Martin Rostan
Executive Director, EtherCAT Technology Group

Martin Rostan studied aerospace engineering in Germany and in the United Kingdom and received his diploma degree in 1992. Subsequently he managed the international research project that developed the initial CANopen technology. From 1996 until 1998 he was marketing manager and authorized officer at Selectron. Since 1998 he is with Beckhoff, first as senior product manager for Ethernet and fieldbus systems and since 2006 as head of technology marketing. Martin serves the fieldbus community in various committees: he is the executive director of the EtherCAT Technology Group, chairs the CANopen groups inside CAN in Automation and represents Beckhoff in ODVA and in several conference program committees. He also is technical expert in ISO and IEC standardization committees for industrial communication. With publications in magazines, text books, conferences and symposia he contributes to the dissemination of fieldbus and Ethernet technologies.

Glen Fry
Founder, iControls Pty Ltd

Glen helps manufacturing enterprises on the path to Industry 4.0 become more profitable by reducing downtime and improving quality.
Contact Glen, and let him demystify the hype surrounding Industry 4.0, Digital Transformation, Advanced Manufacturing, IIoT, and show you practical ways that harnessing your production data can provide a significant ROI.

Neil Pearce
Managing Director, Beckhoff Automation New Zealand

Neil is the Managing Director at Beckhoff New Zealand, based at the Auckland headquarters. With over 20 years of experience in industrial automation, in roles including systems engineering, engineering management and sales management; and with qualifications including a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Neil leads the Beckhoff team with enthusiasm and pride whilst constructively collaborating with stakeholders in order to achieve higher productivity and efficiency across a multitude of modern engineering implementations. Neil is also a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), Institute of Engineering Technology (IET) and Engineering New Zealand (EngNZ).

Marcel van Niekerk
Director, Automate-X Ltd.

Marcel van Niekerk is a Director at Automate-X, specialising in delivering cutting-edge factory and process automation solutions to his clients. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechatronic Engineering from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He has extensive experience in the industrial sector, and his passion for technology and innovation has led him to become an expert in his field. Marcel’s diverse background in industrial automation encompasses every aspect of the engineering process, from technical consultation to final implementation. He has a wide range of industry experience, covering Oil & Gas, Food & Beverage, and Manufacturing. His ability to engage with all levels of stakeholders allows him to add value through the change process and realise automation solutions that meet everyone’s needs.