Our Team

Torbjörn Lahti

Trained in social planning and economics, he initiated the Eco-Municipalities movement in Sweden and was one of the two founders of Esam AB together with Grunnar Brundin (see below). Torbjörn has 40 years of experience in sustainable development, which is unique even in Sweden. He is an international lecturer and was the leader of the “Sustainable Robertsfors” project, where the concept of “Ecomunicipality 5.0” was developed. He was a consultant advising on the development of pilot ecomunicipality projects all around the world. He also participates in tours, gives lectures and shares his experience. Nowadays he is mainly focused building up Ecomuna. Contact Torbjörn for questions about the Sustainable Sweden Association.

Cynthia Contie

Cynthia is driven to help facilitate awakenings to humanity’s place in Nature and exploring ways we can harmonize our relationship with all living things.  She serves as Board Member and North America Representative to Sustainable Sweden Association, and as principal of her own company, Full Circle Discovery where she carries out this work via facilitation, communications, and education.  Cynthia studied Psychology for her undergrad, and Earth Studies Education and Curriculum Design for her Masters.  She draws from 14 past years in corporate management and facilitator roles, and 20 years in non-profit and sustainable community development settings.  In her free time Cynthia enjoys cooking creative meals with friends, spending time outdoors with her dog and cat, and making time for art and music.  

Barbro Kalla

Barbro began her career educating teenagers in language. Then she worked for 15 years as a consultant providing competence-enhancing services to companies, NGOs, municipalities, and regional bodies, who were entering the world of sustainable development. Her international expertise focuses on the transfer of knowledge among project partners and reaching out to external target groups. This includes Technical Visits with participants from Japan, US, and Europe. A lifelong mission has been to provide children and young adults the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed to play a constructive role in the current and future transition of society towards sustainability. She has been working at BioFuel Region since 2012 with both strategy and implementation of communication plans, including gender and gender mainstreaming. 

Her area of expertise is developing ways to communicate the complex message of what is needed for us to change to become sustainable. The transfer of knowledge is aiming to integrate research findings and good examples into practice. Ongoing assignments include working to influence opinions to strengthen the bioeconomy and the development of alternative fuels in northern Sweden.

Specialties: Sustainable development, Bioeconomy, Learning for sustainable development (ESD) International exchange of experience.