Money talks – what enables a systemic shift for corporates and investors?
Check out the session programme and watch the recording on the screen above. In case your browser doesn’t show the embedded video, you can also watch the session on our Youtube channel.
Capital flows to where investors see the best risk-reward. Here’s how to tip the scales for sustainable investing.
While billions are being invested in circular solutions, trillions are still invested each year into linear business models. This plenary session demonstrates the economic potential of the circular economy and asks what is holding back corporates and investors from a systemic shift.
Reflections on day 1 and overview of day 2
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.
Ambroise Fayolle is responsible for climate action and environment, as well as development policy, and oversees EIB activities in France, Germany and some African and Pacific countries. He spent most of his career in various positions at the French Treasury and at the IMF and World Bank before moving to EIB.
Leading Specialist – Environment, Natural Resources and the Blue Economy
The World Bank
Andrea Liverani has over 20 years’ development experience in research and policy assignments as well as financial and advisory support to governments, with a focus on sustainability and climate.
Showcasing successful circular businesses: What pre-conditions are needed?
Kimmo Ohtonen
Journalist
Bad Dog Productions
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.
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.
Senior Vice President Climate and Sustainability
Equinor ASA
Hilde Røed joined Equinor in 2012. Before taking on the role as SVP in 2021, she was heading up the company's climate strategy activity and ESG reporting. She recently led the development of Equinor's energy transition plan. Hilde has long experience with climate and sustainability work, including with the United Nations Development Programme and Norway’s largest bank, DNB, where she worked for nearly ten years. Hilde holds a Master’s in society, science and technology from the University of Oslo. She is based in Oslo, Norway.
Executive Vice President Polyolefins
Circular Economy and Innovations & Technology Borealis
Lucrèce Foufopoulos-De Ridder joined Borealis in 2019 after a career of more than 25 years in the chemicals and materials industry. Prior to joining Borealis, she held a variety of positions at multinationals, including Eastman Chemical, Dow Chemical, Rohm and Haas, Dow Corning and Tyco. Lucrèce is also a board member of Sika, a Swiss multinational specialty chemical company, and Royal Vopak, a world leader in tank storage. In addition, she is vice president of the Plastics Europe Steering Board. She holds a Master’s in polymer and composites engineering from the University of Leuven, and a Master’s in materials science and engineering from the University of Ghent, both in Belgium, and executive business education from Insead in Paris, France and IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. She is married and holds dual Belgian-Swiss citizenship.
We are in this together: How can financiers support businesses to dare more?
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.
Managing Director
Deputy Global Head of Sustainable Investing BlackRock
Prior to joining BlackRock, Chris was group head of sustainable investment at Lombard Odier, a Swiss private bank and asset manager. He led a group responsible for cross asset sustainable investment research, data science and analytics, product development, portfolio strategy and stewardship. He was responsible for sustainability integration across the firm's assets and built a full sustainability thematic product range during his tenure. Prior to Lombard Odier, Chris worked at SEB, a Nordic banking group, where he was head of sustainable finance research and a senior advisor in capital markets. During his time in investment banking at SEB, Goldman Sachs and Societe Generale, he advised on and structured sustainability financing solutions. An energy economist and economic geographer by training, he is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Visiting Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University He has published widely in the sustainable finance literature. He received his PhD from Oxford University and Master’s from Columbia University (SIPA).
Prior to her current position, Paula Laine has worked as the strategy director for Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, as well as in leading roles for international technology companies, including Nokia. Her background is in technical physics. Outside office hours Paula Laine manages an energy self-sufficient horse farm in Sipoo, Finland.
Ellen Martin is responsible for managing impact, ESG and insights for Circulate Capital. As a member of Circulate's leadership team, she is focused on ensuring the firm's collective strategies, assets and relationships deliver impact as it grows.
Director of Sustainable Business and MSME
IDB Invest
Paula Pelaez leads a team within the advisory services division supporting IDB Invest’s clients. She helps integrate sustainability and circularity into strategy and operations, supports sustainability in financial instruments, and fosters the inclusion of vulnerable populations and MSMEs in value chains. Paula has over 20 years’ experience working at the intersection of private sector and development. She joined IDB Invest from UNDP, where she was head of the Business Call to Action – a leading global platform advancing inclusive business and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior, Paula worked in New York for Business for Social Responsibility advising global corporations on issues including sustainable sourcing, business and human rights and sustainability strategy. She has worked with CARE Canada and Aga Khan Foundation on value chain development, impact investing and microfinance. She is currently based in Washington DC and has lived and worked in Turkey, Kenya, Mozambique, Costa Rica, Colombia and Bangladesh. Paula began her career working with Grupo Aval in her home country Colombia. She has an MSc in environmental studies from York University, Canada, and a BSc in industrial engineering from Universidad de los Andes, Colombia.
Deputy Director
United Nations Environment Programme
Steven Stone is currently deputy director of the Industry and Economy Division at UNEP. He joined UNEP in 2010, as chief of the economics and trade branch and served from 2017 to 2021 as chief of the resources and markets branch, based in Geneva. Prior to joining UNEP, Steven worked at the Inter-American Development Bank as resource economist in Washington, environmental specialist in both Jamaica and Ecuador, and country representative in Honduras. Steven earned an MSc and PhD in resource economics from Cornell University, following his BA from Swarthmore College, USA. He has authored and co-authored numerous journal articles and blogs in the field of environmental and resource economics.
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.
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.
Ambroise Fayolle is responsible for climate action and environment, as well as development policy, and oversees EIB activities in France, Germany and some African and Pacific countries. He spent most of his career in various positions at the French Treasury and at the IMF and World Bank before moving to EIB.
Executive Vice President Polyolefins
Circular Economy and Innovations & Technology Borealis
Lucrèce Foufopoulos-De Ridder joined Borealis in 2019 after a career of more than 25 years in the chemicals and materials industry. Prior to joining Borealis, she held a variety of positions at multinationals, including Eastman Chemical, Dow Chemical, Rohm and Haas, Dow Corning and Tyco. Lucrèce is also a board member of Sika, a Swiss multinational specialty chemical company, and Royal Vopak, a world leader in tank storage. In addition, she is vice president of the Plastics Europe Steering Board. She holds a Master’s in polymer and composites engineering from the University of Leuven, and a Master’s in materials science and engineering from the University of Ghent, both in Belgium, and executive business education from Insead in Paris, France and IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland. She is married and holds dual Belgian-Swiss citizenship.
Managing Director
Deputy Global Head of Sustainable Investing BlackRock
Prior to joining BlackRock, Chris was group head of sustainable investment at Lombard Odier, a Swiss private bank and asset manager. He led a group responsible for cross asset sustainable investment research, data science and analytics, product development, portfolio strategy and stewardship. He was responsible for sustainability integration across the firm's assets and built a full sustainability thematic product range during his tenure. Prior to Lombard Odier, Chris worked at SEB, a Nordic banking group, where he was head of sustainable finance research and a senior advisor in capital markets. During his time in investment banking at SEB, Goldman Sachs and Societe Generale, he advised on and structured sustainability financing solutions. An energy economist and economic geographer by training, he is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Visiting Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University He has published widely in the sustainable finance literature. He received his PhD from Oxford University and Master’s from Columbia University (SIPA).
Prior to her current position, Paula Laine has worked as the strategy director for Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, as well as in leading roles for international technology companies, including Nokia. Her background is in technical physics. Outside office hours Paula Laine manages an energy self-sufficient horse farm in Sipoo, Finland.
Leading Specialist – Environment, Natural Resources and the Blue Economy
The World Bank
Andrea Liverani has over 20 years’ development experience in research and policy assignments as well as financial and advisory support to governments, with a focus on sustainability and climate.
Ellen Martin is responsible for managing impact, ESG and insights for Circulate Capital. As a member of Circulate's leadership team, she is focused on ensuring the firm's collective strategies, assets and relationships deliver impact as it grows.
Senior Vice President Climate and Sustainability
Equinor ASA
Hilde Røed joined Equinor in 2012. Before taking on the role as SVP in 2021, she was heading up the company's climate strategy activity and ESG reporting. She recently led the development of Equinor's energy transition plan. Hilde has long experience with climate and sustainability work, including with the United Nations Development Programme and Norway’s largest bank, DNB, where she worked for nearly ten years. Hilde holds a Master’s in society, science and technology from the University of Oslo. She is based in Oslo, Norway.
Deputy Director
United Nations Environment Programme
Steven Stone is currently deputy director of the Industry and Economy Division at UNEP. He joined UNEP in 2010, as chief of the economics and trade branch and served from 2017 to 2021 as chief of the resources and markets branch, based in Geneva. Prior to joining UNEP, Steven worked at the Inter-American Development Bank as resource economist in Washington, environmental specialist in both Jamaica and Ecuador, and country representative in Honduras. Steven earned an MSc and PhD in resource economics from Cornell University, following his BA from Swarthmore College, USA. He has authored and co-authored numerous journal articles and blogs in the field of environmental and resource economics.
