Aditi (Adi) Varshneya

Adi Varshneya is an organizer working as the US & Canada Network Development Manager for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), where she provides movement support to groups fighting incinerators and building a just transition to zero waste. Before joining GAIA to lead its regional zero waste communities program and develop a Zero Waste … Read more

Fernando Gabriel Ramírez

In Argentina, I held leadership and technical advisory roles in the strategic communication area for various private sector companies and political actors. In Brazil, I advised the NGO network “Grito das Aguas” in producing Social Water Forums. In the Dominican Republic, I founded the non-profit civil association Héroes del Medio Ambiente, a member of the … Read more

Nathan Alley

A native of Cincinnati, Nathan spent more than a decade practicing environmental law in California and working with organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, and WildEarth Guardians before returning home in order to protect his family’s farm from development. Since 2014, he has worked with Sierra Club Ohio to promote sustainable … Read more

Erica Jung

Erica Jung (she/they) is a co-founder of DegrowNYC, a collective of organizers of color based in occupied Lenapehoking who view degrowth as a form of ecological reparations. Erica holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management from the New School. Organization:DegrowNYCTitle:Co-Founder

Jenifer Parks

Jenifer Parks is a dedicated District Facilities Manager at Microsoft. With a strong background in facilities management, Jenifer plays a crucial role in overseeing various projects and initiatives aimed at maintaining and improving the company’s facilities.She actively oversees the Zero Waste program at Microsoft in the Puget Sound Campus. Currently, she has been actively involved … Read more

Sedat Gundogdu

Prof. Dr. Sedat Gundogdu is a prominent marine biologist at Çukurova University in Türkiye, renowned for his pioneering research on microplastic pollution. His research interest is on the understanding and mitigating the impacts of plastic waste on marine ecosystems. His groundbreaking studies on microplastics in Turkish waters have been widely published, influencing both national and … Read more

Simone Chhut

Simone Chhut works as a Zero Waste Specialist for Nashville Waste Services where she focuses on zero waste outreach and education to further Nashville’s Zero Waste Master Plan. She has a background in communications and a master’s in sustainability. Her thesis focused on the implementation of Pay As You Throw in Nashville. She is part … Read more

Melissa Mello

Melissa Mello

Melissa is the owner of Material Happiness in San Diego, CA – a second-hand destination for fabric, sewing supplies, and fiber crafts. Her aim is to keep great materials in circulation, not stuck in a cabinet or headed to the landfill. She also spends lots of time mending clothes for herself and others, and creating … Read more

Lara Ramdin, Ph.D.

Sometimes known as the ‘The Upcycling Queen,’ Lara is not your typical science nerd. With a BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology from the University of Cardiff and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Southampton, Lara is masterminding turning yesterday’s food into tomorrow’s feast. In the world of #upcycledfoods, what was once ‘waste’ becomes … Read more

Marie Gallagher

Marie Gallagher is the Senior National Sustainability Manager with SBM Management Services LP supporting a leading biopharmaceutical client with multiple laboratory, manufacturing, and office sites across the county. Marie brings a background integrating sustainable operations into the life science and healthcare industries. She is a TRUE Advisor holding a Master’s in Business and Science (MBS) … Read more