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DURST next

TECHNOLOGY FESTIVAL 2026

speakers

Sandra Cetin

SANDRA Cetin

Rabensteiner GmbH, Marketing Manager

Permission to Pivot: Reinventing your Path

Sandra Cetin is a marketing leader who has spent over 20 years building and transforming international brands across consumer goods, health, and industrial technology.

At Alpro she drove a brand repositioning that delivered 15 % +yearly growth and six points of market share; at Amway she launched products across 32 markets, including a probiotic that generated over $7 million in sales. Now in Brixen, she's rejuvenating the Rabensteiner brand and launching ventures like Enyroof's solar canopies, turning complex technical stories into compelling brand narratives.

Durst Group, CEO & Co-Owner

CHRISTOPH Gamper

Durst Group, CEO & Co-Owner

Christoph Gamper is CEO and Co-Owner of the Durst Group, leading its transformation into a platform-driven industrial technology company spanning digital printing, automation, and AI-enabled production. He is also founder of Kyveris Technologies, building the industrial software and intelligence layer for autonomous manufacturing. Living between Italy and New York, he focuses on long-term value creation, responsible innovation, and global scale.

Former Federal Chancellor and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria

ALEXANDER Schallenberg

Former Federal Chancellor and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria

Alexander Schallenberg is an Austrian diplomat, lawyer by training and politician. He served for nearly six years as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria from 2019 to 2025. In 2021 and 2025 he also served for a brief period of time as Chancellor of Austria. In June 2025 Mr. Schallenberg became the chairman of the Europe‘s Futures Initiative, a newly established think tank based in Vienna. Additionally, he founded and runs his own consultancy firm.

(TBAN) Tyrolean Business Angel Network, Chief Executive Officer

EVA Ogriseg

(TBAN) Tyrolean Business Angel Network, Chief Executive Officer

Eva Ogriseg is the CEO of tba network, an association of 30+ business angels from South and North Tyrol. She leads deal sourcing and screening, connecting high-potential startups with investors. As an active investor with a passion for supporting founders, she serves as a key connector and driving force in the Alpine innovation ecosystem.

Durst Group, CEO North America

TIM Saur

Durst Group, CEO North America

Tim Saur has 25 years of leadership experience at Durst, where he now serves as President and CEO of Durst North America, driving growth through a blend of strategic market positioning and tactical engagement. He is also a minority owner and investor in several Durst-related companies. Dr. Saur earned a Ph.D. in International Business from the University of Southern Mississippi, with research focused on descriptive decision-making in global business. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame, graduating magna cum laude, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY. Additionally, he is a licensed CPA and CMA.

Philoneos, Chief Executive Officer and Professor, Tomorrow University

DR. MAXIMILIAN Lude

Philoneos, Chief Executive Officer and Professor, Tomorrow University

Prof. Dr. Maximilian Lude is the co-founder and CEO of philoneos, a Munich-based consultancy specializing in innovation and transformation for business with tradition and legacy. Max is scholar and public speaker, as well as Professor of Innovation and Strategy at the Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences, where he teaches in an online based environment. Maximilian earned his PhD from the Friedrichshafen Institute for Family Businesses (FIF) and regularly publishes and speaks both academically and professionally worldwide. He is a dedicated lecturer, skier, and dog owner.

International Presenter, TEDx Speaker and Communication Coach

FLO Akinbiyi

International Presenter, TEDx Speaker and Communication Coach

Flo hosts corporate events, conferences, panel discussions, fireside chats and virtual formats. He has shared stages with Michelle Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robin Sharma and Michael J. Fox and interviewed industry experts. As a communication coach he works with government entities, high level executives and leaders of international Fortune 500 corporations.

Former CNN anchor, TEDx Speaker, Journalist & Author

BROOKE Baldwin

Former CNN anchor, TEDx Speaker, Journalist & Author

Brooke Baldwin is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and storyteller devoted to truth and transformation. She spent more than two decades in news, including anchoring her own live daily show on CNN, where she became known for her authenticity and humanity at the desk.

Today, Brooke writes the top-rated Substack Unraveling, and is developing a podcast about giving ourselves permission to live bravely and on our own terms—alongside a TV series exploring courageous conversation and our shared humanity, one meal at a time.

BLNG, Chief Technology and Experience Officer

Dumëne Comploi

BLNG, Chief Technology and Experience Officer

Dumëne Comploi is the co-founder and Chief Technology and Experience Officer of BLNG, a creative AI platform for jewelry design and luxury accessories. Trained in architecture with a focus on design and media arts at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and UCLA, he spent 12 years at Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Streaming working at the intersection of physical and digital. He holds 10 patents.

Durst Group, Vice President Kyveris & Software Solutions

MICHAEL Deflorian

Durst Group, Vice President Kyveris & Software Solutions

Michael Deflorian is VP Kyveris & Software Solutions at the Durst Group, leading the software business and driving Kyveris, the Industrial Intelligence for digital production. He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering applied to machine learning, a background as a software engineer, and prior leadership roles in autonomous driving and digital transformation. Based in Brixen, he focuses on scaling software businesses, open and modular software architecture, and high-performing teams.

TUM Venture Labs, Chief Executive Officer

DR. PHILIPP Gerbert

TUM Venture Labs, Chief Executive Officer

Philipp Gerbert is CEO of the TUM Venture Labs, a start-up factory in deep-tech and life sciences founded jointly by TUM and UnternehmerTUM (www.tum-venture-labs.de ). The TUM Venture Labs are a unique fully integrated network across 12 megamarkets/technology fields, providing domain-specific entrepreneurial support combined with leading edge methodologies. Previously Philipp Gerbert served for 15 years as a Senior Partner of the Boston Consulting Group, focusing on AI in Business and Climate Tech, as well as Innovation across many technology-driven industries on both sides of the Atlantic. He also lived for many years in Silicon Valley, working with The McKenna Group and bringing new technologies to market. By background Philipp Gerbert is a physicist. He holds a Master from the Max-Planck Institute/LMU Munich and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, USA. He also worked for several years as a researcher at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).

Di Grecco Indústria Têxtil, Director

MARIA FERNANDA Grecco Meneghel

Di Grecco Indústria Têxtil, Director

Maria Fernanda Grecco Meneghel is Director of Di Grecco Indústria Têxtil, a Brazilian textile company specialising in high-quality digital textile printing for fashion and creative applications. Representing the third generation of a textile family, she co-founded Di Grecco in 1992 and has led the company’s evolution towards industrial digital printing, with investments in digital textile technologies beginning in 2005. Her work focuses on combining textile heritage, personalised service and sustainable digital printing solutions to help designers and fashion brands develop high-quality, creative printed textiles.

Allsides CTO

BURKHARD Güssefeld

Allsides CTO

Burkhard Güssefeld is Co-Founder and CTO of ALLSIDES, building the 3D data infrastructure layer for the next generation of content creation, robotics, and generative AI. With a PhD in computer graphics and computer vision from Heidelberg University, he designed ALLSIDES' end-to-end scan-to-asset pipeline from first principles - hardware through software - scaling it into a production system serving Amazon, Meta, Nike, Adidas, Inditex, and Zalando. Based in South Tyrol, Italy, he focuses on precision at physical scale, foundational data quality, and the long arc from research insight to industrial infrastructure.

Chairman of OpenExO, Executive Director of Singularity University

SALIM Ismail

Chairman of OpenExO, Executive Director of Singularity University

Salim Ismail is one of the world's most influential business strategists, advising heads of state and Fortune 500 CEOs on exponential growth. Chairman of OpenExO, Founding Executive Director of Singularity University, and XPRIZE board member, his best-selling Exponential Organizations is the definitive playbook for 21st-century business. He co-hosts the Moonshots podcast with Peter Diamandis — delivering weekly insights on AI, exponential growth, and the future of innovation to over one million entrepreneurs worldwide, with guests including Elon Musk, Ray Kurzweil, Reid Hoffman, and Eric Schmidt.

Head of the Ceramic Institute at TU Berlin

DAVID Karl

Head of the Ceramic Institute at TU Berlin

David Karl is a materials scientist and lecturer in additive manufacturing at Technische Universität Berlin and Adjunct Professor for Space Resources Utilization at the Colorado School of Mines. His work focuses on ceramic materials, particle-based processing, and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for space applications. Combining a background in conceptual art and materials engineering, he develops unconventional approaches to turning planetary resources into functional materials and manufacturing processes under extreme conditions.

Durst Artist in Residence 2024

KLAUS Pobitzer

Durst Artist in Residence 2024

Klaus Pobitzer, born 1971, studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. He fuses computer drawing, digital animation and AI into a bold, socially charged visual language where technology meets contemporary art. His work has been exhibited at prestigious museums, festivals and biennials across the globe — Palermo, Milan, New York, Busan, Vienna. In 2024, Artist in Residence at Durst Group, world leader in digital printing technology.

Durst Chief Technology Officer

WOLFGANG Knotz

Durst Chief Technology Officer

Wolfgang Knotz is CTO at the Durst Group and responsible for the group-wide technology agenda, with a strong focus on integrating software, data, automation and new business models. The goal is to further strengthen Durst Group’s innovative capabilities and provide customers worldwide with even more comprehensive, integrated technologies. Knotz holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering and economics and has held various leadership positions at Durst for many years, most recently serving as Managing Director of Durst Austria, where he was responsible for technological and operational activities at the Lienz site. Since joining the company in 2013, he has played a key role in shaping core production and technology structures. In particular, as Head of Development from 2016, he has been instrumental in advancing and optimizing digital printing systems.

Durst Group, Director Global Sales Labels & Flexible Packaging

THOMAS Macina

Durst Group, Director Global Sales Labels & Flexible Packaging

Thomas Macina is Sales Director and co-responsible for the Labels & Packaging Business, leading the migration towards a sustainable digital production of labels and flexible packaging. Living in Barcelona, he has strong roots to South Tirol and is a passionate alpinist who likes to push and shift limits, unlocking new potentials while achieving unprecedented results.

Durst Como, Director Global Sales Industrial Textile

ALESSANDRO Manes

Durst Como, Director Global Sales Industrial Textile

Alessandro Manes is Director Global Sales Industrial Textile at Durst Group, leading global commercial activities for Durst Como and the Group’s industrial textile printing business. Co-Founder and former CEO of aleph, he played a key role in developing the company from a Como-based digital textile specialist into an international reference for advanced industrial digital textile printing technologies. With deep experience in textile applications, customer development and industrial innovation, he focuses on connecting advanced digital printing technology with the evolving needs of global textile markets.

President of TLF Graphics Inc.

ROBERT P. McJury

President of TLF Graphics Inc.

Robert P. McJury, President of TLF Graphics Inc., has over 45 years of experience in the printing industry. In 1998, along with his partners, he purchased TLF Graphics, a regional label converter and has since overseen the company’s growth from $7.2 million to over $26 million in annual revenue with 123 associates. Digital printing has been the driving force in this growth, now representing 62% of overall revenue, with Durst Tau presses as their leading digital print devices. Robert is passionate about Digital print & Process Automation and consistently strives to be a student of the continually evolving industry.

TexIntel, Founder + Journalist

DEBBIE McKeegan

TexIntel, Founder + Journalist

Debbie McKeegan is the CEO and founder of Texintel, a leading global platform dedicated to digital textile printing, smart manufacturing, and textile innovation. With more than 30 years of experience in textile design, manufacturing, and industrial production, Debbie began her career as a creative within large-scale, vertical textile manufacturing operations, gaining extensive hands-on expertise in design, sourcing, production workflows, across global supply chains.

She is recognised internationally as a pioneering voice in digital print technology, sustainability, and on-demand production. An award-winning textile designer and respected industry commentator, she collaborates with leading brands, manufacturers, and technology innovators worldwide, championing the future of digitally enabled textile production and sustainable manufacturing.

Durst, Corporate Development

PHILIP Mödinger

Durst, Corporate Development

Philip Mödinger works in Corporate Development at Durst Group AG on strategic topics across technology, AI, and new business models. A TU Munich alumnus in Technology – Computer Engineering & Informatics – and Economics, with a deep focus on family businesses. A trend seeker, driven by change and the question of what comes next. He lives between Bavaria, Brixen, and the rest of the world. Dedicated cook and skier – and on special occasions, he opens his private small bar, Philosphère. Ownership, curiosity, passion. A technology enthusiast at heart.

Chef Patron at Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, 3*** Michelin Stars & Founder of “Cook the Mountain”

NORBERT Niederkofler

Chef Patron at Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, 3*** Michelin Stars & Founder of “Cook the Mountain”

Norbert Niederkofler, also known as “The Ethical Chef,” is South Tyrol’s only three-Michelin-starred chef. He is CEO and co-owner of NN Group, managing Atelier Moessmer, AlpiNN, and Ansitz Heufler. Renowned for his “Cook the Mountain” philosophy, he combines sustainability, regional ingredients, and Alpine traditions. He is also founder of CARE’s – The Ethical Chef Days and leads restaurant projects in Milan and Venice, redefining fine dining with a strong commitment to nature and responsibility within and beyond the plate.

Technicon, Board Member

HARALD Oberrauch

Technicon, Board Member

Harald Oberrauch is a board member of Technicon, the family-owned holding behind companies such as Durst, Alupress, Immagina Biotechnology and other startups. With deep roots in a multigenerational business, he combines long-term vision with a hands-on entrepreneurial approach, driving growth and transformation across industries. His work reflects a strong commitment to innovation, responsibility, and sustainable value creation.

Join Capital, Principal

MORITZ Pichler

Join Capital, Principal

Moritz Pichler started his career engineering satellite systems at OHB, later Airbus Defence & Space before building Rheinmetall's cybersecurity subsidiary from zero to revenue as its founding CEO. At Microsoft, he oversaw sovereign Azure Governmental Cloud deployments with over €1 billion in business impact, then ran corporate venture activities at Hensoldt. Now Principal at Join Capital, he invests at the intersection of deep tech, defense, and cyber.

Durst, Chief People Officer

BIRGIT Ranzi

Durst, Chief People Officer

Birgit Ranzi is Chief People Officer of Durst Group AG, shaping the people strategy behind the company's transformation into a global technology leader. With two decades in senior HR roles across the financial industry in Switzerland and the UK, she shaped culture and performance at scale. She focuses on strategic HR, leadership development, and environments where people and business thrive.

General Manager of Middlestreet Graphics & Display, LLC

DEAN Demarco

General Manager of Middlestreet Graphics & Display, LLC

Dean DeMarco serves as General Manager of Middlestreet Graphics & Display, LLC, a division of G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Inc. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the division, guiding business performance, customer-focused execution, and cross-functional collaboration across design, sales, pre-press, and production.

With more than 45 years of industry experience, Dean has held a wide range of leadership, operational, and business responsibilities throughout his career. Over the past 20 years, he has focused specifically on business transformation, delivering successful results with iDL Worldwide, a division of Matthews Inc.; Outform Group in Chicago, Illinois; and Middlestreet Graphics & Display, LLC.

Dean is recognized for a leadership style defined by strategic focus, accountability, and the ability to build alignment across teams and functions. He brings a disciplined approach to business transformation, helping organizations improve performance, strengthen customer partnerships, and adapt to changing market needs. Through a focus on creative service, quality, innovation, and continuous improvement, Dean supports a culture of execution that advances growth and delivers high-value printing and display solutions for retail, promotional, and brand execution needs.

NUWAM, Co-founder

UWE Scheithauer

NUWAM, Co-founder

Uwe Scheithauer has worked at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems in Dresden, Germany, for the past 20 years and has been one of the key innovators in the field of additive manufacturing of ceramics in Europe. He is now a co-founder of NUWAM GmbH and is working with another team to prepare for the launch of a new startup at Dresden University of Technology. Living in Dresden, he passionately drives the technology transfer from research laboratories to industry together with his teams and enriches the world with highly functional ceramic components.

D3-AM, Chief Product Officer

STEFAN Waldner

D3-AM, Chief Product Officer

Stefan Waldner is the architect behind D3-AM and serves as its Chief Product Officer. D3-AM, a corporate startup of the Durst Group, develops advanced industrial 3D-printing systems for high-performance ceramics.
A technology-driven entrepreneur, he combines innovation, strategy, product development, and cross-functional leadership to advance additive manufacturing and scalable digital production.

DIKAIA, CEO & Co-Founder

SUSANNE Waldthaler

DIKAIA, CEO & Co-Founder

Susanne Waldthaler is co-founder and CEO of DIKAIA AI, a bootstrapped legal-tech AI startup from South Tyrol. Forged at three of the world's top-10 pharma companies - Novartis, Gilead and GSK - and at Dr. Schär, the world leader in gluten-free products, she drove multi-country product launches each worth over half a billion euros in sales. Today she is building the legal AI data infrastructure for Europe.

ZANZOTTI INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

CHRISTIAN Zanzotti

ZANZOTTI INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Christian Zanzotti is founder and creative director of ZANZOTTI INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, a Munich-based studio he established in 2013. His work spans mobility, furniture, consumer goods, and lifestyle products, combining commissions for international brands with self-initiated, limited-edition objects. Born in South Tyrol, Italy, he focuses on the intersection of material, form, and advanced manufacturing technologies, developing forward-looking products through experimentation and design research. His work is defined by a clear, rigorous design language and has received multiple international design awards.

Founder + CCO, CHAPT3R<br>Festival Director, Durst Next

RACHEL Brill

Founder + CCO, CHAPT3R
Festival Director, Durst Next

Transformational Entertainment & Marketing leader with 20+ years architecting billion-dollar tv/film/digital series, product marketing campaigns, high-margin studio ventures, and IP strategies for world-class tech titans, Fortune 50, streamers, leagues and cultural icons including MGM/Amazon, Warner Brothers, TNT/TBS, Disney, Qiddiya, NFL, NBA, Apple, and Bleacher Report. Mentoring the next generation of voices to lead with passion.

Ratti S.p.A., Chief Commercial Officer

ALESSANDRO Ivaldi

Ratti S.p.A., Chief Commercial Officer

Alessandro Ivaldi is Chief Commercial Officer at Ratti S.p.A. Società Benefit (Marzotto Group), one of Italy’s leading textile companies for the international luxury and fashion markets. With extensive experience in luxury textiles, commercial leadership and business development, he oversees Ratti’s market strategy and customer relationships across global fashion and premium textile sectors. His work focuses on connecting Italian textile excellence, creativity and innovation with the evolving needs of luxury brands and international markets.

FASAC Group, Board Member

ALESSANDRO Floridia

FASAC Group, Board Member

Alessandro Floridia is a Board Member of FASAC Group, a historic Italian textile company with over seventy years of heritage, specialising in printed and dyed fabrics for fashion, accessories and interior design. Rooted in the Como textile district, the Group combines manufacturing tradition, industrial expertise and continuous innovation, with a fully integrated production cycle and a strong focus on sustainability, creativity and global development.

Within FASAC Group, Alessandro Floridia focuses on business development and long-term strategic initiatives. He is also an advisor specialised in M&A and extraordinary finance transactions, supporting entrepreneurs and industrial groups in strategic and corporate development projects.

Previously, he served on the Board of aleph, contributing to the company’s international growth and industrial transformation.

CDL Knits, Operations Head

JAY Purmessur

CDL Knits, Operations Head

Educated in Lyon, France – one of the historic global centres of textile excellence – Jay Purmessur is a textile engineer with more than three decades of executive experience within the Mauritian textile industry. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in driving operational resilience, efficiency and innovation, transforming the geographic and logistical challenges of island-based manufacturing into competitive advantages.

Working within a demanding economic environment that relies heavily on imported raw materials and labour, Jay has developed deep expertise in lean manufacturing, energy efficiency, high-quality textile production and ultra-short lead-time management – capabilities essential to competing successfully in the global textile market.

As Operations Head at CDL Knits (CIEL Textiles), Jay specialises in agile supply chains, sustainable industrial practices and production optimisation. He has led initiatives focused on resource efficiency, operational excellence and compliance with international manufacturing standards, helping strengthen the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of regional textile production.

Hofkäserei Englhorn, Owner

ALEXANDER Agethle

Hofkäserei Englhorn, Owner

Alexander Agethle is an Italian organic farmer, cheesemaker, and agricultural innovator from South Tyrol, Italy. He is the owner of the Englhorn Farm and Dairy, known for producing award-winning artisanal cheeses from traditional Original Brown cattle. Agethle is recognized for his commitment to sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and ecological farming practices. He has become a leading voice for organic farming and rural development in the Alps region.

OptoSiC, Managing Director

MATTHIAS Struckmeyer

OptoSiC, Managing Director

Business economist with common sense — which can be helpful. Always curious. Founded optoSiC in 2008 as a startup with one idea (silicon carbide optics for high-end laser technology based on special design geometry), a plan, patents, and one investor. Joined the MERSEN Group in 2012. Relocated the SiC polishing process to MERSEN's manufacturing facility in southern France in 2015. World market leader since 2016 in SiC optics for industrial applications: deflection mirrors for galvo scanner systems (optoSiC®), geodesy, medical ophthalmology (mediSiC®, miniSiC®), drone and missile defense (defenSiC®), and laser communication in space — including NASA's Psyche mission, transmitting point-to-point data from nearly half a billion kilometers away.

Procedes Group, CEO and Co-Owner

ALEXANDER Beilken

Procedes Group, CEO and Co-Owner

As CEO and Co-Owner of the Procedes Group, Alexander drives the fusion of large-format digital printing with next-generation technology. He leads the group's digitalization and AI initiatives, building intelligent software systems that reshape production workflows. A committed advocate for AI in print, he is dedicated to shaping the industry's digital future and creating new value for customers.

Durst, Director Global Sales Graphics

JOHANN Strozzega

Durst, Director Global Sales Graphics

Johann Strozzega is Director Global Sales Graphics at the Durst Group, leading international sales and driving growth across markets. With a strong customer-centric mindset, he builds lasting partnerships and delivers value-driven solutions. Combining strategic insight with deep market understanding, he is known for his relationship-focused approach, fostering trust, collaboration, and sustainable success across regions and industries worldwide.