Speakers 2025

Keynote

  • Dr Marit Brommer is the Executive Director of the IGA since 2017 – Dr Brommer comes with a PhD in applied geophysics (TU Delft – The Netherlands) and a MSc in Geology (University Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Dr Brommer has 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry where she first gained operational experience as wellsite geologist and production technologist, followed by roles in seismic technology deployment. At the IGA she is focusing on creating strong partnerships with international operating organisations, partners and industries. She is engaged in strategic initiatives regarding industry standards and sustainability, and focuses on financing geothermal projects as well as public outreach. 

    The IGA stands for the International Geothermal Association, a global platform representing the geothermal sector serving 5500 members through 35 affiliated country members. The IGA mission is to facilitate and promote the uptake of geothermal resources both for baseload electricity and direct heating and cooling utilisation. The IGA flagship, the World Geothermal Congress, takes place every three years, where it convenes the global geothermal sector and sets the future agenda. The IGA and its members pledges to goal zero and is committed to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goal #7 – clean and affordable energy for all.

“Elevate Your Impact”

Are you ready to launch your career while making a real difference? The upcoming edition of the Earth Science Career Event revolves around the theme "Elevate Your Impact," challenging you to think about the ways you can make an impact in a world that is rapidly changing. We'd love to show you how your skills and passion can contribute to the biggest challenges of our time. From climate change to more sustainable use of resources, the geosciences play a crucial role in building a better future.

At ESCE, be inspired by our speakers! Each of them proves that impact is made not only through grand gestures, but also through daily choices, innovative thinking and perseverance. Your career is more than a job, it's an opportunity to really make a difference. This event offers you the chance to connect with numerous employers, discover the opportunities in the field and find out where you can make the most impact as a future professional.

We hope to see you on Feb. 15 2025!

  • René has worked on early-stage, resource development and active mining projects in a wide variety of geological settings, in countries in Africa, Asia, Australasia, North America and Europe, and across multiple commodities. He holds a master’s degree in Structural Geology and Tectonics from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and specialises in resource estimation, grade control, reconciliation, QA/QC and successful sample collection, with a strong skill set in exploration management for gold and base metals.

    He is a Chartered Professional and Fellow with the AusIMM, a Member and Registered Professional Geologist with the AIG, and has published papers and provided training on sampling, QA/QC and resource estimation.

    René is the principal author of many Canadian NI 43-101 and JORC compliant resource and exploration studies and has assisted clients with exploration programmes for these and other projects. He is a Qualified Person for gold (alluvial, carlin shear-zone, epithermal and porphyry), pegmatite-lithium, regolith-hosted REE, base metals, seabed mineralisation (nodules), and industrial minerals (garnet sand, diatomite).

    Currently, René is a director of the AusIMM, an ex-officio member of the JORC Committee, and a director of Straterra (New Zealand’s peak body and national voice for the natural resources industries). He is also a director of opaxe (monitoring public resource reports), and a director of a private-equity mineral exploration company advancing its strategic-mineral assets.

    MSc FAusIMM CP(Geo) MAIG (RPGeo) MSEG MInstD

  • Robin de Vries earned his master's in Geoscience and Remote Sensing from Delft University, and, together with his professional experience in geomatics, he uses this expertise to get a data-driven view of the global scale of plastic pollution. Since joining The Ocean Cleanup in 2018, he has been developing and testing several technologies for the detection and mapping of plastic litter, including remote sensing by satellites. Currently, he leads the development and scale-up of the Automated Debris Imaging System (ADIS), using AI and vessel-mounted cameras to map floating plastics in the ocean globally.

  • Nanne Tolsma graduated in Hydrology from the Vrije Universiteit in 2016. During his MSc research in Madagascar, Nanne saw the effects of deforestation first hand. Carrying out hydrological research in the rainforest for months, there was logging all around: to sell wood, for mineral extraction and for agricultural expansion. The loss of an amazing habitat for lemurs and rich biodiversity all around.

    That sparked his interest to work on the interface of nature, science and tech. In 2016, he started as a project manager and GIS specialist for Satelligence in Vietnam. Satelligence specializes in leveraging satellite technology for nature and climate, measuring deforestation, land use change and carbon emissions. Currently, he is the Business Development Director and responsible for the companies' commercial strategy.

    Back in 2016 the gap between novel technologies like satellite data and actually driving change on the ground was enormous, and uptake by companies was low. Increasing (EU) regulation makes the business case for companies to drive a sustainable agenda much easier. Fast forward to 2025, Satelligence works with the biggest consumer goods companies, commodity traders and civil society organizations around the world. 

  • Melanie During is a vertebrate paleontologist who recently completed her PhD at Uppsala University, where her research focused on life before the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event. As a first-generation student, she navigated a unique path into academia, driven by a deep fascination with the prehistoric world and its lessons for our planet's future. Her work involved detailed analyses of fish fossils and sedimentary records, aiming to shed light on the ecological dynamics and environmental conditions that marked the final chapters of the Mesozoic Era.

    In her thesis, Melanie explored the behaviors and environmental adaptations of life in the lead-up to the K-Pg extinction, revealing how these factors may have influenced survival outcomes. Her findings offer new perspectives on extinction processes and resilience in ancient ecosystems, contributing valuable insights to the field of paleontology.

    Melanie is passionate about exploring the remarkable lifeforms that inhabited Earth long before us. She aims to share the wonders of these ancient creatures, using the enduring appeal of dinosaurs and other prehistoric species to inspire curiosity and pull the next generation into science. She is passionate about sharing the story of Earth’s deep history and inspiring curiosity about how the past can inform today’s environmental challenges.