ASHWIN SUBRAMANIAM
Founder & Chief Executive OfficerROLE
Ashwin is an experienced environmental consultant with over 10 years of business experience across Asia. He has led various materials-flow analysis, waste management economics research, strategy advisory and implementation projects on circular economy in this region. He specialises in packaging and food in India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore and has worked with some of the biggest multinational clients from consumer goods and packaging industries as well as government agencies and intergovernmental organisations.
BACKGROUND
Prior to founding GA Circular, Ashwin graduated with a business degree and worked in investment banking in Singapore for several years, managing credit risk operations with institutional clients for financial derivatives in Asia-Pacific. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business degree from the London School of Economics & Political Science, University of London.
Ashwin is passionate about the business opportunities in creating wealth from “waste” and envisions a world without waste. In 2014 he co-founded a non-commercial community farm with his wife and neighbours that continues to produce edibles in north-eastern Singapore. He currently serves as the co-chair of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce’s (SICC) Circular Economy Committee.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) World Congress, 2018
- Plasticity, 2018
- SICC Position Paper on Circular Economy in Singapore, 2018 (co-contributor)
- Material Flow and Value Chain Analysis for PET Bottles and Aluminium Cans in Thailand, 2018
- Towards Circularity of Post-Consumer Flexible Packaging in Asia, 2017
LAURA ALLEN
Co-founder & Chief Operations OfficerROLE
Laura, co-founder and director at GA Circular, has over 10 years of research and consulting experience ranging in fields of marketing, consumer insights, environmental consulting and waste management. In her role at GA Circular, Laura has led materials-flow analysis, waste management economics research, strategy advisory and implementation projects on circular economy in this region. She specialises in packaging and food in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and India.
BACKGROUND
Prior to co-founding GA, Laura graduated with a business degree and she worked in the FMCG and F&B sectors in Vietnam for 4 years and was part of the founding leadership team of AIESEC in Vietnam for 2 years. She holds a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of South Australia.
Laura grew up on a farm in rural Australia instilling a love for the environment and an interest in biocycles and wildlife. In 2014 she co-founded a non-commercial community farm with her husband and neighbours that continues to produce edibles in north-eastern Singapore. She is passionate about creating a world without waste.
COURSES
- Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries – Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
- CircularX: Circular Economy – Delft University of Technology
- Life Cycle Assessment, Introduction to Carbon Footprinting, Fundamental embodied energy and Carbon
RECENT PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Material Flow and Value Chain Analysis for PET Bottles and Aluminium Cans in Malaysia, 2018
- TEDx 2017
- National University of Singapore Circular Economy Forum, 2017
- Towards Circularity of Post-Consumer Flexible Packaging in Asia, 2017
- Sustainable Brands KL, 2017
- European Union Plastic Free Ocean, 2017
SUMANGALI KRISHNAN
Chief Business OfficerROLE
Sumangali Krishnan, Chief Business Officer at GA Circular, has over 12 years of research and consulting experience ranging fields law, economics and waste management. In her current role at GA Circular, Sumangali has developed and led various research projects, exploring both policy and on-ground realities across South and South East Asia. Working closely with intergovernmental agencies, national and local governments, as well as leading plastics, consumer and retail goods manufacturers in Asia, Sumangali has a good understanding of opportunities and challenges faced by many of the countries in region with respect to waste.
BACKGROUND
Prior to her role at GA Circular, Sumangali has worked in research, private practice and has provided legal and business advise to start-ups and emerging businesses. Sumangali has a J.D. in Law from Boston University as well as a Masters and Bachelors degree in Economics, and has lived and worked in the United States prior to moving to Singapore. She is particularly interested policy, legislation and business-led interventions as a solution to resource management in Asia.
TAM NGUYEN
Head of OperatinsROLE
Tam is responsible for overseeing operational excellence and client servicing. In the day-to-day operations, he works with internal stakeholders, partners and clients to ensure successful project delivery. This will include leading the problem-solving process, resource allocation, ensuring key milestones are met and coaching team members. As a secondary accountability, he is also working on strategic initiatives and business development efforts for the business.
BACKGROUND
Prior to joining GA Circular, Tam founded his own business within the food & beverage and hospitality sector in Vietnam. During his tenure as founder and general manager, he led operations and grew the business to 34 staff, multiple locations and developed various distribution channels for their B2B business. Before that, he was with Nielsen for nearly 9 years in various roles across Vietnam and Singapore, spanning across client service, talent development, and most recently, working in regional operations for the ASEAN region. Tam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington.