Jones heads an interdisciplinary team of more than 250 researchers focusing on the exploration, extraction, processing, refining and recycling of the energy-transition metals that are essential for a sustainable society. He has been working in this field for over 20 years, since completing his PhD in metallurgy in 2001. Jones is also the co-founder of KU Leuven’s SOLVOMET Research & Innovation Centre, a platform that provides (circular) hydrometallurgy expertise to industrial partners. Jones has been a coordinator or partner in more than 30 EU-funded projects on sustainable metallurgy and critical raw materials. Additionally, he is the author of several books, including “Terra Incognita”, “Klimaatcrisis”, and “Terra Reversa”, as well as presenter of documentaries including “Responsible mining in Europe”, “Made in Europe: from mine to Electric Vehicle”, “The Sámi Perspective” and “Europe's Mining Renaissance”.
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Janja Ribič
Under-secretary
Slovenian Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy
We already know everything; we just need to go back. In the last 8 years Janja Ribič has worked on various environmental topics, in particular the circular economy, green public procurement and the integration of EU project activities into the regular content of the ministry and national policies. She is passionate about organising sustainable events, implementing lectures on environmental issues, preparing green public procurement, transferring good circular practices, and implementing projects that promote the circular economy in relation to climate policies. She is convinced that the content of the circular economy is intertwined with all policies and requires a different approach than what Slovenia is used to. She therefore strongly advocates intensive inter-ministerial integration involving business and other stakeholders. Nature is its inspiration and greatest ally.
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.
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Josefien van de Ven
Director of International Affairs
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water, The Netherlands
Josefien van de Ven is an environmental scientist at heart. Moving through different roles and organisations, varying from government positions to management consultancy and finance, she has always been focused on adding more sustainability to our way of life. Circularity is a key factor in achieving this. In her newest position her focus is on helping to create a common story on the circular economy and adding sustainability that will resonate both internationally and nationally in the changing world we find ourselves in.
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John Wante
Advisor Environment Policy
Cabinet of the Belgian federal minister of environment
John Wante is advisor on environment policy for the Belgian federal minister of Environment, Climate, Sustainable Development and Green Deal. He works on product policy, the circular economy and critical raw materials. Before that he worked as policy officer with OVAM, the Flemish Public Waste Agency, on waste and materials policy, on the regional, federal, European and international level. His educational background is chemical engineering.
Bahar Koyuncu leverages her 15 years’ experience in research and development, and sustainability policy to support the transition to a circular economy. She holds a double major in chemical engineering and chemistry and an MSc in sustainable development and management. She strongly believes in the role science and multistakeholder collaboration play to enable the transition to a circular economy.
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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Daniel Martín-Montalvo Alvarez
Head, Clean and Circular Economy
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Daniel has dedicated the last 20 years to environment and climate policy, mainly with a European Union focus. He began in environmental consultancy, followed by regulatory work in Spain's industrial sector. Later, he joined the European Commission, focusing on industrial policy within the Directorate General Environment. Currently, Daniel leads a team at the EEA, working on the transition to a circular economy and zero-pollution goals.
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Zsolt Kükedi
Member
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
Zsolt Kükedi is a Hungarian environmental expert in local economic development, community sustainability, resource management and environmental concerns. In 2009, he joined the Sustainable Development and Resources Research Group, disseminating findings on resource depletion. Establishing the “Canticle of the Sun” care for creation association in 2011, he bolstered local communities in Hungary in environmental stewardship. From 2012 to 2014, he contributed to Hungary's economic planning, devising development schemes for the seven-year EU term. His focus areas included economic growth, energy investments, innovation and regional development.
