Keynotes

Eng. Ana Araújo

Ana is a Civil Engineer (Faculdade da Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Building Construction specialism) and Chartered Building Surveyor. Starting her career in Porto and currently based in London, Ana has been inspecting existing buildings and providing Façade Engineering advice across multiple countries for the last 20 years. Since 2021, Ana has been leading the Buro Happold Façade Engineering Team, an international group of more than 80 façade engineering specialists based in Europe, North America, Middle East and Asia. The team designs and provides advice for some of the most iconic buildings in the world and actively engaged in industry technical, sustainability and computational development. With an enthusiasm for refurbishment inspired by the beautiful Heritage Centre of Porto, Ana’s main focus of direct advice has been the refurbishment of existing buildings, always aiming to find innovative and sustainable solutions for the evolving challenges that the built environment faces. Technology will increasingly play an important role in this aim. Ana is a frequent speaker and moderator in industry conferences and academic talks, helping to disseminate knowledge and foster collaboration.

Arq. Alejandro Lorca

Alejandro is a Senior Partner and Head of the Madrid studio at L35 Architects. 
He leads and oversees design teams working on complex projects, particularly mixed-use and sports developments. In recent years, he has coordinated architectural and engineering studies for international projects. Among his most notable works are the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, the Gran Canaria Stadium, Petah Tikva urban regeneration project in Tel Aviv, and shopping centers such as Sofia Ring Mall and Islazul.

Eng. Anton Zeilinger

Lecture: Integrative welding robot systems with advanced sensor technology

Sales leader with an extensive track record at igm Robotersysteme AG, excelling in team leadership, client satisfaction, and optimizing service performance.

Eng. António Pedro

Lecture: Key Impacts and Challenges of the Current Geopolitical Landscape: Navigating Tariffs, Inflation, and Trade Tensions

António Pedro Rocha Brito M. Antunes is the CEO of Metalogalva and responsible for the metalworking area of ​​the Vigent Group, which has industrial units in seven countries (Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, England, Ukraine, United States, Angola) and a commercial presence in two more markets. He began his career at Metalogalva as an intern in 2005, assuming the Technical Directorship in 2007. In 2011, he joined the Board of Directors, playing a central role in the company’s internationalization process. In 2020, he was invited to lead the conglomerate, consolidating the group’s global expansion and strategic diversification. With solid experience in training and developing teams to face global challenges, António Pedro has led operations that compete at the highest level in the metalworking sector. His career includes organic growth and acquisitions (M&A) of European competitors, as well as the creation of joint ventures in countries such as Ukraine, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Holding a Global Executive MBA from INSEAD, a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Porto, and a General Management Program from AESE, he combines technical knowledge and strategic vision to drive innovation and competitiveness in the industrial sector.

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 endeavors 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 organizations. 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

Full Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto

Full Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), and at Porto Business School. Co-founder and partner of LTPlabs, an AI & advanced analytics company. Member of the Board of Trustees of the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation. Member of the Academy of Engineering. Former director of INESC TEC and researcher at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Degree, Doctorate and Aggregate in Industrial Engineering and Management from FEUP. Advanced Management Program at INSEAD. Certified Analytics Professional by INFORMS.

Eng. Bruno Martins Azevedo

Project & Contract Management Director, Business Development at
CSWind PT

With a degree in Environmental Engineering, Bruno Martins Azevedo began his career in 2004 as a research specialist in mathematical modelling to support environmental decision-making in EU-sponsored projects, focusing on estuaries and coastal lagoons. During this time, he contributed as both lead and co-author to several internationally published scientific articles. Over the past two decades, he has built a robust international career, primarily within the Oil & Gas sector — spanning offshore and onshore LPG/LNG infrastructure, large steel jackets, topsides, and substations. Since 2019, he has been actively engaged in the energy transition, returning to Portugal to contribute to the development of the renewables sector, particularly in floating wind foundation technologies. An expert in Project and Contract Management, Bruno Martins Azevedo currently serves also as Business Development Director at CSWind Portugal. In this role, he leads the strategic alignment of the Portuguese branch with South Korea CSWind Corporation’s global operations, supporting the company’s position as a worldwide leader in wind tower and foundation manufacturing.

Prof. Daniel Aelenei

Associate Professor at NOVA School of Science and Technology, Portuga

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.

Prof. Diego Inglez de Souza

Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto

Diego Inglez de Souza (São Paulo, 1978) is an architect and urban planner, with a doctorate in History, Architecture and Urbanism from the University of São Paulo and the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. He is a researcher at the Center for Architecture and Urbanism Studies (CEAU) of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Porto. His work investigates the interactions between architecture, social policies, cultural practices, and environmental dimensions. He is the author of *Reconstruindo Cajueiro Seco* (Annablume, 2010) and co-author of *Arquitetura do bacalhau e outras espécies* (Dafne Editora, 2022), with André Tavares. His work has been published in books and journals in Brazil, Europe, and the United States.

Eng. Eivind Sønju

Clovers International (Portugal) & Clovers AS (Norway)

Eivind Sønju is a marine/structural engineering leader with 20+ years across offshore wind and oil & gas. Managing Director founder of Clovers AS, he is the inventor behind the MOLO® steel semisubmersible floater and leads its industrialization for serial production. Previously he served as Principal Engineer at Statkraft, and Technical Lead at FORCE Technology. His work spans offshore substations, floating and fixed support structures, due diligence, and supply-chain development. Eivind is an expert referee for the Research Council of Norway and holds an MSc in Marine Structures from NTNU.

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 is a Mechanical Engineer with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Robotics and Automation) from the University of Coimbra (2010). In 2005, he was an invited researcher at Lund University in Sweden and was also a researcher (2002–2011) and Invited Professor (2007–2011) at the University of Coimbra, as well as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto between 2016 and 2022. Germano joined INESC TEC in 2012, where he was Co-Coordinator of the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems from 2016 to 2023. In 2012, he founded SARKKIS Robotics, which became part of the Canadian AGT Robotics group in 2022. Since 2023, he has been the CTO of the AGT Robotics, and responsible of the company’s European office in Porto. His work has focused on the development of plug-and-produce technologies, robot programming, mobile manipulators, and human-robot interaction, with the aim of contributing to a more efficient and sustainable industry. Throughout his career, he has coordinated and participated in several significant European research projects, including FP6 SMErobot, FP7 ECHORD, FP7-CARLoS, FP7-STAMINA, FP7-SMErobotics, and H2020-ColRobot. Since January 2017, he has coordinated the H2020 ScalABLE4.0 project, further strengthening his contribution to the advancement of industrial robotics in Europe.

Arq. Jacobo Campomnes

Jacobo Peláez-Campomanes is an Associate Architect and Director of International Projects at ENAR, with extensive experience in facade engineering and sustainable architecture. He has led major international projects in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, including stadiums, resorts, and corporate headquarters. Jacobo holds multiple master’s degrees from UPM and has been a speaker at global conferences on facade refurbishment and composite materials.

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

Full Professor Department of Structural Engineering Rio de Janeiro State University

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 Center (2013 and 2015). His mentored students (undergraduate, MSc and PhD) have 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 ^10th 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, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra. Head of Steel Construction Group of ISISE – Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering, Research Center 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 an Honoris Causa Doctorate by the University of Liege in 2018.

Eng. Marco Baptista

Marco Baptista (born December 18, 1969) is a civil engineer, graduated from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering Structures (1999). He participated in international research at ISMES (Italy) and taught between 1995 and 2007 at institutions such as UTAD and the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, in the areas of Structures. He is co-author of several scientific publications and has extensive professional experience since 1993, having founded A400 – Engineering Consultants, where he is a managing partner. He has led highly complex projects in Portugal and abroad, and is a Specialist in Structures certified by the Order of Engineers (2017). In 2022 he completed a postgraduate degree in Real Estate Management at Porto Business School.

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^1st 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)

Arq. Miguel Núñez Días

Technical Director and Facade Consultant at ENAR

Miguel Ángel Núñez is a Technical Director and Facade Consultant at ENAR with over 25 years of experience in architectural envelopes. He holds a PhD in Architecture and an Executive MBA, and has led major facade projects for airports, corporate buildings, and cultural institutions across Europe and the Middle East. His expertise includes structural glass, composite materials, and digital facades, supported by active participation in EU research programs like HORIZON. Miguel is a frequent speaker at international conferences and has contributed to technical publications on facade design.

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.

Arq. Nuno Capa

Nuno Ferreira Capa, Arquitetura e Design Lda

Nuno Capa is an architect graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto and has worked professionally since 1998 in the areas of architecture, urban planning and design. His work encompasses new construction and rehabilitation projects, including industrial, service, residential and urban buildings. His career has been widely recognized, with several national and international awards, including:

• Ancestral Church of Fraião (Braga) – Architecture MasterPrize 2022 (Restoration & Renovation);
• Maison826 and Dst Chapel (Braga) – Architecture MasterPrize 2020 (Commercial Interior and Small Architecture);
• Bysteel FS Building (Braga) – Honorable Mention in the Architecture MasterPrize 2020 (Industrial Buildings);
• Urbo Business Centre (Matosinhos) – Architecture MasterPrize 2019, SIL Award 2019 and Expresso/SIC Notícias Award, in addition to being shortlisted for the BluePrint Awards 2019.

Their practice stands out for a contemporary approach that values ​​the harmony between form, light, materials and sustainability, understanding architectural form as an artistic expression integrated into the territory.

Eng. Nuno Neves

Head of Design – bysteel

Nuno Neves was born in 1976 in Porto. He has a degree in civil engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (1999), in the structures option. He has a master’s degree in structures (2003) from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto and an MBA from the Catholic University of Porto (2010). With 23 years of professional experience, he has developed structural design activities since 1999 at the company AFACONSULT with coordination and project management roles since 2007, having participated in structural projects such as the Convent of S. Francisco in Coimbra or the Bridge Pedro- Inês in Coimbra. In 2010 he joined the DST group, at the company bysteel where he led the project department. Having participated in projects such as Lyon Airport, Schiphol Airport or the Longchamps Racecourse in Paris. As of 2022 he is a member of the management board of the company bysteel, being responible for the technical department, and performs technical coordination functions in the industrialization project | modular construction in the DST group.

Prof. Óscar Afonso

Full Professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto

Óscar Afonso holds a doctorate and is a full professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEP). He has taught at all three levels of study – undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral. He is the current Director of FEP and President of the Scientific Council. He is a founding member of NIFIP (Research Center in Public Finance and Monetary Policy) and OBEGEF (Observatory of Economics and Management of Fraud, where he served as president). He is a member of CEFUP (Center for Studies in Economics and Finance of the University of Porto). He is the author of books, several book chapters, more than 130 articles in international scientific journals, numerous working papers, and communications at international conferences. He has carried out consultancy work, both as a member of the technical team and as a coordinator. He is the president of the Remuneration Committee of FC Porto and of the Advisory Committee of the CMVM (Portuguese Securities Market Commission).

Eng. Paulo Serradas 

Director of Teixeira Duarte, S.A., holding company of the Teixeira Duarte Group.

With a degree in Civil Engineering and a postgraduate degree in Controllership and Financial Analysis, Paulo Serradas was Director of Works and Director of Production Sub-Center at “Teixeira Duarte – Engenharia e Construções, S.A.” between 1992 and 2006. After this period, he was responsible for project management of two hotels of the Savoy Group in Funchal and, subsequently, served as CEO and Administrator of Martifer Alumínios, S.A., a company dedicated to the execution of building facades, with contracts throughout Europe, Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Angola. In 2013 he returned to “Teixeira Duarte – Engenharia e Construções, S.A.”, acting as General Director in the Group’s subsidiaries “SOMAFEL – Engenharia e Obras Ferroviárias, S.A.” and “OFM – Obras Ferroviárias e Marítimas, S.A.”. In 2019 he was appointed Director of “Teixeira Duarte – Engenharia e Construções, S.A.”, and in 2023, he was elected Director of Teixeira Duarte, S.A., the holding company of the Teixeira Duarte Group, being responsible for coordinating all of the Group’s Construction activity.

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

A Civil Engineer with extensive experience in the building envelope sector, Ricardo Ceia has developed a portfolio of projects across diverse geographies, with a strong focus on the UK market. He is currently Technical Director for the façades business unit at Martifer, a role he assumed after contributing to several construction management teams across Europe, Africa and Asia. His international career also includes participation in complex projects with Zagope, further strengthening his global perspective and ability to adapt to demanding engineering environments. With a unique perspective on the evolution of façades — from manual drawings to augmented reality — Ricardo will bring to the congress a reflection on the past, present and future of construction.