RISE® 2025 Conference Schedule
Tuesday, October 14
Breakfast Connections
8:30 am - 9:00 am
Welcome
9:00 am - 9:15 am
Moderator: Tony Fragnito, President, INDA
From Seaweed to Second Life: Carbon-Smart Materials for a Circular Future
9:15 am - 10:30 am
Moderator: Robert Green, Principal, Tru Green Solutions, LLC
Renewable Carbon and the Circular Shift: Future-Proofing Raw Materials
Lars Borger, Ph.D., CEO, nova-Institute GmbH
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Fibre-to-Fibre Recycling - Overcoming Polymerization Challenges
Jack Eaton, Chief Commercial Officer, NIRI Ltd
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Coffee & Networking Break
10:30 am - 11:00 am
From Seaweed to Second Life: Carbon-Smart Materials for a Circular Future II
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Moderator: Robert Green, Principal, Tru Green Solutions, LLC
Applications for Bio-Material Based Fibers Sourced from Seaweed
Anuradha Gupta, Ph.D., Director - R&D, Keel Labs, Inc.
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Chris Mekeel, Ph.D., CTO, Keel Labs
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Buffet Lunch & Tabletop Hour
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The New Fiber Formula: Dissolve, Degrade, and Deliver
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Nonwoven Fibre Which Enhances the Circular Economy
Kamila Rahman, Regulatory Manager, Aquapak Polymers Ltd
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Using Unique Amorphous PHA to Enhance the Processing, Performance, and Sustainability of PLA Spunbond Nonwovens
Octavius Davies, Sr. Account Manager, CJ Biomaterials, Inc.
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New PLA Meltblown for Future-Ready Filtration
Kristel Beckers, Sr. Application Technician, Total Corbion PLA
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From Molecules to Markets: Innovating Fibers Amid Global Shifts
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
TBA
McKenzie Norman, Technical Service Engineer, Techmer PM
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Multicomponent Fiber: From R&D to Mainstream
Allison Hanney, Communications Director, Hills, Inc.
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Timothy Robson, Business Development, Hills Inc.
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2025 RISE® Innovation Award Presentations
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
The RISE® Innovation Award will recognize innovation in areas within and on the periphery of the nonwovens industry which utilizes advanced science and engineering principles to develop unique or intricate solutions to problems and advance the usage of nonwovens.
RISE 2025 Lightning Talks
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Moderator: Wes Fisher, Director of Government Relations, INDA
Tabletop Displays and Reception
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Wednesday, October 15
Breakfast Connections
8:30 am - 9:00 am
From Atoms to Applications: Material and Process Choices for Better Outcomes
9:00 am - 10:45 am
Moderator: Matt O'Sickey, Ph.D., Director of Education & Technical Affairs, INDA
Green Chemistry as the Foundation of Sustainability and the Circular Economy
John Warner, Ph.d., CEO & CTO, The Technology Greenhouse
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TBA
Linda Garella, Manager - Global Business Development Biopolymers, BASF
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Bryan Haynes, Ph.D., Senior Technical Director, Global Nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
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Coffee & Networking Break
10:45 am - 11:00 am
From Atoms to Applications: Material and Process Choices for Better Outcomes II
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Moderator: Matt O'Sickey, Ph.D., Director of Education & Technical Affairs, INDA
Effect of Critical Process Parameters on Particle Deposition in Coform Meltblown Process
Md Nur Uddin, , The Nonwovens Institute at NC State
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Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., William A. Klopman Distinguished Professor, and Executive Director, The Nonwovens Institute, North Carolina State University
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Disruptive Dry Powder Impregnation Solutions for Flax Fiber Intermediate Products
Sofien Bouzouita, Innovation Manager, Fibroline SA
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Lunch Buffet & Tabletop Hour
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Rethinking the Thin? Tough? Built to Last? Philosophy
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Ingredient Induced Fiber Degradation in Wet Wipes
Mahsa Nazem, , The Nonwovens Institute at NC State
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A Commercial Outsider's View: Ever-evolving Challenge of Downgauging Nonwoven Fabrics in Disposable/Semi-durable Applications
Nick Carter, Head of Innovation, Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co. KG
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Advances in 3D Embossing & Aperturing Technologies for High-Performance Nonwovens in Hygiene Applications
Bastian Brocks, Sales Manager - Nonwoven, SAUERESSIG Surfaces
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2025 RISE® Innovation Award Announcement
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Moderator: Matt O'Sickey, Ph.D., Director of Education & Technical Affairs, INDA
The Nonwovens Institute Facility Tour (Optional)
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Moderator: Jimei Wang, Business Coordinator, The Nonwovens Institute at NC State University
RSVP Required - Limited to 50 attendees
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