Our Team
Our team is made up of people dedicated to sustainability and social responsibility.
Hover over or click on the images below to learn more about our team.
*ACT is a Cooperative/Limited Company hybrid in Norway. This structure draws from the democratic strengths of an employee-led organization while benefiting from the corporate advantages of a limited liability company. You can learn more about our corporate structure on our blog. You can learn more about our Council here.
Administrative Team
Raised in Denmark and residing in Norway, Thomas’ passion for environmental and social responsibility and collaborative technology led him to found ACT in 2015. With a background in electrical engineering and collaborative technologies, Jepsen has over 10 years of relevant experience in project management, software development, entrepreneurial startup and quality management. His areas of specialty include development, agile project management, quality assurance, collaboration methodologies and technologies.
Thomas previously handled infrastructure and software development projects at Maersk, Wilhelmsen Maritime Services, Netcom, and Telia Sonera.
Thomas Jepsen (MScEE)
CEO and Founder
Katerina has a background in international development, communications and marketing, and has worked at the United Nations, the European Commission and as a marketing consultant. She holds degrees from the Universities of Yale and Sussex. In her free time, she likes to swim, sculpt and hang out with her pets.
Katerina Karatzia (MA)
Chief Marketing Officer
Brennan Purtzer is a recognized international development specialist.
With 15+ years in journalism and a Masters Degree in development management (University of Agder) Purtzer has been awarded for his outstanding entrepreneurship skills by the American SBA, founded multiple media companies, and worked on projects in environments as diverse as Ukraine, Africa, Sri Lanka and Micronesia. His focus is on new applications of technology — including energy, communication and agriculture — to address age-old and emerging global issues.
In his personal time he enjoys exploring new cultures, brewing beer and hiking.
Brennan Purtzer (MA)
Communications Officer
Ole is experienced in finance, strategy and operations development with a strong working knowledge of most business disciplines including product development, customer service, human relation and accounting.
His background includes: Strategy development, Financial planning and management, turnarounds – strategy development, recapitalization and execution, transaction management & analysis including financing, recapitalizations, sales, acquisitions, joint ventures, and project systems development.
Ole Johan Ulvaaen (BBA)
Financial Manager & Controller
Data Team
Based in Israel, Abby has background in international development and community social work and is passionate about addressing global development challenges as they relate to Sustainable Development Goals. Her experience includes working in climate change mitigation, corporate social responsibility, disaster management, and community intervention.
Abby has contributed to the social impact of NGOs, public institutions and businesses through program development and coordination, research and reporting, and grant management. Abby supports ACT through a variety of roles, including market and sustainability rating research, business marketing, and managing funding opportunities.
Abby Finkelstein (MA)
Sustainability Researcher
I’ve been working with data for the last seven years. During this time I've held positions as a machine learning engineer, data scientist and data consultant in different companies.
I have strong programming skills (mainly using Python and Java but I’ve also worked with R) and experience in big data, machine learning and statistics. I love methodology, novel algorithms and unsolved problems.
In my spare time, I try to raise my two adorable children and when they allow me I go jogging or paddle tennis with friends.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-%C3%A1ngel-serrano-mateos-97211564/
Miguel Serrano (PhD)
Data Scientist
Tech Team
Faithful is a dedicated DevOps Engineer who specializes in fostering collaboration, driving automation, and advancing innovative solutions. With a focus on streamlining software development processes, he excels at maintaining robust automation pipelines, configuring infrastructure as code, and managing seamless release and deployment workflows. Faithful’s daily responsibilities include optimizing systems for scalability and reliability, ensuring that teams can deliver high-quality software faster and more efficiently.
Faithful Anere (MSc)
DevOps Engineer
Android developer with 10+ years of experience and a proven track record of delivering high quality mobile applications. Proficient with common Android framework API's. Skilled in leading development teams,implementing best practices, and driving innovation.
Mariia Bazhina (Specialist Degree)
Android developer
With a dynamic career spanning 8 years in software engineering, I am a passionate advocate for technological innovation and AI. In addition to excelling as a software engineer, I've also thrived as a Java technical lead, guiding complex projects and contributing significantly to the design of various software solutions. When not immersed in code, I find joy in karting and exploring immersive gaming experiences on console.
Adrian-Ioan Coman (MS)
Backend Developer
Armin brings experience in solution architecture and the development of enterprise applications, having contributed to projects with over 15 million active users. Known for his calm and collected demeanor, Armin remains composed even in the most challenging situations. Outside of work, he enjoys practicing yoga, playing tennis, and cherishing quality time with his family, who hold the most special place in his heart.
Armin Spahić (BEng)
Tech Lead
Ananthu is software Engineer with background in Physics (BSc), and Full Stack Development (BSc). A passionate generalist who likes to explore and learn things, he also enjoys a good football match from time to time.
Ananthu Sudhikumar (BSc)
Flutter Developer
Based in Norway, Isak brings 20 years of experience in development and management of various technical and numerical domains, including process simulation, electronic design automation, oil and gas, and artificial intelligence. He has an M.Sc. in applied mathematics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Isak works with ACT as a data analyst and developer.
Isak Swahn (MSc)
Architect, Developer & Data Analyst
Born in Sweden, a passionate & driven UX-designer with a BSc in Informatics specialized in UX-design - whom had the opportunity to attend SweCog 2024 to present a thesis project made about students' user experience within robots & education. A journey that has led to a big passion for accessibility & sustainability, and that will keep growing. Wants to use design as a tool to change peoples view & experience of the world.
Martina Quach (BSc)
UX Designer
Advisory Board
After a long career in mainstream investment banking, including high-level leadership positions, I'm now a specialist in sustainable finance. I've repurposed the wealth of skills and experience acquired during my time in the City towards a modern day imperative: using finance as a force for good. As such, I help impact driven companies create investible solutions to society's challenges, supporting them as they navigate their growth journey. This means helping them focus on viability and scalability not only in terms of the core business strategy but also the fundamental value proposition. As a co-founder, board member and advisor to several start-ups, I have first-hand knowledge of the challenges inherent in charting a sustainable growth path and the importance of exploring innovative ideas around problem-solving along the way. Qualified to MA level in PPE at Oxford, I'm also an alumna of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Christine Baker (MA)
Financial Advisor
Andreas Bentzen holds a Ph.D. in Physics and an MSc. in Physical Electronics. He has 17+ years of deep technical, strategic and management experience in the solar industry. His experience includes leading teams of scientists and engineers at companies such as Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) in Norway and REC Technology US in Silicon Valley. Andreas is the co-founder & CTO of Otovo, that became the leading B2C solar cell provider in Norway in 1 year. He’s also the founder of Beacon Group that provides consultancy dedicated to technology development and improvement work, with primary focus towards the photovoltaics, semiconductors and process industries.
Andreas believes that the key to a sustainable future is to help people make the right decisions. He supports ACT with expertise in R&D, innovation management and strategy.
Andreas Bentzen (PhD)
R&D, Innovation Management and Strategy Advisor
Mike is a well-known figure within academic research and practical industrial applications of environmental impact metrics, awareness, and behavioural change. Through his lecturing, research and publications, and consulting services, has made instrumental contributions to thinking on sustainability and responses to 21st century challenges.
Mike is a professor at Lancaster University’s Institute for Social Futures, where he develops practical tools for thinking about the future and researches the global food system. He is also the founder of Small World Consulting (SWC), an associate company of Lancaster University, which works with organisations from tech giants to supermarkets. SWC is a leader in the field of carbon metrics and their use. Through his work, Mike supports the development of ACT’s environmental sustainability rating.
Mike Berners-Lee (MSc)
Environmental Impact Metrics and Behavioural Science Advisor
Redesigning our systems towards more circularity and inclusion, shifting our mindsets from maximum profit, GDP and ROI to wellbeing for people and planet and utilising capital and technology in purposeful, ethical ways is my purpose and professional focus.
Obviously, these are deep shifts from our current way of doing things. And it requires conscious citizens, entrepreneurs and purpose driven organisations to join hands in action in direction. We hence founded Global Impact Alliance (www.global-impact-alliance.org) - launching our corporate program soon.
As an Impact Advisor (Glatz Impact Ventures), I support in designing and implementing multi-stakeholder impact projects and accompany organisations through their transformation towards more conscious leadership & sustainability. My preferred topics are: Circular Economy, Conscious Leadership and Impact Investing.
I work with a wide variety of clients, such as social impact entrepreneurs, foundations, impact funds, government programs and family offices to reach their impact objectives within the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework.
I am teaching business ethics at the ESCP Business School in Berlin, and regularly attend and speak at global conferences. In my "pre-impact life", I built up a market entry advisory firm in India, and have a background in change management and consulting with Accenture.
Ulrike Dana Glatz
Impact Investing Advisor
Peter is the Founder and CEO of the Jäderberg & Cie.-Group (“JC”), an entrepreneurial impact investor.
The investment portfolio consists purely of unique projects with disruptive, deep impact of massive sustainability and extraordinary long-term profitability.
Furthermore, JC only engages with projects where they can add substantial value, be it operationally responsible, or simply as an active lead investor and impact guardian.
Areas of investment are, so far, Regenerative Agriculture/Forestry (with a focus on medicinal plants), Food Distribution, Ocean Health, Circular Economy (with a focus on recycling of e-waste).
The flagship project since 2010 is „JC Sandalwood“, with over 270,000 sandalwood trees cultivated on 575 hectares of reforested mixed forests in the tropical north of Australia. From 2028 onwards, gross harvest revenues of over one billion euros are expected. Half of this is owned by co-investors of the JC Group. Among the handful of neighboring investors in this only commercially viable, fully sustainable source are Abu Dhabi IC, Harvard Endowment, and Church of England. The essential sandalwood oil of this nearly extinct tree species is used in human and veterinary medicine, natural remedies, aromatherapy, food flavoring, and as a fragrance carrier. Our project JC Sandalwood received the award 'best impact investment' of the year 2019 from a jury of renowned German financial journalists.
Peter is a proud member of international impact organizations and networks like Toniic, Bundesinitiative Impact Investing, TTI, Global Impact Alliance and is active in several working groups.
One overlapping topic JC pursues is to create and integrate Carbon, Biodiversity, and Social credits in one single token. Not least, JC is an active advocate for collaboration and for protection against “Impact Washing”.
Peter Jäderberg
Impact Investing Advisor
Gerrit McGowan is an entrepreneur, ecosystem-builder, investor, and founder of Syntegrity Consulting Group (merged with EcoPlan International), Kula.com (sold to private investors), Effectuate Apps (acquired by GSIX), the 501(c)(3) Kula Foundation, the ICELab Innovation Center, and numerous other short-lived ventures. He is currently interim Managing Director of the WHU Entrepreneurship Center.
But Gerrit is perhaps most recognised for designing the concept of Cause-Related Loyalty Marketing and innovative corporate cause marketing programs: MyCoke Rewards Donate to Schools, Kellogg’s Points with Purpose, Red Robin Eat Up-Give Back Rewards, JetBlue’s TrueGiving, and JetBlue Gives.
Throughout his career, Gerrit has advised hundreds of startups, corporates, nonprofits, and governments; led the development of over a dozen technology products; and raised over $10m in venture capital, grants, and philanthropy. His work has been honoured with two Canadian Institute of Planners Awards for Excellence; as a finalist for the Guardian’s Social Enterprise of the Year Award; and a SXSW Startup Showcase selection.
Between his current ecosystem-building work, early-stage investments, and mentorship with Techstars and Alchemist Accelerators, Gerrit hosts an entrepreneurial podcast, kayaks whitewater rivers across the globe, and conducts part-time PhD research on the physiology of optimal human performance among startup founders.
Gerrit McGowan (PhD Candidate)
Startup and Venture Advisor
Christopher Viland is a corporate lawyer and head of the legal department at Sykehuspartner HF. Together with 6 employees, Sykehuspartner HF provides legal advice on relevant legal areas such as contract law, information security, privacy, employment law as well as compliance work in the business and preventive work such as training for managers and employees. He has taken courses in leadership at Handelseshøyskolen BI and has served on boards.
Previously, Christopher worked for many years as a lawyer at Econa, and several law firms.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-viland-1326451b/
Christopher Viland (LLM)
Legal Advisor, Tech and GDPR
Born in The Netherlands, Nikolet has always had a passion for (the connection between) nature, animals, food, technology, human psychology, and philosophy. Her sense of interdependency made her strive for individual autonomy, while exploring social, cultural, philosophical, and even regulatory differences and similarities in our Global Village. She combines a career as attorney in law offices, and multinational businesses (since 1998), with being a mother of three boys (since 2004). In 2011 she initiated CERES, a grass root Foundation aimed at creating awareness of women’s crucial role in achieving global Food Security.
Nikolet specialized in international cooperation, Public Private Partnerships (PPP), (smart) contracts, entrepreneurship, emerging technologies (biotech, blockchain), and gender equity.
Nikolet Zwart (LLM)
Legal and Strategic Advisor
Advisors
Alexey has been coding since 1991, mainly focused on Scala, Java, and functional programming.
He is passionate and meticulous on structure, representation, and transformation improvements.
Alexey loves skiing, biking, swimming, and hiking.
Alexey Rykhalskiy (PhD)
Backend Developer and Architect
Jan was the founder and managing director of an award-winning agency for strategic brand consulting and zeitgeist marketing communication with a focus on sport and other lifestyle areas.
Clients included Adidas, BMW, Comdirect, Ray-Ban, Red Bull, Samsung, Telekom — but also start-ups for brand development.
Now he works as a consultant, impact investor and project developer — all within the field of sustainability. For a deeper understanding and knowledge on this topic, he is currently working towards a Master’s degree on “Sustainable Change”.
Lifelong learning is a trend anyway...
Jan Mikes (MA)
Marketing Advisor
Kalina is a UX/UI designer with over 7 years of diverse design expertise. With three enriching years spent in renowned architectural firms across the globe, including Hong Kong, New York, and Rotterdam, she has honed her skills in seamlessly integrating design principles and functionality. Kalina is committed to delivering innovative, user-centric, and visually appealing solutions, always eager to embrace new challenges and stay updated with the latest industry trends and best practices.
Kalina Piłat (MArch)
UX/UI Designer
Cloud Platform and Site Reliability Engineering Leader with over a decade of experience in architecting, building, deploying, and managing large-scale platforms and distributed systems.
I have proven experience in driving Cloud Native transformations, enhancing SRE practices, and ensuring secure, efficient, and resilient systems.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, cooking, exercising, reading, traveling, camping, and keeping up with technology and science.
Aymen Segni (MEng)
Senior Staff DevOps & SRE
Product Designer with 7+ years of overall design experience and more than 5+ years of UI/UX design experience in applying the customer-centered design on web-based & mobile products, responsible for the overall user experience, visual language, and product interfaces of the platform. His main focus is Human-Centered Design - developing solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.
John Slotylo (MA)
UX/UI Designer