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The science is clear: material overconsumption is driving the planetary crisis. At the same time many people don’t meet basic well-being thresholds. How can we build a future where well-being soars without accelerating material consumption and its impacts? In the opening plenary, a critical discussion with global policy and thought leaders will help us shape an actionable vision for the future role of governance, economics and society in building a just, circular future.
Organisers: International Resource Panel, Circle Economy Foundation and Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
Programme
Prologue by Soif Totale
Welcome!
Pep Rosenfeld
Founder, Event Host and Comedian
Boom Chicago for Business
Pep is a high-level event host, keynote speaker, communication trainer, stand-up comedian and collaborative partner. Pep hosts high-profile events like The Nordic Business Forum where he made Barack Obama laugh and receives higher audience ratings than most speakers. His interviews with thought leaders like Simon Sinek, Brené Brown and Malcolm Gladwell get rave reviews. As co-founder and director of content for Boom Chicago for Business, Pep puts Boom's philosophy, “Humor Makes Business Better,” into effect hosting business events, where he uses comedy to make hard-to-communicate messages land and stick. His interactive keynotes, including, “Up Your Leadership Game with Humor” is in high demand. Pep was nominated for an Emmy for his writing on America’s long-running television show, Saturday Night Live.
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Bend the trend: Pathways to a liveable planet as resource use spikes
Janez Potočnik
Co-chair
International Resource Panel (IRP)
Janez Potočnik (1958) is an economist graduated from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He served as director of the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development in Ljubljana. He was appointed head of the negotiating team for the accession of Slovenia to the EU and served as minister responsible for European Affairs. In 2004 he joined the European Commission as Commissioner responsible for science and research. In 2010 he became Commissioner for environment. After the mandate he was appointed as a co-chair of UNEP IRP. Dr Potočnik is also partner at SYSTEMIQ.
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How can governance and finance put science into action?
Ivonne Bojoh
CEO
Circle Economy
After 25 years at start-ups and scale-ups in Europe and Southeast Asia, Ivonne chose to apply her knowledge and experience to resolving global environmental and societal issues. In 2020, she fell in love with the circular economy. She joined Circle Economy Foundation, where her team provides data-centred analyses, capacity development, and tools to the private and public sectors to enable the implementation of circular strategies, bringing theory into action. Ivonne envisions a future where companies thrive because they care for their environment, their people and their community. Her goal is to transform 10,000 companies, 1,000 cities and 100 nations. What is yours?
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Vivianne Heijnen
Minister for the Environment
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands
Vivianne Heijnen was appointed minister for the environment in January 2022. In 2018 she became a member of the Maastricht municipal executive with responsibility for the economy, housing, regional policy and social innovation. Between 2009 and 2018 she was head of the Maastricht University Campus in Brussels. When asked about what motivates her as a minister, her response is as follows: “I want the Netherlands to be a country that is liveable and accessible for everyone and where we reuse more. I’m committed to reducing travel time in a sustainable way, with a particular focus on border regions, cities and our neighbouring countries.” Heijnen was born on 8 October 1982 in Spaubeek.
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Al-Hamndou Dorsouma
Division Manager, Climate Change and Green Growth
The African Development Bank (AfDB)
Al-Hamndou Dorsouma leads AfDB’s efforts on climate change in Africa, including building climate resilience and low carbon opportunities into the bank’s investments, and supporting the bank’s engagement on the circular economy as a strategy for climate resilience and green growth. Dr Dorsouma’s academic background is in geography and environmental management. He also worked for other international organisations, namely the Observatory of Sahara and Sahel (OSS) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
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Ambroise Fayolle
Vice-President
European Investment Bank (EIB)
Ambroise Fayolle was appointed to his current position in February 2015. He is responsible for climate action and environment, development policy and the European Guarantee Fund. He is also a board member of the European Investment Fund. He oversees EIB’s activities in France, Germany and many countries in Africa and the Pacific. A graduate of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration, he spent most of his career in various positions at the French Treasury Department and in the IMF and the World Bank, including as a board member of the two latter institutions for 8 years.
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Closing words
Virginijus Sinkevičius
EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
European Commission
Prior to joining the European Commission, Virginijus Sinkevičius was the minister of economy of Lithuania from 2017 to 2019. He led the committee of economy at the parliament of Lithuania, to which he was elected in October 2016. Sinkevičius holds a bachelor’s in international relations and affairs from Aberystwyth University and a master’s in European international affairs from Maastricht University.
