Stella van den Berg
Director waste valorisation at The Ocean Cleanup
Stella van den Berg is Director waste valorisation at The Ocean Cleanup, the non-profit organisation dedicated to developing and scaling technologies to remove plastic pollution from the world’s oceans and rivers.
Passionate about bringing ideas to life in impactful initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable future, she turns actions into measurable impact by blending strategic design, compelling storytelling, and people-centric innovation. Spending the first 10 years of her career at Philips in roles spanning R&D, business, and design, Stella developed a multidisciplinary approach to innovation, working at the intersection of technology, design strategy, and user experience.
In her current role, Stella leads the Valorisation team, driving the transformation of collected plastic waste into new value, steering research into material streams, identifying design opportunities for reuse, and fostering partnerships that help close the loop through circular product innovation. Her work bridges environmental science, industrial design, and systems thinking to ensure that every step from plastic collection to repurposing maximises ecological and social impact. Stella thrives on turning complex challenges into tangible outcomes, enabling sustainable innovation not just as a goal, but as a continuous process.
Stella van den Berg
Director waste valorisation at The Ocean Cleanup
Stella van den Berg is Director waste valorisation at The Ocean Cleanup, the non-profit organisation dedicated to developing and scaling technologies to remove plastic pollution from the world’s oceans and rivers.
Passionate about bringing ideas to life in impactful initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable future, she turns actions into measurable impact by blending strategic design, compelling storytelling, and people-centric innovation. Spending the first 10 years of her career at Philips in roles spanning R&D, business, and design, Stella developed a multidisciplinary approach to innovation, working at the intersection of technology, design strategy, and user experience.
In her current role, Stella leads the Valorisation team, driving the transformation of collected plastic waste into new value, steering research into material streams, identifying design opportunities for reuse, and fostering partnerships that help close the loop through circular product innovation. Her work bridges environmental science, industrial design, and systems thinking to ensure that every step from plastic collection to repurposing maximises ecological and social impact. Stella thrives on turning complex challenges into tangible outcomes, enabling sustainable innovation not just as a goal, but as a continuous process.
Sessions
Navigating change: co-creating strategy, supported by AI
Making real progress in sustainable aviation calls for more than smart ideas. It requires a shared direction and coordinated action. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore how a clear, flexible strategy helps organisations make better choices, connect the dots, and keep moving. Using the case of KLM’s Sustainability, Strategy & Transformation team, we’ll look at how strategic focus supports the transition to a more sustainable aviation sector.
You’ll work alongside experts from KLM, The Ocean Cleanup, and Specto Consulting as we dive into the real work behind strategic change. In this interactive setting, we’ll apply a proven methodology for co-creating strategy that helps teams align, make better decisions, and stay focused. No abstract models, but a hands-on experience grounded in a real case. Our AI assistant CHIP will support both facilitators and participants by helping to structure the conversation without getting in the way.
For who
Design leaders who want to play a meaningful role in shaping business strategy, and who care about keeping both human and planet perspectives in sight. Ideal for those curious about how AI can support decision making in a way that enhances, rather than replaces, team dynamics.
Key takeaways
See why a clear and actionable strategy is essential for enabling environmental sustainability, both now and in the long run.
Discover how AI can support teams in strategic decision making, without taking over.
Experience a structured, flexible approach to co-creating strategy in a real-life case.
Design leadership
Futures & foresight
Technology & AI