Welcome to ‘Bridging the Nordics and Africa through circular solutions’ — a WCEF2022 Accelerator Session
Date and time: Thursday, 8th December, at 12:00–14:00 CET Welcome to Nordic and African circular solutions for accelerating the transition and solving challenges: bridging the World Circular Economy Forum 2022 (WCEF2022) in Kigali with the Accelerator Session in Oslo through panels, speakers and a pitching session on circular solutions.
We aim to be inspired and gain new insights into the ideas and possibilities for accelerating the circular transition by exploring regional dynamics. The session will consist of a Nordic panel and speakers in Oslo, digital input from several organisations and companies present at the world conference in Kigali, and representatives of the startup scene.
Cooperation is an important step in the transition to the circular economy globally, and we want to strengthen the collaboration between our regions with this Accelerator Session.
Topics are linked to the main programme of the WCEF2022: Nature, Trade, City, Partnership and Finance.
Speakers:
Susanne Karcher, Co-founder & Director and Peter Katanisa, Rwandan Chapter Lead, African Circular Economy Network
ACEN’s vision is to build a restorative African economy that generates well-being and prosperity, inclusive of all its people, through new forms of economic production and consumption which maintain and regenerate their environmental resources.
Deborah Ohui Nartey, Research Analyst, Footprints Africa
Footprints Africa advances the transition to a circular economy in Africa and what others could learn from the continent. They have developed a database of over 500 case studies of circular economy initiatives on the African continent and are now testing a measurement framework to help circular businesses prove their impact. They are a charity registered in the UK and Ghana and exist for public benefit.
Danny Smith, Regional Director, Katapult Africa
Katapult is an investment company for highly scalable, impact tech start-ups, with bases in Norway and Africa.
Jan Thomas Odegard, Secretary General, Utviklingsfondet (The Norwegian Development Fund)
Utviklingsfondet is an independent environment and development organisation which mission is to contribute, with emphasis on long-term measures, to promoting a fairer distribution of the world’s resources, supporting sustainable development and local participation aimed at promoting democracy and human rights, reducing poverty and safeguarding the environment.
Jannek Hagen, Managing Director, BESTSELLER Foundation
BESTSELLER is a private foundation, philanthropically supported by the fashion group BESTSELLER. They support, co-create, and fund solutions for an inclusive, circular future. The foundation is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with an Africa office in Kigali, Rwanda.
Chiugo Aghaji, Curator, Global Shapers Oslo Hub and Country Lead for Francophone Africa at EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative)
Global Shapers Oslo Hub is an initiative born out of the World Economic Forum, consisting of a network of inspiring young people under the age of 30 working together to address local, regional and global challenges, equity and inclusion, and entrepreneurship. EITI, on the other hand, works on issues in the oil, gas, mining and renewables sectors such as beneficial ownership, stranded assets and pathways towards a just energy transition.
Svein Berg, Managing Director and Marthe Haugland, Senior Innovation Advisor and Head of Programme for Circular Economy, Nordic Innovation
Nordic Innovation is an organisation under the Nordic Council of Ministers with an aim to make the Nordics a pioneering region for sustainable growth by promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness in Nordic businesses.
Cathrine Barth, Co-founder & Managing Partner and Kim Hjerrild, Managing Partner, Nordic Circular Hotspot
Nordic Circular Hotspot is a collaboration programme to accelerate the circular transition and a leading resource on the circular economy in the Nordics.
Einar Kleppe Holthe, Founder & CEO, Natural State
Natural State is a strategic development agency specialising in place development and sustainable economics. It also administrates the Nordic Circular Hotspot.
Ingvar Aune, CEO & Co-Founder, Sirken
Sirken makes reuse practical by implementing technology and economically sustainable solutions to the construction industry. They strive to redistribute materials and reusable goods to the open market in the most effective ways possible.
Thomas Chevallier, Sales Director, Plant The Seed
Plant the Seed is building the circular economy through education and infrastructure. The startup is based in Cape Town.
Silje Gabrielsen, Tull og Tøys/Hiro
Hiro is a screen-free audio platform for kids, making it easy to play audio content all by themselves.
Esethu Cenga, Rewoven
A South African innovation project bridging the gap between fashion & sustainability.
Moderated by:
Verineia Codrean, Head of Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships, Startup Norway.
Startup Norway supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Norway with main initiatives including Angel Challenge, Startup Extreme and Startup Campus.
Hosted by:
Nordic Innovation and Nordic Circular Hotspot
This event is an Accelerator Session at the World Circular Economy Forum 2022 (www.WCEF2022.com).
Do you have any questions? Send an email to vivi@naturalstate.no
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