Palestrantes

Prof. Ben Young

Professor Ben Young is Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) and Chair Professor of Steel Structures of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, overseeing the institutional policies and plans related to student development and promotion of culture, as well as the global engagement endeavours in educational initiatives involving the establishment of partnership with leading universities and strategic partners worldwide. Professor Young is well acquainted with academic research and actively serves on academic panels for various government agencies and non-governmental organisations. He is an Advisory Member of the American Institute of Steel Construction for the Committee on Structural Stainless Steel. Professor Young is currently a Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Constructional Steel Research, published by Elsevier. He has published over 700 international journal and conference papers, of which over 400 are SCI-indexed journal papers. He has an h-index of 73 in Scopus. Professor Young has been elected as a Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA). He also received the Shortridge Hardesty Award for his research contributions to the stability design of cold-formed steel and stainless steel structures, given by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2020.

Prof. Bernardo Almada-Lobo

Professor Catedrático de Engenharia e Gestão Industrial na Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto

Professor Catedrático de Engenharia e Gestão Industrial na Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), e na Porto Business School. Co-fundador e partner da LTPlabs, empresa de AI & advanced analytics. Membro do Conselho de Curadores da Fundação Belmiro de Azevedo. Membro da Academia de Engenharia. Foi administrador do INESC TEC e investigador na Sloan School of Management do Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Licenciado, Doutorado e Agregado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial pela FEUP. Advanced Management Programme pelo INSEAD. Certified Analytics Professional pela INFORMS.

Prof. Daniel Aelenei

Professor Associado na Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Daniel Aelenei is Associate Professor at NOVA School of Science and Technology, Portugal, where he coordinates the Master’s in Façade Technology. His research focuses on low-energy and net-zero energy buildings, with emphasis on adaptive façades and solar passive retrofits. He has been active in international initiatives such as COST Action TU1403 – Adaptive Facades Network, IEA EBC Annex 67, and the EU Interreg Project SUDOKET, and is a co-founder of the European Façade Network. Daniel Aelenei is a certified expert and trainer under Portugal’s Energy Certification System (SCE) and co-founder of the European Façade Network.

Dr. Filip Ljubincović

Assistant Researcher in Steel and Composite Structures at the University of Coimbra

Dr. Filip Ljubinković is an Assistant Researcher in Steel and Composite Structures at the University of Coimbra and a member of the ISISE Research Unit. Holding a Ph.D. in Steel and Composite Structures, his research focuses on the stability of steel plates and curved panels in bridge applications, as well as on steel connections—combining structural engineering expertise with digitalization and advanced computational methods. He has participated in over 10 national and European research projects and holds 3 international patents in modular construction. His contributions have been recognized with the prestigious John Henry Garrod King Medal from the British Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Dr. Ljubinković is the convenor of the CEN/TC250/SC3 Ad-hoc Group on AI Design of Steel Structures, leading European standardization efforts in this emerging field. He teaches courses on steel structures and is a member of several technical committees, including CEN/TC250/SC3 WG5, CEN/TC250/SC3 WG22, ECCS/TWG8.3, and the Portuguese Technical Committee for Steel Structures (CT115/SC3). He is also a member of the Portuguese Steelwork Association (CMM) and a member of the Scientific Committee of the XV Conference on Steel and Composite Construction.

Eng. Germano Veiga

Germano Veiga é Engenheiro Mecânico, doutorado em Engenharia Mecânica (Robótica e Automação) pela Universidade de Coimbra (2010). Em 2005, foi investigador convidado na Universidade de Lund, na Suécia, tendo sido também investigador (2002-2011) e Professor Convidado (2007-2011) na Universidade de Coimbra, bem como Professor Auxiliar na Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto entre 2016 e 2022. Germano integrou o INESC TEC em 2012, onde foi Co-coordenador do Centro de Robótica e Sistemas Inteligentes entre 2016 e 2023. Em 2012, fundou a SARKKIS Robotics, que foi integrada no grupo canadiano AGT Robotics em 2022. Desde 2023, é o CTO do AGT Robotics, coordenando a sua sede europeia no Porto. A sua atividade tem-se centrado no desenvolvimento de tecnologias plug-and-produce, programação de robôs, manipuladores móveis e interação homem-robô, com o objetivo de contribuir para uma indústria mais eficiente e sustentável. Ao longo da sua carreira, coordenou e participou em diversos projetos de investigação europeus de relevo, como o FP6 SMErobot, o FP7 ECHORD, o FP7-CARLoS, o FP7-STAMINA, o FP7-SMErobotics e o H2020-ColRobot. Desde janeiro de 2017, coordena o projeto H2020 ScalABLE4.0, reforçando o seu contributo para o avanço da robótica industrial na Europa.

Prof. James O’Callaghan

James O’Callaghan is a world leading Structural and Facade Engineer who is widely acknowledged as an authority in application and engineering of structural glass. His innovative and practical approach has made him an integral part of the design team for a number of internationally known clients and their pioneering and award-winning projects. These include Apple, Google and Atlassian to name but a few. He is passionate about sustainability and strives for continual improvement and evolution in all the solutions his practice delivers. He is co-founder of the multi award-winning structural and facade engineering practice, Eckersley O’Callaghan, which he has led in being one of most recognised creative engineering design practices in the world. The established practice now has ten offices around the world and continues to grow through a combination of great clients and valued solutions. As Professor of Architectural Glass at TU Delft, James has a key role in establishing research in all areas of glass in architecture. This is helping to map out the use of glass in the urban fabric of the future and accelerate more sustainable and responsible solutions.

Eng. Jennifer Pazdon

As the Vice President and UK Office Leader at CAST CONNEX, Jennifer Pazdon leverages over 15 years of experience in design and construction to support engineers, architects, and contractors in the use of cast steel connections to optimize performance, economy, aesthetics, and constructability. Pazdon is a licensed structural engineer in New York State. She holds a Master of Science in Engineering from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a Minor in Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. Pazdon has practiced as a structural engineering consultant based in New York City, Africa, and Southeast Asia on new construction and renovation and retrofits for an array of structural typologies including: steel, concrete, wood, mass timber, tall buildings, bridges, single family homes, art installations, and strengthening of low-tech vernacular buildings in developing nations. Pazdon is Chair of the AASHTO/NSBA Collaboration Task Group 17: Steel Castings, and a Director of the Board of the Structural Engineers Association of New York and a Member of the CTBUH EDI Committee. She was Teaching Fellow in Mechanics, Materials and Sciences at Princeton University, Adjunct Professor of Architecture at The Cooper Union, and she has lectured extensively on applications for steel castings in buildings, bridges, and other structures.

Prof. José Oliveira Pedro

José J. Oliveira Pedro holds a degree (1991), MSc (1995) and PhD (2007) in Civil (Structural) Engineering from IST – University of Lisbon, where he teaches Bridges, Structural Design, and Special Structures. His PhD addressed the structural analysis of composite steel–concrete cable-stayed bridges. Recognised with 16 merit teaching awards at IST, he was a research fellow at the University of Liège (1999) and Visiting Professor at EPFL (2015). Co-authored of three books and over 100 publications, he received the Baker Medal (2013) and John Henry Garrood King Medal (2017) from the Institution of Civil Engineers for articles in Bridge Engineering journal. His research includes participation in major European RFCS projects and advanced training through FUNDEC courses. As a design engineer at GRID International since 1991, he has contributed to the design of more than 120 bridges and special structures. He is also active in the development of Eurocodes, serving on CEN/TC 250 as Convenor of SC 3/WG 11 (EN 1993-1-11), and as a member of WG 5 / ECCS-TWG 8.3 (EN 1993-1-5) and WG 13 (EN 1993-2). At national level, he is a member of the mirror groups for Eurocodes 2, 3, 4 and 8, and Convenor of the Horizontal Group for Bridges.

Prof. Luciano Lima

Professor Catedrático Departamento de Engenharia de Estruturas Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Professor Luciano Lima (PhD) teaches at both undergraduate and graduate levels at the College of Engineering. He is deeply engaged in research on steel and composite structures. In the last 20 years, he has been working on activities related to laboratory testing, numerical modelling, advanced analyses, and structural design. He has been awarded the Anísio Teixeira Prize as the Best Professor elected by the students from UERJ Science and Technology Centre (2013 and 2015). His mentored students (undergraduate, MSc and PhD) received many Awards from the Rio de Janeiro Engineering Council (CREA-RJ) for their developed works in steel and composite structures, mainly regarding stainless steel structures. He is the co-author of three books about steel structures. Furthermore, he was chair of three international conferences held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: SDSS (2010), ISTS15 (2015) and 10^th ICSAS (2024). Since last year, he has been working as Associate Editor at Structures and as Guest Editor for a Special Issue in Thin-Walled Structures (Elsevier Journals). He has been funded by National Brazilian Agencies such as FAPERJ, CNPq and CAPES.

Prof. Luís Simões da Silva

Professor of Steel Construction, Departament of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra. Head of Steel Construction Group of ISISE – Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering, Research Centre financed by FCT (Portuguese Science Foundation). Co-Editor-in-Chief Journal of Constructional Steel Research. President of CMM (Portuguese Steelwork Association). President of Seapower. Awarded with a Honoris Causa Doctorate by the University of Liege in 2018.

Prof. Mauro Overend

Mauro Overend is the Professor of Structural Design & Mechanics at TU Delft where he teaches engineers and architects, and has established the ReStruct Research Group. He is a chartered engineer with several years of consulting engineering, teaching and research experience in the fields of structural design and façade engineering. In his previous role Mauro founded and led the Glass & Façade Technology Research Group at the University of Cambridge. His research and teaching interests are at the interface of materials engineering and structural design which underpin the performance of sustainable materials, facades and structures. Mauro has a track record of leading interdisciplinary research teams at the Universities of Nottingham, Cambridge and Delft. He has secured over €14million of funding for his research, has supervised 22 PhD students, 7 post-doctoral researchers and has more than 150 peer-reviewed publications to his credit. Mauro also leads/serves on several international committees related to sustainable materials and structures and he has provided specialist engineering design and forensic engineering expertise on some of the most challenging and high profile buildings worldwide. He has received numerous international awards for his work such the IABSE award and the Institution of Structural Engineers Guthrie Brown Medal.     

Eng. Miguel Correia

Main Principal Lead – Structural & Marine Technology at Wood

Miguel Correia is today the Main Principal Lead in Wood PLC Norway where he leads the structural and Marine Technology department for the last 4 years. Wood offers engineering of new onshore, offshore, and subsea construction and modification projects, as well as new build and modifications of ships. His international experience also includes the management of the Structural Integrity department at Force Technology Norway, for 7 years, and before that Greenland group and Agility Group as Senior Structural Engineer and Structural Discipline lead. His national experience between 2000 and 2011 was developed in IDOM Consulting Engineering Architecture, Lisbon office, where he worked manly on onshore industrial projects, initially as senior structural engineer and later as lead the Structural Department. His educational background was built on two MSc Degrees, the 1^st in Civil Engineering – Structural Engineering Profile and the second in Steel and Composite Structures, respectively in ISEL – Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa and Coimbra University here the defended his thesis – Robustness, redundancy of offshore structures – Jacket Platforms.  He is also a member of the Portuguese Steelwork Association (CMM)

Eng. Murray Cook

Executive Director, EGGA – Galvanizing Europe

Murray Cook is Executive Director of the European General Galvanizers Association (Galvanizing Europe), representing around 700 plants that protect ~7 million tonnes of steel annually through hot dip galvanizing. He has extensive experience in zinc and zinc coatings, having held senior roles at the UK Galvanizers Association and the International Zinc Association, where he led sustainability strategy development. He is Chairman of ISO/TC107 SC4 and actively contributes to CEN and ISO work on steel fabrication, corrosion protection, sustainability, and environmental issues, while also collaborating with ECCS technical committees on regulatory and policy matters. He holds a degree in Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Wales (Cardiff), a postgraduate qualification in Marketing, and is a member of several professional and advisory bodies, including the International EPD System’s Advisory Panel.

Prof. Pierre Engel

Pierre Engel is an expert in construction and structural engineering, with experience in research, development, studies, consulting, and project management in France and internationally. Specializing in steel structures, rehabilitation, and major construction projects. With a Ph.D. and Master’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Salford; he has directed major works such as the Olympic Rings for Paris 2024, the Orbit Tower for London 2012, and the Luxembourg Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, held executive roles in international real estate and construction firms, developed innovative low-carbon building solutions, taught at leading French engineering and architecture schools, received two silver medals from the French Academy of Architecture, and is an active member of several renowned scientific organizations, demonstrating strong skills in international project management, teaching, research, and technological innovation in construction

Eng. Ricardo Ceia

Engenheiro Civil com vasta experiência no universo das fachadas, Ricardo Ceia tem no seu portefólio projetos em diversas geografias, com destaque para o mercado do Reino Unido. Atualmente é Diretor Técnico na área de fachadas da Martifer, função que desempenha após integrar várias equipas de direção de obra na Europa, África e Ásia. A sua carreira internacional inclui ainda participação em projetos complexos com a Zagope, reforçando a sua visão global e capacidade de adaptação a diferentes contextos de engenharia.

Com uma perspetiva única sobre a evolução das fachadas — do desenho manual à realidade aumentada — Ricardo traz ao congresso uma reflexão sobre o passado, o presente e o futuro da construção.