Joana dos Santos Gonçalves is a researcher on circularity in the built environment at VITO in Belgium. She graduated as an architect from the School of Architecture of University of Minho, Portugal in 2014 and was awarded the Iberian Prize on Traditional Architecture Research in 2014 for her research. In 2016 Joana started her PhD on “Beyond good intentions: building passport for sustainable conservation”. Between 2019 and 2021 she was a guest PhD in the UNESCO chair on heritage and the reshaping of urban conservation for sustainability at TU Delft, the Netherlands. Between 2020 and 2022, she was a lecturer on heritage and sustainability at TU Delft, guiding master graduation projects on topics such as social engagement or zero waste approaches to heritage conservation.
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?
Piotr is a Belgian/Polish national with over 11 years’ experience in circular economy policy development. Currently he works for the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) Foundation and is a council member of the European Environmental Bureau.
Mikko Dufva leads the foresight team at Sitra and is also a docent of futures studies at Aalto University. In his work he studies trends, weak signals, visions and assumptions about different potential futures. He seeks to make foresight and futures approachable and inspiring. Mikko has extensive experience in foresight and a doctorate in science (technology) on the creation of futures knowledge and systemic foresight.
Marvin works for the finance programme of Circle Economy Foundation and leads its strategic direction. Marvin initiated the company's "circularity exchange network" which supports major financial institutions in their circular transition. He also runs projects in the Dutch financial sector in the Kopgroep Circulair Financieren. His expertise lies in developing strategic solutions around financing challenges and measuring the circular economy. He has also led the R&D work on circular indicators and metrics as a secretariat member of the Circular Economy Indicator Coalition (CEIC). Previously, he worked in business consulting and development in the DACH area (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). As a freelancer he has years of experience in the electronic equipment (waste) sector. Marvin holds an MSc in political economy from the Universiteit van Amsterdam and a BSc in business economics.
Colette van der Ven is an international lawyer with expertise in trade and sustainable development. She is a member of the New York bar. Colette advises public sector stakeholders on how to leverage regulatory frameworks and trade agreements to promote inclusive and sustainable development. Advancing a circular economy transition is a key focus of her work. She is also a lecturer in international economic law at the Graduate Institute. Colette holds a Juris Doctor from the Harvard Law School and a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Hannah tells stories where communities meet technology and the climate crisis. She is founder and managing director at Sustainable Change Studio, a climate action consultancy. They use storytelling to empower and educate charities and startups to mobilise against the climate crisis. She holds a master’s in international development focusing on environment and climate change. When not working she likes to travel as much and as sustainably possible, normally with a book in hand.
Nora Eslander leads marketing at Colorifix, a company pioneering the world's first entirely biological solution for producing, fixing and depositing pigments onto textiles. Colorifix was recently named as a finalist for the Earthshot Prize 2023 in the category “Build a waste-free world”. Nora works with world-leading fashion brands to create a new narrative around dyeing textiles. She has a background in fashion innovation at textile recycling company Renewcell and holds a BSc in Economics from Copenhagen Business School.
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Emma Sairanen
Project Coordinator
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
Emma is a chemical engineer, working for the global collaboration team at Sitra. Her work focuses on advancing a global transition to a circular economy through the World Circular Economy Forum and finding circular solutions that simultaneously tackle biodiversity loss and climate change. For Emma, thriving nature is the basis for all well-being and the circular economy is a means to transition towards a society in which nature is not depleted but has space to thrive.
Andrea works for the environment, natural resources and blue economy global practice of the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia region. He is also the lead author of the bank's report “Squaring the Circle: Policies from Europe’s Circular Economy Transition”. Andrea has over 20 years’ development experience in research and policy assignments as well as financial and advisory support to governments, with a focus on sustainability and climate. Before joining the World Bank, he worked for the OECD, and previously held positions in government, academia and private consulting. Andrea holds a PhD and an MSc from the London School of Economics.