ROINI061125 Closing the Loop: Opportunities for Ireland's Circular Future

Join ISEP Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland for an in-person workshop hosted in The Rediscovery Centre, Ireland's National Centre for the Circular Economy.

Open to members and non-members, the workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-play and emerging developments in the Circular Economy, with a particular focus on Ireland and insights from international contexts. With guest expert speakers from industry, social enterprise, and ISEP.

The workshop will be followed by a tour of the Rediscovery Centre, where delegates can meet and network informally over a complimentary lunch.

Participants will gain insights into:

1. Key trends shaping circular economy adoption in Ireland and globally
2. Practical applications of circular strategies across industries
3. Challenges and opportunities for scaling circular solutions
4. The role of regulation, innovation, and stakeholder engagement

Speakers

Ryan Barrett Manager, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst and Young

Ryan specialises in large-scale circularity solutions and innovations and has significant experience in the strategic coordination and establishment of new sustainability related go to market offerings. Ryan has conducted extensive research on the state of waste globally, which included developing waste profiles for all 52 African countries and collaborating with the World Economic Forum to develop plastic pollution roadmaps and interventions for several of these.

He has worked closely with the United Nations Global Innovation Hub to pilot projects in Southern Africa that use plastic recyclate as a material input for concrete, training local artisans to divert multi-layer plastics and PET flexibles from landfill. He is an extended producer responsibility (EPR) subject matter expert and has advised global clients on calculating their liabilities, and transforming them into opportunities to generate new revenue streams.

He is a Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) registered with the International Society for Sustainability Professionals and a Certified Risk Professional (CRISP) registered with the British Standards Institute, and currently serves as a One Young World Ambassador.

Rebecca Wilson Director of Research, Policy, and Education, The Rediscovery Centre

Rebecca Wilson is Director of Research, Policy, and Education at the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy. She previously worked at Research Ireland, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening the national research landscape through strategic public engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and evidence-informed policy development.

Rebecca has led flagship national initiatives including Science Week and Creating Our Future, building strong connections between researchers, policymakers, industry, and communities to ensure research delivers meaningful societal impact. Passionate about making complex ideas accessible and relevant, she has a proven track record of translating research insights into actionable policy recommendations.

In her current role, Rebecca applies this expertise to advancing sustainability goals, fostering innovation, and supporting Ireland’s transition to a more resource-efficient, circular economy. She holds an MSc in Strategic Management and a BSc in Marketing, Innovation, and Technology.

This event is hosted by ISEP Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland, but we welcome members from other regions to join us as well. Why not connect with ISEP Republic of Ireland on our LinkedIn page, here and Northern Ireland on our LinkedIn page here.

This event counts as 1 hour of ISEP recognised CPD. You can add this to your ISEP CPD. Please see our CPD guidance pages at www.isepglobal.org/skills/cpd for further details on how to do this.