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What’s next? How circularity can help us reach the goals for biodiversity.
The closing plenary will explore how the circular economy can help halt and reverse biodiversity loss within the Kunming-Montreal framework and boost resilience of our societies through regenerative agriculture and sustainable natural resources management. The closing session also introduces the necessary next steps in the transition, including the evolution of the European Green Deal.
Key findings of WCEF2023
Nadia Gullestrup Christensen
EU Youth Delegate to the UN
EU mission to the UN
Nadia Gullestrup Christensen is one of the two first European Union’s youth delegates to the United Nations for the UNGA 77th session. She is also chair of the Danish Youth Climate Council, giving recommendations to the minister of climate and energy of Denmark. As an EU youth delegate, Nadia will focus on creating partnerships across generations and between civil society and the private sector. In the council, Nadia works with the other members to create a global alliance of youth climate councils, as well as local youth climate councils in Denmark. Previously, she has been a Danish youth delegate to the UN for climate and environment – in this capacity she has participated in conferences like the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow (UK), COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) and the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 in Montreal (Canada). Strongly interested in climate and biodiversity, she will keep working to push for more action to keep the 1.5-degree target alive and she will remain a fierce advocate for stronger efforts to limit the extinction of species. Nadia holds a Bachelor's in natural resources, specialised in environmental economics, and she currently studies for a Master’s in environmental economics.
Kimmo Ohtonen is one of the two MC’s (Masters of Ceremonies) at WCEF2023. He is a Finnish journalist, author, keynote speaker and TV personality. His career in TV started in the UK in 2005 working for the BBC and ITV on programmes centred around social topics and current affairs. In Finland, Ohtonen is known for various factual programmes and documentaries he has made for the national public broadcaster Yle and other channels. Kimmo has written six books – three fictional and three factual.
Minister of State, Ireland
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, National Development Plan Delivery, Public Procurement and eGovernment
Ossian Smyth has special responsibility for communications and the circular economy as Minister of State in Ireland. Smyth was appointed to this role in July 2020. He has been a TD, a member of Ireland’s parliament, for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since the 2020 general election. In 2014, Smyth was elected as a Green Party councillor to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and served as Cathaoirleach of the Council between 2018 and 2019. He holds a BA in computer science from Trinity College Dublin. He has worked as an IT/business consultant with substantial experience in telecoms, healthcare, utilities, ISP, software, insurance and banking, and as a technical project manager in Saint Vincent’s Hospital.
Sarah is an environmental scientist and experienced business development manager with over 20 years’ professional experience in the environmental services sector in the UK, Ireland and Australia. In her current role at Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy, Sarah has developed a working model for social enterprise design, implementation and management and has overseen the development of an ecological centre of excellence. The Rediscovery Centre operates as an innovation hub connecting people, ideas and resources to support sustainable living and the transition to the circular economy. Sarah has a keen interest in research and is involved in several European and nationally funded research projects in collaboration with academic and corporate partners. Sarah holds a PhD in environmental science, an Honours BSc in processs biotechnology and an MBA.
UN Assistant Secretary General & Deputy Executive Director
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Before her current role, Elizabeth Mrema served as the executive secretary of the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity. Prior to that, Mrema served in various capacities in her two decades at UNEP, including as the director of the law division and the deputy director of the ecosystems division. From 2009 to 2012, she served as the executive secretary of the Secretariat for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals as well as served as the acting executive secretary of the UNEP/ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas) as well as interim executive secretary of the UNEP/Gorilla Agreement, all based in Bonn, Germany. She is a lawyer and career diplomat with an LL B from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; LL M from Dalhousie University, Canada; and postgraduate diploma in international relations and diplomacy from the Centre of Foreign Relations and Diplomacy in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Keynote: Towards a resilient and nature-positive future
Catherine Stewart
Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change
Government of Canada
Catherine Stewart has over 25 years of experience in the federal government. Her most recent role was assistant deputy minister of international affairs at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Since 2014, Stewart has served in senior executive roles at ECCC, including as Canada’s chief negotiator for climate change, director general for multilateral affairs and climate change, and director general for the Americas. She holds a BA from McGill University and an MA in public administration from Carleton University, and is married and has three sons.
Virginijus Sinkevičius is the present Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries at the European Commission. From 2017 to 2019, Sinkevičius was Minister of Economy, and before he was leading the Committee of Economy at the Parliament of Lithuania to which he was elected in October 2016. Prior, he was team lead for regulatory affairs at Invest Lithuania. Sinkevičius holds a Bachelor’s in international relations and affairs from Aberystwyth University and a Master‘s in European international affairs from Maastricht University.
Nadia Gullestrup Christensen is one of the two first European Union’s youth delegates to the United Nations for the UNGA 77th session. She is also chair of the Danish Youth Climate Council, giving recommendations to the minister of climate and energy of Denmark. As an EU youth delegate, Nadia will focus on creating partnerships across generations and between civil society and the private sector. In the council, Nadia works with the other members to create a global alliance of youth climate councils, as well as local youth climate councils in Denmark. Previously, she has been a Danish youth delegate to the UN for climate and environment – in this capacity she has participated in conferences like the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow (UK), COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) and the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 in Montreal (Canada). Strongly interested in climate and biodiversity, she will keep working to push for more action to keep the 1.5-degree target alive and she will remain a fierce advocate for stronger efforts to limit the extinction of species. Nadia holds a Bachelor's in natural resources, specialised in environmental economics, and she currently studies for a Master’s in environmental economics.
Kimmo Ohtonen is one of the two MC’s (Masters of Ceremonies) at WCEF2023. He is a Finnish journalist, author, keynote speaker and TV personality. His career in TV started in the UK in 2005 working for the BBC and ITV on programmes centred around social topics and current affairs. In Finland, Ohtonen is known for various factual programmes and documentaries he has made for the national public broadcaster Yle and other channels. Kimmo has written six books – three fictional and three factual.
Jyrki Katainen’s career has focused on analysing societal change, finding solutions and decision-making. Before his appointment to Sitra, Katainen was the European Commission vice-president for jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness. Prior to the Commission, he has held the positions of prime minister and minister of finance. During his 15 years as a member of the Finnish parliament he has chaired the Committee for the future among other appointments.
Minister for the Environment, the Netherlands
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
Vivianne Heijnen was appointed Minister for the Environment on 10 January 2022. Between 2009 and 2018 she was head of the Maastricht University Campus in Brussels. In 2018, she became a member of the Maastricht municipal executive with responsibility for the economy, housing, regional policy and social innovation. Heijnen was born on 8 October 1982 in Spaubeek. When asked about what motivates her as a minister, she says: “I want the Netherlands to be a country that is liveable and accessible for everyone and where we reuse more. I’m committed to reducing travel time in a sustainable way, with a particular focus on border regions, cities and our neighbouring countries.”
Carmen Ene is the CEO of 3stepIT and of the company’s joint venture with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, BNP Paribas 3 Step IT. Carmen became CEO of 3stepIT in 2015 after over 20 years spent in technology and finance, most recently as vice president of IBM Enterprise Global Business Services and IBM Global Financing Europe. The companies she leads provide lifecycle management services across the Nordics and Western Europe, with 2.3 million devices under management and more than half a million pieces of equipment diverted from landfills and given a second life every year.
A lawyer by training, Astrid Schomaker is Director for green diplomacy and multilateralism in the European Commission's Directorate General for Environment. Since joining the Commission in 1992, she has held a variety of posts in the areas of international relations and environment policy, amongst them leading the work on chemical policy, marine issues and the EU's environment policy strategy to 2030.
Nadia Gullestrup Christensen is one of the two first European Union’s youth delegates to the United Nations for the UNGA 77th session. She is also chair of the Danish Youth Climate Council, giving recommendations to the minister of climate and energy of Denmark. As an EU youth delegate, Nadia will focus on creating partnerships across generations and between civil society and the private sector. In the council, Nadia works with the other members to create a global alliance of youth climate councils, as well as local youth climate councils in Denmark. Previously, she has been a Danish youth delegate to the UN for climate and environment – in this capacity she has participated in conferences like the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow (UK), COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) and the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 in Montreal (Canada). Strongly interested in climate and biodiversity, she will keep working to push for more action to keep the 1.5-degree target alive and she will remain a fierce advocate for stronger efforts to limit the extinction of species. Nadia holds a Bachelor's in natural resources, specialised in environmental economics, and she currently studies for a Master’s in environmental economics.
Kimmo Ohtonen is one of the two MC’s (Masters of Ceremonies) at WCEF2023. He is a Finnish journalist, author, keynote speaker and TV personality. His career in TV started in the UK in 2005 working for the BBC and ITV on programmes centred around social topics and current affairs. In Finland, Ohtonen is known for various factual programmes and documentaries he has made for the national public broadcaster Yle and other channels. Kimmo has written six books – three fictional and three factual.
Minister of State, Ireland
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, National Development Plan Delivery, Public Procurement and eGovernment
Ossian Smyth has special responsibility for communications and the circular economy as Minister of State in Ireland. Smyth was appointed to this role in July 2020. He has been a TD, a member of Ireland’s parliament, for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since the 2020 general election. In 2014, Smyth was elected as a Green Party councillor to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and served as Cathaoirleach of the Council between 2018 and 2019. He holds a BA in computer science from Trinity College Dublin. He has worked as an IT/business consultant with substantial experience in telecoms, healthcare, utilities, ISP, software, insurance and banking, and as a technical project manager in Saint Vincent’s Hospital.
Sarah is an environmental scientist and experienced business development manager with over 20 years’ professional experience in the environmental services sector in the UK, Ireland and Australia. In her current role at Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy, Sarah has developed a working model for social enterprise design, implementation and management and has overseen the development of an ecological centre of excellence. The Rediscovery Centre operates as an innovation hub connecting people, ideas and resources to support sustainable living and the transition to the circular economy. Sarah has a keen interest in research and is involved in several European and nationally funded research projects in collaboration with academic and corporate partners. Sarah holds a PhD in environmental science, an Honours BSc in processs biotechnology and an MBA.
Virginijus Sinkevičius is the present Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries at the European Commission. From 2017 to 2019, Sinkevičius was Minister of Economy, and before he was leading the Committee of Economy at the Parliament of Lithuania to which he was elected in October 2016. Prior, he was team lead for regulatory affairs at Invest Lithuania. Sinkevičius holds a Bachelor’s in international relations and affairs from Aberystwyth University and a Master‘s in European international affairs from Maastricht University.
UN Assistant Secretary General & Deputy Executive Director
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Before her current role, Elizabeth Mrema served as the executive secretary of the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity. Prior to that, Mrema served in various capacities in her two decades at UNEP, including as the director of the law division and the deputy director of the ecosystems division. From 2009 to 2012, she served as the executive secretary of the Secretariat for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals as well as served as the acting executive secretary of the UNEP/ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas) as well as interim executive secretary of the UNEP/Gorilla Agreement, all based in Bonn, Germany. She is a lawyer and career diplomat with an LL B from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; LL M from Dalhousie University, Canada; and postgraduate diploma in international relations and diplomacy from the Centre of Foreign Relations and Diplomacy in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
A lawyer by training, Astrid Schomaker is Director for green diplomacy and multilateralism in the European Commission's Directorate General for Environment. Since joining the Commission in 1992, she has held a variety of posts in the areas of international relations and environment policy, amongst them leading the work on chemical policy, marine issues and the EU's environment policy strategy to 2030.
Carmen Ene is the CEO of 3stepIT and of the company’s joint venture with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, BNP Paribas 3 Step IT. Carmen became CEO of 3stepIT in 2015 after over 20 years spent in technology and finance, most recently as vice president of IBM Enterprise Global Business Services and IBM Global Financing Europe. The companies she leads provide lifecycle management services across the Nordics and Western Europe, with 2.3 million devices under management and more than half a million pieces of equipment diverted from landfills and given a second life every year.
Nadia Gullestrup Christensen is one of the two first European Union’s youth delegates to the United Nations for the UNGA 77th session. She is also chair of the Danish Youth Climate Council, giving recommendations to the minister of climate and energy of Denmark. As an EU youth delegate, Nadia will focus on creating partnerships across generations and between civil society and the private sector. In the council, Nadia works with the other members to create a global alliance of youth climate councils, as well as local youth climate councils in Denmark. Previously, she has been a Danish youth delegate to the UN for climate and environment – in this capacity she has participated in conferences like the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow (UK), COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) and the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 in Montreal (Canada). Strongly interested in climate and biodiversity, she will keep working to push for more action to keep the 1.5-degree target alive and she will remain a fierce advocate for stronger efforts to limit the extinction of species. Nadia holds a Bachelor's in natural resources, specialised in environmental economics, and she currently studies for a Master’s in environmental economics.
Minister for the Environment, the Netherlands
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
Vivianne Heijnen was appointed Minister for the Environment on 10 January 2022. Between 2009 and 2018 she was head of the Maastricht University Campus in Brussels. In 2018, she became a member of the Maastricht municipal executive with responsibility for the economy, housing, regional policy and social innovation. Heijnen was born on 8 October 1982 in Spaubeek. When asked about what motivates her as a minister, she says: “I want the Netherlands to be a country that is liveable and accessible for everyone and where we reuse more. I’m committed to reducing travel time in a sustainable way, with a particular focus on border regions, cities and our neighbouring countries.”
Jyrki Katainen’s career has focused on analysing societal change, finding solutions and decision-making. Before his appointment to Sitra, Katainen was the European Commission vice-president for jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness. Prior to the Commission, he has held the positions of prime minister and minister of finance. During his 15 years as a member of the Finnish parliament he has chaired the Committee for the future among other appointments.
Kimmo Ohtonen is one of the two MC’s (Masters of Ceremonies) at WCEF2023. He is a Finnish journalist, author, keynote speaker and TV personality. His career in TV started in the UK in 2005 working for the BBC and ITV on programmes centred around social topics and current affairs. In Finland, Ohtonen is known for various factual programmes and documentaries he has made for the national public broadcaster Yle and other channels. Kimmo has written six books – three fictional and three factual.
Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change
Government of Canada
Catherine Stewart has over 25 years of experience in the federal government. Her most recent role was assistant deputy minister of international affairs at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Since 2014, Stewart has served in senior executive roles at ECCC, including as Canada’s chief negotiator for climate change, director general for multilateral affairs and climate change, and director general for the Americas. She holds a BA from McGill University and an MA in public administration from Carleton University, and is married and has three sons.
