Main Conference - Afternoon

The afternoon of the main conference day will be dedicated to specific breakout sessions, covering a wide-range of topics. Including:

Breakout Session 1: Collaboration in Innovation: Brokerage Session

Innovate UK Business Growth will be hosting a brokerage session aimed at fostering knowledge transfer connections between UK based organisations and international partners including opportunities for collaboration between regions involved in the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). Academics and third sector representatives are invited to attend and share their areas of interest so that brokerage matches can be facilitated. The session will be supplemented with information on the various businesses support packages available to facilitate international innovation collaborative opportunities. Please note, supplementary information will be sourced from participants prior to this event to support appropriate brokerage / matching opportunities, this will include use of B2Match.

Breakout Session 2: Encouraging Circular Behaviours in Wales and Across the Globe

This session will deliver a deep dive into the insights that shaped Be Mighty. Recycle campaign strategy, exploring the activities that inspired audiences in Wales and revealing the impact on both food waste prevention and recycling behaviours. We’ll also showcase food waste prevention campaigns we’ve delivered, in partnership with countries across the globe, demonstrating how tailoring approaches to cultural and audience nuances maximises impact.

Speakers include:

• Jackie Bailey, Senior Campaigns Manager, WRAP
• Mark Roberts, Senior Specialist, WRAP
• Angela Spiteri, Senior Campaigns Manager, WRAP Cymru

Breakout Session 3: Impact of Academia: Research, Skills, and Innovation

This session will feature a panel discussion with an emphasis on audience interaction and questions. Academics will share how their research is impacting the transition to a circular economy in Wales and beyond and will be discussing how students are developing the skills needed to further the circular economy.

Speakers include:

• Professor Gavin Bunting, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University
• Max Green, Research and Innovation Fellow, Swansea University

Breakout Session 4: Circular Economy in Action: Pathways to Sustainable Development

This experiential and immersive workshop will be delivered by CEIC team (Cardiff Met and Swansea Universities) and will explain how they have supported organisations to develop innovation and Circular Economy (CE) capabilities and reduce their carbon footprint and increase productivity. CEIC has supported over 120 organisations business and third sector organisations to develop a Clean Growth plan and a Carbon Reduction Plan by helping them understand circular economy (CE) principles and develop the innovation skills to implement new processes and practices within their organisation.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Gary Walpole, Director of CEIC, Cardiff Met University
• Jill Davies, Programme Manager - CEIC, Cardiff Met University

Breakout Session 5: Driving Circularity in the Public Sector

This session will examine the ways in which public sector organisations in Wales are using the estimated £8 billion of public spend per annum to drive forward sustainability and the circular economy.

Breakout Session 6: From linear to circular - repair and reuse across the value chain

This session will focus on how reuse and repair can work for citizens and consumers. Using Wales’ repair and reuse route map: Towards a Universal Culture of Repair and Reuse in Wales, the panel will represent views to examine how reuse and repair can be expanded.

Speakers include:

• Bettina Gilbert, Head of Circular Economy, WRAP

Breakout Session 7: Circular Innovation in Business: Case Studies

This session will feature innovative case studies from businesses investing in driving the circular economy through innovation and partnership. Each session will feature businesses from Wales and further afield sharing their story, sharing learnings, and detailing the successes they’ve had in embedding circular principles in their everyday practices.

Speakers include:

• Jon Anderson, Chief Technology Officer, Polytag
• Adam Fairweather, Co-Founder and Innovations Director, Smile Plastics
• Rosalie McMillan, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Smile Plastics

Breakout Session 8: Wales’ Recycling Successes

This session will explore the success Wales has had in becoming one of the top recycling nations and the progressive approach that the Welsh Government and local authorities have taken to enable these achievements. Panellists will cover topics such as the Welsh Government’s collection blueprint, the recently enacted workplace recycling regulations, and Wales’ ambitions to become the best recycling nation in the world.

Speakers include:

• Dr Andy Rees OBE, Head of Waste Strategy, Welsh Government