Speaker – ISMA SugarNXT 2026

Gillian Eggleston

Lead Scientist

Audubon Sugar Institute

Gillian Eggleston is a globally recognized scientist and leader in sugar processing research, renowned for her pioneering work on sugar crop deterioration, industrial enzyme applications, sugar losses, the effects of extraneous sugarcane matter on processing, and industrial sweet sorghum processing. Her research has had substantial commercial and scientific impact across the U.S. and international sugar and allied industries. Dr. Eggleston has authored more than 260 publications, including 85 peer-reviewed journal articles and 12 refereed book chapters, with the majority as first author. Her international stature is reflected in over 24 prestigious national and global awards, including the FLC National Technology Transfer Award, the South African Society of Sugar Technologists Talbot-Crosbie Award, and the Sugar Industry Technologists and American Chemical Society Melville L. Wolfrom Award.

She has served as a senior editor of three scientific books, authored numerous invited articles and chapters, and is widely sought as a consultant in carbohydrate chemistry and industrial processing of sugarcane and sugar beet, with extensions into honey bee systems, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage industries, and bioenergy. Dr. Eggleston has received numerous fully sponsored invitations to speak at international conferences and industry forums and has attracted visiting scientists and graduate researchers from around the world.

In recognition of her scientific leadership and success in technology transfer, USDA-ARS-MSA management expanded her research program twice, redirecting approximately USD 2.2 million in base funding in 2010 and 2013. Under her leadership, ARS sugar research at the Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) is now internationally recognized as a world leader in sugar processing research.

Boris Morgenroth

Dr.-Ing.

IPRO Industrieprojekt GmbH

David Moller

Consulting Engineer

Experienced Sugar Consulting

David Moller is an experienced Chemical Engineer with more than 30 years of international expertise in sugar production and factory operations. He specializes in delivering immediate, practical, and profitable solutions for sugar businesses through technical advisory services, targeted training, and optimized sugar equipment design. David works closely with sugar factories worldwide to improve overall performance, efficiency, and process reliability. His approach combines deep technical knowledge with hands-on operational experience, enabling clients to achieve measurable improvements in productivity and profitability. He provides strategic guidance, site-specific training, and process optimization tailored to individual factory requirements. He develops and delivers customized training programs in key operational areas including boiler operations, extraction, clarification, raw and product sugar crystallisation, separation, and drying. These programs have consistently demonstrated benefits through improved process understanding, enhanced operational discipline, and higher staff morale.

David’s experience has been built through extensive site visits and consultancy assignments across Australia, Kenya, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil. His core technical focus areas include batch and continuous crystallisation pan commissioning, sensor calibration and automation of crystallisation processes, raw and refined sugar process audits, on-site training, fabrication inspections, factory commissioning, and boiler tuning. He is widely respected for his practical, results-driven expertise and his ability to translate complex process challenges into effective, implementable solutions for sugar factories worldwide.

Prof. Prakit Sukyai

Deputy Head of the Department of Biotechnology

Prakit Sukyai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-Industry at Kasetsart University. He is an established researcher in food biotechnology with a strong focus on cellulose-based materials for future technologies and advanced applications. Dr. Sukyai holds a Dr.nat.techn. in Food Biotechnology from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, along with M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Biotechnology from Kasetsart University. His expertise centers on bacterial cellulose, cellulose nanocrystals, nanocomposites, and biopolymer-based functional materials. His research spans a wide range of high-impact applications, including biomedical materials (wound dressings, bone tissue engineering scaffolds), drug delivery systems, active and sustainable packaging, shape-memory cellulose materials, and the valorization of agro-industrial residues such as sugarcane bagasse and cassava bagasse. He has also contributed significantly to pretreatment technologies, enzymatic processes, and post-harvest deterioration studies related to sugarcane.

Dr. Sukyai has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals such as Cellulose, Carbohydrate Polymers, Chemical Engineering Journal, Bioresource Technology, European Polymer Journal, ACS Omega, and Food Research International. His work is widely cited and recognized for advancing sustainable biomaterials, cellulose-based nanotechnology, and industrial biotechnology with relevance to food, biomedical, and bioenergy sectors. Through his academic leadership and research output, Dr. Sukyai is recognized internationally as a key contributor to the development of next-generation cellulose materials and biotechnological solutions derived from renewable resources.

Gavin Smith

Sugar Process Specialist

Gavin Smith is a highly experienced Sugar Process Specialist with more than 30 years of hands-on and consultancy experience across the sugar industry, including sugar downstream and alcohol processing operations. He has worked extensively with sugar factories and related process industries, supporting both operational improvements and project execution. Gavin specializes in project management within complex process environments and is known for his practical, data-driven approach to improving factory performance and efficiency. His expertise covers critical areas of sugar processing, helping factories identify losses, optimize energy use, and enhance overall operational reliability.

Jaspreet Bindra

Founder

AI & Beyond, India and Tech Whisperer Limited UK

Prof. Narendra Mohan

Consultant

Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)

Prof. Narendra Mohan has an exemplary career in the sugar industry spanning about four decades including eleven years as Director, National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, India. He did his post graduate studies in Sugar Technology from NSI, Kanpur and later on was conferred Fellowship as well. An author of 7 books, more than 200 papers been published in various reputed journals, many book chapters and patents to his credit, indicates his passion for academic & research work. He has played a pivotal role in converting sugar industry into clean & green industry producing bio- chemicals, other bio-products and bio-energy apart from sugar. He is widely travelled and has seen the Sugar Industry in various countries i.e. Australia, Thailand, China, Mauritius, Indonesia, Reunion Islands, Dominican Republic etc. He has attended the ISSCT Congress held in Indonesia in 1986 and in India in 1999. He has attended several Sugar Conferences all over the world organized by the International Sugar Organization (ISO), F.O. LICHT, Kingsman, LMC etc. as well as the Dubai Sugar Conference. He has been a panelist at several of these Conferences. He was the Vice-Chairman of the Congress Organising Committee for the XXXI ISSCT Congress held in Hyderabad, India in 2023.