Panel Discussion: Vape 2.0 - Data, Devices and Responsible Design
This session examines the next generation of vaping products and the technologies shaping their development. Data-driven insights and new technologies are enabling greater device personalization, improved safety features, and more sustainable products. A panel of leading manufacturers and industry experts will discuss innovations aimed at restricting youth access, meeting adult consumer needs, and advancing users along the harm-reduction continuum.
Session Speakers
Dr. Pete Gibbons is the Business Development Director at Labstat International. Pete is a chemist by training with extensive experience in New Category Nicotine Products, aerosol science and analytical chemistry. He is a frequent contributor to the development of European (CEN) and worldwide (ISO) standards and actively participates in Coresta. His previous positions include Head of Reduced Risk Product Analysis at Hall Analytical (Manchester, UK) and Head of Technical for a major Independent UK ENDS business. Prior to joining the Nicotine Product industry in 2015, Pete enjoyed a successful career as a drug discovery expert.
Pete Lomas is the Founder of Capseca Limited – a Product Development Consultancy specialising in Next Generation Products (NGP) within the nicotine industry. He assists his clients with concept generation, prototyping, evaluation, Intellectual Property, Regulatory compliance, and manufacturing of NGP products.
Pete has a background in Electro-Mechanical Engineering, having worked in Product Development for nearly 30 years. He has specialised in NGP Product Development for the last eight years, initially spending four years at Imperial Brands leading the engineering team working on NGP device development (including Blu and Pulze devices). Pete spent a further two years as Managing Consultant at Broughton Life Sciences, assisting clients in developing their nicotine delivery products to be compliant with regulatory requirements (PMTA, TPD, MAA).
Pete is passionate about Product Development and finding novel and innovative solutions to engineering problems. He believes in questioning and challenging everything, constantly striving for improvement. As a result, he is named as inventor on over 100 published patent applications, the majority of which are in the NGP field.
When I first launched Yalla, my vision was to create a vape brand that truly represented the Middle East—a brand we could proudly call our own. I wanted it to reflect the region’s rich culture, vibrant society, and growing success, while offering something unique and innovative in the market.
Our core mission is to help people quit smoking by offering a range of alternative nicotine delivery products. We don’t see ourselves as just a vape brand, but rather as an alternative nicotine solutions provider. We’re constantly exploring innovative ways to support people in their journey to quit smoking.
Maryna Gudym is the Business Development Director at Wingle Group Electronics Limited, a market and business intelligence consultancy specializing in Reduced Risk Products (RRP). She focuses on market trends and developments across the RRP landscape, monitoring and analysing emerging technologies, innovative devices, and next-generation solutions. Her work supports strategic decision-making through data-driven insights, competitive intelligence, and forward-looking market prognosis.
In parallel, Maryna has spent five years leading sales for Wingle’s vape-testing initiative, delivering industry-tailored analytical solutions and vaping equipment. She has worked closely with manufacturers and R&D teams on operational testing of diverse devices and systems, supporting product development, performance validation, and regulatory readiness.
Ross Donovan is the Global Head of Commercialization for eVapor at Philip Morris International (PMI), where he leads the global rollout and scaling of next-generation, smoke-free products. With over 17 years of international experience spanning business leadership, strategy, and finance, he has a proven track record of driving growth, innovation, and transformation in dynamic and fast-evolving markets.
Since joining PMI in 2014, Ross has played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s transformation toward a smoke-free future. He has held senior leadership positions across Switzerland, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, gaining broad exposure to diverse markets and operating environments. Most recently, as General Manager of Kuwait, he led the successful launch of IQOS ILUMA and VEEV, positioning the market at the forefront of PMI’s multi-category smoke-free ambitions. Prior to this, as Head of Strategy for the Maghreb cluster, he drove a significant business and organizational transformation to prepare for the introduction of smoke-free products.
Before joining PMI, Ross began his career at Procter & Gamble, where he held roles of increasing responsibility in finance and strategy across multiple product categories. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in the launch of Oral-B toothpaste and toothbrushes across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Ross holds a Master of Arts in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford, graduating with first-class honours. He is passionate about talent development and is an active mentor, committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders within the organization.
