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Circular City: How Atlanta Trades Sustainability Innovations With the World
August 28 at 8:00 am – 10:00 am
In an age of climate change and environmental emergency, it’s trendy to speak of circularity — the concept of product life cycles that completely eliminate waste and pollution.
The reality is much harder to achieve, and in a free-market economy, it depends largely on the money-making models underpinning the green innovation. Consumers, meanwhile, face the task of figuring out whether companies’ claims are as noble as they sound.
Achieving true sustainability, then, inevitably involves businesses balancing benefit for the world with profit and productivity, often via incremental changes that don’t grab headlines or nab awards.
Atlanta steers clear of big pronouncements on circularity, but its ample global business connections have led to a cross-border environmental exchange mixing international innovations with local ingenuity.
Join Global Atlanta and Atlanta International School at the school’s new wooded, riverside Sandy Springs campus for a breakfast meeting with some of the top innovators in our circular city, learning how their solutions are making a dent in some of the world’s most intractable problems.
Who should attend:
- Business leaders and tech startups
- Venture and impact investors
- Consulate and chamber reps
- Professional service providers
- Nonprofit executives
- Educators looking for industry partnerships
Organized by:
Opening Remarks:
Rachel Hovington, Principal,
AIS Sandy Springs
Rachel Hovington holds a Masters in Educational Leadership in International Education from the University of Bath, UK, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from The University of Nottingham, UK and a Bachelors of Science Degree (Hons.) in Applied and Environmental Geology from the University of Birmingham, UK.
She has served as the vice chair of the Board of the Academy for International School Heads (AISH), as well as being a member of the Board of the Association of German International Schools (AGIS) and served on the Board for the Center for The Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE) and the Curriculum Advisory Committee for the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Furthermore, she has led workshops on International Mindedness with Faculty and Staff in schools and locations all over the world as well as having consulted for aspiring IB schools that wish to enhance their international programs.
Featured Speakers:
Christian Bokich,
Director, Government Relations and Public Affairs,
SK Battery America
Christian Bokich has over 25 years of experience working in the auto industry. Having worked for VW, Audi, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and now SK Battery America, his wide variety of experience includes brand and product management, advertising, accessories & parts, and communications. Christian joined SK Battery America in Commerce, GA in October 2024, and built up the company’s internal communications and culture-building strategy. He also strengthened communications amongst important stakeholders within Jackson County and the State of Georgia. He lives in the City of Atlanta with his wife Stephanie, daughter Alessandra who is in 6th grade at AIS, and a handsome Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Freddy. Last but not least, Christian is a proud product of Georgia’s Economic Development efforts, having moved to Atlanta from New York City with Mercedes-Benz USA in June 2015.
Emily Morris,
Founder and CEO,
Emrgy
Ramtin Motahar,
Founder and CEO,
Joulea
With bachelor degrees in economics and industrial engineering from Georgia Tech, Ramtin Motahar has been involved in real estate development from an early age. His background in commercial real estate development, engineering and construction led him to identify silos in the industry and the lack of an integrated development ecosystem, resulting in higher energy usage and carbon emissions from commercial buildings. To answer these issues, he pursued a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech with the goal of creating a novel approach to commercial real estate’s energy use practices. After a couple of years of research and testing, He founded Joulea, the built environment’s most accurate energy assessment platform to empower building owners to maximize profitability and minimize carbon footprint.
Karlos Walkes,
CEO and Co-founder,
XiQ
Olivier Brauen,
VP Circularity Business Solutions Development and Transformation Americas,
Michelin
Olivier Brauen holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Swiss Institute of Technology (EPFL), complemented with Master Degree in Business Administration from the IMD Business School. Continuous executive education at IMD, INSEAD and MIT.
About Atlanta International School’s Sandy Springs Campus:
Nestled along the Chattahoochee River in the heart of Sandy Springs, our 25-acre campus is where nature meets world-class education. Experience the renowned Atlanta International School community, with innovative IB programs and a global perspective, giving students the opportunity to thrive.
The beautiful AIS Sandy Springs Campus hosts our unique Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, residential, event, conference, and recreational facilities. It is the home of our outdoor learning programs offered to AIS students. This historic site on the banks of the Chattahoochee River it is the perfect place for students and visitors to engage with natural surroundings.
To register your interest in the Sandy Springs Campus, for future student boarding, residential programs, events, facilities rentals (including for film/production sets), please contact admission@aischool.org.
