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:

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