Keynote Speakers
1st International Conference on Manufacturing Science for SustainabilityKeynote Speakers
Prof. Sami Kara
Sami Kara is Professor of Sustainable Manufacturing and Life Cycle Engineering at UNSW Sydney and Director of its Vertically Integrated Projects Program, boasting over 30 years of industry, research and tertiary education experience across Australia and the globe. His research focuses on life cycle-based tech solutions via circular economy strategies to decarbonize manufacturing, cut environmental impacts and create industrial value. He acts as a subject matter expert for Australian and international government decarbonization proposals, advises global organizations on net-zero roadmaps, and serves as Vice-President of CIRP, with over 300 peer-reviewed publications. Renowned for innovative teaching, he has won numerous teaching awards. He is an elected fellow of CIRP, FRSN, UNSW Scienta Education Academy, AET and ACATECH.
Prof. Xuedong Chen
Prof. Xuedong Chen is a Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He currently serves as a Member of the Party Committee, Deputy General Manager, and Chief Engineer of China National Machinery Industry Corporation Limited. He is also Director of the National Research Center on Safety Engineering Technology for Pressure Vessels and Pipelines, and Director of the National Innovation Center for General-Purpose Mechanical Basic Components. Additionally, he holds concurrent positions including Vice-Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, Member of the Asia-Pacific Committee of the International Council on Pressure Vessel Technology, Deputy Director of the Expert Committee for Hydrogen Energy Industrial Chain Development of Sinopec, President of the China Promotion Association for Special Equipment Safety and Energy-saving, and Vice-President of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society.
Prof. Dr. ir. Joost R. Duflou
Joost Duflou holds master degrees in Architectural and in Electro-mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Engineering Sciences from KU Leuven, Belgium. After a number of years of industrial experience in different international companies, he has been a faculty member at the Mechanical Engineering Department of KU Leuven since 1997. He became a tenured Full Professor in 2012. As chairholder of the Flexible Sheet Metal Working domain, he leads a research group focussing on processes and systems development for versatile sheet metal working. His research activities also extend into Ecodesign and Life Cycle Engineering, with special attention for Sustainable Manufacturing. He is a CIRP Fellow and has published over 500 peer reviewed international publications (h WoS =52, h Scop =58, h Schol =72). As board member of several spin-off companies and professional associations he contributes to research valorisation and dissemination. More detailed information can be obtained via http://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/nl/person/00016263.
Prof. Shuxin Wang
Prof. Shuxin Wang is currently Secretary of the Party Committee of Chongqing University and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions for High‑End Equipment. His long-term research and teaching focus on intelligent robots and mechanical systems. He led the development of the “MicroHand” minimally‑invasive surgical robot system, which obtained China’s first product registration certificate for laparoscopic surgical robots. He also spearheaded the development of the “Petrel” series underwater gliders, setting a world diving-depth record of 10,619 meters. He has been granted more than 100 patents, including Chinese national invention patents, US patents, and European patents, and has published over one hundred academic papers. His research achievements have won him two Second-Class National Technical Invention Awards, one Second-Class National Science and Technology Progress Award, and two First-Class National Teaching Achievement Awards. He has received numerous honors, including National Advanced Individual for Teachers’ Morality, China May Fourth Medal for Youth, and National Innovation Pioneer Award. In 2021, he was awarded the ASME DED Leonardo da Vinci Award. He was elected a Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2021.
Prof. Paul Mativenga
Prof. Paul Mativenga is a Chair in Multiscale & Sustainable Manufacturing at The University of Manchester, having joined the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 2002. He holds a PhD and an MSc in Manufacturing Engineering and related fields from The University of Liverpool, UK. His research focuses on manufacturing technologies, including machining science, micro manufacturing and laser processing, as well as sustainable manufacturing, with the goal of balancing industrial competitiveness and environmental friendliness. He is a Member of CIRP. Additionally, he leads Social Responsibility and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, driving the university's social and industrial impact.