BIR Nonferrous Division announces panel for upcoming World Recycling Convention

The Brussels-based Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has announced the panel of speakers set to appear during its Nonferrous Division plenary session, part of the organization’s World Recycling Convention Round-Table Sessions set for Oct. 27-28 in Paris.

The BIR’s Nonferrous Division, chaired by Division President Bob Stein of U.S.-based Alter Trading, has invited a panel of experts from industry, finance and academia to enter a debate on political, economic and monetary policies, international competitiveness, environmental legislation and the unhindered trade of our commodities. During the meeting, panelists will focus on economic challenges, rising costs and stringent regulations in Europe, the association reports.

First panellist and moderator of the discussion titled “Europe in a state of agitation” is Philippe Chalmin, professor of economic history at Paris-Dauphine University and founder of the Circle Cyclope, a European institute for research on commodities and raw materials. The author of about 40 books, Chalmin also regularly publishes articles in newspapers and appears on televised economic talk shows.

Second panellist is Alessandro Giraudo, chief economist of the professional brokerage firm Group Tradition-Viel of France. He teaches “Markets Finance” and “Economic History of Financial Markets” at Institut Supérieur de Gestion (ISG), a business school in Paris (ISG) and has written several books on economic history subjects. Group Tradition-Viel, founded in 1959, has offices worldwide in 27 countries and owns 40 percent of the private bank Swisslife.

The panel is completed by Patrick Verschelde, president and CEO of Luxembourg-based Metallum Group Holding. The Metallum Group is active in the international trade in the areas of primary and secondary metals and their residues, in the processing of metal, iron and electronic scrap and the provision of comprehensive recycling services, operating worldwide with approximately 20 subsidiaries.

The plenary session will also feature a summary report on the situation on the international nonferrous markets presented by divisional board member Alexandra Weibel Natan of Manco, France.