Executive Chairman Webit Foundation
Dr. Plamen Russev is the initiator and focal connector of one of the world’s largest impact networks and curator of the global Webit community, reaching out to over 800,000 digerati, policy makers, innovators and media. His success stories include creating the global Webit brand from scratch, supporting founders and brands in establishing and growing a successful marketing strategy, creating meaningful relations with potential partners, customers and media. Plamen supports causes which impact the achievement of the UN’ SDGs.
He is an investor, philanthropist and serial entrepreneur and proven success record in developing business ventures in multicultural and challenging business environments.
Plamen Russev is B.Sc in Marketing and Management, M.Sc in Electronic Education/Mathematics and Physics, and Ph.D in Healthcare Management.
Plamen Russev has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs of his home country – Republic of Bulgaria and a member of European Commission’ BOF.
Dr. Russev’ work and impact have been recognised and awarded by governments, associations and NGOs along with 2 honorary doctorates from Universities in Europe and South America. Plamen Russev is featured in hundreds of international and local media including The Economist, Bloomberg, CNBCe, Forbes, Venture Beat, CNN to name a few.
Dr. Russev is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Webit Foundation and host of Webit Virtual.
He is happily married to the most wonderful girl in the world and father of 2 boys.
Chief of Staff Innovation & Strategy and Head of Sustainability Philips
Robert is an experienced global program and team leader with passion for innovation, strategy, social impact and change leadership. He currently holds a double role as Head of Sustainability and Chief of Staff Innovation & Strategy at Royal Philips.
As Head of Sustainability, Robert has been driving the company strategy towards innovative, sustainable business models. In particular, Robert and his team are leading the Healthy People, Sustainable Planet program, which embeds sustainability thinking across all sectors of the company. In his role as Chief of Staff, he is responsible for initiating and driving strategic initiatives across Innovation, Strategy, Design, IP&S, and Sustainability.
Before joining Philips, Robert worked at McKinsey & Company as consultant where he gained 5 years of experience in strategy and innovation in the high-tech, health-care and public sectors.His background is in journalism, science and academic research (Theoretical Physics). Robert is married, has three children and lives in the Netherlands.
Group Chief Marketing Officer Agility
Mariam Al-Foudery heads global marketing and corporate social responsibility at Agility, one of the world’s leading logistics companies with $5+ billion in revenue, 26,000+ employees and offices in 100 countries. Overseeing a senior team of functional leaders on multiple continents, she is responsible for driving digital marketing, corporate communications, and the company’s award-winning sustainability strategy that has reached more than 1.6 million people in need. She was named one of Asia’s “Top Sustainability Superwomen” in 2019. Before joining Agility, Mariam worked in the international development and poverty alleviation field. She is an alumna of Stanford University and the London School of Economics.
Journalist at the New York Post; Podcast Host of Life on Planet Earth
John Aidan Byrne is an award-winning journalist at the New York Post , media consultant, co-editor on the Zicklin School of Business Financial Markets Series books, and a Broadway alumnus. He is host of the popular Life on Planet Earth Podcast. His work is published also in Wall Street Journal, National Catholic Register, Institutional Investor and other outlets.
Special Panelists
Host
Q&A Moderator
Executive Chairman Webit Foundation
Dr. Plamen Russev is the initiator and focal connector of one of the world’s largest impact networks and curator of the global Webit community, reaching out to over 800,000 digerati, policy makers, innovators and media. His success stories include creating the global Webit brand from scratch, supporting founders and brands in establishing and growing a successful marketing strategy, creating meaningful relations with potential partners, customers and media. Plamen supports causes which impact the achievement of the UN’ SDGs.
He is an investor, philanthropist and serial entrepreneur and proven success record in developing business ventures in multicultural and challenging business environments.
Plamen Russev is B.Sc in Marketing and Management, M.Sc in Electronic Education/Mathematics and Physics, and Ph.D in Healthcare Management.
Plamen Russev has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs of his home country – Republic of Bulgaria and a member of European Commission’ BOF.
Dr. Russev’ work and impact have been recognised and awarded by governments, associations and NGOs along with 2 honorary doctorates from Universities in Europe and South America. Plamen Russev is featured in hundreds of international and local media including The Economist, Bloomberg, CNBCe, Forbes, Venture Beat, CNN to name a few.
Dr. Russev is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Webit Foundation and host of Webit Virtual.
He is happily married to the most wonderful girl in the world and father of 2 boys.
Founding partner Draper B1
Founding partner at Draper B1, the Draper venture network fund for seed investments in Southern Europe.
He has invested in more than 100 startups. Board member in IESE Business angel network. Product Google Developer Experts. Design Sprint Master.
Managing Partner, Italy Plug and Play
Andrea Zorzetto led the launch of Plug and Play in Italy. Previously, he has worked as a policy advisor at HM Treasury in London and for Paris' network of Public Hospitals, focusing on their digital strategy. He is also the founder and director of Poliferie, an Italian NGO.
Investment Director EDP Ventures
Daniel Nascimento is an Investment Director at EDP Ventures, the venture capital arm of EDP Group. EDP Ventures is a VC with a particular focus on shaping the future of energy sector investing around the world in early stage companies. Prior to joining EDP Ventures we spent 10 years working in strategy consulting and investment banking.
Daniel has a degree in Management and an MBA from The Lisbon MBA. He is a father of 2 young girls and an avid classic car enthusiast.
Bloom Biorenewables is creating a global impact in the use of sustainable resources. By introducing a new route for the production of biorenewable products and fuels, they offer a sustainable alternative to fossil-based industries and contribute to mitigating climate change.
Bloom reveals the hidden value of biomass to provide renewable energy and materials in markets such as fragrances, materials, plastics or textiles. For the first time, Bloom offers products which are both sustainable and cost competitive for a wide range of markets, from fragrances to food packaging.
EcoTree is a simple and ground-breaking new way to reward individuals and businesses that support sustainable forestry . We own and nurture forest land, so you can buy & own the trees. Together, we grow vibrant forests in Europe, which preserve the diversity of plant and animal life and contribute to the planet’s vital capture of CO². When your tree has accomplished its miraculous job of keeping nature in balance, it is cut and sold for high-quality timber at minimal impact to the forest. And here’s the wow bit: all the revenue goes to you! At a yearly rate of approx. 2% per year, your tree’s value will actually double over its lifetime. We’re passionate about growing living proof that forests can flourish AND provide at the same time!
Soletair Power’s technology turns buildings into carbon sinks. The startup manufactures equipment that captures CO2 from building ventilation to make people more wellbeing and more productive. Captured CO2 is combined with hydrogen to create hydrocarbons and fuels. These fuels can be synthetic natural gas or gasoline/diesel etc.
Executive Chairman Webit Foundation
Dr. Plamen Russev is the initiator and focal connector of one of the world’s largest impact networks and curator of the global Webit community, reaching out to over 800,000 digerati, policy makers, innovators and media. His success stories include creating the global Webit brand from scratch, supporting founders and brands in establishing and growing a successful marketing strategy, creating meaningful relations with potential partners, customers and media. Plamen supports causes which impact the achievement of the UN’ SDGs.
He is an investor, philanthropist and serial entrepreneur and proven success record in developing business ventures in multicultural and challenging business environments.
Plamen Russev is B.Sc in Marketing and Management, M.Sc in Electronic Education/Mathematics and Physics, and Ph.D in Healthcare Management.
Plamen Russev has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs of his home country – Republic of Bulgaria and a member of European Commission’ BOF.
Dr. Russev’ work and impact have been recognised and awarded by governments, associations and NGOs along with 2 honorary doctorates from Universities in Europe and South America. Plamen Russev is featured in hundreds of international and local media including The Economist, Bloomberg, CNBCe, Forbes, Venture Beat, CNN to name a few.
Dr. Russev is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Webit Foundation and host of Webit Virtual.
He is happily married to the most wonderful girl in the world and father of 2 boys.
Creative Diversity Lead and journalist BBC
Nina Goswami is the BBC’s Creative Diversity Lead for the 50:50 Project and News and is spearheading initiatives to support the Corporation’s aspiration that its on-air representation reflects society.
She oversees the multi-award-winning 50:50 Project, which is currently the biggest collective action on increasing women’s representation in BBC content there’s ever been. 600 BBC teams from across News, Sport, Factual and Entertainment are signed up to the voluntary initiative that uses a self-monitoring data system to effect change. In addition, over 65 external organisations have partnered with 50:50 including ABC News, Voice of America and Fortune. 50:50 is expanding its methodology to disability and ethnicity – an initiative Nina is leading.
Nina is also a journalist and, before her current post, was a BBC News senior producer. She has worked in media her whole professional career including The Sunday Times and The Sunday Telegraph.
Columnist at Inc. Magazine Best-Selling Author, LinkedIn Live Host & CEO of Power Coaching and Consulting
Rhett was recently named the 2018 Best Small Business Coach in the US, joined Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches, and was named the #1 Thought Leader on Entrepreneurship by Thinkers360. He is CEO of Power Coaching and Consulting in Washington, DC, and hosts Power Lunch Live, one of the most popular business talk shows on LinkedIn's new live platform. Power is the author of the bestselling book The Entrepreneurs Book of Actions: Essential Daily Exercises and Habits for Becoming Wealthier, Smarter, and More Successful. He has written for Success Magazine, Thrive Global, Time, and The Wall Street Journal and is a weekly columnist for Forbes and Inc. Magazine.
Journalist Reuters
Tarmo Virki is an experienced tech journalist at Reuters. He is also a publisher, editor and published author.Apart from his writing for Reuters and after failing with his first startup, he is now working with his wife on Lahhentagge, Estonian drinks maker which recycles Christmas trees for tonic water. He also built CoFounder Magazine - a startup magazine that is a print edition editorial of the startup scene in Europe.
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