GREENTECH FESTIVAL SPEAKERS

Kamogelo Thumankwe is the founder of Tsarona, a regenerative food company safeguarding indigenous crops and empowering smallholder farmers. Rooted in Africa, Tsarona bridges tradition and innovation, leveraging technology and storytelling to restore biodiversity, build transparent supply chains, and deliver climate-resilient nutrition to modern markets. Her work is gaining global recognition, with communities across Latin America and beyond seeking to protect their own forgotten foods. She champions a food future that nourishes people, celebrates culture, and regenerates ecosystems.

Lena Engel treibt als Director Sustainability bei TÜV Rheinland Consulting nachhaltige Unternehmensstrategien voran. Sie verbindet wissenschaftliche Analysen mit kreativen Lösungsansätzen, um Klimarisiken nicht nur zu managen, sondern als Chancen zu nutzen. Mit über zehn Jahren Erfahrung im Bereich Nachhaltigkeit verfolgt sie praxisnahe, zukunftsorientierte Ansätze. Ihr Ziel ist es, komplexe globale Herausforderungen in konkrete Strategien zu übersetzen und so die Grundlage für langfristigen Unternehmenserfolg zu schaffen – inspiriert von Innovation, Wandel und dem aktuellen Zeitgeist.

Christoph Weigler has been the General Manager of Uber Germany since 2015. Christoph worked for a strategic consulting firm on international projects in the automotive industry for OEMs and Tier 1s. He studied business administration at European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany, Tsinghua University Beijing, China and Arizona State University, United States.

A visionary leader with over 20 years of experience in real estate innovation and
a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the industry. As the driving force
behind UnitedShare, she combines an entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for sustainability. She has spearheaded the development of the platform, focusing on tenant engagement and
energy savings to address the pressing need for decarbonization in the real estate sector by ensuring UnitedShare stays at the forefront of sustainable real estate innovation.

Professor of Strategy and Innovation and Director of the Amsterdam MBA at the University of Amsterdam Business School. Recognized by Poets & Quants as one of the “Top 40 Under 40” business school professors worldwide, he leads one of Europe’s premier Executive MBA programs. His research focuses on digital transformation, business development, and product management. Kortmann has held visiting positions at ESADE and the University of San Diego. He collaborates with leading firms such as BCG, BMW, and Nike.

Als studierte Wirtschaftsgeographin (M.A.) bin ich seit mehr als 2 Jahren als Head of hubitation tätig, begleite die Weiterentwicklung des Programmes aber schon seit 2019 in verschiedenen Rollen.

Dr. Benedikt Stolze ist Gründer und CEO von Urbify, einem Berliner LogTech Unternehmen für Same- und Next-Day-Delivery. Mit akademischem Hintergrund in Information Management (Ph.D., Maastricht University) und internationaler Erfahrung bringt er fundiertes Wissen und unternehmerischen Weitblick zusammen. Zuvor war er bei Volkswagen und Porsche Consulting im Bereich Smart Mobility tätig. Mit Urbify gestaltet er die letzte Meile der Zustellung digital, nachhaltig und hocheffizient – mit Zustellquoten über 98 %.

As a blogger and author, as an influencer of innovation and leadership & as a popular and award-winning speaker at major congresses, she provides valuable inspiration to many people and is r. At the age of 22, she was faced with the major task of taking over the company as its successor. she stands for healthy & sustainable economic growth. She is the founder of the Vanessa Weber Foundation for Education and Sustainability

Jon Goriup is a product-driven startup founder dedicated to developing sustainability-focused solutions. He began his startup career by creating cross-selling solutions for the event industry. After completing his studies at ESADE Business School and the University of North Carolina, he shifted his focus to optimising supply chain systems. As co-founder & CEO of VCG.AI, Jon leads a team behind an award-winning AI-powered solution for accelerating successful circular businesses globally.

Since 2020, Klaus has led the IAA Conference at IAA MOBILITY in Munich and IAA TRANSPORTATION in Hanover for the VDA. He holds degrees in Social Science (BA) and Media & Business (MA). Before joining Evenson GmbH in 2019 to help shape the new IAA Conference in Frankfurt, he spent nearly 10 years in B2B marketing roles across media, tourism, and Europe’s largest tax consultancy. Klaus lives with his family in Berlin, supports sustainable solutions, and is passionate about photography.

Bertram Kawlath, born in 1970, studied history and completed an MBA. He was Managing Director of Eisenwerk Erla GmbH (2004-2010) and Managing Partner of Schubert & Salzer Feinguss Lobenstein GmbH (2010-2023). Since 2004, he has been managing partner of the Schubert & Salzer group. Active in the VDMA, he joined the board of the VDMA Bavaria in 2011, became chairman in 2021, Vice President in 2020, and President in October 2024.

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Fortino, geboren 1984 in Bonn, promovierte mit Auszeichnung an der RWTH Aachen im Bereich digitaler Akustiksysteme. Bei Porsche gestaltete er den Sound des ersten vollelektrischen Taycan maßgeblich mit. Seit 2021 lehrt er Akustik und Software an der FH Dortmund. 2023 gründete er Vehicle SoundLab, um innovative Klangerlebnisse für Elektrofahrzeuge zu entwickeln und die Faszination für Elektromobilität auf ein neues Level zu heben.

– Viessmann Climate Solutions: Since September 2022, Public Affairs Germany
– Wirtschaftsrat der CDU e.V. (Economic Council): 2017 – 2022, responsible for Industry, Energy, Environment Policy
– German Bundestag: 2016 – 2017, Research Associate for Energy Policy for the Spokesman for Energy and Economic Policy of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group
– Wintershall 2015 – 2016: Advisor Energy Policy

Amanda is the Global CMO & Commercial Director at Vodafone Business, where she oversees global marketing, media & GTM strategies for businesses of all sizes, reaching a customer base of 5.5m org worldwide. Amanda’s team is dedicated to helping business decision-makers discover & leverage technologies enabling them to thrive in the digital economy. Amanda is an integral member of the Vodafone Business SLT & has held senior marketing roles at leading companies such as Oracle, Dell, Cisco, Sage & Infor.

Studium1989-1995: Chemie Studium, TU Braunschweig1995-2000: Promotion, TU BraunschweigBeruflicher Werdegang1999-2000: TU Braunschweig, Lehrstuhl Technologie der Kohlenhydrate 2000-2008: Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg, Qualitätssicherung2008-2014: Volkswagen Argentinien, Pacheco Qualitätssicherung2014-2016: Volkswagen China, Beijing, Qualitätssicherung2016.2020: Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg, Qualitätssicherung2020-heute: Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg, Technische Entwicklung

Dr. Dirk Voeste is Chief Sustainability Officer of Volkswagen Group. Being in this position since April 1st, 2023, together with his team he is responsible for the sustainability & ESG strategy development and its implementation into the Group stakeholder relationships.

Founder&CEO of the Sustainable Initiative Platform and mobile app Walk15, entrepreneur, Lithuanian and European II League champion.
In just five years, Vlada and her team has impacted over 1,500 companies and 1,000,000 app users worldwide, helping them improve their wellbeing, change mobility habits, and create a positive environmental impact.

Oliver Schwan ist Geschäftsführer von Water Is Right. Er setzt sich für den weltweiten Zugang zu sauberem Wasser ein.
Er ist studierter Kommunikationswissenschaftler mit über 25 Jahren Erfahrung in Kommunikation, Marketing und gemeinnütziger Arbeit. So verbindet er wirtschaftliches Denken mit nachhaltigem Handeln.

MBA University of Munich in 1986. Several years with A.T. Kearney in Munich and a south german venture capitalist. Moving to Berlin in 1996 initiated matching forums for innovators (startups) with investors & potential clients. Until now more than 170 forums welcoming appr. 19,000 attendees all over Europe and USA. Focus b2b. In water technologies since 2010 with 30 forums in USA, all over Europe and UAE.

Passionate game changer, entrepreneur, and advisor, Guillaume co-founded We Don’t Need Roads, a global applied sustainable innovation firm dedicated to transforming business in a warming world. His “commando teams” are known for identifying the climate-related business threats, and tackling them with sharp innovation & implementation plans – global sparring partners on topics like raw materials and supply securisation & relocalisation, low carbon & circular supply chains, recyclable & reusable products, legislations & certifications product range compliance, for global brands.

Dr. Seraphine Zhang is the CTO of wempyre, a Berlin-based startup advancing decentralized pyrolysis for plastic waste recycling. She holds a PhD in pyrolysis from ETH Zurich and completed her master’s thesis at UC Berkeley. Her experience spans the chemical industry and sustainability-focused procurement consulting in Saudi Arabia. At wempyre, she leads the development of modular systems that convert plastic waste into hydrogen, syngas, and energy—supporting circular economy goals and reducing emissions through on-site waste valorization.

Dr. Gräter studied biophysical chemistry at the universities of Heidelberg, Padova, and Shanghai, and earned a PhD in nanotechnology. He spent much of his career at BASF in various management roles, including leading the sustainability strategy unit. Since 2019, Dr. Gräter is the Director Group Sustainability at WEPA and Deputy Chairman of the WEPA Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He joined WEPA, driven by his passion for family entrepreneurship and the sustainable transformation potential of the tissue industry.

Gelernte Volkswirtin, fasziniert von der Frage, wie wir die vielen anstehenden Transformationen tatsächlich gestalten können, überzeugt, dass wir lokal große Hebel dafür haben: durch smarte und innovative Ideen aus Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft, Reallabore und starke Netzwerke und Kooperationen, die helfen, sie auf die Straße bringen.