Meet the DEAL Community

Mr. Alden is an Independent Systems Theorist with a rare combination of technical mastery, implementation experience, and strategic vision. He began his career on the ground floor of enterprise asset management (EAM), becoming a pivotal figure in the deployment and evolution of MAXIMO systems across industries, starting with version 2.6 in 1992 and advancing through every production release up to Series 5. For over a decade, Mr. Alden has led mission-critical projects involving CMMS and EAM platforms, acting as both a hands-on architect and a catalyst for transformation. His background includes deep technical competencies—ranging from SQR and PL/SQL programming to custom integrations, database engineering, and platform migrations—as well as real-world implementations in sectors such as aerospace, higher education, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and government. Known for his ability to bridge technical execution with strategic insight, Mr. Alden has helped organizations realize the full value from their systems through custom training, re-engineered workflows, and enterprise-spanning data strategies. His work has touched a wide range of functional domains—from biomedical engineering to real estate project management, IT services, and scientific research. Today, Mr. Alden applies his systems expertise beyond enterprise environments. As the creator of the Kosmos Framework, he has developed a biomimetic, systems-thinking approach to diagnosing and redesigning social, institutional, and organizational structures. His work integrates principles from engineering, biology, and information theory to create ethical, adaptive frameworks for systemic transformation. He publishes his research on Substack at kosmosframework.substack.com, where foundational papers such as The 7ES (Element Structure) Framework for Systems Theory, Fundamental Design Principles (FDPs), The Designer Query Discriminator, and The Observer's Collapse Function outline a unified theory for understanding, classifying, and redesigning complex systems. These works position Mr. Alden as not just a practitioner, but a pioneer in next-generation systems theory.

Seattle, Seattle, Washington, United States

Hello! I live in the Seattle area and currently serve on the leadership teams for Seattle Women & Climate and the PNW Climate Week.  I enjoy spending time outdoors, running, hiking, and skiing. I am also an active volunteer and passionate about equity, climate, and sustainability.

Brussels-Capital, Belgium

I work for an ngo and am responsible for educational  policy. In that function we inform teachers and students about the doughnut economy of Kate Raworth.  We called one of our tools: "Project System Change" and challenge students to think about a future world where we respect planet and people, so there is no shortage. 

Wantage, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

I'm a retired management consultant with experience in the UK, USA and several European countries. I've never worked in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, parts of manufacturing industry and various other areas, and I've been a non-executive director of three housing associations and a small charity. For most of my life I've not been persuaded by environmental campaign groups  - they're seem to be focused on symptoms, not causes. Then, soon after it was published, I read "The Ministry for the Future" by Kim Stanley Robinson, which envisaged both the worst effects of environmental degradation and a way forward for the future. By a somewhat circuitous route, I then found the Oxford Ministry for the Future and was able to attend one of their events in Oxford earlier in 2025, at which Kate Raworth spoke. This introduced me to "Doughnut Economics". Though not an academic, I have been hugely motivated by the discovery that globally, the academic community is investing a lot of effort in the area, and I want to get involved. DEAL seems like a good way to start getting my act together.

Tarneit, Victoria, Australia

WYN Hub is a resource and networking hub that facilitates the growth of the social enterprise and ethical business sector in Melbourne’s Western suburbs. It’s founded with the vision and opportunity for businesses to be a foundational lever for creating a more just and equitable society. It's being led by Mehak Sheikh. Mehak Sheikh is a connector by nature, and a facilitator by choice. She approaches her work from a lens of Systems Change, Co-design and Place-based advocacy and community organising. She gets most excited learning, researching and talking about social entrepreneurship, youth participation, intercultural dialogue, and when she is designing shared spaces that centre conversations around wellbeing. Her career journey is inspired by her educational background in Psychology and influences such as bell hooks (revolutionary), Priya Parker (author) and Deeyah Khan (filmmaker). She has often been the go-to person in a professional capacity to support culture conversations, community engagement, and big-picture thinking. Outside of her day job as the Young Mayors’ Program Manager for Victoria, Mehak is the lead strategist at WYN (Widen Your Network) Hub and has co-founded a collective for intimate place-based gatherings that centre the human experience and justice, once strangers. She is also an advisor for local social enterprises, community organisations and placemaking initiatives in Melbourne’s West, including an arts and culture retail social enterprise, Khush Zouq and Building Cultural Connections Australia Inc.

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

I belong to a group of Catholic religious sisters called the Medical Missionaries of Mary and have worked among grassroots communities  in Africa and Brazil. My main areas of academic study have been in political philosophy, clinical pastoral care and communications, but what I have learned from living among grassroots communities has taught me more than any university. I share the concerns for a new and just economic system for people of all nations, for peace, and concern for the care of our homeland Earth.

Orlando, Florida, United States

I studied economics and political science. I came across doughnut economics becuas ei randomly wanted to look at how economics look at social programs and the environment. I have been since following DEAL and a fan of this economic framework.

1190, Vienna, Austria

Hi, I am an aerospace engineer, currently studying sustainability management and eager to change the world. 

Masdenverge, Tarragona, Spain

I am leading a pioneering project to transform a centuries-old farmhouse near the Ebro Delta (Tarragona-Spain) into a space for social innovation, sustainable living, and regenerative agriculture.

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

A Master's in Economics student passionate about development economics and climate change economics. Economic models like Doughnut Economics, which look beyond the standard economic growth indicators like GDP, particularly fascinate me!! Contact me here - rr92286@gmail.com

India

Anthropologist and decolonisation enthusiastic wishing to explore the intersection of development and economics. 

Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia

I'm the Director Strategic Growth at Tasmania's Central Coast Council, where I oversee economic development, land use planning and other functions. I'm studying a Master of Urban Planning in my spare time, and find myself increasingly questioning the dominant economic growth paradigm.

Пхукет, Таиланд

I am a practicing specialist in the field of neuropsychology and neurocoaching. I am engaged in the study of the human psyche and brain. I want to make this world a better place. Having seen the community, I realized that we are on the same wavelength. I was interested in the idea. I want to learn more about it and, of course, I can share mine. It's nice to meet like-minded people!

Finance and data enthusiast focused on regenerative, distributive models that align enterprise performance with social foundations and planetary boundaries. Interested in applying systems thinking, open data, and practical tools to design place-based solutions, circular business models, and equitable value chains. Keen to learn, collaborate, and translate Doughnut principles into actionable metrics and pilots with communities and organizations.

Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

Hi, I'm Anni. I am from Germany and now live on Vancouver Island, Canada. I studied Social Innovation at Breda University of Applied Sciences and currently work as the Living Systems Coordinator at the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation. I joined the Doughnut Economics Action Lab to both learn from others and to share my personal journey as we launch the Living Systems Program in Nanaimo — the first and only city in North America to adopt Doughnut Economics.  Our goal is to bing the principles from City Hall into the streets. 

Cegléd, Pest, Hungary

CIGLE FÉ-SZEK Social Cooperative is a Hungarian community-based organization committed to creating social and environmental value through sustainable, locally driven initiatives. Our work focuses on supporting small local producers, developing community gardens, promoting sustainable agriculture and local food systems, and organizing educational and awareness-raising programs. We were founded on the belief that a resilient and fair local economy must serve both people and the planet — ensuring dignified living conditions for community members while preserving natural resources for future generations.  Our current goal is to develop a sectoral training and development center based on a cluster model, which connects local stakeholders — producers, educators, and community actors — in a cooperative framework to strengthen regional sustainability and innovation. Shared values and vision The core principles of Doughnut Economics — balancing social foundations with ecological ceilings — perfectly align with our mission. Joining DEAL would help us deepen our understanding and practical application of these principles in our local projects and community development work. Learning and knowledge exchange We believe that the tools, frameworks, and learning opportunities offered by DEAL would help us strengthen our initiatives and assess their real social and environmental impact. We see great value in learning from other members’ experiences and sharing our own. Networking and collaboration Becoming part of the DEAL community would allow us to connect with like-minded organizations and practitioners around the world. Through collaboration, we hope to co-create solutions that are both locally relevant and globally significant. Applying global ideas locally Our aim is not only to embrace the Doughnut framework conceptually but also to implement it in practice — through community farming, circular local economies, educational programs, and participatory local development. We believe that building “local doughnuts” is a key step toward systemic change.

Porto, Porto, Portugal

Master’s student in Economics and Environment at FEP–University of Porto, passionate about reimagining our economic systems within planetary boundaries. With strong experience in continuous improvement, I’m currently exploring how Doughnut Economics can come to life in a Brazilian city.

South Korea

I live in Yong-in and I am a member of Y-donut.

Santpedor, Barcelona, Spain

Hello everyone, I’m Adrián García, based in Catalonia (Spain). After almost a decade in the corporate sector (In Vitro Diagnostics), I transitioned to focus fully on regenerative agriculture and holistic land management. I founded Reterra as a way to connect businesses, farmers, and communities around projects that restore ecosystems, strengthen rural economies, and create resilient food systems. What brings me to DEAL is the possibility of learning and sharing how regenerative practices can align with the principles of Doughnut Economics — ensuring that ecological regeneration also delivers social and ethical value. #RegenerativeAgriculture #HolisticManagement #EcosystemRestoration #CommunityResilience

Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom

Hello, I am a co-founder of Emergent Generation - a diverse network of experienced founders, volunteers and young members (18 - 35) working together to build a sustainable farming and food system that nourishes people and the planet.  We ENABLE young people to share knowledge, resources, skills, opportunity, and inspiration. We celebrate successes and ENCOURAGE each other to create or engage in activity that has impact. We EMPOWER our diverse community to build an agroecological food system and regenerative future. We held our first event at FarmED in 2022. We started to show our young audience that they are not alone, and helped them to turn their passion for change into action, nurturing them as individuals and as a community. We'd love to meet anyone working in, studying or simply curious about, food systems that are better for people and planet.

San Mateo, California, United States

I’m a NatureTech Solution Architect and founder of Bioticship, a consultancy-turned-platform dedicated to accelerating the success of nature-based enterprises. My work sits at the intersection of technology, regenerative design, and economic innovation. I’m passionate about integrating Doughnut Economics principles into practical, tech-enabled frameworks that can be adopted by communities and organizations. #NatureTech #RegenerativeEconomy #DoughnutEconomics #BayArea #CABayDelta #SystemsChange

København, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark

I hold a BSc in Economics (Athens University of Economics and Business) and I'm currently pursuing a Minor in International Relations and Economics (American College of Greece), as a scholarship recipient.  Incoming MPhil in Economics student at National & Kapodistrian University of Athens.  My research interests include #economic development, #ecological economics, #degrowth, #international economics, and #public policy. I've participated in research and policy projects such as ARSIONE, ReSEES, and ESENKA, and I'm currently working on my first academic paper on beyond-GDP economics growth, based on alternative indicators.    My goal is to pursue a research career in economics, with a focus on planet & inequality based policies-relevant questions, and to undertake a PhD in the near future. Beyond academia, I’m actively involved in climate and social justice movements. As a founding member of Fridays for Future, I engage in initiatives promoting fair, inclusive, and sustainable future for the people and planet, with special interest in post growth theories, currently through “Let’s talk about Degrowth Greece.”