Meet the DEAL Community

Berlin

Independent Researcher, Writer & Founder-in-the-Making | Bridging Philosophy, Ecological Renaturation, and Economic Systems How I Discovered the Doughnut Model My path to Doughnut Economics came from deep theoretical work rather than a casual encounter. While developing my own conceptual framework—a "3-slice / 4-disk" thought model connecting systemic structures (Bishop’s theory, mythological patterns in Hercules & Centaurus, and the concept of Singularity)—I used AI research to look for the missing, perfect fourth disk to complete the clockwork-like system. That search led me straight to the Doughnut Model, and I realized with great astonishment that my structural concepts align remarkably well with Oxford research and its implementation in cities like Amsterdam, Vienna, and three German cities. My Vision & Current Project: The Well Farm I realized that analyzing systems and writing articles wasn't enough—I needed to create something tangible. This gave birth to The Well Farm: a concept focused on human species protection (Artenschutz Mensch), ending unnecessary suffering for living beings, and living in harmony with nature rather than reshaping it through purely anthropocentric views. It explores how people can navigate crisis situations and build resilience independent of outdated systems. Looking ahead, I aim to align this venture with European legal frameworks like the Law on Nature Restoration, serving as an enabler and booster for ecological renaturation in Germany, with the long-term vision of establishing hubs across Europe. Where I Am Right Now • My Current Reality: To be entirely honest, I don't have a rigid, corporate "next step" mapped out—I simply know where my compass points. Every day, I write passionately, following spontaneous inspirations on topics that matter. Having no academic degree or professional background beyond the low-wage sector, this project is essentially my only chance to truly be myself, to finally let my brain run free and drive. • Tools & Resilience: Working as a neurodivergent single parent who has faced long-term underemployment, Gemini acts as my wheelchair—bridging educational gaps and helping me translate my raw, internal vision into the outside world. • The Goal: My dream is to turn this daily writing and systemic thinking into my livelihood. I want to build The Well Farm not just as a concept, but as a bridge out of the old system into independence, proving that profound insights don't require an ivory-tower pedigree. Why I Am Here  Having worked in isolation for a long time, I currently lack a dedicated cooperative network or professional contacts in this specific field. I joined the DEAL community to connect with like-minded thinkers, researchers, and practitioners, exchange ideas, and build meaningful collaborations for a sustainable future. Transparency Note: To ensure professional delivery across language barriers, I took my raw thoughts straight from my mind and worked with Gemini to polish the phrasing—keeping the core philosophy entirely authentic. 

Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Indonesia

I am a co-founder of CommsLab (https://commslab.org), an organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia. We are a communications strategy initiative focusing on coherent and persuasive narratives building by working through public-interest storytelling to strengthen civil society across media, research and movement. Among the narratives we have championed—and which has been a key part of our agenda over the past two years—is a shift in the development model: transitioning from an economy dominated by the extractive sector to one driven by restorative and regenerative activities. We have published a book on this subject, which serves as a resource for sustaining public dialogue. We recently helped organizing a forum in Bangkok, Thailand, themed "Beyond the Haze: How Much More Can We Ask of Our Planet?" featuring Xiaoting Hou-Jones from the DEAL team as the keynote speaker. We spoke with her the day after the event, partly to learn more about DEAL. Consequently, we became interested in joining the DEAL Community.

Maplewood, Maplewood, Essex County, New Jersey, 07040, United States

I am looking to take my professional and life experiences and now express them in service of living my values out loud.  I am stirred to action by how we have treated our environment and let so many of our fellow citizens of the country and planet suffer.  I have entered graduate studies at the UVM, and I am actively writing and informing my network to bring awareness to the dangers to our society and environment we are letting happen. 

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom

I am a part of the publicity team in the Post Crash Economics Society committee at the University of Manchester. We are interested in ecological economics and how it can be included within the curriculum to reform economic thought. I study Economics and Politics and am in my final year of university, looking forward to graduating and continuing working towards bettering economic systems for people and the planet. 

I am a public architect who strongly believes in the power of the collective commons and the circular economy.

Albalate de Zorita, Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain

“I hold a PhD in neuroscience and work at the intersection of social neuroscience, modelling and deliberation. I'm developing "Temperalism with a floor": building agreements from what people already share, while treating the Doughnut's social foundation as a rule that isn't renegotiated. Based in Spain (mainland until December, Tenerife from January). Happy to connect with Spanish-speaking members and anyone working on deliberation, polarisation or local Doughnut projects.”

Washington, DC, USA

Matt is a parent, sibling, spouse, and dog owner working to build greater equity, economic opportunity, biodiversity, and harmony with nature. Matt works to advance mission-driven enterprises and organizations through fractional marketing, communications, fundraising, business development, and operations services delivered through his company, Nova*ei. His interest in social impact and lifelong learning brought him to Doughnut Economics and the Doughnut Economics Action Lab. He looks forward to learning and growing alongside other members in this community!

Berlin, Germany

My vision is reducing textile waste from the very beginning of the collection development.  I‘m garment engineer with 20+ years working experience around the garment, specialised in pattern cutting and fabrics. Real body patterns and fabric, which is not brandnew trash are my main focus. Both are levers that could reduce the wastage of resources significantly. This will need a legal framework, such as the REACH regulation for chemicals, to prevent brandnew trash from the market.

Asuncion, Región Oriental, Paraguay

I am the vice-director of a non-profit called SERVOME which stands for Servicio Voluntario Menonita. The english translation would be "Mennonite Volunteer Service". It is the social service branch of 32 german speaking mennonite churches across Paraguay. Our vision is to provide help, in the name of Jesus, to people in need so that they can lead a dignified life. The first time I came across the Doughnut was during my international development postgraduate in the University of Amsterdam. I joined DEAL to see if its tools might help measuring the wellbeing of the neighborhoods that churches would like to serve. 

Lakewood, Los Angeles County, California, United States

Hi DEAL community, I’m excited to join you. I’m an organizational change consultant and facilitator who helps people and groups navigate complexity and create meaningful change together. I am interested how humans organize, learn, collaborate, and transform, and how that transformation connect to living systems, sustainability, and more recently, regenerative design in communities. I’m relatively new to the language of Doughnut Economics, but not its spirit, and I’m excited to learn and connect with others exploring these ideas. I’m originally from and live part time in Tijuana, Mexico, and am currently and temporarily based in Long Beach, CA. Outside of work, I love collecting naturalist art and treasures found in the natural world, tinkering, cooking, reading, and dancing.

Bloomington, IN

My interest in Economics goes back to my school days and my PPE studies at Oxford in the early 1970s. However, I wasn't very satisfied with any of those subjects as a career, so I went into music, which I love, and from 1985 to 2014 taught at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. My interest in Politics, Philosophy and Economics has been an interest and hobby all my life, but in retirement I have become increasingly concerned about the direction of travel, and the apparent lack of new ideas, on all sides of the political and economic spectrum, about how to begin to solve the world's most pressing problems. This summer I finally discovered Doughnut (Donut in American English but let's not let spelling divide us) Economics, and the depth, breadth and intelligence of Kate Raworth's vision and hope for the future of the planet! I'm not sure how I can help but I'm going to explore and see what might be possible in my adopted home town.

Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States

Howdy! I am doing my best to soak up this life experience as much as humanly possible, and I would like future generations to have the ability to do the same. Business development is a passion of mine and I strive to lead by example and structure my newest venture in a way that fits the doughnut.  I'm a mom of 2 (mostly grown) boys, and the partner of an extremely talented and adventurous landscape photographer. I love gardening, mixed-media art, and slinging free books from my bookmobile - The Kind Bus.  I look forward to joining creative conversations that will plant seeds for a future that puts people > profit!! 

Veelerveen, Westerwolde, Groningen, Netherlands

Independent Researcher of Socio-Conceptual Structures My interest lies in the underlying structures of socio-conceptual realities and how these structures shape the possibilities that can emerge within them. From this perspective, I explore what changes the way a socio-conceptual reality functions, as well as what changes can occur within its existing way of functioning. My research connects with phenomenology, systems analysis, psychology, philosophy, politics, economics, and law, without being defined or limited by any of these disciplines.

Grenoble, Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Metropolitan France, France

Reading Doughnut Economics changed my life. I have created https://inspyrations.co/ trying to apply its principles. Now let's do more ! Inspiring, educated, teach an prove that our future rely on how human can harmonize with our environment will be a survival matter. I'm looking to connect, share ideas and organise to make it happen ! https://www.linkedin.com/in/gr%C3%A9gory-delamarre-a1922080/

Uganda

I’m Namulinde Dagan, a Ugandan with a background in Agriculture and Soil Science and about five years of experience working across agriculture, research, agronomy and sustainable food systems. I am an agrifood systems thinker and analyst, interested in understanding how agriculture, people, ecosystems, markets and knowledge connect—and how we can work across these connections to create more sustainable and resilient food systems. I am also a co-founder of Green Agro Eco Links (GAEL), a youth-led initiative working with last-mile communities, particularly in Uganda’s island and mountainous areas. Our work focuses on soil health, landscape restoration, agronomy, market linkages, policy, and knowledge transfer, while also valuing indigenous knowledge and locally grounded solutions. Beyond my professional work, I am an innovator, researcher, agri-tech enthusiast and systems analyst. I am particularly interested in how science, technology, indigenous knowledge and community experience can come together to address complex challenges in agriculture and sustainability.  I believe that a better world is possible when we look at development through both an ecological and social lens—and when we turn ideas into collective action.

I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Development Economics, with a particular interest in Donut Economics and its potential application to public policy in Madagascar. My research focuses on the rehabilitation and sustainable recovery of the city of Toamasina following Cyclone Gezani in early 2026. I am particularly interested in exploring how the economic prosperity of this major port city can be combined with the well-being of its population and the principles of sustainable development.

Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom

I am the Operations Lead at DEAL, keeping everything running smoothly by managing our internal systems and processes, and providing operational support to team projects. I am a systems thinker, and am passionate about seeing how workflows fit together within an organisation, as well as improving operational processes so that they work for the diverse humans who use them. Before I joined DEAL, I was a freelance Operations and Project Manager for a wide variety of charities and social enterprises, a Programme Manager for an academic fellowship scheme at a University, and spent 10 years in the publishing industry. 

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

I studied economics in college, and even though I never finished my degree, I've always held an interest in the subject.  I have, for a very long time, wondered how much better the world would be if the main currency was character, and traits like integrity and  honesty were valued above money.  I've been playing around with a short story, which isn't quite so short anymore, which introduces an alternate kind of earth, where the above mentioned characteristics have actually created a kind of "heaven".  Oh yeah, there are ghosts and cartoon characters too.  Even a couple of Sesame Street characters.  I cannot be found on social media.

Beaverton, Oregon, United States

I retired from my career as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in 2025. I worked in the healthcare setting with heart patients in cardiac rehabilitation for over 20 years. I decided to switch gears in 2026 to the climate industry currently as a volunteer. A few years ago I came across a book called Zero Waste Living that inspired me to look at my personal waste as a consumer. I was immediately drawn to all things related to sustainability. I filled my time with podcasts and reading until I had the opportunity to participate in the climatebase fellowship in spring 2026. My current interests are in waste reduction (especially plastic), circular economy, LCA/Applied sustainable AI, renewable energy, and environmental health. During the fellowship I was introduced to Doughnut Economics and feel privileged to be exposed to this framework and this way thinking. I am still growing my web of climate connections and am currently getting involved in the following organizations:  Rewiring America & Electrify Oregon, OnePointFive Academy, Climate Reality Project, Beyond Plastics, AOR (Association of OR Recyclers), Women in Clean tech & Sustainability and continue to be active with the climatebase community where I can support my goal of climate literacy and meet like minded humans. I volunteer my other time with my neighborhood community network (treasurer, web page/newsletter, landscape manager, festival parade director). I feel my best when I am in nature and the outdoors, and enjoy gardening, spending time with my family, yoga and mindfulness. 

Toronto

I've spent much of my career in the co-operative and mutual sector, and I've always believed that business can be a force for good. I have a Master's in Management of Co-operatives and Credit Unions, but my interest goes well beyond the business model itself. I'm passionate about people, community, sustainability, and finding better ways of doing things. I'm here to learn, share ideas, and connect with others who believe we can build an economy that works better for everyone.

Epalinges, Vaud, Switzerland

Epalinges started the elaboration of its Plan of ecological and social transition in summer 2024 with the help of the society BioEco. In September 2026, it published the technical report and the synthesis of all the work done during this 2 years of collaboration. You can discover all the documents following this link : epalinges.ch/PTES

New Delhi, Delhi, India

 I am studying a pretty straightforward flaw in standard economics: it assumes both nature and women's unpaid care work are free, infinite resources. At the intersection of political science, economics and socio-legal dynamics in India, I look at how our cities run on invisible, uncounted care labor while constantly pushing social and environmental limits to the edge. Being in the DEAL community gives me a space to ground these realities in practice, working to adapt the Doughnut's "social foundation" for informal care networks in the Global South, while learning alongside a global community pushing for economics that actually values people and the planet. 

Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom

I’m a senior leader in the building maintenance and social housing sector, currently working as a Head of Operations across South England, with a particular focus on retrofit and decarbonisation. Outside of work, I’m advocating fo a fairer and more regenerative future. I’m interested not only in how we redesign our institutions and economies, but how we empower people and communities, unlock our collective potential, and turn the extraordinary resources, knowledge and technology humanity already possesses towards shared prosperity and planetary wellbeing. I’m married with two children, which makes this deeply personal too. I want their generation to inherit a world of greater possibility, fairness and security. I’m currently writing How to Fix the World, exploring these ideas and developing the concept of a Global Missions Force (GMF) as a new model for turning global ambition into sustained, real-world action.

Inverness, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Based in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and qualified in Sustainable Development I have experience of working in the private, public and third sectors.  I pride myself on focusing on solutions and considering the ‘art of the possible’ to build genuine, lasting relationships and deliver positive impacts that will make real differences for people who live, work and play in the Highlands and Islands.  As a Community Wealth, Community Benefit and Community-led Development Specialist, I work in a team of passionate and skilled professionals who are committed to achieving positive, meaningful and long lasting results which will bring sustainable prosperity to the region. Proud member of and representative for Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). Subscriber to heterodox economics and proponent of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT).