ECGA Appoints Ms Katarzyna Palaczanis as New Secretary General

2^nd of February 2026

Brussels, 2 February 2026 – Following the retirement of Dr Corina Hebestreit, the ECGA Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Katarzyna Palaczanis as Secretary General of the European Advanced Carbon and Graphite Materials Association (ECGA), effective 1 February 2026.

Ms Palaczanis brings over 20 years of experience in public affairs and strategic communications in the minerals and metals sector. She has built a strong track record across industry, European trade associations and international stakeholder platforms, including as a Board Member of the Critical Raw Materials Alliance.

Mr Juan Antonio Aranzabal, President of ECGA, said:

“We are pleased to welcome Ms Katarzyna Palaczanis as our new Secretary General and look forward to working with her as ECGA continues to support a competitive European industry and resilient supply chains. On behalf of the ECGA Board, I would like to warmly thank Dr Corina Hebestreit for 25 years of outstanding commitment and leadership. Her contribution has been essential in strengthening ECGA and advancing the role of advanced carbon and graphite materials at the European level.”

"I am delighted to be joining the sector at this very important time. I look forward to working closely with ECGA members and staff to ensure that advanced carbon and graphite materials remain essential both for traditional industrial applications and as a key part of the solution for the energy transition."
Katarzyna Palaczanis
ECGA Secretary General

Looking ahead, ECGA will continue to work closely with its members, EU institutions and stakeholders to reinforce Europe’s industrial resilience and investment conditions for advanced carbon and graphite materials value chains – supporting resilient supply chains, fair international competition, and policy frameworks that strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.

For more information, please read the press release.