Omar González is Business Development Manager for North America at Oben Group, a global flexible packaging film manufacturer. An Industrial Chemical Process Engineer with a Master's in Quality and Productivity from Tecnológico de Monterrey, he brings 21 years of industry experience and deep technical expertise across oriented film formats—BOPP, BOPET, BOPA, BOPE, and cast PP—along with barrier coatings, laminate structures, and emerging biopolymer technologies. 
 

Over the course of his career, Omar has built a combination of technical expertise and strong commercial and strategic acumen, leading new client, market, and product development across the U.S. and Canada while helping manufacturers and brand owners translate complex material science into practical packaging solutions. An active member of ARC's Sustainability Committee, he is a frequent speaker at international industry congresses, where he shares perspective on both material innovation and market development.

Dr Carlos Ludlow-Palafox is a Chemical Engineer with a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He developed the Enval technology for recycling flexible plastic packaging and co-founded and led the company for nearly 20 years. He later served as CTO of Greenback Recycling Technologies and now works independently as consultant in circular economy and advanced recycling.

Juliana Chala Ortega is a LATAM Senior Engineer Packaging Sustainability - Mars Snackings, where she leads packaging sustainability initiatives across Latin America. Her work focuses on advancing circular packaging solutions, including increasing recycled content, improving packaging recyclability, and integrating regulatory and quality requirements into packaging development.

With experience in innovation, sustainability, and packaging materials management, Juliana collaborates with cross-functional teams to accelerate the transition toward a circular economy, balancing performance, regulatory compliance, business viability, and sustainability goals. Her approach is grounded in collaboration, science, and continuous improvement, contributing to Mars' commitment to creating a positive impact for people, pets, and the planet.

English

Sofia has an outstanding career in the field of sustainability. She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing for Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus Santa Fe, and a MSc in Environmental Entrepreneurship from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. For the past 12 years she has overseen the development of sustainability projects at Danone Mexico. She is currently Head of Sustainability leading water, CO2, regenerative agriculture and circular economy agendas.

She has been recognized as one of Expansión’s 30 Promising Business Leaders and as one of Empresas Verdes’ 60 Women Committed to the Environment and Sustainability in Mexico. She is also a professor in the Sustainable Development Engineering programme at ITESM Santa Fe Campus (ITESM CSF).

Spanish

Sofía cuenta con una carrera destacada en el ámbito de la sustentabilidad. Con una licenciatura en Marketing por parte del ITESM CSF y una maestría en Emprendimiento Ambiental de la Universidad de Strathclyde en Glasgow, durante los últimos 12años ha estado a cargo del desarrollo de proyectos de sustentabilidad en Grupo Danone México. Actualmente es responsable de la estrategia de sustentabilidad que incluye:  economía circular, agua,  agricultura regenerativa y reducción de CO2 en la cadena de suministro.

Ha sido reconocida como una de las 30 promesas de los negocios por parte de Expansión y como una de las 60 mujeres que trabajan comprometidas por el medio ambiente y la sustentabilidad en México por parte de Empresas Verdes. Es profesora de cátedra de la carrera de Ingeniería en Desarrollo Sostenible del ITESM CSF.

Beatriz De la Peña is Corporate Packaging Manager at Coca-Cola FEMSA, where she helps shape packaging strategy across ten Latin American countries. A food engineer with 18 years of experience in research and development, project management, and packaging design, she has also worked with Danone, PepsiCo, and Mondelez. Her work focuses on turning sustainable and circular packaging concepts into solutions that can be implemented at scale, including innovation in returnable PET packaging. She holds a master’s degree in Corporate Sustainability from EALDE Business School and has completed studies in Food Science and Circular Economy. Beatriz believes that collaboration across teams and the value chain is essential to designing packaging systems that use resources more effectively and keep materials in circulation

Matt Slutzker is Wood Mackenzie’s principal analyst covering PET, RPET and sustainability in the Americas to analyze dynamic regional markets via insights, presentations, and commentaries. Contributing to an integrated view of the polyester value chain, he also supports assessments for broader plastics markets and sustainability areas within the circular economy. More recently, he has been investigating how the plastics industry will develop key infrastructure to support future demand within recycled markets.

Matt joined Wood Mackenzie in 2022 within the Oils & Chemicals Research team, based in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to Wood Mackenzie, he worked in Corporate Development with Alpek Polyester with a focus on market analysis, M&A activity, and strategic planning. Matt holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Tech and recently completed his MBA at Wake Forest University with a focus on strategy & leadership.

Englsh

Adrian is an industrial designer with studies in business development, sustainable development, and circular economy, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in socio-environmental projects. He is director of flexible packaging at ECOCE and coordinator of Circular Economy at the Universidad del Medio Ambiente. He worked for more than 20 years in the Mexican manufacturing industry, leading various projects.

Spanish

Adrian es diseñador industrial con estudios en desarrollo de negocios, desarrollo sostenible, economía circular y actualmente cursa una maestría en proyectos socioambientales. Es director de empaques flexibles en ECOCE y coordinador de Economía Circular en la Universidad del Medio Ambiente. Trabajó por más de 20 años en la industria manufacturera mexicana dirigiendo diversos proyectos.

Luz Elena Aristizábal Alviar is the Familia Foundation Lead. She is an Environmental Engineer with a  Master of Arts in Environmental Legislation, Master of Science in Environmental Management. She has 15 years of experience in the circular economy and sustainability sector, leading process to understand and increase recyclable materials in the supply chain, working with industries, governments and waste pickers in the formalized process in Colombia and Latin America.

Roberto Llano is Commercial Director at Evertis Mexico and has more than 22 years of experience in food and industrial packaging. Throughout his career, he has developed extensive expertise in packaging applications, materials, and solutions, supporting clients in the selection and implementation of efficient and innovative alternatives.

English Version

Moisés Jiménez Ramírez is the Commercial Director of Exports at Bioflex, with over 15 years of experience in the plastics and packaging industry. He leads the company’s international expansion strategy, with a focus on North America, strengthening Bioflex’s positioning in highly demanding markets.

His career is distinguished by a strong understanding of market needs in sustainability, particularly in the use of recycled materials. In his role, he drives solutions that align the technical performance of packaging with increasingly stringent global environmental requirements, bringing a strategic perspective on the future of sustainable packaging in international markets.

Spanish Version

Moisés Jiménez Ramírez es Director Comercial de Exportaciones en Bioflex, con más de 15 años de experiencia en la industria del plástico y empaques. Lidera la estrategia de expansión internacional, con enfoque en Norteamérica,impulsando el posicionamiento de la empresa en mercados de alta exigencia.

Su trayectoria se distingue por una sólida comprensión de las necesidades del mercado en materia de sostenibilidad, particularmente en el uso de materiales reciclados. Desde su rol, impulsa soluciones que alinean el desempeño técnico de los empaques con las crecientes exigencias ambientales a nivel global, aportando una visión estratégica sobre el futuro de los empaques sostenibles en mercados internacionales.

Karla Maciel is the Regional Business Development Manager at Avery Dennison, bringing over a decade of experience forging strategic alliances and driving packaging innovation. An Industrial Engineer with a specialty in Technology Management from Universidad Panamericana, she firmly believes that a sustainable future begins with conscious design. Today, Karla works closely with brands to ensure that every packaging solution, right from its conception, integrates the essential variables needed to transition toward a true circular economy.

English Version :

Mr. Eduardo Solano is a Professional with 6 years of experience in circular economy models. He has worked with companies across various sectors, including manufacturing, consumer goods, agribusiness, and the chemical industry, in designing national-level strategies aimed at maximizing the value of products throughout the value chain through initiatives such as:
 
• Structuring strategic partnerships.
• Developing waste recovery and valorization programs.
• Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
• Developing reverse logistics models and applying ecodesign principles.
• Incorporating recyclable and recycled materials into production processes.
 
Spanish version :
El Sr. Eduardo Solano es un profesional con 6 años de experiencia en modelos de economía circular. Ha trabajado con empresas de diversos sectores, incluyendo manufactura, bienes de consumo, agroindustria y la industria química, en el diseño de estrategias a nivel nacional orientadas a maximizar el valor de los productos a lo largo de la cadena de valor mediante iniciativas como:
 
• Estructuración de alianzas estratégicas.
• Programas de recuperación y valorización de residuos.
• Implementación de esquemas de Responsabilidad Extendida del Productor.
• Desarrollo de modelos de logística inversa y aplicación de principios de ecodiseño.
• Incorporación de materiales reciclables y reciclados en procesos productivos

Jade Manzano Kuri is Corporate Strategy Manager at Evertis, focusing on strategic partnerships, key corporate relationships, and sustainability initiatives. She has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and cross-sector collaboration. Prior to Evertis, she worked with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), leading strategic partnerships with the private and public sectors.

Jade holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution, Crisis and Program Management from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad de las Américas Puebla.

Ksenia Portnova has served as Deputy Director of Sustainability at Walmart de México y Centroamérica since 2021. In this role, she is responsible for leading the company’s sustainability agenda and driving strategies aimed at transforming Walmart into a regenerative business, through emissions reduction, natural resource conservation, sustainable sourcing, zero-waste and recycling programs, all aligned with the company’s environmental commitments and long-term sustainability goals.

Throughout her career, Ksenia has worked in various finance-related functions, including budgeting, sales and cost analysis, and auditing, at Walmart de México, Mattel, Philip Morris International, and Deloitte.

Ksenia holds a degree in Business Administration with a specialization in International Business from Saint Petersburg State University, Russia. She also earned a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.

Dr. German Ruiz Mendez is the Director General for Sustainable Urban Environmental Development and Performance,
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) of the Mexican government.

Germán Ruiz Méndez holds a Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a Master’s degree in Government and Public Affairs, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration. He has built a solid career in public policy design, particularly at the municipal and federal levels, having worked with institutions such as the National Institute for Federalism and Municipal Development (INAFED), the Secretary of Government, the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Public Education, and SEMARNAT.

He was awarded 3rd Place in the INAP 2017 Prize for his doctoral research on local development models, and he has served as a lecturer and speaker both in Mexico and abroad. In addition, he actively participates in academic networks such as IGLOM, INAP, SOMECE, and REMINEO.

His current work focuses on the implementation of the National Waste Policy and the Circular Economy, leading the Directorate-General for Sustainable Urban Environmental Development and Performance at SEMARNAT. Under his leadership, key programs for integrated waste management have been promoted, positioning him as a leading voice in Mexico’s transition toward more sustainable systems.

 Eduardo Ragasol is a seasoned NielsenIQ (NIQ) leader with more than 30 years of senior management experience at international companies, spanning general management, marketing and operations. As head of NIQ Mexico, he leads the
country's business and its relationships with clients and strategic partners.

His career spans management consulting, supply chain and consumer intelligence, including more than a decade leading
businesses across Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Argentina. He began his career at NielsenIQ (then Nielsen), where he held a range of leadership roles, among them Country Manager for Mexico and President of Nielsen Brazil until 2014. He later served as Senior Partner and Latin America Leader at Mercer, CEO of Neogrid, and Co-founder and Senior Partner of SC Latam/Parallax.

He is a frequent speaker at business and industry forums, among them ANTAD, CANILEC, CANAINCA, COPARMEX, CANACINTRA, ANFAD and AMAI, as well as before the boards of leading consumer packaged goods manufacturers. He has also served as an analyst for Radio Fórmula, Radio Centro, Canal 40 and NRM

Frederico L'Abbate is Senior Packaging R&D Manager for Mondelez Mexico, where he leads the packaging team and shapes strategy toward the company's 2030+ sustainability goals. A Chemical Engineer with over 21 years of experience, he has driven packaging innovation and sustainability end-to-end — from concept through commercialization — across both R&D and Supply Chain.  His career spans leadership of packaging teams and projects across Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, and across multiple industries - Cosmetics, Food, and Pharma.

 Eduardo Legorreta Flores holds a degree in Cybernetics Engineering from La Salle University and a Master’s in Business Management from IPADE. He is CEO of Revolution Sustainability Partners A.C. and Commercial Director and Partner at GEA Biodegradables, where he leads the development and commercialisation of eco-friendly materials and additives designed to replace and improve conventional plastics.

Actively involved in Mexico’s circular economy initiatives, he has contributed to national discussions and legislative proposals on the Circular Economy Law and the National Agreement for the New Plastics Economy. He also serves as President of the Sustainability Committee at the Mexican Association of Packaging and Packaging Materials (AMEE) and is a professor at Universidad Panamericana.

Nicolas Sarria is a Sustainability and Impact Consultant, focusing on Circular Economy & ESG Strategy, EPR and Sustainable Value Chains. He has experience across Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, and Colombia. He is also the Board Member at a leading post-consumer flexible plastics recycling organization.