PREVENT Steering Committee Elections 2025 | Meet our Candidates
Find the candidates for our steering committee elections 2025 down below, categorised by the sector they wish to represent: the private sector, civil society, and academia. Once the election form opens, you can vote for a representative from your own sector.
If you have any questions you can either contact the nominees directly or submit your questions for the nominees anonymously in advance through this form. The most frequently asked questions will be addressed during the General Assembly.
If you have questions concerning the general election process, please write an e-mail to contact@prevent-waste.net
Click on the categories below to see the candidates.
Meet the Candidates for the Private Sector
Rahul Juware – Social Lab
About Me:
I entered the circular economy space driven by a deep commitment to embed social impact into waste management solutions. As an engineer and management professional, I lead a circular economy business. My core belief – waste management is about creating localised solutions rather than trying to take one solution fits all approach.
Since 2020, I have actively contributed through PREVENT working groups. I also serve on the Advisory Committee of the India Plastics Pact, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry. My motivation is to combine technical, and entrepreneurial expertise to accelerate PREVENT’s global circular economy mission.
About the Organisation:
Social Lab Environmental Solutions is a circular economy solutions company operating from India. Company work with municipalities, private companies and international organization on waste management, EPR compliance and sustainability reporting. Currently, we are building packaging reuse ecosystem that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable and aligned with legal frameworks. Website: www.social-lab.in
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Circular economy is a pathway to create equitable opportunities, just transitions, and inclusive global collaboration for sustainability.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Strengthen PREVENT’s financial self-sufficiency goals
- Drive partnerships among PREVENT members
- Co-develop impactful projects with the Secretariat showcasing PREVENT’s strategic leadership
Website: www.social-lab.in www.3rsolutions.in
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahuljuware/
Reinhardt Smit – Closing the Loop
About Me:
I’m the co-founder of Closing the Loop. I am South African, and grew up a big part of my youth in Ghana. Having worked in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, I am able to see and bridge gaps between these different parts of the world. Over the last 12 years, this work has been related specifically to e-waste, having been in charge of the collection of more than 7 million scrap devices from various African countries. I am currently a member of the ESG Technical Advisory Committee of SERI, working on a new standard for ESG reporting. I am also a Steering Committee member of the World Economic Forum Green Trade group. I believe these experiences will help me with context and bridging some gaps where needed.
About the Organisation:
CTL is a Dutch Social Enterprise that is working on electronic waste reduction in the global south. We provide a service that works as a financing mechanism for waste collection, and directly contributes to infrastructure development. We have pioneered the concept of Waste Compensation, which learns from CO2 compensation and plastic credits to create direct and immediate action in the global south, reducing waste, increasing income and building on a successful business model.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “The Circular Economy is inevitable, but we can only achieve it if we learn from the past, and from each other.”
Three Priority Topics:
- First, I want to have more collaboration within PREVENT, specifically involving the groups we represent. It’s important to get the feedback of the group into the Steering Committee, and I would like to find a way to do that effectively.
- Related to the first, I would like to address the missed opportunity from ’sleeping’ members. There are a lot of members that are not actively engaged frequently, and I’d like to give them an opportunity to really contribute.
- Finally, I think PREVENT should take a more innovative approach at providing access to finance for CE-related projects. This can be done through facilitations or trainings, or by directly funding pilots to make them “finance-ready”.
My Linkedin is here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reinhardtsmit/
My company page here: www.closingtheloop.eu
Sibylle Riedmiller – Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) Ltd.
About Me: Born in Germany in 1945, I studied social sciences in Heidelberg, Hamburg, and Berlin. After 20+ years asproject manager and consultant in the aid industry with UNESCO and GTZ/GIZ in Latin America and Africa, I founded in 1991 award-winning Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) Ltd. in Zanzibar/Tanzania, the first privately managed marine park globally, for which I received the Bundesverdienstkreuz (German order of merit). I’m also board member of several Tanzanian tourism associations and joined the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and the UNEP-Nairobi Convention’s Task Force for the Western Indian Ocean Governance Strategy as private sector representative.
About the Organization: Not-for-profit CHICOP transformed uninhabited Chumbe Island into a marine park and forestreserve. Since 1998, the ecolodge has funded park management and environmental education programs for local communities. CHICOP also serves as destination ambassador for the UNWTO-Global Tourism Plastic Initiative, promoting a zero single-use plastics policy in the tourism sector.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “From local voices to global change: building a circular economy free from plastic myths, just real circular solutions: prevent, reduce, reuse.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Empowering the voices of tourism SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa that rely on local smallholder farmers and food markets — communities whose livelihoods are directly threatened by the unchecked spread of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) into their supply chains.
- Mobilizing the tourism sector to push governments to join the High Ambition Coalition in the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations — calling for decisive action to ban plastic carrier bags and PET bottled water, strengthen the maintenance of public water supply systems and restore the use of reusable glass bottles for soft drinks as proven, sustainable alternatives.
- Amplifying the voice of science to expose and challenge the persistent myth that plastics can ever form part of a truly circular economy — and to advocate for evidence-based policies that prioritize prevention, reduction, and reuse overfalse recycling narratives.
- Chumbe homepage
- What Chumbe is all about
- Chumbe Island – Zanzibar’s world class natural coral heritage and biodiversity destination:
Links supporting my motto and priority topics:
Hassim Pondor – TAS – TRANS AFRICA SERVICES
About Me:
Bio: Some 8 years as Senior Consultant at the Centre of Excellence at Andersen Worldwide, formerly Arthur Andersen over 20 years aviation industry at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Air Mauritius. IATA Head Africa Airports, Passenger, Cargo & Security and member of the Africa & Middle East Regional Leadership Team, leading operational delivery systems and infrastructure of the aviation industry throughout Africa.
Board positions in Mauritius International Financial Centre, Africa companies and Advisory councils. Local partner with Cyclos (Germany) on on-going EPR Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment – Mauritius Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change.
Germany Nexus: Chemical Engineering degree Technical University Berlin / MBA International Business: President of TUBAfrica Alumni Association, Brain City Ambassador “Berlin Partner for Business & Technology”, Africa Working Group GermanWaste Management and Recycling Industry Association (RETech) – first Mauritius member of Prevent Waste Alliance.
About the Organisation:
TAS, my boutique consulting company domiciled in Mauritus builds bridges and business focusing on Africa through strategic advisory / business implementation services in conjunction with network partners, international companies and investors/financiers leveraging on Mauritius IFC. Engagements include real estate & hospitality, logistics, mining, circular and blue economy, infrastructure, renewable energy, agri-business and aquaculture.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Circular Economy makes the world go round!!!”
Three Priority Topics:
- Support in driving Global Circularity Protocol (GCP) program and acting as Focal Point with UNEP in developing Economic benefits agenda for Circular Economy on behalf of Prevent
- Driving the development and certification of a “Circular Economy Dividend Monitoring Index (CEDMI)” jointly with global partners.
- Awareness Raising & Behavior Change
CV: Corporate Background Hassim Pondor
Press article: Big Ocean Sustainable State
Reference letter RETech Partnership e.V.: RETech Partnership e.V. Africa Working Group Representative Letter
Ursula Denison – Der Grüne Punkt
About Me:
I aim to turn decades of EPR experience intoglobal solutions that make circularity the norm, not the exception. By joining the PREVENTSteering Committee, I will help scale proven approaches, foster collaboration, and ensure that ambition translates into action.
For over three decades, I’ve championed the principles of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a cornerstone of the circular economy. As Head of Corporate Affairs at Der Grüne Punkt and Director of PROEurope, I’ve helped transform EPR from concept into impactful practice—building competitive recycling markets, shaping legislation, and driving innovation. My work bridges strategy and implementation, ensuring producers take real responsibility for sustainable packaging solutions worldwide. I have shared my insights through presentations and consulting in Europe, North and South America, and Asia, and have already actively supported the work of PREVENT.
About the Organisation:
Der Grüne Punkt was the global pioneer in EPR-based packaging recycling since 1990 in Germany, the countrynow leading in high-quality plastics recycling. PRO Europe – the umbrella organization of 31 independentnational “Green Dot” PROs – promotes effective EPR programs across Europe to accelerate the circulareconomy.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Extended Producer Responsibility – take it at its word.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Empower producers as key drivers of systemic change in the circular economy.
- Design EPR programs that deliver measurable impact and clear accountability for all stakeholders – even without a Global Plastic Treaty.
- Build synergies across value chains—because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Bio: Ursula Denison
Dominic Vooght – Reclite SA
About Me:
I am Dr. Dominic Vooght, Research and Development Engineer at Reclite SA. I hold a PhD in Chemical Engineering and my research foci include sustainable electronic waste (e-waste) management, reverselogistics, and circular economy development. At Reclite SA, I contribute to advancing the development andimplementation of innovative and sustainable recycling solutions for electronic and plastic waste, combining academic expertise with industry engagement. My passion lies in developing innovative strategies that bridge local realities with global sustainability goals, ensuring that recycling models are both practical and scalable.
About the Organisation:
Reclite SA is a specialist waste management company in South Africa, offering collection, dismantling, and environmentally sound recycling of electronic, battery and plastic waste. The organisation reduces hazardous waste, recovers valuable and critical materials, and develops sustainable recycling solutions that align with circular economy principles while supporting global sustainable development goals.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Convert waste into opportunity by closing loops, protecting theenvironment, and enabling inclusive growth through sustainable resource recovery.”
Three Priority Topics:
- E-waste and batteries – advancing safe collection, innovative recovery processes, and recycling systems with strong industry and policy alignment.
- Inclusive circular models – integrating informal sector and small and medium sized enterprises to strengthen social inclusion and economic outcomes.
- Scalable solutions – ensuring circular economy and recycling models are both economically viable andenvironmentally sound in both developing and developed contexts.
Organisation website: www.reclite.co.za
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-vooght-phd-bb1561143
PhD Dissertation on Development of integrated reverse logistics networks for electronic waste and lithium-ion battery recycling – a case analysis of South Africa
Journal article Techno-economic and environmental assessments for hydrometallurgical treatment of waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs): The ELiMINATE project
Dylan Roman – NIU NIU
About Me:
I am an Energy and Process Engineer from the Berlin Institute of Technology and hold an MSc in Urban Management with honors. My career in environmental sustainability began in 2005 at SEMARNAT (Mexico’s Ministry of Environment), followed by work at Siemens on renewable energy and smart city projects, where I applied Big Data to urban innovation. I later joined a Norwegian startup focused on business intelligence for corporates and international organizations. With an entrepreneurial spirit, I have founded three companies in Latin America and Europe, including NIU NIU, a platform ensuring traceability of critical minerals from e-wasteinto emerging technologies.
About the Organisation:
NIU NIU is a technology company that uses AI and traceability systems to recover critical minerals fromelectronic waste. By connecting these resources with specialized refineries, NIU NIU reintegrates them into theproduction chain and supports manufacturers in meeting ESG goals and managing Scope 3 emissions.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Turning e-waste into opportunity: transparent, AI-driven recovery of critical minerals for a sustainable circular future.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Advancing digital traceability for transparent and safe waste management.
- Promoting circular value chains for critical minerals.
- Supporting producers in fulfilling extended responsibility and Scope 3 emission reduction.
CV: https://prevent-waste.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Dylan-Guillermo-Roman-Corzo-2025.pdf
Dominic Kagwi Mathu – Dawn to Glow International Limited
About Me and the Organisation:
I am Dominic Kagwi Mathu, Founder and CEO of Dawn to Glow International Limited, a Kenyan plastic collection and recycling company headquartered in Nairobi with branches in Malindi, Nanyuki, and Kitale. We specialize in collecting and processing PET, HDPE, and LDPE plastics, transforming bottle scraps into high-quality PET flakes. With a deep commitment to environmental sustainability and circular economy principles, I have built Dawn to Glow to address Kenya’s waste management challenges while creating opportunities that empower women and youth. Through innovative recycling solutions, we contribute to sustainable development and demonstrate the economic potential of waste recovery across Kenya.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Sustainable development through circular solutions, empowering women and youth to transform waste into opportunity.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Access to Finance for African Countries: Advocating for increased financial support and investment mechanisms for waste management and recycling enterprises in Africa, addressing funding gaps that prevent scaling of circular economy initiatives in developing nations.
- Integration of AI in Solving Waste Challenges: Exploring artificial intelligence applications for waste sorting, collection optimization, and supply chain efficiency, promoting technology adoption to enhance recycling operations.
- Waste Picker Safety and Formalization: Championing the protection, recognition, and formalization of waste pickers as essential circular economy actors, developing frameworks for improved working conditions, health protections, and fair compensation.
Christian Schiller – Cirplus
About Me:
Christian Schiller is the Founder and CEO of Cirplus. He has extensive experience in both scaling digital solutions and standardization, serving as delegated expert at DIN NA05-03-03 (Circular Plastics) and at CEN TC249/WG11 (PlasticRecycling), responsible for DIN SPEC 91446 and EN 18065 – the world’s first standards for high-quality recycling anddigitization. The German government selected him to serve on the steering committee for drafting the National CircularEconomy Strategy for Plastics 2023-2024. Christian studied law and international relations in Freiburg, Dresden, Nice (France) and Boston (USA). He is an alumnus of the German National Academic Foundation, the DAAD Carlo SchmidProgramme and the Fulbright Foundation.
About the Organisation:
Cirplus is Europe’s largest B2B procurement platform for recycled plastics, connecting professional buyers and sellers. Itaggregates and qualifies supply and demand for recycled plastics, with the goal to bring cost-efficiency, transparency andconvenience to recyclates procurement in a highly fragmented market. Such digitization lowers the transactional costs forrecycled plastics supply chains, thus catalyzing the industry shift away from virgin material wherever feasible, saving up to80% of CO2 emissions per ton replaced.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Only with digitization and AI can true circularity of plastics ever be achieved.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Internalizing the true costs of virgin production, consumption and disposal in the price of virgin plastics
- Creating unified EPR systems across the globe // creating an unlevel playing field for circularity (i.e. reduce fossilsubsidies, push for plastic taxes, mandatory recycled content, procurement incentives for biobased/recycled content)
- Harmonizing waste and recyclates markets to allow for commodifcation of circular plastics and create economies ofscale.
Allen M. Kimambo – Zaidi Recyclers Ltd
About Me:
I am Eng. Allen M. Kimambo, a Chemical Engineer, environmentalist, and social entrepreneur passionate about solving Africa’s waste challenges. As the Co-founder and CEO of Zaidi Recyclers Ltd, I leverage technology to promote sustainable waste recovery, financial inclusion, and decent jobs. I have led circular economy initiatives across East and West Africa, trained 1,000+ students, and consulted for organizations like GIZ, UNDP, and Tetra Tech. I also serve as Chairperson of the Tanzania Recyclers Association and Co-founder of TakaNiAjira Foundation.
About the Organisation:
Zaidi Recyclers Ltd is a tech-enabled social enterprise based in Tanzania that promotes sustainable waste recovery, recycling, and circular economy solutions. Through innovation, we empower waste pickers, businesses, and local governments across Africa to track waste data, promote recycling, and scale impact.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Turning waste into opportunity—empowering people, protecting the planet, and promoting prosperity through innovation and inclusion.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Integration of informal waste workers into formal circular economy systems
- Technology for traceable, inclusive, and data-driven waste management
- EPR and policy frameworks tailored for African waste realities
Meet the Candidates for the Civil Society
Ahmed Tiamiyu – Community Action AgainstPlastic Waste (CAPws)
About Me: Ahmed Tiamiyu is an environmental research scientist with over 17 years of experience spanning public sector and civil society. His work advances a toxic-free circular plastic economy, chemical safety, and pollution control at the nexus of human rights, public health, and inclusive growth. As Executive Director of Community Action Against Plastic Waste (CAPws), he leads community-driven initiatives across Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, empowering marginalized groups especially youth and women through circular economy innovation. He also serves as Senior Policy Advisor on Multilateral Environmental Agreements to the Nigerian National Assembly, bridging grassroots action with national and global environmental governance
About the Organisation: Community Action Against Plastic Waste (CAPws) is a grassroots NGO advancinga toxic-free circular plastic economy and environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste through citizen science, public policy and community-based interventions for just, inclusive and sustainable development with local youth networks across 71 impacted communities in 21 countries.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Advancing a zero-waste future that uplifts all especially the most vulnerable through equity, innovation, and shared environmental responsibility.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Inclusive Governance: Ensure meaningful participation of underrepresented voices, especially from the Global South, to strengthen diversity and equity within the PREVENT Steering Committee.
- Sustainable Independence: Build PREVENT’s long-term sustainability through diversified partnerships, independent governance, and resource resilience.
- Integrity and Vision: Safeguard PREVENT’s founding ideals of collaboration, transparency, and innovation for equitable, circular global impact
Website: https://www.capws.org/aboutus
LinkedIn:
Venan Sondo – Chaint Afrique
About Me: Venan Sondo is a Chartered Environmentalist, Certified Sustainability (ESG) Practitioner, and CircularEconomy Strategist with extensive experience advancing sustainable development across Africa. He leads ChaintAfrique, a pan-African initiative unlocking access to sustainable choices through impact-driven projects, and is architect of NeTCYCLE, an initiative that seeks to establish a pan-African network of blue economy actors forALDFG prevention. Previously, he spearheaded PwC Ghana’s Sustainability and Climate Change Practice, leading the development of Ghana’s Sustainable Banking Principles. A passionate advocate for ESG, circularity, and impact finance, Venan is structuring innovative models with a focus on unlocking sustainable choices at scalefor the masses.
About the Organisation: Chaint Afrique is an organization advancing circular economy and sustainable living through eco-innovation, ESG consulting, digital engagement (EcoRewards), and initiatives like NetCYCLE, empowering communities, businesses, and policymakers across Africa. We believe that sustainable lifestyles is auniversal human rights and not a privilege to a few.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Sustainable choices must be accessible, affordable, available, and aspirational for everyone for SDGS and climate targets to be realised.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Alternative solutions to plastics
- Carbon credits for alternative plastics from regenerative solutions
- Regional pathways for financing to kickstart EPRs and PRO Operations
Pholo Mvumbi Roger – Acting for Food Securityand Sovereignty (ASSA)
About Me: I am Pholo Mvumbi Roger — an environmental journalist, human rights defender, and climatejustice activist. I am also a committed farmer, cultivating 10 hectares of cocoa, three hectares of pineapple, six hectares of palm trees, seven hectares of bananas, and more. I serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors of a farmers’ association that is a member of the platform Acting for Food Security and Sovereignty (ASSA), as well as the Association for the Integrated Rural Development of Nganda Tsundi (ADERIGAS). I am the National Executive Secretary of ASSA, CEO of Agri-Bio Mayombe (AGRIBIOMA), an Access Agriculture Ambassador, and the Founder of the Mayombe Agricultural Cooperative Society(COAGRIM). I am also involved in several other development organizations, in which I serve as both amember and advisor. I hold a degree in Development Sciences and Techniques, specializing in Project Management and Administration, a certificate in Journalism, and a degree in Theology, along with several other qualifications. In addition, I serve as the Administrative and Financial Secretary of the DRC chapterof the Coalition for Agroecology (CAE-RDC).
About the Organisation: ASSA is an umbrela organization of farmers in DR Congo and i am the Executive Secretariat, ASSA as umbrella organization have physical persons, farmers organizations, agriculture cooperatives, agricultural SMEs and networks involved in food security and SOVEREIGNTY. Our vision is to work for a congolese society free of hunger, malnutrition and food dependence. As amember of the Agroecology Coalition, member of GAIA AFRICA NETWORK AND AFRICAIN CIRCULARECONOMY NETWORK ( ACEN), ASSA is involved reuse of waste especially in organic waste and workto transform them in compost to assure good food to the population and we fight against chemical pesticides and promote organic composts.
Maxwell Odonkor – World Inspiring Network
About Me: Maxwell Odonkor is a Social Entrepreneur, Climate Activist, and Training Consultant with over nine years of experience. As the Executive Director of World Inspiring Network, a grassroots nonprofit in Ghana, he empowers young people in underserved communities through education, youth empowerment, and climate action, impacting over 5,000 individuals. He also serves as the Ye! Community Advisor for the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Ghana, advocating for and training over 10,000 young entrepreneurs. Maxwell is a speaker, trainer, and jury member, passionately working to create a better future for his community and the planet.
About the Organisation: World Inspiring Network is a grassroots nonprofit in Ghana with a mission to break the cycle of poverty through educating, youth empowerment, and climate action. We support young people at the grassroots level who are passionate about creating a better future for themselves, their communities, andthe planet.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Waste, The New Goldmine!”
Three Priority Topics:
- Organics: I look forward to working together with my fellow Steering Committee members to find innovative ways to manage and reuse organic waste. A clear example is using the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology to reduce food waste.
- Plastics: I would like to contribute in reducing plastic waste, promoting circular models for plastics, andtackling marine litter.
- Innovation and Partnerships: Fostering new technologies, business models, and collaborations to scaleup solutions.
- Website: https://www.worldinspiringnetwork.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwell-odonkor/
- CV: Access CV Here
Lilly Anguil Victor – Christian Action for Development& Support (CADS)
About Me: I am called ‘Mrs. Lilly Anguil Victor’. I am South Sudanese by Nationality who was born on1/1/1985 in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State-Aweil Civil Hospital, Republic of South Sudan. I grew up from Christian family. My father and mother are purely Christians, and they have brought me up in a joyful andloveliness manner. I am 36 years old, and I am married. I have Bachelor’s degree in Environmental management and I have excessive experiences of having worked with many different International and National Organizations for more than eight years before joining CADS. Currently I am working with ChristianAction for Development & Support (CADS) as Circular Economy Project Officer based in Northern Bahr ElGhazal State-Aweil.
About the Organization: CADS is Christian national non-governmental organization focus on promoting the circular economy by designing products for durability, repair, and recyclability, and by offering services thatenable product reuse and resource recovery. This approach minimizes waste, extends product lifecycles, and reduces reliance on virgin resources.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Our moto in a circular economy aims to sustainably, reuse materials through reuse, repurposing, recycling and remanufacturing.“
Three Priority Topics: As a PREVENT Steering Committee member in the context of a circular economy in South Sudan, my priority topics to address include
- implementing innovative solutions for value-added recycling of materials,
- identifying and handling hazardous waste for safe recycling, and
- fostering the development of circular business models. Furthermore, addressing the circularity of materialflows, promoting sustainable sourcing of raw materials, and improving the monitoring of the circular economy transition are also crucial.
Remmy Nweke – ITREALMS Media Group
About Me: I am a highly skilled media strategist, digital rights advocate, and environmental communicator with over 25 years of experience in journalism, knowledge management, and strategic communication. As a Global South civil society leader, my work has focused on bridging the gap between grassroots communities, policymakers, and the private sector on issues of sustainable development, waste prevention, and circular economy advocacy. I currently serve as Lead Consulting Strategist/Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS MediaGroup, where I coordinate knowledge-driven platforms including ITREALMS, NaijaAgroNet, and DigitalSENSEAfrica Media. I am also Convener of the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, a pioneering multi-stakeholder platformdedicated to tackling the growing challenge of electronic waste in Nigeria and across Africa.
About the Organisation: ITREALMS Media Group, through its platforms ITREALMS, NaijaAgroNet, andDigitalSENSE Africa, drives advocacy, research, and public awareness on ICT, digital rights, and environmental sustainability. It convenes the annual ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, fostering multi-stakeholder engagement toshape policy, promote digital inclusion, and advance sustainable waste management across Nigeria and Africa.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Turning waste into opportunity, empowering communities, and driving innovation for a sustainable, inclusive circular economy.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Strategic Communication & Advocacy: Strengthen PREVENT’s visibility through expert journalism, media strategy, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring broader awareness and influence.
- Global South Representation: Amplify African civil society voices, connecting grassroots realities with global circular economy policies for true inclusivity
- Policy Engagement & Capacity Building: Shape sustainable waste prevention and circular economy practices by linking community-driven solutions with international frameworks.
Website: https://www.itrealms.com.ng
Stefanie Beitien – PCX Solutions
About Me: Stefanie is an accomplished strategic leader with over 22 years of experience in sustainability and management. She is Managing Director and Trustee of PCX Solutions, a plastic pollution focused NGO. She was previously leading the market transformation team at WWF-Singapore, and led partnerships, sales and marketing activities in the media, automotive and licensing industry. Stefanie is a sought-after speaker, studied international business administration and loves to bring passionate people from around the world together. Stefanie lived in Asia, South America and Europe, is fluent in German, English, Italian and broken Spanish, and loves travelling and hiking with her family.
About the Organisation: Born in the Philippines, we represent all countries hard hit by the plastic crisis. We partner with governments, businesses, communities, NGOs, and the informal sector to boldly tackle the plastic issue upstream and downstream. Our work involves policy, financing, research and advisory services within circular economy, EPR and waste management.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Waste isn’t waste until we waste it (borrowed from WILL.I.AM)”
Three Priority Topics:
- Represent voices from the Global South and countries hard hit by the waste crisis
- Innovative and effective business models for waste management
- Clear governance, organizational stability and sustainability for the PREVENT Waste Alliance in its transition to an own entity
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanie-beitien/
- Website PCX Solutions: https://www.pcxsolutions.org/
Meet the Candidates for Academia
Otmar Deubzer – UNITAR
About Me: I am environmental engineer living in Berlin. Born in the North of Bavaria, I graduated from TU Berlin and did my PhD at TU Delft in the Netherlands. Since 2008, I’ve been working on various aspects of e-waste management at UNITAR-SCYCLE, and much of this work has been related to interfaces of electronics/technology and science, policies, and economic aspects. I’ve been a member of the Steering Committee since the establishment of PREVENT, with, at that time, intense discussions what PREVENT should do and how it should work. I would like to continue this work representing the academic sector in the discussions around challenges related to financing and sustainability of PREVENT’s work.
About the Organisation: UNITAR-SCYCLE’s mission is to promote sustainable societies. Its activities focus on the development of sustainable production, consumption and disposal patterns for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), as well as for other ubiquitous goods. SCYCLE leads the global e-waste discussion and advances sustainable e-waste management strategies based on life-cycle thinking. SCYCLE’s vision is to enable societies to reduce the environmental load of production, including but not limited to the use and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment, to sustainable levels through independent, comprehensive, and practical research that provides facts for more thorough policy development and decision-making.
My Motto for the Circular Economy:
“Circular economy needs economic circularity. While regulations influence design, production, consumption and disposal of products, a fully circular economy needs framework conditions that make CE the most economic solution.
Three priority topics I want to address as PREVENT Steering Committee member
- Financing of PREVENT
- Sustainability of PREVENT projects beyond the end of the projects
- The role of (applied) research in PREVENT’s work.
Henning Wilts – Wuppertal Institute
About Me: I’m Henning, working at the Wuppertal Institute, coordinating the division on transition processes towards a circular economy. My research is driven by the need to find ways to initiate, steer and especially accelerate circular processes, business models and strategies from theory to practice. In October 2025, I’ve been appointed as professor for “Circular society” at the university in Hagen – focusing especially on the societal impacts of circular economy on stakeholders in the Global South as well as on participatory approaches for circular strategies: Who is defining the rules how the benefits of increased circularity are going to be distributed?
About the Organisation: The Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy is a Think Tank for impact-driven sustainability research. Its main objective is to foster innovationsthat decouple social well-being from resource consumption and related environmental impacts. It’s funded by the Ministry of Economics and Innovation in Northrhine-Westphalia.
My Motto for the Circular Economy:
“Circular economy is not an end in itself; it’s an opportunity that we have to shape.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Integration of PREVENT expertise into national and European strategy development
- New narratives for circularity beyond securing access to raw materials
- Circular Plastics and plastic waste prevention
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henning-wilts-992098160/
Website: https://wupperinst.org/en/c/wi/c/s/cd/818
Simone Andersson – IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
About Me: Ms Andersson has over 20 years of experience of circular systems for both rural and urbansettings, whereof +8 years of international projects in waste, water, circular economy and energy issues. She has extensive knowledge in environmental-/societal communication, knowledge transfer, behavioral patterns and advocacy for policy development. She is a passionate advocate of sustainable resource management and in her current role at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, she manages research and development project, mainly focusing on capacity building structures, business development for circular economy practices, circular public procurement, renewable energy, solid waste and waste water management.
About the Organisation: IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is an independent, non-profit, research organisation, which since 1966 has been contributing with solutions to environmental problems onbehalf of industry, public institutions and society. IVL deals with environmental issues from a holistic perspective with the aim of contributing to a sustainable development.
My Motto for the Circular Economy: “Circular thinking transforms responsibility into opportunity — for people, planet and prosperity.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Circular (Public) Procurement
- Capacity building of leaders/politicians with keys and numbers (showing how to implement and benefit of circular value chains) to dare to unlock and launch a new way to approach development of their company/society.
- Governance for sustainable development of society – policy development for ease of phasing out hazardous substances (preferably before even entering a market) and to handle resources in circular value chains (how to extend uses, certify repaired items, promote recycled materials etc).
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/simone-andersson
Katharina Raab – University of Kassel
About Me: I am Dr. Katharina Raab, project lead and researcher at the University of Kassel(Germany), specializing in sustainable marketing, circular economy, and waste management in international development contexts. I bring over 15 years of experience inacademia and applied projects, focusing on low- and middle-income countries.
About the Organisation: The University of Kassel (FB07 – Sustainable Marketing) is a leading German research institution focusing on circular economy, sustainability, and applied interdisciplinary research in cooperation with international development partners.
My Motto for the Circular Economy:
“Closing loops globally through science, collaboration, and action.”
Three Priority Topics:
- Advancing circular economy solutions in emerging economies
- Strengthening academia-practice-policy interfaces
- Scaling gender-inclusive waste management and resource recovery models
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-katharina-raab
