Accenture Open Talks - Digital Meets Sustainability

With more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Luis Neves is an active advocate of the important role of information and communications technology (ICT) in addressing climate change. Luis has held several leadership positions in various organizations, including the United Nations (UN) Global Compact LEAD Group, European Roundtable of Industrialists Climate Change Working Group, SAP Sustainability Strategy Group and European Commission ICT4EE Forum. He was recently the driving force behind “SMART 2020 – Enabling the Low Carbon Economy in the Information Age” and “SMARTer2020 – The Role of ICT in Driving a Sustainable Future,” two global studies that highlight the value of ICT in reducing global carbon emissions.

Dr. Thomas Walter is the founder and managing director of Easy Smart Grid, a startup that develops and markets information, communications and technology (ICT) solutions to manage and ensure the resilience of energy systems in real-time. With more than 30 years of experience, he leverages his expertise in ICT, energy management, system design, innovation management and business to develop new innovations that elevate today’s utilities. Prior to Easy Smart Grid, he has worked for various organizations, including Cambridge Consultants, Philips, Dresdner Bank, Altran and WIRSOL Integrated PV Solutions. He studied electrical engineering at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany and the University of Essex, England. He also holds a doctorate in automation engineering from RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

Moritz Zyrewitz is the founder and chief executive officer of kaputt.de GmbH, an online platform that helps people repair, dispose or exchange broken electronic devices by providing them technical advice, professional assistance and repair services. He is a fellow at the LEAD Academy, a program run by the Stiftung Mercator that aims to address the world's major challenges, including climate change, depleting energy supplies and social injustice. Moritz studied political science, civil law and Islamic studies in Tübingen, Paris and Cairo, respectively. He has done development cooperation work for international organizations in the Middle East and Latin America and has published about social entrepreneurship in the Arab World.