Speakers
Haluk Yildiz
President
MDF and Chipboard Manufacturers Association
Meşrutiyet Cad. Aslıhan A-Blok No:10 Kat:7
Galatasaray Beyoğlu
Istanbul
Türkiye
Phone: +90 (212) 292 58 34 / 292 58 56
Born in Samsun in 1959, Haluk Yıldız graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Boğaziçi University in 1981.
Haluk Yıldız began his professional career at Karadeniz Bakır İşletmeleri and subsequently held managerial positions in engineering and investment at Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayi for seven years.
Having joined Kastamonu Entegre Ağaç A.Ş. in 1992, Haluk Yıldız served successively as Investment Manager, Plant Manager, and Assistant General Manager.
From 2000 until July 2025, Haluk Yıldız served as CEO of Kastamonu Entegre Ağaç Sanayi and President of Hayat Holding’s Wood Group.
During Haluk Yıldız’s tenure as General Manager, Kastamonu Entegre embarked on a major investment drive in Türkiye and abroad, evolving from a local company into a global player and becoming the world’s third-largest manufacturer in its field.
In addition to Kastamonu Entegre’s operations in Türkiye, Haluk Yıldız also led its subsidiaries in Italy, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In July 2025, at his own request, he stepped down from his positions as General Manager (CEO) of Kastamonu Entegre A.Ş. and President of Hayat Holding’s Wood Group.
Haluk Yıldız currently serves as President of the MDF and Particleboard Manufacturers Association (YOMSAD), while also working as General Coordinator at Orma Orman Mahsulleri and as a member of the Board of Directors at Teverpan.
President
Federation of Turkish Furniture Manufacturers Associations (MOSFED)
Yeşilköy Mahallesi
Atatürk Caddesi İDTM
A1 blok Kat:6 No:10/1 Ofis No:250
Yeşilköy – İstanbul
Türkiye
Phone: +90 (212) 465 03 00
Ahmet Güleç was born in Mardin/Türkiye in 1970, he graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Public Administration in 1990.
Known for his work on the development of the Turkish Furniture Industry, Mr.Güleç served in prominent positions in many non-governmental organizations. Güleç, who was the President of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association’s (MUSIAD) İnegöl Branch between 2007 and 2012, was also a member of the MUSIAD High Advisory Board until 2023.
Güleç carried out many studies to strengthen the unity of the sector in İnegöl, one of the furniture production centers of Turkey, and pioneered the establishment of İMOS with the İnegöl Furniture Promotion Group, which he was chairman of for two years. Güleç, who joined the board of directors of the Turkish Furniture Manufacturers Association (MOSDER) in 2010, was elected as the president of the association in 2012. Güleç, who is also the founding president of the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED), which collects furniture associations of Turkıye under one roof, continues his duty as the president of MOSFED. Güleç is a board member of European Furniture Industries Confederation (EFIC).
Güleç, who is a member of the Board of Directors of Istanbul World Trade Center , served as president of the Istanbul Exporters’ Association, Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters’ Association for two terms in 2014 and 2018. Güleç has been serving as the Deputy Chairman of the Turkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) since 2022.
Güleç, who is married and a father of four children, speaks English.
Ismail Belen
President
United Nations Forum on Forests, 21st Session
Macun Mahallesi TOKİ Konutları, 204. Cadde, L5-2, Dış Kapı No. 23C, İç Kapı No. 16, Yenimahalle, Ankara, Türkiye
I currently serve as President of Geleceği Önemseyenler Derneği (GÖNDER), where I work to advance cooperation, knowledge exchange and joint initiatives in forestry, sustainable natural resource management and rural development.
Alongside this role, I serve as Chief Inspector at the General Directorate of Forestry of Türkiye.
My professional experience spans field responsibilities, public administration, project development and international forestry processes. From 2022 to 2026, I served successively as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Bureau of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). I also served as Chair of the Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions—Silva Mediterranea—of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from 2012 to 2017. These responsibilities provided opportunities to contribute to international dialogue and cooperation on sustainable forest management, Mediterranean forestry, watershed management and the restoration of degraded landscapes.
The publications, reports and meeting records collected here reflect work undertaken with colleagues, public institutions, professional organisations and international partners. I am grateful for their cooperation and for the opportunities to learn from their experience. Where an output was prepared jointly, I have identified my role as author, contributor, reviewer, coordinator or participant, as appropriate.
Hüseyin Yildiz
Chairman & CEO
Starwood Orman Ürünleri
Organize Sanayi Bölgesi 2. Cad.
İnegöl / Bursa
Türkiye
Phone: +90 224 29432 00
I am a fourth-generation member of the Yıldız Family, which has been involved in the forest products sector for over 130 years.
From a young age, I participated in the family business, taking on various roles after school and during summer vacations, and I started working full-time early in my career.
After graduating from Bilkent University with a degree in Economics in 1998, I joined the company on a full-time basis.
Throughout the years, I have gained valuable experience by taking on different responsibilities at various levels within the organization. For the last 10 years, I have served as the Chairman of the Board of Starwood.
My primary goal is to transform our company into a sustainable, innovative, and value-generating organization. To achieve this, I focus on making strategic investments and leading digital transformation initiatives.
I am married and have two children.
Naci Güngör
Business Development Director – Türkiye
Robert Bürkle GmbH
Stuttgarter Str. 123
72250 Freudenstadt
Phone: +90 539 553 94 91
Naci Güngör graduated from Middle East Technical University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and holds an MBA from Bilkent University.
He has over 30 years of professional experience in the wood-based panels, furniture components and surface technologies industries.
Throughout his career, he has held senior management positions in marketing, business development and corporate communications at leading industrial companies in Türkiye and internationally.
He spent 12 years at Kastamonu Entegre, one of the world’s leading wood-based panel manufacturers. In 2018, he joined Boyut Plastik, part of Alim Grup, where he led sales, nmarketing and corporate communications activities.
Between 2015 and 2021, he served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). He was also a Board Member of the Istanbul Exporters’ Association for Wood and Forest Products between 2012 and 2014 and held various positions within DEİK (Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye).
As of November 2026, Güngör will take on the role of Business Development Director – Türkiye at Robert Bürkle GmbH, a German manufacturer of advanced machinery and production systems. Within the company’s Wood Division, he will focus on developing the Turkish market, strengthening strategic customer relationships and identifying new business opportunities.
Robert Bierfreund
President
MetiQon GmbH
Op de Elg 68 D
22393 Hamburg
Phone +49 162 279 75 54
January 2026 – today: Founder and Managig Director of MetiQon.
March 2011 – December 2025: Managing Director Operations Interprint GmbH / COO Interprint Group responsible for manufacturing and engineering at all Interprint locations worldwide.
July 2010 – Feb. 2011: Establishment and management of the service and consulting business unit at Prinovis.
July 2008 – June 2010: CEO / Managing Director of a printing plant with 600 employees in Barcelona, Spain.
Jan. 2007 – June 2008: COO / Director Operations for Mohn Media Apr. 2004 – Dec. 2006: COO / Director Operations at rotogravure printer Broschek in Hamburg.
1992 – 2004: Different management position at Eurohueco/Spain – Bertelsmann Printing Group.
Degree in Electrical Engineering, Rudolf-Diesel-Fachschule für Techniker, Nürnberg.
Kai K.O. Bär
Managing Director
adphos Innovative Technologies GmbH
Bruckmühler Str. 27
83052 Bruckmühl
Germany
Phone: + 49 8061 395 0
Dr. Kai Bär graduated and completed his PhD in 1989 from the University of Aachen.
From 1989 – 1994 he was involved in the European space shuttle program and served as the leader responsible for the HERMES heat structure tests within the business segment “High Temperature Technology and Installations” at IABG GmbH, Ottobrunn.
Since 1994 he is the co-founder and Managing Director of IndustrieSerVis GmbH in Bruckmühl, which later evolved into adphos.
In 1998 Dr. Bär was honored with the title of “Entrepreneur of the Year”.
Since 2009 Dr. Bär is Managing Director/President of the adphos group, which includes adphos Innovative Technologies GmbH, adphos Digital Printing GmbH, adphos Thermal Processng GmbH.
Guido Lebbing
Managing Director
Lebbing automation & drives GmbH
Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 16
46397 Bocholt
Germany
Phone: +49 28 71 – 2412 0
Harald Jordan
Managing Director
IPAC
Europastraße 8
9524 Villach
Austria
Phone: +43 4242 22810
2003 –
Co-partner Ipac GmbH since the company was founded, managing partner since 2005.
1996 – 2003Independent management consultant with international project management experience in the areas of innovation, organization, and SAP.
1981 – 1993
Employed by the global market leader in the refractory industry, Veitsch Radex (now RHI Radex Heraklith International), in various management positions in Austria and abroad, including commercial management of the sales company in Italy and project management for innovation, organization, and SAP projects worldwide in the headquarter Vienna, Austria.
Education:
Commercial Academy Feldkirchen, Carinthia/Austria and Controller Academy, München, Germany
Royce Dodds
Sales Manager
Cruse Technologies GmbH
Siebengebirgsblick 16
53343 Wachtberg
Germany
Royce Dodds is an established specialist in decorative inkjet printing with both practical and documented technical credentials in the German-based décor industry. Over more than two decades he has worked with major players such as EGGER Holzwerkstoffe Brilon and Wilsonart, focusing on digital print workflows, surface structures, and design development for decorative boards and laminates. In recent years, Dodds has become a key figure in the application of AI generative imaging—over the last two years, he has developed original designs with AI tools, several of which have found commercial use in the décor market.
His skill set is evidenced by named inventorship on patents such as US9782797B2 “Method and device for producing a structured varnish surface,” assigned to Fritz Egger, which describes digitally controlled creation of 3D varnish textures matched to décor images on board substrates. In parallel, symposium and workshop programs list him as a speaker on topics including inline colour control, AI-based décor design, and digital surface treatment at events like the DIPA Symposium, the Decorative Surfaces Conference, Fogra Colour Management Symposium, and FuturePrint webinars and podcasts.
Thomas Walther
Senior Principal
AFRY Management Consulting
Borsteler Chaussee 51
22453 Hamburg
Germany
Phone: +49 40 692000
Analyst
AFRY Management Consulting
Borsteler Chaussee 51
22453 Hamburg
Germany
Phone: +49 40 692000
Group Manager Testing Laboratory Formaldehyde
Riedenkamp 3
38108 Braunschweig
Germany
Phone: +49 531 21550
Bettina Meyer joined the Fraunhofer Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut (WKI) in Braunschweig as a Technical Assistant in 1984. In 1992, she became Project Manager and Head of the Formaldehyde Testing Laboratory. Since 2003, the laboratory has been part of the Quality Testing and Assessment (QA) Department. Her work covers formaldehyde-emission testing, research, certification and monitoring.
Since 2017, she has led the Formaldehyde Testing Laboratory and contributed to technical committees and research projects developing ISO and EN standards. She convenes ISO/TC 89/WG 5, “Wood-based panels — Test methods”, and CEN/TC 112/WG 5, “Regulated Dangerous Substances”.
Bernd Dinkelborg
Sales Manager
KNEHO-LACKE GmbH
Wilberger Str. 98 -100
32805 Horn-Bad Meinberg
Germany
Phone: +49 52 34 84 02 0
Bernd started his journey at KNEHO-LACKE in 2011 and he is now responsible for marketing and sales. As a wood engineer with a solid background of production technologies he became specialized in the UV-coating sector, focusing primarily on product development and the application of industrial coating processes.
Göran Ziegler
Director R&D
Välinge Innovation AB
Prästavägen 513
263 65 Viken
Sweden
Phone: +32 494 560244
Göran Ziegler holds a M. Sc. In Chemical Engineering and Licentiate in Polymer Technology both from Lund University and have a background in material technology for building products from different industries. He currently serves as the Director of R&D Surface Technology at Välinge Innovation. Göran has been with Välinge for 17 years and have been responsible for the development of several new flooring and surface technologies. Göran is also head of the Swedish flooring standardisation group and active on both CEN and ISO level. Outside his work Göran enjoys mountain biking, golf and spending time with family and friends.
Moritz Schränkler
Innovation and Technology Manager
Siempelkamp Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH
Siempelkampstr. 75
47803 Krefeld
Germany
Phone: +49 2151 92 4667
Moritz Schränkler is Technology and Innovation Manager at Siempelkamp Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH, focusing on the development and industrial implementation of new technologies for the wood-based panel industry.
With a professional background in wood technology and several years of experience in panel production and plant engineering, his work focuses particularly on resource efficiency, recycling technologies and circular solutions for particleboard and MDF production. At Siempelkamp, he is responsible for the development of recycling concepts ranging from recycled-wood cleaning and sorting to new processes for recovering fibres from post-consumer MDF.
His work combines process and technology development with industrial-scale implementation, supporting customers and research partners in bringing new recycling technologies from initial concepts and trials into production.
Norbert Busch
Area Sales Manager
Albany International Corp.
Germany
Phone: +49 173 5997769
Research and Development Engineer
Heimbach Specialities
Lütticher Straße, 63A
4721 Neu-Moresnet
Belgium
Tel.: +32 87 63 92 92
Director Business Development, Marketing and Sustainability
Profol GmbH
Profolstraße 1-10
83128 Halfing
Germany
Phone: 49 (0) 8055 181 246
Udo Steinhauer is Director of Business Development, Marketing & Sustainability at Profol, a manufacturer of innovative polymer films.
Udo Steinhauer holds a degree in chemical engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and has over 30 years of experience in various positions in the chemical, coating, and polymer industries. His experience includes polymer films and additives, coatings, and composites, as well as their technical application in various markets such as flooring, furniture, and automotive.
Head of Design
Profol GmbH
Profolstraße 1-10
83128 Halfing
Germany
Phone: 49 (0) 8055 181 246
Head of Department Binders and Coatings
Riedenkamp 3
38108 Braunschweig
Germany
Phone: +49 531 21550
Aman Agrawal
Director
Match Graphics
A-302, West Gate, Beside YMCA Club, S.G. Road, Ahmedabad-380 054
India
Phone: +91 98252 13954
First one to enter as second generation in this business, Started his career 17 years ago on the production floor, and later moved into marketing and business development. Today he leads Match Graphics’ international expansion.
Driving the growth through new customer acquisition, strategic partnerships, and market development.
Focused on gravure printing portfolio for designs in India and international markets while building long-term brand equity.
Tommy Haraldsson
CTO
Mercene AB
Teknikringen 38
114 28 Stockholm
Sweden
Tommy Haraldsson has 35 years of experience in photochemistry, both in academia and industry. Tommy is the CTO of Mercene Labs AB.
Tevfik Dedebas
Board Member
MDF and Chipboard Manufacturers Association
Meşrutiyet Cad. Aslıhan A-Blok No:10 Kat:7
Galatasaray Beyoğlu
Istanbul
Türkiye
Phone: +90 (212) 292 58 34 / 292 58 56
Born on April 21, 1952, in the Karagür neighborhood of Sındırgı, Balıkesir.
Completed his primary and secondary education in the Sındırgı district.
Graduated from Balıkesir High School in 1969.
Graduated from the Faculty of Forestry at Istanbul University in June 1975.
Worked for 30 years in various positions within the General Directorate of Forestry, retiring in 2005 while serving as the Bursa Regional Director of Forestry.
Began working in the private sector at Kastamonu Entegre A.Ş. in early 2005, where he remained for 20 years before retiring. He currently works as an industry consultant.
Additionally, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for YOMSAD (Association of MDF and Particleboard Manufacturers) and holds a position as a member of the TOBB (The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey) Forest Products Council.
He is married and has two children.
Selcan Akcicek
Area Sales Manager
Fagus-GreCon Greten GmbH & Co. KG
Hannoversche Straße 58
31061 Alfeld
Germany
Phone: +49 5181 79 – 0
Selcan joined Fagus-GreCon in 2019 and is now working as an Area Sales Manager for international markets.
Fagus-GreCon is a German-based company and a market leader in industrial fire protection and measurement technology.
With extensive knowledge of the challenges and requirements of the wood-based panel industry, she supports companies by providing tailored solutions for protecting their facilities and optimizing the quality and process efficiency.
Nurten Ergün
President
BTC Bilgi Teknolojileri ve Danışmanlık Hizmetleri Ltd.Şti.
Oruç Reis Mahallesi Tekstilkent Cad.
Tekstilkent Sitesi A5 Blok No: 55
Esenler, Istanbul
Türkiye
Phone: +90 212 4386506
She graduated from Hacettepe University, Department of Economics in 1987. Between 1988 and 1992, she worked in the sales and marketing of high-tech products in international corporate companies. She founded her first company in 1993. With the belief that innovative and new technologies will gain great value, she received training in design and digital technologies in Italy and Germany. She represented many European companies in the textile sector from design to production and color management in digital printing. Nurten Ergün, who is the founding partner of 5 different companies, has gathered all her activities under the roof of BTC Information Technologies, which represents a total of 11 European companies in Turkey. She closely follows the developments in the world by participating in over 200 fairs, both national and international.