Mike champions Circular Economy adoption in terms of it enabling organisations to greatly reduce supply chain costs, gain competitive advantage and achieve sustainability excellence in recovering optimal operational and financial values from used products and revolutionising waste streams.

Sustainable material recovery for reuse has become a recognised future proofed career and is a growing corporate discipline that responds to the urgent operational and economic need for industry to shift production away from the traditional ‘linear economy’ model of ‘source, make, use and dump’ to adopting more economically and environmentally sustainable ‘Circular Economy’ disciplines of ‘reuse design, robust materials, manufacture, use, recover and remake’

An entirely new research led industry is forming based on innovative transformation of production waste streams into new valuable outputs. These newly formed, highly profitable start-up ventures or research subsidiaries in existing firms, are creating new wealth and employment opportunities, whilst achieving environmental excellence with their inventive processes and by-products.

Mike has become a recognised sustainability industry speaker, addressing many European forums on these increasingly popular topics. A former board member of Wisetek, a circular economy pioneer in providing managed recovery for reuse services to the IT and Data Centre industry, Mike work with sustainability-based investors to develop new ‘circular’ based business opportunities.

Simon McKeever has over 20 years’ international working experience in developing businesses and an outstanding track record in development of trade, trade policy and strategy across Ireland and the UK. Simon joined the Irish Exporters Association as Chief Executive in October 2013 where he is responsible for leading a team of 20 people who work with companies across the Irish export industry, including SME’s who are beginning to think about exporting for the first time right through to global multinational companies who are already extensively exporting from Ireland. Simon drives the direction of the organisation as the leading, enabling and connecting force for Irish exporters, providing practical knowledge and support across the Island of Ireland and in foreign markets. Prior to Simon taking up his current position as Chief Executive, he spent 3 years as Director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassy in Dublin.

John is a Director in EY’s Business Consulting services focussing on supply chain and logistics, business performance improvement, and business analytics. He has an outstanding record of achievement in strategically developing supply chain and operation structures, and enhancing profits in highly competitive business sectors.

Keith is highly experienced in supply chain customer service with global experience. He combines his role as Associate Director for SCALA with International Secretary General for the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. Keith has led a number of projects combining technical supply chain developments with cultural change including successful implementation of Demand Driven supply chains. He was previously Customer Logistics Director for Cadbury UK and Ireland and led logistics best practice globally for Cadbury Schweppes.