Jessica’s pursuit as both an academic and practitioner is to help create sustainable and just transitions to less wasteful systems. Jessica is a PhD candidate in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. Based on community-driven development, she focuses her contributions on how she can bring her resources to best serve … Read more
Brenda Platt directs the Composting for Community Initiative at the national nonprofit Institute for Local Self-Reliance, where she has worked 36 years promoting zero waste, non-burn solutions to trash. Her current focus is advancing community-scale options such as composting at homes, community gardens, and farms. She emphasizes the power of compost to enhance soils, protect … Read more
Rachana Shah (she/her) Zero Waste Consultant at Common Ground Compost LLC Rachana is a systems thinker, zero waste consultant, activist, public speaker, and mother of 2 young children. Her current consulting work centers on planning and launching successful organics collection programs for corporate, retail, and institutional clients, conducting zero waste audits, educating audiences about the … Read more
Sara Fuentes is the Co-Founder and President of Smart Waste Inc, a start-up focusing on waste technologies, waste systems, and vendor management for Zero Waste Programs. With over ten years of experience in the Waste and Recycling Industry, Sara is a leader in abating waste. Her core values of transparency, circularity, and people help businesses … Read more
Adriana is a licensed Professional Engineer in British Columbia and a Senior Project Engineer at Metro Vancouver Solid Waste Services. As part of her role at Metro Vancouver, Adriana works collaboratively with member jurisdictions and industry stakeholders on programs and policies to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, currently sent for disposal, with the goal of … Read more
Fredrika Syren is an environmental activist, writer and book author of “A practical Guide to zero waste for families”. In 2011, she founded the website Zerowastefamily.com where she shares her family’s journey of living zero waste. Originally from Sweden, she lives in San Diego, California with her husband James and their children Isabella, Noah, and … Read more
Amy Marpman is Director of Sustainability at SBM. She is on the corporate sustainability team and provides advisement and support for SBM clients and site teams toward their sustainability goals. This includes resources and innovation for green cleaning, recycling programs, reduction and reuse efforts, and zero waste diversion reports. Amy has 15 years as a … Read more
I have 13 years of Sustainability experience and am currently the Director of Global Sustainability at KnowBe4, where I manage the organization’s global sustainability programs across 12 countries. This includes our net zero carbon and zero waste goals, our employee sustainability training, our green team (called EarthBe4), and several outreach and engagement programs. Previously I … Read more
My personal and professional mission is to “Save the food. Feed the people.” I am the Sustainable Food Programs Coordinator at UC Merced where I do just that. I coordinate Food Connect, Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program, No Food Left Behind, the Pop-Up People’s Pantry, the People’s Fridge and other related programs. … Read more
Joanie Burns is an Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability Manager at Amgen, Inc. in Thousand Oaks, California. She has 27 years of environmental policy and planning experience, working with a wide range of public and private sector organizations in the U.S. and internationally. Ms. Burns was involved in the development of some of Europe’s first … Read more