Speakers
Below you find a list of confirmed speakers. More to come!
Tim Lenton is Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter. His reading of Jim Lovelock’s books on Gaia, when he was an undergraduate, ignited his passion for studying the Earth as a whole system, forming the foundations of his research to date. Tim has made fundamental contributions to the study of climate tipping points and Earth system science more broadly, and his integrated view of our living planet is captured in his books Revolutions That Made The Earth and Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction. In recent years, Tim has shifted his focus to identifying positive tipping points towards sustainability, and is currently on sabbatical to write a book on the subject. He is the lead author of the Global Tipping Points report.
Joyeeta Gupta is Professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. Her work centers on climate justice, equity, and sustainable development, with a particular focus on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations and ecosystems. Joyeeta’s research is deeply influenced by her background in law and her commitment to addressing power imbalances in global environmental governance. She has written four books on climate change and global governance and was a lead author on the fourth IPCC report. Currently, she co-chairs the Earth Commission, a body that aims to define safe and just boundaries for a thriving planet. Joyeeta was a recipient of the "Dutch Nobel Prize" (the Spinoza Prize) in 2023.
Doyne Farmer is Director of the Complexity Economics programme at the Institute for New Economic Thinking at Oxford University, External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute, and Chief Scientist at Macrocosm. He has made fundamental contributions to chaos theory and is renowned for his pioneering work in complexity economics, financial stability, and technological progress, especially as they relate to a low-carbon future. As a graduate student, he built the first wearable digital computer to successfully beat the game of roulette and later founded Prediction Company, one of the first quantitative automated trading firms. Doyne’s book, Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World, published in 2024, synthesizes his journey from chaos theory to building innovative frameworks for a more resilient and equitable economy.
Vítor Vasconcelos is Assistant Professor at the Computational Science Lab at the University of Amsterdam. He works on mathematical and computational models of human collective behavior to anticipate the intended and unintended consequences of interventions in complex social systems. Vítor co-leads the Polder initiative at the Institute for Advanced Study and coordinates the development of a new Master’s program in 'Complex Systems and Policy' at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies. Previously, Vítor was a visiting research scholar at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment and the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, where he also did two postdocs after finishing his PhD in physics.
Liesbeth van Tongeren is a prominent Dutch politician and environmental advocate known for her commitment to sustainability and social justice. Formerly a member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the GreenLeft party, Liesbeth focused on climate policy, energy transition, and environmental law. With a background in law and extensive experience in environmental organizations, including as a former director of Greenpeace, she has been instrumental in shaping progressive climate policies in the Netherlands. After her time in Parliament, Liesbeth continued her advocacy as an alderperson in The Hague, where she worked on local initiatives to promote energy efficiency, green urban development, and social inclusion.
Pippi van Ommen is a Dutch climate activist and community organizer dedicated to social and environmental justice. She currently works as a community worker at Stichting Eigenwijks in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, where she focuses on involving local communities in social initiatives. Pippi is also an active member of Extinction Rebellion, where she was responsible for media and communications for many years. Amidst a general lack of progress on climate change, Pippi recognised the need for approaches beyond - or in addition to - civil disobedience to address our deeply interconnected crises. She went on to co-found Deep Canvassing Nederland, a movement that promotes change through meaningful conversations on divisive issues, currently focusing on migration.
