An experienced international executive who has successfully started up or turned around businesses, mediated and led corporate alliances, innovated products and services and brought these to market.
Initiated and enumerated novel oceanic pollution mitigation concepts and started AETHIC as practical enactment of personal pollution mitigation through the world’s only proven and patented reef-safe sunscreen.
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Holly Niemela, american of finnish origin, is the co-owner of Tinhela610, a sustainable
& regenerative wilderness sanctuary and lodge for 14 guests, located in the
Tras-os-Montes region of northern Portugal.
TInhela610 is a project she conceived after
working as a consultant for 35 years in the wellness industry. T610 is a place to breathe,
to reconstruct, to surrender, to raise awareness.
Its inspiration and conception was the result of Holly’s lifelong love and connection with Nature along with her professional work in wellness. Faced with many obstacles, the opening of this emblematic lodge on the banks of the Tinhela River was completed in September 2023.
As a seasoned neuromarketing strategist, I help companies create value by designing experiences that resonate with the human psyche.
I use smart data to uncover consumer behavior, blending science and art to ensure enjoyable customer experiences.
If you seek a visionary strategist to transform your business, let’s journey together to uncover neuromarketing secrets and create sustainable experiences.
Helena Freitas received her PhD in Ecology from the University of Coimbra, in collaboration with the University of Bielefeld, Germany, in 1993, and did postdoctoral studies at Stanford University, USA, between 1994 and 1996.
She is Full Professor of Biodiversity and Ecology at the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra since 2003, and holds the UNESCO Chair in Biodiversity and Conservation for Sustainable Development since 2014 (http://unescobiodiversitychair.uc.pt).
She is currently Coordinator of the Center for Functional Ecology – science for people and the planet (cfe.uc.pt). In July 2019 she was selected to join the Mission Board for Climate Change Adaptation, including Societal Transformation from the European Commission and in August 2019 she was nomitated Focal Point for Portugal in IPBES – Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
She is Director of the Serralves Park, Porto.
Catarina Canelas began her career in journalism in 2003, at TVI. In 2005, her curiosity for the East took her to Macau, where she was a journalist at TDM – Rádio Macau for three years.
Back to Portugal, she returned to work at TVI, especially on issues of social relevance, signing several major award-winning reports and is the author of the documentary series “Plástico, O Novo Continente” which has won several national and international awards and distinctions, including the Rey de España Ibero-American Journalism Award and the UNESCO Human Rights Journalism Award.
She was also a news anchor for TVI24 and a guest professor at ISCTE-IUL.
She is one of the founding journalists of CNN Portugal, President of the Zero Waste Portugal Institute and Communication Consultant at the Maio Biodiversity Foundation, Cape Verde.
She is also a Trainer and participates in several national and international events and conferences, as moderator, speaker and keynote speaker, especially in the areas of environment, sustainability and Oceans.
She is the author of the book ‘A Hora da Partida: “Angola 1974/1975” and Co-Author of the book “101 Vozes pela Sustentabilidade (Por um Desenvolvimento Responsável).
Mílton Vogado is a Marketing C-Level with several years of experience in large and family-owned companies across a range of sectors.
He has worked on a variety of successful projects, including: expanding businesses in injection molding and food packaging and developing an environmentally sustainable brand with an online store; launching new food products under private label and distribution brands; creating a multimedia communications department from scratch; managing IT enterprise sales for one of Portugal’s largest communications and entertainment groups; and also producing video content for public and private organizations, and European funding projects.
Mílton Vogado currently holds the position of CMO, overseeing three brands (Magnusberry, Kipmagnus, and Greenmagnus).
MPC has been involved with EDP Strategy team at Reputational level, reinforcing the ESG pillars throughout the Group.
She coordinates the Local Community Approach, walking the talk of the Energy Just Transition, and taking it to Large Organizations’ thought leadership themes.
Previously the Head for Social Innovation at EDP Foundation, after 9 years leading the Fundação do Gil in Portugal, a Health & Social Childrens’ Foundation.
In a “previous life”, Margarida was a Journalist at print, radio and television platforms, with a major on International Relations and a Managing post-grad from AESE”
Graduated – FAUTL_1992.1999 founded SolarTrap.arch at Porto;1992 2º Prize, European Architecture Students Assembly_Pt
2007 National Innovation Award with JEE–EcoEfficient Window
2017 Honourable Mention-Green Project Awards with MUSCLE-Urban System for NETZero Standards.
2020 MOBI-Summit Award with SPACEonWHEELS. Shortlisted for LEXUS Global Awards 2021
2023 Vice-president Centro-da-Terra, earth construction in Portugal.
2021 Scientific coordinator- “from Line to Circle” course promoted by Portuguese Order of Architects and the Minister of Environment and Climate Action
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Relationship and Collective Causes Coordinator at Sistema B Brasil (Blab) and Executive Leader of Pretas B.
She is a fellow at Youth Climate Leaders, where she participates in local actions and strategies focused on Climate Justice. She currently embraces projects that bring positive socio-environmental impact to companies in an accessible way, where all members of society can engage.
She holds a degree in Marketing and is a postgraduate student in High-Impact ESG at BBI of Chicago.
Joana Guerra Tadeu is a climate justice activist dedicated to producing content for different media and facilitating awareness and education actions about human rights and ecology for schools, non-profits, companies and events.
Joana presented the climate justice TV show Verdes Anos and the environmentalist radio show Ambientalista Imperfeita at the Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP).
She has been dedicated to ecofeminist environmentalism since 2015, co-founded #TodasMerecemos – a social impact project that fights menstrual poverty in Portugal – in 2021, and has been an ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund Portugal since 2022.
Bruno Melo is an Experienced C-Level with a solid academic background and a notable career in the plastics industry.
He began his academic journey at the University of Aveiro, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from 2001 to 2006.
After completing his university education, Bruno embarked on a career in the plastics industry, delving into manufacturing technologies and materials, gaining valuable expertise over the years.
In 2010, Bruno Melo took a bold and entrepreneurial step by founding the company Magnusberry, assuming the role of CEO.
In 2021, Bruno Melo expanded his commitment to sustainability by creating the Greenmagnus brand, that become a notable player in the sustainability sector, emphasising eco-friendly practices and environmentally responsible manufacturing.
He is co-founder of Lúcida, a change management organization guided by a living systems worldview.
A “recovered” economist, he started training youth educators around the world in experiential, collaborative learning methodologies.
He is committed to resource people and entities, with curiosity and care, supporting their development and contribution to a just transition that harmonizes human activities with nature.
Bernardo Ivo Cruz is a Portuguese official specializing in international trade and investment. He holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Bristol, UK, and has extensive experience in the public sector, academia, and the private sector.
Key roles include serving as Secretary of State for International Trade and Foreign Investment, various positions in Portuguese foreign affairs, and academic contributions in universities.
He founded the True Bridge Consultancy Group and held leadership positions in chambers of commerce and international relations consultancy.
Bernardo is also an Honorary Consul of Botswana in Portugal, a prolific writer, and a recognized figure in international affairs. His work has spanned various countries, including Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, the UK, and Timor-Leste.
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Benjamin Von Wong’s work lies at the intersection of fantasy and photography and combines everyday objects with shocking statistics.
It has attracted the attention of corporations, like Starbucks, Dell, and Nike, and has generated over 100 million views for causes like ocean plastics, electronic waste, and fashion pollution.
His work has been narrated by Ryan Reynolds, he holds a Guinness World Record for the largest installation made from plastic straws, and he created the centerpiece at the United Nations in Nairobi when the Global Plastics Resolution was successfully signed.
He is also the co-founder of the Activism.Studio a creative advisor for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and the Ocean Plastic Leadership Network and sits on the BIPOC People x Plastic Collective.
António Raminhos is a renowned Portuguese comedian, blogger, and TV host. A multifaceted artist whose influence transcends borders.
With almost 2 million followers on social media in a country of just 10 million people, his ability to connect with audiences is unparalleled.
Raminhos’ career began in comedy, where his unique blend of humor, wit, and storytelling quickly earned him a dedicated fan base. However, he’s not limited to just making people laugh. He’s a passionate advocate for a healthy lifestyle, environmental awareness, and mental health support.
Through his work and influence, Raminhos has helped thousands of his followers to find a path to treatment and lead healthier lives. His dedication to these important causes showcases his commitment to using his platform for positive change.
Responsible for Coagulant Production units in EMEA region and member of Management Team of the Industrial & Water segment of Kemira
Andrew Mitchell is the founder and Vice Chair of the Stewardship Council of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure.
As a zoologist, he has spent a lifetime at the frontline of tropical forest conservation and as an international thought leader on sustainable finance, climate change and forests.
He advises banks and investors worldwide on risks, dependencies and opportunities in sustainable finance.
He is Senior Advisor to Global Canopy, an NGO he founded in Oxford in 2021, now a leading provider of ‘data for nature’. In 2023, he received a Royal Medal approved by King Charles III from the UK’s Royal Geographical Society for his lifetimes’ work.
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Danilo joined KPTL in 2020 and contributed to structuring the ESG agenda, investor relations and structuring the Forest & Climate Tech fund, and is now responsible for overall supervision of the fund, from investors relations to investments and team building.
Before joining KPTL, Danilo spent 15 years in the investment industry, of which 10 at BlackRock in Paris, France, helping institutional investors build more efficient portfolios, aligned with sustainability and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Danilo is a French-Brazilian economist, and a CFA charterholder
The biologist Andreas Noe came to Portugal to pursue his biomedical career. In 2019, he quit his job to raise awareness about environmental issues, creating creative community campaigns complemented with art and Ukulele songs.
In 2020, he hiked every single meter of the Portuguese coastline in 2 months to raise awareness about ocean plastics. Following year, the community was invited to collect 1 million cigarette butts within 2 months. In 2022, he reused old second-hand bike parts to build a “new” bike to raise awareness for a circular economy in a 2370 km long ride around Portugal
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Eila Kreivi is Director and Chief Sustainable Finance Advisor at the European Investment Bank since February 2022.
From April 2011 until end of January 2022, she headed the Capital Markets Department of the EIB, as its Director. Before that, she was the Head of Funding for the Americas, Asia & Pacific.
Between March 2018 and January 2022, she was an alternate member of the Board of Directors of the European Investment Fund (EIF).
Prior to joining the financing arm of the European Union in 1995, Eila Kreivi worked at the Union Bank of Finland and Société Générale, in Helsinki and in Paris.
She holds a Master of Science degree in Economics from the University of Abo Akademi in Finland. In addition to her native language of Finnish, she is fluent in English, French and Swedish.
Eila Kreivi chaired the Executive Committee of the Green Bond Principles in 2015-2018. She has represented the EIB at the EU High-level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance in 2017‑2018, established by the European Commission. Between 2018 and September 2020, she also represented the EIB at the European Commission’s Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance created in 2018. Since October 2020, she is a member of the Platform on Sustainable Finance, an advisory body created by the European Commission.
In July 2020, she was elected as member of the Board of Directors of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA).
Alexandra Portugal Gomes has a degree in Corporate Communication from the Lisbon School of Social Communication since 2003.
In the same year, she was invited to join the multinational real estate consultancy Jones Lang Lasalle to develop the research area, and currently has approximately 20 years of expertise in real estate market research.
At the end of 2019, joins Savills, where she is currently Associate Director and Head of Research & Communications.
Over the past 4 years, she has been developing market analyzes focused on the residential, office, industrial & logistics market, and alternative segments such as student housing, Built-to-rent and senior housing. She was also responsible for carrying out market assessments for clients such as Aquila Capital, Teleperformance, Patron, ECS, Kronos. MCA Group among many others.
One of the most powerful communicators in Asia and women in the globe, Dr. Vandana Shiva is a Physicist with a Ph.D. from the Univ. of Western Ontario.
Addressing the most significant ecological and social issues of our times, she’s the founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, the Navdanya movement, and the college for sustainable living Bija Vidyapeeth.
With sharp intellectual enquiry and courageous activism, she aims to protect the diversity and integrity of living resources and promote organic farming and fair trade.
She is the recipient of many awards and honorary Doctorates worldwide.
Ana Marinho is a social worker that has co-developed community-based projects in the global south, in Tanzania and Guinea Bissau.
Since 2020 she’s worked for AKF Prt, primarily as a community development officer, and since 2021 as coordinator of the decarbonization living lab in Sintra SMILE – Sintra Motion and Innovation for Low Emissions.
A project that aims to improve significantly Tabaqueira neighborhood and that is developed around 4 pillars – circular economy, sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, and community participation and engagement.
Graduated in Architecture since 1999, with several projects developed in Portugal, Nuno has been a BREEAM AP accredited professional by the BRE Academy in England since 2018 and a BREEAM Ambassador since 2019.
In 2022 was designated Head of Sustainability of SAVILLS Portugal and he is a founding member of the SAVILLS EMEA ESG HUB.
Together with his team, he manages more than 36 sustainability consultancy assignments in Portugal. Internally is part of the ESG Task force and the responsible for the decarbonization process of Savills PT.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Portugal, a Master’s in Finance from Nova SBE, and a Ph.D. in Management from ISCTE.
I was an Investment Associate at Startup Braga and participated in the creation and execution of the SBS Capital Fund (under the administration of the former Secretary of State for Entrepreneurship of the XIX Constitutional Government of Portugal).
Subsequently, I was the Chief Strategy Officer and partner at ISSHO Technology (a software company recognized by MIT Portugal) – until the date of its exit – and collaborated with Mergers and Acquisitions consultancies on various projects.
I was a Guest Speaker on Raising Capital at Nova SBE and, currently, I teach Strategic Management at CESPU and am an Investment Manager at Portugal Ventures.
PhD in Marine Geophysics, Imperial College, London. Chair of the Portuguese Committee for the IOC/UNESCO, National Delegate to the IOC Executive Council, and Coordinator of the National Committee for the UN Ocean Decade.
Chair of the Marine Geosciences Committee of the Science Commission for the Mediterranean (CIESM/Monaco).
Research interests and activity include: structure and evolution of continental passive margins; mud volcanism, shallow gas and gas hydrates; seismic oceanography; capacity building in Marine Science and Ocean Literacy. (http://www.cesam.ua.pt/lmp).
Benedicte Levinson has developed a career spanning over 17 years in the Air Liquide Group in various executive positions, combining strategic perspectives and operational leadership in both industrial and healthcare business lines.
Since 2018, as CEO of Air Liquide Iberia, she leads the growth and transformation of this activity to accelerate the company’s sustainability and performance.
Previously, she served as Vice President of the Industrial Market business line in the France-Italy-Iberia zone and has held other positions of responsibility.
Her professional career began in the 3M Group, leading several business lines in France
“The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed.” With this mindset, Pedro has been leading startups and enterprise digital products for almost 20 years.
He strives to build bridges between the visions for the technologies of the future and the benefits for the people living the present.
Currently, Pedro leads Foresight Lab, a consultancy creating Artificial Intelligence products, and collaborating with NGOs like Youth Climate Leaders, Zero Waste Youth.
Also, co-leads 351 Portuguese Startups Association. His goal is to connect people, ideas, resources, hubs, helping to build a future where AI and Sustainability creates together a prosperous and greener economy for our society.
In the early stages of CO2offset, CEO Rui Lopes is already setting the pace for the future of nature-based carbon markets.
With a vision to merge sustainability with economic balance, Rui is harnessing nature’s potential to address our carbon challenges.
As the steer this pre-seed venture, the promise is clear: innovative solutions for a greener tomorrow.
The journey of CO2offset is a budding testament to transformative ideas in action.
Satu Suikkari-Kleven is Finland’s Ambassador to Portugal, accredited also to Cabo Verde. Prior to this, she was Finland’s Ambassador to Thailand, accredited also to Cambodia and Myanmar.
Suikkari-Kleven joined the Finnish Foreign Service in 1998, and has held various positions at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and served at the Finnish Embassy in Oslo and the Finnish Mission to the UN in New York. She has also worked for the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights in Strasbourg and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, with short-term mission to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and as a researcher in international environmental law at the Åbo AkademiUniversity, Finland.
Ambassador Suikkari-Kleven holds a Master of Laws from the University of Helsinki, with International Law as her major subject.
Suikkari-Kleven is married to Mr. August Kleven and they have one daughter.
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He served as Norway’s Minister of Environment and International Development (2005-2012), initiating the global rainforest conservation program and achieving significant national legislative milestones.
Erik was pivotal in peace processes in countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sudan.
He headed the OECD Development Assistance Committee (2012-2016) and was the Executive Director of UN Environment (2016-2018).
Currently, he holds leadership roles in various organizations including the Belt and Road Green Development Coalition, Green Hydrogen Organization, Global Wind Energy Council, and International Hydropower Association.
In the business realm, he collaborates with significant entities like RGE of Indonesia and advises green technology firms like Treelion and Morrow.
Erik also plays vital advisory and mentorship roles across Europe and Asia, including being an environment adviser to the President of Sri Lanka and holding positions in several universities.
He has received honorary professorships from various institutions, including Tsinghua University and Teri University.
She is co-founder of Lúcida, a change management organization guided by a living systems worldview.
With a background in life sciences, she was a knowledge worker in support of sustainability policies in Portugal, Brazil and the EU.
Now at Lúcida her focus is to help people and organisations go beyond “doing sustainability” to regenerate how they make sense and meaning of their realities in line with how life works on this planet.
With more than a decade of experience in consulting projects, he supports clients in acquisition processes by identifying synergies, preparing operational and IT Due Diligences and preparing and implementing post-transaction integration programs.
In this same context, it assists clients to divest assets that they want to sell, divest or realize capital required, removing it from their ecosystem.
He also lead the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector at EY Portugal, where he works together with all skills to bring together the best team for the most complex challenges.
He holds a degree in Economics from Universidade Lusíada de Lisboa, a postgraduate degree and a master’s degree in Technology and Information Systems from ISG and an MBA in General Management from Católica | Nova, The Lisbon MBA.
How David is building a better working world:
Mahatma Gandhi once said – Whatever you do may seem insignificant to you, but it is most important that you do it”. I believe that all our actions and attitudes have an effect on people and organizations. That’s why I work hand-in-hand with my clients to identify and implement solutions that enable companies and people to be more insightful, happier and focused on value creation.”
Rita leads maze x, where she invests in and works side-by-side with our startups to help them live to their highest potential and impact.
She also leads our work in the Ocean Economy, with projects such as Blue Bio Value.
Rita has worked in impact investing for more than 10 years. BSc in Management from Bath University and MSc in Management from NOVA SBE.
Sofia Rocha is currently working as a researcher at the University of Aveiro, where she is also a PhD student. Apart from her research efforts and scientific activity, Sofia is also interested in the evolution of the educational system and the way we learn and teach.
During her Master’s degree, Sofia had the opportunity to represent her peers as a member on the Mechanical Engineering Department Board and of the Mechanical Engineering Course Direction.
Currently, she is a member of the Pedagogical Council of the University of Aveiro and of the Support Team for Curricular and Pedagogical Innovation.
Ana Varela is an active voice for sustainability, working on collective environmental awareness, promoting greener choices, and supporting brands committed to the environment.
She is the author of the blog www.greenlittlesteps.com, where she shares her ecological concerns, encourages environmentally friendly routines, demystifies topics, calls for conscious consumption, and a greater environmental commitment.
In cinema, she is the lead actress in the film “KM224” by António-Pedro Vasconcelos, for which she was awarded the Best Leading Actress award at the Áquila Awards 2022. She also stood out in “The Lion of Estrela” by Leonel Vieira.
Among many other television projects, she played the lead in the soap opera “Amar Demais” (TVI) and was prominent in “Jogo Duplo” (TVI) and “Pai À Força” (RTP1). She is currently part of the cast of “Queridos Papás” (TVI).
From Economics to Environmental Sciences and Public Policies, Sara is currently Professor at the University of Aveiro, Founder and President of the ENGO Common Home of Humanity.
Her academic career has been focusing on public policies and indicators for environmental sustainability, green transition, territorial innovation and local governance.
She has been collaborating in sustainability projects with public entities, NGOs and private companies for more than 20 years and participating in several national and international projects, being the author of several international publications
Ana holds a degree in Environmental Engineering, with a post-graduation in Business Management.
Her professional path has started in the wastewater sector in Portugal, leading her to Angola to work in the O&G industry, where Ana had the chance to work with global companies (BP, KBR, Subsea 7) leading the way to find sustainable solutions to the sector with a triple bottom line approach.
Ana is the founder Baseville, a sustainable fashion brand, and co-founder of Fashion Catalyst, a fashion consultancy studio. Creating purpose centered innovation ecosystems has been one of her missions while working at Beta-i.
Bachelor’s degree in Social Communication from the Catholic University of Lisbon.
I have a postgraduate degree in Communication and Sports Journalism from the School of University Studies of Real Madrid.
I am currently attending a Master’s in Political Science, with a focus on European Studies, at the New University of Lisbon.
I am currently a journalist for SIC and SIC News, with my main role being a news anchor on both channels.
I have collaborated with UEFA, the United Nations World Food Programme, Web Summit, and the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union.
I served as a National Sports Advisor in 2016.
With a long experience in international top management consulting, Antonio leads Planetiers New Generation (PNG) and co-leads INSURE.Hub – Innovation in Sustainability and Regeneration – which he cofounded with the Portuguese Catholic University in Porto.
The focus of his work is to support business leaders to make powerful use of sustainability and to support the creation of educational programmes based on systemic and transdisciplinary thinking.
He is the current chairman of The Natural Step International, an NGO of Swedish origin that, for 35 years, has been applying advanced scientific knowledge in sustainability worldwide.
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Pedro Ruffier is the Founder and CEO of MOVIN, Brazil’s first fashion b-corporation, recognized as Best for The World for several years.
A dedicated ESG consultant for notable private and public firms like Tropik, Yano Cosmetics, Sebrae and AEON (hydrogen). Also the creator behind Weloop, a groundbreaking project merging AI and fashion for sustainability.
Additionally, as the Brazilian Ambassador for Planetiers, Pedro Ruffier expands the event’s global vision of eco-conscious living, sustainable practices and innovation within Brazil.
Since 2013 working on Social Innovation he was a former Board Member of IT companies – Datacomp, Digidoc and Megamedia – and Portugal Country Manager of Siemens Computers and Compaq Computers and Marketing Manager of Compaq Portugal.
During 12 years was Sales Manager for Public Admnistration at Portugal Telecom. He began his professional career has Merchant Marine Officer specialized on Chemical Tankers.
Ruben Eiras is the of Secretary General of Forum Oceano.
He served as Coordinator for the Blue Economy, Innovation, Investment and Financing of Forum Oceano. He was the mentor of the Ocean Stream start-up program at the Canadian-based Creative Lab, as well as mentor of the Sustainable Ocean Accelerator and coacher of European Commission’s Blue Invest Platform.
He served as Director-General of Maritime Policy of the Ministry of the Sea of Portugal, promoting an innovative and sustainable blue economy and as Advisor for Industry, Innovation and Energy of the Minister of the Sea of Portugal.
With more than 2 decades of experience, from Project Management for real estate projects and sustainable local development, to entrepreneurship, ventured into diverse projects ranging from media publishing to co-founding an education community centered on holistic development.
As Project Director steered the course for a variety of real estate projects, from residential to hospitality, across various regions in Portugal, working closely with developers and local communities, infusing regenerative development principles into the core of the work.
Founder and Managing Partner of Smart Value Consulting, with more than 20 years of experience as a “system entrepreneur”, advising and empowering public, private and non-profit agents to interact, build common understanding, design strategies and develop projects, creating the conditions for territorial and organisational change and development.
Expert in the sustainable built environment, Daniela is a qualified BREEAM International assessor and LEED Green Assessor.
She is currently a PhD candidate in the PhD Sustainable Energy Systems programme at Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal.
She has a Master’s degree in Sustainable Building Technologies from the University of Nottingham, UK.
Ricardo is an Artificial Intelligence Researcher with more than 20 awards in the field. His work focuses in developing complex models that describe Human Behaviour in the fields of Retail, Security and Finance.
At the age of 19, he was already leading a research project that led to patents in US, then created a company in AI for video analytics that was featured in Wired and Forbes as one of top AI startups in Europe, and now he serves as CTO of AssetFloow which focus on helping retailers predict the fast changes in Consumer Behaviour.
Scouting and due diligence: Working on finding early-stage impact deals that align with our investment thesis at maze x, and conduct due diligence together with the investment team.
Support work: Once we invest, companies have access to an individual hands-on support program, where I am Key Account to the startups.
He is the MD at AEG Consulting, helping companies to develop roadmaps to profitable sustainability.
As the founder of Recycling Technologies, he spent over a decade developing a Circular Economy process to recycle mixed plastics.
Adrian is the Business Development Director for Gazelle Wind Power, a developer of a novel floating platform for wind turbines, helping to make Floating Offshore Wind power available to all.
He is a chartered engineer, with a degree from Imperial College.
Anabela Pinto has been part of the Bondalti family for many years, going through different areas of responsibility and knowledge.
Although with a basic background in chemistry, he embarked on the paths of management, with special emphasis on the transformation and creation of areas such as Procurement.
Attentive and curious to new technological developments that allow streamlining processes and raising the level of service provided to stakeholders.
Currently, he is responsible for the Supply Chain area of Bondalti that includes Procurement, Logistics and Product Regulation.
Sahar is an entrepreneur, venture builder, executive coach, and advisor with a focus on exponential innovation and social impact transformation in emerging markets.
In 2010, she found her passion for entrepreneurship and recognized its power to drive change, fuel innovation, and empower individuals to reshape the world. As the CEO of IMPACTIQUE, Sahar works with large organizations on innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives including access to healthcare, access to education, digital payments, and food security.
Sahar has been a mentor to tech startups with the Cartier Women’s Initiative and the IE Business School Venture Lab in Madrid. In 2020, she co-founded Women4Impact, a global network to support female-led high impact initiatives and companies.
Carolina comes from the Azores – 9 islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Driven by a passion to make positive change, and with her background in tourism and sustainable management, she has worked as a sustainability consultant, supporting over 200 local businesses and companies.
She now assumes the role of the Azores DMO Coordinator being responsible for the certification process of the Azores as a sustainable destination.
The Azores are today an international reference in sustainable tourism, being the first archipelago in the world to be certified as a sustainable destination by EarthCheck, under GSTC criteria.
Graduated in Environmental Engineering, holds an Advanced Studies Diploma in Sustainable Energy Systems from MIT Portugal and almost 20 years of experience in Innovation, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility in Industry, Consulting, Transports, Technology and Nonprofit organizations.
Talks about sustainable innovation, renewable energy systems, smart mobility, decarbonization and adaptation to climate change, partnerships for environmental and social impact and engaging the value chain.
Passionate about people, leadership, and happiness culture in organizations.
“Work hard, play harder.”
Greg Sherwin is devoted to taking a human-centered approach towards solving complex systems problems at the ecosystem level through diverse teams and system leadership.
He is the engineering lead for global experimentation at Farfetch, a Singularity University global facultymember, Director of Southern Europe and Technology at the The Peace-Led Climate Friendly Sustainable Development Forum, board advisor (House of Beautiful Business, Planetiers, and Sónar Lisboa), startup mentor, book author, and experienced engineering and product executive.
C-suite with proven instincts in corporate restructuring and brand positioning, developing and leading global teams.Passionate ESG advocate.
Active voice for diversity and gender parity. Elected “marketer of the year” by Multipublicações in 2020 and in the top 5 ranking of the best Portuguese marketers (2022).
Author of “Survival manual for the corporate world” published in Portugal and Brazil.
Has a strong path in the Energy Industry, Services and Technological sectors in several Multinational and National First Line Companies, as Executive Director and Marketing and Communications Director, having worked in SonaeCom, Siemens, Galp and Omnicom media group.
In the world of sustainability, founder André Vanyi-Robin discovered a harsh reality: everyone wants to save the world, but no one is willing to pay for it.
Focusing on the waste management industry, which hadn’t changed in 50 years, he asked himself: how could he incentivize transparency and traceability? The answer came in the form of the NFT business model, which drives Plastiks. With a new and third source of funding, waste management companies can generate blockchain based plastic credits that prove that they’re recovering plastic and selling it to the recycling industry.
André L. Vanyi-Robin is a dynamic Entrepreneur with more than 25 years in the information technology and venture capital industry. Join us in incentivizing recovery and promoting a more sustainable future.
Jorge is an engineer, master’s in International Relations, postgraduate in Environmental Law and specialized in Development Cooperation.
Currently works as a public manager in the state’s business sector, in the environment area.
He is a jury for the climate change indicator of the ECOXXI Municipalities Program – Green Flag and a member of the Task Force for the recognition of Climate as a Common Heritage of Humanity, at the United Nations.
He is regularly invited as a specialist in initiatives for sustainable development and is the author of the book “The Cities’ Mission to combat Climate Change”, as well as several scientific and opinion articles.
He started his professional career at 3M, in Portugal and in Germany, was Manager at Arthur D. Little and held positions in the Strategic Planning direction of José de Mello. He worked at Brisa, as director of International Development, was a partner at Jason Associates and, from 2011 to October 2019, he served as Executive Director of Efacec Power Solutions.
Luís Delgado has a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, and an MBA from Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Dina Storey is a climate change and sustainability subject-matter expert and an executive advisor to several global organizations within the government, NGO, and private sector. With over 18 years of experience, Dina is currently a senior partner with Marfa Advisors focusing on delivering projects in sustainable finance mechanisms, PPP’s, government relations, entrepreneurship and tech innovation as well as policy strategy and climate adaptation projects. Dina also served as the Senior Director for the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) and was the ESG and Sustainability Partner with Strategy&/PwC MENA.
Dina led the sustainability strategy for the World Expo 2020 Dubai, as the Director of Sustainability Operation. In this role, she spearheaded the development and implementation of the World Expo’s sustainability strategy and operational excellence. Her expertise enables her to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions that drive tangible impact. She has also lead several high-profile projects and has conducted speaking engagements at a global level related to climate finance, impact and strategy, sustainability, circular economy as well as many social impact topics including gender and youth.
Dina sits on several boards including, The Great Green Wall of Africa Foundation, The Global Alliance for a Sustainable Plant and The Beekeepers Foundation. Mentoring and supporting women, diversity, inclusion, and gender equality is a big part of the activism work that Dina has been involved in.
Dina is a LEED-certified sustainability expert with a BSc in Chemical Engineering, an MBA in international Business, and a Masters in Sustainability Management from Columbia University NYC.
Forestry engineer (UTAD), postgraduate in Sustainability at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School.
Former director of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD/Geneve) and secretary-general of BCSD Portugal.
Currently Chairman of the Sustainability Committee at Mota-Engil, Senior Advisor at Planetiers New Generation and GlobeScan (Toronto), Senior Consultant at Von Rohr & Associates (Geneve) and Partner & Head of Sustainability at Unobvious Solutions.
Visiting Professor at ISEG and Industry Fellow at Católica Porto Business School.
Jax Davey is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, an award-winning entrepreneur and the CEO of creative agency Nuevo, whose clients include Canada Goose, Ordnance Survey and Ernst & Young.
But it was the British military, that explains his unconventional entrance into the creative industry and his pioneering approach to advertising and sustainability.
After five years spent as a Royal Marines Commando he founded his first agency with the skills learnt in service to access hard to reach locations. That agency sold in 2019 to Berkshire Hathaway.
Despite this success Jax couldn’t ignore the impact his industry was having on the planet and has assembled a team of explorers, strategists, sustainability experts, producers and creatives, who together are redefining creativity with a conscience.
Paul Hodges is a trusted adviser to major companies and the investment community, and has a proven track record of accurately identifying key trends in global marketplaces.
He is chairman of New Normal Consulting and a Global Expert with the World Economic Forum. Paul also serves as Advisory Board chairman for Infinity Recycling and non-executive Chairman of NiTech Solutions.
Chris’ grandfather asked him to leave this world a better place than how he found it. This ‘call to regenerative actions’ provide Chris the anchor at WhatIF Foods.
He believes that it’s not about saving the planet. It’s about regenerating ecosystems so that our children, and future generations find a world that allows them to go on hikes, ski in powder, or swim in oceans.
Let’s strive to bring back the agrobiodiversity we need to sink carbon in soils, to grow a basket of different crops, to create exciting nutrient-dense foods, and to equitably reconnect to communities so that they prosper.
Scott was inspired, soon after his 15th birthday, to follow in the footsteps of the renowned Man of the Trees, Richard St Barbe Baker.
Since then, he has worked to inspire forest protection, pioneered responsible sourcing, mediated global disputes between some of the world’s largest companies and NGOs and inspired industry-wide transformations away from deforestation and human rights abuses.
Today, he supports companies to take credible regenerative action, inspiring leaders to be guided by their values to protect and heal Nature and our relationships with ourselves, each other, and the Earth.
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CEO of the Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign and eldest daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the ubuntu’s world spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Laureate.
Named one of the global 100 Real Leaders for 2018 by Real Leaders magazine. Passionate about peace, racial reconciliation and equality by improving the health and educational experiences of young people, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Creator of ColorADD, the color alphabet for colorblind, which allows the inclusion of about 350 million colorblind people worldwide whenever color is a factor of identification, orientation or choice.
Through co-creation models, this universal language is implemented in several countries in different sectors of society, promoting inclusion, as well as at Primary Schools, taking this code to education to allow the inclusion of colorblind children without discriminating.
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Founder Chairman, Munasinghe Inst. of Development (MIND) and MIND Group, Colombo; Vice Chair of UN IPCC, who shared 2007 Nobel Peace Prize; 2021 Blue Planet Prize Laureate; & Chairman, Presidential Expert Commission on Sustainable Sri Lanka 2030 Vision.
Degrees in engineering, physics and development economics from Cambridge Univ. (UK), MIT (USA), McGill Univ. & Concordia Univ. (Canada), plus many honorary doctorates.
Highlights from 50 years of public service: Senior Energy Advisor to Sri Lanka President; Advisor to US President’s Council on Environmental Quality (PCEQ); & Senior Advisor/Manager, World Bank.
Visiting Professor at several leading universities worldwide, & won many international prizes for research. Authored over 120 books and 400 technical papers on economics, sustainable development, climate change, power, energy, water resources, transport, environment, disasters, and information technology.
Hugo is a sustainability and impact consultant from New Zealand specialising in sustainability and impact strategy.
His work is broad and includes policy development that embeds sustainability in tertiary curriculum architecture, support for a grass roots NGOs, climate risk assessments and carbon measurement across various sectors, non-financial reporting, education program development, and capability building.
In 2021, Hugo worked with the team at Proxima, an impact consultancy, to design and set in motion a regenerative approach to tourism in the region of Queenstown, NZ.
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He started his professional career in 1997 as Director of civil contract works in a private engineering company, and also in a very short period of time as technician in the DG of Nature Conservation at the first created Spanish Ministry of the Environment.After this brief period, he joined the Business Spanish Chemical Industry Federation (FEIQUE) in September 1997.
Since 2007 he has been Director of the international Responsible Care program in Spain to enhance Safety and the Environment in the Chemical Industry sector. Additionally, and since 2013, he was also appointed as Director of Logistics and Transport of FEIQUE.
He is currently a member of different State committees related to Dangerous Goods and Transport under Spanish National Transport Ministry , representing Chemical Industry.
Biologist and member of the Order of Biologists of Portugal. She graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of São Paulo (Brazil) and holds postgraduate degrees in Natural and Technological Risks (University of Coimbra, Portugal) and Natural Heritage and Biodiversity (Université de Rennes 1, France).
In 2020, she founded Mudatuga®, a startup with the mission of turning ordinary people into composting ninjas. So far, she has trained more than 1,500 people across the country, conducting training sessions for universities, municipal councils, schools, national and international seminars on waste and circular economy, and private companies. She co-conceived the “Escola a Compostar” project (Environmental Fund, 2021), won several awards promoted by EIT Climate-KIC, and is a certified trainer in the field of organic waste.
She has been providing training to teachers in the Eco-Schools network since 2021 and is the author of the children’s educational book “Eva, the Composting Ninja,” published by Betweien and launched in 2023.
Diogo Mendes was born in December 1982, having graduated in chemical engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. He completed his academic career with obtaining a doctorate degree (PhD) from the same faculty, in 2010.
He began his professional career in 2010 as head of the process engineering department at FASE Estudos e Projetos S.A. (Portugal).
In 2011 he immigrated to the Netherlands, having worked as an employee at Technip Benelux (2011 – 2013) and Royal Dutch Shell (2013 – 2017). He is currently the technical director at Bondalti since July 2020, being responsible for projects and opportunities in the field of green hydrogen.
Graduate in Forestry and Natural Resources Engineering from Instituto Superior de Agronomia, where also developed several research works in the Climate Change area.
With 16 years of professional experience, Joana participated in several working groups at the Ministry of Agriculture and in several international organizations.
In 2016 joined the Association for Responsible Forest Management, the organization that represents Forest Stewardship Council® in Portugal, as Business Development Officer. Since 2017, she has assumed the role of Executive Director at FSC Portugal.
Maria Leonor Mendonça was born in Coimbra and currently resides in Aveiro, Portugal. She holds a degree in English and Portuguese teaching from the University of Aveiro.
With over 35 years of experience, she has been an English teacher for nearly four decades, dedicated to her profession. Leonor has actively participated in various Erasmus+ projects, where she has consistently championed sustainability and environmental awareness as core themes.
For the past 28 years, she has been an educator at Gafanha da Nazaré Secondary School, where the entire community identifies with the award-winning GAFe Bike Lab project.
This project not only serves the school community by fixing and recovering bikes, some of which are offered to students in need, but also promotes bicycle usage through various actions and events.
At Tecmafoods, I led the development of a decentralized system for insect-based food production.
By embracing sustainable insect farming methods, we crafted a range of nutrient-rich food products tailored for consumer markets.
This decentralized approach facilitated local production, minimizing transportation costs and its environmental impact.
My contributions were instrumental in pushing the boundaries of food innovation, promoting insects as a local, sustainable, and efficient food source for diverse applications.
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Pavan is a scientist by education, an international banker by training, and an environmental economist by passion.
He previously led the UN’s Green Economy Initiative and The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study.
As CEO of GIST Impact, Pavan works with corporations and investors, harnessing the power of impact economics and technology to discover a business’s full value contribution to the world.
Pavan is a former President of WWF International and has served on the boards of Conservation International, GRI, and the Stockholm Resilience Centre.
Awards: Blue Planet Prize (2016); Tyler Prize (2020).
Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies across Europe, which provide 1.2 million jobs and account for approximately about 15% of world chemicals production.
The trade association, based in Brussels, is a committed partner to the European Union, interacting on behalf of its members with European institutions and other stakeholders.
As a Manager Climate Change Policy, Justin works on the EU’s carbon pricing system, the ETS, and other relevant policies involving carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Known as Chicão Bulhões, he is a lawyer and current Municipal Secretary of Urban and Economic Development of Rio de Janeiro.
His portfolio is responsible for several projects, such as: Programadores Cariocas, Porto Maravalley, Web Summit Rio, Crypto Rio, Center for Energy and Finance of Tomorrow, ISS Tech, ISS Verde, digitalization and integration of licensing, Law of Economic Freedom and Sandbox Rio.
SMDEIS is also at the forefront of several other initiatives that aim to simplify the lives of Rio citizens and attract more investments and opportunities to the city, as well as developing studies since 2021 on the situation of Rio’s Multi-Airport System (SMA).
I’m an environmental engineer from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, with a master’s degree in energy efficiency from the same university, a founding member and currently Executive Coordinator at Coopérnico – the first renewable energy cooperative in Portugal – and a member of the General Council of the environmental association “ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável”, a non-governmental environmental organisation with national activity.
He is an education specialist, with capacity strongly supported by his academic background (Bachelor’s in Primary Education Teaching, and a Master’s in the use of Information and Communications Technologies in Education obtained at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece).
Also he is currently (since 2020) an MBA candidate at the Open University of Patra in Greece. He started working in 2014 as a researcher in European projects for the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
From 2016 to 2018 he worked at Science View in Greece, and then from 2019 to 2021 he worked at the International Cooperation Unit of INOVA+ in Portugal, where in both companies he coordinated and implemented European projects in the fields of Sustainability, Education, Entrepreneurship, Science Communication and Responsible Research and Innovation.
At LOBA he is the leader of the Communication & Dissemination of the BlueRev project.
Sofia Máximo, with a wanderlust spirit, currently resides in Torres Vedras. She has had environmental concerns from an early age and is deeply dedicated to social projects.
With a background in Tourism and Heritage, her passion lies in the realm of healthy and conscious eating, as well as the wonders of wild herbs. Her training in permaculture has given more meaning to her worldview, and she spreads these teachings in schools and beyond the classroom.
As a member of Zero Waste Youth Portugal, she undertakes various sustainability initiatives. A volunteer in diverse fields, her mission is to instill these values in her children, André and Eva.
She is the CEO of The Empower Brands House, author and pivot of ‘Imagens de Marca’ on SIC Notícias. She is also the founder of Brands Community, a community whose purpose is to empower people, brands, and companies.
Elected one of the Best Team Leaders in Portugal and one of the top 10 Most Digital CEOs, she is recognized for turning dreams into successful projects and is a reference in people management based on empathy. Committed to Portugal’s growth, she has invested in creating platforms for visibility to showcase the excellence of what is done in the country, like the Brands Channel on YouTube.
Manages Super Bock Group Communications, Public Affair and Sustainability areas since December 2020.
Started her professional career at Super Bock Group (former Unicer) back in 1990 within the Marketing Department been responsible for Super Bock brand until mid-2000.
Her career counts also a 15-year experience at Unilever in various roles in Portugal and Europe.
End of 2015, returned to Portugal to embrace a new challenge at Super Bock Group and to become Head of the European markets and later appointed as Commercial Director for the Developed Markets (Europe, African and other markets).
Has a degree in Political-Economic International Relations from the University of Minho and various other management programmes namely Insead.
She is also the manager of the PT Chemical Sector Competitiveness Cluster – a collaborative initiative, recognized by IAPMEI/Ministry of Economy, linking Business and Academia for the development of applied R&D and other joint projects, addressing key challenges faced by the chemical industry in Portugal and supporting its ongoing transformation.
With an academic background in Economics, Carla has a decades-long professional experience in both the public and private sectors. She specialized in the launch and management of early-stage innovation processes, in the design and implementation of its supporting financial and strategic partnerships.
She specialized in the launch and management of early-stage innovation processes, in the design and implementation of its supporting financial and strategic partnerships. Prior to APQuímica, Carla has held several senior public policy positions, as well as diverse lead roles in Management Consulting and in the ICT industry (incl. 7 years at Cisco Systems International), with a strong focus on integrated cross-sectoral approaches.
Suzanne Greene serves as Dow’s global procurement environmental sustainability director within the Strategy Planning & Governance and Purchasing ESG teams.
Based in in Switzerland, Suzanne spearheads Dow’s sustainable procurement strategy for climate action, nature conservation, and circular economy practices.
Suzanne oversees initiatives such as scope 3 carbon accounting and climate target development, decarbonization strategy development, supplier ESG data collection and assessment, and strategic planning for policy compliance.
On a mission to drive humanity forward through transitioning to more sustainable technologies, Rodrigo is a WEF Tech Pioneer and led discussions in +40 countries as the head of global BD at Hyperloop.
Ex Stanford and Oxford, he advises multiple innovation program, funds and startups and invests his time in discuss with visionaries and builders of tomorrow in the front of technologies and mindsets that are shaping the evolution of humanity.
With a degree in Environmental Engineering and a PhD in Applied Environmental Sciences, she develops her activity as a researcher at the Associated Laboratory Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, on the topics of atmospheric pollution, climate change and urban sustainability.
She represents the University of Aveiro on the Community Advisory Panel of the Estarreja Responsible Action Program (PACOPAR) and on the Environmental Studies Network of Portuguese Speaking Countries (REALP).
Meet Ana Aguilar, the dynamic Head of Marketing at Plastiks. Ana’s imaginative thinking and meticulous attention to detail make her a true leader in her field. She genuinely combines creativity with efficiency to create marketing strategies that truly resonate with Plastik’s forward-thinking audience.
With her diverse background and a genuine passion for creativity and a deep understanding of Plastik’s mission, Ana is a driving force at the company.
Ana’s commitment to transparency and sustainability shines through in every campaign she leads, inspiring action and guiding our brand towards a greener tomorrow.
Under Ana’s leadership and fueled by a collaborative team spirit, Plastiks is at the forefront of championing her mission for a more sustainable future.
Veterinarian and environmental activist for over 2 decades. Author of the practical guides “Edible Wild Herbs” and “edible wild fruits” and author and host of the “Edible Nature” video serie.
Mentor and national coordinator of Quercus’s (QUERCUS – National Association for Nature Conservation) Glyphosate / Herbicides Free Municipalities Campaign, having been awarded an Honorable Mention in the Terre de Femmes 2021 award, by Yves Rocher, for her work in this campaign.
Born in a family that runs a leading manufacturer of single-use aluminium food packaging for the Portuguese market.
Before founding Ecoceno, Afonso founded a previous startup where he raised capital from national and international business angels and venture capitalists.
Launched a web platform that registered over 10,000 users and received awards at conferences such as Web Summit and South by Southwest.
With Ecoceno, Afonso works alongside governments, public and private entities in the quest to replace single-use packaging for reusable packaging in a convenient and cost-effective manner.
Over the last 5 years I have focused much of my energy into learning and experimenting with syntropic agroforestry on the land I am a guardian of near Tomar.
At the same time I have helped bring to life the Foundation Terra Agora, the first land conservation foundation in Portugal; I am on the steering committee of Value Flow Innovation, the first platform for regenerative projects to seek funding and to monitor their progress remotely; the Network of Regenerative Laboratories, a network of owners engaged in regeneration; and WWOOF, the volunteer organisation, where I am a member of the board.
After not being able to pollute while racing gokarts, he created Ecokart Portugal, with the mission of promoting, in a practical and effective way, sustainable motorsports and electric mobility.
That was the first step towards the subsequent creation of Ecomood Portugal, an NGO that has the social mission of promoting more sustainable mentalities, behaviors and solutions, with a primary focus on the areas of mobility, education, energy, circular economy, rational consumption and solidarity, environmental and social sustainability.
She has a Master’s degree in Communication, Culture and Information Technologies from ISCTE, University of Lisbon and a degree in Sociology from the same institute.
She has specialized in communication, strategy and fundraising. She has held various management positions including Executive Director of ANP|WWF Portugal (World Wide Fund for Nature), the world’s largest nature conservation organization
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Raneem Diab is a humanitarian visionary woman from Lebanon.
She is the policies and public relations coordinator at ABAAD Resource Center for Gender Equality and the social impact strategist at SUCCESS GROUP for Education. Also, she is the co-founder of MOBADARAT for Community Development NGO.
With her focused interest in incorporating more women in the corporate and social decision-making processes, she is able to always connect her humanitarian actions across various fields with a multipotentiality-mindset.
Having worked in the fields of politics & diplomacy, journalism, environmental politics and international business consultancy. Raneem believes that positive change starts by the will to be the change.
Environmental journalist focusing on how humans are positively and negatively impacting the planet, on the wonders of the natural world and on how our societies can recover the harmony with Nature we have lost.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences, a Master’s in International Relations and I am presently on a Master’s in Anthropology, specializing in relations between humans and wildlife.
I strongly believe that good environmental journalism is crucial to fight disinformation and misconceived notions, to hold accountable those who seek to exploit Earth only for profit and power and mobilise societies to bring about the changes we all urgently need to secure the future of life on our planet.
Awarded the 10th Edition of the Aster Prize, ranked by Thinkers360 in the Top 50 Thought Leaders & Influencers You Should Work With in 2023 – LATAM, and among the Top 50 Thought Leaders in Open Innovation, Startups, Entrepreneurship & M&A rankings for 3 consecutive years.
Founded HAG Ventures and invested in +25 startups from USA, EU, LATAM & MENA, besides accelerating and helping hundreds of entrepreneurs worldwide as a mentor & advisor in acceleration programs in several countries (USA, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Denmark, Qatar, Taiwan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, LATAM and Brazil). Board member, mentor, international speaker, and Venture Building & Corporate Venture Capital expert.
Teach venture building, digital transformation & impact measurement, and spent two years as the Head of Corporate Venture (CVC & CVB) at The Bakery LATAM. In 2024, he was appointed Director of the Entrepreneurship Center recently launched by Porto Business School (PBS).
Ana studied Environmental Engineering and started working in the Waste Management area straight after graduating. She has over 23 years’ work experience. She started as a Project Manager for Waste Collection and Urban Cleaning in Portugal in 2006.
For 3 years she also had an international professional experience that took her to work in Africa, in Côte d’Ivoire, also on projects related to collection, from undifferentiated waste to packaging management and waste treatment at a landfill site.
Ana joined the Circular Economy Engineering team at H2 Compliance in 2021 and is currently Global Take-Back Regional Manager, responsible for all the programs we have active and which cover clients with different activities, various waste streams and different geographical locations.
In 2007 Anabela took on the challenge of being part of the construction team for PRIO’s biodiesel plant in the Port of Aveiro.
The last 18 years have been dedicated to PRIO and the biofuels industry, working in different areas: production, quality/research and management. She led the transition process from the unit designed to process virgin raw materials to a production unit based on residual raw materials.
During her professional career, she completed her training with various specializations: Black Belt Certification, Sustainable Management by PBS and the AMEG programme – Advanced Management in Energy, AESE.
Currently COO of PRIO Bio, sustainable development is a daily area of work, with a constant search for new approaches, maintaining the company’s competitiveness and contributing to a low-carbon economy.
She has a special liking for connecting people from different areas to get the best performance from the team, technology and resources available.
To calm her mind, she practices sport and relies on her family and friends for fun and relaxation, still learning…
As the co-founder of joywave, he leads an emerging platform that connects eco-conscious adventurers with impactful local conservation initiatives.
With a focus on experiential fundraising, they create opportunities for individuals to actively support nature protection while experiencing the beauty of the world.
By partnering with sustainable brands, tourism boards, and celebrities, joywave fosters a thriving community, amplifying environmental efforts and empowering people to make a real difference for our planet.
Nuno Zamaro is an expert in sustainable mobility with over 20 years of experience. As a fourth-generation member of a family linked to the bicycle industry in Portugal, he carries a strong legacy in this field.
Co-author of award-winning projects in the National Mobility Awards (2007, 2017, 2022), he launched the BUTE in 2008, a pioneering academic bike-sharing initiative. Founder of CIMES, the International Congress on Sustainable School Mobility, he has led the implementation of cycling initiatives in schools across various countries, including Mozambique, the Middle East, and the United States.
As the President of the Patrulheiros Association, he champions efforts to promote cycling and sustainable mobility from a young age.
At ADENE since 1996, he was responsible for implementing the building energy certification system (SCE) in Portugal, voluntary energy labeling of products (CLASS)+ and the one-stop-shop for energy and water efficiency (Portal casA+).
It also developed classification systems for water efficiency (AQUA+), efficient mobility (MOVE+) and circular economy (eCIRCULAR). Its most recent challenges include the creation of the Portuguese Voluntary Carbon Market (MVC) and the National Energy Space Network (Espaços Energia).
Graduated in Architecture from Universidade Lusíada, Master degree in Metropolis Urbanism and Urban Culture from UPC, in Barcelona, postgraduate degree in Leadership & Management from CEGE – ISEG, Lisbon.
Worked as a Design Architect in Lisbon and Barcelona and since 2007 with his own space as a creative and project entrepreneur.
The development of new product brands and new architectural solutions has been structured through DesignThinking processes and with an increasing focus on sustainability and EconDesign.
Mobility has become a topic that has taken up more and more of his time, developing and adapting new solutions for the context of smart cities and their urban planning needs.
A passionate and adventurous entrepreneur who believes in the transformative power of ideas!
With a diverse background in law, consulting, and management across international and multicultural landscapes, he has worked in various industries, including retail, insurance, automotive, and tech. His leadership has driven cross-functional teams to define innovative strategies and deploy groundbreaking solutions.
Nowadays, he is on a mission dedicated to blending sustainability with cutting-edge technology, guiding startups through dynamic and volatile markets.
He serves as a board advisor at Unfuel, a pioneering company revolutionizing cycling-based micro-mobility and redefining urban living.
One pedal at a time!
Teacher at the Gafanha da Nazaré School Group, he has a PhD in Multimedia in Education from the University of Aveiro.
He has been teaching IT for almost three decades, implementing active learning methodologies based on project work. He is a member of the “Educity – Smart and sustainable cities with mobile educational games in Augmented Reality created by and for Citizens” at the University of Aveiro.
He has developed research in the area of participatory citizenship and the potential of the Internet of Things for its promotion. His main research interests are the Internet of Things, participatory citizenship, citizen science, as well as pedagogical innovation and the integration of ICT in educational processes.
A passionate car enthusiast from an early age, he took a professional course in car mechanics and later went to England to study automotive engineering.
Throughout his 23-year career, he has spent about half of it in charge of the BMW Group’s training center in Portugal, where he understood that sustainability also involves managing people with the future in mind.
Since 2022, he has proudly been at the helm of MINI in Portugal, a brand for which he is passionate about the BIG LOVE that the brand has for a more sustainable future.
Dora has a degree in Environmental Engineering followed by a master’s degree in Environmental Management Systems. Dora started her professional activity in the asbestos industry and later in an international environmental consultancy business, being exposed to a lot of business/industry scopes. She has vast experience auditing several standards such as EMAS, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 27001, and WEEELABEX.
Dora joined ERP in July 2008 as an audit and quality manager with the main purpose to develop audit standards to apply to the diverse and extensive waste management supply chain as well as designing and implementing other quality policies and processes.
Dora had other missions and challenges within ERP, but since 2018 she is the Head of the Circular Economy Engineering Team which is promoting bespoken services to customers around global take-back activities for end-of-life products, materials and waste and related circular economy technical studies. Dora is also the managing director of Waste Trends management, a company of the Landbell Group providing Authorised Representative Services in Portugal. Since July 2024 she has accumulated the role of CPO in the Group.
Carles is a circular economy professional with a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation in the circular economy.
Carles has been key at expanding closed-loop plastic recycling and circularity measurement for ESG reporting.
My most recent endeavors include pioneering new consumer circular services and participating in the development of Print-as-a-service model which expands our flagship Instant Ink program to include HW, focusing on managing all return flows such as cancellations and upgrades.
Barna Soma Biro is Co-Founder & CTO of PulpaTronics. He is the lead of the company’s technological and product development as well as its IP strategy.
His main expertise lies in developing innovative design solutions informed by biological systems, and conducting iterative experimentation using the scientific method.
He has a master’s degree from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art in Innovation Design Engineering (MA/MSc) and completed his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences (BSc) at Imperial College London, where he specialized in evolutionary biology.
Filipa has a Degree in Public Relations and Advertising followed by a Master’s Degree in Management and Marketing. The early professional times started in a communication agency, as new business account, managing projects and initiatives of different customers as retailers, consumer goods companies and associations/entities.
In January 2007, Filipa joined ERP Portugal as PR Manager, being responsible for several education and awareness campaigns aiming to make companies, stakeholders and consumers aware of the need to participate in the recycling process, according to the role they play in the system. Campaigns with retailers and schools were part of the most relevant (and visible) projects, educating people to deliver their e-waste, batteries and packaging in the right containers/bins for treatment and recycling.
From 2018 to 2022, Filipa accumulated the function of Internal Quality Manager (ISO 9001:2015) and, from March 2022, joined the international Marketing Team of Landbell Group as Marketing Manager. Nowadays, Filipa continues to follow her mission of engaging stakeholders to compliance topics, developing communication materials and content, organizing events and creating sustainability programs.
CEO at IES-Social Business School, ex Innovation Advisor at Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security Office, Member of the Reflection group of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic: The Future has already begun.
LIDERA President, Co-Founder Coletivo Matéria, They-Lab Founder, Transformers Movement and Reformers Advisor and Consultant at World Forum Economic – Global Shapers.
Strategic consultant for social and environmental impact projects, focused on program development, communication, community and non-formal methodologies. Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise 2022
Ricardo A. Nascimento is a highly skilled underwater cinematographer, director, and internationally recognized Sony Wildlife Photographer with over a decade of experience.
Based in Lisbon, Portugal, Ricardo excels in capturing breathtaking visuals of marine life, adventure, and sports projects globally. With certifications like AIDA 3 Advanced Freediver and PADI Rescue Diver + Enriched Air Diver, he is adept at filming in demanding underwater environments.
Ricardo has worked with prestigious clients including Red Bull, Lexus, and NEOM Tourism, producing award-winning documentaries and branded content that showcases his storytelling prowess.
A Fellow Member of The Explorers Club, he is passionate about ocean conservation and uses his films to raise awareness about the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems. Whether documenting Orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar or filming underwater adventures worldwide, Ricardo continues to inspire audiences through his unique storytelling.
Hospitality professional with over 15 years of experience in managing luxury hotels and F&B operations across multiple regions.
As the Chief Operating Officer of Sublime Hotels, I lead a dynamic team in driving excellence across several properties, focusing on high-end guest experiences, operational efficiency, and strategic growth.
My expertise includes budget management, people leadership, and project development in the hospitality sector.
Joana is a Master in Biodiversity and Plant Biotechnology. Her background includes experience at Tilray Portugal and the Meise Botanic Garden, focusing on plant care and propagation, seed conservation, and scientific research.
At SilveiraTech, she is part of a pioneering project to regenerate 230 hectares in the Serra da Lousã, aiming to revitalize two ancient villages.
The initiative integrates forest management, agricultural production, and ecological tourism to create a living space for biodiversity. The project aims to transform degraded landscapes into models of regeneration.
Carla Silva holds a degree in Biological Engineering (UM, 1996), a M.Sc. in Industrial Biotechnology (USP- Brazil, 1999) and a PhD in in Textile Chemistry (UM, 2005).
With more than 25 years of experience in applied and industry-oriented research, 11 patents and more than 80 published papers in peer reviewed journals, she has been responsible for the management and coordination of several national and international R&D projects covering various research topics (surface engineering; biotechnology; innovative (nano)materials, fibres and polymers; processes optimization; sustainability; textile recycling; bio and circular economy).
Cristina holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico and have been leading the Research & Development and Innovation efforts at PRIO for several years.
Recently, I have also taken on responsibility for the Sustainability division.
As a passionate advocate for energy transition, I strongly believe that achieving our goals will require a diverse range of energy solutions, with open innovation and collaboration playing a crucial role in driving progress.
Carla Lourenço holds a PhD in marine biology from Rhodes University in South Africa. An ocean lover and advocate, award-winning conservationist, and science-based Earth activist, she was born at 354 ppm.
Through various scientific expeditions, Carla has thoroughly documented marine biodiversity across the shores of southern Iberian and northern Africa investigating how species respond to climatic changes, and how cold upwelling areas can serve as climatic refugia.
Passionate about science communication, in 2018 she joined the scientific outreach team of Pavilhão do Conhecimento as a coordinator of inter/national ocean literacy projects. Highly experienced in developing and organizing scientific programs and activities, Carla has reached over 42 000 people through her talks and events.
In 2023, she joined CORDAP as the communications specialist to help save corals from functional extinction.
Sofia Máximo has always had a restless spirit, which sparked her environmental awareness from an early age and fueled her dedication to various social projects.
Holding a degree in Tourism and Heritage, she developed a passion for conscious, healthy eating and an interest in wild herbs.
Her permaculture training broadened her perspective, and as a board member of Zero Waste Youth Portugal, Ecomood, and the Herbfest Committee, she actively promotes sustainability initiatives in schools, institutions, and at various events.
Founder and Designer of the registered brand Zeva Horses – fashion and accessories brand for horse riding. Passionate about horses and practicing obstacle riding since 2015.
Defender of the environment and social causes, she dedicates much of her time to inspiring other people to follow their dreams.
At the moment, he’s in his second year of the Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management at the University of Maia. In addition to his studies, he practices boxing, constantly seeking to improve my skills in this sport.
He has dedicated special attention to his continuous evolution as a human being and a professional, focusing especially on patience, resilience, and learning.
Ricardo Neto is the President of Novo Verde (Packaging compliance scheme), and ERP Portugal (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Batteries and Accumulators compliance scheme).
Ricardo began his professional career in sales, but his extensive career in the environmental sector started in 2000 as a consultant for IT companies in Iberia.
In 2005, he became General Manager of ERP Portugal and, in 2014, he became Head of Iberia & South America for the Landbell Group, in which year he created Novo Verde.
In 2021, Ricardo Neto was elected president of Fluxos, the association that represents Waste Management Entities in Portugal, taking on a two-year mandate.
I lead the establishment and operations of CESAR in Europe, Brazil’s premier innovation and knowledge center.
We span the entire innovation cycle, delivering exceptional solutions for companies, startups, and individuals.
My focus is on aligning our initiatives with strategic goals while driving operational efficiency. For over 27 years, CESAR has pushed the boundaries of innovation, shaping a future where excellence meets boldness.
Born in Luanda on 21 October 1966, José Agostinho Ribau Esteves graduated in Zootechnical Engineering from UTAD/Vila Real in 1985/1990 and worked as Commercial Director of Purina Portugal between 1991 and 1997.
He served as a councilor on Ílhavo Town Council from 1990 to 1993, and was elected to the presidency of the municipality from 1998 to 2013 by the Social Democratic Party (of which he was Secretary-General from October 2007 to June 2008). He was also President of the Oceano XXI Association (which manages the Knowledge and Economy of the Sea Cluster).
He currently chairs the Aveiro City Council and is, among other things, Vice-Chairman of the ANMP Board of Directors and a member of the European Union Committee of the Regions.
Finished his Master Degree in Biological Engineering in 2014. After working as an intern on an energy R&D laboratory and a Biofuel Unity in two multinational companies, realized that he wanted to create his own projects and become one of the major agents for sustainable transformation.
In 2017, being already a CEO and co-founder of an educational game project for schools, he created Planetiers – an online marketplace exclusively for sustainable products and solutions. Since then, he made his life goal to keep promoting global sustainable transformation, developing new platforms and speaking in schools, conferences, and all kinds of international events.
Since 2019, his company Planetiers has been one of the co-producers of the event Planetiers World Gathering and co-leader of transformational programs for companies and municipalities.
In 2020 won the “Best Public Leader Award” for the Youth Leadership category. In 2022 was awarded as “Personality of the Year” at the Mercury Awards.
Filipa is a Portuguese forest scientist by training. She is part of the Transition Movement, at several levels of scale – local, national and international.
Filipa is currently co-leading Transition Network. She is currently living in Brussels but with a big piece of her heart in Portugal – she is a member of 2 neighbouring Transition Initiatives in Portugal – Origens and 5ªOficina, and initiator of an emergentmovement of movements for Regeneration in Portugal – Micélio.
She is actively training/facilitating in Portugal. She is an accredited Sociocracy for All and Prosocial World facilitator and she was trained by International Futures Forum (Competence in Complexity).
Raquel Loureiro was born in 1976 in Tavira, the daughter of a couple of artists (her father a conductor and her mother a singer) and is a renowned Portuguese artist (supermodel, actress, TV presenter, singer, visual artist, DJ and producer, writer and designer), entrepreneur and beauty ambassador in Portugal and South America.
Her vast experience as an artist and born public relations professional has connected her with various luxury brands, companies and high-profile events. With a background in fashion, television, acting, presenting, music, event management and production, property business consultancy and public relations, her name is a reference in Portugal.
Cover girl for several fashion magazines, actress and presenter in various projects on RTP, SIC and TVI, she was an artist for Sony Music Portugal as a performer in a girl band, she has performed as a DJ for the Monaco royal family and for the Bulgari jewelry brand, she is the author of the book “A Música que toca a alma”, a tribute to her musician and conductor father, and she has exhibited some of her own paintings.
Versatile and inspired by fashion, her music is eclectic, timeless and passionate, elevating the sensory experience of art. She is currently working on the launch of her sustainability brand and is preparing to launch a podcast/ videocast on sustainability trends and innovations in November 2024.
Paul is an innovative leader and has been at the forefront of sustainable fashion initiatives for the past 15 years.
Concentrating on the collection, sorting, and recycling of discarded textiles and shoes. His most notable achievement is the establishment of a pioneering global take-back scheme for discarded clothing and shoes, exclusively collecting at the point of sale.
This inventive approach aims to extend the lifecycle of fashion items and capitalize on their valuable raw materials.
At present, Paul is heading efforts at Landbell Group to develop compliance solutions for the textile sector in line with the newly introduced legislation.
His focus is on providing the fashion industry with comprehensive, one-stop shop solutions, facilitating a seamless transition to circular practices for the end-of-use stage of textiles.
Miguel Macias Sequeira is a PhD student and energy and climate researcher at CENSE, NOVA-FCT (Centre for Research in Environment and Sustainability, Faculty of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon).
Since 2020, he has been a volunteer at the Telheiras Local Partnership – a network of more than 20 entities and informal groups active in this Lisbon neighbourhood – where he has been coordinating the implementation of the Telheiras/Lumiar Renewable Energy Community project.
He is an environmental activist and vice-president of GEOTA (Group for Spatial Planning and Environmental Studies), and is also one of the ambassadors for the European Climate Pact in Portugal.
Marta Gonzaga leads business development and market expansion in Europe for Forest Watch, a global platform for Monitoring, Traceability, Compliance and ESG Marketing for forestry and agriculture projects.
Marta works with private entities to adapt compliance models and environmental compensation initiatives using auditability and accreditation tools.
She plays a key role in promoting the platform, adapting it to European legislative requirements to fight greenwashing and climate changes.
She is also a curator of events like TEDxLisboa, where she champions topics such as climate urgency, transparency, and data-driven solutions.
With a degree in Law from Universidade Católica Portuguesa and a post-graduate qualification in Marketing from Instituto Superior de Gestão, she began her career in the Foreign Investment Department of ICEP – Investimentos, Comércio e Turismo e Portugal.
She is currently Director of the AICEP Academy, the area responsible for managing the Inov Contacto international internship programme and for organizing business and internal training programmes on the themes of investment, internationalization and branding.
With more than 15 years of experience in diverse educational roles, she has dedicated her career to teaching and research, focusing on teacher training at various stages and contexts.
Currently, she specializes in pedagogical innovation, collaborating to co-construct learning environments that foster active student engagement.
Her goal is to empower students to take an active role in their education, preparing them to thrive as adaptable, responsible citizens in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Luís Gutman has over 20 years’ experience in technology and innovation, working in various sectors such as telecommunications, the financial market and education.
As an executive, he has led teams in both start-ups and large corporations, working in Brazil, Portugal, the USA and several Latin American countries.
In the Venture Capital sector, he has experience in investing in startups in Brazil and Portugal, and is currently managing partner of OW Ventures and responsible for investment funds focused on early-stage technology startups.
Azorean born, ocean advocate & activist for a better Europe, now serving Portugal as Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs.
Multidisciplinary team leader, with a large background from the media sector and policy making.
Experienced in European Affairs and Maritime Policy, at regional, national and european level. Former member of the Portuguese Parliament, elected by the Azores.
Former member of the President Cabinet at the Legislative Assembly of the Azores. Former journalist, who still believes journalism is the motor for democracy.
With expertise in Technology, Product Design, Sustainable Energy Systems, and Permaculture, I’ve built a career focused on making the world a better place through innovation and thoughtful design.
My work spans areas like lighting, soft mobility, smart cities, smart/sustainable building, circular economies, waste-to-value, and plastic recovery/recycling, in companies like benacid.com, senamar.pt, plastiks.io, lightenjin.pt, lightmobie.pt – always prioritizing care for the earth, people, and the return of surplus.
Ana Milhazes is a sociologist, coach and mentor, activist, yoga instructor, author of the blog ‘Ana, Go Slowly’ and the book ‘Vida Lixo Zero’.
She is also the founder of the Zero Waste Portugal movement and an ambassador for the European Climate Pact. She believes that her mission is to inspire change towards a simpler, more sustainable and happier life. She has given hundreds of workshops and inspirational talks at schools, companies and various events.
Her passion for sustainability, minimalism and conscious living is contagious. Through her work and her life, Ana is creating a greener, healthier and more conscious world, one step at a time.
Passionate about travelling, Ana believes that it is possible to generate a positive impact wherever we go, contributing to the well-being of local communities and leaving places better than we found them.
Serial entrepreneur in technology and social impact. Specialist in corporate innovation and high social impact models in organizations.
She is a facilitator of transformational leadership networks in large organizations, areas of social exclusion, armed conflict, and minorities’ rights. She works as a speaker, business consultant, and advisor.
Forestry Engineer, with an extensive resume connected to forest associativism in Spain and Europe, leading various international projects with Southern European countries, and being responsible for numerous technical studies and publications on forest economy and policy in Spain.
Mr. Carstensen is a recognized global leader within the environment and development sectors. Prior to joining FSC, Mr. Carstensen managed FairGreenSolutions, a consultancy that helped link the concepts of ‘Green Economy’ and sustainable development for clients in the Global South.
His strategic approach comes from a long history of global leadership, most recently as the leader of WWF International’s Global Climate Initiative, and previous roles as CEO of WWF Denmark and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Denmark’s Official Development Assistance Agency (Danida).
She is the founder of the doBem channel, where she produces daily content on health and well-being. Her channel is clearly geared towards impact communication: informing, inspiring and empowering others to live a more meaningful life.
She is a speaker on the topics of health, wellbeing and personal development; a writer (she has released 3 books on mindful eating); and she is passionate about sport, particularly running marathons. She trains rigorously and passionately every day so that she can travel and run the most emblematic Marathons in the world.
She has a huge passion for life and in order to live it to its full potential, she implements daily habits that not only promote her well-being, but are also crucial to her personal development.
She communicates and shares her simple secrets for a purposeful life with others on a daily basis. And that is her life mission: to communicate in order to inspire.
Starting in 1976, I grew up freely between the beaches and fields on the outskirts of Porto,
immersed in nature and the rural stories of my grandparents and great-grandparents.
Walking barefoot through vineyards and cornfields, I connected deeply with the land and its cycles. As time passed, I transitioned from a rural upbringing to urban life, studying Environmental Sciences in the UK and Poland, and gaining professional experience in Germany and Cape Verde.
This journey has built the bridge between urban and rural worlds.
Returning to Portugal, I felt compelled to promote change, combining my rural heritage with a global perspective. In 2006, I launched “Raízes,” my first project in organic farming, pioneering the “Community Supported Agriculture” model in Portugal. Later, at Noocity,
I focused on community urban gardens, demonstrating that positive environmental and social impact is possible.
Passionate about the intersection of urban-rural relations and sustainable development, I
continue to explore and question, guided by the humility of what I don’t know. The question that drives me now is: What is the ecological function of the Homo sapiens species?
Rutgers job is to make sure to bring new business to Paper on the Rocks.
With a lot of enthusiasm and a quick joke he always brings positivity to the conversation.
He guides companies in the wondrous world of paper alternatives and makes sure they do the right thing.
Has founded and led digital transformation of editorial projects in Portugal, having been editor-in-chief both at the Portuguese leading daily financial newspaper Jornal de Negócios and at leading weekly Expresso.
In 2021, he joined the project of launching CNN Portugal’s, which is the leading information cable channel in Portugal since then, and where he leads the digital operation.
Ermi van Oers, founder of Nova Innova in Rotterdam, blends nature, science, and design to create sustainable innovations.
Graduating cum laude in product design from Willem de Kooning Academy in 2016, she discovered her passion for Biodesign, aiming to transform polluting systems into sustainable, circular ones by integrating natural processes. Her work, like the Living Light—a lamp powered by plant photosynthesis—showcases the beauty and potential of natural solutions.
Ermi’s mission is to restore the symbiosis between humans and nature, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the smart solutions found in the natural world.
Bibop Gresta is the Co-Founder and former Chairman of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies and CEO of Hyperloop Italia.
A pioneering figure in high-speed, transhumanism and sustainable transport. His bestseller book has achieved top rankings in multiple countries, highlighting his expertise and vision.
He’s a frequent guest on major media outlets like CNN, NBC, and Forbes, where he shares insights on technology and sustainability.
He is also a speaker at prestigious events, like the World Economic Forum and TED Talks, inspiring audiences with his forward-thinking approach.
With a two-decade long career in business journalism, André is currently Deputy Editor-in-Chief at ECO, a leading business digital newspaper in Portugal. Previously he was Editor-In-Chief at Jornal de Negócios.
Demanding, with a high sense of dedication and professionalism, reporting on current affairs in the fields of economy and politics, both domestic and international, has long been a passion.
He’s also an experienced conference moderator and an occasional commentator on television and radio.
Stone Soup Consultant since 2019. Now Principal Consultant. Harriet has a background in human rights and international development in fragile and conflict-affected states and has over 10 years’ experience as a researcher and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) specialist.
In addition to her conflict and human rights work, Harriet is passionate about climate change and environmental issues. During recent years she has consulted for the Green Climate Fund on their Readiness Programme, monitored the UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) commitments and worked on environmental programmes with the EU involving youth activism and promoting sustainable behaviours.
She has extensive experience working on refugee and migration issues and is very interested in the nexus between climate change and conflict and human rights issues. Harriet has a degree in Spanish, Arabic and Middle Eastern Politics and a Master’s in Human Rights Policy and Practice. She is British, based in Portugal and speaks Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese.
Since 2015, Cristiano has been a consultant at Stone Soup, where he focuses on organizational development, strategic planning, marketing, communication strategy, creation and modelling of social businesses, sustainability, social impact measurement, and training.
With over a decade of experience in management consulting across different industries, from start-ups to global corporations, Additionally, Cristiano serves as a mentor, jury member, and trainer, offering his guidance to organizations within the social sector. Cristiano attended a PhD in Management (Innovation & Entrepreneurship) from the New University of Lisbon (NOVA SBE), a Master’s in Marketing Management from ISEG, an Executive Management Programme in TMT from the Catholic University of Lisbon, a degree in Management from ISCTE.
He also holds an advanced course in “Deep Tech Innovation” from the Catholic University of Porto, a professional certificate in “Management of Business Incubators, Accelerators and Business Development Centres”, a professional certificate in “Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation” and a professional certificate in “Consultant in Business Plans and Models” from the University of Salamanca.
Stone Soup Consulting, a business that aims at increase positive impact for organisations and entrepreneurs all over the world. She has a degree in International Relations and a Masters in Strategy.
Cláudia has 25 years of experience on human rights and migration issues and more than 15 years of experience in strategic management and evaluation. Cláudia has worked as a consultant for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Project Coordinator for International Organization for Migrations and CEO for Amnesty International Portugal.
Has worked with several grassroot movements in different parts of the world, namely in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US. Her areas of expertise in Stone Soup are research, social impact evaluation (including qualitative and quantitative methods such as surveys, interviews and focus groups), strategic planning, strategic assessments, scaling up strategies and financial sustainability.
Has worked on evaluation projects using the Systems Change, Theory of Change, SROI, developmental evaluation, prepost, DAC/ OECD evaluations, amongst others. Has coordinated over 50 evaluation projects and worked in over 150 projects in Stone Soup. She recently supervised a systems’ change project on people with disability.
Marco Galinha has dedicated his professional experience to creating and managing companies with the purpose of creating economic and social value for society.
He’s CEO of the Grupo BEL, which he founded in 2001, bringing together more than 50 companies in various business areas such as logistics&distribution, industry, innovation, real estate, communication and sustainable solutions.
In the last years, he has consolidated Grupo BEL’s position in various areas through the acquisition of companies such as Amaral & Filhos, Active Space Technologies, Global Notícias – Media Group and VASP – Distribuidora de Publicações.
Tim Vieira was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Portuguese emigrant parents. Tim is a Portuguese entrepreneur and investor, known for his participation in the Portuguese version of the show Shark Tank in 2015.
He is currently the CEO of Brave Generation Academy and a candidate for the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic in 2026.
Tim Vieira began his entrepreneurial career in 1993 with a brewery in South Africa. In 2001, he founded Special Edition Holding, a media group operating in Angola, Mozambique and Ghana. In 2015 he founded the Brave Generation Group and the BeBrave Association to invest in startups. In 2020, he launched the Escolhe Portugal platform to support companies during the pandemic. He was president of CCILSA (2020-2023) and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Nova School of Business & Economics. In 2020, he founded Brave Generation Academy, where he is CEO, and maintains investments in Agriculture, IT, Human Resources and Culture.
Coming from a background on Political Science, Law and EU External Relations, she has developed her career working in different organizations (Council of Europe, European Union, UN Women, AECID), in the areas of gender equality and international cultural relations (cultural diplomacy and cultural cooperation).
She has lived in different countries through Europe, Africa and Latin America. She has also conducted research on arts, human rights, feminism and decolonization, and she develops social innovation projects such as Festival Salongo, a cultural festival in Annobón (Equatorial Guinea).
She holds a MA in European Interdisciplinary Studies from the College of Europe (2020), is a BA graduate from Law and Political Science (2018) and is currently finishing a MA on Intercultural Education (2025).
Alexandre Karim Howard is a seasoned product strategist and certified leader with over a decade of experience in scaling innovative businesses. His career spans from leading an early-stage startup to Unicorn status, to co-founding AI-driven regenerative agriculture initiatives.
With a background as a software engineer and extensive experience in product development and sustainable practices, Alexandre has a unique blend of technical and operational expertise. His recent work involves transforming climate tech startups into product-led companies, emphasizing scalability and strategic growth.
Alexandre is passionately focused on the ethics of software development and promoting regenerative paradigms in technology. Drawing on his profound understanding of regenerative agriculture, he advocates for creating mindful, non-addictive software that aligns with user well-being.
Jacinto Antunes has a degree in Chemical Engineering from Porto University and a MBA in Commercial Operations Management from Portuguese Catholic University.
He was born in 1970 and started his professional activity in 1995 at the Portuguese subsidiary of the Air Liquide Group, where he currently serves as Commercial Director for Large Industries in Portugal and Spain.
As part of his duties he is in charge of the energy strategy and business development, notably in terms of energy transition.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Political Science, Mariana Nicolau has been working as a research fellow at the University of Aveiro since 2020, the year she joined the EUSTEPs project team.
Her research is focused on sustainability, and she has been involved in several national and international initiatives on the topic.
João is President of APCADEC – Associação Portuguesa de Compras e Aprovisionamentos and Chief Procurement Officer at Euronews.
João studied Civil Engineering and Finance and has developed his 20+ years career in management position in Procurement, Real Estate and Corporate Services in various sectors such as Energy (REN), Telecommunications (NOS and Portugal Telecom), Public Administration (Direcção Geral do Tesouro e Finanças) and Consultancy (Atkins).
A journalist with experience in international affairs, he has worked for various media organisations in the written press, radio, internet and television.
He has a degree in Journalism, a master’s degree and a doctorate in Political Science. He recently stood out for his coverage of the war in Ukraine for CNN-Portugal.
Born in Águeda, graduated in Documentation and Archivistics, trainer, partner at Quercus and informal caretaker of the native forest of Adofernando on the banks of the Marnel river at Valongo do Vouga since 2010. This forest, family property, consists essentially of alvarinho oak, cork oak, strawberry tree and adernal was the starting point and source of inspiration to follow this journey of having as a lifestyle the ecological restoration of his priorities.
Owning a degree in Economics at Nova University of Lisbon and a post-graduation in Tourism Management in Estoril School, has a career of more than 20 years in multinationals in marketing roles and FMCG category leadership positions, both at local, regional a global levels.
Lived in several countries s.a. Angola, Portugal, Austria, Italy, France, UK and Brazil.
Since May 2019 is the executive Director of the newly established tourism innovation center, which he was invited to set up and coordinate, up until today.
NEST – Tourism Innovation Center, as an entity, is also the coordinator entity of the recently appointed Innovtourism Digital Innovation Hub, the Tourism Agenda applicant to National Resilience Plan, the recently established Lab for Tourism and Health.
NEST is also a recognized partner entity of UNWTO for innovation across the globe.
Aleksandra Gosiewski is the Co-Founder & COO of Keel Labs, an innovation platform expanding the potential of the ocean to accelerate the planet’s development towards a more sustainable future.
With a background in fashion design and economics, Aleks is driving the development of Keel Labs’ business and R&D operations to scale the production of Kelsun™ fiber, the company’s flagship product. As a systems thinker, Aleks connects the dots between supply chain logistics, financial planning, and business development.
Aleks is a Forbes 30 Under 30 member, a testament to her unique and pioneering perspective on the intersection of science and design.
Bruna de Paula Soares, coordinator of international projects at VieTech, is driven by her passion for chemistry and a fascination with the ancient quests of alchemists. With a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Aveiro, her research has always focused on designing more sustainable projects and products, aiming to bridge the gap between science and society.
Currently, Bruna splits her time between coordinating VieTech’s international projects and serving as a member of the advisory board for social and community development projects at the Bahá’í Institute for Training in Portugal.
Additionally, she volunteers as a teacher for children and adolescents in the Santiago neighborhood of Aveiro, where she co-leads, alongside other collaborators, the “Transforma o Teu Bairro” project. In less than three years, this initiative has already engaged over 100 people, transforming the local community.
Human development and the awakening of consciousness are among Jorge’s fields of interest and practice.
In ecology, his purpose is the restoration of forests, the protection of water sources, the promotion of biodiversity, and the creation of abundance for all.
The SDSN is a network of Universities and Research Centres present all over the world through its 57 national and regional networks.
The main aim is to build bridges between these knowledge producers and all the organizations that need them to generate solutions to overcome the constraints to implementing the SDGs. As network manager, Maria João is responsible for managing all activities, from mobilizing members to promoting projects, both national and integrated into the SDSN Global Network.
Carol Zanata, CEO of VieTech, is passionate about educational robotics. She was a world champion in robotics in Australia and has participated in 13 robotics championships, including 3 international ones.
A specialist in educational technologies, she is also a speaker on AI in education. Having worked at a multinational company, during her career at Renault, Carol led an award-winning project on carbon neutrality.
Today, she is fully dedicated to developing educational technologies, impacting the lives of hundreds of children through VieTech.
Full Professor in Environmental Engineering at the Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, of which he has been President since 2018.
His work as a researcher focuses on wastewater treatment, water resource management and environmental sustainability assessment, with more than 200 publications in these areas.
Previously, he was President of the Administração da Região Hidrográfica do Norte, I.P. (2007-2011) and Director of Water Resources and Territorial Planning in the Azores (2000-2002).
He is currently a Counsellor Member of the Order of Engineers.
The first African woman to become FMB Director, Janete Agues is a firm and discreet young woman with an immense capacity for leadership and ensuring the implementation of the organisation’s mission, vision and objectives.
For a decade she has contributed to the design and management of key initiatives in the field of environmental conservation and sustainable development, namely: author of the Zone + Environmentally Friendly initiative, development of the ecotourism brochure “Ilha do Maio: Nature, Culture and the Protected Areas” and identification of community awareness strategies to reduce the impact of human action on biodiversity.
Jorge Cristino is Partner at Get2C and he is an Engineer, with a Master in International Relations and a Post Graduation in Environmental Law.
He was executive board member in a state’s business sector, in the environmental area and former President of the Board of the General Assembly of Assimagra, member of the Board of Directors of the Portugal Mineral Resources Cluster and member of several strategic councils for Industry Decarbonization Roadmaps, where is coordinator of the Strategic Committee for the Plastic Industry Decarbonization Roadmap in Portugal.
He’s also a jury for the climate change indicator of the ECOXXI Municipalities Program – Green Flag and a member of the Mission Group for the recognition of Climate as a Common Heritage of Humanity, at the United Nations.
He is regularly invited as a specialist in initiatives for sustainable development and he’s also the author of the book “The Cities’ Mission to tackle climate change”, as well as several scientific and opinion articles.
With a career in Neurosciences, she has led international research projects funded by national and international agencies and invested in a strong commitment with industry partners.
Her cross-disciplinary research focuses on consumer behavior and the role of empathy and explores how neuroscientific research can foster a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind decision-making.
She emphasizes the importance of literacy in promoting transformational change in consumer behavior, advocating for informed choices that can lead to more sustainable and socially responsible consumption patterns.
At SilveiraTech, they are working to regenerate the environment and revitalize 2 ancient villages in the Serra da Lousã.
Across 230 hectares of degraded land, they are creating a living space for biodiversity, using innovative techniques in forest management, agricultural production, and ecological tourism.
They aim to show that it is possible to care for the land, create abundance, and inspire sustainable practices, transforming a landscape of degradation into a model of regeneration and education for the future.
CEO of Espiral Soluções Socioulturais, a company that works on Social Impact, Creative Economy and Sustainability projects.
She is a social worker, specializing in Sociology and Health from the University of Medicine of Porto – Portugal.
She has worked as a consultant for: UNOPS ́S; UN-HABITAT; UNESCO; FUNDOGLOBAL; Rio de Janeiro State Government Departments and the Pereira Passos Institute.
Leo Imamura is a strategic people advisor and Grandmaster of Ving Tsun, a Chinese system of martial intelligence.
He is founder of Bodicogn, a company that develops embodied cognition programs. Working in various parts of the world, he provides educational activities for personal development.
James Martinez is a Media Ecologist and consultant. He has appeared on National and International media since 1990 discussing the media ecological effects of disruptive technologies and future deployment into the commercial space.
He has been interviewed by Presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. and serves as an active consulting member of The International Committee for Information and Technical Standards
As an environmental and sustainability scientist with a PhD in ecology and conservation, my primary aim is to provide education on environmental science and science-based sustainable decision making across disciplines to address our grand challenges.
My research quantifies biodiversity and environmental responses to human disturbance, to inform sustainable land management and resource use. However, I am also interested in evaluating challenges in sustainable land management practice application, Nature-based solutions and leveraging AI and new-tech for tackling the biodiversity crisis.
Radio host and freelance journalist, she is also a volunteer in the area of animal welfare education working at schools. In 2010, she was the first Portuguese journalist to join a wild volunteer project in Botswana.
Courier International published her work as one of the new trends of the new millennium. She managed to fulfill his dream of meeting his childhood heroine, Jane Goodall and interviewing her for Volta ao Mundo.
“Every small gesture counts”, is a Jane Goodall’s motto that Ana chooses to share with her son every day. She’s also the author of the podcast “m80 Zona Verde”.
João Fonseca Santos joined the European Investment Bank in 2014, starting in the monitoring and restructuring department.
By 2017, he transitioned to structuring operations in Portugal, and in 2021, he became an advisor to Former EIB Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix, focusing on institutional, strategic, governance, and operational matters and supporting in areas including the Blue Economy, Funding and Treasury, Multiannual Financial Framework, and institutional relations in Portugal, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
In September 2023, he assumed the role of Head of EIB Group Office in Portugal. Before his time at EIB, he worked in Private Equity and Corporate Finance in Portugal where he began his career in 2008. He holds a Master’s in Finance and a Management degree from the Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon.
Carlos is the Secretary General of The Club of Rome. He is an Aerospace Engineer and has been a researcher in systems dynamics at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), as well as an entrepreneur in the digital sector across Europe.
He created a foundation to develop research on complex systems, deep learning and responsible innovation.
He now works for the emergence of a civilizational shift towards equitable wellbeing on a healthy planet. Carlos advises the UNESCO Chair of Global Understanding for Sustainability, as well as the SWEET program on energy transition in Switzerland.
We’e’ena Tikuna is an influential indigenous leader, fashion designer, TED Speaker, and activist from the Tikuna Umariaçu village in the Amazon.
As the most prominent indigenous influencer in Brazil, she uses her platform to advocate for indigenous rights, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability. She made history by leading the first fashion show in Brazil entirely created by a native indigenous designer, showcasing the richness of indigenous fashion and opening doors for other indigenous artists.
We’e’ena has served as the National President of Brazilian Indigenous Women at Libra and works as an environmental agent with the IBDN. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Medal of Artistic and Cultural Merit and the Juscelino Kubitschek Cross of Merit.
A dedicated mother, We’e’ena draws strength from her heritage and family to inspire her work in promoting a sustainable and inclusive future.
Margarida Soares is a dedicated professional with a passion for Sustainable Management and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. Her journey into this transformative field began in 2018, marked by a life-changing trip to Mozambique. Since then, she has wholeheartedly committed herself to fostering sustainability and driving change in the corporate world.
Margarida’s professional trajectory is underscored by a continuous pursuit of knowledge and expertise. Her dedication to this cause led her to pursue comprehensive training both in Portugal and on the global stage. Most notably, she recently completed the esteemed “Business and Climate Change: Towards Net Zero Emissions” program at the prestigious University of Cambridge. This program sharpened her insights into sustainable business strategies, aligning perfectly with her mission.Currently, Margarida represents Nextbitt, a pioneering 100% Portuguese tech company specializing in sustainable asset management.
In her role as Sustainability Business Developer, she plays a pivotal role in advancing Nextbitt’s international presence and exploring new horizons in global markets. Her multifaceted experience bridges the realms of Sustainability and Technology, recognizing that these two domains are intrinsically linked and instrumental in driving the Green Digital Transformation. Margarida Soares is not only an expert in her field but also a passionate advocate for sustainable practices that lead to a brighter, more environmentally-conscious future.
Her dedication to sustainable business development, coupled with her international perspective, positions her as a prominent figure in the endeavor to create a more sustainable and technologically advanced world.
Sustainability Brand Marketting Executive with extensive international experience in the sporting goods and sports fashion industry, having worked with top brands like Nike, adidas, and Reebok across Germany, Brazil, and the USA.
Holds master’s degrees in Behavioral Ethics, Economics, and Psychology, as well as European Management & Controlling from Germany, along with certification in Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Stanford.
Doing research and lecturing on sustainability Trend & Innovation Management, International Marketing, and Brand Strategy at Campus M University in Munich.
Ms. Andja Lorein was born in the southwest of France and she is known to her audience for embodying both femininity and empowerment through her artistic approach, her brave spirit and her passion for the path of inner evolution that she has undertaken with sincere devotion over 20 years ago.
“My suffering has been a great shortcut to my evolution” she says. She began her rise to popularity as a successful French model, gracing the covers of numerous magazines including the French Playboy, photographed by world-renowned photographer Gilles-Marie Zimmermann and styled by haute couture designer Stéphane Rolland.
Throughout her modeling career, Andja has had the privilege of traveling around the world, working with many brands and been interviewed in various magazines, being the muse of some of the greatest modern photographers in the fashion and art industry.
Drawing on all her years of inner and outer adventures, she has simultaneously begun to share her wisdom with others and participates in private counselling sessions with clients around the world.
These years of therapeutic experience and shamanic training allow her to guide her clients with great intuition and accompany them in the deep explorations on their life path.
Laetitia Arrighi de Casanova has over 20 years’ experience in strategic consulting. She has supported leaders from multiple geographies in facing the challenges of growth, penetrating new markets, mergers and acquisitions.
She leads B Lab in Portugal. B Lab is a non-profit organization that animates the B Corp movement and defines its standards, policies and tools.
There are now more than 9,000 certified B Corp companies in the world, which meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability and are recognised as leaders in creating positive impact.
Rob Hopkins is the co-founder of Transition Network and of Transition Town Totnes, and author of several books including ‘The Transition Handbook‘ and most recently, ‘From What Is to What If: unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want’.
He is an Ashoka Fellow, has spoken at TED Global and at several TEDx events, and appeared in the French film phenomenon ‘Demain‘.
He holds a PhD from the University of Plymouth as well as 2 Honoris Causas, and is a Director of Totnes Community Development Society.
He hosts the podcast ‘From What If to What Next‘. In November 2022 he was made an Honorary Citizen of Liège in Belgium by the Mayor of the city.
Helena has over 24 years of professional experience in academia, industry and policy. Currently a Senior Coordinator Researcher in Environmental Economics & Sustainable Natural Resources Management at U Aveiro/CESAM, she is responsible for coordinating a new research team, joining natural and socio-economics sciences, to develop further knowledge on environment and ecosystems valorisation and develop sustainable future solutions.
She is also Chair of the Scientific Committee of the CBE-JU, to promote bioeconomy and circularity models and is an EU Mission Oceans and Waters Board Member bridging the mission implementation between EU and Portugal. Previously acted as Director General of Maritime Policy, Minister of the Sea (2020-2022), she is an international recognised expert in Blue Bioeconomy and Ocean affairs.
Satya S. Tripathi is Secretary-General of the Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet. A development economist, lawyer and changemaker with over 40 years of varied experience.
He has served with the UN for more than two decades in key positions across the planet and was most recently the UN Assistant Secretary-General, Head of New York Office at UN Environment and Secretary of the UN Environment Management Group.
