Crafting a balance between people, planet, and product.

Mukul is a global research leader with over 25 years of experience in developing growth strategies, market entry plans, and product launch strategies. With a functional focus on business intelligence, emerging technologies, market analysis, and roadmap development, he has become a trusted advisor to C-Level executives across various industries. A recognized expert in digital transformation, with a specific focus on supply chain and logistics, Mukul has a deep domain knowledge of AI/ML-based robotic automation, blockchain, digital twins, supply chain optimization, track and trace, and ESG.

Mukul has been a keynote speaker and panelist at industry events and has been widely quoted in the press with upwards of 2000 quotes in major publications. His contributions to the industry have been recognized with several awards, including the Service Excellence Award and the MVP Award at Frost & Sullivan.

Mukul holds a Master's in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glendale, AZ, USA, providing a strong foundation for understanding global business dynamics and cross-cultural management.

Michael is a human-centered design leader with over a decade of experience in Australia and the United States. Drawing upon his extensive experience, design expertise, empathy, and global awareness, Michael delivers exceptional digitally enabled products, services, and strategies. He has successfully solved complex problems for various private, public, not-for-profit, and academic organizations.

Before joining the advisory team at informd, he led a transformative customer experience program as the Director of Product and Service Design (Behavioral Health) at Optum, UnitedHealth Group.

Michael holds two degrees from Swinburne University of Technology: a Doctor of Philosophy in Design, focusing on the intersection of human-centered design and healthcare, and a Bachelor of Design with First-Class Honors in Digital Media Design.

In his personal life Michael finds joy in hiking, cooking, and traveling with his partner, Isabel. He also dedicates time to playing the guitar in two bands.

Valentina, is an Italian architect and industrial designer with over 20 years of experience, specializing as a design leader and strategist. Her work, spanning commercial and hospitality architecture to industrial design, reflects a deep understanding of cultural adaptability and brand identity.

Having worked in Italy, the US, and China, Valentina's global experiences shape her approach to design, balancing local traditions with universal trends. She currently works as an interdisciplinary designer, focusing on architecture, industrial design, and strategy. Her role involves collaborating with clients to create functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable concepts.

Valentina is also committed to mentoring, particularly empowering women and young professionals in design. In 2022, she served as the IDSA Chair for the San Francisco Chapter. Her career is marked by a dedication to integrating sustainable practices with innovative design, making her a respected figure in her field.

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Academically, Valentina holds a degree in Architecture and Design from Politecnico di Milano, and an MBA from the University of Firenze/Il Sole 24Ore.

Teresa Garcia is an Emmy-nominated network correspondent in the Broadcast News industry. Prior to her career in journalism, she worked in public relations aboard Rogers and Cowan. Her passion for storytelling has earned her several awards covering breaking news and enterprise stories across a wide range of topics. During her tenure, she has had the opportunity to interview and work with Nobel Laureates, global tech innovators, media and movie celebrities, and leading political figures. Teresa's skills and experience allow her to excel in any environment while delivering compelling stories to her audience.

Teresa is an alumni of UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Notre Dame.

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Nancy is a strategist and researcher using human-centered design to envision innovative solutions for complex, high-priority challenges. She currently serves as Experience Design Director at Microsoft,leading the development of AI products that ground art-of-the-possible creative with research insights. Nancy is a champion for the human in the loop, advocating for the voice of the user by defining and practicing responsible design principles. When working with founders, executives, and co-conspirators, her greatest contribution is amplifying signal in the noise. She navigates through ambiguity with decisive action, focused on developing a shared vision to jump V0 toV1. Personally, she thrives on coaching designers, fostering a culture of creating without fear, and staying curious as we imagine a better future.

Chris is a renowned expert in innovation, specializing in strategy and system design. Chris served as the Circular Economy Executive Director at IDEO for a decade. In this role, he spearheaded the firm's consultancy services in circular economy strategies, guiding transformative projects for major corporations such as H&M, IKEA, VF Corp, Solvay, SAP, and Danone. His expertise extended to organizational transformation and product innovation.

Chris's contribution to the industry also includes adapting IDEO’s collaborative design approach, the CoLab, for circular economy initiatives across various industry value chains. He played a pivotal role in developing a strong partnership with The Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This collaboration led to the creation of The Circular Design Guide, a resource that has impacted over half a million users across more than 150 countries.

In addition to his professional achievements, Chris is an Aspen Institute First Movers Fellow. He actively contributes to academia as a Supervisor for the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Business at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. He has also shared his insights as a content contributor to the Circular Economy Masterclass at Exeter University.

Looking back at her early academic interests, Emily would never have anticipated a career path into user insights, strategic systems and technology; but in hindsight, it’s a clear 20-20: a unique convergence of people + creativity + building for the unknown.

Emily began her career as an architectural designer working on projects ranging from high-end retail environments to local non-profit urban streetscape improvements. She moved from the east coast to San Francisco for its budding community in sustainable architectural practice. After some years in architecture, Emily pivoted into design strategy to create things on a faster timeline. She has worked in Bay Area consultancies and in-house as both a (UX/ID) researcher and design strategist, loving the opportunities to co-create with some wonderful people.

In a future retirement chapter of her career, she hopes to serve as a death doula for end of life caregiving.

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Joseph is a strategic design and business change practitioner, and a founding member of informd. He has led global engagements at Wipro, Designit, EPAM Continuum, and Digitalist Group, winning over a dozen major design awards. Joseph's competencies include research, service and business design, strategic design, system mapping, critical thinking, business change and future forecasting. He has overseen multi-million dollar business transformation engagements with Fortune 500 clients in both the USA and Europe, aligning design outcomes to business objectives for strategic growth.

Joseph holds a Master of Research, Design from the Royal College of Art, School of Architecture and Design, London. A post graduate certificate in Ethical Research from the University of Oxford, a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sussex and, and an AAS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Royal Naval School of Engineering, HMS Sultan.

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#CircularDesign #SustainableStrategy #Research&DesignLeadership #Strategy&BusinessChange

Eloise is a principal behavioural science leading the Climate and Environmental practice at Informd's behavioural science partner, INFLUENCEAT WORK. She has spent the last 5 years applying her extensive psychological theory and research expertise to programmes that seek to achieve positive behaviour change. Eloise developed a behaviour change framework and programme, which is being used to deliver positive environmental outcomes to affect large-scale change.  

She has applied her understanding of how to motivatepro-climate behaviour to have real-world impact internationally across a variety of contexts; from changing farming practices across south east Asia, reducing demand for endangered animals, to influencing Paris-aligned strategy decisions in the Board room.

Eloise gained her BA in Experimental Psychology from University of Oxford, and received her Master’s in Behaviour Change from University College London. She is a member of the Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists (GAABS).

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Derek is a seasoned media and entertainment professional with over 20 years of experience in media supply chain operations and a deep-rooted passion for sustainability. His extensive research and analysis have equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities that sustainability presents within the media sector. Derek excels at identifying key trends and offering actionable insights for organizations aiming to integrate sustainable practices.

As a sought-after speaker and consultant, he has captivated audiences ranging from industry leaders to aspiring professionals, establishing him self as a thought leader in the field. Currently, he serves as the Chief GrowthOfficer for Edisen, a leading global creative and technology company. Derek also contributes as a Commissioner with the Central Area Planning Commission for the city of Los Angeles.

Previously, he held a Director role at strategy consulting firm AltmanSolon, focusing on operational excellence and strategic planning for clients in film, television, music, and gaming. His career includes senior positions atDeloitte, Sony, and Warner Bros. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Derek earned a BS in Astronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an MBA from the University of California at Irvine. He also completed an AdvancedManagement Program at Harvard Business School.

Emilio Lonardo is a versatile designer and educator specializing in design and innovation. Since 2013, he has been shaping the next generation of designers at Politecnico di Milano and Poli.Design, where he teaches and mentors students in the Master in Urban Interior Design (MUID).

As the founder of the“Quadentro” brand, Emilio is dedicated to integrating gentle technologies that enhance human-environment interactions. His approach to design fosters meaningful connections and dialogues, playing a vital role in transforming urban areas into vibrant, interactive hubs.

Emilio's academic excellence is further exemplified by his leadership in chairing the University Design Challenge initiative at informd. This role allows him to drive innovation and collaboration among academic institutions, Master and PhD students, and industry innovation leadership, emphasizing the importance of design in addressing contemporary sustainability and circularity challenges.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Emilio is a published author in design and poetry, showcasing his diverse interests and expertise. His work addresses practical needs while enriching human experiences through thoughtful and intuitive design.

Emilio earned a PhD in Design from Politecnico di Milano, focusing his research on the intricate relationships between space, humans, and their environments.

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Anushree is a design-led, product and venture strategist, inventing, building and scaling impactful solutions. She has led strategic initiatives with Amazon, BCG X (formerly Digital Ventures), Kohler, SC Johnson and a health-tech start-up, among others. Anushree's expertise focuses upon leveraging human-centered design, behavioral science, and conscious design to transform new ideas into tangible products that sit at the intersection of user needs, technology and business value. Her work extends across Fortune 500 companies and start-ups in the Americas, Europe, Asia & Africa, leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with various executive stakeholders.

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Anushree holds a Master of Design & Innovation Strategy from the IIT Institute of Design, Chicago, and Bachelor of Product Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi.

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Alex is a seasoned technology executive with a robust background in machine learning and computer vision. He co-founded and served as the CEO of Vidora, a self-service machine learning platform for marketers, which was acquired by mParticle in 2022. Currently, Alex is the VP of Product, focusing on Machine Learning & AI at mParticle.

Alex holds a Ph.D. in Machine Learning and Computer Vision from Caltech, and both graduate and undergraduate degrees in computer science from Cornell. His expertise spans product management, development, and the application of advanced analytics to drive innovation and product strategy in tech industries. Alex has contributed heavily to the field of Ai and ML, with several patents and peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Kate Sellen is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Design at OCAD University and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Health Design. Kate also serves as the Director of the Health Design Studio at OCAD U. She received her PhD in Human Factors and Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto.

Nick is a prominent and highly regarded behavioral scientist and a Consulting Director at informd partner, INFLUENCE AT WORK. As a sought-after behavioural strategist, Nick’s ability to connect the dots between science and practice has led him to advise and consult with senior leaders at Fortune 500 companies and renowned firms including McKinsey, Accenture, Deloitte, Disney, Lego, Cisco, IKEA, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft and Major League Soccer.

Nick has gained a cult following for his popular podcast "It’s All Just a Bunch of BS" as well as his incisive and insightful columns for Inc.com, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, New York Times, Time and Scientific American.

Nick holds an MSc and a PhD in Behavioural and BrainSciences from the University of Toronto. He is a board member of, and Head of Media & Outreach for the Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists (GAABS).

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Ellie is a Melbourne-based service and strategy designer, weaving together her passions for education, sustainability, and healthcare to create solutions that don't just solve problems; they improve lives.

Ellie thrives at the intersection of these fields, designing experiences that are both visionary and grounded in real-world impact. With a knack for turning complexity into clarity, Ellie partners with organisations to shape sustainable strategies that are as thoughtful as they are transformative. Guided by a deep belief in collaboration and empathy, Ellie often uses co-design to unlock fresh perspectives and drive meaningful outcomes. She envisions futures where learning, wellness, and environmental stewardship are seamlessly integrated into our daily lives.

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Ellie holds a Bachelor of Design in Industrial Design with First Class Honours from the Queensland University of Technology, and is currently a PhD in Design candidate.

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David Dickson, brings a 30-year international career marked by groundbreaking film production and unparalleled innovation. A career defined by visionary leadership and meticulous financial management. A master negotiator with a keen insight into market trends, Dickson has skillfully navigated the complexities of multimillion-dollar budgets, ensuring both the integrity and commercial success of his projects. Revered for his contributions, Dickson has garnered numerous accolades, including several Academy Award nominations.

David is a former lecturer at London University, Goldsmiths College.

Brian Ward is an Industrial Designer with over 15 years of experience in Silicon Valley and UK / Europe. He has worked with companies in wide business sectors  such as:  White Goods, Healthcare, Consumer Goods & Electronics, Architectural Lighting and Furniture/Housewares. A few achievements and awards include: CES, R&D 100, and The Medical Device Awards.

Brian focuses using his creativity to develop humane products and experiences for people, solve and simplify complex design challenges and is committed to researching and delivering exceptional results. In particular he believes designing with sustainable materials and circular design crucial and transformative to the future of people and markets.

Brian has an MA in Industrial Design from University of the Arts London at Central Saint Martins and BA Industrial Design from San Jose State University in California.

Dave has been a designer in Silicon Valley since the beginning of the web. During his career, he’s worked for both startups and large companies including Amazon, McGraw-Hill, Frog Design, McKinsey, and PwC. He firmly believes that good design is critical to success and is hopeful for the future. His writing on design can be found at Medium, he is an active participant in the design community, and knows that learning and education are instrumental in solving the many problems humanity faces.  He holds a Bachelor in Industrial Design from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Nicole's professional journey is marked by significant achievements in both the public and private sectors. In her tenure at Meta, she played a pivotal role in leading sales enablement and developing marketing plans for advertising product solutions. Her notable contribution includes designing the sales motion for Oculus Pro, showcasing her ability to innovate in technology-driven environments.

Prior to moving into the private sector, she advised the UK Prime Minister on the Syrian crisis and spearheaded the UK's response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. These experiences provided her with a global perspective and a deep understanding of how government and business can work together effectively.

Nicole is adept at navigating complex challenges, whether in creating growth opportunities for stakeholders in the corporate world or in addressing critical international issues in the public sector. Her adaptability, foresight, and pragmatic approach to problem-solving have been central to her success across diverse organizational environments.

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Nicole holds a Bachelors from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Law from the College of Law, London.

Neil's career is marked by a series of leadership roles where he has successfully steered companies, managed diverse teams, launched startups, and offered strategic advice to a wide range of clients. His guidance has consistently aimed at enhancing long-term value and performance in businesses, while also prioritizing the health and well-being of people and the planet.

In the early phases of his career, Neil made a significant impact as a Design & Innovation Strategist. Working with numerous Fortune 500 clients, he played a pivotal role in developing and launching new products and brands. Following this, Neil embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, founding a clean energy social enterprise. This innovative business linked clean energy distribution and sales networks in emerging markets with carbon offset revenue, accelerating growth in a sustainable manner.

Presently, Neil's focus as a strategic consultant is on integrating social and environmental sustainability into the core activities of businesses. He has a keen ability to bridge the gap between economic imperatives and ethical purposes, aiding mid-market companies in enhancing their performance and creating new value.

With over three decades of experience, Jeff has been an integral part of numerous organizations, both as an internal leader and an external advisor, working towards sustainable competitive advantage. His career began with leadership roles in operating teams and strategic programs for major asset management and telecommunications firms, particularly during the rapid growth periods of the 1990s and early 2000s.

As his responsibilities grew more strategic and global, Jeff transitioned into advisory and consulting roles, helping large and mid-market firms in their quests for growth. His work often involved mergers &acquisitions, market entry strategies, product design, and the revitalization of underperforming business models.

Jeff's areas of expertise include Systems Thinking, organizational design, and Strategy & Business Model Development. He is a proud alumnus of Colorado State University, where he earned a BS in Finance with a minor in economics.

Marieke is a former research design leader at IDEO and Philips, and researches, writes about and consults on systemic change and societal transitions.

Bringing together experience in social sciences, human-centered design, system thinking and regenerative leadership, she supports people in creating positive system change.

Her focus is on the psychological, social and cultural changes needed to move towards a more regenerative future, shifting the ways in which we relate to ourselves, each other and the rest of the natural world.

A key practice area for Marieke explores what it means to be alive in these times, where old systems crumble and the new still need to arise, and she aims to contribute by doing what she loves: asking 'why', connecting the dots, and sharing her insights to create clarity and incite creativity.

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Marieke holds a Bachelor and Masters degree in Media Studies and Social Sciences from the University of Amsterdam, and a Master of Design Methods, Design and Innovation from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

An industrial designer by trade, Stiven is a luminary in innovation and design, with a career highlighted by transformative roles at leading firms like LEGO Future Lab and Microsoft, where he made significant contributions to the X-box and led the design of other acclaimed computer peripherals. Now spearheading Disruptive Innovation at IKEA Group, he continues to shape industry standards.

Beyond his corporate impact, Stiven champions sustainable innovation as the founder of Chilote Shoes, blending ethical practices with cutting-edge sustainable product design. Stiven's career, punctuated by his relentless pursuit of excellence and transformative innovation, resonates as a paradigm of leadership in the dynamic world of technology and design.

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Jeroen Spoelstra is one of the leading figures in the design world on Life Centered Design. With nearly 20 years of design experience in product design and human-centered design, Jeroen shifted to Life-Centered Design inspired by his move to a tiny village in the Spanish Pyrenees, witnessing climate change first-hand and how this affects nature & the local communities. He developed a life-centered design philosophy and practical approach with methods that help creative professionals develop the skills and mindset to design climate-friendly and socially just products, services and value propositions.

John is a foresight and design leader who guides strategic inquiry and innovation in complex problem spaces. He works with organizations to generate new knowledge and insight, explore future scenarios and implications, facilitate stakeholder discourse, reframe strategic choices, create solutions, and catalyze change.

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Recent client engagements include strategic foresight and human-centered design for electric and autonomous mobility, scenario planning and business model innovation for the future of sustainable retail, systems thinking and facilitation to accelerate the clean energy transition, and mixed methods research on the post-pandemic workplace.

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His personal research interests span the future of sustainability, work, business, and consumerism—particularly in places where these systems overlap and interact, and where strategic foresight and design can play a role in aligning shared interests, imagining new possibilities, and advancing positive change at scale.

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He has held senior leadership roles at world-class consulting firms including Deloitte, Artefact, and Frog Design, and was previously a faculty member in design at the University of Washington. He earned a BFA degree in design from the University of Michigan, a MFA degree in design from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and a MS degree in strategic foresight from the University of Houston.

Paul Mato, with over 15 years of industry experience, is deeply committed to developing products, services that foster economic prosperity while also contributing to social and planetary health.

Paul leads a team of innovative designers, based out ofMadrid Spain, who collaborate with both public and private entities to address challenges from a profoundly human perspective. In addition to his role indesign leadership, Paul also serves as a lecturer in two master’s degree programs focused on Customer Experience and UX Research.

Driven by a mission to improve the world through life-centered design, Paul is not only committed to creating impactful change but also to empowering others to make a positive difference.

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Alexander Troitzsch is a creative with a love for design and wellness. After years as a successful electronic music producer and DJ, Alex shifted focus to human-centered design, utilizing user research, design strategy, and service design to create emotionally resonant experiences that enhance quality of life. Recently, he’s applied these skills in healthcare, aiming to simplify the US healthcare system for people with health issues.

 In his downtime, Alex leads wellness events and retreats that use sauna healing, cold exposure, and breathwork to help individuals reconnect with their bodies and inner selves. He is also involved in men's work, providing support and understanding for male trauma.

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Aurelia is a user experience designer, researcher, educator, and media artist with 20 years of experience exploring human-centered systems in partner with scientists, engineers, architects, and policy makers. Working in R+D labs across emerging consumer products, automotive, educational, and gaming sectors has helped her to advocate for sustainable growth across a range of topics, including: inclusive design, autonomous control, multimodal experiences, systems reform, and spatial computing.

Currently based in Oakland, Aurelia has worked internationally with start-ups, large companies, non-profit organizations, universities, and collectives in Berlin, Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh. She holds a BFA in Communication Design from Carnegie Mellon University, and an MFA in Media Design Practices from Art Center College of Design.

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Ian Chalmers is a design entrepreneur and principle driving force behind DesignMeets. An event platform to promote sharing of information, ideas and different points of view on critical design topics and a founder of ARCTRN Group, an experimental initiative exploring the process for uncovering human stories and insights in data. With over 25 years in design and design research, Ian is acknowledged as a business leader, mentor, creative director and solutions provider across Canada’s business landscape and in the academic community. His most recent ventures have focused on the healthcare vertical, applying people-centric design solutions for researchers, scientists, physicians, and institutions. Through DesignMeets, he has explored the relationship between design and such topics as climate change, artificial intelligence, and the circular economy.

Ian is a committed community member, serving on the board of Pencils for Kids, a charity providing scholarships and farming and sewing programs for girls in a small community in Nigér, West Africa. He’s a former member of the board of directors of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), teaches a user-centred design workshop at ICCIT Media Skills, University of Toronto and serves on the George Brown School of Design, Design Management Program Advisory Committee at George Brown College. Ian is a Design & Visual Communications Program graduate of OCAD University.

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