Accelerating Clean, Secure and Affordable Energy: The Race to a Greener Central and Eastern Europe

15 June 2023

From 18:00, with the panel discussion at 18:30

The National Technical Museum, Kostelni 42, 170 78, Prague 7

Rezolv, a leading renewable energy company, hosted a successful panel discussion and networking event focused on accelerating the transition to more sustainable energy. A range of experts shared their insights on the current energy landscape, as well as strategies for turning the appetite for clean energy into reality.

The event brought together renewable energy experts, policy-makers, investors and companies with a focus on environmental sustainability for a discussion on the energy transition in CEE. With the Museum’s iconic collection of historical technology as the backdrop, the event provided an opportunity to network with peers.

The Speakers

Paolo Lanzarotti

Chief Executive Officer Asahi Europe & International
Vice President The Brewers of Europe

Paolo started his career in ExxonMobil in 1987, working in increasingly senior commercial and country leadership roles in the UK, France, across Africa, India and Italy for 18 years.

In 2005, he joined SABMiller as Strategic Planning Director in the Birra Peroni business in Italy. He has worked in a number of increasingly more senior and strategically important roles and has led several of SABMiller businesses in different regions (Slovakia, India, and the Czech Republic) as Managing Director. Through the transition from SABMiller, through ABInbev and into Asahi, Paolo was charged with leading the business in Central Europe. Since April 2017, he has been the CEO of Asahi Breweries Europe Group (ABEG). In March 2020, Paolo became the CEO of Asahi International Limited.

As of 1st November, Paolo Lanzarotti leads the newly created entity Asahi Europe & International (AEI). AEI runs 19 production facilities in 8 countries across Europe while developing and managing a number of key export markets globally with over 10,000 passionate colleagues on board. Paolo also serves as Vice-President of the Brewers of Europe.

Jim Campion

Chief Executive Officer, Rezolv Energy

Jim is responsible for our overall commercial strategy at Rezolv and provides technical support on project execution and asset management across our wind, solar and energy storage projects.

Jim has substantial experience in the development, execution and operation of large and small scale (distributed) energy projects, with over 15 years of global experience as the CEO/ MD of leading energy technology companies and project ventures. This expertise spans industries including CHP, biomass, solar PV & inverters, batteries, waste to energy, large scale GTCC and innovative wind turbines.

He is a Fellow of the Energy Institute.

Jaroslava Korpanec

Partner and Head of Central and Eastern Europe, Energy Infrastructure, Actis

Jaroslava joined Actis in 2022 as Partner and Head of Central and Eastern Europe, to lead Actis’ Energy Infrastructure investment activity in the CEE region.

Jaroslava brings an extraordinary depth of knowledge of the infrastructure space, as well as deep insight into CEE, with over 17 years of experience in the infrastructure and energy sectors. As one of the founding partners of Allianz Capital Partners she has been instrumental to the build-out of the direct infrastructure business at Allianz Capital Partners, a business which has grown from zero to EUR€11 billion of assets under management.

Jaroslava has led landmark transactions across the transport, energy and utility sectors, predominantly in Central Europe, the UK and Iberia. Jaroslava was also a member of the Allianz Capital Partners investment committee.

Jaroslava has a degree in law from the University of Cambridge.

Kamil Blažek

Partner, Kinstellar

Kamil Blažek is an energy and infrastructure Partner with the international law firm Kinstellar. He leads the firm-wide Infrastructure & Transportation sector. He is a Czech-qualified M&A and regulatory lawyer and has over 25 years of experience in Central and Eastern Europe He specialises in M&A and project development in energy (including renewables, nuclear, district heating and gas) and infrastructure (transportation, telecommunication etc.) sectors, public regulation, international investment, and also in real estate and construction.

Kamil has broad experience across various other sectors including retail and IT. He is also the Chairman of the Czech Association for Foreign Investment and a member of the International Bar Association (Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law section). Kamil speaks Czech, English, German and Russian.

Valentina Ivan

Moderator and Policy Director, Rezolv Energy

Valentina Ivan is one of the foremost experts in Romania’s energy market with 15 years of experience. Her track record includes successful projects in renewable energy and energy market reform.

Valentina Ivan is responsible for energy policy analysis, government relations and stakeholder engagement. She has been engaged in the entire investment cycle of energy projects, and has worked with decision-makers, both private and public (including DG Energy, national ministries and energy regulators) throughout her career.

Valentina is a keen advocate for sound energy policy in Romania that would improve the business environment and accelerate the transition to a net-zero future, promoting sustainable investments bringing measurable positive impact for communities.

She holds a PhD in Economics – Management of Energy Policies and an MSc in Comparative Public Policy, University of Edinburgh.