International High Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics - Programme

All delegates are requested to be inside the Forbes Ballroom (Plenary Hall) by 10:30 a.m. There will be minimal entry or exit from the Forbes Ballroom from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. due to the participation of the President.
 

08:00–11:30 | Registration

11:30–11:50 | Opening Session

Moderator: MC

• Welcome Remarks | Mr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, the Philippines
• Opening Remarks | Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• Special Message | Mr. Masato Kanda, President, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Remarks and Introduction of the President | Ms. Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines
• Keynote Address | H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines

11:50–12:00 | Group Photo

12:00–13:00 | Ministerial Segment

National Statements

Moderators: 

• Ms. Leah Buendia, Undersecretary for Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology, Philippines
• Ms. Tzanka Kokalova-Wheldon, Director, Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, IAEA

13:00–13:30 | International and regional perspectives

Moderator: Mr. Ayhan Evrensel, IAEA

• Ms. Bernice Swarts, Deputy Minister, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
  Speaking on behalf of South Africa’s G20 Presidency
• Mr. James Baker, Senior Circular Economy Specialist, Environment Thematic Group, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Ms. Carmela Centeno, Head, Responsible Materials and Chemicals Management Unit, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) 

13:30–15:00 | Business-to-Business (B2B) / Networking Lunch

Reflections on NUTEC Plastics from the B2B Lunch

15:00–16:10 | Session 1 | Plastic Waste: Multistakeholder perspectives, challenges, opportunities

Moderator: Ms. Tzanka Kokalova Wheldon (IAEA)

Speakers:

• Atty. Jonas R. Leones, Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and International Affairs, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines
• Mr. Suresh Pillai, Director, National Center for Electron Beam Research, Texas A&M University, USA
• Mr. Wong Xin Wei, Strategist, Systems, Knowledge and Impact, Temasek Trust, Singapore
• Mr. Johan Yang, Executive Vice President, PT Viro, Indonesia

16:10–16:30 | Coffee Break

16:30–17:30 | Session 2 | Addressing marine plastics: perspectives, challenges, and opportunities across international initiatives

Moderator: Mr. Marc Metian (IAEA)

Speakers:

• Ms. Nao Takeuchi, Programme Management Officer, Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter, United Nations Environment Programme
• Mr. Georg Hanke, Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
• Ms. Noriko Tamiya-Hase, Deputy Director, Office of Policies against Marine Plastic Pollution, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

18:15 | Shuttles to bring delegates to and from the Gala Dinner at Museum of Natural History (by invitation)

19:30 | Gala Dinner (by invitation only)
 

08:00–09:00 | Registration

09:00–10:30 | Session 3 | Innovative Plastic Upcycling

Moderator: Ms. Celina Horak (IAEA)

• Generating Valuable Composites for Railroad Applications in Argentina | Ms. Veronica Vogt, Chief, Department of Radiation Processing, CNEA & Mr. Franco Frola, CEO & Founder, Circularis
• Advanced Chemical Recycling of Waste Plastics Enhanced by Radiation from Malaysian Industrial Perspective | Mr. Ting Teo Ming, Research Scientist, Nuklear Malaysia & Mr. Ahmad Luqman Mohamad Adan, Chief Executive Officer, Mensilin
• Transforming Plastic Waste into Construction Materials: A case Study on Radiation-Enhanced Upcycling in the Philippines | Mr. Jordan Madrid, Research Specialist, PNRI & Mr. Winchester Lemen, President, Envirotech Waste Recycling
• Electron-Assisted Electrostatic Sorting of Mixed Separable Polyolefin Waste in Romania | Ms. Doina Constantinescu, Project Manager, Monofil & Mr. Uwe Gohs, Fachhochschule Dresden
• Bridging Economics and Circularity - An Innovative Way for Sustainable Plastic Recycling Assessment | Mr. Enrico Mazzoli, Research Scientist, Sapienza University of Rome

10:30–10:50 | Coffee Break

10:50–12:00 | Session 4 | Marine microplastics: successes in capacity building, harmonized monitoring protocols worldwide, and development of new tools for IAEA Member States

Moderator: Mr. Saul Perez Pijuan (IAEA)

Speakers:

• Ms. Ana Carolina Ruiz Fernández, Researcher, Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
• Ms. Keshnee Pillay, Marine Scientist, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South Africa
• Ms. Irene Barra Rodriguez, Associate Professor, Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman
• Ms. ?i?dem Bahad?r, Unit Head, Software Solutions, Department of Management, IAEA

12:00–13:30 | Lunch

13:30–14:30 | The Youth’s Voices on Plastic Solutions

Moderator: Nicole Angela Ramos, National Chair, Committee on Environment and Ecology, United Architects of the Philippines Students Auxiliary 

Speakers:

• Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, IAEA
• Mr. Vhon Michael Tobes, Southeast Asia Director, Zero Hour & Founder/Director of Zero Hour Philippines
• Mr Wins Keinrich Chen, Gold medalist at the 2nd International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO)
• Ms. Nathalie Bernard, Biochemist, Nanobiotec, National Scientific and Technical Research Council, CONICET & University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Mr. Jan Danielle Bonita, Environmental Chemist, University of the Philippines
• Mr. Kekeli Aziade, Environmental Chemist, University of Lomé, Togo

14:30–15:00 | Coffee Break

15:00–15:45 | Closing Session: Innovative Pathways to shape the future of NUTEC Plastics

Moderator: Mr. Gashaw Gebeyehu Wolde (IAEA)

Speakers:

• Future activities under IAEA NUTEC Plastics | Ms. Celina Horak, Head, Radiochemistry and Radiation Technology Section, IAEA, & Mr. Marc Metian, Research Scientist, Marine Environment Laboratories, IAEA
• Ms. Yoko Watanabe, Director, Environment, ADB
• Ms. Leah J. Buendia, Undersecretary for Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology, Philippines

15:45 | Concluding remarks for the IHLF

Ms. Leah J. Buendia, DOST, & Ms. Tzanka Kokalova-Wheldon, IAEA 

16:30 | Visit to the PREx Prototype house at PNRI 

The NUTEC Plastics House is the first demonstration structure featuring components made from upcycled plastic waste processed under the Philippines’ Post-Radiation Reactive Extrusion (PREx) project and will be displayed at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Developed through collaboration between the Philippine government and the private sector, with the support of the IAEA through NUTEC Plastics, the project highlights how radiation technology can transform plastic waste into durable materials for construction and industry. It showcases the immense potential of nuclear science to drive innovation, circular economy solutions, and sustainable industrial development.

Courtesy shuttled trips for delegates to visit the “PREx Prototype House” departing the Conference venue at 16:30, with expected return to Conference venue at 19:30. Kindly pre-register here for the visit and transportation. Availability of the transportation for this event is limited and spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.

Note: Programme is subject to changes.