Meet the DEAL Community

Greater Auckland Reigon

CEO of Saprobio, bringing gourmet mushrooms to the masses

Campbellford, Ontario, Canada

For forty years, I have been working with communities, co-operative enterprises, unions, environmental organizations and private businesses to meet their strategic goals and develop good governance practices. I have helped launch over three hundred co-operatives, with a seventy percent success rate (for which I give the founders credit).    I am the lead instructor for the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation’s online Academy, and I am an instructor and mentor for CoopZone’s Co-op Developer online training programme. I created the Co-operative Sustainability Scorecard in 2008, and I have been volunteering with the Ontario Co-operative Association’s Co-op Development Committee since the 1990s. I am the co-chair of the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation’s Business Succession Committee, and the Treasurer of CoopZone.   As a volunteer in my community, I was the founding President of the Aron Theatre Co-op and the Campbellford Seymour Community Foundation.  I am also the Chair of the Northumberland County Food Policy Council.   I graduated from Queen’s Commerce (Kingston, Ontario) in 1981 and received a Masters of Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto in 1983.    

Tlemcen, Algeria

Theoritical Physicist, Lecturer at University of Tlemcen, Private Sector Coordinator and Entrepreneurship Hub manager at the Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change), Renwable Energy Univertsity Spin-Off co-founder, consultant, passionate about how startup are reimagining and reinventing the future of the World and willing to contribute to the making of a better world.  

Sweden

International School Principal 

Oria, Almeria, Spain

Currently studying permaculture design with Geoff Lawton. An international school teacher with over 20 yrs experience in teaching, I previously working in communications with the police in the UK and served in the Royal Air Force. With a passion for education I'm hoping to help others learn how to make this world a place we can all live in and enjoy. Currently living in a small community in the mountains of Almeria southern Spain with my husband, right now we are renovating an abandoned 300yr old farmhouse and redesigning the use of our land using permaculture principles. I want to show how we can build a community that supports each other. There has to be a better way in this crazy world today. With the principles of permaculture alongside doughnut economics there is hope and we hope to open an education centre to show others practical hands on ways to make a change in their own communities and individual homes.  

Portugal, lisbon

My 20y+ international career is quite diverse (science, space, infrastructure,...). I am currently working as a sustainability freelance consultant in Portugal and I have spent the last 10y working on social impact and sustainability in infrastructure in the UK.  I have realised that to really remove barriers to training and decent work you have to change the system, that seems rigged against those who should be serving. I have been looking for ideas and people that can help me change the system and learnt about regeneration - healing our planet and people and Doughnut Economics. And that brings me to the DEAL Community. Get in touch if you have an idea or project we can work together.   

Oxford

Hi everyone! I'm Caty, co founder at Intaconnected. Since my time working with Oxfam I have been curious and admiring of Doughnut Economics and today I feel lucky to have chosen a career journey/purpose that is constantly learning and creating new ways to incentivise and mobilise business and finance towards transformational business models that will accelerate our collective journey to a Net Positive future.  It is fun to keep learning and testing different ways to translate regenerative economics and frameworks like the Doughnut into practical solutions for organisations - to upskill businesses and provide clear pathways at each step along the journey to a safe, just and equitable future.  We don't have much time left, so it is a thrill to be able to join this inspiring community and I hope to contribute my part in disseminating this amazing theory into practice thanks to your brilliant tools and techniques. I look forward to learning with and form you all!  #regenerativebusiness   #safefuture #planetaryboundaries   `#humanity #biodiversity   

Brasilia, Brasil

Designer, artist, and Biomimicry professional. In love with nature and eager to solve problems. Working at NOUS Ecossistema merging strategy, communication, art, nature-inspired methodologies, and design. NOUS is one of the companies that have the most potential to change some status quo in design and communication companies in Brazil and helping it to grow and establish itself is a personal and professional goal. It means leveraging biomimicry opportunities in Brazil and for me also. 

Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath, Ireland

Chairperson of Water Street Association.  Water Street Association aims to grow connections between people and create places where people can spend time, meet others, make things and build relationships.  We welcome all members of the community.   We place a strong focus on nature, culture and sustainability.   

Tampere, Finland

I’m an accomplished, versatile, and agile IT business leader working in the B2B SaaS and circular economy sectors, with 25 years of experience spanning sales, IT consulting, IT management, Director of Operations, and CEO roles. I love collaboratively designing solutions at the intersection of people and technology, tackling complex problems through diverse perspectives and holistic systems thinking to empower sustainable growth and success for both individuals and organizations. I'm passionate about working towards an equitable world in which we and the planet thrives.

London

I am an artist and researcher, originally from South Africa, currently based in London. I just completed a PhD in Play in the area of performance studies and I am interested in alternative economies, but am new to this so have joined DEAL to learn more! #play #playwork #peerlearning  #creative 

Barcelona

Copywriter and sustainability rep for eco-fashion brand TWOTHIRDS.

Portland ,Maine

I am a folklorist , looking at the ways climate change, social justice and inequalities are understood, and expressed by marginalized and underrepresented peoples. These expressions ( in various genres) not only allow insight bust also voice to people who are normally not given one. I am working on a project to have people express how climate change has impacted their customary and traditional ways - be it family, friends or communities, then integrate climate change data on  GISArc  maps to illustrate the validity of their narratives.  

Malta

Ing. Patrick Spiteri Staines is an Electrical Engineer by profession. He is Head of Sustainability for the Corinthia Group. He holds a Masters Degree in Sustainability and has worked in this field for the past 15 years. He has chaired the Energy Efficiency thematic committee at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry. He was also appointed to the Sustainable use of Resources for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Board. He is a registered Energy Auditor and an authorised Building Energy Assessor.

Western Australia

Professional career visual artist, now graphic designer. Educator. Good communicator.  Mature-aged, compassionate. Socialist. Environmentalist. Lover of nature. PhD Art/Philosophy. 

Saffron Walden, Essex

I am a Celebrant, Coach, Mentor, Therapist & Healer. Very much disenchanted with the current direction of democratic, economic, environmental and political thinking. Very much interested in what a sole trader/freelancer can do on a professional and personal basis.

Kinsale, Ireland

Chair of Future Kinsale, member of Transition Town Kinsale (birthplace of Transition movement 2005), board member Fairtrade Ireland, etc Day job ? Investment team at global start up VC fund - SOSV - building startups in Human and Planetary Health. Also involved with Faith Driven Investor / Faith Driven Entrepreneur groups

Berkshire, England

Retired computer scientist, involved in green issues

Berlin

I am the founder and director of the Green Sabbath Project.  Our mission is to adapt and adopt some version of the ancient practice of shabbat / sabbath as an ecological ritual for our era of environmental catastrophes.  Whether celebrated as a secular, spiritual, or religious day, we believe that a weekly day of rest, a weekly Earth Day, a weekly day of refraining from or minimizing our environmental impact offers manifold benefits.  Shabbat / sabbath traditionally served as a reminder that humans do not belong to their employers or to the economy, that our world / creation makes our lives possible, that higher purposes should guide our lives and not merely material desires.  We envision green sabbaths as a practice to help reorient our behavior as individuals and collectives toward truly sustainable living; as a time for self, family, and community; as a reminder of economic inequalities; as a practice of self-care and tending toward our own well-being; and as a vessel for environmental consciousness-raising. I also founded and direct the Jewish Activism Summer School (Berlin).  For a living I teach Jewish Studies at the University of Potsdam (Germany).

Soberton

I have a dream of creating a cooperative with like minded people to start to establish a base of economic power from which to launch more beneficial sustainable and regenerative cooperatives. I am open to all ideas. Personally, I want to create truly beautiful natural/built spaces for communities to enjoy holidays, play, and regenerative nutrition.  Coops are a collective endevour but, if it were up to me alone, I feel that this country, with its literary tradition for fantasy and folklore (e.g. Tolkein), should have more fantastical forest villages to inspire children in nature. But that is just my peculiar eccentricity. What could be a better example of a new economy than a game!? At its heart, joy and awe. If this sounds intriguing then please contact me! Anyone who has been reading the CC Science and New Economics knows that the challenges we face are insurmoutable. Nevertheless, I believe an attempt must be made to create an alternative to the status quo. What is life but the joy of the present moment?  ...and, what would you rather spend your final days doing, working within the status quo, or nurturing something special?  ...personally, I'd rather play games in the woods and give others the means to a healthy and fulfilling life rather than sitting in a dreary office in a smokey city.  How did I come to understand the complexity and depth of the climate and ecological crisis? I started out as a Health Scientist. I had made it my crusade to improve the health and wellbeing of children and adults. Unable to find work in health promotion, I retrained as a personal trainer/nutritionist. My plan was to create a business to help children and adults make healthier choices and enjoy their physicality playing in natural spaces. Over time, I read more about the economic roots of inequality, and the looming climate disaster. I am, unashamedly, a rebel and a dreamer. I believe that the world needs folks like us right now! ...so, if you too are a "rebel [or] a dreamer" then please, talk to me! ...what a beautiful world we might create together.

Southampton

Father, husband, cyclist and photographer. Passionate about  and  but struggling to workout how to make a difference.  I read  a few years ago and loved the concept, are reading an article in the Guardian my interest has been renewed and I’d like to explore ways to live within the circle, at work and at home.

Llandewi Skirrid, Abergavenny

Following 29 years as Founder & CEO of a global fashion brand that put people and planet above profit, thereby achieving Certified B Corporation status in the early days of the movement, I felt the need to accelerate my belief in adopting a circular economy.   Despite having been a pioneer in the use of recycled fibres in clothing production, delivering a leading hand-me-down scheme to prolong the lifespan of the product, introduced roles for employees with diverse needs and supported profit share and growth share schemes (amongst many other initiatives), we were still implicit in encouraging consumerism, albeit whilst attempting to reduce our carbon footprint and offset our emissions.  The launch of Wonderful Escapes is an attempt to address the demand for luxury holidays, corporate bonding and sporting retreats, with minimal environmental impact. We offer 30 acres of stunning farmland and gardens which is managed using organic principles. Our properties are renovated using traditional methods, heated using air or ground source and furnished with carefully up-cycled eclectic pieces. Activities on the land are numerous yet simple, from wildflower species treasure hunts, to group games and sport, to tree planting or walking from the house to the top of the Skirrid with views over 7 counties in 30 minutes.  Our dedicated team and I are working to deliver farm to folk catering and encouraging low carbon travel, arriving by train to Abergavenny station just a few minutes drive away or re-charging your car on arrival. Luxury travel does not need to cost the earth.  After hearing Kate Rawlings speak at Hay Festival many years ago, I realised that I’d been in tune with the ethos of doughnut economics all my life.  #businesswithvalues #peopleandplanetaboveprofit #retreatcentre 

Panama

I am a lawyer with extensive experience in human rights, strategic partnerships, project management and social development.  My career has focused on promoting the inclusion of vulnerable groups through public policies, partnerships, project design and management, as well as development of cultural initiatives at community level in Central America and the Caribbean.

Monterrey

Full time lecturer of International Political Economy