Description

Global Circularity: A Panel Discussion

Join us for a panel discussion on global circularity and how the design industry can contribute through the specifying of materials and furniture. The expert panel will also include Luis Chevere, from Naturepedic, a company committed to circularity and sustainable practices. Moderated by Michelle Jacobson of DesignGLXY Group, LLC and President-elect of ASID NY Metro. Guests will enjoy refreshments and a special gift, compliments of Naturepedic.

David Bergman, LEED AP, CPHD, LFA, Assoc AIA, is an architect, author and professor. He is the founder of DavidBergmanEco, author ofSustainable Design: A Critical Guide and the blog EcoOptimism.com, which is dedicated to the belief that positive, often symbiotic, solutions exist to our environmental, economic and social issues. Bergman is the Program Director for the New York School of Interior Design’s Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Interior Environments and an adjunct assistant professor at Parsons School of Design. He holds a B.A. in architecture and economics from Yale and an M.Arch from Princeton.

Kathryn Soter is the Executive Director of the Good Future Design Alliance, an environmental education and advocacy organization working with a cross section of design + build professionals on solutions to increase the adoption of more circular and regenerative practices. Soter is a recognized subject matter expert, a frequent panelist and moderator, and leads discussions across multiple channels to raise the public consciousness on the industry’s contribution to climate change and human health concerns. The GFDA hosts conferences and talks, sponsors design competitions, and offers educational programs to its membership. Over 600 million tons of construction and furniture waste is generated annually in the U.S., most of which ends up in landfills, and nearly 1.9 million tons of microplastics from paint are now found in our oceans. These pose significant health and climate challenges which are forcing the industry to change the way it does business. Soter holds a degree in Psychology from Lewis & Clark College and later studied Interior Architecture & Design at the Academy of Art University. She has a certificate in Building Materials and Human Health from Parsons School of Design, Healthy Materials Lab. The first part of her career was spent working for media giants Grey Global and Gannett, followed by two decades in publishing at Condé Nast Media Group. When not planning the future of the GFDA, she enjoys a life aquatic living on a floating home in Sausalito, CA.