Bas van Abel is an entrepreneur, designer and technician with more than 20 years of experience with social innovation. He has a passion for changing the economic system through a design approach. He believes that companies play an essential role in the transition that is needed to achieve a more sustainable economic system. As a designer, Bas delves into the invisible world behind our production systems, brings the problems to the surface and uses his companies as a means to show that things can be done differently.'

Bas is founder of the successful sustainable smartphone manufacturer Fairphone (fairphone.com) and co-founder of circular startup De Clique (declique.com). Bas gives guest lectures in sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship at renowned institutes such as Nyenrode, ESADE and Cambridge. He also advises companies in their sustainability transition. He is a co-author of the book 'Open Design Now' and is an Ashoka fellow, a network of the world's most prominent social entrepreneurs. His work has been featured in various media, including VPRO Tegenlicht (the honest company), CNN, The New York Times and Der Spiegel.