Our Speakers
May-Elin Stener,
Norwegian Ambassador to India
May-Elin Stener serves as Norway’s Ambassador to India, leading the Royal Norwegian Embassy’s work to strengthen cooperation between Norway and India across a range of strategic priorities, including climate, sustainability, business, and international affairs.
Andreas B. Schei,
Special Envoy for Climate and Enviornment,
Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi
Andreas B. Schei is Special Envoy for Climate and Environment at the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi. His areas of responsibility at the Embassy include climate and environmental policy, biodiversity and forests, circular economy and marine pollution, plastic pollution and clean air. Previous to being posted in India, he has worked for 20 years within international environmental cooperation, including Norwegian-Indian biodiversity projects, on international negotiations and conventions as well as on polar bears.
Karen Landmark, PhD.,
Managing Director,
Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Karen Landmark has over two decades of experience at the intersection of sustainable development, policy and environmental innovation. She has a deep interest in the complexities of big transitions and how we can approach intertwined global challenges in a holistic, just, and caring way for both the planet and its people.
Beate Langset,
Norwegian Enviornmental Agency
Beate Langset has worked on environmental issues since 2012, building expertise across areas including waste shipments, ship recycling, circular economy, climate-resilient agriculture, and climate-friendly cooling systems. She previously served as Counsellor for Climate and Environment at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi, where she helped strengthen environmental cooperation between Norway and India.
Deepti Kapil,
Additional Director,
Central Pollution Control Board
Ms. Deepti Kapil is a Scientist 'E' and Additional Director at the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. With extensive expertise in environmental regulation and compliance, she plays a pivotal role in driving India's waste management and circular economy initiatives. Her core portfolio includes overseeing regulatory ecosystems for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), plastic waste management, and e-waste. Additionally, she is actively involved in strengthening hazardous waste tracking systems, notably the National Hazardous Waste Tracking System (NHWTS). As a senior representative of the CPCB, Ms. Kapil regularly participates in national forums, policy conferences, and stakeholder consultations to advance industrial compliance and sustainable environmental practices.
Marianne Olsen, PhD.,
Chief Development Director,
Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Dr. Marianne Olsen holds a position as Chief Development Director (CDO) at NIVA, with responsibilities within the area of Strategy development and Research Initiation and is part of NIVA's leader group. Marianne has an academic background with a MSc in Marine Biology and a PhD in ecology specializing in ecosystem effects of pollution. As a researcher, she has worked with a wide range of environmental challenges related to pollution (environmental contaminants, oil spills, nutrients, plastic pollution), including monitoring, mitigation measures and solutions, and involvement of stakeholders. She has work experience from private and public sectors before joining NIVA, and has developed and led large research projects, assessments, and capacity-building projects nationally and internationally. She is overlooking NIVA’s India portfolio and has collaborated with Indian partners for nearly a decade.
Nao Takeuchi,Â
Programme Management Officer,
UNEP
Nao Takeuchi is from Source to Seas Pollution Unit of Ecosystem Division of UNEP. She’s leading the development of the Global Plastics Hub, a one stop shop for knowledge and data hub on plastic pollution. Prior to her current position, she led the UN-Habitat Waste Management team where she developed Waste Wise Cities Tool, a standardized methodology for measuring SDG indicator 11.6.1, quantifying mismanaged plastic waste in world cities. She’s been in the waste and pollution sector for more than 10 years, with vast experiences in working on data, monitoring, business case development and local and national action planning worldwide
Swati Singh Sambyal,
Principal Expert (Pollution),
GRID-Arendal
Swati Singh Sambyal is a senior policy analyst and circular economy expert with over 15 years of experience. As Principal Expert (Pollution) at GRID-Arendal, she leads projects and interventions on circular economy, plastics, and just transition, including engagement in the INC negotiations on the global plastics treaty. Previously, she has held notable positions at UN-Habitat and Centre for Science and Environment and has worked with University of Georgia and World Bank on assignments related to EPR, plastics and waste management
Fredrik Bjerke Abdelmaguid,
Deputy Head of Mission,
Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Mumbai
Mr. Fredrik Bjerke Abdelmaguid is Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Mumbai, serving since August 2024. The consulate covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa, focusing on renewable energy, maritime affairs, circular economy, and institutional collaboration. With more than 15 years of experience in international trade and business development, Mr. Abdelmaguid is recognized as an international growth specialist. Before assuming his current diplomatic role, he spent two years with Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he specialized in business promotion across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, while spearheading Norway's Greener Maritime export initiative. Prior to that, he worked with Innovation Norway since 2009, heading the office in Indonesia and directing Norway's pavilion at the World Expo in South Korea. Mr. Abdelmaguid holds master's degrees in international relations and telecommunications.
Atin Biswas,
Program Director, Solid Waste Management,
CSE
Atin Biswas has more than 28 years of experience in environmental governance, with expertise spanning environmental sanitation, solid waste management, and circular economy. Throughout his career, he has worked with non-profit organizations, the Government of West Bengal, the World Bank, and several Indian ministries and state governments. He also collaborates with countries across sub-Saharan Africa on governance strengthening, institutional development, research, capacity building, and advocacy. At CSE, he leads the Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy Unit and supports circular economy initiatives across India and the Global South.
Ashish Sahu, PhD.,
CAMBI
Ashish Sahu brings more than 20 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment as a process engineer, consultant, and technology manager. Holding a PhD in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, his work sits at the intersection of energy, environment, and technology commercialization, with a focus on translating innovation into practical and scalable solutions.
Atul Bagai,Â
TOMRA
Atul Bagai is a distinguished environmental governance and sustainability leader with more than four decades of experience spanning public service, international diplomacy, and environmental policy. A former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, he spent over two decades with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), including serving as Country Head of UNEP India, where he led initiatives on climate action, circular economy, resource efficiency, waste management, and sustainable development. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with governments, industry, and international organizations across Asia and the Pacific to advance environmental cooperation and policy innovation. Recognized for his contributions to global environmental governance, he was awarded Bhutan’s National Order of Merit (Gold) in 2024 for his role in strengthening environmental and climate policies
Faizaan Ali Contractor,
Assistant Vice President and Senior Volunteer,
Afroz Shah Foundation
A Lawyer and Engineer by profession, Assistant Vice President and Senior Volunteer at the Afroz Shah Foundation serving Mother Nature for the past 9 years by leading multiple groups of volunteers to tackle ‘human-ocean’ and ‘human-animal’ conflicts. Along with beach clean ups, the foundation and team are running mindset change ground action programs to adopt a Circular Economy and implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Divya Datt,
Deputy Head,
UNEP India
Divya Datt is Deputy Head at UNEP India with nearly three decades of experience in environmental policy and sustainable development. Holding a PhD in Economics, her work focuses on resource efficiency, circular economy, climate change, ecosystem services, and environmental governance. She has contributed extensively to advancing policy dialogue and partnerships that support sustainable and inclusive development.
Sanjeev Joglekar,
Senior Environmental Engineer,
Government of Goa
Sanjeev Joglekar is Senior Environmental Engineer at the Goa State Pollution Control Board, where he works on environmental regulation, pollution control, and sustainable resource management. He supports the development and implementation of environmental policies and initiatives aimed at protecting natural resources and advancing sustainable development in Goa