Ulrika Lilja
Executive Vice President & Head of Global Communications, Stora Enso

Ulrika Lilja has been a member of the Group Leadership Team of Stora Enso since 2014. Prior to that, she held leading positions in Communications in the financial sector and steel industry.
She holds a Master of Science in Business and Economics from Uppsala University, Sweden, and has lived and studied in Switzerland and France. She has recently completed the Executive Program at Stanford University GSB.

Kit Burton
Brand Manager, Wasa North America

Kit Burton is the Brand Manager for Wasa North America – the biggest crispbread baker in the world. In 1999 Wasa became part of the Barilla Group, and continues to operate bakeries in Filipstad, Sweden and Celle, Germany.

Kit has led the brand for the past four years with a passion for new product innovation and breakthrough branding. He has contributed to the brand’s entry into new market segments and strengthened brand equity through digital-first marketing communications, resulting in consistent market share leadership.

Dr. Randy Worobo
Professor of Food Microbiology, Department of Food Science, Cornell University

Dr. Worobo is a Professor of Food Microbiology in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. He obtained his Ph.D. in Food Microbiology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada in 1995. Research areas of interest include microbiological safety and quality of foods.

Catherine Barba
Founder & CEO WIN Forum NY & Peps Lab

Catherine Barba is a New York-based serial entrepreneur, a digital pioneer and a French Tech Ambassador who has founded and sold several digital businesses in France. Over the years, she has actively promoted the diversity of entrepreneurs in technology startups. She has hosted the annual WIN Forum in New York since 2016. A trusted early-stage investor, she has invested in successful retail tech startups with impact, including Leetchi, Euveka (CES 2018 Innovation Award), Cargo, Reech, Fit-House, PopShop, Showfields, Maase. Catherine also serves on the Board of Directors of multinational companies such as Renault-Nissan. In 2015 and 2016, Catherine was named one of the 50 most influential figures in Europe’s digital economy. In 2018, she received the Legion d’Honneur from Marlene Schiappa, French Minister of State for Gender Equality.

Robert Brummer
Professor, Örebro University

Robert Brummer completed his M.D. in 1983 at Nijmegen University, The Netherlands. Subsequently, he was appointed as a resident physician at the Department of Clinical Nutrition and University Hospital at Göteborg University where he then went on to complete his Ph.D. in Medicine in 1992.
In 2002, he became a professor in “Medical Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics” and the Division, Deputy and Acting Director of the Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), at Maastricht University, The Netherlands, and joined the Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences (public-private partnership) as Director Nutrition and Health in 2004.

In 2008, Brummer joined Örebro University as a professor in Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition and contributed to the establishment of the new Medical Faculty as the Dean from 2010 to 2016. He raised and directed the Nutrition-Gut-Brain Interactions Research Centre and was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor Internationalisation, External Relations and Innovation in 2016 and represents the university in various domestic and international organizations and committees.

Sandra Noonan
Chief Sustainability Officer, Just Salad

Sandra Noonan is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Just Salad, home of the World’s Largest Restaurant Reusable program. Noonan founded ZeroWasteNYC and is a strong advocate for zero-waste living. Since joining the Just Salad team in 2019, Noonan has expanded on Just Salad’s award-winning sustainability efforts and continuously prospects new sustainability opportunities across all aspects of business. A 2007 graduate of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, her professional experience spans marketing and communications, technology, and corporate sustainability. She lives in New York City.

Peter Bodenheimer
Managing Director, Food-X

As Managing Director for Food-X, Peter Bodenheimer is responsible for the design and execution of the program, including recruitment, due diligence, fundraising, curriculum design, and program delivery. Peter began his career in the food industry more than 20 years ago before shifting his focus to early-stage startups. Prior to joining SOSV to lead Food-X, Peter Co-Founded and led business operations for Flatstack, a global software development firm with offices in Europe and North America. He also Co-Founded Launch Pad Ignition, the first startup accelerator in the Southeastern U.S.

Björn Öste
Co-founder and CEO of Good Idea Drinks and Co-Founder & Board Director of Oatly

Björn has spent the last 25 years in Food Tech. He founded Oatly with his brother Rickard in 2001. Good Idea is their new beverage company that promotes healthy blood sugar by targeting hundreds of millions of pre-diabetics across the world.

Anna Gissler,
CEO, Invest Stockholm

Anna Gissler worked as a political secretary to the Mayor and vice Mayor in Stockholm 2001 – 2006. Since October 2008 Anna Gissler is the CEO at Invest Stockholm. Invest Stockholm is the official Investment Promotion Agency in Stockholm. The company is responsible for attracting establishments, investors, and talents and to Stockholm. Our service includes matching investors with opportunities, and providing advice and practical assistance, free of charge, in setting up and expanding a business in Stockholm.

Abby Lyall
Program Director, Big Idea Ventures

Abby Lyall is the Program Director for Big Idea Ventures’ NYC accelerator, where she focuses on identifying top plant-based and alternative protein companies for investment and helping founders grow and scale their businesses. Prior to joining the BIV team, Abby was a Senior Associate and founding team member at Quake Capital, an industry agnostic VC and accelerator program with four locations across the US. She previously founded a social impact company in the edtech space and holds a degree in Finance and Data Science from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Olga Kachook
Project Manager, Green Blue – Sustainable Packaging Coalition

Olga Kachook is a Project Manager at GreenBlue, where she leads the Essentials of Sustainable Packaging courses as well as various compostable packaging initiatives. She is an expert in compostable materials and packaging, zero-waste facility certification, life cycle analysis, and sustainable materials management. Prior to joining GreenBlue, she led corporate sustainability and waste initiatives at World Centric, Etsy, Cascade Designs, and Cascadia Consulting. Olga has an M.A. in Environmental Management from Yale University’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington. She is certified as a LEED Green Associate and a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor.

Joshua Spodek
Ph.D. MBA Author, and Professor, New York University

Joshua Spodek Ph.D. M.B.A. is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author of ‘Initiative’ and ‘Leadership Step by Step’, host of the award-winning ‘Leadership and the Environment’ podcast, and professor at NYU. He has spoken at Harvard, Princeton, and West Point and appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more.

Annika Rembe
Consul General of Sweden in New York

Annika Rembe is the Consul General of Sweden in New York. Previously she was the Director-General and President of the Swedish Institute. Annika Rembe has held several high-ranking positions in the Swedish Government Offices, including Commissioner-General of the Swedish Committee for Sweden’s participation in Expo 2010 in Shanghai and Director of Market Communications & Public Affairs at Invest in Sweden (now part of Business Sweden).

Frans Prenkert
Professor of Business Administration, Örebro University

Frans Prenkert is Head of Örebro University Center for Sustainable Business. He is a member of the Swedish Higher Market Court, an author, and a corporate advisor. His research focuses on the global salmon-, meat- and dairy-value chains and the food retail sector. He is currently investigating sustainability and technological innovation in food supply chains.

A lifelong health and wellbeing editor and content creator, Danziger was the Editor-in-Chief of SELF magazine for 13 years, then launched her own company, Hinted, and now is the lead content creator for The Beet. The Beet is your guide to plant-based living, helping anyone who wants to feel better, be healthier and have more energy, by adding more plant-based food to their plate. The Beet launched in October and is already one of the fastest-growing sites on the internet. More people want to eat for their health and the health of the planet and do so by going plant-based. As The Beet says: Just Add Plants.

Mårten Frumerie
CEO, Stockholm Water and Waste Company

Mårten Frumier is the CEO of Stockholm Water and Waste Company since 2019. Before his leadership roles within the Region and City of Stockholm with responsibility for major infrastructure and city development projects, he held various roles in the private sector within both residential development and infrastructure. Mårten has a Master’s degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm combined with studies in economics.

Lex Heslin
CEO, Enso Infrastructure

Lex Heslin is CEO of Enso Infrastructure, LLC. He has spent his career in project finance, working in the debt & equity capital markets and in private equity. Enso is developing large anaerobic digestion (AD) projects which generate renewable natural gas (RNG) and compost from food and green waste. Enso views energy and waste as the next frontier for impact unicorns.

Gita Calton is an AAK Personal Care Account Manager responsible for sales across USA’s East Coast Territory. A native of Lithuania, Gita is a graduate of Vilnius Technical University with a Business Management degree and a graduate of Mercy College in New York. She has been working in the International Business field since 1995 with a dedication to integrity, responsible sourcing, and giving back to society. Ms. Carlton has been a passionate supporter of a variety of AAK’s sustainability projects including RSPO Palm Oil and the Kolo Nafaso Project’s responsible sourcing of shea in Africa. Ms. Calton believes business growth cannot happen without a strong focus on sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Lisa Davis
Sustainability Manager, IKEA U.S.

Lisa Davis is The Sustainability Manager at IKEA US. She works with IKEA US’s 51 retail stores driving their sustainability goals to support IKEA’s People and Planet Positive Strategy. Lisa has worked at IKEA for 28 years, 12 of which have been focused on IKEA’s sustainability goals related to circular economy, transportation, training, corporate partnerships, community involvement, and coworker engagement. During that time, IKEA US eliminated single use plastic bags at all retail stores, phased out all incandescent, halogen and CFL bulbs to only sell LED bulbs and lamps, planted over 2.7 million trees with American Forests, installed EV charging stations at 37 IKEA stores and implemented mattress recycling within IKEA operations. Recently, IKEA was ranked #14 by the EPA Green Power Partners for “largest green power users” in the US by installing solar on over 90% of its rooftops, purchasing 2 wind farms, installing geothermal systems at 2 IKEA stores and fuel cells at 6 IKEA stores.

Lisa earned a BS in Business Administration/Marketing from Oklahoma State University. Lisa lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Co-founder of ClimateView and on a mission to help states, cities, and companies accelerate their pace towards carbon neutrality. Prior to complete devotion to climate transformation, Einar comes from a background as a serial entrepreneur and film producer.

Max Knagge
General Manager Americas, Scandinavian Airlines

In 2015, Max Knagge was appointed as the General Manager for SAS in the U.S. Max has over 15 years of airline experience in numerous executive roles. Before starting his position in the U.S., Max worked for Qatar Airways in Doha and several management roles in Scandinavia. Max holds a Master’s degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

Michael Place
Founder & CEO, EntoHack7G

Michael is the CEO and Founder of EntoHack7G. EH7G specializes in black soldier fly larvae bioconversion systems which deliver a regenerative, highly scalable approach to transforming waste biomass into premium protein and biofertilizer.

Johan Jörgensen is the founder of Sweden FoodTech (swedenfoodtech.com), a coaching and venture company focused on building the next generation food system entrepreneurs. He has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor in the Internet sector and converted to the Future of Food after being voted “venture capitalist of the year” in 2011 and subsequently was bombarded by irrelevant business ideas.

The fundamental change of the current food system is not a passion, it is an existential necessity that can only be solved by deploying massive amounts of innovation, plus a substantial dose of tech and entrepreneurship. Each year, this is showcased at Smaka på Stockholm, one of the world’s largest food festivals, where Jörgensen is a partner. In 2015, Jörgensen headed up the U.S.A. Pavilion Innovation program on food and tech at Expo 2015 in Milan.

Currently, he lives between Stockholm and London, spending an unfair amount of time in transit between events and meetings aimed at re-building the food sector.

Louisa is Head of Media & Research for AgFunder and chief editor of AgFunderNews, bringing over 10 years of financial journalism experience to the team. She has covered a range of financial products and markets during her career, from equity capital markets in Asia to structured bonds in Europe, before turning her attention to food and agriculture over five years ago. She’s also been responsible for launching two publications: an institutional investment intelligence service for the Financial Times and the first-ever title focused on agriculture investment, Agri Investor, for PEI Media.