FORTE 2026

Marco Criscuolo

Marco Criscuolo is NATO’s Director of Strategy and Policy in the Cyber and Digital Transformation Division. He leads strategy and policy efforts to advance the Alliance’s agenda on cyber defence, digital transformation, and countering hybrid threats, including in the fields of energy security and critical undersea infrastructure. From 2021 to 2025, he served as Deputy Director of NATO Digital Staff, advancing digital policies, standards, governance, and management. Previously, he held senior roles in security and policy within NATO.

He joined NATO in 2006 following a career as an Italian Air Force officer, with roles in digitalisation and information management across the Air Force Staff, the Italian Ministry of Defence, and NATO. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Technology Management and a second-level Master in Geopolitics, Economic Globalization and International Institutions.

Erika Langerová

Erika Langerová currently serves as Deputy Security Director at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) and at CTU UCEEB as Head of the Strategic Infrastructure Security Department and founder of the Competence Centre for Resilience.

Her work connects the cybersecurity and physical security of energy systems with broader issues related to hybrid threats, economic and regulatory pressure, and cross-border technological influence. She contributes to research, development, and analysis in the field of security, supports activities for national and European regulators and NATO, and is also involved in crisis scenario modelling for energy infrastructure.

Ruben Santamarta

Ruben Santamarta is an independent European security researcher with over 20 years of experience in the industry. 

His main areas of expertise are reverse engineering and cyber-physical systems, such as nuclear/radiation systems and the power grid.

Dr. Enrique Kremers

Dr. Enrique Kremers is an expert in the simulation of complex systems, currently working as Program Manager for Critical Energy Infrastructure at IABG in Germany. With over 15 years of experience in senior roles, such as Head of Complex Systems Research at the European Institute for Energy Research and Scientific Advisor for EDF he is specialized in developing innovative solutions for energy, infrastructure, and operations using simulation methods and digital twins.

Professor Hussam Jouhara

Professor Hussam Jouhara is Chair of Thermofluids at Brunel University London, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and Technical Director of Econotherm (UK) Limited.

He is an internationally recognised authority on heat pipes, waste heat recovery, and sustainable thermal technologies, he has led more than 18 million Euros in funded research and published over 200 journal articles and many books. His patented innovations have progressed from laboratory concepts to commercial systems deployed at more than 600 sites across 32 countries, helping major industries reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Annabel Livet

Annabelle Livet is a researcher at FRS and a PhD candidate at the Geography Institute of the University of Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne, supervised by Professor Yann Richard. Her research focuses on energy security, including supply security, critical infrastructure protection, and the energy sector’s industrial aspects, with particular emphasis on technology dependencies and their implications for Europe.

She also covers topics related to operational energy for armed forces, energy warfare, civilian–military cooperation, energy resilience, and multi-level governance between European states, the European Union, and NATO. She has worked on these issues with the French Ministry of Armed Forces on several projects for the last five years.

Grace Quan

Grace Quan is President and CEO of Hydrogen In Motion Inc. (H2M), advancing the commercialization of breakthrough solid-state hydrogen storage technology. A CPA and MBA, she combines technical vision with disciplined financial leadership shaped by experience in private enterprise, government, and oversight of Canada’s $250-billion federal budget at Treasury Board.

Grace is also a recognized hydrogen-sector leader, serving with the Canadian Hydrogen Association, the Sustainable Energy Council (UK), and as Chair of Canada’s national Codes and Standards Working Group. A champion for equity and women in STEM, she leads Equal by 30 initiatives and was named one of BC’s 50 Most Influential Women in STEM.

Andrew Pang

Andrew Pang is an Assistant Vice-President (Business Development) at ST Engineering Land Systems. In his current role, he leads the development of energy solutions that deliver reliable, mobile power where it is needed most. Before joining ST Engineering, Andrew was an Assistant Director at the Prime Minister’s Office, where he contributed to key national initiatives, including Singapore’s energy transition strategy and national electric vehicle roadmap.

Before moving into policy, planning and business development, Andrew spent about a decade in research. He holds a PhD in Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, where his research focused on developing advanced fluid dynamics models, and a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from the same university.

Yagmur Torul Yurek

Mrs Yagmur Torul Yurek is an Energy Security and Climate Change Staff Officer in the Joint Engineering Division (JENG) at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), contributing to efforts to strengthen military energy security.  Previously, she worked at Türkiye’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) from 2014, focusing on electricity-market licensing, regulatory frameworks, legislation drafting, and renewable-energy project evaluation.

She holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Industrial Engineering and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from Gazi University. Her research covers hybrid renewable-energy systems, sustainability metrics under uncertainty, and energy-system resource allocation.

Alan Howard’s

Alan R. Howard is Chair of the Energy Academic Group at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California. Since joining NPS in 2009, he has focused on energy security, operational energy, contested logistics, and critical infrastructure resilience. He also directs NPS’s NATO Partnership Training and Education Centre, supporting international defense education and cooperation. Previously, he spent 15 years in international shipping and logistics.

He holds degrees from Wheaton College and Thunderbird School of Global Management and co-authored Operational Energy (2024).

Colonel Robert Šipec

Colonel Robert Šipec has over three decades of experience in defence logistics, armament programmes, and sustainable energy. Since joining the Slovenian Armed Forces in 1992, he has held senior tactical, operational, and strategic roles, including Chief of J4 at Force Command and the General Staff, Deputy National Armament Director, and service in NATO’s KFOR and ISAF missions.

As Head of Slovenia’s Ministry of Defence Energy Efficiency and Green Transition Division, he leads initiatives on energy resilience, renewable integration, and hydrogen technologies within the security sector. He co-moderates the Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in Defence and Security Sector in Europe, evaluates for NATO DIANA, and serves as Vice-Chair of the Slovenian Partnership for Energy and Environment in Defence Sector (SiEnE).

Justin Tamasauskas

Justin Tamasauskas is a senior research engineer with Natural Resources Canada at the CanmetENERGY in Varennes Research Centre. Since joining the organization in 2011, Justin has been involved in a variety of projects aimed at reducing diesel dependency in both fixed infrastructure and mobile platforms. He currently supervises a team of engineers working to identify, test and evaluate operational energy solutions for Canadian forces and NATO partners across land and sea domains.

Justin holds a B.A.Sc from Queen’s University and an M.A.Sc from Concordia University, with a focus on heat transfer and thermodynamics.

Air Vice-Marshal Ange

Air Vice-Marshal Ange studied Economics and German at Leeds University in London and joined the RAF as a logistics officer in 1996. Her career has included operational deployments to Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. She has served in senior staff and command roles, including commanding 44 Mobile Air Movements Squadron and the Airport of Embarkation Wing at RAF Brize Norton during the redeployment from Afghanistan.

Promoted to Air Commodore in 2021, she led Defence Operational Energy and Futures within Defence Support before moving to Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). In 2025 she became the RAF’s Principal Logistician, and in February 2026 was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and appointed Director Logistics and Support Authority within the National Armaments Director Group.