Olamide Ayeni is a sustainability and risk management expert, circular economy leader, and tech policy advocate with over 12 years of cross-sector experience at the intersection of environmental innovation, network infrastructure, and social enterprise development. She is the founder of Hopcyku, a Nigeria-based social enterprise that transforms plastic and textile waste into sustainable products while empowering marginalized communities through skill development and circular economy initiatives.

Currently serving as a Knauss Fellow with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States, Olamide contributes to policy and reporting efforts that promote sustainable development and innovation. She holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Management with a focus on Sustainability and Risk from Michigan Technological University, where she earned multiple awards for social innovation. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy from Technische Universität Dresden, and a B.Tech in Computer Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.

Recognized globally for her pioneering work in waste-to-wealth innovation, Olamide is an Obama Fellow, NASDAQ Milestone Maker, and TechWomen Fellow. Her initiatives have been featured in Reuters and The Washington Post, reflecting the broad impact of her work across sustainability, education, and community development.

She is also the founder of Pearl Recycling, where she led groundbreaking efforts in upcycling and climate literacy. She has authored climate education books for K–12 learners, further demonstrating her commitment to inclusive environmental education.

Passionate about embedding sustainability at the core of technology, policy, and development, Olamide continues to lead transformational change—locally and globally—through innovation, advocacy, and community empowerment.