2022 GC3 European Forum - Speakers

PRESENTER

JOEL TICKNER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT GC3

Dr. Joel Tickner is a Professor of Public Health  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is founder and Executive Director of the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3); Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment (A4), a new professional association; and Co-Director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI).  He is a leading expert on application of green chemistry and alternatives assessment in science and policy. He has served on a number of EPA and National Academy of Sciences advisory committees and advises government agencies around the world. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana and a Doctor of Science Degree from the Department of Work Environment at University of Massachusetts Lowell. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

TIM BROOKS

VICE PRESIDENT ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AT THE LEGO GROUP

Tim is the Vice President for Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group and has been with the LEGO Group for almost 10 years. Based in Billund, Denmark he leads a global team responsible for the LEGO Group’s environmental sustainability strategy, performance, and the impact of its products and operations.

Tim has over 20 years of experience in sustainability, with a background in renewable energy technologies, sustainable design, and product manufacturing. ​He started his career with the Building Research Establishment and has worked for international engineering consultancies, FTSE 100 companies, the Carbon Trust, and as an environmental policy advisor to the Mayor of London.

He is a trustee of a number of environmental charities and was named by Fast Company as one of the 100 most creative people of 2019.

MODERATOR

ANNA MONTGOMERY

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR AT GC3

Anna manages all aspects of GC3 operations from finance to human resources to member satisfaction. In this role, she ensures GC3 members have a seamless experience from onboarding to engaging in the GC3’s many projects. Anna also works with other organizations seeking to partner with the GC3 to advance green chemistry.

Anna joined GC3 from Northwest Green Chemistry where she advanced public and environmental health and policy through the application of green chemistry and engineering solutions. She has designed/conducted research in alternatives assessments, environmental science, intersectoral collaboration, stakeholder engagement, evaluation, and ecology. She has more than 20 years of experience as a leader, and in environmental and nonprofit consulting, huma resources, and risk management. Anna has a doctorate in education from University of Southern California, Rossier; a master’s in public administration from University of Southern California, Price; and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Colorado College.

PRESENTER

LAURENT DERONNE

CHEMICALS RISK & SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY LEADER AT ADEO SERVICES

Laurent has joined ADEO group in 2019 as the Corporate project leader for Chemical Substances Risk management. In this role, he defines the current and future ADEO strategy for the management of the Hazardous substances in the products as well as in the supply chain and is piloting the deployment of the strategy for Safer alternatives all along the different ADEO’s companies, convinced that the promotion of green chemistry is one of the major pillars to drive sustainable change towards a positive impact on health.

Prior to joining ADEO, Laurent worked for 25 years in the International Chemical Industry at PPG Industries where he held various management positions, as well as in the Agrochemistry at Roquette. He brings extensive experience on Safer alternatives for Hazardous substances as an R&D Engineer, toxico-chemist, materials analysis, and European and US Regulations on Chemicals as well as international project leader.

PRESENTER

NELLEKE VAN DER PUIL

VP MATERIALS AT LEGO GROUP

Nelleke joined The LEGO Group as Vice President of Materials in 2014. In this role she heading a team of materials specialists in The LEGO Group’s Engineering and Quality organization. She is responsible for the current and future materials in LEGO core line products and since December 2015, Nelleke drives the technical agenda of the Sustainable Materials ambition for The LEGO Group.

Prior to joining LEGO, Nelleke worked at Avantium b.v. in Amsterdam (2000-2014), where she held various management positions. She worked as an R&D Engineer at ABB Lummus Global, now Lummus CBI, at the Technology R&D center in Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA (1997-2000).

Nelleke holds a PhD and MSc in Chemical Engineering from the Delft University of Technology.

PRESENTER

YLVA WEISSBACH

SUSTAINABILITY BUSINESS EXPERT AT H&M GROUP

Ylva Weissbach is a Sustainability Business Expert at H&M Group focusing on Chemical Management. Her academic background is M.Sc. in Environmental Science, Ecotoxicology at Lund University, Sweden. She has an extensive knowledge of working proactively with reducing the use of hazardous chemicals within the fashion industry and has been with H&M Group for 14 years. She is leading the work to set and integrate the H&M Group Chemical Agenda, envisioning a toxic free fashion future.  Ylva represents H&M Group in several industry initiatives with the overall aim to ensure safe and toxic free chemical input in the fashion industry.  She is advocating for common, yet progressive tools to clearly monitor and improve the industry’s performance to secure safe chemical input and to minimize the chemical footprint.

PRESENTER

ED DE JONG

VP DEVELOPMENT AT AVANTIUM NV

Ed jointed Avantium in 2007. He is currently VP Development – responsible for Public-Private partnerships of Avantium. In addition he is involved in feedstock selection and pretreatment (Avantium’s Dawn Technology and Ray Technology) and Catalytic Biomass Conversion of carbohydrates into building blocks for polyesters such as PEF, an improved replacement of PET. He is also involved in the valorization of side products of the YXY & Dawn Processes, cq lignins, humins and levulinates.  He is co-chair of the IEA-Bioenergy Task 42 on Biorefineries. 

MODERATOR

JOEL TICKNER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT GC3

Dr. Joel Tickner is a Professor of Public Health  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is founder and Executive Director of the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3); Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment (A4), a new professional association; and Co-Director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI).  He is a leading expert on application of green chemistry and alternatives assessment in science and policy. He has served on a number of EPA and National Academy of Sciences advisory committees and advises government agencies around the world. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana and a Doctor of Science Degree from the Department of Work Environment at University of Massachusetts Lowell. 

PRESENTER

JONATAN KLEIMARK

SENIOR CHEMICALS AND BUSINESS ADVISOR AT CHEMSEC

Dr Jonatan Kleimark has background as a PhD in organic chemistry and experience from working as a project manager within different sectors, including MedTech, automotive and pharmaceutical industry. At ChemSec, he leads the work on PFAS, including PFAS Movement and identification of safer alternatives to PFAS, is project manager for ChemSec Marketplace, and is responsible for the ChemSec Business Group.

PRESENTER

CINDY STEWART

VICE PRESIDENT, OPEN INNOVATION AT CORBION

Dr. Cindy Stewart is the Vice President, Open Innovation for Corbion. In her role, Cindy drives the expansion and execution of a portfolio of new innovation programs and business development projects to realize Corbion's growth ambitions. Her team's key focus is on finding and evaluating outside-in partnerships with type 3, transformational innovations which will add promising long-term business opportunities to Corbion's global portfolio. Prior to joining Corbion she served as the Global R&D Leader for Cultures, Food Protection and Food Enzymes in IFF (formerly DuPont) Health & Biosciences Division. She strategically led a global team in the discovery and R&D of novel starter cultures, food & dairy enzymes and food protection ingredients to enhance fermentation processes, improve food product quality, preservation, safety, and sustainability. Before joining DuPont, Dr. Stewart was the Senior Director of Advanced Research at PepsiCo, New York. In this role, Cindy led a team of research engineers focused on the creation of new knowledge and the development of innovative technologies for PepsiCo’s global beverage processing platforms. Previous positions held include General Manager, Silliker, Inc. Food Science Center; Director, Scientific Affairs, at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology; High Pressure Processing Program Manager for CSIRO’s Food Science Australia; Senior Research Microbiologist Corporate R&D, Nabisco; and Research Associate II at the University of Delaware.

PRESENTER

MARK STALMANS

DIRECTOR, GLOBAL PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP & SUSTAINABILITY, PROCTER & GAMBLE

Dr. Mark Stalmans obtained a degree in Agricultural and Chemical Engineering (1983) and a Ph.D. in Colloidal and Interphase Chemistry (1986) at Leuven University (Belgium). He joined Procter & Gamble in 1987 and has managed global and regional safety, regulatory, lifecycle analysis and sustainability programs for household and professional product categories. He is presently Director in P&G’s Global Product Stewardship & Sustainability team for the Global Fabric & Home Care Business Unit where he coordinates P&G’s internal and stakeholder programmes around sustainability and innovation for laundry and cleaning products.

He has been an active member of industry sustainability networks (A.I.S.E., Cosmetics Europe, AIM, CEFIC) and has helped to develop and deploy voluntary sustainability initiatives, such as the A.I.S.E. Charter for Sustainable Cleaning, www.cleanright.eu, ‘I prefer 30o’ (www.iprefer30.eu) and the CEFIC Sustainability Charter.

PRESENTER

WILLEM VRIESENDORP

FOUNDER AT #SustainablePublicAffairs

Willem Vriesendorp is founder of #SustainablePublicAffairs, the first-of-its-kind public affairs agency that only takes on cases with a positive impact on the environment - and with the audacious mission to foster policy-driven growth for sustainable business cases.

Previously, Willem was a partner at FIPRA Public Affairs where he led the Competition and the Environment practices - and before that Willem worked as a qualified competition lawyer at Allen & Overy.

Willem is selected as one of the best Public Affairs consultants in Brussels by several peer-reviewed outlets.

PRESENTER

KRISTIN SCHREIBER

DIRECTOR AT THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, DG GROW, CHEMICALS, HEALTH, RETAIL AND AGRIFOOD

Prior to her current Director position, she served as Director for Governance of the Single Market and International Affairs in DG MARKT (until 2015) and Director for SME policy in DG GROW (until March 2021).  

Kristin Schreiber was Head of Cabinet of Employment Commissioner Vladimir Špidla, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier and member of the Cabinets of Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen and Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert. She also served as Head of Unit for International Affairs in DG Employment and Social Affairs and was a member of the Merger Task Force of DG Competition.  

PRESENTER

RAFAEL CAYUELA

EMEAI SENIOR STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, CORPORATE CHIEF ECONOMIST & THE CHAIR OF THE EU SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP TEAM, DOW

At Dow, Rafael is responsible for defining and accelerating the EMEAI Sustainable, Digital & Growth Transformation Strategy.

Externally, he is the Chair of CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Association) Mid Century Vision - Molecules Manager, while also serving on the International Advisory Board of the World Energy Council, FT Manufacturing Advisory Board and being the Chair of the Industry Advisory Panel of the Energy Charter Treaty.

Rafael is an economist with over 20 years of experience within the chemical industry. He holds a master’s degree in Economics from the College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium, and an MBA from Northwood University in Michigan. He also completed his executive education at the University of Chicago (Executive MBA), the University of Oxford on Blockchain and Singularity University on Exponential & Disruptive Technologies.

Rafael is also the author of the Book “The Chemical Industry by 2050” and currently working on his new book “The Chemical Industry under the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Molecules vs. Qubits”.

Moderator

PETER NIEUWENHUIZEN

PARTNER AT EUROPEAN CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY FUND (ECBF)

ECBF is the first venture fund focused exclusively on the bioeconomy and the circular bioeconomy in Europe. With a target size of €250 million, to which the European Investment Bank (EIB) has committed €100 million, ECBF will be an important financial instrument in achieving the European Green Deal goals of making Europe climate neutral by 2050.

Peter began his career at AkzoNobel, a global leader in specialty chemicals. Over the last 20 years, he has held key roles in both the United States and Europe, most recently as Chief Technology Officer and Director of Sustainability. In addition to his work for AkzoNobel, he has served as Global Marketing Director at Supresta LLC, a company specializing in flame retardant technologies and chemicals, as Consultant for the chemistry and energy practice at Arthur D. Little, and finally as Vice President Technology Strategy at Enerkem in Quebec, Canada.

Peter has a degree in Chemistry from Vrije University in Amsterdam and a Ph.D. from Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, The Netherlands.

PRESENTER

MICHAEL CARUS

FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR AT NOVA-INSTITUT GMBH

Michael Carus studied physics at the University of Cologne. He worked as a scientific staff member for nuclear energy and environment at the University of Tuebingen, as a scientific journalist for different professional magazines, at the KATALYSE-Umweltinstitut in Cologne (head of the department environment and resources), for the US company Tektronix GmbH in Cologne (IT) as well as for the company Flachglas Solartechnik GmbH in Cologne (solar power) until founding the nova-Institute for Political and Ecological Innovation together with other scientists in 1994.

The nova-Institut is a private and independent research institute providing research and consultancy with a focus on renewable carbon in the chemical, plastics and fibre industries: bio- and CO2-based and recycled materials. This involves raw materials, technology scouting, markets, sustainability and life cycle assessment, policy as well as dissemination and B2B/B2C communication. The institute has more than 40 scientific staff.

Since its founding, Michael Carus has served as a board member and managing director. Mr Carus is a member of various associations, societies and international organisations. Carus is a science-based advisor on corporate strategy, policy and sustainability in the chemical, plastics and fibre industries around the world.

In 2020, Carus initiated the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI). The RCI aims to support and accelerate the transition from fossil carbon to renewable carbon for all organic chemicals and materials. In this context, Carus was invited as an expert to the dialogue forum "A Value Model for Carbon" of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2021.

PRESENTER

SØREN KRISTIANSEN

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AT THE LEGO GROUP

Søren holds the position as Senior Director of Technology, in the Sustainable Materials organization. The LEGO Group is family-owned and privately held.

Søren joined the LEGO Group in 1988. Materials have been the focal point the positions he has held within R&D, Quality, Procurement, Product Development, and now Sustainable Materials. Being Senior Director of Technology, Søren is responsible for the materials platform used for LEGO products and identification of potential materials to be introduced. In the transition towards a sustainable materials platform, Søren sets direction for material requirements and related analytical methods in order to secure a fit to products and production processes. The extensive experience and deep expertise is the basis for his role of internal capability building and in the selection innovation partners.

PRESENTER

EEVA LEINALA

PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATOR RISK REDUCTION, GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICE & MUTUAL ACCEPTANCE DATA PROGRAMMES AT OECD - OCDE

Dr. Eeva Leinala is the Principal Administrator for Programmes on Risk Management, Good Laboratory Practices and Mutual Acceptance of Data at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Eeva collaborates with OECD member countries and stakeholders to advance approaches for risk reduction of chemicals, including substitution and sustainable chemistry, as well as leading the programme on Good Laboratory Practices and Mutual Acceptance of Data. Previously, Eeva lead the Hazard Assessment Programme at the OECD and prior to the OECD, Eeva worked in the area of chemical management at Health Canada for 12 years. Eeva holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Queen’s University in Canada.

PRESENTER

OLIVER JAN

SUSTAINABILITY PARTNER WITH DELOITTE 

Olivier Jan is a Sustainability Partner with Deloitte. He has close to 30 years of experience and a double expertise in sustainable development and supply chain management. His experience includes assisting with the development of environmental public policies, helping companies draw up and implement their sustainability strategy, advising companies on sustainable innovation. His expertise includes climate strategies and disclosures, sustainability risk assessment, sustainability reporting and assurance, corporate carbon footprint and product life cycle assessment, circular economy, sustainable materials, green technologies. 

Olivier holds a Master’s degree in engineering from Ecole Centrale Paris and a MSc in Environmental Management from Imperial College. 

MODERATOR

JENNY MACKELLAR

PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT GC3

Jenny is responsible for coordinating the expansive portfolio of GC3 member offerings that include projects, work groups and more. She works closely with the GC3 membership to help organizations optimize their GC3 engagement. Jenny is also lead on all GC3 events, including the annual Innovators Roundtables and European Forums.

Before joining the GC3, Jenny spent nine years at the ACS Green Chemistry Institute coordinating green chemistry education initiatives, awards programs, and events, including the annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference. Prior to that, Jenny worked with various U.S. government agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. In these roles, she focused on science communication, science policy, federal grant management, and information technology solutions. Jenny holds a M.Sc. degree in molecular and integrative physiology from the University of Michigan and received her B.S. from the University of Denver in molecular biology with minors in chemistry and Spanish.

PRESENTER

LYNETTE CHUNG

CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER AT COVESTRO

Lynette Chung has been Chief Sustainability Officer, responsible for Sustainability, Circular Economy and Government Affairs, at the materials manufacturer Covestro in Leverkusen since July 2020.

Chung was born in Sweden in 1977. She studied law at the University of Gothenburg and the National University of Singapore as well as China studies in Beijing.

Chung began her professional career in 2001 at Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken in customer service and legal tax advice. In 2004, she moved to Brussels to work for BusinessEurope, the voice of European business, in the field of corporate social responsibility. She joined Eurometaux, the European association of non-ferrous metals industry, in 2005. There she held various positions related to environmental, trade and industrial policy.

Following this, Chung took on various positions at the specialty chemicals group Clariant International from 2011. Her most recent position there was Head of Corporate Sustainability Strategy and Advocacy. In this position, Chung was responsible for the company's sustainability strategy as well as the positioning in important policy areas and represented the company in trade associations.

PRESENTER

LISA LEBLANC

DIRECTOR OF QUALITY & COMPLIANCE, UPPABABY

Lisa LeBlanc, Director of Quality & Compliance at UPPAbaby is a seasoned materials veteran with extensive knowledge of textiles and apparel from manufacturing, quality and testing perspectives. A graduate of Massachusetts College of Art with a BFA in design, Lisa has worked in development and testing roles at numerous top fashion retailers and consumer product companies including Reebok, Talbots and J. Jill. Her position at UPPAbaby has introduced her to the juvenile space where she has become an active member of ASTM, Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) and is also a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Her passion for conscious design and her work in juvenile products has been instrumental in UPPAbaby’s mission to find ways to make more responsible products for children.

PRESENTER

AMIT PAUL

MANAGING DIRECTOR AT PAXYMER AB

Amit Paul is the CEO and co-founder of Paxymer AB since 2010. The company is a pioneer within halogen free flame retardants and have a patented, unique synergist based on functional polymers. Paxymer AB has been educating customers, working in substitution projects and been involved in the task of elimination of brominated flame retardants globally. Amit was the former pop star that got a business degree, worked as a management consultant at Bain and then dedicated his professional life to greening flame retardant products. Paxymer AB has been invited to several prestigious conferences to present its work in this space e.g. AMI, COP-5, Toxins2015, Forum för giftfri miljö, ANTECH. The company has also received attention as one of the top 10 most important technologies for a green future. Paxymer has been a member of the GC3 since the founding of the start up network since 2016.

PRESENTER

JOEL TICKNER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT GC3

Dr. Joel Tickner is a Professor of Public Health  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is founder and Executive Director of the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3); Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment (A4), a new professional association; and Co-Director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI).  He is a leading expert on application of green chemistry and alternatives assessment in science and policy. He has served on a number of EPA and National Academy of Sciences advisory committees and advises government agencies around the world. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana and a Doctor of Science Degree from the Department of Work Environment at University of Massachusetts Lowell.