STEEL TECH enjoys the support and involvement of leading companies in the sector through two Committees:
Scientific Committee
Consisting of companies, professionals and experts with decision-making power in the field of technological innovation, such as:
- ARCELORMITTAL I+D
- BEC
- CEIT
- CELSA
- FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEACH & INNOVATION
- GRUPO ARANIA
- SIDENOR INN
- SIDEREX
- TUBACEX
- UNESID
Advisory Committee
Consisting of institutions and supplier companies from the entire value chain of the steel sector, such as:
- ABB
- ARCELORMITTAL SPAIN
- BEC
- GRUPO ARANIA
- GEMINIS LATHES
- IDOM
- LAYDE STEEL
- SARRALLE
- SIDENOR ACEROS ESPECIALES S.L.U.
- SIDEREX
- SPRI
- TUBOS REUNIDOS
- UNESID
Members of the Scientific Committee
Pello Uranga
Materials and Manufacturing Department Deputy Director
Ceit BRTA
Pello Uranga
Pello Uranga is the Associate Director of the Materials and Manufacturing Division at CEIT. He received his B.S. (1998) and Ph.D. (2002) degrees in Materials Engineering from Tecnun-School of Engineering (University of Navarra). Currently, his research activity is mainly focused on the thermomechanical processing and the microstructural evolution modeling of different steel grades, especially microalloyed steels. He has published over 200 technical papers in international journals and conferences, receiving six international awards. He has participated in more than 70 research projects, most of them industrial projects. He is an active member of the AIST (Association of Iron and Steel Technology) and TMS (The Mineral, Metals and Materials Society) professional associations. He is also an evaluator for different research programs of the European Commission as well as University Program Evaluator for both ANECA (Spain) and the ABET (USA).
Anna Casals Terré
Head of Innovation
CELSA Group
Anna Casals Terré
Anna Casals Terré has a degree in industrial engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and an MBA from UCNET/UPC.
With more than 15 years’ experience, she has developed her career at Eurecat Technology Centre of Catalonia as a promoter of research projects in the industrial sector. Currently, she is Director of Innovation at CELSA OPCO divisions in Spain and France, and at the same time she is a lecturer at the Polytechnic University in the Materials Science Department.
In the European Research Programme RFCS (Research Fund for Coal and Steel), she currently serves as Member of Expert Group in Technical Group TGA1 since 2023.
She is an active member of steel professional associations, such as UNESID in the innovation committee and PLATEA Steel Technology Platform. She is also secretary of the Indpuls innovation hub association and a member of the entrepreneurship and start-ups committee of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.
Eduardo Bilbao Urtasun
Steelmaking Process and Technology Manager
IDOM
Eduardo Bilbao Urtasun
Eduardo Bilbao Urtasun, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the industrial sector, holds a degree in Chemical Sciences, specialising in Chemical Engineering, from the University of the Basque Country. He has also received specialist training in metallurgy and steel production in electric steelworks. After holding various positions of responsibility at various companies in the iron and steel sector, he is currently Head of Technology and Steel Manufacturing Processes in the Metals & Minerals division of IDOM CONSULTING ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURE.
Fernando Espada
Chief Executive Officer
LAYDE
Fernando Espada
Fernando Espada has more than 25 years’ experience in highly-demanding commercial organisations, of which he has been CEO for more than 10 years. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of the Basque Country, an MBA from ESIC and a Master’s degree in International Economics from the University of Amsterdam. He is currently CEO of LAYDE STEEL (part of the TATA STEEL Group) and Chairman of EUROMETAL; he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the steel production companies association of Spain (UNESID) and has recently been appointed Deputy Chairman of SIDEREX.
Leire Elguren
Marketing Director
Sarralle
Leire Elguren
She has a degree in law from the UPV/EHU in Donostia, San Sebastian. She began her career at the Sarralle Group 20 years ago, a business group with 5 Business Lines executing turnkey projects internationally in the iron and steel, environment and energy sectors. After having worked in different departments within the Sarralle Group, she is currently the Group’s Marketing and Communication Manager and Coordinator of the Commercial Departments of Steel Melting Plant, Rolling Mill, Processing Lines, Environment & Energy and Workshop & Storage Systems.
Cristina Bilbao
Head of Innovation
SIDEREX
Cristina Bilbao
Cristina Bilbao is Material Science Engineer from the Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao, University of the Basque Country (2012) and Technical Mining Engineer from the University of Mining Engineering of Barakaldo, University of the Basque Country (2010).
Between 2013-2017, she has worked as a researcher at CEIT Research Center, within the Materials and Manufacturing division in the group dedicated to the development of powder metallurgy steels, combining at the same time industrial projects with her PhD in “Sintering and dilatometry of powder metallurgical steels for shock absorber parts “. Additionally, she has participated in conferences and has publications in the sector.
Previously, she worked as a laboratory technician in the Metal department of Georg-Simon-Ohm University in Nurnberg-Germany, making tests on aluminum alloys and failure determination in engine pistons for her Final Degree Project. Additionally, she has participated in conferences, and has publications in the sector.
Cristina is currently the Head of Innovation at SIDEREX (Cluster Association of Steelworks).
Amaia Martínez
Head of Technology
SPRI
Amaia Martínez
Amaia Martínez Muro, industrial engineer and MBA from UPV/EHU. Head of Technology at SPRI, the Basque Government’s Business Development Agency, whose objective is to support and boost the Basque business sector, fostering its competitiveness and positioning in the global market.
The Technology Department at SPRI is responsible for the development and management of programmes and initiatives to support industrial R&D&I activity, as well as essential and industrial research that is undertaken in collaboration by the agents of the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network, contributing to the development and deployment of the Science and Technology Strategy, which is set out in the PCTI 2030.
She has more than 10 years of experience in the definition, implementation, communication, monitoring and evaluation of technological and business development strategies within the framework of the Basque Government’s competitiveness policies and, particularly now, in the field of the Basque RIS3 specialisation strategy and the coordination of initiatives for their deployment based on public-private governance and their international deployment.
She also acts as the head liaison with SIDEREX within the framework of the Basque Country’s Cluster Policy, whose main objective is to increase the competitiveness of companies through cooperation.
Borja Peña
Project Manager, Processes and Materials Area
TECNALIA
Borja Peña
He has a degree in industrial engineering (2005) and another in materials engineering (2007). Since 2007, he has been working at TECNALIA to coordinate and run local, national and European R&D projects related to the steel industry from melting to the final steel product. He has experience in metallographic analysis; mechanical characterisation of materials; manufacture of steel alloys at laboratory and semi-industrial scale; thermal and thermo-mechanical treatments of metallic materials; management of temperature acquisition techniques to determine thermal profiles of tests at industrial and laboratory level; FEM and CFD simulation for steel applications. He is a member of the Technical Group TGA2 of the European research programme RFCS (Research Funds for Coal and Steel). He is currently a Project Manager in the Processes and Materials Area of TECNALIA.
Alejandra Lopez
R&D Director
TUBACEX
Alejandra Lopez
Alejandra López holds a degree in Mining Engineering specialising in Metallurgy from the University of Oviedo and an MBI (Master’s in Business Innovation) from Deusto Business School.
Her more than 20 years’ professional experience began at the Asturian Materials Technology Institute (ITMA, for its Spanish acronym) as a Research Engineer and later at Sidenor R&D. She is currently the R&D Director at the Tubacex group where she leads R&D activities at corporate level working on developing and optimising materials, processes and solutions for applications in various sectors such as energy, chemical process and mobility.
She is an active member of international professional associations, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). Moreover, she acts as a mentor in the “Inspira Steam” initiative with the aim of encouraging scientific and technological vocations in young people, especially girls.
Anton Pipaon
Deputy Director General
TUBOS REUNIDOS
Anton Pipaon
Anton Pipaon holds a degree in law and a diploma in economics from the University of Deusto, Bilbao.
He has an MBA and has completed numerous postgraduate courses in management.
He has developed his career in consultancy and services companies, in the Chamber of Commerce of Bilbao and as a director of FUNDIGEX.
For the last 25 years, his career has focused on the steel sector, in which he has held the position of commercial director in companies such as SFP, CIE Automotive and TUBOS REUNIDOS.
He is currently the Deputy Managing Director of the TUBOS REUNIDOS Group, where he drives business development as well as Sustainability, and he is Chairman of the company Tubos Reunidos Premium Threads.
He is vice-president of the ESTA (European Steel Tube Association), a member of the steering committee of FLUIDEX and participates in various industry associations.
Santiago Oliver
Director of Sustainability, Energy and Innovation
UNESID
Santiago Oliver
Santiago Oliver is the Director of Sustainability, Energy and Innovation at UNESID, the Spanish Association of Steel Producers and First Transformation, and the Secretary of the Management Committee of PLATEA, the Spanish Steel Technology Platform.
He has a degree in mining engineering, specialising in metallurgy and mineralogy (materials engineer), natural risks, from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and another in environmental engineering and management from the EOI, and has completed a specialist course in water management in rural environments from the CSIC.
After two years at an automotive company, he worked for a further two years at a Spanish steel company, and then at Eurofer in Brussels, before coming to UNESID.
He is a member of the Steel Advisory Group for managing EU RFCS innovation funds, of the ESTEP Council and other European Commission advisory committees, and of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and of UNE standardisation; CEN and ISO of a horizontal nature on Climate Change, Environment, Sustainable Finance, Circular Economy, and other exclusively steel-related issues.
He is a member of the Board of Euroslag (European Steel Slag Association), and of several Eurofer Committees and WGs in the area of action (from climate change to chemicals policy), having chaired some of them.
Enric Giner
Local Division Manager Spain
ABB Process Industries
Enric Giner
Enric Giner is the Director of the Local Division of ABB Process Industries in Spain.
He joined ABB in March 1997 as a project manager. During this period, he has worked at various businesses such as Process Industries, Robotics and Drives as Service Director, supporting the growth of the service business, focusing on local strategy, until 2014, when he was appointed to the position of Service Director of the Local Division in Process Industries and Service Director of Process Automation. Enric has also held the global role of Service Director in the former Process Industries HUB for Central and Southern Europe.
Currently, in the position of Local Division Manager, Enric is also responsible for the Metals and Pulp & Paper Local Business Lines in Spain and is a member of the ABB Spain Management Team representing the Process Automation Business Area.
Prior to joining ABB, Enric has worked for more than 5 years in engineering positions, as a Product Engineer in the Automotive Industry.
Enric holds a degree in electronic and industrial engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. He also holds a master’s degree in business management and organisation from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain and a master’s degree in marketing and sales management from EADA Business School Barcelona.
Itziar López de Armentia
Head of Corporate Communications
Sidenor Aceros Especiales
Itziar López de Armentia
A communication and marketing professional with more than 15 years’ experience in the industrial sector, specialising in brand strategy, corporate reputation and 360º communication. Throughout her career, she has developed and executed internal and external communication plans aligned with the vision and strategic objectives of leading companies.
Javier Sánchez
CEO of ArcelorMittal Olaberria-Bergara
ArcelorMittal Spain
Javier Sánchez
- He has a degree in mechanical industrial engineering and a master’s in advanced manufacturing technologies from the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineering of the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao.
- Various Business Organisation and Management programmes run by REFA Verband and other institutions
- Engineer at Mercedes Benz España S.A. in Vitoria
- General Manager INTECSA (Hutchinson Division, Total Group)
- SAPEM Manager and CTO at ArcelorMittal Distribución Iberia
- Since April 2012, he has been the CEO of ArcelorMIttal Olaberria-Bergara
Javier Múgica
Supply Development Director
Grupo Arania
Javier Múgica
In January 2022 he joined Arania Corporación Industrial as Group Materials Director, operating within the Purchasing Department. His core mission is to enhance the competitiveness of the group’s four divisions (Arania, Aratubo, AR Racking, and AR Shelving) by sourcing new steel coil suppliers, primarily outside Europe, with a strong focus on financing solutions and the emerging challenges and opportunities arising from the steel industry’s progressive decarbonisation.
As of 1 January 2025, he has taken on the role of Supply Development Director, reporting directly to the CEO. In addition to his existing responsibilities, he now oversees the sourcing and development of suppliers for racking and shelving components, as well as coordinating group-wide strategic projects related to raw materials.
Javier Ciriza
Research and Development Manager at Sidenor
Sidenor
Xabier Ortiz de Murua
Javier Ciriza is currently the Research and Development Manager at Sidenor, with more than 27 years experience in the steel sector. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of the Basque Country and has entensive experience at Sidenor, where he has worked since 2003 in a variety of positions and deprtments, including researcher, head of continuous casting, and in the Steelm,aking, Technology, and Quality departments.
Ane de Larrakoetxea
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ArcelorMittal Spain
Ane de Larrakoetxea
Ane de Larrakoetxea holds a degree in journalism and communication sciences from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), as well as a master’s degree in corporate communication from the University of Deusto. She has developed a solid career in international environments, managing multicultural teams and acquiring a global vision of corporate communication in the industrial sector. With her strong focus on sustainability and innovation, she combines practical experience with a strategic approach in implementing advanced technologies in corporate communication. Her time in London as part of ArcelorMittal Corporate enabled her to lead key initiatives in internal and external communication on a global scale.
With her commitment to ‘Women and Industry’ and attracting talent to the steel sector, she is involved in education and STEM initiatives to show how the industry offers young people a solid professional future, with opportunities to grow, innovate and contribute to a more sustainable world.
Xabier Ortiz de Murua
Director of Strategic Projects
Grupo Arania
Xabier Ortiz de Murua
Industrial Organisation Engineer by Mondragon Unibertsitatea, with 19 years’ experience in the steel sector, in the precision welded steel tube manufacturer Aratubo S.A. (Arania Group).
After completing his PFC at the company in 2005, he was involved in coordinating a major investment for the expansion of the business between 2006 and 2008. In 2008, he joined the management team as Production Manager, before advancing to the position of Operations Manager. In 2025, he joined the Arania Group management team as Director of Strategic Projects.