Biography: Lídia Cardoso is a distinguished Mozambican leader and senior consultant with over 30 years of experience at the intersection of public policy, investment, and sustainable development. Her career is defined by her leadership in structural reforms and the execution of high-impact socioeconomic programs. She holds a higher education degree in Business Management and Administration from the Higher Institute of Science and Technology of Mozambique.
Lídia’s career has gained particular prominence in the blue economy, where she played a transformative role as Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (2022–2024). During this tenure, she spearheaded the implementation of the Blue Economy Development Strategy (EDEA 2021–2030), positioning Mozambique as a key player on the global ocean agenda. Under her stewardship, the government promoted strategic initiatives to enhance fisheries value chains, restore coastal ecosystems, and mobilize structural investments—most notably the development of the Port of Angoche and the strengthening of maritime surveillance systems across the SADC region.
Her vision for the blue economy extends beyond marine resources to integrate climate resilience, social inclusion, and territorial development. She champions models that link smart infrastructure with nature-based solutions, creating economic opportunities for coastal communities, with a specific focus on empowering youth and women.
Previously, as Deputy Minister of Health (2020–2022), Lídia was instrumental in Mozambique’s national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She ensured the continuity of essential drug supply chains and maintained the operability of the health system amid unprecedented global pressure, showcasing her capacity for crisis management and operational resilience.
Throughout her extensive career, she has collaborated with leading international organizations, including USAID, the World Bank, GIZ, Save the Children, JSI, MSH, and Chemonics. In these roles, she has led governance, public health, and institutional development projects, demonstrating a robust command of strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
A serial entrepreneur, Lídia is a founding partner of VEDOR, Lda, a consulting firm specializing in architecture, territorial planning, and sustainable development. She is also the founder of “O Profissional,” a training center in Praia do Bilene dedicated to equipping young people with skills for the tourism and local economies.
Recognized for her systemic and results-oriented approach, Lídia Cardoso is currently an influential voice and knowledge curator, promoting integrated solutions for vulnerable contexts with a focus on the blue economy, climate resilience, and smart infrastructure..
Abstract: The scope of this address encompasses a critical examination of the global reliance on concentrated, non-renewable energy infrastructures, which creates systemic fragility in the face of both environmental instability and geopolitical conflict. By analysing the historical and contemporary risks associated with "chokepoint" energy logistics—specifically the Strait of Hormuz—the address argues that the current energy paradigm serves as a catalyst for international instability. The keynote posits that the transition to decentralized, ocean-based, and renewable energy systems is not merely an environmental necessity but a fundamental requirement for national and global security, effectively decoupling economic stability from the volatility of fossil fuel supply chains. Mozambique case studies are given an example of developing countries.
Biography: Professor Saim Memon is CEO and Industrial Professor of Renewable Energy Engineering, recognised for linking academic research, industrial innovation and global markets. Educated in the UK (PhD Loughborough; MSc Mechatronics; BEng Electrical Engineering), he is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and holds UK Qualified Teacher Status. His multidisciplinary research in electrical, mechanical and renewable energy engineering places him in the top 1% worldwide in Energy (ScholarGPS), with 170+ publications, 2,600+ citations and h-index 29+. He has led research groups, degree programmes and schools, taught 40+ modules with >90% satisfaction, and given 150+ invited and keynote talks.
Abstract: Energy efficiency depends not only on cleaner energy generation but also on preventing avoidable heat transfer across buildings, infrastructure and industrial processes. This keynote examines how vacuum insulation technologies can reduce thermal losses, stabilise operating temperatures and achieve high thermal resistance within space-constrained engineering systems. The underlying principle is the reduction of gaseous heat conduction through evacuation, alongside the control of solid conduction, thermal radiation and edge-related thermal bridges. Drawing on research, inventions and industrial development at Sanyou London, the presentation evaluates fibreglass and fumed-silica vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), vacuum insulated wallpaper, decorative integrated panels, vacuum insulated curtains, vacuum insulated heatable curtains and temperature-controlled packaging. Selected fibreglass VIPs achieve centre-of-panel thermal conductivities around 0.0025 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ under specified test conditions, illustrating the potential of ultrathin insulation for building retrofits, construction materials, refrigeration, cold-chain storage and transportation. The keynote extends this engineering framework to electric vehicles, AI factories and data centres, aviation, robotics and automated manufacturing, and oil and gas systems, including LNG and emerging hydrogen infrastructure. These applications demand selective control of thermal pathways: minimising unwanted heat ingress or escape while safely dissipating heat from batteries, power electronics and other critical components. Emerging solutions include hybrid multilayer insulation, modular interfaces, tailored panel geometries and advanced protective encapsulation. Manufacturing and implementation challenges remain central. Core formulation, high-barrier envelopes, sealing processes, vacuum retention, panel shaping and scalable assembly influence long-term performance and commercial feasibility. Robust assessment must also address thermal bridging, ageing, vibration, fire behaviour, thermal cycling, mechanical integrity and lifecycle economics, rather than relying on nominal conductivity alone. By connecting thermal physics, experimental characterisation, industrial manufacturing and application-specific design, this keynote distinguishes demonstrated performance from future opportunities. It presents vacuum insulation as a practical, complementary pathway towards lower energy demand, resilient thermal management and more efficient industrial and energy systems.