Jorn Verbeeck
Background
Jorn coordinates the Decarbonisation Innovation Exchange for KPMG’s Global Decarbonisation Hub, brokering business agendas, innovation, finance, policy and science for the climate and energy transition, with a focus on innovation in key emission sectors and the Global South agenda.
With +20 year sustainability expertise, in both public and private sector, at local and international level, and a journalist by training, Jorn easily embraces complexity by combining the different agendas and perspectives of stakeholders involved and has year-long experience of turning them into ambitious yet feasible action plans.
Jorn brings deep expertise in innovation, energy transition, circular economy, public-private partnerships, theory of change and transition management. He has advised large multinationals, small-scale start-ups, local, national, and international governments, global NGOs, and science and research institutes.
Relevant Experience
— Advisor to the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub, connecting business, science, and policy
— Board Member of the EU Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission
— Former global head of Research and Innovation at the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, coordinating and facilitating global projects on innovation, data, tools, strategy, and policy for all world regions
— Shaped and launched the Mission Innovation Urban Transitions Mission, together with the EU Commission and JPI Urban Europe at COP26
— Coordinator of the global Innovate4Cities programme and the 2021 IPCC / UN-Habitat / GCoM global conference with global contributing partners such as all major city networks, SDSN, IEA, IRENA, OECD, WEF, the Resilience Shift, USDN, …
— Board member of the EU Intelligent Cities Challenge and the Club of Rome EU Chapter
— Former director of the Environment and Climate service at the City of Ghent, leading a +70 team and coordinating a +12mio budget
— Launched a large and high-level public-private transition partnership on circular economy for the Flemish Government, with according strategy roadmaps and action plans. The programme received the 2016 Circulars Award.
— European policy coordinator for the Flemish government, with board membership in the UNEP International Resouce Panel and contributor to the 2010 council conclusions on Sustainable Consumption and Production.
— Political advisor to a European MEP with focus on cities and sustainability, and the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, with a focus on health, aging and social affairs.
— Chief of staff, policy and political advisor at the City of Antwerp with focus on waste, sustainability, urban planning, social affairs, and long term planning
— Journalist for radio and television, covering polictics, culture, and local affairs