Valerie Smits

Valerie Smits is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in innovation and R&D leadership across diverse sectors including automotive, electronics, and consumer goods. Currently serving as Head of Innovation at Phillips Carbon Black Limited since January 2020, Valerie previously held the position of Innovation Program Director at Imerys, where responsibilities included co-owning a corporate project focused on future growth strategies and managing key innovation programs. Valerie's background includes roles as Display and Electronics Innovation Sr. R&D Manager at SABIC, where strategic direction for the flexible electronics segment was defined, and senior leadership at Dow Corning, overseeing R&D strategy and operations. Valerie's expertise spans various end-use markets, combining strong technical knowledge with strategic business acumen to drive significant growth in each role. Valerie holds Master's degrees in Chemical Engineering from Hamburg University of Technology and Faculté Polytechnique de Mons.