Theme: Sustainable Transition

A transition is defined as ‘The process of changing from one state or condition to another.’ That definition has all too often led us to create the traditional linear economies seen all around the world today. But what if the starting point for transition could be what we think as an end? What if the end was simply the beginning of something new, a new circle of life, the beginning of a new use? What if the materials we believe nowadays to be worthless and ready to be discarded could become new resources for tomorrow? We live in changing times, where hearing about environmental and ecological crises leaves us with no option than to adopt a circular economy. A revolutionary new economy that is not just an environmental solution and economic opportunity, but is a starting point for a new hub of ideas, for creativity, re-creating, re-thinking not only the use of things but all of our habits and attitudes towards the environment.

TEDxParcduCinquantenaire will be hosted by the European Commission in the Breydel building and starts at 18:30. Registration is possible here, but access is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Breydel Building
Avenue d'Auderghem 45
Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Région de (fr), Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (nl), 1040
Belgium

Amanda Byrde

Co-founder of Impact Hub Geneva and Lausanne

"Amanda Byrde is building up an initiative that is aiming to accelerate the Circular Economy Transition in Switzerland. As the Founder of Impact Hub Geneva & Lausanne, Amanda is dedicating her life -since more than 5 years now- to the creation of an ecosystem that enables people and organizations to collaborate towards the same objective: positive change! She initiated the Circular Economy Transition initiative that raises awareness, inspires and connects people, entrepreneurs, and organizations. Her main goal is to leverage various stakeholders to work together on one of the most urgent problems the world currently faces: Climate Change".

David Witzeneder

Wormexpert

David Witzeneder studied Agronomy in Austria and lived in the jungle of Costa Rica. His passion is vermicomposting. In 2015 he founded the Start-Ups www.wormsystems.com and www.wurmkiste.at where he develops with his team the new generation of wormboxes. His dream is that composting with worms will be as common as having a fridge in the kitchen.

Jan Jonker

Professor Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Radboud University (The Netherlands)

We are in the middle of a necessary societal transition. As a kind of 'activist professor' Jan Jonker is trying to create change in organisations and society. The Circulair Economie is one of the promising concepts enabling us to make that transition.

Laurène Descamps

Circular Economy Transition local lead & national community coordinator, Impact Hub

Laurène is determined to design a more sustainable future. At Impact Hub, she is responsible for the Circular Economy Transition of Switzerland through building a community around this topic and supporting entrepreneurs to bring their circular ideas to market. Her main goal is to connect various stakeholders to work together on the most urgent problematics the world faces: Climate change.

Matthieu Witvoet

Innovation Leader at Circul’R

Matthieu Witvoet follows his dreams. They led him from cycling around the world promoting plastic waste solutions to now accelerating the circular economy transition by bridging the gap between multinationals and a network of over 400 startups: Circul’R.

Nadine Galle

Co-founder and CEO of Green City Watch; PhD Candidate, College of Engineering and Architecture, University College Dublin

Nadine Galle is an ecological engineer, and the co-founder and CEO of Green City Watch, the award-winning geoAI platform for the development of urban forests. Nadine works at the intersection of ecology, technology, and innovation, where she implements novel ways to improve urban ecosystems. Her recent projects include defining “What cities can learn from human bodies”, co-developing the Urban Nature Map of Amsterdam, and founding the world’s first intensive summer course on ‘circular cities’, for which she still serves as Academic Director.