Decarbonization and digitalization: How are we doing?

Rutger Gyllenram is a Swedish metallurgist and entrepreneur. He has an MSc in process metallurgy and materials science and a licentiate degree (Dr-ing) in metal production technology from the Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, in Stockholm. Rutger is the founder and CEO of Kobolde & Partners AB, working with raw material and process assessment, which is crucial for decarbonisation in the steel industry.

Anders Ohlsson holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and has extensive experience in technology development, customer collaboration, and business development.

He joined SSAB in 1999 and has since held several leadership positions across technical development and transformation.

Most recently, he led products and process technologies within SSAB’s Luleå transformation project.

Dr. Laurent Lesne is the vice president of digital development and operations at the Steel Digital Factory of Fives. He brings extensive experience in metallurgy, R&D, and product development, having worked for more than 20 years with major steelmakers before joining Fives in 2022. Laurent holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Rennes, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the École des Mines de Saint-Étienne, France.

Caroline Ashley is the executive director of SteelWatch, leading a small and growing international team driven by huge ambition: to decarbonize and transform the steel industry for a fair and thriving zero-emissions world.

She is an experienced leader, systems-thinker, and change-maker. A socio-economist by background, her career has spanned work in non-profits, policy research, policy making, business innovation, impact investment, consultancy, and community development, in Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas. Her early career in international development focused on equity and sustainability within market systems. Prior to founding SteelWatch, Caroline was economic justice strategic lead at Oxfam GB, challenging powerful players around the world to stretch for greater socio-economic transformation and climate resilience, and global programmes director at Forum for the Future, driving shifts from incremental change to system transformation in energy, food and the role of business in society.

Dr. Alexander Fleischanderl is based in Linz, Austria, and serves as a member of the executive management team at Primetals Technologies. Since April 2024, he has held the position of global chief technology officer, overseeing the entire technology solution portfolio, innovation management, intellectual property, information technology, industrial digitalization and mechatronic solutions. As head of green steel, Alexander leads the company’s initiatives in sustainable iron and steel production. With over 100 patents to his name, he is widely recognised as a pioneer in advancing eco-friendly steelmaking technologies. Alexander’s achievements have earned him several prestigious honors, including Siemens’ Inventor of the Year (2013) and the Best Innovation Award from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (2019). Alexander holds a PhD in process engineering and is renowned for his leadership and expertise in navigating the steel industry towards a climate-neutral and circular future.

Born in Udine and living there today, Enrico Plazzogna graduated in electronic engineering, specialising in industrial controls at Padova University, winning a scholarship from Consorzio Padova Ricerche for a graduation thesis focused on robotic applications.

He joined Danieli as a proposal engineer in 1994 and then became area manager for Europe, then for Middle East and for Eastern Europe and Russia. He was then appointed executive manager (sales) for minimills and turnkey plants. Today he is executive vice president of sales, and a member of the board of Danieli Automation.