Barbara Gill

General Manager, Garage Sale Trail Foundation

Barbara is General Manager and Director of Garage Sale Trail Foundation. Barbara has over 15 years experience working in the public and private sector both in Australia and in the UK, including 8 in the resource recovery sector. With a Masters degree in Social Anthropology, Barbara started her circular economy journey at the age of 10 on the floor of a UK op shop, thanks to her charity shop manager mum Janet.

Dr Nicole Garofano

Head of Circular Economy Development, Planet Ark

Nicole is the Head of Circular Economy Development for Planet Ark. In her role, Nicole is leading the ongoing strategic development of the Australian Circular Economy (ACE) Hub.  For more than 15 years, Nicole has worked in environmental education and action with a focus on waste management and more recently, circular economy.

Ryan Swenson

Head of ESG & Corporate Affairs, Officeworks

Ryan is passionate about realising the potential of a net-zero circular economy, and accelerating progress on the SDG’s by demonstrating sustainability-driven value creation. His approach to solving complex social and environmental issues is to apply systems thinking, establish progressive partnerships, and mobilise stakeholders. Being part of the solution is what motivates him each day.

Ryan holds an MBA in Strategic Carbon Management, from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Business from Monash University. He is currently Head of ESG & Corporate Affairs at Officeworks and a Director of Brisbane-based social enterprise Circonomy.

Samantha Surfield

Director, Circular Sustainability

Samantha is currently the Director of Circular Sustainability, a boutique agency that focusses on solving their customers’ environmental goals, and ultimately delivers sustainable outcomes, efficiencies and cost savings to these organisations. Samantha is an insightful and innovative solutions provider that places the customer at the centre of environmental transformation.