Regulatory Summit Americas 2023

Terry has spent more than 15 years as a reporter, editor and digital news team leader providing information for legal and regulatory professionals across a variety of topics, including health care, clean energy and climate change, occupational health and toxic substances. He joined Chemical Watch News & Insight in 2020.

Prior to joining Chemical Watch News & Insight in 2015, Kelly managed regulatory affairs for several trade groups in the building products industry. Her academic background is in English and Spanish.

Liz Hitchcock is Acting Director of Safer Chemicals Healthy Families. She oversees staff, coordinates work with partner organizations, and manages the campaign’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and at EPA and other federal agencies. She joined the campaign after four years as the public health advocate for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

Lynn L. Bergeson has earned an international reputation for her deep and expansive understanding of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the European Union Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), and especially how these regulatory programs pertain to nanotechnology, industrial biotechnology, synthetic biology, and other emerging transformative technologies. She counsels clients on a wide range of issues pertaining to product stewardship; chemical hazard, exposure, and risk assessment; risk communication; minimizing legal liability; and product lifecycle strategy.

As Vice President of the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Division, Kimberly oversees the development of ACC’s policy positions in response to regulatory and legislative proposals. She also leads a staff of experts to identify, analyze and create technical and policy materials to serve as the foundation for ACC’s activities.

David Fischer advises clients on environmental, policy, and health and safety matters, with a concentration on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Prior to joining Keller and Heckman, David was the Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) at the EPA serving as a policy advisor to the EPA Administrator.

Dr. Passarella is an expert strategist in navigating international chemical regulations.  At Intertek, she uses her chemical and legal experience and skill at interpreting complex chemical regulations to design and implement effective policies to protect client’s products.  During her career, Dr. Passarella has advocated for sustainable chemical management to enable the manufacture and sale of products in US and global markets. After completing her Ph.D. in chemistry, she formulated products, managed R&D groups, and managed global Product Stewardship and Sustainability. It was during this time that she pursued a law degree at night school, and is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Her combination of industry experience, and an in-depth knowledge of chemistry and the law enables her to translate regulatory trends and requirements into business and compliance action plans.

Nhat Nguyen is a US licensed attorney with over 9 years of global regulatory compliance. He currently serves as the Chief Analyst for Enhesa Product Intelligence and leads a new department which provides further insights and solutions to Enhesa Product Intelligence's customers on regulatory compliance, technology and scientific data regarding chemical and chemical products. 

Based in Washington D.C., Melanie Rybar supports Enhesa Product Intelligence as the expert on North America regulatory content. She has spent her career in the chemical manufacturing industry, conducting regulatory analysis, risk management reviews, developing new products and processes for companies making surfactants, functional polymers and other specialty chemicals intended for use in consumer products.

Lisa Burchi’s work involves Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) regulatory and enforcement matters.

Molly Blessing leads sustainability initiatives for the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA), a trade association consisting of approximately 240 member companies across the supply chain who make and sell over $180 billion of trusted and familiar products that help consumers and workers clean, protect, maintain, and disinfect homes and commercial environments. Molly has previously worked at Henkel Adhesive Technologies and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.  She is also a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Chemistry Program intern.  Molly has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Connecticut, a Master of International Affairs with a concentration in Energy and Environment from Columbia University, and an M.S. in Product Stewardship from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Lola Flores has been with the Washington State Department of Ecology for six years. During that time, she has participated in the development of state policies to help reduce toxic pollution in the environment and protect human health. As the Supervisor of the Reduction Toxic Threats Unit in the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program, Lola oversees compliance for laws such as the Children’s Safe Products Act, Better Brakes, Toxics in Packaging, Safer Products for Washington among other regulations. She has a background in Biology and Natural Resource Management and a Master of Environmental Studies. Originally from Mexico, she has been a Washington resident for over 13 years. Lola is active in her community serving on several local community boards and land trusts. She is also a Commissioner for the State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, where she intersects her expertise in pollution prevention and her passion for environmental justice.

Carolyn Nelson Rowan was appointed Chief Counsel of OEHHA by Governor Newsom in August 2022. As Chief Counsel, Carolyn advises the Director, other Executive Office members, and staff on all legal matters affecting OEHHA, including Proposition 65 implementation and preparation of regulations, among other issues. She also serves as liaison to the Attorney General’s Office for all lawsuits in which OEHHA is a party. Prior to joining OEHHA, Carolyn was a Deputy Attorney General in the Natural Resources Law Section of the California Attorney General’s Office from 2013 to 2022, where she represented state agencies in complex litigation involving environmental issues related to water, air, and other natural resources, in state and federal court.

Mary Ellen Perkin is the manager of Consumer and Cleaning Products within the Products Division at Environment and Climate Change Canada. Mary Ellen joined the department in 1996 and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering. Mary Ellen’s team is responsible for the administration and development of regulatory controls for substances used in the cleaning, cosmetics, and the adhesives industries.

Dan Bastien is a subject matter expert in Canada with specific experience in the Chemical Management Plan. Dan serves as Senior Director of the Chemicals Group at Intertek Health Sciences, Inc. In this role, he delivers business development expertise, expert advice and direction to clients who seek support in understanding and complying with a wide variety of global chemical control legislation and regulatory initiatives. He works closely with the Chemicals team of regulatory and scientific experts who help clients address challenging regulatory climates and demanding marketplaces, in a timely and cost-effective manner. 

Nidia Mariana Calvo Mendez joined Enhesa Product Intelligence's Expert Services team as Managing Analyst almost 3 years ago. She oversees regulatory content and service relating to products in the Americas, and coordinates the global analyst team from her base in Guadalajara, Mexico. Prior to joining Enhesa Product Intelligence, Nidia spent her career in industries conducting regulatory analysis and risk management mainly for Latin America. She also has experience in TSCA, GHS, performing audits, and obtaining ISO 140001 certification

Ana is currently the Head of Regulatory Affairs and Product Safety for Latin America at Givaudan in the fragrance and beauty business. During the last few years, Ana has supported the Product Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs function at DuPont, Chemours and Oxiteno and graduated as an Environmental, Health and Safety Engineer with extensive experience in regulatory affairs, product safety, product administration and environment, health and safety.

For over 24 years Claudio Mereu has been focusing on EU Regulatory law, with an emphasis on the chemicals (REACH), pesticides, biocides and life sciences industry sectors. Claudio handles product approval and registration processes in the EU, related litigation before European and national courts, as well as ECHA’s Board of Appeal, and counsels companies on a wide range of business law matters relating to their international agreements and commercial presence in Europe. His expertise covers all aspects of product stewardship, regulations and restrictions (including notification, data protection, mutual recognition, classification & labelling, marketing and use restrictions, parallel imports, environmental liability, product recalls and data compensation negotiations, amongst others). Claudio is highly recommended as a Tier1 lawyer by Legal500 and Chambers Europe, and is a regular speaker and panelist at international conferences.

Ruxandra defends industry interests towards legal and regulatory challenges to EU market access. Her practice is focused on EU regulatory law and litigation with a strong emphasis on product, environmental and sustainability regulations, across a large number of sectors ranging from raw materials (chemicals, minerals) to products such as electronics, consumer apparel, medical devices, cosmetics, food and food contact materials. Ruxandra also advises on supply-chain related matters, in particular environmental and regulatory. Although rules and regulations apply per jurisdiction, companies operate globally – her expertise and advice assist companies address global challenges and risks. Ruxandra’s litigation experience is extensive (she defended close to 100 actions before the European Court of Justice and before the Board of Appeal of ECHA), and she has formed and continues to act as a trusted advisor to more than 30 industry groups.

Polina Levit joined the American Chemistry Council’s Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Division in April 2023. As Director of Global Affairs, she is responsible for the European chemicals management and the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) international environmental conventions policy portfolios.

Lucy Wang graduated from George Washington University with a Master's degree in Environmental and Green Chemistry. She has been researching chemical regulations in different countries, and has been tracking major chemical regulatory updates in China for several years, especially for MEE Order 12 (also known as China REACH). She has also provided support for major updates in chemical regulations, advising dozens of companies in the chemical industry on compliance solutions.

Sok-Han gains her industry experience as an independent regulatory affairs consultant, with a focus on Japan, South Korea and other Asian markets. She serves as a conduit between the Japanese market and the rest of the world, assisting industry in navigating through complex compliance frameworks. Her specialty is in food and beverage, food contact, health supplement and cosmetic products. Sok-Han is a fluent speaker of Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin.

Mr. Wenk is internationally recognized global product stewardship and regulatory affairs professional with over 27 years of experience successfully directing and developing domestic and international product stewardship and regulatory compliance programs in multiple Fortune 100 companies. He pairs extensive regulatory expertise with a well-developed understanding of corporate operations, providing a highly unique blend of business operations knowledge and technical acumen. Well-versed in corporate mergers and acquisitions, specifically regulatory due diligence for acquisition of global chemical manufacturing firms. Among these were a $200 million pulp and paper chemicals business as well as a $110 million polymer chemical manufacturing firm.

Evelyn is a regulatory professional with more than ten years of experience in legal and policy analysis for public health, EHS, and product compliance. She has been working with Enhesa since 2017 to offer clients compliance intelligence on EHS, sustainability, and product management strategy in China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Evelyn has years of industry experience in medical products. She was Associate Reviewer for the Division of Medical Devices and Cosmetics in the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration and Legal Specialist at Yung Shih Pharmaceutical Industrial Co.

Mr. Shisher is the founder and Executive Director of Global Product Compliance Group, a leading global (and India’s largest) regulatory compliance service provider. He is also a member of the Technical Committee for drafting & finalizing Indian CMSR (India-REACH).

Junho Lee is a Director at CIRS Group Korea and has 18 years of international experience specializing in the field of chemical regulations, standards and certifications in Korea, China and Europe. He has supported industry on major chemical regulatory updates around the world starting with EU REACH, and now Korea’s K-REACH.

Dr. Piyatida (Tung) Pukclai has worked in several technical and managerial positions within the Business Development and Regulatory Policy. Currently, she is Asia-Pacific Lead for Regulatory Policy and Business Development of knoell, an independent service provider for Regulatory Affairs and Product Registration over 25 years.

Based in the Ottawa, Canada, Fourat is a highly skilled hazard communication professional with extensive expertise in GHS, WHMIS, and CLP. He has industry background, having previously worked as a regulatory consultant, where he helped clients in the EU, NA, and APAC regions author compliant Safety Data Sheets (SDS) that meet the specific requirements of each region. Additionally, Fourat has experience in performing compliance audits and holds certification in dangerous goods transport.