Biocides Europe 2022

Deputy Director General of the Environment Ministry in Austria.

Marta works in Unit E4-Pesticides and Biocides in the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE). She joined the European Commission in 2019.

Joost is Chair of the Biocides Products Committee and was previously team leader of the Biocidal Products Team and process coordinator for Union Authorisations. He worked on biocides for almost 10 years at the Dutch competent authority. During that period he worked in a number of roles, among others as project manager for biocidal products, chair of the Coordination Group and he was also a Seconded National Expert at ECHA. He holds a Ph.D. in medical biology.

Cindy van der Meer is Account Manager Biocides at the Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) in the Netherlands. Cindy has a PhD in Medical Biology and joined the biocides team of the Ctgb in 2010. She has been working as a project manager for 8 years. Since 2018 she is Account Manager of the Biocides team and in this role, she is the first point of contact for companies wishing to apply for a biocides registration at the Ctgb.

Sarah worked for more than 10 years at the world leading Agri company Monsanto (and subsequently Bayer), with her main focus on product registrations for agricultural and consumer products across major geographic jurisdictions.  In 2021, she relocated to Brisbane, Australia, and has recently (2022) been appointed as Global Regulatory Affairs Lead within Bio-Gene to world-wide register Bio-Genes insecticidal active ingredients Flavocide™ and Qcide™. 

Nicola has over 25 years of experience working for the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, initially employed as a toxicologist working on several National, EU and International programmes, such as National Occupational Limit Setting, EU Classification and Labelling and EU Existing Substances. Within Biocides Nicola has headed up the UK’s input to Active Substance evaluations and has been the Head of Operational Policy for several years. A key element of her work is to represent the UK at the Biocides Competent Authority and Standing Committee meetings.

Danielle has more than 20 years' experience in regulatory work, focusing on all legislation concerning chemicals, detergents and biocidal legislation in particular. Currently, she is responsible for all registration in Europe at Diversey Europe. Her team has successfully applied for BPR registrations and has submitted many more under Union and simplified process with a focus on disinfection products.

After studying wood science at the University of Hamburg, followed by a PhD in biology and postdoctoral research at Imperial College in London, Gunnar has been working on biocides since the early days of the BPD. He initially headed a biotesting laboratory in the wood preservative industry and was then responsible for Regulatory Affairs Biocidal Products at a disinfectant manufacturer. Since 2015, he has been advising companies on all aspects of biocide legislation and managing product authorisation projects, from tailor-made planning to offering full-service.

Study of chemistry at RWTH Aachen University, followed by a PhD at RWTH Aachen University in the field of bioorganic chemistry finished in 2009. Since 2009 researcher and head of laboratory at Fraunhofer IME. Main fields of work are fate and metabolism of chemicals in the environment. In the regulatory context this includes design of tailor-made approaches for testing of chemicals and test guideline evaluation.

Tina holds a PhD in horticulture with a focus on radiation stress physiology of bedding and balcony plants. Initially, she worked as a research assistant in remote sensing diagnostics for drought stress in wheat. She has been working at the JKI as a research assistant since 2018 and is working on the project: Measuring drift during the application of biocides outdoors. Basic drift values as with plant protection products for the risk assessment are defined in the project for biocides.

In 2021 Daniela joined knoell as regulatory affair manager for biocidal products. Since 2013 she has managed projects aimed to Biocidal Products authorization, offering support from the data gap analysis to the product authorization. Due to her previous laboratory experience, her expertise on Biocidal products covers both the testing and the regulatory aspects of the projects.                                         

As a Product Specialist for biocides within Nouryon Surface Chemistry, Ilona's primary role is managing the active substance dossiers of Nouryon Surface Chemistry under the BPR and supporting customers in their product registrations at national or BPR level. She is also involved in antimicrobial registrations at EPA and is chair of the European Quat Consortium (EQC) and chair of the Dutch Biocides Platform. 

Boris' journey in the biocides field started 15 years ago at the Belgian Competent Authority. In 2019 he joined Biocides for Europe, a sector group of Cefic, which represents the biocides industry in Europe, and has led Biocides for Europe since 2023.

Gabrielle is Global Regulatory Affairs Manager for LIPHATECH, an international company based in France specialised in pest control products and devices. She is also the President of the Rodent Control Group, the Dedicated PT14 subgroup of biocides for Europe, a sector group of Cefic.

David has recently retired after 35 years in global legislative processes, and a wide range of experience of EU biocide committees, working groups and technical workshops. In addition to his recent role as Senior Regulatory Analyst in Chemical Watch he worked for just under 20 years at UK HSE (UK Competent Authority for Biocides) as well as 7 years in industry and 5 years as a consultant.

Paul was appointed Head of the Biocides Competent Authority in Austria and Deputy Director of the Chemicals and Biocides Department in the Ministry for Climate Action in 2014.

Bernd Daehne is a geographer and ecologist, who started working on marine fouling and antifouling systems 1998 at the Coastal Research Station on the North Sea Island Norderney. 2003 he built up an Antifouling Station for the laboratory LimnoMar. Since 2018 this station belongs to the company Dr. Brill + Partner and becomes continuously enhanced.

Marcel has over 25 years of experience working in the specialty chemical industry, consultancy and governmental agencies. He joined ERM in 2021, where he supports clients in providing regulatory awareness and strategic advice on biocidal product authorisation and active substance approval under the EU - Biocides Regulation (BPR) and national (transitional) biocides legislation.

Koen’s practice focuses on EU regulatory, business and competition law, with an emphasis on chemicals, pesticides, biocides & cosmetics. He is specialised in solving the antitrust issues potentially arising in these areas.

Gregory is the director and founder of Watchfrog Laboratory, which is exclusively dedicated to Endocrine Disruptors, testing chemicals and products. Gregory focuses his research on the endocrine control of neural stem cells. Gregory Lemkine holds a PhD in Physiology of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. He focused his research on the endocrine control of neural stem cells. Before the inception of the company, Gregory Lemkine also followed the  Challenge+ business program of HEC Management School.

Darren enables clients throughout the chemicals and life sciences supply chain to get and keep their products on the European market (both in the UK and the EU). He provides a global clientele (companies, consortia and trade associations) with strategic advice, undertakes advocacy before public authorities and agencies and litigates before courts and tribunals (including the ECHA board of appeal and CJEU). Darren has a wealth of experience with regulation of biocidal products, plant protection products, REACH, CLP, food and feed, GMOs and wider aspects of environmental law, including extensive work with the Aarhus convention. He loves tackling “impossible” problems, learning new fields and working in multi-disciplinary client teams, with scientists, business leaders, regulatory and public affairs specialists and (even other) lawyers.

Hannah Senior Associate at Steptoe and member of the Brussels Bar (Dutch section)advises clients on EU regulatory compliance questions in the areas of chemical and product regulations, including REACH, CLP, biocides, plant protection products, and fertilizers.

Dr. Florian H. H. Brill completed his microbiology studies by graduating from the University Duisburg-Essen in 2011.During 1995 and 2006 he worked for the microbial test laboratory Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH. In 2006 he moved to Switzerland in order to work for B. Braun Medical AG in the field of research and development for hygiene and wound care products. With his return in 2010, he took over the family-owned business and became Managing Director of Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie in Hamburg.

David is the Managing Director of Klarus Consulting Limited, which advises the biocides and biocidal products community on building and delivering safe and effective claims. David is also Chairman of BluTest Limited, a contract microbiology testing and development company.

GLP Facility Manager of the Biocidal Products Division of Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing Italy. He has gained a solid expertise on efficacy assessment of disinfectants. He is also member of the European Committee CEN TC 216 that establishes standardized methods of test and requirements for the antimicrobial efficacy of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics.

Lauren graduated with a BA in English Literature and Publishing and has worked in marketing for publishing companies and B2B service providers for the last three years. She joined the Chemical Watch marketing team in 2020. Her role includes campaign management and supporting day-to-day marketing activities.

Camelia started her professional career at Cefic in 2009. Since 2016, she has led Biocides for Europe (B4E) where she actively follows the regulatory developments of the EU biocides legislation. She represents B4E in the various fora at EU level & provides support, information & advice to members in the area of compliance & implementation.