
Date: December 7, 2021
Time: 9am-11:30am PT / 12pm-2:30pm ET
Conference Overview – Cascadia Innovation & Circular Economy Conference Overview
Summary Report – Cascadia Innovation & Circular Economy Conference
To view recordings of the event, please click the links below:
- Opening Plenary Armchair – Tackling the Climate Crisis through Circular Innovation
- Panel 1: Circular Transportation & Reverse Supply Chains
- Panel 2: Circular Plastics & Packaging
- Panel 3: Electronics & End-of-Life Recovery
- Closing Plenary Armchair – The Path Forward: Regional to Global Circular Solutions
The Cascadia Innovation and Circular Economy Conference examined circular strategies across three sectors (transportation and logistics, plastics and packaging, and electronics/e-waste) and the linkage to innovation that can enhance economic competitiveness and investments in the region and beyond.
The objectives of this event were to:
- Raise awareness and educate on circular economy and linkages to regional and global industrial competitiveness.
- Understand the barriers and supportive policy and market enablers for advancing circular economy and innovation in the Cascadia region.
- Profile sector and supply chain challenges, connecting 4IR/cleantech solutions with industry needs and challenges.
- Expand the circular economy community across the region as a precursor to establishing a regional circular economy innovation cluster.
Agenda:
9:00-9:10am PT – Welcome: Importance of Innovation & the Circular Economy
- Mel Clark, President and CEO, CleanTech Alliance
- Paul Shorthouse, Managing Director, Circular Economy Leadership Canada
9:10-9:35am – Opening Plenary Armchair- 4IR & Cleantech Solutions for Circularity
- Helen Burdett, Circular Economy Innovation Lead, World Economic Forum
- Ashima Sukhdev, Climate Mitigation & Circular Economy Policy Advisor, City of Seattle
9:35-10:35am – Breakout Tracks:
- Panel 1: Circular Transportation & Reverse Supply Chains
- Evgueni Loukipoudos, CTO, Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster
- Eric Beckwitt, Co-Founder and CEO, Freightera
- Laura Guzman, Director of Government Affairs & Partnerships, Hydra Energy
- Jury Gualandris, Associate Director of the Building Sustainable Value (BSV) Centre, Ivey School of Business
- Panel 2: Circular Plastics & Packaging
- George Roter, Managing Director, Canada Plastics Pact
- Peter Van Stolk,. CEO, Fresh Local Solutions Inc
- Apala Mukherjee, President, BASF Canada
- Adrian Tan, Policy & Market Development Manager, Recycling & Environmental Services, King County
- Panel 3: Electronics & End-of-Life Recovery
- Sonya Sundberg, Executive Director, Environmental Standards Branch, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Province of British Columbia
- Dan Reid, Director of Environment and Circularity, Responsible Business Alliance & Circular Electronics Partnership
- Kesava (Vish) Viswanathan, Director, Circular Center Program, Microsoft
10:35-11:20am – Closing Plenary Armchair- The Path Forward: Regional to Global Circular Solutions
- Bill Wescott, Managing Partner, BrainOxygen LLC
- Armando Yáñez Sandoval, Head of Green Growth Unit, Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
- Frances Edmonds, Head of Sustainable Impact, HP Canada
- Robert Duff, Sustainable Business Development Director, Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness, Washington State Department of Commerce
11:20-11:30am – Key Take-aways & Wrap-up
- Paul Shorthouse, Managing Director, Circular Economy Leadership Canada
- Mel Clark, CEO, CleanTech Alliance
11:30am-12:00pm – Optional Networking via Breakout Rooms
In Partnership with:


Supporting Partners:















