Keynote Speakers
Paul Ekins
Professor of Resources & Environmental Policy
UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London (UK)
Paul Ekins has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of London and is Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy at the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London. From 2005-10 was Chairman of the UK’s National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP), the country’s most effective initiative at promoting resource efficiency in industry. He was also co-author of the National Government chapter of the UK Chief Scientific Advisor’s 2017 report From Waste to Resource Productivity: Evidence and Case Studies. In 2011 he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the DG Environment Commissioner’s High-Level Economists Expert Group on Resource Efficiency, and in 2012 a member of the European Commission’s European Resource Efficiency Platform. In 2013 he was appointed to UNEP’s International Resource Panel (IRP), for whom he was lead author of a major report on resource efficiency at the request of the German Government at the G7 Summit in 2015, and a contributor to the IRP’s 2020 report on Mineral Resource Governance. He is now Deputy Chair of the UK Government’s Circular Economy Taskforce. He was one of two Co-Chairs of UNEP’s sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6), published in March 2019. His most recent of 14 books is Stopping Climate Change: Policies for Real Zero (Routledge, 2024). In 1994 Paul Ekins received UNEP’s Global 500 Award ‘for outstanding environmental achievement’ and in 2015 an OBE for services to environmental policy.
Nancy Bocken
Full Professor
Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Maastricht University (Netherlands)
Nancy Bocken is Professor in Sustainable Business & Circular Economy at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Nancy has coordinated (inter)national research projects with a focus on business as the driver for sustainability transitions. Her research investigates sustainable business models, business experiments, circular economy, sufficiency, regeneration, and closing the ‘idea-action’ gap for sustainability through novel tools and methods. She leads Circular X, a €1.5m research program funded by the ERC, about experimentation with circular business models. Nancy is also Fellow at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, scientific advisory to the Global Circularity Protocol for Business, and supervisory board member of Circle Economy. She co-founded her own circular business called HOMIE. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Previously, she worked for University of Cambridge, Lund University, and TU Delft, and was visiting fellow at Yale University, LUT Finland and Aalborg University. Currently she is also visiting professor at NHH Norway. Before, she was a board member of the Philips Foundation and worked for DHL, ING, and Accenture.
John Shegerian
CEO
ERI
John Shegerian serves as co-founder, Chairman and CEO of ERI, the largest material resource recovery, ITAD and electronics recycling company in the US. He also co-founded RecycleNation, the #1 ranked search engine and responsible recycling database for consumers. He is the host of the Impact Podcast, a Webby Award- winning sustainability discussion program.
Billy Frank
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Caterpillar Remanufacturing Division
Billy Frank drives the commercial execution of Caterpillar’s Remanufacturing Division as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, spearheading global services growth in partnership with all segments and channel partners. His organization delivers innovative aftermarket solutions that optimize total cost of ownership for customers. A seasoned professional with 20+ years of experience, Billy has led transformations in commercial operations, sales, distribution, and marketing. He serves on the Board of Directors for CEFCU and has previously held director roles with 10G, Tri County Urban League, and the Peoria Zoological Society. Billy consistently cultivates a high-performance culture that deliver sustainable results. Billy is married with 2 adult children and based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Plenary Speakers
Nabil Nasr
CEO
The REMADE Institute
Dr. Nabil Nasr is the founding Chief Executive Officer of the REMADE Institute, where he oversees everything from node-level research roadmap development to corporate engagement of the Institute’s largest industrial partners. Dr. Nasr also serves as the Director of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability and an Associate Provost for Academic Affairs at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Throughout his career, Dr. Nasr has worked in the fields of sustainable manufacturing, remanufacturing, clean production, and sustainable product development for over 25 years, and is considered an international leader in research and development efforts in those disciplines. Dr. Nasr has served as an expert delegate for the U.S. government in several international forums, including the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Dr. Nasr is also a member of the International Resource Panel (IRP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Dr. Nasr’s significant expertise in sustainable manufacturing leadership continues with his latest endeavor, the REMADE Institute. Dr. Nasr holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Helwan University (Egypt), an MEng in Manufacturing Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, and both an MS and PhD in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Rutgers University.
Jonquil Hackenberg
CEO
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Throughout her career, Jonquil Hackenberg has been a driving force in helping businesses adopt practices that align long-term growth with positive environmental and societal impact. Her leadership has been instrumental in guiding global organisations and startups to rethink how they design, produce, and manage resources in a way that reduces waste and regenerates natural systems.
Jonquil has led large teams driving productivity and boosting retention whilst also using links with prestigious organisations to deepen their capabilities and broaden their perspectives. She is passionate about developing people and believes creating inclusive, fun, and engaging environments is key to success.
Jonquil is a Trustee of the Design Council and of the Glasgow Science Centre and was recently a member of the Futures Council for Sustainable Development Goal Investment at the World Economic Forum.
She holds an Executive MBA from Stanford University, US and an MBA (Renewable Energy) from Beuth University in Berlin, Germany. She also holds a BA (Hons) in Modern Languages from the Universities of Birmingham, UK and Universita Cattolica Milano, Italy.