GREENTECH FESTIVAL SPEAKERS

Maryann, a sustainability advocate, serves as the Sustainability Coordinator for Sucafina Rwanda, focusing on redefining agricultural systems in East Africa. She empowers smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable practices, partnering with WFP and Proteen in the Rebug2Debug project to produce organic fertilizer from Black Soldier Fly Larvae. This initiative reintroduces lost nutrients into the food chain, enhancing farm productivity and food security in Rwanda. With a background in Animal Sciences and experience with research organizations like ICIPE, Maryann is dedicated to finding alternative protein sources and raising awareness about climate change. She strives to foster practices that enhance the adaptation and mitigation capacity of African food systems, embodying a catalyst for positive change.

Mashrur, is a Bangladeshi young engineer-turned-to agribusiness enthusiast. He co-founded iPAGE, an agricultural information tech startup to empower smallholders through actionable information and ecosystem linkage. Mashrur is a Westerwelle Fellow, public speaker, and an advocate for digital agricultural extension. Before embarking on his current entrepreneurial journey, Mashrur worked in government service, founded two other startups, one of which is now a full fledged company. He comes from a farming family that migrated from its ancestral profession for loosing a fortune during a disastrous cyclone, spurring him to seek ways to bolster small farmers’ climate resilience using homegrown talent and technology. Mashrur wants to contribute to developing an agricultural ecosystem that is connected to all related stakeholders, fosters diversity, and sustainable.

Three decades of experience in business technologies. Influencer in the area of digital transformation with a focus on sustainability, AAS (Asset Administration Shell) and business modeling. Numerous articles in various publications on the topics of Big Data, Realtime Enterprise Platform, Twin Transformation and AI.After studying History, German and then Business Informatics, he held management positions in sales and business development at large software manufacturers.Former participant in the Digitalization AG of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and an associative partner for climate solutions in BmBF research projects. Member of the Expert advisory board of DENA (“Refridgeration Project”) and associative partner of the “Global Industry Alliance for Circular Economy Standards”.

Matt Petersen is the President and CEO of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI.) LACI is creating an inclusive green economy by unlocking innovation (e.g., incubating leading startups), transforming markets (i.e., creating aspirational partnerships), and enhancing community (i.e., inspiring future entrepreneurs). LACI’s three priorities are accelerating transportation electrification, clean energy, and sustainable cities. Prior to joining LACI, Matt Petersen was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti as the first ever Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Los Angeles. Serving as CSO for four years, Petersen was the chief architect of the groundbreaking Sustainable City pLAn, led efforts to make LA a global leader in EVs, and helped create the Climate Mayors.

Max Wasler is a versatile entrepreneur and sports enthusiast, boasting a Master’s degree in Sport Management from Real Madrid University. With over four years at Red Bull, he orchestrated motorsport events like Formula 1 and MotoGP. In 2019, Max teamed up with Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg to drive his business development and investments. As Managing Director, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of “Rosberg X Racing,” clinching two out of three championships in Extreme E racing. Committed to sustainability, Max also leads the Greentech Festival and co-founded fintech startup “Bankwards” in 2022. With Bankwards, Max revolutionizes financial management for SMEs through digitalization and automation. Max’s journey embodies innovation, resilience, and a profound dedication to merging sports and sustainability.

In 2019, Maya Leinenbach launched her Instagram channel with the idea of building her own community to fulfill her dream of writing her own cookbook. Today, she inspires over 6 million subscribers on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest as @Fitgreenmind. The company’s mission: to inspire people to integrate a sustainable lifestyle into their everyday lives and provide access to vegan food and products. Fitgreenmind shows that plant-based eating is easy, fun and tastes good to many cultures and generations around the world.

Melanie has held various executive positions in the global biotechnology, agrochemical and chemical industry including Vice President EHS Corporate, Senior Vice President Global Safety Cluster and Senior Vice President Regulatory, Sustainability & Public Affairs Agricultural Solutions. She is an experienced leader with a demonstrated track record and an accomplished regulatory professional with more than 16 years of in-depth experience. She holds a PhD in Neurobiology, from Max-Planck Institute of Brain Research.

With more than a decade experience from renewable energy technology and project finance, Melanie now focusses on connecting sustainable solutions with corporate venture capital, ensuring the scalability of startups advancing digital infrastructure solutions for a greener future. Current efforts are geared towards advancing the energy and mobility transition, exemplified by investments in battery analytics company Volytica Diagnostics and carbon management platform Cozero.

With a career spanning over two decades from being at the technological forefront to holding senior management positions, Michael Mueller is a widely recognised figure within the cloud and sustainable IT industry. As an expert in cloud technologies, transformation and sustainable software, he’s not only worked for leading companies he also got elected as Co-Chair at the Green Software Foundation’s Policy Working Group. Michael shares his knowledge as lecturer at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and various industry conferences.

Swedish-born Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky has emerged as a trailblazing figure in the racing world. With her grandfather, Freddy Kottulinsky, being the only Swede to win the Paris-Dakar Rally, and her mother, Susanne Kottulinsky, a European Rally Champion, Mikaela was destined for a career in motorsports, despite initial interest in gymnastics and dancing. Her breakthrough came in 2014 when she became the first woman to win a race in the German Scirocco R-Cup and made history at the Norisring. Mikaela’s versatility saw her gaining experience in Rallycross and competing in the Audi Sport TT Cup and ADAC GT Masters. Joining PWR Racing in 2018, she made history again by winning a race in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC), demonstrating remarkable skill and determination. Her most recent achievement came in 2023 when she clinched the Extreme E Championship with teammate Johan Kristoffersson, beating renowned motorsport legends and cementing her status as a formidable force in the racing world.

Mischa is an expert in corporate collaboration, marketing, communications and fundraising. He is dedicated to the many ways in which organisations can best support their business models to work with WWF to create a path to effective sustainability. With his long experience in various positions in the non-profit sector, management and project management, Mischa has a broad understanding of the interplay between business interests and sustainability issues.

Ms. Moesi is the cofounder and CEO of Viva Organica, and spearheads the overall business strategy of the ecoconscious biotech company based in Gabane, Botswana. She is a biologist by profession and is passionate about developing climate action-oriented businesses and projects in Climate change adaptation work. Applying principles of soil microbiology and agritech in restoring fertility of soils through sustainable agriculture and climate resilient farming is a goals she seeks to achieve through Viva Organica. She has prototyped and launched the company’s flagship products into the local market which has impacted close to 400 farmers and distributed to 200Hectares of land. Mmakwena is a 2022 YouthAdapt Challenge winner, a 2023 SEED Awards runner up and a Youth Ecopreneuer 2023 finalist.

Born and raised in Munich, I am a Sports Student gone wrong, who consciously decided against classical business studies and chose to study something where my passion lies, with the intention of eventually becoming a Journalist.Realising I am more into building a business with others than writing about football, I became the first employee of Netlight in the German-speaking region, helping the company grow to 2000 people across Europe. I am leading Netlight’s work in the early-stage and impact space and strongly believe the opportunity for driving impactful change is now. On a private level, I am thankful for having 3 lovely children and a solid foundation with friends and family.