Over the 2nd and 3rd of April 2025 fuel, technology and convenience suppliers met with fuel wholesale and retail operators in Bangkok for the ReFuel APAC 2025, for what was an intense but productive couple of days of learning, in depth corporate speed-dating and casual networking.
The unique format of the ReFuel Forums, presented by OpenRoom , is more than just a conference. The Forums include a day and a half of structured professional speed dating, a series of prearranged 20 minute meetings that allow for deep understanding and the condensing of a years worth of meetings into just a few days.
The conference presentations and panels allowed for detailed exploration of the challenges facing the fuel industry in the Asia Pacific region and the structured one-to-one meetings allowed delegates to spend quality time with suppliers and Technology leaders from around the world exploring their solutions to the problems retailers are facing today and will tomorrow.
MC for the the ReFuelForum APAC 2025, Mark McKenzie (BEng,MBA,GAICD), opened the learning sessions by calling on Gilbarco Veeder-Root , the Headline Partner for the event, who invited delegates to be open to new ideas and to engage with suppliers and colleagues to explore solutions to current challenges and partners for future opportunities.
Rizalino ‘Yen’ Roxas, Founder and CEO, Roxas Management Consultancy kicked the learning off with a keynote on leveraging AI for the Fuel and Convenience Retail Industry, with a focus on driving growth, efficiency and sustainability.
Vishnu Govender, Regional Director SEA for Gilbarco Veeder-Root addressed the need for businesses to ‘adapt’ to a fast pace of change.
Then Mark Evans, VP & GM Fuel Pricing and Logistics at, PDI Technologies then took delegates on a deep dive into the practical implementation challenges and opportunities that AI in fuel pricing offers local market operators.
Wrapping up the presentations session for day 1 Lei Xiang from Beijing Sanki Petroleum Technology Co.,ltd demonstrated how traditional fuel stations are evolving into multi-functional energy hubs with EV charging, hydrogen supply, and CNG/LPG refueling in a session on The Evolution of Gas Stations.
After a quick refresh at afternoon tea the Forum delegates got down to the real work of the event…the one-to-one meetings that “allow us to do a years worth of meetings in a couple of days, it’s hard work, but well worth it”.
The meetings ran into the evening before a delightful dinner riverside in beautiful Bangkok.
Day 2 of the ReFuelForum APAC 2025 commenced with more learning sessions to provide delegates with local, regional and international context on the challenges and opportunities within the fuel wholesale, retail and supply chain that are facing all industry participants.
In the Short Sharp Insights Session a variety of suppliers took delegates through the role that technology and IOT can play in leveraging the intrinsic asset that is business;
- Sreeja Nair, Senior Sales Manager, FuelTrans,
- Hans Zhag Business Development Director at Oket Group
- Jimmy Zhu, Regional Manager at BlueSky Technologies
Mark McKenzie (BEng,MBA,GAICD), event MC and CEO of Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA) drew together the actual (as opposed to hopeful) reality of the role of ev as the “hero” of transition (Spoiler Alert…its not).
Mark then led a panel discussion exploring What the next 5 years look like in Asia Pacific Fuel and Convenience Market with engaged panelists;
– Rizalino ‘Yen’ Roxas, Founder and CEO, Roxas Management Consultancy
– Patrick Florczak, Head of Distribution and Partnership at OmniShelf
– Vanda Laura, President Director at BP / AKR Fuel Retail Indonesia
– Patrick Simons, Sales Director Mobility Retail International at SymphonyAI
Armed with valuable insights the delegates had a quick morning tea before getting down to a long and energising day of unique 20 min speed dating meeting sessions that turn delegates into colleagues with a deeper understanding of each other’s businesses, pain points and solutions.
The networking continued in a more relaxed setting as delegates were treated to a dinner under the stars.
After two days of intensive structured meetings and presentations retailers and supplier head home with new and deeper relationships and the partnerships ready to rise to the challenge of today and to take advantage of the opportunities of tomorrow.
ReFuel Forum APAC will be back in 2026 (April). This unique event is free for retailers to attend thanks to the participation of suppliers and the generous support of the Partners;
- Headline Partner – Gilbarco Veeder-Root
- Gold Partner – Invenco by GVR
- Gold Partner – PDI Technologies
- Gold Partner – Sanki
- Intelligent Solutions Partner –Oket Group
- EV Partner – BlueSky Energy Technology
- Technology Partner – FuelTrans
- AI Partner – SymphonyAI
- Industry Partner – Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA)
- Media Partner – PetrolPlaza
ACAPMA
