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Horsell, England, United Kingdom

Niraj is a sustainability and innovation leader with 28 years’ experience of strategy and policy development, and programme management across public, private, and voluntary sector organisations in the UK and internationally. He currently works at Innovate UK, the Government’s innovation agency, where he first spent four years driving and supporting innovation to enable the long-term sustainability of cities, and now works on partnering British innovation with the needs of a number of middle income countries to help them meet their development goals.

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

I am the Founder of Unstitution - known to some as an Inspiration Strategist. I help individuals and organizations balance hard science with messy humanness, looking through transdisciplinary,  transcontextual and integrative systems thinking lenses as we co-navigate through complexity and uncertainty. My 30+ years of experience is a shared resource to illuminate the way. Unstitution is patterned as a collaborative commons, co-catalyzing and supporting living-learning lab initiatives and ventures, addressing systemic issues and co-activating life-affirming ways of working and living. Building bridges and co-creating viable pathways from the space between sectors, disciplines, networks, cultures, generations - all the divides. Co-cultivating enabling contexts, conditions and alternative forms of governance, work systems and practices, where value flows in alignment with multicapital economies of care.   Unstitution functions as an omni-partial flexible partner, work structure and ethos. Collaborating within wide, diverse ecosystems of capable practitioners, service providers and organizations, we draw from gifts differing - the experience, skills, methodologies and tools that best suit context and cultures, honouring Indigeneity to place.   Regenerative, emergent and strategic co-navigation principles, ecosystem relationship development and widening accessible pathways - underlie everything that Unstitution undertakes. A humbling ongoing action research [un]learning journey for all - living into and re-patterning towards a viable future. Regularly updated  "You are Unstitution" articles are published on Medium. They reflect the ways we're adapting and contributing among ever-expanding commons-based communities and initiatives, inspired by denizens — anywhere in the world. Each article is a fractal-like glimpse into the unstitutional ethos. The refrain, "we can all be unstitutional," invites us to uncover and co-discover diverse ways and means to re-pattern, breaking with degenerative, dysfunctional patterns that fail to serve people and a living planet. 

San Rafael, California, United States of America

I promote systems thinking in Marin County, as well as a systems thinking approach to local adoption and adaptation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As well as having completed a Green MBA and a PhD in mythological studies, I am also a graduate of the Four Seasons permaculture design certificate year-long course at Commonweal in Bolinas, a graduate of the Capra Course, and a follower of Theory U. I'm also enthuiastic about the Collective Impact model and the Omidyar group's "Systems Practice" systems mapping process. And, I'm a practicing mystic.

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

I am a Resilience evangelist I am keen to study today’s VUCA world through multiple lenses. My mission is to build a more Resilient world by engaging with global networks like DEAL.

Wigan, England, United Kingdom

A passionate professional weirdo & a motivated mostly hairless monkey, with an appetite for all kinds of end to end project work, development of people & improving society.

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nederland

I am an entrepreneur turned management consultant focused on valorizing disruptive solutions to the market which improve environmental, economic and social sustainability at both the individual, local and global scale ( My Nine Lenses ).

Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America

I'm a political economist and strategic analyst with broad international experience in digital transformation, electronic media, international banking, and foundation work, For the last twenty years or so I've been devoted to leveraging ICT to accelerate social, economic and political development. My current professional interests: promoting thought, communication, and action across three areas: innovation, sufficiency, and sustainability.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Hi all. I’m a Regenerative Practitioner, Architect and founding Principal of Lateral Agency – a regenerative development consultancy and research & capacity-building platform; founded as a social venture in the wake of the IPCC’s 2018 landmark Special Report. We focus on helping organizations and communities leverage civic infrastructure projects as catalysts for (re)investing in mutual flourishing - now and through time. As a mother and unsettled settler, born on the Indigenous territories of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat Nations, I’m raising my daughter on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and səlilwətaɬ Nations as an uninvited guest. I’m working to learn and unlearn how to uphold my responsibilities to these lands and to uplift the wisdom and self-determination of those living in reciprocal relationship with them since time immemorial. I look forward to thinking into Doughnut Economics & DEAL through these lenses together.

Didcot, England, United Kingdom

Lebanese parents, born and raised in Kuwait and have been living in the UK since 1987 (less a four year stint in Libya), but I consider myself a citizen of Earth.

Marikina, Philippines

In May 2019, Marius Torres completed a degree in Economics and Public Policy from San Beda University. He exhibited academic excellence (graduated batch salutatorian and Magna Cum Laude) and leadership capability (second in the 2019 outstanding students of San Beda University, and third in the 2019 outstanding economics students of the Philippines) in his four years stay at the university. Currently, he serves as a technical staff in the Philippines Department of Finance, International Finance Group.

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

As Innovation Lead in a big four, I had the opportunity to observe that too often organization are focused on the output of the innovation (mainly new technologies) rather than focusing on the talents, the culture, and building the ecosystem favorable to Innovation. Based on those findings, I decided to quit. My mission is to accompany organizations using their own talents and resources to transform and engage in a necessary transition where change is the new norm. Understanding the doughnut economy will help organizations in their cultural, economical and structural transition towards a sustainable and better future.

Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

The foundation of my work is embedded in biomimicry, food systems and nature-inspired design. Everywhere in my practice, I look to provide solutions to tackle the climate emergency creatively. I am based in Sweden and Italy, and hold a PhD in Architecture & Artistic Research from Chalmers University ('Wild Poethics' 2017). I lecture and teach at numerous Swedish Universities, but also in Italy. I am an Affiliated Senior Lecturer at Konstfack University on Stockholm where I am responsible infusing sustainability into the institute’s education. Also, as co-founder of Nordic Biomimicry, I direct the center that dedicates itself to collaborate with nature as a mentor, measure and method. In my practice, I am a mediator of sustainability, both by situating myself between academia, research, and companies and as an editor of an art-book press called Vegetable Lamb Press. To further underpin my service to ’nature’, I am a beekeeper and take care of a biodynamic vineyard and olive grove.

Brussel, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale - Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, België

Vanya has years of experience coordinating similar projects for Belgian and European organisations, and has a broad network in research and advocacy organisations favouring a just transition. He is now coördinator of Reset.Vlaanderen, the network towards a just transition in Flanders and Belgium. Reset.Vlaanderen is a Belgian (Flemish) civil society network that connects the labour, social and environmental movements. Reset.Vlaanderen has experience with initiating projects, doing research and organizing public campaigns supporting a socially just and environmentally sustainable transition. The work of Reset.Vlaanderen focuses on four focal points linked to the just transition: sustainable energy, circular economy and industry, financing and fiscal matters and inclusion and empowerment.

Totnes, England, United Kingdom

For over two decades, I ran three social impact restaurants exploring exactly that - building business models that balanced accessibility and affordability with sustainability and financial viability. It is possible. But the current food system, while unsustainable, is deeply entrenched. So what if we started with what already works and built from there? What if we co-created alternatives that are not only viable, but joyful, inclusive, and easy to adopt - models that meet today’s needs while restoring connection, wellbeing, and a sense of shared purpose? I'm now part of the Canteen Culture Coalition, a movement to normalise shared, affordable, nutritious meals in public spaces - making it easy and enjoyable for people to eat together outside the home. We’re working to reintroduce social dining as vital public health infrastructure, drawing inspiration from the WWII-era British Restaurants, which served over 600,000 people a day across class lines. We believe this model, modernised for today, can strengthen wellbeing, reduce loneliness, and rebuild economic and social resilience. Our approach follows four key stages: Storytelling – to build public momentum Piloting – to test and refine the model Operationalising – to prove viability Scaling – to embed canteen culture into national infrastructure This is deep systems change work - slow, local, and long overdue.  A scaled Canteen Culture needs: - Localised food systems and short supply chains - Demonstrable social and economic return - Brave public health leaders, civic entrepreneurs, visionary funders, and mission-aligned operators

Tampa, FL, Tampa, Florida, United States of America

My teaching philosophy is guided by four core values: academic excellence, interdisciplinary studies, social responsibility awareness for business managers and integration of management theory and practice.

Bonn, Germany

Our present moneysystem is a contageous dangerous sick nervous system of cities and our post urban society. It is the money system that prevents us to remain within the tolerancies of our ecosystems. The current monetary system has two characteristics that are not normally seen. Firstly, it is a mathematical echo chamber that is completely disconnected from the real world, and secondly, the use of money is a systemic shifting of responsibility. Today's monetary system is therefore a major cause of the destruction of the Earth's habitability by us as a human race. Measures to protect this habitability currently have to be financed from taxes that come from an economy based on this monetary system. This is absurd. The financial sector has the opportunity to do something about it. However, it takes little or no notice of this responsibility. Of course, the habitability of the earth is to be given a higher ethical value than gold and money. But then it is also a moral duty to curb their destructive role. A new monetary order based on real values is possible. How, is described in my book "Nature as the Standard of Value. Three measures for creating a monetary system that protects our livelihoods" (Published Dec. 2024 in German, I am still looking for an English publisher.) https://value-for-money.org/en/ As a sinologist, I started my career in the financial world and later became a financial correspondent for the Dutch press in Bonn. After eleven years in the financial world, I joined a large German DAX-listed company to help it go public internationally. There I rose to the management level with responsibility for quality management. Since 2006, I have been researching how cities can achieve sustainability in real-world laboratories from Beijing to Hamburg. In 2014, oekom Verlag published the book "Wurzeln für die lebende Stadt" ('Roots for the Living City’). This book is available as an open science document. From 2014 onwards I have setup, directed and/or supervised four living labs in and between urban quarters. One in Berlin and three in the city of Hamburg. The results where published in 2023 in the German scientific reader „(Re-) Konstruktion von lokaler Urbanität“ (W.-D. Bukow et al. (Hrsg.)) in the article with the translated title ‘Small towns and quarters as the smallest units of an urban society, their fundamental role in ensuring sustainability and resilience with personal responsibility and self-efficacy’ https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-658-39635-0 One of the results of this research is the observation, that our money system is a dangerous sick nervous system of cities. For a bit more information please look at: https://value-for-money.org/en/ For more information about me, see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harristiddens.

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States of America

My name is Ronan Taylor. I have a background in paleoecology and herpetology. I have worked for organizations such as the Smithsonian and National Geographic and have conducted research on four different continents. I am currently trying to develop optimized modular systems of environmental restoration that utilize new technologies. I strongly believe that combating climate change is the challenge of our time and environmental restoration is a key component of this fight.

Balbriggan

Lizzy has been working with schools on Global Citizenship Education and campaigning for 24 years. She represented Ireland on the European Development Education Forum for four years, and has been a member of the steering group of the Global Campaign for Education, Stop Climate Chaos and Act Now 2015 for many years. She now works for Worldwise Global Schools working with teachers-encouraging teachers to bring Doughnut Economics in to their classrooms and beyond.  She founded Balbriggan Community Murals as part of Balbriggan Tidy Towns and is interested in activism, art, music and theatre too!

Porto - Portugal

My life motto is that of Ghandi “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I'm a mother  of three boys, I've attended the University of Minho in Portugal, where I graduated in international relations. I started my professional career as a journalist, having been the first general director of the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs. As a liberal professional, I was the executive coordinator of several events, including the first TED'X Porto and several national and international conferences. I have been a communications trainer for 20 years, as well as a social business consultant and mentor. Along this path, I built a solid network of contacts and experiences that allowed me to make connections that were often improbable, but always effective. Therefore, it is not surprising that I was one of the four founders of our company, K Social -Inovation Consultants, where I work to build partnerships, expand networking and as a institutional representant. I have always been a volunteer in various organizations. I believe deeply in civic activism and that small gestures can make a big difference.

Lancaster, UK

Working as a self-employed independent freelancer since 1986, he has been involved in a wide variety of initiatives, including the founding, development and management of an organic food delivery company [Now Ruskin Vale Organics]. Michael moved to Lancaster in 2006 from South Devon. Since then he has played a major role in organising the North Lancashire Social Enterprise Network, including the co-organising of four annual Social Enterprise Festivals co-founded the Lancaster Community Car Club, now based at Halton Mill, founded the North Lancashire Community Land Trust developed a local spending tracker called with a team from Lancaster University and went on to play a critical role in a follow-on research project at Lancaster University: The Barter Project. He also designed, built and operated a project called The Food Loop Game, designed to support the local food economy in the Lancaster District and providing powerful feedback to customers on the power and benefit of their local food spend. In 2010 he founded a local business network: The Ethical Small Traders Association [ESTA] encouraging cross-sector collaboration between the private, community and public sectors. ESTA currently has 160 business, organisation and academic members. Michael has a passion for sustainable development and for exploring the interface between personal and organisational development. He is a trained counsellor and has nearly twenty years experience in public engagement via talks, workshops, presentations, facilitated events, forums, trainings and seminars. For the past decade he has been working on projects designed to model the local Lancaster District economy and provide real-time trading feedback to businesses and customers regarding the benefit of local spending. Recently he has been adopting and adapting Doughnut Economy ideas into his plaform for accelerating and supporting sustainable and equitalbe actions in the Lancaster area. This is an ongoing work in progress. In his spare time he is a salsa teacher and dance event manager-host.

Columbus, Ohio, USA

Paul Carlson founded the non-profit reEarth in 2020 that works on smart and sacred water initiatives in NW Ohio. He is a board member for the non-profit Simply Living and Resurrecting Lives Foundation that helps veterans who suffer from Traumatic Brain Injuries. He was a member of the US Transition Collaborative Design Council from March 2020 until March 2022 and serves on the Green Spot Advisory Board for the City of Columbus.  Paul worked for seventeen years as the city’s first IT Project Manager. He was responsible for facilitating the city being recognized as the 2015 Intelligent Community Forum, Most Intelligent Community in the World. He worked closely with The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Autonomous Vehicle Pilot project, that was sponsored by the NIST Global City Team Challenge and he was part of the core team that responded to the first phase of Columbus ultimately winning the $40M USDOT Smart City Challenge. Paul was also a member of Mayor Coleman’s Green team and helped Columbus become certified as a four STAR sustainable community.  Paul attended the US Naval Academy for two years (Class of 1973) and received a BA in Political Science in 1976, and an MA in History in 1978, from Youngstown State University.

Cork, Ireland

I'm an independent researcher based in Cork City, Ireland.  I work with organisations in the community and voluntary sector, along with the public and private sectors.  My interests in people, community, nature and our collective future all intersect around 'care'.   I have come to the DEAL Community seeking to learn from people and groups who are applying Doughnut Economics to their lives, businesses and communities.  I would like to connect with others interested in applying DE in Ireland at various spatial scales.   I find Dr. Riane Eisler's 'partnership-domination social scale configuration' is a very helpful overarching framework for thinking about Doughnut Economics.  Her 'cultural transformation theory's' four cornerstones offer a pathway to a caring economics (the 3rd cornerstone) along with 'childhood relations' (1st), 'gender relations' (2nd) and 'stories, narratives' (3rd).   See more at: https://www.partnerism.org/ and https://centerforpartnership.org/

Sindhuli, Nepal

I am a Storyteller and Sustainability Campaigner.  based in Nepal-USA  and work on three platforms: StoryCycle.org -- an initiative that places stories of people, communities and their pain points at the heart of the solutions we design, GreenGrowth.life -- an online marketplace that sources and sells organically grown and sustainably produced products, and  DreamCities.org -- an enterprise that focuses on empowering local youth and communities to take active part in making their communities vibrant using technology.  I  coached on different changemaker programs with the lenses of well-being (self), inclusivity (society) and resourcefulness (nature) through igniting individual and collective capacities to service humanity.  Recently I am working on Youth Cohort on Green Solution 2023  aims to support the development of new, exciting, and innovative ideas for sustainable enterprise which will harness nature-based solutions and practices to promote positive environmental impacts and climate change resilience in the city of Euless, Texas. And in 2022/23 I work  on 'In Our Hands'  , a new opportunity for young people to get involved in the creative green economy and inclusive climate action in collaboration with the British Council and other partners and planning for a similar program this year.  I try to  adapt ecologically conscious life to campaign for sustainable lifestyle and Nature Based Solutions, I cycle everywhere,  promote local production, and 4r’s (Reduce, Recycle, Refuse, Reuse). I have also led many plantation programs to enhance the greenery of different cities.  In 2012 I traveled a 99 days long trek GHT (Great Himalayan Trail) and told the story of the mountain to the world.  After coming back I took my interest in impact based storytelling seriously and formulated Storycamps which is a thematic storytelling workshop using digitals tools. In 2014, with Google Earth, I traveled to Everest base camp, with which he accessed various informative contents.  I am  a 2011 International British Council Climate Champion and the 2012 winner of the South Asian Climate Change Award (SACCA) and member of the Ashoka Nepal Forum for Young Social Entrepreneurs (AFYSE) - 2007 

Cascais, Portugal

Mother of four great human beings, for whom I have the responsibility to give a greater world, for whom I have the responsibility to think and act as an economist of 21st Century. Probably my role in DEAL Community is to be the gardener who nurture that micro-environments with this new way of thinking and living!