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.
Olivia Lazard is a fellow at Carnegie Europe. Her research focuses on the geopolitics of climate, the transition ushered by climate change and the risks of conflict and fragility associated to climate change and environmental collapse.
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Nani Pajunen
Leading specialist
Turku University of Applied Sciences
Nani Pajunen is a sustainability and carbon neutral circular economy specialist with over 25 years’ experience in industry and research. She was one of the authors of the Finnish national circular economy road map in 2016. Nani works enthusiastically to make a systemic change from the linear economy towards a sustainable and fair global economy. She develops solutions for an economy based on the sustainable use of natural resources and carbon-neutral circular economy business. One of her primary goals is to help different sectors of society, public and private organisations to succeed in an uncertain market situation when the sustainability crisis and lack of energy and raw materials are reality. Nani’s specialty is to create the vision of a sustainable and fair future and build the path how to get there. She has a DSc (Tech) and has worked in industry, academy and as a management consultant.
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Esther Goodwin Brown
Lead of the Circular Jobs Initiative
Circle Economy
Esther Goodwin Brown’s work focuses on climate justice and how the circular economy can be a means for inclusive, sustainable development around the world. She leads a programme focused on creating the tools to ensure the circular economy is positive for work and workers. Her work aims to ensure steps taken by governments and other public agencies to tackle environmental issues are approached fairly and with people in mind. This involves collaborating across sectors and agendas, including the circular economy, climate, just transition, education and economic development.
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?
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.
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.
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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.
