Rick Goss brings over 25 years’ experience in public policy, strategy and advocacy to help clients achieve their sustainability, energy and environmental priorities. Rick is a recognised policy and technical expert and a seasoned global negotiator who has successfully delivered results in Washington, Brussels, Beijing and at the United Nations. Rick’s experience includes testifying before the US Congress on conflict minerals policy, electronics recycling and green procurement, and representing the information and communications technology (ICT) sector before US federal agencies. He has advised the European Commission and the OECD on supply chain priorities and has represented the sector before global governments on sustainability topics related to manufacturing processes and ICT products. Rick recently stepped down as chair of the board of Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI)and is now serving as their senior advisor.
Eddy Kioni is the CEO of a newly established innovative integrated metals trading company in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), dedicated to enhancing the global supply chains of critical minerals through value-added services. At the forefront of Buenassa's ambitious endeavours is a pioneering project: the establishment of a climate-smart mining-oriented copper and cobalt refinery, aligning with the DRC's goals for mineral beneficiation and sustainable socio-economic development. His leadership is pivotal in driving Buenassa towards impactful contributions to the mineral sector. Eddy's extensive experience spans both the private and public sectors, as he has also held influential consultancy roles and management positions in government ministries and state-controlled companies.
Veerle Slenders was appointed to her current position in June 2023. She brings over 30 years’ international experience in various operating and commercial roles and spent 28 years at Praxair/Linde, a leading global industrial gases and engineering company. She served as their president of the west European region, led the global advanced materials technologies business, and led the global safety, health, environment and quality function. Veerle’s career includes periods working and living in the US, Germany, France and Belgium. She holds a master's in chemical engineering from the University of Hasselt, Belgium, as well as a postgraduate in business administration from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
Christian drives sustainability and financial growth while fostering circular business models. He is responsible for developing and implementing Vale Base Metals’ circularity strategy, including setting policies, defining performance goals and integrating the strategy across the whole business. Chris has over 20 years’ experience and expertise, having started his career in Peru and Latin America in the forestry and energy sectors, before moving first into renewables and power and then to the mining and metals industry. Previously, he was director of innovation at the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), where he was responsible for all aspects related to the future of mining, including climate change, tailings innovation and the circular economy. Prior to joining the ICMM, Chris held sustainability and clean energy-related roles at organisations such as Systemiq, the World Economic Forum, Anglo American, KPMG, the United Nations, Globeleq, Bozovich Timber Group and Citibank.
Christian Susan is an Austrian national. He holds an MSC in integrated water resource management and an MSC in environmental economics. He joined UNIDO in 2008 and has since worked as project manager on a wide array of environmental projects in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Latin and Central America. The main objectives of the projects include promoting public-private-partnerships for water stewardship, circular and sustainable industrial approaches, facilitating resource efficient and cleaner production, the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and supporting the transition towards eco-industry. In 2018, he assumed management responsibility for the Swiss-funded Global Eco-Industrial Park Program (GEIPP) as well as for the GEIPP country-level interventions in Colombia, Indonesia, Peru, South Africa and Vietnam. The GEIPP is one of UNIDO’s flagship projects promoting the adoption of circular economy approaches in industries.
Klaus Tyrkkö has worked for the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme (GEIPP) implemented by UNIDO since 2020. GEIPP is a 7-country programme advancing the uptake of eco-industrial parks (EIP) practices and creating an EIP-conducive policy environment. Klaus served previously as division chief at UNIDO and has held a policy advisory role at UNDP and the European Commission. Klaus started his career in the manufacturing industry and has also served as a consultant in more than 20 countries.
Freyr has dedicated five years to working with KLAK, supporting over 80 startups annually through multiple business accelerators and workshops. Notably, one of their initiatives is Hringiða, a circular economy accelerator established in 2021 in collaboration with global partners such as IBMS and Inspiralia. Additionally, as partners in Venture Challenge, KLAK assists emerging fund managers with their challenges, driven by their passion for evolving the venture ecosystem in the Nordics. Freyr also serves on the board of Nordic Innovation, contributing to shaping the innovation landscape in the region. He has a bachelor's in software engineering from the University of Reykjavik and a master's in entrepreneurship and innovation management from KTH in Stockholm.
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Yinghua Jiang
Vice President of Government Affairs and External Relations
Veolia China
Yinghua Jiang has extensive experience in the environmental industry. She has been working for Veolia since 2004, and also holds the position of deputy secretary-general in various industrial associations and councils. Prior to this, she also served in Areva, a leading French nuclear industry company. Jiang graduated from the University of International Business and Economics and later obtained a master's in Franco-Chinese international business administration from the University of International Business and Economics, Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne Business School.
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Anis Nassar
Lead, Resource Circularity
World Economic Forum (WEF)
Anis Nassar is an economist who leads the circular economy agenda of the WEF. He represents the WEF with external organisations such as the Global Battery Alliance, the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) and the Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP).
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Katja Suhr
Head of Circular Economy Team
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Katja Suhr leads the circular economy programme at GIZ. With a background in international business administration, she has over 20 years’ experience in international cooperation with a focus on business development and sustainable management.
