Person of the Year

H.E. Salim Al Aufi is the architect of Oman’s Green Hydrogen Strategy: He spearheaded the launch of Oman's ambitious green hydrogen strategy, which aims to produce at least 1 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually by 2030, scaling up to 8.5 million tonnes by 2050. As the Chairman of Hydrom (the Sultanate's hydrogen orchestrator), H.E. implemented a world-first structured auction process for land allocation and established a comprehensive green hydrogen ecosystem. Driving Global Decarbonization: H.E. positioned Oman as a 'future-proof' energy hub, leveraging the country's unique geographical advantage and dual-track approach — optimizing existing hydrocarbons while aggressively building the infrastructure towards becoming one of the world's largest exporters of low-carbon hydrogen.

Jean Jouet is a champion of the energy transition as he aims to build a strong foundation in green hydrogen for future generations. With a career rooted advanced manufacturing, spanning CEO of ArcelorMittal Ukraine to former CTO of John Cockerill, Jean has repeatedly transformed low‑TRL concepts into commercially viable technologies. Jean was selected to be on the working group which led to the creation of Rely, a joint venture between Technip Energies and John Cockerill. This led to him being announced as a founding member alongside Damien Eyries, Rely’s CEO. Now as Chief Technology Officer at Rely, he brings that same rigor and vision to green hydrogen, leading to developments in materials, efficiency, and power optimization. Beyond industry, he contributes to the ecosystem as a lecturer at Université libre de Bruxelles, Chair of Belgian association MECATECH, member of the French national research program PEPR-SPLEEN, and board member of his alma mater, École des Mines de Nancy.

Beau Broen has multiple contributions to the sector. At New Energy Coalition he supported the realization of a 1MW Solid‑Oxide electrolyzer and helped shape regional hydrogen strategies. As a board member of Jong‑NWBA he plays a key role in inspiring young talent nationwide, developing long‑term engagement strategies that address crucial Human Capital challenges in the hydrogen transition. Through his company, Hydrogen Bridgebuilders, he strengthens the sector by offering consultancy and business development services and by connecting hydrogen regions to foster new ecosystems. 

David Moore, President, and CEO of AcuTech Group, has made a transformative impact on the hydrogen industry through leadership in hydrogen safety. Since the founding of the Center for Hydrogen Safety (CHS) in 2019, Mr. Moore has supported its mission, becoming an Executive Member in 2024 and contributing sponsorship, technical expertise, and thought leadership to CHS. He has been a leading advocate for applying Process Safety Management principles across the hydrogen value chain, aligning hydrogen safety practices with recognized CCPS Risk Based Process Safety frameworks. A CCPS Fellow and member of the U.S. Department of Energy–established Hydrogen Safety Panel, Mr. Moore has helped advance voluntary, systematic approaches to managing hydrogen risks. In 2025, he further demonstrated his commitment by founding a Hydrogen Safety Service Group within AcuTech. His leadership continues to shape a safer, credible, and scalable hydrogen future, making him a deserving Person of the Year.

Thibault De Sorbier is one of the powerhouses behind Rely’s technology edge. As Technology Leader, he manages the interface with John Cockerill Hydrogen, driving electrolyzer qualification and our Joint Innovation Platform, which has delivered co‑developments integrated into our Clear100+ plant and supported by multiple patents. He also drives our broader innovation roadmap: in 2025 he led Rely’s participation in TNO VoltaChem’s Shared Research Program on AEM electrolysis, reinforcing our commitment to continuous innovation.

Thibault received Technip Energies’ “Inventor” award in 2025 and spoke at the internal Technology Days in 2024 and 2025. Featured in the “Voices of Rely” series, he champions knowledge‑sharing through 20 internal Tech Talks. Externally, he represents Rely at EVOLEN and mentors University of Lorraine students on an e‑SAF project. A founding member of Rely, he led the electrolyzer technology evaluation and holds an engineering degree from IFP School.