CEP Calgary x March: Circular Economy

Circular economy is changing how businesses & communities function, how & what products are produced, as well how people are choosing to consume products. In this panel discussion, we will explore how fashion, plastics, circular cities & CCUS (carbon capture, utilization & storage) are responding to adopting circular economy into their products and processes.

Join CEP Calgary for our monthly speaker series in March to learn more about this new environmental buzz-word and meet people currently working in the circular economy space in Calgary! 

(Panel discussion starts at 18:00 but please join us at 17:30 for a networking ice-breaker!)

Featured Panelists:

Melanie Mark, Sustainability Advisor - NOVA Chemicals

Melanie has worked for NOVA Chemicals in Calgary for over 30 years.  She spent the first part of her career in various Business, Marketing and Technical roles.  She then joined NOVA’s Innovation organization as Technical Service Team Leader and Quality Manager, before moving to the commercial group as Product Manager.  Most recently, she has joined NOVA’s Sustainability team as Sustainability Advisor.

Barend Dronkers, Clean Energy Consultant

Barend works at Energy Efficiency Alberta (EEA) in the Portfolio Planning team, which develops medium to long-term plans for its energy efficiency and renewable energy programming. His experience includes policy analysis and advocacy at the Pembina Institute, and leading a team on efficiency and electrification research at the University of Calgary’s CESAR lab. He holds a Master of Sustainable Energy Technology from the Delft University of Technology and is a Waterloo engineering grad. When not seated behind a desk, he loves exploring the great outdoors on bikes, boots, skis, and climbing ropes!

Shelley Kuipers, Co-founder - Harris Kuipers 

Shelley is building the world she wants to live in. As an activist in business, entrepreneurship and investment, she is hell bent on defeating the status quo one project at a time, and replacing it with options that are more equitable, feminist, corporately and ecologically sustainable; revolutionary options that drive greater value for both business and consumer. 

As the founder and CEO of IOVIA Shelley is creating new enterprise business models for growth, focused on consumer engagement and participation with her global clients and global team of consultants. She co-founded IOVIA in 2015 after previously founding several other innovative consumer focused companies, including Chaordix and Stormworks. 

Shelley is equally passionate about supporting and investing in others who are building great things. She founded Adventure Capital to support early stage and culture-first tech companies through a mixture of investment and hands on leadership. She also co-founded The51 a feminist investment collective with two other relentless female entrepreneurs with the goal of uniting Canada’s untapped female wealth to create a new critical mass of female investors to drive the next economic wave, making

Canada the centre for female-powered capital.

As a lover of great style and a believer in sustainable circular fashion, Shelley founded Harris Kuipers a direct to consumer lifestyle brand focused on designing curating ethically-sourced, circular, sustainable clothing that inspires individuality, confidence and elegance for work, travel and everywhere in between.