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Core Team
Oliver Akeret
Co-Lead
Oliver joined sus.lab in 2022 and now leads the teams’ projects related to carbon dioxide removal (CDR), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and other efforts to bring hard-to-decarbonize industries to net zero. Prior to joining sus.lab, he worked for three years in management consulting, with a focus on corporate governance and compensation strategies. Oliver holds a master’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).
Oliver joined sus.lab in 2022 and now leads the teams’ projects related to carbon dioxide removal (CDR), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and other efforts to bring hard-to-decarbonize industries to net zero. Prior to joining sus.lab, he worked for three years in management consulting, with a focus on corporate governance and compensation strategies. Oliver holds a master’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of St. Gallen (HSG).
Julia Bachmann
Co-Lead
Julia joined sus.lab in 2018 and now leads the circular economy projects to accelerate sustainable transformation across various industries. Prior to sus.lab, she completed her MSc in Management, Technology and Economics at ETH, preceded by a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. She previously worked on process optimization and digitalization projects across supply chains at Airbus Helicopters and procurement teams within Siemens.
Julia joined sus.lab in 2018 and now leads the circular economy projects to accelerate sustainable transformation across various industries. Prior to sus.lab, she completed her MSc in Management, Technology and Economics at ETH, preceded by a BSc in Mechanical Engineering. She previously worked on process optimization and digitalization projects across supply chains at Airbus Helicopters and procurement teams within Siemens.
Dianne Hondeborg
Senior Project Manager
Dianne joined SusTec in 2019 for her Master thesis in collaboration with Nestlé, analysing the abatement potential and cost of greenhouse gas reduction technologies for dairy farming. Prior to her thesis, she did an internship in management consulting at BCG. Before coming to Switzerland, Dianne finished a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft. She focusses on projects related to identifying pathways to reduce emissions to net zero.
Dianne joined SusTec in 2019 for her Master thesis in collaboration with Nestlé, analysing the abatement potential and cost of greenhouse gas reduction technologies for dairy farming. Prior to her thesis, she did an internship in management consulting at BCG. Before coming to Switzerland, Dianne finished a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft. She focusses on projects related to identifying pathways to reduce emissions to net zero.
Lisa Lambert
Senior Project Manager
Lisa joined sus.lab in 2022 and manages the Circular Building Industry (CBI) Innovation Booster, a program funded by Innosuisse. Prior to joining sus.lab, Lisa worked as a program manager at Kickstart Innovation in the Smart cities vertical, engaging with international startups and corporations in Switzerland with the goal to drive sustainable innovation. She previously worked at the Architecture Institute of Rotterdam and at the International Architecture Biennial of Rotterdam. Lisa holds a master’s degree in international Cultural Policy and Management from the University of Warwick (UK).
Lisa joined sus.lab in 2022 and manages the Circular Building Industry (CBI) Innovation Booster, a program funded by Innosuisse. Prior to joining sus.lab, Lisa worked as a program manager at Kickstart Innovation in the Smart cities vertical, engaging with international startups and corporations in Switzerland with the goal to drive sustainable innovation. She previously worked at the Architecture Institute of Rotterdam and at the International Architecture Biennial of Rotterdam. Lisa holds a master’s degree in international Cultural Policy and Management from the University of Warwick (UK).
Aliénor von Roten
Senior Project Manager
Aliénor joined sus.lab in 2023 and has been focusing on CDR projects. She manages the Carbon Removal Booster, funded by Innosuisse and collaborates closely with remove, a CDR accelerator program supporting early-stage start-ups. Prior to joining sus.lab, she spent four years with Zurich Insurance Switzerland, working on climate risks, natural catastrophe management and providing parametric weather insurance to smallholder farmers in developing countries. Aliénor holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from ETH Zürich.
Aliénor joined sus.lab in 2023 and has been focusing on CDR projects. She manages the Carbon Removal Booster, funded by Innosuisse and collaborates closely with remove, a CDR accelerator program supporting early-stage start-ups. Prior to joining sus.lab, she spent four years with Zurich Insurance Switzerland, working on climate risks, natural catastrophe management and providing parametric weather insurance to smallholder farmers in developing countries. Aliénor holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from ETH Zürich.
Martynas Bagdonas
Project Manager
Martynas joined sus.lab in 2022 having completed his master’s degree in Environmental Policy at the Paris School of International Affairs (Sciences Po). At sus.lab he focuses on projects related to decarbonization strategies including carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Prior to joining sus.lab, he gained experience working in management consulting.
Martynas joined sus.lab in 2022 having completed his master’s degree in Environmental Policy at the Paris School of International Affairs (Sciences Po). At sus.lab he focuses on projects related to decarbonization strategies including carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Prior to joining sus.lab, he gained experience working in management consulting.
Ricarda Fieber
Project Manager
Ricarda joined sus.lab in January 2023 as a project manager to work on circular economy projects, focusing specifically on food waste reduction, packaging, and safe and sustainable plastics recycling. Ricarda holds a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. She studied at University of Augsburg, Carleton University in Ottawa and University of Berkeley in California. She has gained practical experiences from internships and working student positions at Fraunhofer Institute, Institute for Materials Resource Management, KUKA AG, and Siemens Energy Middle East.
Ricarda joined sus.lab in January 2023 as a project manager to work on circular economy projects, focusing specifically on food waste reduction, packaging, and safe and sustainable plastics recycling. Ricarda holds a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. She studied at University of Augsburg, Carleton University in Ottawa and University of Berkeley in California. She has gained practical experiences from internships and working student positions at Fraunhofer Institute, Institute for Materials Resource Management, KUKA AG, and Siemens Energy Middle East.
Sophie Führer
Project Manager
After writing her MSc thesis on the integrated environmental and economic assessment of circular and linear furniture products under the TACLE project at SusTec, Sophie joined sus.lab in June 2022 as a project manager. Since June 2023, she combines this role with a PhD and the transition to a sustainable circular economy.
Sophie completed a master’s degree in Sustainable Technology from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Apart from her studies, she gained practical experiences during internships at the BASF Applied Sustainability Department and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits. At sus.lab, she is primarily working on circular economy projects, focusing specifically on circularity in the building industry in the CBI Innovation Booster.
After writing her MSc thesis on the integrated environmental and economic assessment of circular and linear furniture products under the TACLE project at SusTec, Sophie joined sus.lab in June 2022 as a project manager. Since June 2023, she combines this role with a PhD and the transition to a sustainable circular economy.
Sophie completed a master’s degree in Sustainable Technology from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Apart from her studies, she gained practical experiences during internships at the BASF Applied Sustainability Department and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits. At sus.lab, she is primarily working on circular economy projects, focusing specifically on circularity in the building industry in the CBI Innovation Booster.
Gudrun Thorsdottir
Project Manager
While pursuing her MSc in Management, Technology, and Economics at ETH Zurich, Gudrun joined SusTec as a thesis candidate and research assistant. After graduating in 2022, she joined sus.lab, where her project topics center around the key factors influencing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) scalability. Gudrun holds a BSc in Industrial Engineering from the University of Iceland and gained practical experience working as a circular economy and environmental planning specialist in Iceland.
While pursuing her MSc in Management, Technology, and Economics at ETH Zurich, Gudrun joined SusTec as a thesis candidate and research assistant. After graduating in 2022, she joined sus.lab, where her project topics center around the key factors influencing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) scalability. Gudrun holds a BSc in Industrial Engineering from the University of Iceland and gained practical experience working as a circular economy and environmental planning specialist in Iceland.
Gabriela Vojtova
Intern
Gabriela joined sus.lab in January 2024 as an Intern. She is primarily working on biodiversity and regenerative agriculture projects.
Gabriela is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Management, Technology, and Economics (MTEC) at ETH. Prior to joining sus.lab, she gained practical experience in process optimization in the energy industry via a management consulting internship. Gabriela also completed a bachelor’s degree in Computational and Systems Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with a concentration in Neurosystems and a minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media. While at UCLA, she was a member of an integrative biology and physiology lab focused on investigating the neural basis of vocal learning.
Gabriela joined sus.lab in January 2024 as an Intern. She is primarily working on biodiversity and regenerative agriculture projects.
Gabriela is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Management, Technology, and Economics (MTEC) at ETH. Prior to joining sus.lab, she gained practical experience in process optimization in the energy industry via a management consulting internship. Gabriela also completed a bachelor’s degree in Computational and Systems Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with a concentration in Neurosystems and a minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media. While at UCLA, she was a member of an integrative biology and physiology lab focused on investigating the neural basis of vocal learning.
Michèle Wicki
Intern
Michèle joined sus.lab as an intern in January of 2024 where she She is primarily focusing on decarbonization projects specifically concerning carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and assisting with the Circular Building Industry (CBI) Innovation Booster.
Michèle has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on international Management and Marketing from the University of St.Gallen. Prior to joining sus.lab, she interned at Schindler as part of the Personal & Organizational Development team, gained first-hand experience in a Con-Tech Startup environment and completed an internship in B2B Marketing & Sales consulting.
Michèle joined sus.lab as an intern in January of 2024 where she She is primarily focusing on decarbonization projects specifically concerning carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and assisting with the Circular Building Industry (CBI) Innovation Booster.
Michèle has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on international Management and Marketing from the University of St.Gallen. Prior to joining sus.lab, she interned at Schindler as part of the Personal & Organizational Development team, gained first-hand experience in a Con-Tech Startup environment and completed an internship in B2B Marketing & Sales consulting.
Steering Committee & Affiliated Researchers
Dr. Catharina
Bening
Catharina Bening is a tenured senior-scientist and co-chairs the Group for Sustainability and Technology. She is responsible for the group’s research and practice activities in the area of sustainable circular economy.
Prof. Dr. Volker Hoffmann
Volker Hoffmann is Professor for sustainability and technology at ETH Zurich and co-chairs the Group for Sustainability and Technology. His research at ETH Zurich centers on corporate strategies with respect to climate change and the energy transition.
Dr. Christof Knoeri
Christof Knoeri is a senior researcher in the Group for Sustainability and Technology. In his recent research he addressed the adoption of new technologies and value propositions in the built environment and energy sector.
Alumni
Dr. Petrissa Eckle
After four years at sus.lab, Petrissa co-founded the innovation hub HofLabor which aims to make regenerative farming scalable. Petrissa holds a PhD in Physics from ETH Zurich and worked for five years in management consulting at McKinsey & Company.
Christina Nakhle
Christina joined the Chair of Sustainability and Technology in 2017 and left in 2022 to join EY Sustainability as a Senior Consultant. Christina is a civil and environmental engineer from the American University in Beirut and also has an MBA in Energy Management from TU Berlin.
Marija Spokaite
Marija joined sus.lab in 2018 and left in 2021 to work as an independent consultant and follow her passion in ceramics. Prior to sus.lab, Marija spent several years working for impact investment funds in microfinance, agriculture and climate and provided part-time support to sustainability-driven start-ups.
Anna Guenat
After one year at sus.lab, Anna joined the innovation hub HofLabor as a Founders Associate. Anna holds a master’s in food science from ETH Zurich and worked for the startup Planted
Marian Krüger
After more than two years at sus.lab, Marian co-founded the carbon removal startup accelerator remove. Marian is an entrepreneur who successfully sold his own startup ucair.
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