Zero Waste Cities and climate

Speakers

• 
  Mariel Vilella

  Director of Global Strategy at Zero Waste Europe


Mariel Vilella

Director of Global Strategy at Zero Waste Europe

Mariel is currently driving the global work of Zero Waste Europe as Director of Global Strategy, building bridges and identifying opportunities for collaboration across borders to promote zero waste policies and practices with members worldwide. Prior to this role, between 2014-2019 she was the Managing Director of Zero Waste Europe, during its foundation and early development. Before 2014 she was the lead climate policy campaigner for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). Today she continues to guide GAIA’s work on zero waste project guidelines for major sources of climate finance, and international energy policy with impacts on the waste sector. She has extensive experience in research, publication development and project management. Key recent publications include ‘Zero Waste Circular Economy: A Systemic Game-Changer to Climate Change’. Mariel has a BA in Sociology from the University of Barcelona, a MA in Discourse Analysis and Argumentation from the University of Amsterdam, and a MA in Social Communication Studies from the University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.

• 
  Alexa Kielty

  Zero Waste Specialist, City and County of San Francisco


Alexa Kielty

Zero Waste Specialist, City and County of San Francisco

Alexa Kielty has been working for San Francisco’s Department of the Environment’s Zero Waste Program since 2001 and has had the opportunity to help develop San Francisco zero waste policies and programs from the ground up. She has played an integral role in working with the residential sector, particularly multi-family buildings, working to get them into compliance with San Francisco’s Mandatory Composting and Recycling Ordinance. With the help of her enthusiastic team she has developed a “hands on” on approach to changing the behavior of apartment residents getting them to separate their food scraps for the City’s composting program. She is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz Environmental Studies program with a focus on Agro-Ecology and loves being outdoors especially in the Pacific Ocean whenever possible.

• 
  Max Russell

  Project Manager - Circle Cities Programme - Circle Economy


Max Russell

Project Manager - Circle Cities Programme - Circle Economy

Max Russell is a project manager for the Circle Cities Programme of Circle Economy and has gained experience working with cities throughout Europe and North America, helping city changemakers tackle themes of waste, energy, emissions, and food through the lens of the circular economy. Max has an MSc in Urban management and development, specialising in urban sustainability and climate change, and is passionate about supporting the transition towards environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive cities of the future.

• 
  Jack McQuibban

  Cities Programme Coordinator at Zero Waste Europe


Jack McQuibban

Cities Programme Coordinator at Zero Waste Europe

Jack has an educational background in international relations having studied at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. For the past 5 years, he has worked for two different NGOs within the international development and sustainability sectors, helping to build movements and communities for change. He has led successful campaigns at the local level within the UK as well as at the global level at institutions such as the United Nations. Jack will be leading our work with municipalities, helping to connect members from across Europe to build and contribute towards the transition of cities towards zero waste strategies.