Advisory Board

PhD in Materials Engineering, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Technology at the University of Bologna in Italy (UNIBO) since 2014. Paola Fabbri holds a solid background in polymer chemistry and plastics processing, development of tailored plastic formulations targeted to specific industrial applications, polymer characterizations and recycling technologies. During the last 15 years she almost exclusively dedicated research to the sustainable plastics sector, and mainly to bio-based biodegradable plastics. PHA science and technology was primary developed thanks to strict collaboration with the private sector and biotech companies operating in the field. She was responsible for the Task “Top-emerging bio-based products” of the BIOSPRI Tender Study on Support to R&I in the field of Bio-based Products and Services, completed in 2019 for EC DG RTD. She represents UNIBO at the European Bioplastics Association. She is member of The Independent Bio-based Expert Group on the bio-based economy, which consists of experts from several European Countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands and UK) working in associations, companies and academia, supporting policy and actions to stimulate the bio-based economy. She is involved on many national and international funded research projects and leads the research group of Polymers and Biopolymers Science and Technology at the DICAM Department at UNIBO. She is author of more than 100 original research papers published in international peer-reviewed journals mainly on polymeric materials science and technology, and biomaterials for medical applications. She authored 4 books and filed 3 patents.

Benoit Lecouvet has more than 10 years of experience in the plastics industry. He started his industrial journey in The Netherlands at SABIC Technology and then moved to Ravago as R&D Manager of the Wire & Cable Research Center. Before joining Futerro, Benoit combined senior management roles in the commercial and marketing divisions at Huntsman Polyurethanes. He built over the years a strong experience in different markets including automotive, packaging and building & construction.

Benoit owns a Ph.D. degree in Polymer Science from Louvain University. Within Futerro, He is leading the marketing, sales and supply chain divisions, promoting PLA bioplastic as a sustainable alternative of fossil-based plastics.”

Sara has over 20 years of experience in developing bioplastics solutions for agricultural applications and in assessing their end of life and effects on the environment. Her work is rooted within the framework of circular bioeconomy, starting from technical activities to marketing development and sales and finally to stakeholder engagement, area where her overall view, and a well-developed knowledge of the dynamics of this sector can be used. Her experience is developed not just in forming strategy and shaping legislation based on scientific evidence, but also in the practicalities and challenges of implementing new policies.

In 2020 Sara has started my collaboration with the Italian Foundation Re Soil (https://resoilfoundation.org/en/) and in 2023 became member of the Scientific Committee. In Re Soil main activities are: stakeholder engagement activities in relation to the protection of soils and collaboration in the constitution of a network of Lighthouse Farms (farms with high attention to providing ecosystemic services and implementation of high sustainability practices).

Professor John Williams has 30 years’ experience in research, development, market analysis and commercialisation of specialty polymers and materials. He is an expert in developing strategies to introduce early TRL projects into large organisations and enables a successful commercialisation to take place. This expertise is also used in ensuring sme’s and spin out companies develop deliverable business plans which are attractive to different types of investors.

He started in R&D for a large global company based in Germany before becoming Head of Technical polymer specialities for a major global oil and gas company. The developing interest and expertise in sustainable materials led to the appointment as Head of Materials for a UK Government body looking at and advising on, technology, strategy, policy, Standards, market and investment in the emerging bio and sustainable economy. Part of this role included being a Circular Economy Task Force member at Green Alliance, DEFRA advisor on bioplastics, UK CEN representative.

Educated at the Universities of Bradford and Leeds, he is a Chartered Chemist, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Board Member for the UK Industrial Biotech Leadership Forum. He is an NED for a University of York Green Chemistry spin out, Sustainability Ambassador at the Institute of Directors, Senior Partner in an Impact Investment company and CTO Aquapak Polymers.