Meet the DEAL Community

Schumacher College, Totnes, UK

I'm currently studying a master's in regenerative economics at Schumacher College, near Totnes in the UK. I've returned to the UK from 22 years in Australia to do this.  I've enjoyed a 15-year senior corporate career (mainly the UK then headhunted to be a subsidiary CEO of ASX100) and a 12-year entrepreneurial journey in Melbourne that brought me much 'success' in the way many measure success. I also became very involved in my local community, leading the chamber of commerce for 4 years, establishing a new tourism association and sitting on the board of my local 'eco-centre'.  In 2009 I converted an existing business I owned into pretty much the first 'paddock to plate' cafe/restaurant in Australia (named Slow Down) before 'paddock to plate' existed as a term there. We bought directly from local farmers, producers, brewers, wineries, and distillers and literally had farmers walking in through the front door when we were open and talking to customers about what they were delivering. Provenance became key and telling the story of the food on the plate became our 'thing'.  In representing my business community I also led a local campaign to stop the development of public land by the beach into a shopping centre by stealth. We mustered 9,000 locals and it prevented the development from taking place. One parliamentary investigation later and another investigation into the local council, leading to the entire senior team 'leaving' and 2 councillors being named for misconduct, would later (when the 9,000 were no longer there) lead to me living through a mini-series of the Sopranos which cost me several million dollars and almost my life.  I've seen how corporates work, I've been an entrepreneur creating businesses (I believe in a good way) and I've seen how ruthless and corrupt the system can be when big bucks are involved.  These days I mentor business leaders, mainly in the hospitality & tourism industries and I'm building a tribe of leaders under the banner of "Future of Hospitality" writing articles, creating other content including videos and about to launch a podcast.  I'm learning about new ways of running economies so (at the tender age of 58) I can attempt to bring together my experience, skills, knowledge and passion, to contribute in whatever way I can to the change that's needed. 

Den Haag, South Holland, Netherlands

I am lawyer and a public policy strategist from India, working on promoting responsible business conduct. A big chunk of my work is in the food and agriculture sector, where the margins are narrow, the race to the bottom to reduce labour costs is almost a universal norm and profits in global value chains seldom trickle down to the last of their upstream segments.  I have been circling the idea of implementing donut economics principles in the agri-food sector, and here to understand it better, and learn with this community.

Dorset UK

Artist, human, mother. Figuring  out how to make work which doesn’t seem pointless - or may even be helpful - in the face of ecological crisis 

Stockholm, Sweden

I’m an architect working mainly in the field of challenge driven innovation and the built environment. 

Oakland, Maine USA

I'm a retired engineering professor with a strong interest in energy, climate and sustainability. After decades of wrestling with technical problems, I've come to the conclusion that there's so much more that needs to be addressed.        

cranebrook, penrith, nsw, australia

ESOLEMATES YARWAY INC. IS AN INCORPORATED ASSOCIATION OF MATURE AGED PROFESSIONALS INTERESTED IN ACHIEVING GOAL #4 OF THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.  WE ARE COMPOSED OF MATHEMATICIANS, ARTISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, EDUCATORS AND SCIENTISTS[MATES] WHO USE SELF ORGANISING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS[SOLE] TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL LIFELONG LEARNING. OUR WEBSITE IS AT esolemates.org.

Bari - Italy

Founder at ForeThinking (design & management consultancy), benefit company, providing companies with strategic plans and innovations for environmental sustainability. I firmly believe that current environmental emergency requires a radical re-engineering of the consumption and industrial ecosystem. I am sharing  knowledge with industrial designers, economists, managers or business consultants, chemists or biologists, to inspire the business communities and support positive initiatives.

Italy, Milan

Gabriella is an Industrial Engineer, has been working for 6 years as Project Manager for different Multinational Companies in Profit Sector (Food & Beverage, Automatic Machines for Food Processing, Packaging and Innovation, Pharmaceuticals).  After a volunteering experience in Ghana in 2016 and in Kenya in 2019 to empower Women Entrepreneurs through a Microcredit Project, she has decided to change her path. In 2018 she attended a Master in Fundraising Management for National and International Cooperation to learn how to develop and Manage successful projects for the third sector; she attended a Master in Euro Project Management to improve her skills on how to write and manage an EU funded project.  In 2019 she worked as Industrial Liaison Officer and Partnership Developer for the University of Bologna to create synergies between University Researches and Private Companies. In 2020 she moved to Lebanon to work as EU Project Manager to develop a Cooperation Project on energy efficiency and renewable energy.  In 2021 she founded a no-profit organization Green Growth Generation, a participatory platform to boost environmental, social and economical sustainability by connecting communities. During the last three years she joined EIT Food Community participating online and in presence course in order to upscale her knowledge about the Food Sector, the Circularity and Sustainability of the Food System (New Product Development; Innovator Fellowship; Nutrition&Health; Local and Organic Production and Consumption for public canteen). During these experience she build up a team to work and launch a start-up Farm2Fork Lab to network small producers, chefs, food experts, and consumers in a physical and digital community.

Cairo, Egypt

I'm the CSR/ESG Lead at an up and coming Hospital Group in Cairo, Egypt (Seha Healthcare). The mission is to transform healthcare and save lives for high population, middle-income and underserved citizens in Egypt. I spent the last 30 years in business (IT consulting, retail and a bit of NGO volunteer charity work), which prepared me to rethink my ethos in life - basically, to help others be more successful !

Koror, Palau

I'm a Palauan woman working in the sustainable development sector mainly as a consultant and also as a small business owner.  I am also a State Legislator in my State of Ngardmau and sit on our State's Planning and Zoning Commission.  I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and a Master of Science degree in Biodiversity Conservation & Management.  In University, I had to take a lot of Economics courses.  Traditional economics had always angered and frustrated me because as an indigenous person, living in a country where our traditional economic system (our gift economy) is still alive, the two basic assumptions underlying the cash economy in traditional economics, I knew they were very, very wrong (at least in Palauan culture).  These assumptions are:  (1) that we will maximize our own individual self interest and (2) that scarcity is inherent as there are not enough resources in the world to fulfill everyone's limitless wants.  In our culture it is disgraceful to be a person who seeks to "maximize our own self interest" and it is equally disgraceful to be a person who has "limitless wants."  When I read Kate's book, I felt relieved and validated in my initial assessment of traditional economics.  Unfortunately, we are stuck in this system and need to find our way back out because the cash economy and how it currently works is literally changing our people and our values in a very negative way.   I'm interested in topics around how to mainstream concepts of doughnut economics to shape the development of an indigenous Pacific Island society like Palau's.  I'm interested in many different topics around sustainability - from culture to business and supply chains to governance to strengthening of social sectors as well as conservation and environment.

ME1 2RR

Educator and software developer, I run futureCodersSE CIC, helping people of all ages and backgrounds to access opportunities to learn and to gain real work experience. I have a keen interest in environmental issues and in social justice and I am a member of my local eco hub and a Fellow of the RSA.

London

Research Project Coordinator at Careful Industries.  I am interested in purpose driven initiatives and the genuine willingness to suspend practicality, broaden perspectives, and radiate long-term thinking. 

Mexico City

Researcher, regenerative designer and artist. Enthusiast about applying biomimicry in generating value within eco(nomic) systems. Interested in regenerating  soil 's nutrients through the adoption of management and innovation in agricultural practices. Applying experimental and behavioral techniques to support decision-making. Generating environmental insights from geospatial data and machine learning.        

Kansas City, Missouri, US

Run an #art directory for the Midwest region, with a personal interest in #artists whose work focuses on #environmental, #political and #socialissues.  Am taking notice of the ways #farmland in this area is conforming to new cycles in the #climate. Have also seen an uptick of #climaterefugees to this area from coastal cities.

Bowdon, Altrincham

Alyson is the founder of Conscious Impact and an executive with over twenty-five years’ experience in the public health sector spanning both academic, non-ex, commercial and as a global lead within the food industry.  Passionate about how good food is a cornerstone for health, her intent is to  lean into the solutions across the food system space so we can collectively continue to nourish the world respecting our precious planetary resources and celebrate food for the special place it has in our society, celebrations and shared experiences.  Enabling conscious change across the food system ecosystem driving positive impact for people planet and prosperity. Using intelligence from across the food system to pollinate solutions and action globally, locally and on the plate. 

Milton Keynes

I grew up in countries where the sense of community was very strong and everyone knew they were a part of a bigger system. The economic and infrastructural system that the world has come to know does not fit with many mindsets around the world and I am excited to see how the doughnut can change this.  Currently based in Milton Keynes, I am doing my PhD in Soil Science at Cranfield University and am always looking to have a chat with people about their personal connections to the soil and how they think we can return to valuing the world's most important resource! I am an ecologist at heart, and love to celebrate the diversity of the world!

Helsinki

Financial/ investment analyst with 20+ year experience in a development bank and a rating agency, seeking new career paths with a focus on building a more sustainable world Holder of the ACCA degree ( since 2005) and GARP Sustainability certificate ( since November 2022)

Sweden

Brownstown, Indiana, USA

Peter J. Ellery, PhD is a partner and researcher with E2praxis, LLC; a research consultancy specializing in community wellbeing. In this role, he combines his education and past research experience in health, education, and landscape architecture to explore sustainable solutions for communities using user-centered and collaboratively designed, placemaking strategies. Peter's work experience includes research using a variety of research methodologies including aerial data collection, imaging, and modeling, and his publication record includes book chapters and articles that explore the connection between wellbeing, health, and place.  

Welwyn, Hertfordshire, UK

I am a sustainability consultant with deep experience in managing data and software development. I am currently working as an educator in multiple B2B  programs, including Investor-Readiness for Female Founders and Sustainability for Supply Chain Managers. I am currently developing the Ecodove network: a knowledge sharing portal focused on in the fields of Sustainability and ESG measurement.  Previously, I have worked as Chief Product Officer at Achilles Group Ltd, and was responsible for developing Achilles’ approach to measuring sustainability in supply chains and delivering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)  for B2B supplier assurance.  I was a practicing economist for over 15 years (2002-2018), working for leading economic forecasting teams at IHS Markit (now part of S&P Global) and providing data services to Management Systems, Inc, on contract with USAID. I received a Master’s of Public Policy (MPP) in International Development Policy and Environmental Policy from Georgetown University in 2004.  I have a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in Mathematical Economics from Wake Forest University (2000). 

Sociologist (Expertise: Sustainable Development and Resilience).

Colorado Springs CO

Im a Navy Veteran turned farmer working to ease the pains of food insecurity in my community. 

Seoul, Korea

Dr. Kim Chang-gil received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics with a specialization in Environmental Economics from the Oklahoma State University. Dr. Kim was a researcher at the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) for 28 years, where he conducted research related to sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture, climate change, rural policy, and green growth. In 2016, he was elected as the President of KREI, a role in which he served until his retirement in 2019.  Dr. Kim has previously served as an executive member of the Prime Minister's Office's Government Evaluation Committee, the Presidential Committee on Sustainable Development, the Committee of Agricultural Policy Reforms, and the Committee of Mid-term Fiscal Policy of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. He has also been active in his field beyond research and policy, serving as a as Co-representative of the ICT Convergence Korea Forum and the President of the Korea Agricultural Economics Association.     Dr. Kim has participated internationally as a representative of the Republic of Korea to the OECD Policy Committee on Agricultural and Environment from 2001 to 2013, later serving as Vice-chair of the committee from 2007 to 2013, and as Chair from 2014 to 2017. He served as the Korean representative of the Meetings of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) of G20 and as a member of the Steering Committee of the Global Club, a council of presidents from global agricultural economic research institutes.      After retiring KREI as President of KREI, he was appointed as an invited professor to Seoul National University's Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development with the mandate of establishing a Global High-tech Agricultural Network to foster agricultural human resources in developing countries. He recently served as Senior Advisor of Asia Development Bank and is currently a Vice-president of the Global Innovative Education Lab of the Education Commission Asia.

India

Heading the large organisation. Dealing the uncertainty of the world.