Joana (Ph.D) has worked in Design For Sustainability for +15 years, independently. She builds research strategy and leads stakeholder dynamics for companies transitioning their value chain from linear to circular (regenerative).

To date, Joana has supported +20 teams from corporate to start-ups, delivered research plans worth €100K, disseminated field insights from +10 cultural contexts, guided & trained +500 people.

With a background in communication design, Joana is a primal connector, translator and facilitator. Earned an awarded Ph.D at Central Saint Martins London focused on the experiential qualities of sustainability.  Developed a design method with 17 start-ups which has benefitted organisations and accelerator programs.

Partner to innovation teams researching sustainable solutions, and with senior leadership to provoke the status quo in their sector.

Has been professor at ISEG Business School Lisbon, founding faculty of CODE University of Applied Sciences Berlin, visiting lecturer at Hyper Island, Stockholm School of Creative Entrepreneurship and teaching team at IDEO’s platform.

As a professional speaker, regularly shares new knowledge and insights on the challenges and joys of this industry. She is a founding creative leader at NEOL.

Writes about Research as a Mesearch (how designers work out in the world shapes their inner life) and founded a creative retreat venue in Portugal.

Works globally from a farm outside Lisbon. Previously Berlin, Indonesia, London.