Laarnie Cancio

Laarnie is one of the five women founders of Luntiang Pamumuhay, Inc., also known as Back to Basics Ecostore, a zero-waste refillery store in Maginhawa, Quezon City in the Philippines. She is a top performer graduate of the Zero Waste Academy Asia Pacific Cohort 2022–2023. She actively engages as a participant or resource speaker in discussions and events focused on environmental sustainability, sharing insights on transitioning to a zero-waste lifestyle and the benefits of reuse and refill systems.

Jinha Kim

In her current role in ADB, Jinha focuses on the intersection of gender, climate change, and digital innovation. She brings over 15 years of experience in international development, having held diverse roles across gender, regional cooperation, program management, and thematic focal points covering gender, youth, and human rights. Her technical expertise spans gender equality, inclusive governance, livelihoods, and sustainable development.  

Jonas Leones

Jonas has over 35 years of experience in various technical, legal, and managerial positions with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Currently, he serves as Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs, with the rank of Career Executive Service Officer, Rank I. He supervises the Manila Bay Coordinating Office and oversees the rehabilitation of Manila Bay, which is one of DENR's priority programs.    

Rob Kaplan

Rob is the founder and CEO of Circulate Capital, a circular economy investment management firm in high-growth markets. He established Circulate Capital in 2018 to invest in partnerships with global brands and institutional investors into solutions that deliver financial returns, advance the circular economy, fight climate change, and prevent the flow of plastic waste into the ocean.  

Collaborative Approaches to Waste Management: Bridging the Informal and Formal Sectors (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 38)

Drawing on real-world experiences from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong, China, this webinar highlighted practical solutions—including innovative collection methods, effective procurement strategies, mapping initiatives, and informal friendly traceability technologies—that enhance efficiency, environmental sustainability, and livelihood outcomes.