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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
EVENT SPEAKERS / meet our experts
HEAD OF EUROPE CRO, GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Klaus Hellmann, DVM, is the Head of Europe CRO at Argenta, bringing extensive expertise in animal health product development. He has played a pivotal role in securing successful marketing authorisations for numerous products across various organisations.
Klaus studied veterinary medicine at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Germany. His career began at Pfizer in Germany, where he gained invaluable experience before founding Klifovet in 1997. As CEO of Klifovet until its acquisition by Argenta in May 2022, Klaus led the company to become the leading animal health CRO in Europe.
Klaus remains actively involved in several animal health and veterinary organisations, including the Association of Veterinary Consultants (AVC), the European College for Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, AAVP, AAVPT, and WAAVP.
HEAD OF EU REGULATORY AFFAIRS, ARGENTA
Dr. Cornelia Hüttinger is a veterinarian with over 10 years' experience in the animal health industry. Before joining KLIFOVET in 2012, she completed her thesis in small animal oncology, participated in a rotating internship programme at the University of Vienna and worked in veterinary practice.
She is now heading the EU Regulatory Affairs Department and is consulting companies on the regulatory strategy to obtain marketing authorization for animal health and nutrition products.
GROUP LEADER REGULATORY AFFAIRS, ARGENTA
Laura Payo Lewis brings over 15 years of specialised experience in regulatory affairs, with a strong focus on food and feed regulations across the EU and other global markets. As Group Leader of Regulatory Affairs at Argenta, she leads a team dedicated to developing regulatory strategies, ensuring compliance, and supporting market entry for innovative products in both animal and human nutrition.
Throughout her career, Laura has managed a diverse portfolio of projects involving food ingredients and additives for companion and farm animals, guiding companies through complex approval pathways and helping maintain market access. She began her industry career with an internship at Intervet Laboratorios (part of MSD Animal Health), where she focused on quality control and cell culture. She then joined Pen & Tec Consulting, where she began her regulatory affairs journey—continuing today as part of Argenta.
Laura holds a degree in Biotechnology from the University of Salamanca and completed an academic exchange at Ghent University, gaining additional research experience in molecular biology and the regulation of DNA replication.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ARGENTA
A strategic, globally minded executive focused on building resilient, growth-oriented organisations, Matt is Argenta’s Chief Executive Officer. His extensive experience leading global operations, driving commercial excellence, and delivering transformational change across the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors underpins Argenta’s ambition to scale, innovate, and lead the industry.
Prior to joining Argenta, Matt was most recently the CEO of Abzena, a biologics and bioconjugate-focused CDMO and CRO that provides outsourced manufacturing and development services for therapeutic companies from research to commercial production. Prior to Abzena, Matt also held senior executive leadership roles including at Hospira where he led an operational turnaround and growth acceleration leading to a highly successful sale and a multi-decade run at world-class organizations such as Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck prior to that.
Known for his clarity, decisiveness, and ability to navigate complexity, Matt leads enterprise-wide initiatives at Argenta that strengthen operational capability, enhance client partnerships, and position the organisation for long-term success. He brings a commercial, forward-looking mindset and a commitment to excellence that directly supports Argenta’s strategic direction and global ambitions.
ADMINISTRATOR, EUROPEAN COMISSION
Almudena Rodriguez is graduated in Veterinary Medicine in 1982. Major: Bromatology and Food Technology. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Diploma in Accounting. Escuela Universitaria de Estudios Empresariales de Madrid.
In 1989 she joined Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, after passing a competition for the National Veterinary Corps.
In 1996, she joined the European Commission (D.G. AGRI) as Administrator in the area of legislation on organic farming. In 1999 she moved to DG SANTE in the area of legislation on animal nutrition.
From 2006-2011 she joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to be responsible for the Directorate of Food Industry and later she became Counsellor of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs at the Spanish Embassy in Washington DC.
From 2011 to 2013 she joined CONXEMAR (Association dealing with frozen fish processing and frozen fish import and export) as Director General.
In 2013 she joined the European Commission to work in the area of legislation in animal nutrition
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GLOBAL REGULATORY & SCIENTIFIC AFFARIS EXPERT, NESTLÉ PURINA
Dr. Lisa Conboy‑Schmidt is a Global Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Expert at Nestlé Purina Research & Development, where she has worked since 2011. She holds a BSc in Pharmacology and a PhD in Neuropharmacology from University College Dublin, Ireland. Lisa is responsible for leading the regulatory approval of new probiotic ingredients for Purina. With over 15 years of experience in the pet food sector, Dr. Conboy‑Schmidt also contributes to shaping global regulatory and nutritional standards through her involvement in international trade associations.
CEO GLASPORT BIO
Justin McCarthy is CEO of GlasPort Bio and brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience across the agricultural sector. He previously spent a decade as CEO and Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal Group, leading more than 100 agri‑food, on‑farm technology, and global food‑policy experts. Justin has a proven track record of driving innovation, shaping industry thinking, and delivering science‑based solutions for farmers agri food sector and policy makers. His work has received multiple international awards for excellence in industry leadership. He has completed executive postgraduate programmes at Smurfit Business School and Harvard Business School.
CEO, MEATLY
Owen is the CEO of Meatly, the first company in Europe to ever sell cultivated meat. He was previously a consultant and Bain and Company, and ran one of the first insect-protein facilities globally.
SECRETARY-GENERAL, IPIFFSteven Barbosa possesses a solid background working with EU institutions for almost 20 years. Steven Barbosa is an experienced policy professional with a strong background in EU affairs, advocacy, and international relations. Currently serving as Secretary General at IPIFF (International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed), he has over a decade of experience in shaping EU policies. In previous positions he has worked within and towards EU institutions such as European Parliament, Council of the EU and European Commission.
CONFERENCE TICKET OPTIONS:
BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS / Key points of interest
The Sagrada Familia temple is an architectural icon of the Catalan capital, in a visit to Barcelona it is a must. The work is one of the best representations of modernism in Spain and one of the great international symbols of the country.
The project of this minor basilica began in 1882 and is still under construction, it is expected to be the tallest cathedral in the world by 2026. Get your tickets for the Sagrada Familia and do not miss this famous monument
In the city of Barcelona we find the Tibidabo mountain which is part of the Collserola mountain range and is its highest peak (512 m). With an extension of 17 km long and 6 km wide, this range is located between the Besòs and Llobregat rivers and is part of the Catalan Coastal Range. Collserola is a magnificent natural site made up of a forest mass of about ten million trees where a great variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc. live.
But this immense space, considered today one of the largest metropolitan natural parks in the world, has not always been so appreciated and visited by the inhabitants of the city of Barcelona. One of the fundamental causes was the remoteness and lack of communication, which turned it until the end of the 19th century into a space almost reserved for hikers, shepherds or the inhabitants of the few buildings that hid its interior.
To find the first connection between the mountain and the city of Barcelona, we must go back to 1283, when King Peter II "the Great" (Peter III of Aragon) designated it as one of the city limits. During the medieval period it was known as Puig de l'Àliga, but it would not be until the 16th century when the monks resident in the monastery of Sant Jeroni called it as we know it today: Tibidabo, a word taken from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, formed by the words tibi and dabo, which mean "I will give you".
The Magic Fountain was built by Carles Buigas for the International Expo in 1929, on the site where Josep Puig i Cadafalch's Four Columns had stood before being demolished in 1928. They were later rebuilt in 2010.
The spectacular Magic Fountain is very popular, and is best known for its sound-and-light shows. Around 2,600 litres of water a second flow through the fountain's three concentric pools, driven by a water-recycling system.
In recent years, the traditional lighting has been progressively replaced with LED technology, due to its low consumption and the coloured lighting it offers. The Magic Fountain has also been using groundwater since 2010.
The Fundació Joan Miró is a museum and creative space as unique and inspiring as the artist who created it. Its main goal is to make Miró’s work, modern art and contemporary art accessible to everyone.
The institution was personally set up by Joan Miró, and its initial holdings consisted mainly of his private collection, in its desire to set up a living Miró space in Barcelona, open to the world and linked to young artists and the most contemporary practices.
Park Güell is one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks and a key example of Antoni Gaudí’s unique modernist style. It was originally designed in the early 20th century as a private residential garden city, but the project was never completed and it later became a public park.
The park is known for its colourful ceramic mosaics, curved architectural forms, and playful integration of nature and design. Some of its most recognisable features include the monumental staircase, the mosaic salamander known as El Drac, the Hypostyle Hall with its columns, and the long serpentine bench offering panoramic views over Barcelona.
Today, Park Güell is both a cultural attraction and a scenic viewpoint, combining architecture, art, and green space in a way that feels distinctly Gaudí.
BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS /Key points of interest
Barcelona is a vibrant Mediterranean city known for its unique mix of history, architecture, culture, and seaside atmosphere. From Gaudí’s modernist landmarks and the medieval streets of the Gothic Quarter to lively markets, beaches, and world-class gastronomy, the city offers a rich blend of tradition and creativity. Its compact layout makes it easy to explore different neighbourhoods, each with its own character and charm.
The Sagrada Familia temple is an architectural icon of the Catalan capital, in a visit to Barcelona it is a must. The work is one of the best representations of modernism in Spain and one of the great international symbols of the country.
The project of this minor basilica began in 1882 and is still under construction, it is expected to be the tallest cathedral in the world by 2026. Get your tickets for the Sagrada Familia and do not miss this famous monument
In the city of Barcelona we find the Tibidabo mountain which is part of the Collserola mountain range and is its highest peak (512 m). With an extension of 17 km long and 6 km wide, this range is located between the Besòs and Llobregat rivers and is part of the Catalan Coastal Range. Collserola is a magnificent natural site made up of a forest mass of about ten million trees where a great variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc. live.
But this immense space, considered today one of the largest metropolitan natural parks in the world, has not always been so appreciated and visited by the inhabitants of the city of Barcelona. One of the fundamental causes was the remoteness and lack of communication, which turned it until the end of the 19th century into a space almost reserved for hikers, shepherds or the inhabitants of the few buildings that hid its interior.
To find the first connection between the mountain and the city of Barcelona, we must go back to 1283, when King Peter II "the Great" (Peter III of Aragon) designated it as one of the city limits. During the medieval period it was known as Puig de l'Àliga, but it would not be until the 16th century when the monks resident in the monastery of Sant Jeroni called it as we know it today: Tibidabo, a word taken from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, formed by the words tibi and dabo, which mean "I will give you".
The Magic Fountain was built by Carles Buigas for the International Expo in 1929, on the site where Josep Puig i Cadafalch's Four Columns had stood before being demolished in 1928. They were later rebuilt in 2010.
The spectacular Magic Fountain is very popular, and is best known for its sound-and-light shows. Around 2,600 litres of water a second flow through the fountain's three concentric pools, driven by a water-recycling system.
In recent years, the traditional lighting has been progressively replaced with LED technology, due to its low consumption and the coloured lighting it offers. The Magic Fountain has also been using groundwater since 2010.
The Fundació Joan Miró is a museum and creative space as unique and inspiring as the artist who created it. Its main goal is to make Miró’s work, modern art and contemporary art accessible to everyone.
The institution was personally set up by Joan Miró, and its initial holdings consisted mainly of his private collection, in its desire to set up a living Miró space in Barcelona, open to the world and linked to young artists and the most contemporary practices.
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