Dr. Rashid Sumaila is a University Killam Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia. His research focuses on bioeconomics, marine ecosystem valuation and the analysis of global issues such as fisheries subsidies, marine protected areas, illegal fishing, climate change, marine plastic pollution, and oil spills.

Bharati Chaturvedi is a writer and environmentalist. She is the founder of the globally awarded, India-based non-profit, Chintan, which works on environmental issues, with the poor and women at the centre of its work. She has led Chintan to excel in the understanding and action of three linked issues: resource efficiency, circular economy, and waste, air pollution. Chintan is well-known as one of the first organizations in India to turn the spotlight on including the informal sector in waste reduction, waste management, and climate change.

For the past 15 years, Barak has been developing initiatives to reduce disposable plastics, promote public awareness of environmentally friendly products and services, and build a certified plastic credit system that treats non-recyclable plastics in the ocean-bound. Through these ventures, he has acquired the knowledge and understanding of how to help companies reduce their plastic footprints. TONTOTON is a plastic neutralization program that offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to reduce plastic pollution in the natural environment and the oceans.

Siddharth Hande is a development sector specialist based in Chennai, India. He is a GIS expert, experienced in delivering high-quality data-driven research. He has held leadership roles in varied projects related to Urban Governance, Sustainability and the Environment.

He is the founder and current CEO of Kabadiwalla Connect, an award-winning social enterprise in the field of waste management.

Laura is the Director of Programs at SecondMuse for The Incubation Network. Laura oversees the Ventures, Network Development, and Inclusive Market Systems programs, working with incubators and accelerators, entrepreneurs and innovators,  investors, NGOs, and government leaders from across the region to develop and scale impactful solutions to combat ocean plastic pollution.  Laura's background in human-centered design and experience working on complex system challenges drives her to create positive change through collaboration.

Sarah manages the Inclusive Markets program at The Incubation Network and is based in Singapore. In her role, Sarah works with local organizations across South and Southeast Asia to explore gender-equitable solutions for improving the livelihoods and social protections of informal waste workers, and for developing socially responsible supply chains for recycled plastic.   Originally from New Zealand, Sarah brings more than a decade of experience managing business operations and social impact projects in the United States,  Australia, and Cambodia.

Sandhya is the Program Manager, Network at SecondMuse based in Singapore. At The Incubation Network, Sandhya implements processes and tools to ensure all  Network Development projects with Ecosystem Builders such as Entrepreneur  Support Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, and more are efficient,  seamless, and gender-inclusive.

Matteo is the Director of Operations at SecondMuse based in Singapore. He supports the development and implementation of The Incubation Network initiative. He provides technical input to identify and accelerate solutions to prevent ocean plastic pollution in South and Southeast Asia and contributes to developing ecosystems that promote positive social and economic impact through innovation in technology,  business models, and regulation.

Following studies in Civil Engineering and Engineering Geology, Mr. Byström worked 20 years as environmental and waste management consultant, based in Sweden, Japan, Malaysia and Denmark. He also held a position as Assistant Technical Attaché at the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. In 2007, Mr. Byström joined JASPERS in Luxembourg as waste management specialist, supporting preparation of EU co-funded projects. In 2010, he joined the Projects Directorate at European Investment Bank, where he carries out due diligence and monitoring of solid waste and circular economy projects.

He joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste two years ago, intrigued by the huge challenge of addressing plastic waste, the opportunity for transformation to a plastics circular economy, and bringing together in quite a unique way the full plastics upstream and downstream value chain from brand owners and retailers through chemical companies and convertors to waste management companies.