Speakers

Cristina Stefani is a Marketing & Communication Strategist at Aquafil, where she leads the company’s marketing initiatives for circular economy projects across various industries, including aviation, hospitality, contract, and marine. Her work centers on promoting sustainable practices and driving innovation within these sectors, aligning Aquafil’s vision of a circular economy with market trends, user demand, and customer needs.

Cristina is particularly focused on the “R2R” (Regenerated to be Regenerable) project, which highlights Aquafil’s commitment to circularity. Through “R2R,” the company aims to foster a more sustainable and circular future by building a network of adopters dedicated to reducing environmental impact through eco-design practices.

With a background in economics and over 20 years of experience, Cristina brings a unique perspective to her role, blending sustainable solutions with business growth strategies. Her expertise includes crafting impactful campaigns, nurturing strong relationships with stakeholders, and identifying opportunities for sustainable development.

Associate Professor, David Peck, researches and teaches, cross faculty, in the fields of critical materials and circular design, in particular developing remanufacturing. He is a founding member of the Circular Built Environment Hub. David is also an Honorary Associate Professor with University College London – The Bartlett and an adjunct Professor at MIP Politecnico di Milano, Graduate School of Business. David is an Executive Board Member for EIT Raw Materials and ERMA. David also works with ad hoc committees in the European Union in Brussels, The Netherlands Government in The Hague, and is a Horizon Europe reviewer. David sits on the steering committee for the European Remanufacturing Council. He is the TU Delft lead scientist for EU Horizon Europe & Horizons 2020 projects CiRCLETECH, Pop Machina, ProSUM, ERN and FP7 CRM_Innonet. David is TU Delft scientific leader for the EU KIC EIT Raw Materials & EIT Manufacturing, representing the university in the programme.

Elise is a distinguished strategist and researcher with over 15 years of experience. Currently, she leads strategy and research at Teague, a design consultancy based in Seattle that specializes in mobility and technology innovation. Elise’s design thinking expertise, coupled with a deep understanding of customers’ holistic needs and strategic business insights, has consistently brought new innovations to market. As a trained futurist and experienced strategist, she leads teams to create compelling future visions that inform strategic decision-making and advance innovation roadmaps, driving organizational growth. Elise and her team are pivotal in crafting innovative strategies, delivering valuable insights, and designing transformative experiences that shape the future of mobility.

Federico Fioretto is Founder and CEO of Exsulting, and creator of the Embedded Sustainability Index®. ESIndex® integrates sustainability into all business processes, helping companies to improve their performance through sustainability and circularity.

Federico works as an entrepreneur, advisor and coach for sustainability, leadership and conflict transformation. He is a European Partner of the Center for Corporate Performance and Sustainability, Boston (US). This is an academic centre offering training in integrated sustainability management for executives and managers.

Federico is also an associate of C-lever.org, a Brussels-based social enterprise working on international Sustainable Development projects. He is a Registered Provider for Leadership and Conflict Transformation at the European Parliament and a member of the ERPB (Education & Research Practitioner Board) of VCare Academy, an international organisation for sustainability and excellence in Supply Chain Management.

Federico is responsible for creating the CASE Method® for leadership, transitions and conflict transformation. The CASE Method® is also designed to facilitate circular ecosystems building.

Federico is an international inspirational speaker and author with 35+ years of international experience.

With 30+ years in commercial hospitality-related real estate that mostly includes Owner’s Representative / Project Management experience as well as architectural design services, Fred is responsible for overseeing the planning, design management, procurement, and construction execution for all major Capital Expenditure projects in Hyatt-owned hotels throughout the United States, Caribbean basin, Brazil and Europe. As part of the Asset Management team, Fred leads the corporate construction group and works with multiple departments within Hyatt Corporation including but not limited to American Design Services, Rosemont Procurement and Hotel Operations. Additionally, as a registered architect, Fred is active in the American Institute of Architects and is former board president of AIA Illinois, AIA Chicago, AIA Chicago Foundation and is the current AIA Illinois Foundation Board president. Fred has also chaired various civic and community boards and committees in the Chicagoland area. His non-work passion is playing the piano and spending time with family and friends. Born and raised in the Chicago area, Fred and his wife are also proud parents of 4 wonderful young adults and a cute mini-Australian Sheppard, named Charlie!

Giacomo Villa was born in Milan and holds a Master Of Science degree in Economics and Strategic Development of Small and Medium-sized enterprises. Giacomo gained experience on Development economics and Sustainability after spending 3 years researching and working on education, business development and access to microcredit of low-income entrepreneurs in the west suburbs of São Paulo, Brazil.

Since 2017 he joined Manifattura Testori SpA as 5th generation of the Company and Head of Sales to develop Aviation and Marine businesses promoting the transition toward Sustainability of the products range and the organization. Giacomo is also member of the Board of Directors since 2018.

JoAnna is the Founder and CEO of MindClick, a supply chain data and analytics company dedicated to advancing ESG in the hospitality industry.

Through ratings and analytics for over 100,000 products, MindClick is helping brands, owners, and operators track and reduce supply chain carbon emissions, create healthy interiors, minimize waste, and support social responsibility.  

JoAnna is a frequent speaker on the topics of ESG, sustainability and supply chain, and the power of ratings to accelerate change. She has been recognized by the UNWTO as a leading voice in sustainable tourism, named a hospitality industry innovator by Lodging Magazine, and recognized by Wharton’s Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership, Cornell’s Hospitality Research Summit, and the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council.

Combining over 10 years of sustainability expertise in supply chain, with 20 years in brand management, technology, data analytics, and finance, JoAnna leads her team in delivering innovative, results driven solutions to environmental and social responsibility challenges. She holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in finance from the University of Illinois.

Karen leads Sustainability for Payloads Engineering and is responsible for integrating Sustainability into the lifecycle of Cabin Interiors and Cargo products and services.

Karen began her career at Boeing almost 37 years ago in Manufacturing Research and Development, focused on adhesives, textiles, and part forming.  After 17 years she moved to the Payloads Concept Center where she began working on Sustainability in 2005, in addition to a variety of development projects.  In 2022, she moved to her current role of Sustainability Leader for Payloads Engineering.

Karen has a BS in Mechanical Engineering.

Kim Bjørge Hofslundsengen is the VP of Hotel Operations in Hurtigruten. He joined the company in 2016.

Hurtigruten has achieved notable success through a series of refurbishments over the years. The most recent project, focusing on MS Trollfjord, garnered acclaim, winning the prestigious Best Fine Dining (small ship) award from CSI. Additionally, MS Trollfjord received a commendation in the Condé Nast Travellers Gold List as one of ‘The Best Cruise Ships in the World.

Kim Bjørge Hofslundsengen served as the project manager for the operational aspects of the MS Trollfjord refurbishment. With a keen focus on efficiency and excellence, Kim ensured the operational success of the entire undertaking. “The most rewarding aspect of my role is witnessing guests genuinely adore the product, understanding the significant effort invested by the design team, suppliers, and the operational staff. I am passionate about working in this industry, driven by the opportunity to craft unforgettable memories.

Korina Stark is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in product innovation and strategy across diverse industries, ranging from startups to enterprises. She is also the co-founder of Circular Spring, a pioneering initiative that propels companies towards sustainable products and services, fostering ecosystems that support them. At Circular Spring, Korina collaborates with a collective of designers, technical and domain experts, and visionaries to shape a future where successful businesses thrive within a circular economy, harmonizing with natural ecosystems and communities.

Korina’s expertise stems from her foundation in industrial and product design, complemented by studies in Behavioural Economics at Harvard and Sustainable Infrastructure Systems at MIT. She navigates the complex interplay between human behaviour, culture, technology, and ecological systems, championing positive impacts through courage, collaboration, and robust design methodologies. Her work exemplifies a commitment to driving meaningful business, environmental, and social change.

My is the Director of Interior Design for HA Line and leads the design department overseeing three prominent cruise brands: Holland America Line and Seabourn. My’s design experience is diversified across Refurbishment and Newbuild.

As a globally recognized thought leader, My’s repertoire of achievements span both land and sea. She is known for her internationally acclaimed award-winning designs as well as being a public speaker on topics close to her heart such as Sustainability and Leadership.

On the topic of inspiration, My says, “inspiration to me is not a noun. It’s more of a mindset. I’m as inspired seeing the colors of leaves while walking in my neighborhood as I am looking at fashion in different cities that I visit around the world. The key is to always keep your eyes open and not have tunnel vision. That mindset assures you will always feel inspired”.

With over 25 years of experience, Pipa Bradbury works alongside DLR Group’s integrated design teams to elevate its interior design services locally and nationally. Her design history spans hospitality, residential, retail, and corporate. Her many first-hand adventures while working on projects in Melbourne, Sydney, Tokyo, London, Milan, and throughout the US bring a global perspective to our team. Under her leadership, the initial design vision transforms into memorable details and creative placemaking that deeply connects guests to their destination. As an award-winning designer, her passion for collaborating with artisans and manufacturers to develop new, beautiful products, enriches her design thinking and sharpens her eye for detail.

Sarah is an accomplished leader with nearly two decades of experience in commercial aviation design. Currently, she leads a team of Program Managers at Teague, a design consultancy based in Seattle that specializes in travel and technology innovation. Sarah and her team are instrumental in shaping innovative design programs that provide valuable insights, a rigorous design process, and the development of transformative experiences that shape the future of air travel. She excels in developing creative program strategies and overseeing visionary aircraft interior programs in close collaboration with OEMs, Airlines, and Tier 1 Suppliers. Sarah’s expertise lies in creating and guiding cross-functional teams, ensuring seamless alignment between client expectations and design initiatives within a program’s vision and requirements.

Siu Lie Tan is a partner in Exsulting, a strategic consulting firm which specialises in integrated sustainability, supporting the transition to the circular economy. Having worked in multiple industries, her domain of expertise is the EU Green Deal and translating the European regulatory and legislative frameworks into workable strategies and hands-on, actionable implementations for companies. 

Vanessa Vu, associate and interior designer at DLR Group, possesses a passion for art and all matters related to design, which ignited at a very young age and has since evolved into a lifelong fascination. She demonstrates versatility as a designer, embracing all the technical aspects of projects. Her expertise spans FF&E, color theory, material selection, including a focus on sustainable design strategies.

Vanessa’s experience includes numerous hospitality projects, collaborating with national brands like Marriott and IHG, as well as independent and boutique properties. She views each project as an opportunity to explore fresh ideas, tackle new challenges, and deepen her understanding of dynamic the relationship between people and space.

In 2022, Interior Design magazine honoured Vanessa in their inaugural 30 Under 30 awards, recognizing her expectational contributions to the field.

Zuzana Hrnkova has 28 years’ experience in aviation business. Since September 2015, she has been appointed Vice President and Head of Marketing in ATR, European turboprops manufacturer, enabling sustainable and affordable regional connectivity. She leads the team responsible for Market Strategy, Airline and Product Marketing and continues to extend her aircraft, market and sustainability expertise into the regional segment.
Previously she worked at Airbus and her last assignment was Head of Aircraft Interiors Marketing, where she led the Aircraft Interiors Marketing team, covering all current and future Airbus cabins. One of her main tasks was to guide new cabin product developments ensuring that cabin design fulfils all passengers’ and airlines’ expectations. One of her main achievements was the A350XWB interior design and market validation.
Zuzana is a graduated engineer and private pilot in 1991 from the Air Transport University of Zilina, Slovakia and from the French School of Civil Aviation (ENAC), Toulouse in 1994.