Speakers

Initially an electrical engineer in the steel industry, Simon spent several years in the US as a business and technology analyst, consultant and CEO of a publicly traded software company. He began his renewable energy career in 2008, co-founding a solar cell technology startup. Two years later he co-founded a solar manufacturing facility design and integration business.

In 2015, Simon established Exawatt to provide cost, performance and market forecasting in sectors including solar energy, battery storage, electric vehicles and power transmission. Simon joined CRU in early 2023 when the company acquired Exawatt.

During his years at Elkem, Aasen has gained extensive industrial experience across most of the company’s functions, from sales through operations to logistics and procurement. He has worked both in production and in corporate functions internationally and in Norway.

Aasen holds a Master of Science in Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and has completed the leadership development programme at IMD in Switzerland.

Jim is a proven results getter with many diverse accomplishments leading to substantial bottom line impacts for his companies or employers. He has over 15 U.S patents to his credit. His companies have developed and implemented various solar energy projects in the USA including supplying process technology, commissioning and startup services.

His educational credentials include completing the MBA program for Senior Executives in MIT’s (Sloan Business School) in 1989, an MS in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1972 and a BS in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from the General Motors Institute in 1971.

He has been noted for his ability to correctly evaluate developing companies and to react quickly and effectively to crises and short-lived opportunities for profit. A strong team builder, he has formed lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with customers and suppliers.

He is a sought-after speaker. He has presented at over 100 international conferences on the global silicon and solar industries over the last 30 years.

Well traveled, he has been to over 100 countries including working on silicon projects in China, Brazil, Germany, Norway, Australia, Japan, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Bolivia, France, Italy, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Switzerland, Bahrain, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Chile, and Argentina. He has conversational fluency in Mandarin Chinese and several other languages in the countries he has worked.

Arnoud advises clients on all aspects of trade law, including trade remedies, customs, trade compliance, and trade agreements. With over 30 years of experience, he is a trusted adviser to entrepreneurs, executives, and diplomats with an unparalleled network. Arnoud deeply understands how trade rules shape global flows of capital, investment, goods, technology, and services, especially with respect to competitiveness, and the application of trade rules to various sectors. He helps clients navigate complex rules, manage their risks, and become more successful in their long-term strategy.

Arnoud has assisted complainants, respondents, associations, governments, importers, and users in more than 200 high-profile anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, safeguard, and anti-circumvention investigations. Along with representing clients in such cases before the European Commission, national and EU courts, he has worked on several third-country cases (Russia, China, Türkiye, Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil). Arnoud’s cases often involve pan-European strategies with simultaneous litigation in several countries.

Regarding customs matters, Arnoud has broad experience in advising clients on EU customs issues, including entry, classification, valuation, origin, tariff suspensions, authorizations, audits, refunds/remissions and fraud allegations, notably OLAF and EPPO. A key aspect of his practice concerns working with EU and national authorities to help clients unlock customs issues or assist with resolving differences in approach between various EU member states.

Regarding trade agreements, Arnoud advises clients on leveraging market access and enforcement tools provided by trade rules in the WTO, free trade, investment, and other agreements. With these tools, Arnoud has helped companies address key trade and regulatory barriers affecting their ability to move, sell and protect goods, services, and intellectual property across borders. To conclude, Arnoud has assisted governments and companies in negotiating trade agreements, especially in making them concrete, and by creating so-called gold standards by leveraging best practices.

She joined CRU in 2025 as the editor of Silicon Metal Market Outlook and Silicon Cost Service, where she leads analysis on global silicon metal market supply-demand dynamics, price trends, and cost structures.

Prior to CRU, Sabrina worked as an Equity Research Associate at Jefferies, focusing on European Chemicals and Polysilicon market and company analysis. Sabrina holds an MSc degree in Risk Management and Financial Engineering from Imperial College London and a BSc degree in Quantitative Finance from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.