senior Vice President, Director of Studies and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair, Council on Foreign Relations
Interviewed by: Philipp Englin, Chief Executive Officer, World Steel Dynamics and John Lichtenstein, Managing Partner, World Steel Dynamics
2:30 p.m.
Trade Roundtable
This high-level discussion will explore the impact of “tariff wars” from both domestic and international perspectives, offering critical insights into how governments and industries are responding to protectionist measures, market imbalances, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Moderator: John Lichtenstein, Managing Partner, World Steel Dynamics
Panelists:
- Alan Price, Partner, Wiley Rein
- Kate Kalutkiewicz, Senior Managing Director, Trade Practice & McLarty Inbound, McLarty Associates
- Anthony Decarvalho, Head of Steel Unit and Senior Economist, OECD
3:25 p.m.
Networking Break
3:45 p.m.
U.S. Downstream Sector Panel
Industry executives from across the U.S. downstream sector will discuss the impact of geopolitics, emerging technologies and evolving customer expectations and demands.
Moderator: Philip Bell, President, Steel Manufacturers Association
Panelists:
- John Ganem, Chief Executive Officer, Kloeckner Metals Corp.
- John Hollatz, Executive Vice President Fabricated Construction Products, Nucor Corp.
- Todd Leebow, President and CEO, Majestic Steel
- Janice Lee, Partner and Director, Boston Consulting Group
4:50 p.m.
Presentation
David Burritt, President and Chief Executive Officer, United States Steel Corporation
5:30 p.m.
Cocktail Reception
*This schedule is tentative and subject to change.