Reuse in Retail: Circular Economy Breakfast

Naomi leads on packaging and waste including pEPR, WEEE Regulations and DRS.

Emma is the Director for Circular Economy at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. She has been in the Civil Service for nearly 20 years, having started out at mental health and criminal justice charity.

Her roles have included establishing a nation-wide programme for families with complex problems; leading Defra's EU Exit strategy, legislative and border and Northern Ireland Programme and was also the UK Government lead negotiator on agrifood for the Windsor Framework - the trade agreement between the EU and UK. She now leads Defra's Circular Economy Portfolio, including major reforms of the UK's packaging sectors and work to develop a new, long-term Circular Economy Strategy and sector-based roadmaps.

Emma is the Defra group Honours and Parenting Network Champions. Emma is a mum, keen cook and enjoys walking and yoga. She is an OBE for her services to public administration.

Stuart is a circular economy expert and co-founder of Beauty Kitchen & Reposit with his wife Jo. They are obsessed by circular design and collective action to deliver the innovation that’s needed to achieve a triple bottom line. Having launched indie beauty brand Beauty Kitchen, which is one of the highest scoring B Corporations in the world with cradle to cradle certified products in returnable packaging, they have now developed Reposit. Reposit is a cross category returnable packaging platform for the benefit of all stakeholders.

James is a retail and operations change expert, leading packaging initiatives that drive circularity, prevent waste and deliver sustainable improvements that help make tomorrow's performance better than todays. 

He works to remove packaging where it’s not required, reduce the environmental impacts of packaging choices, identify scalable reuse solutions to replace single use, and improve the probability of recycling for citizens.

Laura Fernandez is the Senior Sustainability Manager at Ocado Retail, the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket. Laura leads the sustainability team to deliver their Planet Together strategy and become a net zero business that meets the needs of customers without compromising the quality of life for future generations. She is also responsible for Ocado’s relationship with external industry bodies and member groups.

Laura is passionate about packaging having worked at M&S previously as a Senior Packaging Technologist after gaining an MSc in Packaging Technology and Management.
She is a Fellow of IMMM, a Board Member of INCPEN and RECOUP and is dedicated to nurturing talent through effective line management, active mentoring, and knowledge sharing via speaking engagements and judging roles.

Laura is an avid promoter of circular economy and driven to ensure we leave the planet better than we found it.

Catherine is the Co-Director and Policy Lead at GoUnpackaged, the UK’s leading consultancy specialising in reuse and refill - and part of a multi-disciplinary team focused on making reuse a commercially and environmentally successful proposition.

Catherine set-up the first version of GoUnpackaged in 2006 as the world’s first modern zero waste shop and her passion for developing reuse systems across multiple sectors has enabled many other businesses to create real and lasting change. Catherine leads GoUnpackaged’s Policy and Research work as well as sitting on DEFRA’s newly formed Circular Economy Taskforce designing England’s new Circular Economy Strategy.

Lowelle Bryan’s career has focused on resource management. Currently, she has over 16 years’ experience developing and delivering programmes in these areas. She is mission driven, and excels in collaborating to increase impact. She has proven capability in delivering technical solutions to major retailers and global brands.

In her current role of Senior Reuse Specialist, she is providing direction and leadership on reuse in The UK Plastics Pact (soon to be The UK Packaging Pact), working towards ambitious targets. The UK Plastics Pact is the first of a global network of Pacts and, Lowelle works in the UK but also works across the Pact network globally. Lowelle works specifically on reducing the reliance on single use plastics, with the ultimate ambition of making reuse mainstream. Lowelle is a skilled communicator, negotiator and relationship builder.

Jon is Chair of NAWDO, the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers, and also Interim Chair of Waste Network Chairs.  He works closely with local authorities, Government and other stakeholders on policy, regulation, and a host of other issues.  In his day job he is Head of Strategy and Development at East London Waste Authority, with responsibility for partnerships, policy, communications and asset management strategy.