APOC 2026 Speakers

Profile
Dr. Hefni Rusli is currently the Acting Deputy Director General (Research & Development) at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Bioindustry and a Master of Science from Universiti Putra Malaysia, and holds a PhD in Biology & Biochemistry from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

Dr. Hefni also serves as the Chairman of the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee. An award-winning scientist, he has published more than 30 scientific articles and books. He has been with MPOB since 2012, contributing extensively to research, innovation, and policy development in the palm oil sector.

Profile
Catra Aradea De Thouars

2010 SMA Global Jaya Intl School
2013 Swinburne Univ of Technology
2014 Monash University
2016 University of Melbourne
Head of Energy Wilmar Indonesia
Vice Chairman of APROBI

Profile
Dr. Supatchalee Sophonthammaphat graduated in BSc. Environmental Science from Silpakorn University in 1996 and LL.B. from Thammasat University in 2004.Then, she completed an MSc. in Environmental Management at NIDA in 2006. where she achieved a high average grade point reward. Then, in 2011, she achieved a scholarship from the Royal Thai Government to study at the University of Sheffield, UK. She completed on Energy for Futures (E-Futures) programme (Postgraduate Diploma, Faculty of Engineering) in 2015 and a PhD. Degree in the Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2018. This provides great opportunities to explore the renewable energy technologies with her research activities. In 1997, she started her work at S.P.S. Consulting Service Co., Ltd., In 1998, she worked at the Pollution Control Department (PCD), Thailand. Then, in 2008 she moved to the Dept. of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Ministry of Energy, Thailand. She attended on biofuel, RE &EE. She is also interested in energy policy & planning, petrochemical, CCUS, energy storage, waste to energy (WtE), biolubricant, bioplastics and bioproducts. She also works with UN, UNIDO, WHO, ASEAN, APEC and collaborates with international countries. She has experience in both environmental issues and energy for over 25 years.