1st Circular Change Conference

 

EMBRACING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Date: May 6th, 2016

Venue: Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Focus of the event:

  • The introduction of a newly established Circular Change platform (www.circularchange.com)

  • Successful business stories based on CE principles

  • The role financial institutions can play in the transition to CE-oriented business models

  • The involvement of two international leading competence networks in CE: the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the NL Circular Hotspot

  • Opportunities for bilateral extension of business in the context of CE

Partners and co-organizers:

  • Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Republic of Slovenia

  • Ministry of the Economy and Spatial Planning

  • SPIRIT Slovenia

Media partners:

  • Metina lista

  • Slovenia Times

  • Kliping

  • TSmedia

PROGRAMME

PRE-EVENT

Embracing the Circular Economy Green Means Business Opportunities – Digital has an impact 
AmCham Business Breakfast (free for AmCham members)

8:30 am – 10:00 am

Welcome speech: Ajša Vodnik MA, AmCham
Introduction: Ladeja Godina Košir MA, Giacomelli Media – Circular Change
Key speaker: Dr. Janez Potočnik, co-Chair of the International Resource Panel (IRP) and former EU Commissioner

Panelists:

  • Dr. Janez Potočnik, co-Chair of the International Resource Panel (IRP) and former EU Commissioner

  • Tjaša Ficko, Deputy Mayor of Ljubljana

  • Giancarlo Miranda, CEO, Banka Koper – Intesa Sanpaolo

  • Guido Braam, Executive Director, NL Circular Hospot

  • Casper Jorna, CE100 Programme Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Active Listener:

  • Dr. Maja Makovec Brenčič, Minister of Education, Science and Sports

  • Miha Dumitrov, Territory Business Manager, Cisco Systems

Moderated by: Ladeja Godina Košir MA, Giacomelli Media and Circular Change

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Embracing the Circular Economy
10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Introducing the Circular Change Platform:
Ladeja Godina Košir MA, Giacomelli Media and Circular Change
Uroš Vajgl, Deputy Director General of Environmental Directorate

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Janez Potočnik, co-Chair of the International Resource Panel (IRP) and former EU Commissioner

Pioneers Creating New Business Value

Introduction by the Moderator: Karin Huber, Founder and Managing Director, CSR & Communication

Circular Stories – Pioneers of Transition to Circular Economy:

  • Edi Kraus, CEO, Julon

  • Andrej Mertelj, CEO, Datalab

  • Matej Čer, CEO, Avantcar

  • Mojca Markizeti, Fair Meter Project Manager, Iskraemeco

Panel: Stakeholders taking part in the Circular Economy transition
Introduction: Franc Matjaž Župančič, State Secretary for Development and European Cohesion Policy

Part 1: The role of the banks in changing business models

  • Sibil Svilan MA, CEO, SID Banka

  • Giancarlo Miranda, CEO, Banka Koper – Intesa Sanpaolo

Part 2: Development and the role of supportive platforms

  • Guido Braam, Executive Director, NL Circular Hospot

  • Casper Jorna, CE100 Programme Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

  • Alenka Hren, Project Manager, SPIRIT Slovenija

The programme is moderated by: Karin Huber MA, Founder and Managing Director, CSR & Communication
Conclusions and Networking

WELCOME ADDRESS BY LADEJA GODINA KOŠIR

TO THE CO-CREATORS OF OUR PROSPEROUS FUTURE!

The EU has agreed we need to transform our current ‘take, make, consume, dispose’ linear economy into a Circular Economy; to stop doing something today that will endanger our world tomorrow. We must re-think our standard business models – a transition to a Circular Economy is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

Slovenia has at least two reasons to look for new solutions: it is a small country, without the strong geo-political power which would enable us to ensure cost-efficient and secure natural resources for all our needs, and we do not have big multinational companies that could play a global role.  The Slovenian economy cannot afford to watch and wait to see what will happen on the global market. We are good at many things, we are innovative, and we have unspoilt nature. A proactive and strategic systemic approach can position us as the country ready for sustainable business nationally and internationally.

In 2015, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning introduced an action plan for a transition to a resource-efficient economy, including a Circular Economy, industrial symbiosis, energy efficiency and sustainable development.

This year, 2016, is a very active one for communication and activities related to the circular economy in the EU and in Slovenia. Slovenia has begun the process of joining the Ellen MacArthur CE 100 Program, and is organising a variety of events and workshops for different stakeholders. So far we have focused on a clear and unified message about the advantages the Circular Economy can bring. Now the time has come to show how circular business models can be implemented.

When you start implementing circular principles, you start learning. Step by step. Through cooperation and connectivity. The more cases we create, the more knowledge and experience we gain. Questions start getting answered.

We are passionate about co-creating the conditions and concrete opportunities for what we consider to be good business in the near future.

 Join us at the conference Circular Change on May 6th in Ljubljana.

Ladeja Godina Košir MSc,

Programme Director and Host of the International Conference Embracing the Circular Economy,
Initiator of Circular Change,