Meet the DEAL Community

Bogota, Bogota, Capital District, RAP (Especial) Central, Colombia

An economist and researcher specializing in inequality, care, and development, she holds a PhD in International Development from the LSE and was an Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University. She is an economist from the Universidad de Los Andes and a "Leadership for Bogotá" fellow. With 15 years of experience in research and public policy, her work focuses on transforming structural inequalities—particularly in the areas of rural development, the care economy, and the just transition. Her research employs mixed methods and a community-engaged approach, driven by the conviction that knowledge must be applied and disseminated across various sectors. She is the founder, executive director, and lead researcher of Acción Pública. She leads *Reimaginamos*, an initiative that fosters dialogue to transform how we understand and address inequality.

København, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark

Albanian by roots, born and raised in Italy and have been living in Copenhagen since 2020. Working as a leader in a pharma company since 2021.  I strongly believe that change can only happen if people believe in it and if they engage with like minded people. This is why I am here, to challenge today’s economic and get inspired by you on how to drive this change together.

Switzerland

I'm Head of communication at the Fédération vaudoise de coopération (www.fedevaco.ch), an organization working in international cooperation, in collaboration with Swiss public authorities. As part of our advocacy work, we are developing ideas on the global social lens and the responsibility of public authorities for living conditions in the Global South. The aim is to explore the links between official development assistance and achieving a world within the Doughnut. Our thought are available on this page : https://www.fedevaco.ch/donut and in this article (FR)

Switzerland

I'm Head of Partnerships and Knowledge Sharing at Fédération vaudoise de coopération (www.fedevaco.ch), an organization active in development cooperation. As part of our advocacy work toward public authorities, we are developing ideas from a global social perspective and examining the responsibility of public authorities for living conditions in the Global South. The goal is to explore the links between official development assistance and the achievement of a world within the Doughnut.

Pavullo nel Frignano, Modena, Italy

MD in Economics. Manager and consultant. Great book reader and non professional book writer. 

Richmond, Virginia, United States

I am a design-for-sustainability practitioner focused on making systems more reciprocal than extractive. My work adapts familiar design frameworks so that they give back more to communities and ecosystems than they take. I use play as a way of making complex systems feel knowable. In projects like Time-Shifted Forest, a sustainability-focused trading card game, I turn circular economics and systems thinking into mechanics that friends can learn together around a table, not just concepts buried in reports. Across my practice, I design playful invitations like games, prompts, and workshops to help collaborators see themselves as part of living systems and try out new behaviors in low-risk, joyful ways. Whether I’m prototyping with waste materials or mapping circular textile ecosystems, I’m asking: how might this feel more like play than obligation, while still moving us toward net-positive futures.

Yangon, Myanmar

I’m a professional translator and BBA student from Myanmar, currently working as a Class Facilitator. I have a strong passion for Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Doughnut Economics. I joined this community to learn, connect with like-minded people, and share ideas.

Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

I’m a change maker working with and for children, young people and survivors of gender based violence. I’m interested in systems change and the process of building better futures-through care, compassion and community. 

Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland

Communications Lead | DEFI (Doughtnut Economics Finland Initiative) Member I am a Master’s student with a strong foundation in Machine Learning and applied Data Science. Experienced in interdisciplinary research spanning Environmental Science, Medical Imaging, Security, Legal Systems, and Embedded Systems. Skilled in developing intelligent systems and predictive models for real-world applications. Strong interest in research methods, experimental design, and human-centered evaluation of AI systems. Passionate about applying AI/ML to create sustainable, user-centric solutions aligned with Sustainable Development. I enjoy exploring all elements of creativity since I have a variety of hobbies, including singing, free-hand sketching, imitating animal sounds, reading, and gaming. In addition, my love of psychology and creative writing has stoked my interest in learning more about how the human mind works.

55268, Nieder-Olm, Rheinland-Pfalz, Deutschland

Ich bin ein pensionierter Architekt, der etwa 25 Jahre für die Stadt Mainz als Projektleiter gearbeitet hat. Meine Tätigkeit bestand im Wesentlichen daraus, mit externen Architekturbüros beim Bau von kommunalen Gebäuden zu kooperieren. In den letzten Jahren meiner Arbeit habe ich versucht kommunale Entscheidungsträger davon zu überzeugen, anstatt Neubaumaßnahmen Umbauten zu präferieren. Dies vor dem Hintergrund Energie und Ressourcen zu sparen, die in vorhandenen intakten Tragstrukturen bereits existieren. Begehrlichkeiten und der Vorwand technischer Hindernisse haben meine Bemühungen jedoch stets konterkariert.  Auf meiner Suche nach Antworten für die Ursachen sozialer und ökologischer Krisen bin ich auf die Donut-Ökonomie gestoßen, die zum ersten Mal die Dualität von sozialen und ökologischen Belangen thematisiert.  

An Agricultural Economist with experience in leadership, partnership building, project coordination, and policy engagement at national and international levels since 2016. I founded and led Rethinking Economics Zambia, establishing eight university chapters and engaging more than 300 students, teachers, civil society organisations, and policymakers in evidence-based public policy dialogue.  As an Advisory Board Member and Elected Campaigns Council member of Rethinking Economics International, I have strengthened my strategic planning and collaboration skills. My background in democratic governance, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive dialogue aligns with values of democracy, accountability, inclusion, real-world discussions, and political neutrality — that is why I joined this platform.

Kent, England, United Kingdom

After graduating with a BSc(Econ) from Hull University, and working in industry first as a Financial Analyst with Ford Tractors (UK), then in Management Consultancy for a decade, then with my wife we established a Michelin star restaurant from scratch. I then decided I wanted to train as a homeopathic doctor unable to get a place in a medical school, I was advised to train as an osteopath and study homoeopathy on my own. We sold our restaurant we moved to Kent where I enrolled at the osteopathic College in Maidstone and qualified in 1981. I then joined forces with a number of like minded practitioners including an anthroposophical Doctor to establish the first holistic clinic in the Southeast of England that year. This multi discipline clinic was a training ground to help understand the power of our own healing abilities when helped with appropriate therapy, we also were humbled by knowing that although I was supposed to be an expert in physical medicine others could help better with certain patients. Working together as a team to offer the best care to patients was the key. After forty years in the healthcare profession I published a small book as a guide for people wanting to take more responsibility for their own health entitled “Be Your Own Doctor of Health and Happiness-You Are a Miracle!” I have never been convinced of our economic dogmas and decided to begin working on my next book entitled “Be Your Own Economist of Wealth and Prosperity - Replace GDP growth with GDW growth”. By clearly defining “wealth” we can have growth that would be sustainable. I have gained much inspiration from Doughnut Economics.

Ōtorohanga, Waikato, New Zealand

Working at the intersection of economic systems change and climate action 

Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Hi everyone! I am a Master's student in Technology for Sustainable Development at the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia. Before returning to academia, I spent over two decades (since 2000) building a professional career in the Food and Beverage industry, primarily in the dairy sector. Over the years, my concern for the escalating environmental crises (particularly in Indonesia) grew profoundly. It reached a tipping point where I realised I needed deeper answers as to why our ecological issues are worsening despite economic progress. Driven by this, I made major decision on step away from corporate world in December 2024. By February 2025, I began my Master's journey to explore how development can genuinely thrive without  breaching our ecological ceilings. Reading Kate Raworth's "Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist" during second semester on Environmental Economics Class was a revelation for me. However, I quickly realised that translating this brilliant macros concept into localized, actionable steps requires practical tools and community wisdom. Looking at the global map, I noticed a significant gap: the Doughnut framework is still rarely adopted in Indonesia's territorial governance (whether at the village, district, or city level) unlike the widespread implementation in Europe. I am deeply challenged to change this narrative. My immediate goal on this platform is to dive deep into available tools, unrolled models, and case studies from practitioners worldwide. I am currently adapting the Doughnut framework for my university's Field Study Program (KKL) in Padukuhan WIntaos, a rural village in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta. My mission is to pioneer grassroots implementation of the Doughnut in Indonesia by integrating its 12 Social Foundations and 9 Planetary Boundaries with Javanese local wisdom (Memayu Haying Bawana). I'm here to learn from all of you, exchange ideas on rural/Global South implementation, and eventually contribute our findings from Wintaos back to this amazing community. Let's connect, learning, sharing and becoming together! 

Rende, Cosenza, Italy

I am currently a Post-doc research fellow at the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the University of Calabria. His main research interests include management control systems, sustainability accounting, the higher education system and environmental and social sustainability.

Ohio, United States

I'm a business coach focused on human and planetary well-being. I'm curious about DEAL because I specialize in helping my clients move their organizations toward a future that is equitable and life-giving for all life, including the natural world.

Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands

Hi! I'm an Industrial Design student in Eindhoven (Netherlands), focussed on how we design society and practices. In my designs I use the Doughnut Economics as a template and an inspiration of how I believe the future of society should look. If you are interested in that, please do not hesitate to get in touch :)

Tokyo

For many years, I have been involved in the business development of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, in Japan and Europe. During this time, I witnessed numerous cases where local communities hosting these power plants struggled to sustain themselves due to ongoing population decline and aging demographics. This made me realize the critical need to nurture individuals who can become new leaders for these local communities. Driven by this realization, four years ago I launched Green Business Producers, a school dedicated to developing regional revitalization leaders. To date, we have graduated 100 students. As we worked alongside many of these students to tackle local issues, we constantly encountered a central debate: Should we prioritize global environmental conservation, or the quality of life and prosperity of the local residents? This discussion often led to a clash of opposing views, frequently ending without a clear conclusion. It was in the midst of this challenge that I encountered the concept of Doughnut Economics. Moving forward, I intend to center our school’s operations around the study and application of Doughnut Economics.

Vienna, Austria

I’m one of the three co-founders of Donut Wien, actively working to bring systemic sustainability transformation to the City of Vienna by applying the principles of Doughnut Economics and strengthening the community of change makers here. In my daily work, I’m an impact and sustainability advisor working with impact investors, companies and individuals on charting paths from intention to impact, focusing on business model transformation reflecting planetary boundaries and social equity.   Before, I worked with The Economist Group for over two decades, where I initiated and implemented the company’s first sustainability strategy while leading the global readership business. After that, I was a strategist with Quantis, a Boston Consulting Group specialist sustainability consultancy for three years working with global F&B players on climate strategies, climate and nature risk projects. I have a master’s in communications from the University of Vienna and did my sustainability education with the Sustainability Management School Switzerland (SUMAS) and Terra.do.

Columbus, Ohio, United States

I came across the Doughnut Economics Model recently and would love to learn more about how policy makers, business owners, and communities have implemented it. I would also love to work together to start discussions about this way of economic thinking near Columbus, Ohio. 

Uganda

Psychologist | Mental Health Advocate | Creative Videographer | Entrepreneur Passionate about advancing mental wellbeing, social inclusion, and community resilience, I work at the intersection of psychology, storytelling, and systems change. As a psychologist and mental health advocate, I am committed to improving psychological wellbeing, reducing stigma, and creating spaces where individuals and communities can thrive. Through creative videography and storytelling, I use media as a tool to amplify voices, inspire dialogue, and promote emotional awareness, healing, and connection. I believe stories have the power to educate, transform perspectives, and drive collective action. As an entrepreneur, I am equally committed to advancing financial empowerment and creating sustainable opportunities that address inequality, insecurity, and exclusion—some of the underlying drivers of poor mental health. My work is guided by a holistic vision of wellbeing and aligns closely with the principles of Doughnut Economics: building societies that meet everyone’s essential social needs while respecting planetary boundaries. I advocate for economies and communities that prioritize dignity, belonging, participation, meaningful work, and mental wellbeing as essential foundations for people to flourish. I believe that true progress is not measured by economic growth alone, but by our ability to create a safe and just space where both people and the planet can thrive.

Brussels-Capital, Belgium

My name is Nicolas Franka. I have worked on "money" all my adult life. I found it to be a central institution that shapes value, power, and collective action. It is as complex as it is misunderstood, yet it a central piece of any power system. Well worth a life of passion you will discover on this website. My work starts from a simple observation: the monetary system is inefficient at allowing ressources for collective purposes. While societies debate democracy and justice intensely, the monetary and economic systems remain largely unquestioned. I analyse the limits of the dominant monetary system and work on concrete alternatives. Indeed, I love combining research, field experimentation, and public debate to bring sustained public attention to a question that has shaped my work for years. .  My goal is clear: to help restore the capacity to act to territories, communities, and citizens, in order to build a fairer, more democratic, and more resilient economy that delivers sustained prosperity for all.

Burundi

NDAYISENGA FABIOLA is a 41-year-old professional from Bujumbura, Burundi, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management.  Her academic background has equipped her with expertise in entrepreneurship, financial management, organizational leadership, and strategic decision-making, all of which closely complement economics studies and sustainable development approaches. Fabiola is passionate about using economic knowledge and business principles to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities by promoting entrepreneurship, supporting small businesses, strengthening financial literacy, and creating opportunities for economic inclusion, particularly for women and young people. Through her engagement with Doughnut Economics, Fabiola hopes to contribute to transforming economic thinking and practice in Burundi by promoting regenerative and inclusive development models that enable communities to thrive while respecting ecological limits. In Bujumbura and across Burundi, she aspires to establish a Pan-African regenerative learning ecosystem that transforms economics education and empowers future generations to build thriving societies within planetary boundaries.  Through collaboration, education, and community action, she aims to inspire innovative solutions that advance social wellbeing, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability for present and future generations.

Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada

Passionate about bridging theory-to-action for principles and practices of heterodox economics such as Doughnut economics and Regenerative economics. Humans are the cause for our current socioeconomic and environmental crises, yet I believe that if we can understand ourselves and our relationships, we humans are the solution to solving our crises. I am passionate about any and all conversations around these topics, so please reach out if you would like to connect, I would love to chat!