Let’s have a look at some of the local and international experts and pioneers participating in this year’s Zero Waste Conference. In honour of the themes of the conference – Innovation in Design, Transformation in Business, and Collaboration for Systems Change – we have invited many of the world’s leading experts and visionaries to share their perspectives on how to step up to the challenges of a rapidly changing, resource-constrained world.
Keynote Speakers:
Jeremy Rifkin is the bestselling author of twenty books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment. His recent books include The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons and the Eclipse of Capitalism, and the New York Times bestseller, The Third Industrial Revolution.
Tim Brooks, Senior Director, Environmental Sustainability for Lego, is responsible for the company’s global sustainability strategy, environmental performance, and the impact of its products. He has worked for international engineering consultancies, architectural practices, the Carbon Trust, and as policy advisor to the Mayor of London.
Jeremy and Tim are joined by:
- Biomimicry expert Dayna Baumeister who founded a social enterprise that trains, certifies and connects biomemicy professionals worldwide.
- Dr. Mike Biddle who founded MBA Polymers Inc. in his garage and has grown it to the leading multi-national company recovering plastics from end-of-life durable goods.
- Nadine Gudz, Director of Sustainability Strategy with global carpet tile manufacturer Interface. She develops sustainability leadership through education, community engagement and innovative market solutions.
- David Katz, Founder & CEO of The Plastic Bank, which provides opportunities for the world’s poor to collect and trade plastic waste as a currency. David recently received the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Citizen Award for developing The Plastic Bank.
- Bridgett Luther, President, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, and also serves on the U.S. EPA’s National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy & Technology and on Canada’s National Zero Waste Council. She was Director of California’s Dept. of Conservation for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- Toby Reid, Founder & CEO of Vancouver-based Solegear Bioplastics Inc. that provides customers with bio-based plastics for their product and packaging manufacturing needs. Toby is passionate about sustainability and entrepreneurship and has four international patents in the green chemistry space to his credit.
- Sandy Rodger, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Lead for Project MainStream, a partnership with the World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Co. establishing CEO-level collaboration to accelerate the transition to the circular economy from today’s one-use linear economy.
For more information on the Zero Waste Conference 2014 and to register, please visit our website at www.metrovancouver.org/zwc. We look forward to seeing you at Metro Vancouver’s Zero Waste Conference 2014.