2025 Keynote Speakers
REMADE is proud to welcome our speakers, all of whom are leading the way in accelerating the U.S.’s and the world’s transition to a Circular Economy.
Ligia Noronha
Assistant Secretary-General
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Ms. Ligia Noronha joined the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in April 2014 as Director of UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE), and on 1 April 2021 took up her current role as United Nations Assistant Secretary-
General and Head of the UNEP’s New York Office. An economist with over 30 years of international experience in the field of sustainable development, Ms. Noronha has led work in UNEP on climate mitigation and just energy transitions; on circularity and sustainable consumption and production; on extractives and responsible mining; and the nexus of environment, pollution and health. Through her leadership of the
New York Oice, she seeks to raise awareness of environmental issues, the outcomes of the United Nations Environment Assembly and the interconnections between a healthy planet and collective well-being in intergovernmental processes, the wider UN System and in inter-agency mechanisms.
Before joining UNEP, Ms. Noronha was Executive Director (Research Coordination) at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Director of the Resources, Regulation and Global Security Division. She was Secretary of the Asian Energy Institute – a network of Asian and non – Asian institutes, (2005-2011); Coordinator, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnerships (REEEP) South Asia, (2005-2009); and Michael Hintze Energy Security Visiting Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Security Studies (CISS), University of Sydney, Australia (2009-11). In 2004-2005, she was Team Leader, Ecosystem approaches to Human Health, at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada.
She has served on the National Security Advisory Board of the Government of India, and on several expert committees and panels of the Government of India and the Government of Goa. Ms. Noronha has published nationally and internationally on issues relating to energy and resource security, climate change, environmental and coastal policy, sustainable consumption and production, responsible mining, and natural resource federalism. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Mumbai, and a Master’s degree in Sea Use Law, Economics, and Policy and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.
Tim McAloone
Professor, PhD, Head of Section, Co-Lead
DTU Centre for Absolute Sustainability
Tim McAloone is Professor of Design for Sustainability at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). He collaborates closely with Danish and international industries, developing new methods and models for addressing a wide range of sustainability issues, including circular economy, design for sustainability, and eco-innovation. Tim leads numerous research initiatives focusing on sustainability through design, with a primary focus on the manufacturing industry and industrial companies. His international network is extensive.
A sought-after keynote speaker at international conferences, Tim is an active participant in debates on sustainability transition. He serves as Head of DTU Construct’s Section of Design for Sustainability and Co-Lead of the DTU Centre for Absolute Sustainability. Additionally, he holds board memberships and advisory roles in several organisations, including the Design Society, where he served as President from 2019 to 2023.
Tim earned his PhD from Cranfield University in 1998, where he researched the integration of eco-design strategies into industry. He has also been a guest professor at Stanford University, focusing on product and service innovation for sustainability.
Janez Potočnik
Co-chair
International Resource Panel
Janez Potočnik graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (Ph.D. degree 1993). He started as a researcher at the Institute of Economic Research and was nominated for a Director of the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development in 1994. He was appointed Head of Negotiating Team for Accession of Slovenia to the EU (1998). He was also Director of Government Office for European Affairs (2000), Minister Councillor at the Office of the Prime Minister (2001) and Minister responsible for European Affairs (2002). In 2004 he joined the European Commission, first as ‘shadow’ Commissioner for Enlargement and then as Commissioner responsible for Science and Research when he, among others, introduced European Research Council. In 2010 he became Commissioner for Environment. His main contribution during the term was the first EU package of Circular Economy, which was on a conceptual level proceeding the European Green Deal, a comprehensive vision kickstarting EU-wide efforts for an economy and society transformation. After the end of mandate in November 2014, he was appointed as a Co-Chair of UNEP Environment International Resource Panel. He still holds that position. He is also Partner at Systemiq.
Tim McAloone
Professor, PhD, Head of Section, Co-Lead
DTU Centre for Absolute Sustainability
Tim McAloone is Professor of Design for Sustainability at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). He collaborates closely with Danish and international industries, developing new methods and models for addressing a wide range of sustainability issues, including circular economy, design for sustainability, and eco-innovation. Tim leads numerous research initiatives focusing on sustainability through design, with a primary focus on the manufacturing industry and industrial companies. His international network is extensive.
A sought-after keynote speaker at international conferences, Tim is an active participant in debates on sustainability transition. He serves as Head of DTU Construct’s Section of Design for Sustainability and Co-Lead of the DTU Centre for Absolute Sustainability. Additionally, he holds board memberships and advisory roles in several organisations, including the Design Society, where he served as President from 2019 to 2023.
Tim earned his PhD from Cranfield University in 1998, where he researched the integration of eco-design strategies into industry. He has also been a guest professor at Stanford University, focusing on product and service innovation for sustainability.