- Keynote Corner | Regenerative Economics: New Ways of Seeing, Thinking, Being, and Managing for the 21st Century (October 30)
John Fullerton is the founder of the Capital Institute, a trans-partisan think tank exploring the future of economics and finance informed by the science of living systems. He is the author of the forthcoming Regenerative Economics: Revolutionary Thinking for a World in Crisis (2025). A former Managing Director at JPMorgan, John left Wall Street in 2001 with no plans, yet a burning question in his gut. This question evolved into a search for a new economics aligned with the regenerative process that explains how life works. Recognised as the architect of Regenerative Economics, his work has influenced global discussions on sustainability, finance, and system change, blending deep theoretical insights with practical pathways for a regenerative economy. John is a member of the Club of Rome and was featured in the award-winning documentary Going Circular (2021) with James Lovelock, who first proposed the Gaia hypothesis.
- Keynote Speaker (October 29)
- Workshop I facilitator (October 30)
MIT Sloan School of Management | Professor Emerius
Asia School of Business | Distinguished Visiting Professor
Professor Emeritus at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Asia School of Business (ASB), Kuala Lumpur, Donald Roy Lessard focuses on green infrastructure and sustainable business strategy, drawing on his extensive experience in global strategic management, major engineering projects, and international finance.
He has developed and led Integrative Management at ASB; led the MIT-Bain Executive Education Program on Sustainability in Action; and launched an online course for MIT Professional Education on Sustainable Competitive Strategy. He has also led the development of the five-school energy minor and the MIT Sloan Executive MBA.
He has been teaching, advising, and publishing extensively in academic and professional journals on a variety of topics, including risk management and diversification, mega-project shaping and management, and capabilities and global strategy.
- Round Table | From Knowledge to Action: Linking Science, Policy, and Innovation (October 29)
Executive Board Member at INEGI. Vice-President of the Data Science Portuguese Association (DSPA). She is a guest lecturer at Católica Porto Business School, PBS - Porto Business School and ISEG. Isabel has a degree from FEUP and a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management from FEUP & LUMS - Lancaster University Management School. She has a Post-Doc in Data Science from FEUP & Imperial College London.
Isabel is the author of several publications in the field of machine learning and analytics. She has received several scientific and pedagogical awards and, in 2024, she won the Chief Data & Analytics Officer (CDAO) of the Year award in an initiative that brings together the largest public and private companies in Portugal. He is a speaker at numerous conferences and panels in the area of Data and Artificial Intelligence.
- Round Table | From Knowledge to Action: Linking Science, Policy, and Innovation (October 29)
Lawyer, Partner at Telles Advogados, responsible for the Energy & Natural Resources and Environment & Climate Change Practice areas, providing legal advisory services to public and private entities, with a focus on the development of renewable energy projects, with direct involvement in the entire contractual framework, issuing opinions, hydrogen projects, carbon market, circular economy, water efficiency and water, emission licences, maritime resources, Environmental Impact Assessments and urban mobility.
She is a founder and member of the executive committee of the European Federation for Energy Law (EFELA), founder and vice-president of the Energy Law Association, President of the Plataforma para o Crescimento Sustentável (PCS), co-author of the book Chance to Change, on the impact of the Paris Agreement, and author of several articles and academic publications on energy, as well as a speaker at various conferences on the subject.
- Round Table | From Knowledge to Action: Linking Science, Policy, and Innovation (October 30)
Luís Miguel Silva is a passionate advocate for human-centered innovation, with a background that bridges business strategy, project management, and digital empathy. As co-founder of BrightGroup, he has led initiatives that challenge traditional models of work, communication, and leadership — always with people at the core.Luís brings experience from both the corporate and impact sectors, with deep expertise in iGaming, having worked with global brands and social innovation projects alike.
Beyond his role at BrightGroup, Luís serves as President of Porto Tech Hub, contributing to the growth of Porto’s tech ecosystem, and is also actively involved in the NGO Estou Contigo, helping combat social isolation among the elderly — a cause close to his heart.He holds an MBA from Católica Porto Business School, a DISC certification, and has studied at some of the world’s top institutions, including Harvard and Cornell.
- Workshop II facilitator (October 30)
Co-founder & CEO of Future-Fit Foundation
Sustainability and impact specialist
Martin Rich, Co-founder & CEO of Future-Fit Foundation, is a sustainability and impact specialist with nearly 30 years’ experience in both mainstream and social investment.
Following a successful career in international finance working for UBS, JPMorgan, HSBC and Social Finance Ltd, he co-founded Future-Fit Foundation with a vision to create a truly sustainable future for all. He now works on the cutting-edge of sustainability, helping companies and financial institutions of all sizes address the radical transformation that the future demands of their business models.
Martin is a member of various investment and advisory committees, including for WHEB Asset Management and Vivensa Foundation, and is formerly Senior Independent Trustee for Access Foundation and a member of the Asset Allocation Working Group for the G7 Social Investment Task Force. He holds two Master’s degrees with First and Distinction in Engineering from Queens’ College, Cambridge University.
- Round Table | From Knowledge to Action: Linking Science, Policy, and Innovation ((October 29)
Ecologist from FCUL, with postgraduate degrees in Territorial Planning and Management from NOVA FCSH and in Strategic Sustainability Management from INDEG-IST. He is CEO and co-founder of NBI – Natural Business Intelligence, where he leads projects that integrate ecological value and ecosystem services into business, financial and territorial strategies. He is a guest lecturer in Natural Economics, Ecosystem Services Assessment and Finance for Sustainability in executive and postgraduate programmes at ISEG, INDEG-ISCTE, Porto Business School and Católica Porto.
- Keynote Corner | Regenerative Economics: New Ways of Seeing, Thinking, Being, and Managing for the 21st Century (October 30)
Paulo Azevedo is the Chairman of Sonae, a multinational company managing a diversified portfolio of businesses in retail, telecommunications, software, shopping centers and financial services, BAGlass, a glass container manufacturer in Europe and EFANOR, an investment holding company.
Paulo Azevedo was previously CEO of Sonae for 12 years and prior to that, CEO of Sonaecom and Optimus.
He was also a member of the ERT – European Roundtable for Industry for 13 years having been a member of the Steering Committee and chaired the Jobs, Skills & Impact Working Group and served on the International Advisory Board of Allianz S.E..
Paulo Azevedo has always been active in roles outside his management functions and has expanded these over the last 6 years. He is currently CEO of the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation, dedicated to education, as well as Biodiversity & Social care for senior citizens. He is involved in Espaço-T, dedicated to fighting social exclusion and Viridia, dedicated to Nature Conservation. He has in the past been involved in several sectorial and general business associations, foundations and academia and was the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Porto University. He was Chair of the Installation Committee of BIOPOLIS, an International Centre of Excellence in Environmental Biology, Ecosystem Research and AgroBiodiversity. He is currently invited full professor at Porto University leading a mixed research group on future compatibility of Socio-economic systems and Earth systems.
Besides his degree in Chemical Engineering from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Paulo Azevedo has an MBA from Porto Business School and has several executive courses at leading academic institutions on leadership and sustainability.
Paulo Azevedo is married and has three children, enjoys sport and multiple outdoor activities and is currently dedicating more time to nature conservation and biodiversity.
- Keynote Corner | Regenerative Economics: New Ways of Seeing, Thinking, Being, and Managing for the 21st Century (October 30)
Ricardo Voltolini is the CEO of Ideia Sustentável and one of the pioneers in corporate sustainability in Brazil. He is a specialist in strategy, education, and knowledge management for ESG. As a board member, mentor, professor, and writer, he is the author of 12 books, including “Conversas com Líderes Sustentáveis” and “Vamos Falar de ESG?”. He also serves as curator of the Postgraduate Program in ESG, Leadership, and Innovation at FAAP and as Director of Leadership and Sustainability at ABRH-Brazil.
Most recently, he founded the movement “Marcas que se Importam” (“Brands that Care”), an initiative that highlights organizations integrating purpose into business in a consistent and transformative way, aiming to inspire and foster a new model of corporate leadership.
- Keynote Corner | Regenerative Economics: New Ways of Seeing, Thinking, Being, and Managing for the 21st Century (October 30)
Altri Administrator: People, Sustainability, Risk and Communication
She has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra and has participated in several executive programmes, namely at the Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, the Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics and the Porto Business School. With a professional career spanning around 25 years in the cellulose fibre sector, she began her career at Stora-Cell AB Skutskär, Stora Enso Group, as a process engineer. In 1998, she joined Celulose Beira Industrial (Celbi) S.A., where she held various positions, from Management Systems Engineer to Director of Technical Control and Management Systems, always closely linked to the themes of corporate sustainability, social responsibility and continuous improvement.
