Wendy & Eric Schmidt to Join Ellen MacArthur in London to Launch Fellowship Programme on June 19th at Public Lecture

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Apr 30, 2013, 09:35 ET

LONDON, April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The Schmidt-MacArthur Public Lecture marks the beginning of a partnership between the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Schmidt Family Foundation to deliver the Schmidt-MacArthur Fellowships, an innovative postgraduate programme that brings together students and academics from leading design, engineering and business schools in Europe, India and the US to focus on circular economy innovation. Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google, will deliver the keynote speech on Wednesday 19 June 2013 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, London.

Eric's keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Dominic Waughray of the World Economic Forum, during which leading thinkers from across the world will explore the challenges and opportunities for businesses making the transition to a circular economy.

Panelists include: Professor Michael Braungart & William McDonough (authors and founders of the Cradle to Cradle movement), Professor Walter Stahel (Founder Product Life Institute & member of the Club of Rome), Janine Benyus (Co-founder of the Biomimcry Guild & President of the Biomimicry Institute) and Jeremy Oppenheim (McKinsey & Co).

The event will also bring together participants from the CE100, a global alliance working to accelerate circular economy innovation across global corporations, emerging innovators and regions. The excitement building around this event is reflective of the exceptional level of interest growing around the circular economy, which is increasingly being seen as a compelling framework for a resilient economy.

Dame Ellen MacArthur commented, "We are honoured to welcome such exceptional speakers to the Schmidt-MacArthur Public Lecture in London. They will be joined at this major event by students and their tutors from leading American, European and Asian universities who are the first participants in the Schmidt-MacArthur Fellowships. It offers an unprecedented opportunity for circular economy pioneers, business leaders, academics and some of the world's brightest students to share ideas and to explore the future of the circular economy."

Wendy Schmidt, President of The Schmidt Family Foundation, based in Palo Alto, California added, "We are excited to join with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in developing this international programme for students focusing on the unique innovations required to grow a circular economy that uses energy, water and other natural resources in an increasingly regenerative way."

http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/education/schmidt

SOURCE Ellen MacArthur Foundation