Meet the DEAL Community

Chiba, Japan

Makoto Suhara is a distinguished international business strategist with a career spanning over a decade at leading consulting firms across the United States, Europe, and Asia. His expertise facilitates cross-border business expansions, particularly between Japan and international markets. Key Career Highlights: - Extensive consulting experience in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Europe, China, and Southeast Asia - Former Japan Vice President of a prominent American business intelligence firm - The fund manager for the "Fukushima Growth Industry Development Fund" in collaboration with NEC Capital Solutions and Shinsei Bank - Asia Representative for an American forensic service provider - Japan Branch Manager of a French strategy consulting firm In January 2019, Suhara became Special Assistant to the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia and Japan Representative of Enterprise Estonia. In this capacity, he has been instrumental in: - Facilitating Estonian companies' entry into the Japanese market - Supporting Japanese investments in Estonia - Advising on digital transformation initiatives for municipalities across Japan - Contributing to smart city and super city policy development and implementation Academic Pursuits: Suhara transitioned to academia in April 2021, pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration at Aoyama Gakuin University's Graduate School of Business. He is also a researcher at the university's SDGs Human Resource Development Partnership Institute. Current Roles: - Advisor to local governments across Japan on new industry creation, regional development, and digital transformation in healthcare and education - Special researcher at the Yuda Onsen Research Institute in Yamaguchi City Education: - MBA from the University of Southern California, CA, USA - EMBA from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PRC - MBA (Public Sector) from Willamette University, OR. USA - BA from Bushnell University, OR. USA - BA from Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan Makoto Suhara's diverse international business experience and academic pursuits make him a valuable asset in bridging global business practices and local development strategies in Japan.

Tallinn, Estonia

I am a strategy expert with over 25 years of experience in sustainable development, leadership, urban innovation, and sustainability governance. From 2012 to 2018, I served as the Head of the Sustainable Development Unit, Baltic 2030, at the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in Stockholm, where I led strategic vision-setting and coordinated activities related to the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. During this time, I initiated key Leadership and Capacity Building Programmes and reports monitoring SDG progress in the Baltic Sea region. As the Executive Director of Tallinn-European Green Capital 2023, I spearheaded the establishment of the Tallinn Sustainability Governance Hub, focusing on building the capacity and competence needed for SDG implementation at the city level. Currently, I work as the Head of International Cooperation for the city of Tallinn, where I oversee (among others) sustainable development and green transition initiatives. I am also an active member of the European Doughnut Economics Coalition Network, led by Amsterdam University. My passion lies in driving sustainability transitions, and I am inspired by individuals who are determined, forward-thinking, and unafraid to embrace new approaches and catalyze change.

Southampton

I am a Product Designer, innovator and UX Designer. I work on mainframe software as a UX design lead and am an evangelist for Enterprise Design Thinking to deliver radical design changes that matter and which can be delivered. It works for large enterprises and I want to see if it could be a way to start to demonstrate, by degree, that we can deliver on Kate's vision!   (the 'enterprise' element is, I believe the difference required for such a globally important task) I design and #upcycle, I create IoT devices and I am a proponent of #OpenSource software and open protocols. I like to thrive! I play the clarinet & alto sax (but not well) and am in a wind band - wish I was good enough to play jazz, but I'm not! Scuba, kayaking, skiing & climbing. Parent to teenagers. I'm afraid I avoid most proprietary social media (Fcbk, X, LkdIn, Insta) but am on Mastodon

Brighton and Hove, England, United Kingdom

 I am an independent consultant, working to design and facilitate learning and strategy processes with people working for social change, whether that's activists,  researchers, people working in service delivery, NGOs, governments, or foundations.  I work internationally, with a focus on climate change and an increasing emphasis on systems approaches.  Out of work, I am an activist, a school governor, a parent, a sea swimmer and a proud resident of Brighton and Hove in the UK.   I want to work more in my local community and see DEAL as a way of combining professional experience with my passion for helping Brighton deliver on its climate and social justice commitments.    In my work, I use a range of tools and approaches to help people think deeply and strategically about their work and to catalyse change.   I love using drawing and play to help explore the big stuff and bring in systems perspectives.   I work across sectors, spanning boundaries and sharing insights and approaches between them.  Recent qualifications that seem relevant here:   Circularity Thinking:  Train the trainer from Climate KIC,  I am trained in facilitation processes to support businesses and organisations to think through how they shift toward being more circular.     Spark: Systems Facilitation,  from the School of Systems Change, course exploring the role and practice of facilitation in systems change.  Lewis Deep Democracy - approach to leaning into and working effectively with conflict and disagreement.  For more info, check out my linked in.   Look forward to connecting with some inspiring people!    

Gdansk, Poland

Timișoara, Timiș, Romania

Portland, Oregon, United States

I am part of Measure Meant, we are a team that helps organizations understand their environmental impacts, plan for climate change, and develop social and environmental sustainability strategies. I have been doing this work for four years now and have increasingly felt like the work I've been doing is perhaps more distraction than meaningful change making (though there have been glimmers in our work).  

Prague, Czech Republic

'If I can't do something for the public good, what the hell am I doing?'  (Anita Roddick) - Doughnut Economics, p. 233

Taunton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

I'm an interior architect working throughout Europe.  A recent  MA in environmental humanities, currently studying regenerative economics in my belief is that holistic  - doughnut  type - elements and policy must be in symbiosis for healthy home and business planning and decisions.

Hong Kong

Hi! I am Joyce. I am passionate about improving lives and sustainability. I recently co-founded Better Futures, which is a purpose-driven design consultancy. Our projects span corporate sustainability strategy and implementation, learning and development, and nonprofit service innovation. Previously, I was a government consultant in Hong Kong and the UK, and a project manager at a nonprofit, leading the R&D of various social innovation projects on the topics of affordable housing, education and more.      

紀尾井町7番 千代田区, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan

Professor Sophia U Tokyo Japan, sustainability education, edu in Estonia, Lifelong Learning; UNESCO Translation & Sustainable Futures Prog. coordinator, 🇪🇪e-resident

Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands

Economist, donut economy lover

Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Hi, I've have recently completed my MSc Ecological Economics in Leeds. Since then I have been the Oxfordshire Doughnut Project Data Lead across the Four Lenses for the Preliminary Data Portrait:  • Global Ecological Lens: based on planetary boundaries model, downscaling data to county or regional levels and applying and improving on best practice methodologies. • Global Social: designed a data methodology applying material footprinting data to Global Social dimensions (aligned with Sustainable Development Goals) to build a coherent narrative around local consumption and global social impact. • Local Social and Ecological: supervising and producing calculations across all dimensions and their visualisations. Looking forward to see where this doughnut goes and what opportunities for engagement arise from it! 

Pavia, Pavia, Italy

London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

I am a seasoned international development professional and educational leader, having worked in grassroots/international NGOs, international schools and the public sector in 7 countries in the last 15 years. I am now keen to focus on climate change, sustainability and justice.  

Goa, India

Hello there: I have been following the studies of Doughnut Economics, especially THE AMSTERDAM CITY PROJECT.  The drive to find a balance between social and business intrigues me.  And I believe change can only happen from school-level learning. We (unirisefoundation.org) are a non-profit organization based out of Goa, India where we are hoping to save the biodiversity and culture that Goa is known for through learning in schools, focused on children with disabilities. We want to give the children the opportunity to ask questions that will require responses until they are convinced for their lies the gap between destruction and saving Goa (and India and the world). So, it is a big DEAL for WE MATTER and together WE CAN make a difference. Cheers, Titus

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

I am a volunteer organizer with the informal group - Imagine Lethbridge.  Our vision is to apply Doughnut Economic principles and practices to our community so that Lethbridge becomes the healthiest city in Canada to live, thrive and age well.   I am also the national VP of Advocacy for the Canadian Federation of University Women, with a vision that women and girls are educated and empowered to make transformational changes in the world, by promoting fellowship, continuous learning and empowerment to achieve educational and economic equality and social justice.   My work with CFUW advances the status of women.   I am newly a board member of the Lethbridge Community Wellness Assessment Board, where we review applications for funding by the social service agencies assisting those residents needing support.  

Denver/Lakewood Colorado United States

Healing thru Reiki, Shamanic Practices, Plant-Based Foods for Medicine, Support & Sustaining Active Loving Lifestyles, completely Re-Wilded "yards" now create a "parkland" in the middle of Neighborhood; Artist, Writer, and retired Attorney. 

Nederland, Colorado, United States

Mateo Beauvineau is a rising senior who loves to fish, ski, hike, and camp in the mountains of Colorado where he grew up. He is passionate about protecting the environment and is exploring the field of environmental economics through the IB diploma program’s Extended Essay. He volunteers at the local hospital and leads an environmental and international impact club at his high school, the Fairview Institute. He raised $17,000 for an outdoor greenspace at his school, which expanded to a tree canopy, as well as upcycled solar panels into solar charging stations which were sent to schools and soldiers in Ukraine. Mateo hopes to study  and environmental economics in college and likes learning useful skills. 

Indaiatuba, São Paulo, Brazil

Bióloga e Designer de experiências de aprendizagem. Criadora da NiDo Estúdio - ambiente para curadoria e desenvolvimento de materiais de aprendizagem e vivências centradas na natureza e sociedade [Biomimética e ESG]

Tirana, Albania

Organisation and management researcher, interested in contributing to management studies as a tool to tackling grand societal challenges. 

Germany

Manuel S. Sand is a professor of Outdoor Sports and Adventure Management at the University of Applied Management in Treuchtlingen, Germany. His research interests include adventure tourism, mountain bike tourism, well-being and adventure activities, nature protection and outdoor sports and the effects of experiential learning in the outdoors.

London, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Director at Useful Projects (part of the Useful Simple Trust), a leading sustainability consultancy who is part of DEAL, trailblazing the transition towards a regenerative future.   Championing Doughnut Economics in communities, regions and the sport sector.

Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland

Hi, I am Melanie, a finance profesionnal for over 16 years after studies of Business Administration and some Economics.  In the last 8 years, besindes Finance, I was in charge of CSR of a SME in Geneva and my interest in sustainable business transformation gott bigger every day though often created conflictual interests with my financial objectives. I got increasingly ambitious in digging beyond carbon accounting in business' strategy and governance and beyond business in the bigger picture of the system we are operating and living in.  This is how I got interested in Donut Economics - quite late actually - and I was immediately fascinated by the logical and inclusive concept but moreover by Kate Raworth visionary and highly encouraging speeches. I am as well a big supporter of peer mentoring and collective intelligence for creating better ideas, innovation and engagement. As an enthousiastic cyclist in the city and in the mountains, I am very interested in mobility topics especially in terms of urban policies and transformation in my local environment and believe that the concept of the 15-minute city is part of the solution.    #15-minute city