SMEunited represents crafts and SMEs in Europe, with around 65 member organisations from over 30 European countries. It is a recognised cross-sectoral European social partner and speaks on behalf of the 26.1 million SMEs in Europe which employ more than 89 million people. SMEunited's work promotes the integration of circular principles into SME business models. It advocates for enabling policies and frameworks at all levels. It translates complex EU frameworks into actionable guidance for SMEs and provides decision makers with reality checks on boosters and blockers for SMEs' circular business models.

Andreas Brieger is Director for Climate, Energy and Environment Policy at SMEunited, representing European SMEs in the green transition. With extensive experience in EU and national public affairs, he previously worked for German and European social partners on climate, energy and economic policy. He is a member of the European Commission’s Ecodesign Forum and the Expert Group on Circular Economy / Sustainable Production and Consumption. A strong advocate for a fair and effective green transition, Andreas is passionate about making circularity a success story for people, SMEs and the planet.

Copa and Cogeca are the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Together, they ensure that EU agriculture is sustainable, innovative and competitive, guaranteeing food security for half a billion people throughout Europe. Copa represents over 23 million farmers and their families whilst Cogeca represents the interests of 22 000 agricultural cooperatives. They have 66 member organisations from the EU Member States. Copa and Cogeca are among the founding members of the European Bioeconomy Alliance.

Oana Neagu is Director of the General Affairs team at Copa Cogeca. The team covers topics related to the circular economy and bioeconomy, the environment and climate change, research and innovation, food waste, etc. Oana is an agricultural engineer and has a Master’s degree in business administration. She previously worked at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture as a policy officer, in charge of managing market measures. Prior to joining the Commission in 2006, she was the adviser on European integration at the Ministry of Agriculture in Romania and was involved in preparing Romania’s accession to the European Union.

She is a member of the management committee of the multi-stakeholder platform on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU and actively involved in various expert groups on the bioeconomy, forestry and rural development.

RREUSE is Europe’s largest network of social enterprises active in the circular economy, with a focus on reuse, repair and recycling. 

Their mission is to empower, represent and support the social and circular enterprise community. They help drive its development by effecting positive change in European policy, facilitating the exchange of good practices and fostering meaningful partnerships. Their vision is an inclusive circular economy based on reuse and repair in solidarity with both people and the environment. 

RREUSE has 34 member organisations spread across 22 countries, including 18 EU Member States.

Jana joined RREUSE in 2016 and in her current role she leads network development. She is responsible for coordinating, developing and monitoring services for 30+ social economy networks and organisations implementing the circular economy transition on the ground. Her educational background is in natural science and recently, data analysis. In her spare time, Jana is a volunteer at Tournevie, a non-profit tool library in Brussels.

Circular Change (CC) is a Slovenia-based think and do tank connecting ideas, people and action. Since 2016, CC has been pioneering the circular and bioeconomy transition worldwide. From international Circular Change Conferences with 500+ participants to co-creating national roadmaps, Circular Academies and CE Hubs, CC turns vision into systemic impact. They integrate creative industries, science and policy, bridging bioeconomy and circular economy to co-create regenerative and inclusive futures. As co-creator of Transition Brokers and originators of Circular Diplomacy, CC promotes network governance and collaborative leadership. Active in EU projects and global dialogues, they bring a systemic, human and creative spirit to every transformation.

Ladeja Godina Košir is an internationally recognised systemic thinker and transition broker, and Founder and Executive Director of Circular Change. For eight years she was Co-Chair of the ECESP. She co-creates CE roadmaps, foresight exercises and hubs, advancing network governance and circular diplomacy across Europe and beyond. An inspiring keynote speaker, lecturer, author and board member, she bridges bioeconomy and circular economy in policy, business and culture. Ladeja led five Circular Change International Conferences, consulted governments from Serbia to Chile, and chaired the BIOeast Circular Bioeconomy Foresight 2050 Expert Group. She serves as Chair of the International Council of the CE Forum Austria, and Member of Chapter Zero Slovenia and other international CE boards. Finalist of the Circular Leadership Award 2018 (Davos WEF), featured in #EUwomen4future (2020) and recipient of the Elle Green Style Award 2025.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation works to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Backed by evidence and powered by partnerships across sectors and regions, it is a systems change organisation aiming to reshape markets.

For circular economy solutions to scale, they need innovation, infrastructure and investment. The Foundation identifies where those solutions are ready to take hold and what conditions are needed to unlock their impact at regional and global levels. The Foundation is moving beyond pilots to accelerate global implementation and drive long-term value.

As an independent charity, it mobilises business and policy leaders and helps them to drive the most effective solutions faster and at scale.

Eline Boon is the EU Policy Lead at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, where she leads the Brussels-based EU policy team to strengthen and advance the European and global circular economy agenda. A legal expert by training, Eline focuses on the critical role of public policy and legislation in accelerating systemic change, collaborating closely with policymakers at EU level.

Prior to her current role, she served as a Circular Economy Advisor to the Belgian Federal Minister for Climate, Environment and Sustainable Development. There she instrumentally contributed to creating and launching Belgium’s first federal investment fund (backed by the EU's NextGenerationEU recovery plan) dedicated to scaling circular economy projects, the National Circular Economy Action Plan, and pioneered draft legislation on the Belgian Repair Index. 

Her diverse background also includes time as a Policy Officer at the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation) and co-authoring UN-level systemic initiatives on plastic pollution. She holds an LL.M. in International and European Law from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.