Gunter Pauli

Gunter Pauli was born in Antwerp, Belgium in March 1956. In 1979, he obtained a license in economic sciences at Loyola University (today University of Antwerp) in Belgium and obtained his master's degree in business administration At INSEAD in 1982 in Fontainebleau, France, thanks to a scholarship from the Rotary International Foundation. During his studies, he occupied the most diverse jobs in order to "provide for his family, studies and save money, which allowed him to travel a lot during the summer holidays". In 1978, he was elected national president of the Syndicate of Aiesec students.

He was founder and president of PPA Holding and more than 10 other companies, founder and CEO of the European Service Industries Forum (ESIF), secretary general of the European Business Press Federation (UPEFE), founder and president of the Foundation "Mozarteum Belgicum", founder and president of Ecover, and advisor to the rector of the United Nations University in Tokyo (Japan).

Its entrepreneurial activities cover the business world, culture, science, politics and the environment. Under his direction, Ecover was the pioneer of an ecological factory in 1992, presented on CNN Prime Time News. He founded the "Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives" (Zeri) at the United Nations University in Tokyo, then established the global Network Zeri as a foundation, redefining production and consumption in clusters of industries inspired by the natural systems.

He devotes himself to the design and implementation of a company and industries that meet the needs of people using what is available locally. His visionary approach, supported by dozens of projects on the ground, earned him to be invited to present his cases at the Universal 2000 exhibition in Germany. He built the largest modern -day bamboo pavilion there, presenting 7 revolutionary initiatives. It has become the most popular pavilion with 6.4 million visitors. Unfortunately, the pavilion was destroyed after the exhibition. However, the original built in Manizales, Colombia, is always a symbol of the coffee region.

Its latest initiatives include the design of a solution for plastic soup that floats in the oceans and the creation of a protective area with islands to avoid rising the level of the seas. It is actively involved so that the largest flock of rhinoceros (2,400 in the Kaziraga National Park in India) is released from poachers thanks to an intensive program of economic and community development in coordination with organic tea plantations.

He was a speaker and guest professor in universities on all continents, and member of the Board of Directors of NGOs and private companies in Asia, the United States and Latin America. He advised governments, entrepreneurs and business leaders on how to implement revolutionary innovations allowing society to better meet the basic needs of all, starting with water, food, housing, health and energy. He works with what is available locally and focuses on creating value.

He is a member of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences (San Francisco, United States), creative member of the Budapest club (Hungary), member of the Rome club, led the round table of the Nobel Prize of the Science organized by SM The King of Jordan and obtained a doctorate of the Italian government in the design of systems. The University of Pécs, in Hungary, awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Gunter published 20 books (16 writings - 4 edited), which were printed in +30 languages ​​and 365 fables bringing science and emotions to children. More than 17 million copies have been distributed worldwide. One of its fables "the strongest tree" is available in more than 100 languages. One of his latest books published in April 2015 "The blue economy 2.0: 200 projects implemented, $ 4 billion invested and 3 million jobs created" is the new reality inspired by the vision of his report to the club of Rome presented on November 2, 2009.

He is the father of five sons, a daughter (adopted). Speaking of seven languages ​​fluently and having resided on 4 continents, he is a citizen of the world.