Dr. Janez Potočnik graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (Ph.D. degree) in 1993. After a successful career in Slovenia as a researcher at the Institute of Economic Research, Director of the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, he was appointed Head of Negotiating Team for Accession of Slovenia to the EU (1998). He was also Director of Government Office for European Affairs (2000), Minister Councillor at the Office of the Prime Minister (2001), and Minister responsible for European Affairs (2002). In 2004, he joined the European Commission, first as “shadow Commissioner for Enlargement”, and then as Commissioner responsible for Science and Research. In 2010, Dr. Potočnik became Commissioner for Environment.
Potočnik will share his insights on important initiatives being brought forward through the EU’s Environment Commission as part of a special keynote address on the Emerging Drivers of the Circular Economy in GLOBE 2014’s Towards the Circular Economy theme.