Henry Roman is a principal researcher in the Integrated Circular Economy Transformation Research Group at IWMI and chair of the board of the Sustainable Seas Trust. Roman initiated the development of the science, technology and innovation points for the circular economy strategy for South Africa, which has been approved for implementation. He obtained his PhD in environmental biotechnology in 2005 from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
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Flávio de Miranda Ribeiro
Circular Economy Expert
Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial São Paulo (SENAI-SP)
Flávio is a consultant and researcher in the circular economy, EPR, waste management, cleaner production, LCA, and corporate environmental regulations, as well as an advisor to the UN Global Compact and ambassador of Movimento Circular. He has a background in mechanical engineering, with an MBA, a master’s and a PhD in environmental studies, and has 20 years’ experience at São Paulo State Environmental Agency (CETESB). Flavio has worked as a consultant for international organisations (such as UNEP and OECD), industry associations (such as FIESP, SENAI and CNI), global and local businesses and governments. He is a professor at Santos Catholic University and also lectures at other institutions. He has authored a textbook on the circular economy and has an extensive publication record.
Beatriz is the regional head of finance and economic transformations at UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean office, aiming at shifting finance and business practices towards sustainable patterns of consumption and production and reducing climate impacts, biodiversity loss and pollution. She’s a trained lawyer, specialised on sustainable development. Before joining UNEP in 2017, she worked at the Brazilian Ministry of Development Industry and Foreign Trade, Brazilian Ministry of Environment, World Business Council for Sustainable Development – Brazilian Chapter, WWF Brazil and at UNDP. As part of her role at UNEP, Beatriz leads the coordination of the Latin America and the Caribbean Circular Economy Coalition.
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Severino Lima Junior
President
International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP)
Severino Lima Junior is a prominent Brazilian waste picker leader and founder of ASCAMAR (1999) and COOCAMAR (2007), waste pickers' organisations in Brazil. He is also associated with the Brazil-based waste picker organisation UNICATADORES, an affiliate of the IAWP. He is currently serving as the first President of IAWP. He is well versed in public policies on waste management, cooperatives, climate change and plastics pollution. IAWP is supported by WIEGO.
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Dan Ioschpe
Vice president
Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP)
Alongside his current position, Dan Ioschpe is a member of the boards of directors of WEG, Marcopolo and Embraer. He is also one of the vice-presidents of FIESP, IEDI and a board member of Sindipeças. In 2024 he was the chair of B20 Brasil. Born in Porto Alegre in 1965, he graduated in social communications at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), followed by a postgraduate degree in marketing at Higher School of Advertising and Marketing (ESPM-SP) and an MBA at Tuck, at Dartmouth College, USA.
Matthew Fraser is a recognised expert in the circular economy, with over a decade of experience advising governments on measurement and strategy. At Circle Economy, he leads initiatives that provide policymakers with data-driven insights to assess circularity performance and identify high-impact opportunities for sustainable resource management. Matthew specialises in translating complex resource flows into actionable strategies, supporting governments in integrating circular principles into policy and investment decisions.
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Paul Ekins
Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy
University College London (UCL)
Paul Ekins has a PhD in economics from the University of London and works at the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources at University College London. He was deputy director of the UK Energy Research Centre from 2014-2019. He is a member of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Resource Panel (IRP), for which he has lead reports on resource efficiency and critical minerals for the energy transition. His new book is Stopping Climate Change: Policies for Real Zero (Routledge, 2024). In 1994 Paul Ekins received a Global 500 Award ”for outstanding environmental achievement” from UNEP. In the UK New Year’s Honours List for 2015 he received an OBE for services to environmental policy.
