Essential information for end of life vehicle dismantling, depollution and recycling

ATF Professional LLP presents

Vehicle Recycling

never ending - forever evolving

A conference for those involved in the life cycle of vehicles

Days
Hours
Minutes
9th June 2022

Book Tickets

Advanced Propulsion Centre, Warwick, UK
Speakers
Destination
Sponsors
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The world stopped but has now started again. Much water has passed under the bridge. But the vehicle recycling industry has never stopped. Where is it now and where is it going? Find out at this vehicle recycling conference.

SPEAKERS

ATF Professional

Jim Loughran

Jim Loughran

CEO

e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management

Presentation
Sarah Hirst

Sarah Hirst

Green Parts Director

SYNETIQ

Presentation
Andrew Marsh

Andrew Marsh

CEO

Ezi-Methods

Presentation
Marty Hollingshead

Marty Hollingshead

President

Automotive Recyclers Association (USA)

Presentation
Sonja Nehls

Sonja Nehls

Principal Analyst

Autovista24

Presentation
Howard Bluck

Howard Bluck

Technical Director

BMRA

Presentation
Owain Griffiths

Owain Griffiths

Head of Circular Economy

Volvo Cars

Presentation
Kirsty McKno

Kirsty McKno

Managing Director

Cogent Hire

Presentation
Paul Christensen

Prof. Paul Christensen

Director

Lithiumionsafety Ltd

Presentation
e2e Gold Sponsor - ATF Pro Conference 2019

Destination

Advanced Propulsion Centre

IIPSI Building

University Road

Coventry

CV4 7AL

ATF Professional conference 27th Nov 2019
conference2022 1
Advanced Propulsion Centre Show Case - Car
conference2022 2

Gold Sponsor

e2e: Industry-standard for reclaimed parts to tackle quality inconsistencies between suppliers f

If you would you like to discuss sponsorship opportunities for this event please click here to send an email or call 01432 355099.

Silver Sponsors

SYNETIQ 05.22
Hills Group continues ambitious growth plans with £10 million investment in their warehousing and infrastructure programme for Green Parts distribution GPS L
Hensel ATF PRO 2021 webinar
ARW ATF Pro webinar 2021 sponsor re
WARD

Bronze Sponsors

Green car Depollution
Cawleys Lithium
wickens
Tickets & Information
Doors open 9:00
First Speaker 09:40
Event Ends 16:20
Refreshments and lunch included
COST: £99 per person
Buy Tickets
Travel Details, Parking and Registration
Jim Loughran

Jim Loughran

Chief Executive Officer, e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management

Jim joined e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management as Chief Executive Officer in November 2021.  He has over 30 years’ experience and a strong track record in effecting business transformation and servicing customers. His career has seen him accountable for successfully leading technology-based change programmes, directing business operations and architecting customer experience across a variety of industry sectors for blue chip brands including BT, Disney, ING Bank, QBE Insurance and Rolls Royce Aerospace.  Jim works with the e2e Board and Senior Management Team to develop and implement business strategy; overseeing business operations, member performance and client experience. He leads the business to realise its  strategic commitments, to include harnessing the latest advances in technology and digitalisation, to deliver service innovation to clients and network members.  Married with grown up children, outside of work, Jim enjoys competing in the Citroen C1 Series as a keen and enthusiastic amateur.  When not behind the wheel, Jim can be found sailing on the Solent with the Lloyd’s of London Yacht Club.

Unlocking efficiencies and cost savings in the automotive recycling industry

How can technology and data assist a more joined up approach for the salvage partner/insurer/repairer through the motor claims process: unlocking efficiencies and cost savings, and bringing reclaimed parts opportunities into the process sooner in a bid to reduce total loss volumes and CO2 emissions, minimise friction and improve customer experience/retention.

Sarah Hirst

Sarah Hirst

Green Parts Director - SYNETIQ

Sarah Hirst started her career in the Automotive sector in 1992 and has spent the last 30 years working in Fleet and Accident Management sectors across the UK.

She is now Green Parts Director at SYNETIQ, an IAA, Inc. company and the UK’s leading integrated salvage, dismantling and vehicle recycling company, having recently worked for RAC as an Account Director, responsible for both corporate accident management customers and corporate roadside management.

Sarah manages the flow of 257,000 recycled ‘green’ vehicle parts at SYNETIQ, managing the relationship between the business and its clients, including insurers, fleets, repair centres and garages. 

Sarah believes taking a partnership approach with garages, bodyshops and insurance repair partners can unlock the potential of sustainable vehicle repair and is taking SYNETIQ on a journey to drive forward their ‘Road to Tomorrow’ – its mission to be the most trusted and sustainable business in its sector. 

The ever-changing parts landscape

The post-COVID parts landscape is far different from two years ago with more and more customers turning to green parts as sustainable and cost-effective solutions. 

Sarah Hirst recaps on the impact COVID-19 has made on the green parts market and how customers have adapted.

Looking at where we are now within the industry, customers’ needs have changed. Sarah will examine what methods can be used to ensure these needs continue to be achieved and what initiatives she personally has implemented, plus the impact this is having for SYNETIQ and its customers.

Andrew Marsh

Andrew Marsh

CEO - EZI Methods

Starting with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1984, for 20 years Andrew worked inside vehicle manufacturers covering design, development and project management. The majority of the time was spent working outside the UK.

In 2004 Andrew moved to Thatcham Research, a partially UK motor insurer funded repair research centre, to bring this unique blend of engineering knowledge to future proof the company knowledge about each new vehicle arriving on the market. Later on, Andrew added to this role by looking after eScribe methods and times production for three years, which resulted in a dramatic increase in data output volume as well as quality.

In 2011 Andrew became a founder member of Auto Industry Consulting Ltd, together with Mr Ben Cardy. Auto Industry Consulting Ltd is an independent provider of technical information and consultancy to the global collision repair industry.

In 2013, AIC were also responsible for the creation of the AutoRaise Body Repair Apprenticeship Programme and system and course materials. AutoRaise combines three sets of essential skills into a 26 month programme – as an alternative to the existing 72 month programme – with learners achieving both nationally and industry recognised qualifications.

Fragmented future – profit or disaster?

The public have been bombarded with a blizzard of new products since 2020, from established and new vehicle manufacturers. The trend is accelerating, driven by politically charged policy in some parts of the world.

For established markets this leads to fewer units of single type sold in each product life cycle. Even if a vehicle appears not to have changed over a 7-year(ish) production cycle, many major parts are revised. Electrification has simply compounded this effect.

Are the ATFs the key to extending the life cycle of the existing parc? Will this give real world economic benefits to those who can’t afford the latest luxury EV dragster? I think the answer is yes….

Marty Hollingshead

Marty Hollingshead

President - Automotive Recyclers Association (USA)

Marty Hollingshead has been in the business since 1973 and the owner of Northlake Auto Recyclers, Inc., Hammond, Indiana, since 1984. Marty is the current President of ARA, and is a board member of the Indiana Automotive Recyclers Association. Both Marty and Northlake have received numerous awards and recognition for excellence in the industry and the community. Northlake has proven to be a world class facility and has set an example for others in the industry to follow.

Automotive Recycling: Past, Present, and Future.

This discussion will be about the state of our industry, where we came from, where we are now, and what does the future have in store for us. We are facing the biggest changes, challenges, and evolution of this industry to date; with electric vehicles, new engineering, and technology. The need for education training, and certification to be able to remain relevant, and viable will be crucial. How to improve our relationships with the OEMs. Embracing change to turn these challenges into opportunities. How to work together globally to better position our industry now and in the future. Now more than ever, we need to speak with one loud voice – this can only be done with participation, involvement and being engaged.

Sonja Nehls

Sonja Nehls

Principal Analyst Launch Intelligence - Autovista24

Sonja Nehls started her career and automotive journey with the tyre manufacturer Goodyear Dunlop in the year 2000 when she started her studies of International Business Administration at the University of cooperative education in Mannheim, Germany. After her graduation she worked as trade marketing executive and in event marketing at motorsports events for the brand Dunlop. In 2008 Sonja joined Volkswagen Accessories as trade marketing manager and e.g., contributed to launch activities of new Volkswagen models from an accessories perspective.

Sonja joined Autovista Group’s Car To Market team in 2013, advising car makers on optimising future residual values before the launch of a new model. Between 2019 and 2022 she lead the pan-European team as managing director.

As of 2022 she became the principal analyst launch intelligence at Autovista24, the essential automotive multimedia platform and information hub for industry news and detailed market analysis.

Navigating surging used-car prices.

New car sales have dramatically decreased during the Covid-19 pandemic and a recovery is slowed down due to the semiconductor shortage and general supply chain disruptions. The Ukraine war added to the already tense situation and rising inflation causes increases in new-car list prices. The used-car market was more resilient, and a fairly stable demand faced a shortage of young used-cars coming to the market. The result was soaring used-car prices in the UK and all over Europe. Internal combustion engines benefitted more than BEVs due to a disconnect between electric vehicle new car sales and demand on the used-car market.

What are the economic masking factors impacting current residual value performance, is there a remarketing bubble building up and what does the future hold for used ICEs and BEVs?

BMRA launches new Zero Carbon Committee f

Howard Bluck

Technical Director - BMRA

After a decade working in the metals recycling sector, Howard has developed a deep understanding of many of the key environmental and technical issues affecting the industry. With an LLM in Environmental Law and an MSc in Geochemistry, he is able to inform policymakers and advise members.

Waste Classification in the ELV sector.

Since 2005 operators of metal shredders have been able to rely on an EA regulatory position statement that accepts the classification of residues from their facilities as non-hazardous provided those residues have arisen exclusively from depolluted ELVs and other non-hazardous feedstock.  This has meant that operators have avoided the need to routinely sample their shredder residues for characterisation.  However, following the introduction of WM3 in 2015, along with a recognition that shredder feedstock composition had changed over time, the EA stated its intention to withdraw the RPS and require operators of metal shredders to appropriately classify these residues. BMRA’s members considered that a sampling strategy and methodology should be developed to attempt to characterise metal shredder residues at the national level.  Following the successful completion of an EA-endorsed pilot study, BMRA commissioned a year-long, nation-wide hazardous property and POPS assessment of metal shredder residues from 12 sites across the UK. Delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this study is on-going.  However, today’s presentation will consider the data available to date and what it may mean for the sector going forward. 

Owain Griffiths

Owain Griffiths

Head of Circular Economy at Volvo Cars

Owain joined Volvo Cars in June 2021 to lead Circular Economy in the Global Sustainability Team. The company has committed to being a circular business by 2040 and has financial, recycled content and CO2 based targets for 2025, all of which Owain is working across the company to make happen. Owain previously worked for circular economy consultancy Oakdene Hollins where he advised businesses on evidence led circular economy implementation. 

Turning into a circular business and the importance of vehicle reuse and recycling.

The presentation will cover the work Volvo Cars is doing to achieve 2025 but mainly focus on the transformational work towards 2040 and the business and value chain changes being considered. Attention will be paid to the way vehicles are being dealt with at the end of life and the complexities of closing material and component loops. Opportunities and challenges which Volvo Cars is facing will be presented including engagement with 3rd parties and increasing pressure from stakeholders.

Kirsty McKno

Kirsty McKno

Managing Director - Cogent Hire

Kirsty is a qualified solicitor who has worked in civil litigation for the past 22 years, including personal injury and credit hire.She started her career at Breens, and was there for 15 years, eventually becoming a partner and heading up civil litigation. While still at Breens, Kirsty set up Compass Law at Quindell, and then ran recoveries for Quindell Business Process Services in Blackpool, before it became Slater and Gordon Solutions Motor (SGSM) in late 2015. In 2018 she joined Kindertons as Group Recoveries Director for Sovereign, Plantec and KAM. She left Kindertons in July 2020, and after working in consultancy for Magna Accident Services and handl Group joined handl Group full time in 2020 with a brief to rethink credit hire and build a mobility services business, Cogent Hire, which launched in 2021. From 2016 – 2020 Kirsty was Chair of the Credit Hire Organisation, the trade body for the credit hire sector, as well as jointly chairing the GTA (a protocol that enables the industry to self-regulate); she has also been Chair of the Liverpool Law Society Civil Litigation Committee.  

 Cogent Hire has grown rapidly. Its ethos is collaboration; working together with insurers, suppliers and partners to keep the focus where it belongs, on the customer. Kirsty also believes that collaboration includes building a much deeper understanding of her stakeholders and the broader motor environment, so that she can flex Cogent Hire to absorb the challenges and pressures of the suppliers and partners she and her team work with. It is an approach that has been described as refreshing and progressive by a number of industry stakeholders.

The Battle isn’t over yet

What has credit hire got to do with recycling beyond ensuring a good return and avoiding green parts? Kirsty will explain how Cogent have worked to create a supply chain that has a different approach aiming to create mutually beneficial partnerships that consider how best to achieve an aligned outcome. The journey to achieving that has been a steep learning curve that has shown that silo behaviour might be stopping our industry from achieving its full potential and mean that the battle isn’t quite won yet. Kirsty will share some of the insights Cogent have gained and the initiatives that have been put in place in respect of both green parts and the very thorny issue of electric vehicles and how collaboration within the industry can effect change.

Paul Christensen

Paul Christensen

Director - Lithiumionsafety Ltd.

Senior Advisor to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

Special Advisor to Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (FRS).

Advisor to the Faraday Battery Challenge on lithium-ion safety.

Guest instructor, UK Fire Services College.

Director, Lithiumionsafety Ltd, safety consultancy.

37 years as professional electrochemist with over 180 papers in international, peer reviewed journals, H-index of 53. 

Freelance consultant for international companies in wide range of industries from insurance to mining.

Cross-government Technical Steering Group for EV fire safety

BEIS Energy Storage Health and Safety Governance Group.

BEIS Storage Safety – Fire Service Working Group.

Tyne & Wear FRS and Envision-AESC Gigafactory fire safety working group.

Derbyshire Police Electric Vehicle Safety Working Group.

Editorial Board member, Nature Special Reports.

First to raise the critical importance of vapour cloud production from lithium-ion batteries in thermal runaway based on extensive and ongoing experiments.

EV Batteries - What more do we need to know.

It was assumed that, like lead-acid batteries, once lithium-ion batteries reached the end-of-life in electric vehicles they would be recycled to recover the key metals. Thus the fact that EV batteries still have very significant value and are employed in a wide variety of 2nd life applications has taken legislators and standards committees completely unprepared. The hazards associated with 2nd life batteries are essentially the same as for new EV batteries: battery explosions, violent fires, toxic gases and vapour cloud explosions, but the probabilities of these hazards occurring are likely to be higher. The lack of a generally accepted test to assess the state-of-safety of 2nd life LiBs and the confusion surrounding the draft standards and regulations concerning these devices is putting lives and businesses at risk.

e2e awards logo

e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management [e2e] is the UK’s only salvage and automotive recycling network with nationwide, environmentally compliant sites delivering performance resilience and service reliability to the insurance and fleet markets.  The network’s online salvage auction www.salvagemarket.co.uk drives strong salvage resale values and faster sales.  e2e’s salvage clients have access to the network’s stocks of over 5 million quality graded, warranty assured reclaimed parts. 

The power of the network model means e2e has the ability to influence industry standards and is committed to continually raising the bar whilst redefining the role and perceived value of the salvage operator.  Network members adhere to robust service level agreements, against which they are audited, in order to ensure performance consistency and a market leading customer experience.  

The salvage and recycling operating environment is evolving rapidly, and e2e is anticipating, listening and responding to changing market needs.  Regulatory compliance, ESG, reclaimed parts, customer experience, EVs, new vehicle technologies, data and reputation risk are just some of many considerations linked to the procurement of salvage services.  e2e will drive further added value to clients and members through the adoption and application of emerging technologies, continuing to differentiate its proposition and position salvage services as a professional partnership. 

Visit their website

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Conrad Caine
Conrad Caine
Founder - MACHINES LIKE ME
From Manual to Intelligent: Automating the Right Work

As the conversation around AI accelerates, Conrad Caine is focused on one question: how can artificial intelligence deliver practical, measurable value in real-world industries like vehicle recycling?

Conrad is the Founder of MACHINES LIKE ME, an AI automation company that designs and deploys AI agents to transform manual operational and administrative tasks into reliable, scalable end-to-end automation. Working with organisations across sectors, he helps connect data, systems and workflows to streamline operations, reduce operating costs and improve quality, turning AI from theory into tangible business performance.

At a conference themed Auto Recycling Intelligence, Conrad’s session will address both the opportunity and the scepticism surrounding AI in the vehicle recycling sector. What is AI really? What can it genuinely automate, and what should remain firmly human-led?

He will explore practical applications for vehicle recyclers, from process optimisation and data handling to workflow automation, while making clear that AI is a support tool, not a replacement for industry expertise.

Blending philosophy with practical examples, Conrad will demystify artificial intelligence, challenge common misconceptions and show how vehicle recyclers can adopt AI confidently, improving efficiency without losing the human intelligence that drives the sector.

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Alan Colledge
Alan Colledge
Technical Director - Lithium Battery Recycling Solutions (a SUEZ company)
The EV Battery Challenge: Safe Handling, Market Reality and the Road Ahead

As lithium batteries become a defining feature of end-of-life vehicles, Alan Colledge is helping the UK recycling sector adapt safely and at scale. As Technical Director of Lithium Battery Recycling Solutions (SUEZ), Alan leads the safe collection, handling and recycling of lithium batteries, with a particular focus on traction batteries from the automotive and wider mobility markets.

Alan is a fourth-term Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) and has spent over 33 years in the waste industry. Since 2012, he has been at the centre of developing practical, compliant solutions for lithium battery management, work that helped establish one of the UK’s first dedicated battery workshops in 2017 and, in September 2022, one of the country’s first waste battery plants designed to recover materials via mechanical shredding and separation.

At a vehicle recycling conference, this topic is moving rapidly from “emerging” to “urgent”. Alan’s presentation explores what ATFs and recyclers need to know now: the real-world challenges of collection, transport and storage; the handling risks associated with damaged or unknown-state batteries; and the operational and commercial conditions the sector is likely to face over the next decade as EV volumes rise.

He’ll also share news of SUEZ’s latest investment in battery recycling,  and what it could mean for UK capacity, downstream routes and future collaboration with ATFs.

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Mark Main
Director, EY LLP – UK&I Transport & Logistics Leader, Mobility Practice
Total Cost of Ownership Meets End-of-Life Reality

As electrification reshapes the automotive sector, the financial logic behind vehicles is changing just as rapidly as the technology itself. Mark Main brings a strategic asset and valuation perspective to this transformation, helping the industry understand what electric vehicles truly cost, not just to buy and run, but to recover, repair, recycle and retire.

A Director at EY LLP in London and the firm’s UK&I Transport and Logistics Leader within its Mobility practice, Mark specialises in capital equipment valuation and asset lifecycle advisory.

With more than 20 years’ experience across automotive, fleet and leasing, he supports organisations with residual value modelling, portfolio strategy, financial reporting and total cost of ownership analysis.

In this session, Mark will explore how traditional TCO models must now incorporate end-of-life risk, battery uncertainty and disposal obligations. For Authorised Treatment Facilities, this has real implications, from the economics of EV dismantling and material recovery to the operational challenges of recovering and storing damaged electric vehicles after accidents.

He will also examine the growing need to reskill technicians to manage high-voltage systems safely, connecting financial exposure with operational readiness. The result is a clear-eyed view of how electrification is redefining asset risk, lifecycle value and long-term profitability across the vehicle recycling ecosystem.

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

IRT - Why You Can’t Afford to Miss This EV Battery Webinar HEM
HANS ERIC MELIN
Founder and Managing Director - CES Research and Consulting
From Vehicle to Value: Understanding the Battery End-of-Life Chain

Hans Eric Melin is the Founder and Managing Director of CES Research and Consulting, a London-based research and advisory firm recognised globally for its expertise in lithium-ion battery lifecycle management, with a particular focus on reuse, recycling, and end-of-life value chains. Since 2017, CES has become a primary source of data-driven insight on the rapidly evolving battery circular economy, supporting stakeholders across industry, finance, and policy.

Prior to founding CES, Hans Eric served as Vice President of Market Development at Battery Solutions, then the largest battery recycler in the United States, where he worked on scaling recycling capacity and developing downstream markets. Earlier, he was CEO of Refind Technologies, a technology company developing AI-based sorting systems for battery recycling facilities.

Through his research and advisory work, Hans Eric has been instrumental in shaping industry understanding of structural challenges and opportunities within battery circularity. His analysis has highlighted issues such as China’s central role in battery reuse, recycling, and materials refining; the global trade in used battery-containing products; and the outsized influence of ownership models, consumer behaviour, and regulation on battery lifetimes, often exceeding purely technical constraints.

Hans Eric’s insights have been published in leading scientific journals, including Science and Nature, and are frequently cited by international media such as Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. He is a regular keynote speaker and moderator at major conferences across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Hans Eric holds a BSc in Communication Studies and Business Administration from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and is based between London and Vienna.

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man in a dark suit and grey tie, facing the camera against a white background.
Leon van der Merwe
Vice President - Toyota Motor Europe
Designing for Circularity: The Manufacturer’s View of End-of-Life

Leon van der Merwe brings a senior OEM perspective to one of the most important shifts facing the vehicle recycling sector: the move towards a fully integrated circular economy. A highly experienced automotive leader, Leon has held major executive roles across retail, aftermarket and manufacturing. From serving as Managing Director of Kwik Fit South Africa to leading product and services strategy in Europe, and later holding senior positions with First Stop and Bridgestone Europe, his career spans the breadth of the automotive value chain.

Since joining Toyota Motor Europe in 2014, Leon has led After Sales before expanding his responsibilities to cover the entire Value Chain. In 2019, he moved into manufacturing as Vice President of Supply Chain, Manufacturing Support and Production Control, guiding operations through Brexit and Covid. In July 2023, he created two new strategic functions, Circular Economy and Energy Business, reinforcing Toyota’s long-term commitment to sustainability and new mobility models

For vehicle recycling, this signals a fundamental shift. OEMs are increasingly designing vehicles with reuse, remanufacture and material recovery in mind and seeking structured collaboration with recyclers.

Leon’s session will explore how circular economy strategy is influencing vehicle design, dismantling processes, data transparency and material flows, and what this means for auto recyclers aiming to position themselves as trusted partners within an OEM-led, end-to-end value chain.

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Mary Creagh CBE MP
Labour MP for Coventry East
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Defra)

Mary Creagh CBE MP is the Labour Member of Parliament for Coventry East and was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nature) at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in July 2024. In this role, she leads on the circular economy, including driving waste reduction, improving resource efficiency, and developing a new, more sustainable cross-government circular economy strategy, helping to accelerate progress towards a more resilient, recycling-led economy.

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Paul Sell
Paul Sell
Director - Trend Tracker, Industry Insights & Service Certainty Ltd
Repair or Total Loss? The Decisions Driving ELV Volumes

With more than two decades at the heart of the UK insurance sector, Paul Sell brings a deep understanding of how claims economics directly influence the vehicle repair and recycling markets.

Paul spent 23 years with Aviva, leading a range of commercial roles across partnerships and claims supply chain. After working closely with vehicle manufacturers, he transitioned into Claims Supply Chain, ultimately becoming Head of Supply Chain with responsibility for supplier relationships across all product lines. His experience spans procurement strategy, repair networks, cost control and operational performance, insight that is increasingly relevant to Authorised Treatment Facilities navigating insurer-led decisions.

Since leaving Aviva seven years ago, Paul has worked independently with innovative businesses, including RightIndem and Service Certainty, while providing consultancy to insurers and manufacturers through Industry Insights. He also played a key role in the acquisition and leadership of Trend Tracker, which now delivers regular market intelligence and analysis to the motor claims and repair sector.

In his session, Paul will explore the trends shaping the Motor Vehicle Repair Market, from repair-versus-write-off decisions and parts pressures to insurer behaviour and market cycles. For ATFs, these dynamics directly affect vehicle volumes, salvage values and end-of-life flows. Delegates will gain a clearer picture of where the market is heading and what it means for the future of vehicle recycling.

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

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This is where the vehicle recycling sector comes to understand what’s changing and act on it.

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VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Mary Creagh CBE MP

CBE MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Defra)
Labour MP for Coventry East

Mary Creagh CBE MP is the Labour Member of Parliament for Coventry East and was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nature) at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in July 2024. In this role, she leads on the circular economy, including driving waste reduction, improving resource efficiency, and developing a new, more sustainable cross-government circular economy strategy, helping to accelerate progress towards a more resilient, recycling-led economy.

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VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Paul Sell

Director at Trend Tracker, Industry Insights & Service Certainty Ltd

With more than two decades at the heart of the UK insurance sector, Paul Sell brings a deep understanding of how claims economics directly influence the vehicle repair and recycling markets.

Paul spent 23 years with Aviva, leading a range of commercial roles across partnerships and claims supply chain. After working closely with vehicle manufacturers, he transitioned into Claims Supply Chain, ultimately becoming Head of Supply Chain with responsibility for supplier relationships across all product lines. His experience spans procurement strategy, repair networks, cost control and operational performance — insight that is increasingly relevant to Authorised Treatment Facilities navigating insurer-led decisions.

Since leaving Aviva seven years ago, Paul has worked independently with innovative businesses including RightIndem and Service Certainty, while providing consultancy to insurers and manufacturers through Industry Insights. He also played a key role in the acquisition and leadership of Trend Tracker, which now delivers regular market intelligence and analysis to the motor claims and repair sector.

In his session, Paul will explore the trends shaping the Motor Vehicle Repair Market — from repair-versus-write-off decisions and parts pressures to insurer behaviour and market cycles. For ATFs, these dynamics directly affect vehicle volumes, salvage values and end-of-life flows. Delegates will gain a clearer picture of where the market is heading and what it means for the future of vehicle recycling.

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VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Conrad Caine

Conrad Caine

Founder, MACHINES LIKE ME

As the conversation around AI accelerates, Conrad Caine is focused on one question: how can artificial intelligence deliver practical, measurable value in real-world industries like vehicle recycling?

Conrad is the Founder of MACHINES LIKE ME, an AI automation company that designs and deploys AI agents to transform manual operational and administrative tasks into reliable, scalable end-to-end automation. Working with organisations across sectors, he helps connect data, systems and workflows to streamline operations, reduce operating costs and improve quality, turning AI from theory into tangible business performance.

At a conference themed Auto Recycling Intelligence, Conrad’s session will address both the opportunity and the scepticism surrounding AI in the vehicle recycling sector. What is AI really? What can it genuinely automate, and what should remain firmly human-led?

He will explore practical applications for vehicle recyclers, from process optimisation and data handling to workflow automation, while making clear that AI is a support tool, not a replacement for industry expertise.

Blending philosophy with practical examples, Conrad will demystify artificial intelligence, challenge common misconceptions and show how vehicle recyclers can adopt AI confidently, improving efficiency without losing the human intelligence that drives the sector.

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VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Mark Main

Director, EY LLP – UK&I Transport & Logistics Leader, Mobility Practice

As electrification reshapes the automotive sector, the financial logic behind vehicles is changing just as rapidly as the technology itself. Mark Main brings a strategic asset and valuation perspective to this transformation, helping the industry understand what electric vehicles truly cost, not just to buy and run, but to recover, repair, recycle and retire.

A Director at EY LLP in London and the firm’s UK&I Transport and Logistics Leader within its Mobility practice, Mark specialises in capital equipment valuation and asset lifecycle advisory.

With more than 20 years’ experience across automotive, fleet and leasing, he supports organisations with residual value modelling, portfolio strategy, financial reporting and total cost of ownership analysis.

In this session, Mark will explore how traditional TCO models must now incorporate end-of-life risk, battery uncertainty and disposal obligations. For Authorised Treatment Facilities, this has real implications, from the economics of EV dismantling and material recovery to the operational challenges of recovering and storing damaged electric vehicles after accidents.

He will also examine the growing need to reskill technicians to manage high-voltage systems safely, connecting financial exposure with operational readiness. The result is a clear-eyed view of how electrification is redefining asset risk, lifecycle value and long-term profitability across the vehicle recycling ecosystem.

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VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

HANS ERIC MELIN

Founder and Managing Director of CES Research and Consulting

Hans Eric Melin is the Founder and Managing Director of CES Research and Consulting, a London-based research and advisory firm recognised globally for its expertise in lithium-ion battery lifecycle management, with a particular focus on reuse, recycling, and end-of-life value chains. Since 2017, CES has become a primary source of data-driven insight on the rapidly evolving battery circular economy, supporting stakeholders across industry, finance, and policy.

Prior to founding CES, Hans Eric served as Vice President of Market Development at Battery Solutions, then the largest battery recycler in the United States, where he worked on scaling recycling capacity and developing downstream markets. Earlier, he was CEO of Refind Technologies, a technology company developing AI-based sorting systems for battery recycling facilities.

Through his research and advisory work, Hans Eric has been instrumental in shaping industry understanding of structural challenges and opportunities within battery circularity. His analysis has highlighted issues such as China’s central role in battery reuse, recycling, and materials refining; the global trade in used battery-conta

ining products; and the outsized influence of ownership models, consumer behaviour, and regulation on battery lifetimes, often exceeding purely technical constraints.

Hans Eric’s insights have been published in leading scientific journals, including Science and Nature, and are frequently cited by international media such as Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. He is a regular keynote speaker and moderator at major conferences across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Hans Eric holds a BSc in Communication Studies and Business Administration from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and is based between London and Vienna.

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VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man in a dark suit and grey tie, facing the camera against a white background.

Leon van der Merwe

Vice President at Toyota Motor Europe.

Leon van der Merwe brings a senior OEM perspective to one of the most important shifts facing the vehicle recycling sector: the move towards a fully integrated circular economy. A charismatic and highly experienced automotive leader, Leon has held major executive roles across retail, aftermarket and manufacturing. From serving as Managing Director of Kwik Fit South Africa to leading product and services strategy in Europe, and later holding senior positions with First Stop and Bridgestone Europe, his career spans the breadth of the automotive value chain

Since joining Toyota Motor Europe in 2014, Leon has led After Sales before expanding his responsibilities to cover the entire Value Chain. In 2019 he moved into manufacturing as Vice President of Supply Chain, Manufacturing Support and Production Control, guiding operations through Brexit and Covid. In July 2023, he created two new strategic functions — Circular Economy and Energy Business — reinforcing Toyota’s long-term commitment to sustainability and new mobility models

For vehicle recycling, this signals a fundamental shift. OEMs are increasingly designing vehicles with reuse, remanufacture and material recovery in mind — and seeking structured collaboration with recyclers.

Leon’s session will explore how circular economy strategy is influencing vehicle design, dismantling processes, data transparency and material flows, and what this means for auto recyclers aiming to position themselves as trusted partners within an OEM-led, end-to-end value chain.

VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Dismantlers at the centre of the aftermarket - Andrew Marsh
Andrew Marsh
Technical director - AutoBody Bible Ltd
The China Effect: Risk or Opportunity for Vehicle Recyclers?

With more than four decades in automotive engineering, Andrew Marsh brings rare depth and straight-talking clarity to the challenges now facing vehicle recycling. An engineering graduate since 1984, Andrew spent over 20 years inside major OEMs before moving into a second career phase with Thatcham Research.

In 2011, he founded AutoBody Bible Ltd to deliver bodyshop-focused repair intelligence, and in 2026 he begins a new business venture. A respected technical commentator, he writes for leading bodyshop publications and is a Fellow of both the IMI and the IAEA.

A regular international presenter, Andrew speaks at industry events around the world and is also a familiar voice to our audience, having previously presented at our conferences.

In this session, Andrew will examine China’s growing influence on the European automotive market and why this matters directly to Authorised Treatment Facilities. As Europe moves toward 2030, will China’s manufacturing strength reshape volumes, vehicle types and parts availability, and what could that mean for ATF profitability and compliance?

Andrew will cut through the headlines to explore how Chinese industrial policy, European regulation and high energy costs combine to impact end-of-life vehicle flows. Crucially, he will set out the potential “win or lose” implications for ATFs,  from changing dismantling demand and material values to new operational pressures, emerging opportunities and the strategic steps ATFs can take to stay ahead.

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VEHICLE RECYCLING CONFERENCE 2026

Alan Colledge

Alan Colledge

Company Title

As lithium batteries become a defining feature of end-of-life vehicles, Alan Colledge is helping the UK recycling sector adapt safely and at scale. As Technical Director of Lithium Battery Recycling Solutions (SUEZ), Alan leads the safe collection, handling and recycling of lithium batteries, with a particular focus on traction batteries from the automotive and wider mobility markets.

Alan is a fourth-term Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) and has spent over 33 years in the waste industry. Since 2012, he has been at the centre of developing practical, compliant solutions for lithium battery management, work that helped establish one of the UK’s first dedicated battery workshops in 2017 and, in September 2022, one of the country’s first waste battery plants designed to recover materials via mechanical shredding and separation.

At a vehicle recycling conference, this topic is moving rapidly from “emerging” to “urgent”. Alan’s presentation explores what ATFs and recyclers need to know now: the real-world challenges of collection, transport and storage; the handling risks associated with damaged or unknown-state batteries; and the operational and commercial conditions the sector is likely to face over the next decade as EV volumes rise.

He’ll also share news of SUEZ’s latest investment in battery recycling,  and what it could mean for UK capacity, downstream routes and future collaboration with ATFs.

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