Doughnut Economics for engineers: From theory to practice

Join Engineers Without Borders UK and Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) for an interactive webinar exploring how Doughnut Economics 3.0 can reshape engineering practice in a complex, interconnected world.

In this session, we’ll explore how the Doughnut Economics model offers a practical visual framework for understanding global responsibility in engineering - helping engineers design solutions that meet everyone’s needs without overshooting the planet’s limits.

The session will open with an introduction to the updated Doughnut Economics model from Ilektra Kouloumpi, Sectors Lead at DEAL, including real-world examples of how it is being applied across sectors and what it means in practice for engineering. We’ll explore how key concepts, such as the circular economy, can influence engineering decisions, success metrics and design briefs.

This will be followed by an interactive panel discussion with engineers and practitioners from DEAL, Expedition Engineering and Elliott Wood. Drawing on their experience across the built environment and community-led projects, the panel will examine how Doughnut Economics can move engineering beyond “doing less harm” towards regenerative, place-based outcomes.

Speakers

Ilektra Kouloumpi, Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL)

Ilektra is a sustainability engineering and post-growth economics expert, and Sectors Lead at the Doughnut Economics Action Lab. She is widely recognised for her work on the Amsterdam City Doughnut and has led major sustainability initiatives with governments, cities and global institutions worldwide.

Dr Jonathan Truslove, Engineers Without Borders UK
Jonathan is an interdisciplinary researcher and Education and Skills Lead at Engineers Without Borders UK, working to embed global responsibility in engineering education and practice. He brings experience from sustainable water and sanitation projects with rural communities across Scotland, Rwanda, Malawi and Cambodia.

Mike Sefton, Expedition Engineering

Mike is a Structural Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist at Expedition Engineering, focused on systemic decarbonisation of UK infrastructure. He is actively involved in sector-wide climate action through the Institution of Structural Engineers and Construction Declares.

Ian Poole, Elliott Wood

Ian is a Chartered Engineer and Environmentalist at Elliott Wood, leading innovation across retrofit, reuse and low-carbon design. He has contributed to national Net Zero building standards and brings policy, advisory and delivery experience to embedding environmental stewardship in practice.