Slendy Díaz is a circular economy expert with extensive experience in the public and private sectors, the energy sector and project management. She is a speaker, consultant and mentor on circular business models.
Veronica has over 8 years’ experience leading innovation-driven initiatives. Currently, she leads a biomaterials startup focused on developing sustainable alternatives like mango leather and hemp textiles. She also mentors early-stage projects and leads private ventures such as a Cultural Gastronomic Center in Luque. In addition, she coordinates Paraguay’s hemp industrialisation project in collaboration with the National University of Asuncion and Agronorte Coop.
Camilo Adas is responsible for decarbonisation strategies with biofuels and low-carbon hydrogen. In collaboration with the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC), he leads working groups for the hydrogen economy and decarbonisation of the naval industry. He is also energy director at FIESP, a researcher in energy transition, former president of the SAE BRASIL board, advisor to the Brazilian Entity for Technology and Energy Transition , a guest professor at Fundação Dom Cabral, international speaker and debater. Adas worked for 33 years at Daimler Trucks, including as chief engineer of Mercedes-Benz trucks in France.
Eduardo Ferlauto is also head of sustainability at Lojas Renner. He graduated in mechanical engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS) and has a master’s in manufacturing processes from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and an MBA in business management from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). Throughout his career, Eduardo has accumulated over 15 years of experience in large companies in the automotive, metallurgical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and retail sectors.
Xandra Weinbeck works for the Netherlands' national promotional institute, which boasts an investment capital of around €2 billion. In her work, she aims to accelerate transitions towards a carbon-neutral economy, bio-based and circular solutions, deeptech innovations, agrifood advancements and life sciences. The approach includes direct investments in pioneering companies, as well as the development of financial instruments and market growth strategies. Business development at Invest-NL focuses on creating the necessary financial tools for industry scaling and fostering market demand. With over 20 years of experience in the chemical and semiconductor industries, Xandra holds an MSc in chemical engineering and an MBA.
Roberto Waack is a board member, entrepreneur and sustainability leader. He co-founded key environmental initiatives and has a background in pharma, forestry and governance. He is a columnist for Estadão Economia. Waack holds a degree in biology and a master’s in business administration (with a concentration in New Institutional Economics) from the University of São Paulo.
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Afke van Rijn
Vice Minister for the Environment and International Affairs
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, The Netherlands
Since February 2023, Afke van Rijn is responsible for the circular economy, waste management, environmental protection, air quality and climate adaptation policy as well as bilateral. Previously she was director-general for COVID-19 at the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Prior to this she was director of the Media and Creative Industries Department, and deputy director-general and coordinating director for Equal Opportunities in Education at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Van Rijn studied computer engineering at Delft University of Technology. She is married and has two children.
Luis Tejado was born in 1969 in Mexico, is an industrial engineer from Universidad Panamericana and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. His career spans finance and strategy at P&G, BCG and Time Warner before shifting to sustainable agriculture. He has led large-scale forestry (Proteak), palm oil (Prolade), organic bananas and coconut operations (Tabascoco). Passionate about circular economy solutions, he specialises in biochar, regenerative agriculture, alternative energies and irrigation efficiency. A strong advocate for waste circularity, he integrates sustainability into agribusiness models, enhancing productivity while reducing environmental impact.
Pavan works for a global leader in impact data and analytics, harnessing the power of impact economics, technology and AI to uncover a business's full value contribution to the world. A scientist by education, a banker by profession and an environmental economist by passion, he previously led the UN’s Green Economy Initiative and The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study. His groundbreaking work has been recognised through several awards including the Blue Planet Prize (2016), the Tyler Prize (2020) and the EAERE European Practitioner Achievement Award in Applying Environmental Economics (2024).
Luisa joined the foundation in 2015 to establish the Latin American office. She has been advancing the circular economy and sustainability transitions for over 15 years, specialising in regenerative systems, circular design and nature-positive solutions, with a particular focus on the role of the Global South in the circular economy transition. Her work bridges policy, innovation and collaboration to align economic growth with ecological restoration and societal benefits. Previously, she worked as a sustainability strategist and trusted advisor to businesses and governments. She holds a master’s in sustainable development, an academic degree in environmental management and a bachelor’s in communication.
