Advances in Fusion Technology: Breakthrough in Unlimited Energy Generation

Dr Melanie Windridge is a specialist in fusion energy who helps people see the value, opportunities and excitement of fusion. She is a plasma physicist, speaker, writer… with a taste for adventure. Melanie has a PhD in plasma physics (fusion energy) from Imperial College London, is Communications Consultant for privately-funded fusion company Tokamak Energy and Founder of Fusion Energy Insights. She was previously UK Director of the Fusion Industry Association. Melanie is the author of Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights and Star Chambers: the race for fusion power.

Prof. Constantin Haefner is Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT since 2020, Full Professor and Chair of Laser Technology at RWTH Aachen University, and former Director of the Advanced Photon Technologies Program, National Ignition Facility & Photon Science Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, United States. Haefner is a renowned expert in advanced high-energy laser science and technology, particularly in Inertial Confinement Fusion applications, where he has made pioneering contributions. With his team, he has broken several world records, including the development of the world’s most powerful petawatt laser system and the development of the world’s highest-energy high-intensity laser. More recently, his research focus has expanded to the development of laser technology and applications for sustainable digital photonic manufacturing. He is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and has received the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Tech Transfer Award for outstanding commercialization success, and the R&D100 Innovation Award. He graduated in solid state physics from the University of Konstanz in 1999 and received his PhD from the University of Heidelberg in 2003.

Peter Leibinger is Vice Chairman and CTO of TRUMPF. As CTO, he is responsible for research and development as well as new business areas. After studying mechanical engineering, Leibinger was a development engineer at the Ingersoll Milling Machine Company, USA, from 1997 to 1999. He then switched to his own family business and, after positions as managing director at various TRUMPF companies, became Vice Chairman of the TRUMPF Management Board. In addition to voluntary work, he is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SPRIN-D and a member of the Advisory Board of Deutsche Private Equity (DPE).

Tim Luce is an American physicist who has worked in the field of magnetic confinement fusion for over 40 years.  He spent 30 years at General Atomics, primarily conducting experiments in plasma heating, energy confinement, and operating scenario development on the DIII-D tokamak there, but also as a visiting researcher in laboratories in Europe, Asia, and Australia.  In 2016 and 2017, Luce participated in the formulation of the present ITER Research Plan.  He joined the ITER Organization in late 2017 and is now the Head of the Science and Operation Domain and Chief Scientist.  He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and was awarded the inaugural Nuclear Fusion prize from the IAEA in 2006 for development of a new operating scenario relevant for the ITER tokamak.

Vinod Philip is a Member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy and is located in Berlin, Germany.

Since the spin-off of Siemens Energy in 2020, Mr. Philip has been pivotal in shaping the strategic direction of the company as it transforms to meet the growing global demands of sustainable, affordable and reliable energy. Prior to joining the Executive Board, he was the Chief Technology and Strategy Officer. Here, he was responsible for the development and implementation of the technology and innovation strategy that addresses the energy industry’s global trends and helps Siemens Energy support its customers in transitioning towards net zero.

Mr. Philip has a strong background in energy. He started working for Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1997, later Siemens, and quickly assumed management positions with increasing responsibility. Prior to his current role, he held a series of senior management roles, namely Vice President of Gas Turbine Engineering, CEO of the Generator Business Segment , Chief Technology Officer for the Power and Gas division, and CEO of the Service Power Generation business unit.

Mr. Philip holds a Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Central Florida and also received a Master’s degree in Business Administration in International Business from Rollins College, Florida.