Mariana is a journalist and senior communications professional specialising in corporate sustainability and ESG. She is a columnist for the newsletter "Negócios Sustentáveis", published weekly on Universo Online (UOL). Marina is also an event presenter and mediator as well as head of communications for corporate projects focused on sustainability.
Marina Negrisoli works for a global producer of innovative and renewable bio-based materials. With a deep passion for people, team development and corporate happiness, she currently leads the company's sustainability strategy, shaping a lasting legacy for Suzano over the next 100 years, while driving socio-environmental value across both business operations and society. Marina holds a bachelor’s and master’s in economics from Fundação Getúlio Vargas and has completed the executive programme at Yale School of Management.
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Emmanuel Chaponniere
Head of Circular Economy & Sustainable Development Division
European Investment Bank (EIB)
Emmanuel Chaponniere is in charge of the Projects Directorate of EIB which is composed of sector specialists. He is responsible for project appraisal including technical, economic, environmental and social issues, and the monitoring of project implementation, as well as for sector studies and policy – including the EIB’s climate, environmental and social policies. Prior to the EIB, he held various positions as a water sector specialist and waste expert in Europe and Africa. Chaponniere graduated from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (France) and has a master’s in water management from the Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural des Eaux et Forêts (France).
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Melissa Rocco
Coordinator of the Industrial Symbiosis Program
Associação da Empresas do Distrito Industrial de Santa Cruz (AEDIN)
Melissa has over 20 years’ experience in environmental and sustainability management across industries such as chemicals, metals, oil and gas, and consumer goods. For the past two years, she has led the programme in the Santa Cruz industrial district, representing AEDIN in partnership with the State Government of Rio de Janeiro and Kalundborg Symbiosis (Denmark). She is also the head of environment, health and safety at Cladtek Brazil. Melissa holds degrees in chemical engineering, occupational safety engineering, an MBA from the Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), and a master’s in environmental engineering from Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
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Claudio Providas
Resident Representative
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Claudio Providas has served in his current position since October 2023. He joined the UN as a volunteer in Mozambique in 1993 and began his career at UNDP in 1996. Previously, Claudio was resident representative in Iran and a country director in Timor-Leste. As UNDP deputy resident representative, he served in Bolivia, Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago (including Suriname). He has an executive masters’ from EAP (France) and a bachelor’s in biological sciences and hydrobiology from La Universidad de la Republica (Uruguay). He is a dual Uruguayan and Belgium national and speaks English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
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Kristo Lehtonen
Director, International Programmes
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund
Kristo Lehtonen leads Sitra's international programme portfolio including the global circular economy, future well-being solutions and the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC). Previously, he was in charge of Sitra's work on the fair data economy. He was co-founder and CEO of 3DBear, an edtech company which combines virtual reality with world-class pedagogy. It has users in over 150 countries and was shortlisted in TIME Magazine as one of the world’s top 50 edtech companies in 2024. He also worked as special adviser to the minister of transport and communications in Finland, after more than 10 years at Nokia.
Mika Sulkinoja plays a strategic leadership role in the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF). With around 25 years’ hands-on experience in advancing the global sustainability agenda, Mika has worked across sectors—from the United Nations and the Finnish Government’s climate negotiation team to the private sector. His focus has been on market-based policy instruments, climate finance and international cooperation. At Sitra, he leads collaboration on the WCEF and contributes to the European Union Circular Economy Resource Centre, helping shape initiatives and partnerships that accelerate the global shift towards a sustainable, circular future.
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Daniel Weingart Barreto
Chief Executive Officer
Assessa Industria, Comercio e Exportacao Ltda.
Daniel Weingart Barreto is a chemist and chemical engineer with an MSc in organic chemistry, a DSc in natural products chemistry, and an MBA in management. He is a professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, teaching entrepreneurship to undergraduates. He also collaborates with the post-graduate programme in technology of chemical and biochemical processes at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Dr Barreto has published extensively and holds patents in organic fine chemistry, applied chemistry, materials science, cosmetic chemistry, and natural products chemistry.
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Loa Dalgaard Worm
FSC Circularity Hub Lead
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Loa is committed to helping humanity thrive within planetary boundaries by building bridges between environmental ambition and economic reality. With a career spanning the non-profit and for-profit sectors, she focuses on cross-sector collaboration to drive systemic change. As director of FSC Denmark, she expanded the organisation’s membership and significantly increased public awareness of sustainable forestry. Loa also helped lead FSC’s digital transformation to enable data-driven solutions. Today, she’s working at FSC International with over 70,000 companies to accelerate the transition toward circular, regenerative business models that can shape a more resilient and sustainable future.
With a background in teaching and science, Mette focuses on developing strong partnerships and initiatives that promote sustainable industrial practices and enhance resource efficiency, making a meaningful impact on sustainable industry development. Her experience builds on knowledge gained through the Kalundborg Symbiosis partnership which has worked collectively on the circular economy in industrial production for more than 50 years. Passionate about the green transition and environmental care, Mette is dedicated to driving change towards a more sustainable future. She is involved in the systemic export of industrial symbiosis to Brazil, in cooperation with AEDIN and the State of Rio.
