Speaker Spotlight: The Voices Shaping the Future of Mobility, Retail and AI at the IFSF Conference
As the fuel, convenience retail and mobility industries navigate one of the most significant periods of transformation in their history, this year's IFSF Conference brings together an exceptional line-up of speakers who are helping to define that future.
From artificial intelligence and interoperability to EV charging, payments innovation and the service station of tomorrow, the conference programme provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders, innovators and standards experts.
The conference will explore how interoperability is becoming increasingly critical as businesses look to harness the power of AI, support new forms of mobility and manage more complex technology ecosystems.
AI Meets Interoperability
One of the keynote topics this year focuses on the emergence of Agentic AI and its potential to transform decision-making across the industry.
Frodi Hammer from A2i by OPIS will present Intelligence Comes from Interoperability, examining how AI is moving beyond generic chatbots towards intelligent, domain-specific systems capable of delivering actionable business insights. His session explores how trusted data, shared semantics and standards-based interoperability are essential ingredients for successful AI adoption in increasingly complex operational environments.
Complementing this perspective, Rodrigo Soares of Retec Group will demonstrate how Agentic AI can simplify the adoption of industry standards themselves. His presentation showcases practical applications that enable AI agents to navigate specifications, identify relevant APIs and generate implementation-ready guidance in seconds while maintaining traceability back to official standards. For organisations struggling with the complexity of standards implementation, this promises to be a particularly compelling session.
Reimagining the Service Station
The evolution of the traditional forecourt into a multi-energy hub is another major theme of the conference.
In a panel chaired by Ilia Matiunin of Invenco by GVR, industry leaders Ricard Blanco Enrich from Moeve, Mario Pereira from Avalon and Angel Canizares from NTT DATA will discuss Designing the Multi-Energy Station of the Future. The panel will explore how electrification, alternative fuels, connected infrastructure and digital services are reshaping service stations into integrated mobility destinations.
Drawing on experiences from Spain's rapidly evolving mobility market, the discussion will address topics including organisational transformation, large-scale EV charging deployments, operational management, AI applications and the balance between standardisation and innovation.
Another session exploring this transformation will be presented by Stefania Semenza, Head of Retail Automation & Payment Systems at Enilive and a Board Member of IFSF, in her presentation Enilive: Energy in Motion. Drawing on Enilive's own transformation journey, Stefania will examine how traditional fuel retailing is evolving into a broader mobility services ecosystem that combines sustainable energy, digital innovation and customer-centric experiences.
The session will explore how investment in renewable fuels, including HVO diesel, biomethane and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), is supporting the transition towards lower-carbon mobility, while digital platforms are enabling service stations to become connected mobility hubs. Delegates will gain insight into how integrated applications and services can bring together fuelling, EV charging, vehicle sharing, parking, payments and convenience services within a seamless customer journey.
Looking beyond today's technologies, Stefania will also discuss the role that interoperability standards can play in accelerating digital transformation and enabling the intelligent mobility hubs of the future.
Building Confidence in EV Charging
As electrification continues to reshape mobility, several speakers will address the practical challenges and opportunities associated with EV charging.
Christian Hahn, CEO of Hubject GmbH, will present De-Risking the Charge: How Standards Turn EV Investment from a Bet into a Business Case. His session focuses on how standards such as Plug & Charge, ISO 15118 and OCPI are helping reduce technology risk, lower barriers to investment and create more predictable business models for charging infrastructure operators.
Drawing on Hubject's global experience, Christian will also discuss how AI-driven market intelligence can help charging operators maximise utilisation and profitability.
Delegates will also hear from Koen Janse of the Open Charge Alliance, who will provide an update on the evolution of OCPP and the organisation's certification programme. As OCPP continues to serve as the foundational communication standard for EV charging infrastructure worldwide, understanding its future direction is essential for retailers, charging operators and technology providers alike.
The Future of Payments and Commerce
Digital commerce and payments innovation are transforming customer journeys, and this year's conference addresses how this evolution may look by the end of the decade.
Bas Van Donselaar of Payment Genes will explore Agentic Commerce: Payments and Commerce Trends Shaping Forecourt Payments in 2030. His session examines how changing consumer behaviour, electrification, mobile-first experiences and new payment technologies are redefining the forecourt experience.
Particular attention will be given to emerging concepts such as machine-to-machine payments and software agents that select services and complete purchases on behalf of customers. As payment ecosystems evolve to include instant payments, digital currencies and intelligent commerce platforms, this session will challenge delegates to consider how the industry's existing assumptions may need to change.
Also joining the payments innovation discussion will be Alfredo Prieto with his presentation, New Ways to Pay: What Account-to-Account Payments Mean for Fuel Retailers. As the payments landscape continues to evolve, retailers are faced with growing consumer expectations for greater choice, faster transactions and seamless purchasing experiences. Alfredo Prieto will explore how emerging payment methods are reshaping the market, with particular attention given to the growing momentum behind account-to-account payments.
The session will examine the opportunities and challenges that these new payment approaches create for merchants and other participants across the payments ecosystem.
Shaping the Next Chapter of IFSF
The conference is not only about technology; it is also about the future direction of the industry and the role IFSF can play within it.
As IFSF continues to evolve in response to industry change, delegates will hear directly from Jon Thompson, IFSF Strategy Manager, in his session Shaping the Next Chapter of IFSF: Building Our Strategy Together. Jon will review the progress made since the development of the organisation's 2023 Strategy, including membership growth, enhanced communications and the ongoing development of API standards and supporting tools
The presentation will also provide an honest assessment of the challenges facing the industry, including the impact of artificial intelligence, changing regulatory requirements and evolving industry partnerships. Delegates will gain insight into IFSF's Strategy Refresh initiative, which is now entering its discovery and definition phase, as well as an update on the standards roadmap covering achievements in 2026, priorities for 2027 and potential future projects. Jon will also share key findings from this year's Horizon Scan report, including analysis of the EU Data Act and the role IFSF can play in helping members address emerging interoperability and compliance requirements.
An interactive roundtable session led by Mirko Spagnolatti and Ilia Matiunin will invite participants to contribute directly to discussions about IFSF's strategic priorities. The session will explore member engagement, industry challenges, AI's impact on standards development and opportunities for future collaboration.
Meanwhile, Kees Mouws and Ian Brown will present Beyond Open Retailing: Defining the Next Generation of IFSF Standards. Following significant organisational changes during 2026, the presentation will highlight achievements delivered by IFSF workgroups and provide insight into the association's future technical roadmap.
Addressing Industry Infrastructure Challenges
The conference will also tackle one of the industry's most pressing technical issues: the end of life of the LON chipset.
In a panel chaired by Michel Hinfelaar from HAIA, experts involved in industry-wide migration efforts will share updates on progress, implementation experiences and replacement strategies. The discussion will provide delegates with practical guidance on maintaining interoperability and ensuring business continuity as organisations prepare for this significant technology transition.
Join the Conversation
What makes this year's speaker programme particularly compelling is the combination of strategic vision and practical experience. Whether discussing AI, EV charging, payments, infrastructure migration or standards development, every session is firmly grounded in the real-world challenges facing retailers, technology providers and mobility operators today.
The IFSF Conference in Alicante promises to be more than a technology conference. It will be a forum where industry leaders come together to share expertise, challenge assumptions and collectively shape the future of mobility and retail.
