Our Common Future in Metallurgy - from Challenges to Opportunities. A Symposium to honour Maurits van Camp.

In the field of Extractive Metallurgy and Recycling – fundamental and applied research, science, technology, implementation, education, minimalist approach.

19.-21. April, 2026, Antwerp, Belgium

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Our Common Future in Metallurgy - from Challenges to Opportunities. A Symposium to honour Maurits van Camp.

In the field of Extractive Metallurgy and Recycling – fundamental and applied research, science, technology, implementation, education, minimalist approach.

19.-21. April, 2026, Antwerp, Belgium

Registration

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Biography Maurits van Camp (1956-2023)

Maurits Van Camp, a pioneering figure in metallurgical recycling, has passed away, leaving a lasting legacy. As the former Director of Research & Innovation at Umicore Precious Metals Recycling in Hoboken, Belgium, he played a pivotal role in advancing European recycling practices. Umicore, under Maurits’s research leadership, became a global leader in sustainable materials science, chemistry, and metallurgy, with a strong focus on recycling and the circular economy. His contributions were recognized with the Fray International Sustainability Award at SIPS 2011 and James Douglas medal from AIME in 2021.

Beyond technological advancements, Maurits was a visionary who fostered strong collaborations between academia and industry in a field of digitalisation of metallurgy. Since 1995, he has worked closely with academics to build industrially-backed research in pyrometallurgical recycling with a goal to produce predictive computational tools based on advanced thermodynamics. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in supporting the development and optimisation of new complex process technologies. Maurits’s pioneering work has set a new standard for the industry, inspiring other companies to adopt more efficient and environmentally friendly recycling practices. His legacy will continue to shape the future of metallurgical recycling in Europe and beyond.

Maurits Van Camp, a pioneering figure in metallurgical recycling, has passed away, leaving a lasting legacy. As the former Director of Research & Innovation at Umicore Precious Metals Recycling in Hoboken, Belgium, he played a pivotal role in advancing European recycling practices. Umicore, under Maurits’s research leadership, became a global leader in sustainable materials science, chemistry, and metallurgy, with a strong focus on recycling and the circular economy. His contributions were recognized with the Fray International Sustainability Award at SIPS 2011 and James Douglas medal from AIME in 2021.

Beyond technological advancements, Maurits was a visionary who fostered strong collaborations between academia and industry in a field of digitalisation of metallurgy. Since 1995, he has worked closely with academics to build industrially-backed research in pyrometallurgical recycling with a goal to produce predictive computational tools based on advanced thermodynamics. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in supporting the development and optimisation of new complex process technologies. Maurits’s pioneering work has set a new standard for the industry, inspiring other companies to adopt more efficient and environmentally friendly recycling practices. His legacy will continue to shape the future of metallurgical recycling in Europe and beyond.

Conference details

Themes:
1. Next-generation metallurgical processes. 2. Sustainability/ Circularity/ Decarbonization/ Environment, 3. Digitalization, 4. Recycling of batteries and critical metals, 5. Upscaling from lab to industrial scale, 6. Safety in metallurgy, 7. Furnace integrity (slag/refractory, freeze-lining),
8. Industry/University collaboration.

When: 19..-21.April, 2026

Where: Van der Valk Hotel & Business Center, Luitenant Lippenslaan 66, 2140 Antwerpen, Belgium

Main sponsor and partner
of the plant tour

Conference Organizer:

Conference program

Time	Activity
April 19, 2026
6:30 p.m.	Welcome Reception
April 20, 2026
8:30–11:00 a.m.	Welcome Messages & Plenary Speeches
11:10 a.m.–2:55 p.m.	Division into Three Sessions Keynote & Oral Presentations
3:05–6:05 p.m.	Panel Discussion & Q&A Posters & Poster Pitches
7:00 p.m.	Evening Dinner
April 21, 2026
9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	Plenary Speeches Posters & Poster Pitches
2:00 p.m.	Departure to UMICORE, Hoboken – Plant Tour Only 60 places available

Conference program

Time	Activity
April 19, 2026
6:30 p.m.	Welcome Reception
April 20, 2026
8:30–11:00 a.m.	Welcome Messages & Plenary Speeches
11:10 a.m.–2:55 p.m.	Division into Three Sessions Keynote & Oral Presentations
3:05–6:05 p.m.	Panel Discussion & Q&A Posters & Poster Pitches
7:00 p.m.	Evening Dinner
April 21, 2026
9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	Plenary Speeches Posters & Poster Pitches
2:00 p.m.	Departure to UMICORE, Hoboken – Plant Tour Only 60 places available

Conference chairs:

Prof. Dr. Evgueni Jak

The University of Queensland, Australia

Prof. Dr. Evgueni Jak is Professor of Pyrometallurgy at the University of Queensland’s School of Chemical Engineering and currently Director of the Pyrometallurgy Innovation Centre (PYROSEARCH). He holds an MEng (1984) from St Petersburg Polytechnic University and a PhD (1995) from UQ, and has authored over 450 scientific papers.

He was co-founder of PYROSEARCH, and his research spans phase equilibria and thermochemistry of high-temperature metallurgical systems, thermodynamic database development (co-developer of the FactSage oxide database), slag viscosity measurement and modelling. Dr Jak’s research has received multiple best-paper and TMS Extraction and Processing Science and other international journals Awards.

Prof. Dr. Peter Hayes

The University of Queensland, Australia

Prof. Dr. Peter Hayes is Emeritus Professor of Metallurgical Engineering in the School of Chemical Engineering at UQ and currently senior researcher at the Pyrometallurgy Innovation Centre (PYROSEARCH). He earned his BSc (1970) and MSc (1972) in Metallurgy from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and his PhD in Metallurgy from the University of Strathclyde (1974). As program leader metallurgical engineering, he played a pivotal role in developing UQ’s dual BE Chemical and Metallurgical major. He authored the undergraduate text “Process Principles in Minerals and Materials Production” now in its 4th edition and used internationally.

Prof. Hayes has over 450 research publications principally on phase equilibria, reaction mechanisms and kinetics in pyrometallurgical systems. Prof Hayes was founding Director of PYROSEARCH, his contributions to the field were honoured in the “Peter Hayes Symposium on Pyrometallurgy” at Extraction2018.

Prof. Dr. ir. Bart Blanpain

KU Leuven, Belgium

Bart Blanpain is a leading expert in process metallurgy. He heads the High Temperature Processes and Industrial Ecology research group at KU Leuven, where the focus lies on enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of metallurgical operations. This includes the recycling of industrial residues and the development of advanced process models. His group’s work bridges fundamental research and industrial application, contributing to innovations in steelmaking, non-ferrous metallurgy, and circular economy strategies.
Prof. Blanpain currently serves as Chair of the Department of Materials Engineering at KU Leuven and is an active member of the SIM² KU Leuven Institute.

Prof. Dr. Evgueni Jak

The University of Queensland, Australia

Prof. Dr. Evgueni Jak is Professor of Pyrometallurgy at the University of Queensland’s School of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Pyrometallurgy Innovation Centre (PyroSearch). He holds an MEng (1984) from St Petersburg Polytechnic University and a PhD (1995) from UQ, and has authored over 400 scientific papers.

His research spans copper and lead thermochemistry, high-temperature phase equilibria, slag thermodynamics (co-developer of the FactSage oxide database), viscosity measurement, and reaction-kinetics modelling. PyroSearch’s industry-backed programs involve partners such as Aurubis, BHP, Glencore and Rio Tinto, and Dr Jak has received multiple best-paper and TMS Extraction and Processing Science Awards.

Prof. Dr. Peter Hayes

The University of Queensland, Australia

Prof. Dr. Peter Hayes is Emeritus Professor of Metallurgical Engineering in the School of Chemical Engineering at UQ and senior researcher at the Pyrometallurgy Innovation Centre (PYROSEARCH). He earned his BSc (1970) and MSc (1972) in Metallurgy from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and his PhD in Metallurgy from the University of Strathclyde (1974). With over 450 publications to his name, he played a pivotal role in developing UQ’s dual BE Chemical and Metallurgical major and authored the undergraduate text Process Selection in Minerals and Materials Production.

As founding Director of PYROSEARCH, Prof Hayes specializes in high-temperature phase equilibria, liquidus isotherm measurements, FactSage-based thermodynamic databases and gas–solid reaction kinetics. His experimental research in copper, ferro-alloys, lead, zinc smelting and metals recycling continues to advance sustainable pyrometallurgical processing.

Prof. Dr. ir. Bart Blanpain

KU Leuven, Belgium

Bart Blanpain is a leading expert in process metallurgy. He heads the High Temperature Processes and Industrial Ecology research group at KU Leuven, where the focus lies on enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of metallurgical operations. This includes the recycling of industrial residues and the development of advanced process models. His group’s work bridges fundamental research and industrial application, contributing to innovations in steelmaking, non-ferrous metallurgy, and circular economy strategies.
Prof. Blanpain currently serves as Chair of the Department of Materials Engineering at KU Leuven and is an active member of the SIM² KU Leuven Institute.

Dr. Karel Verscheure

Umicore, Belgium

Karel Verscheure works at Umicore in Hoboken and brings over 18 years of experience in metallurgy, process optimization, and project management. As Head of Strategic Projects and New Operations, he oversees a portfolio of major strategic initiatives, including the development of an innovative battery smelter for the recovery recycling of lithium-ion batteries. Since 2023, he has been a member of the management team of Battery Recycling Solutions.

Karel began his career at Umicore in research and development, where he developed new pyrometallurgical processes for metal recovery from waste streams. Over the years, he has held various leadership roles-from project manager to head of operations director—eventually leading entire several production departments with several hundred employees. He has successfully implemented numerous investment projects, improved the efficiency of existing facilities, and played a key role in driving technological advancement.

Dr. mont. Christoph Zschiesche

Glencore Nordenham, Germany

Dr. mont. Christoph Zschiesche studied non-ferrous metallurgy at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg and graduated in 2011 with a degree in engineering. In April 2024 he got his PhD in non-ferrous metallurgy at Montanuniversität Leoben.
His professional career began in 2011 as a Project Engineer in Research and Development at Aurubis AG, where he worked until 2017. From 2017 to 2019, he served as Head of Pyrometallurgy Research and Development at Aurubis AG. Between 2019 and 2021, he held the position of Senior Manager for Bath Smelting and Complex Metallurgy Research & Development at Aurubis AG. Since 2021, he has been Chief Technology Officer at Glencore Nordenham. In addition, he has been Chairman of the GDMB Lead Expert Committee since October 2021. He is also a member of the GDMB Presidium.

Dr. Karel Verscheure

Umicore, Belgium

Karel Verscheure works at Umicore in Hoboken and brings over 18 years of experience in metallurgy, process optimization, and project management. As Head of Strategic Projects and New Operations, he oversees a portfolio of major strategic initiatives, including the development of an innovative battery smelter for the recovery recycling of lithium-ion batteries. Since 2023, he has been a member of the management team of Battery Recycling Solutions.

Karel began his career at Umicore in research and development, where he developed new pyrometallurgical processes for metal recovery from waste streams. Over the years, he has held various leadership roles—from project manager to head of operations director—eventually leading entire several production departments with several hundred employees. He has successfully implemented numerous investment projects, improved the efficiency of existing facilities, and played a key role in driving technological advancement.

Dr. mont. Christoph Zschiesche

Glencore Nordenham, Germany

Dr. mont. Christoph Zschiesche studied non-ferrous metallurgy at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg and graduated in 2011 with a degree in engineering. In April 2024 he got his PhD in non-ferrous metallurgy at Montanuniversität Leoben.
His professional career began in 2011 as a Project Engineer in Research and Development at Aurubis AG, where he worked until 2017. From 2017 to 2019, he served as Head of Pyrometallurgy Research and Development at Aurubis AG. Between 2019 and 2021, he held the position of Senior Manager for Bath Smelting and Complex Metallurgy Research & Development at Aurubis AG. Since 2021, he has been Chief Technology Officer at Glencore Nordenham. In addition, he has been Chairman of the GDMB Lead Expert Committee since October 2021. He is also a member of the GDMB Presidium.

International Advisory Committee

Dr. Sander Arnout, Inspyro
Prof. Mishra Brajendra, Kenneth G. Merriam
Prof. Geoffrey Brooks, Swinburne University
Dr. Jeff Chen, The University of Queenland (tbc)
Dr. Bert Coletti, Aurubis
Michel Dubois, Nyrstar (tbc)
Dirk Durinck, McKinsey (tbc)
Magnus Ek, Boliden (tbc)
Prof. Dr. Bernd Friedrich, RWTH Aachen (tbc)
Joseph Grogan, Gopher Resource (tbc)
Rodney Hundermark, Valterra Platinum
Benedict Janssens, Nyrstar (tbc)
Ph.D. Joel Kapusta, CIM/ICIM
Dr. Georgii Khartcyzov, The University of Queenland
Eric Klaffenbach, Aurubis (tbc)

Prof. Dr. Daniel Lindberg, Aalto University (tbc)
Mari Lindgren, Metso (tbc)
Els Nagels, Inspyro (tbc)
Dr. Stuart Nicol, Glencore Technology (tbc)
Danny Pauwels, Aurubis
Prof. Akbar Rhamdhani, Swinburne University (tbc)
Prof. Dr. Ramana Reddy, The University of Alabama
Jürgen Schmidl, RHI Magnesita (tbc)
Dr. Maksym Shevchenko, The University of Queensland (tbc)
Dr. Denis Shishin, The University of Queensland
Andreas Specht, Aurubis (tbc)
Prof. em. Dr. Pekka Taskinen, Aalto University
Stefan Winkler, Aurubis (tbc)
PhD Guozhu Ye, Swerim
William Yule, Glencore Technology

Dr. Sander Arnout, Inspyro
Prof. Mishra Brajendra, Kenneth G. Merriam
Prof. Geoffrey Brooks, Swinburne University
Dr. Jeff Chen, The University of Queenland (tbc)
Dr. Bert Coletti, Aurubis
Michel Dubois, Nyrstar (tbc)
Dirk Durinck, McKinsey (tbc)
Magnus Ek, Boliden (tbc)
Prof. Dr. Bernd Friedrich, RWTH Aachen (tbc)
Joseph Grogan, Gopher Resource (tbc)
Rodney Hundermark, Valterra Platinum
Benedict Janssens, Nyrstar (tbc)
Ph.D. Joel Kapusta, CIM/ICIM
Dr. Georgii Khartcyzov, The University of Queenland
Eric Klaffenbach, Aurubis (tbc)
Prof. Dr. Daniel Lindberg, Aalto University (tbc)
Mari Lindgren, Metso (tbc)
Els Nagels, Inspyro (tbc)
Dr. Stuart Nicol, Glencore Technology (tbc)
Danny Pauwels, Aurubis
Prof. Akbar Rhamdhani, Swinburne University (tbc)
Prof. Dr. Ramana Reddy, The University of Alabama
Jürgen Schmidl, RHI Magnesita (tbc)
Dr. Maksym Shevchenko, The University of Queensland (tbc)
Dr. Denis Shishin, The University of Queensland
Andreas Specht, Aurubis (tbc)
Prof. em. Dr. Pekka Taskinen, Aalto University
Stefan Winkler, Aurubis (tbc)
PhD Guozhu Ye, Swerim
William Yule, Glencore Technology

Plenary Speakers already confirmed

Prof. Dr. Markus A. Reuter

One of the world´s leading metallurgists in the recycling field and a circular economy thought leader.

Annelies Malfliet

Research expert at KU Leuven for Sustainable Materials Processing and Recycling (SeMPeR) and member of SIM²

Wim Dobbelaere

Enterprise administrator with almost 32 years of experience in different positions within UMICORE. Trusted expert in Engineering Management and Business Process Improvement.

Prof. Dr. Markus A. Reuter

One of the world´s leading metallurgists in the recycling field and a circular economy thought leader.

Annelies Malfliet

Research expert at KU Leuven for Sustainable Materials Processing and Recycling (SeMPeR) and member of SIM²

Wim Dobbelaere

Enterprise administrator with almost 32 years of experience in different positions within UMICORE. Trusted expert in Engineering Management and Business Process Improvement.

Bart Verrecht

Senior Program Manager Battery Recycling at UMICORE with unique insights into the environmental footprint of different recycling approaches.

Dr. Stanko Nikolic

Manager Hydrometallurgy and Pyrometallurgy at Glencore Technologies with over 15 years´ experience in the extractive metallurgy industry.

Bart Verrecht

Senior Program Manager Battery Recycling at UMICORE with unique insights into the environmental footprint of different recycling approaches.

Dr. Stanko Nikolic

Manager Hydrometallurgy and Pyrometallurgy at Glencore Technologies with over 15 years´ experience in the extractive metallurgy industry.

Registration

Speaker*

€ 720

Registration

The price includes the evening dinner on April 20th, 2026

GDMB Member

€ 850

Registration

The price includes the evening dinner on April 20th, 2026

Non-GDMB Member

€ 980

Registration

The price includes the evening dinner on April 20th, 2026

*Please note that speaker registration is only possible after receiving official confirmation from the event organizer. Make sure to wait for approval before proceeding with your registration.

Students interested in attending will benefit from a significant discount – we’re committed to making this event accessible to the next generation of metallurgical experts. We’re truly looking forward to welcoming you to the conference!

Registration

Speaker*

€ 720

Registration

The price includes the evening dinner on April 20th, 2026

GDMB Member

€ 850

Registration

The price includes the evening dinner on April 20th, 2026

Non-GDMB Member

€ 980

Registration

The price includes the evening dinner on April 20th, 2026

*Please note that speaker registration is only possible after receiving official confirmation from the event organizer. Make sure to wait for approval before proceeding with your registration.

Students interested in attending will benefit from a significant discount – we’re committed to making this event accessible to the next generation of metallurgical experts. We’re truly looking forward to welcoming you to the conference!

Location

Van der Valk Hotel Antwerpen

Luitenant Lippenslaan 66, 2140, Antwerpen, Belgium.

The Maurits van Camp Symposium will be proudly hosted at Van der Valk Hotel in Antwerpen, a modern and versatile venue located just minutes from Antwerp’s vibrant city center. Held at the elegant Van der Valk Hotel this symposium offers a full day of engaging talks, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities in a venue known for its modern design and exceptional hospitality.

With 28 fully equipped meeting rooms, high-speed connectivity and on-site technical support, the hotel provides the perfect setting for meaningful dialogue and discovery. Attendees will also enjoy culinary delights from Bistro Stiel, complimentary parking, and access to wellness facilities including a sauna, pool, and fitness center. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or a curious newcomer, the Maurits van Camp Symposium promises to inspire, connect and energize.

Our Common Future in Metallurgy - from Challenges to Opportunities. A Symposium to honour Maurits van Camp.

In the field of Extractive Metallurgy and Recycling – fundamental and applied research, science, technology, implementation, education, minimalist approach.

19.-21. April, 2026, Antwerp, Belgium