Manuel Maqueda

Manuel Maqueda is an international teacher, speaker and innovator with a focus on restoring the balance of living systems, and reversing climate change.

Maqueda teaches Applied Circular Economics and Regenerative Economics at Harvard University -Division of Continuing Education. He created the Circular Economy Online Course at the University of California, Berkeley and the Circular Economy Program at UCLA Extension. He teaches and lectures on Circular and Regenerative Economics and Innovation at other international universities and business schools.

Recognized as an expert in plastic pollution, Maqueda is co-founder of several notable organizations, such as the Plastic Pollution Coalition, and SUPER (Single-Use Plastics Elimination or Reduction), a nonprofit enabling businesses to eliminate single-use plastics through a tiered certification program.

As a forward-thinker, Maqueda is a member of the Strategic Foresight Board of the Circular Economy Alliance and has consulted for notable futurist organizations, such as Jeff-Bezos-funded Long Now Foundation, dedicated to fostering long-term thinking in the context of the next 10,000 years.

Maqueda researches how Artificial Intelligence can partner with human ingenuity to enable a regenerative economy. He co-founded Viento.ai, an organization pioneering the use of machine learning to design proactive responses to climate disasters.

As a speaker, Maqueda’s clients include Google, Uber, Salesforce, Santander, LinkedIn, NASA, Institute for the Future, Dell, Foresight Institute, Green Festival, Circular City Week, New Plastics Economy Conference, Plastic-Free World and the Government of the State of Washington, among dozens of others.

Maqueda’s speaking style is mind-opening, memorable, and empowering.