Meet the Team
Get to know the people behind Material Innovation Center
Rik Logtens
Founder / Director
Eric (Rik) Logtens builds thriving, impactful businesses like birds build their nests.
Just like the birds know exactly what twigs to select, and how to position these twigs to construct a genius architectural structure to nurture and safeguard their offspring, Eric understands that talent and resources are precious. In his view, each material, technology or methodology serves a specific function or role in time and place, and he is in business to interlink positive social, ecological and environmental impact with thriving operations. Among the very first to apply the principles of Cradle2Cradle and conceptualise the Circular Economy, over the past 15 years, Rik has focused on:
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conceptualization and commercialization of sustainable materials, products and services
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advocating and inspiring students, business professionals, and policymakers to make the right decisions instead of the less bad ones
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building companies from zero to scale
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developing and implementing strategies and structures for multinationals, governments and universities on sustainability and circular economic principles.
Augaly Kiedi
Augaly is a catalyst dedicated to unlocking opportunities that accelerate the ambitions of social innovators. With over a decade of experience across the public, private, and third sectors, she brings people, ideas, and resources together to drive positive impact for both people and planet.
Her work is grounded in a strong belief in shared responsibility and collaboration, with a focus on climate resilience, economic empowerment, and social equity. As an African native and global citizen, Augaly is particularly passionate about international initiatives that connect insight, innovation, and investment to create tangible, long-term impact in and for Africa.
Jeremy Croes
Circular Business and Growth Strategist
With over 20 years of experience in corporate sustainability and circular economy, I am the owner of Future Fit. A strAtegic consultancy specialised in helping businesses and governments maximize their positive impact on the economy, the planet and society at large.
Additionally, I serve as a program manager and sustainability lead for the Government of Aruba, where I advise the minister of economic affairs, communication and sustainable development, and coordinate the national action plan towards a new sustainable and inclusive economy.
My passion is to empower individuals and organizations to launch or grow their own sustainable / circular businesses or initiatives, and to create meaningful and long-lasting relationships with their audiences. I also specialize in full funnel growth strategy, business development, lead generation and transformational management. I have a proven track record of delivering impact and value for my clients and partners.
Suki Kler Young
Material Scientist
An experienced Project Manager and Team Leader in successful frontrunner Cradle to Cradle product and system optimisation projects with a wide range of industrial clients and partners, a people person and a problem solver, motivated by a wish to improve the outcomes of modern industrial activities for people and the planet. This could mean optimising products and systems, or innovating to create something new. With a background in natural sciences, materials and sustainability, as well as broad cultural and working experience, I aim to implement common sense approaches, which are at the same time practical and holistic.
Laurens Bänziger
Business Developer
Laurens is a Social Entrepeneur that turns big ideas into tangible results. With a background in International Business Administration and master’s degrees in both Strategic- and Information Management from Tilburg University, he has a knack for creating clarity in chaotic situations. Whether it’s structuring design processes or coordinating between scientists, businesses, and other stakeholders, he brings people together to make innovation happen.
Passionate about sustainability and smart solutions, Laurens combines creativity with a practical mindset to keep projects on track and moving toward real impact.
Sjoeke Suilen
Industrial Designer
Sjoeke is a Social Designer with a passion for communication, sustainability, and circularity. With a background in Industrial Design Engineering and a double master’s in Integrated- Strategic Product Design from TU Delft, he transforms complex ideas into clear, engaging visualizations and stories.
Whether crafting detailed renders, animations and prototypes or facilitating collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, Sjoeke brings ideas to life and fosters meaningful connections and conversations between stakeholders.
Advisory Board
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
To help advance the foundation, MIC has established its Advisory Board, which includes a broad representation of distinguished experts, passionate professionals and friends who are demonstrated leaders in their respective fields. We are honoured to have Zehra, Suki, Barend, Bart and Ben join us.
Member of the Advisory Board
Zehra is passionate about the circular economy, specializing in sustainable materials and energy efficiency. At Borealis, she co-led initiatives driving increased circularity in plastics, leveraging partnerships and innovative business models. Previously, she founded Ghonsla, which provides Pakistani households with sustainable insulation from upcycled waste. She also co-designed & taught courses in social entrepreneurship.
Zehra's engineering degrees from MIT and an MBA from IMD underpin her multidisciplinary approach and thirst for pushing the envelope. Currently based between Nairobi and Vienna, she champions impact on a global level.
Member of the Advisory Board
Professor Ben Croxford is a leading environmental design and engineering expert at UCL's Bartlett School of Environment, Energy, and Resources. With an engineering background and a Ph.D. in Intelligent Control of Central Heating Systems, he has a robust foundation in multidisciplinary research and teaching.
Professor Croxford's career includes involvement in research projects, including Cities of Making and various air quality monitoring projects, where he developed an air quality monitoring device that was later commercialised. He ran the master’s in environmental design and engineering for several years, runs several Masters modules and supervised around 5 Masters dissertations each year. He is also a co-founder of UCL's Circular Economy Lab and the UCL Royal Academy of Engineering Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design. He has mentored over 100 master’s Dissertations and supervised more than 14 PhD students through completion.
Member of the Advisory Board
Suki is an accomplished Project Manager and Team Leader with a proven track record in successful environmental and cradle-to-cradle consultancy projects; she brings a wealth of experience working with diverse clients and partners, from well-known materials and product manufacturers to industry associations and start-ups. A true people person and problem solver, she is driven by a genuine desire to enhance the outcomes of contemporary industrial activities for humanity and the planet.
Motivated by the prospect of optimising products and systems or pioneering innovative solutions, her background in natural sciences, materials, and sustainability, combined with rich cultural and professional experiences, uniquely positions her to deliver common-sense solutions. Suki’s approach is characterised by well-defined and structured considerations, aiming for solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable. With a passion for tackling real-world projects of varied content and an eye for detail as well as the “big picture”, Suki thrives in complex environments. Her enthusiasm for positively impacting the intersection of industry and sustainability is evident in her commitment to finding practical, holistic, and innovative solutions.
Member of the Advisory Board
Barend Post is an experienced social impact lawyer specialising in circularity, sustainability, and social impact. He navigates the intricate intersection of the legal, fiscal, financial, and commercial domains.
Operating with a strategic and holistic approach, Barend leverages his comprehensive experience to think and work across disciplines, providing invaluable insights into the value chain, stakeholder and project management.
Notably, Barend's focus has been on domestic and international initiatives and projects where law, in an innovative way, is used as a force for good. His commitment to driving positive change aligns seamlessly with his adeptness in handling diverse legal aspects. Barend's professional journey underscores legal acumen and a passion for contributing to initiatives that leave a meaningful societal imprint. Besides his legal practice, he sits on various boards in the field of social impact.
Member of the Advisory Board
Bart Kranen is a financial visionary with a Doctorate in Business Economics from Maastricht University. After an enriching journey through additional accountancy courses, he became a Chartered Accountant.
With a career spanning over two decades, Bart has dedicated an impressive 22+ years at Koenen en Co, stepping into a pivotal role as a Partner in 2016. His expertise shines when advising major shareholders of family-owned businesses, where he excels in interim management and reporting and ensures entrepreneurs are always in tune with their company's performance: his advisory skills span structuring companies, mergers and acquisitions, business succession, and financing processes.
His ability to merge experience with humour sets him apart. His approach is built on building personal connections and establishing a bond of trust while focusing on customer needs. Supported by a team of talented and driven specialists, he brings a blend of knowledge, dedication, and warmth to our board.