Keynote Speakers
Karolien Van Riel
earned her Commercial Engineering degree from the University of Antwerp and has been a sustainability expert at AP University of Applied Sciences for many years.
Karolien Van Riel
Since 2012, Karolien has been associated with AP University of Applied Sciences, initially serving as the head of the Applied Informatics program, later as a lecturer, and since 2023, as the coordinator of research in circular innovation. Karolien has authored multiple books, showcasing her expertise in project management, economics, and sustainable entrepreneurship. She also serves as the chair of the sustainability working group at Businet, an international network of higher education institutions.
Leonel Leal Neto
Coordinator of the United Nations Development Program in Salvador – Bahia, Brazil.
Graduated in Administration, postgraduate in Business Management and Master in Development Management and International Cooperation. He was Secretary of International Relations at Salvador City Hall from 2005 to 2012, when he also served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor, from 2009 to 2010, and manager of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Office, from 2009 to 2012.
Leonel Leal Neto
He was vice-president of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in Bahia, member of the FIEB Foreign Trade Council and General Director of CEERI-Center for Studies and Strategies in International Relations. He is currently the Coordinator of the Project Office of the UNDP – United Nations Development Program in Salvador – Bahia and a professor at the Unijorge University Center since 1999.
Rodrigo Lobo
Has nearly 30 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience, including senior positions at Accenture and Coastal Technologies, lately acquired by DuPont, and co-owner, partner, and Executive Director of Tecnodata Educacional,an independent educational publishing company, and Tese Technology, a geo-technologies company, both based in Brazil.
Rodrigo Lobo
Rodrigo’s experience was primarily as general manager, strategy, and marketing manager. He has worked in more than 20 countries and has lived for six months or more in Brazil, The United States, England, Spain, and Argentina. Rodrigo is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Rodrigo is currently full-time business faculty at Montana State University, Billings, where he teaches Strategy and Entrepreneurship. His research stream is on innovation management, technology forecasting, and corporate strategy. Rodrigo holds a PhD from Positivo University in Brazil, and formerly was PhD visiting research scholar at Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. In addition, he holds an MBA in International Management from Baldwin Wallace University, and graduate degrees in GIS and Marketing.
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