Melati Wijsen

Melati Wijsen

• Changemaker, movement builder, and climate activist
• Co-founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags
• Star of Bigger Than Us which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival
• Founder of One Island One Voice, Mountain Mamas, and YOUTHTOPIA

Although still young, Melati Wijsen has packed years of experience into her short life. The Indonesian/Dutch full-time changemaker and activist founded the youth-driven movement Bye Bye Plastic Bags with her younger sister in 2013. She was only twelve years old at the time.

From there Melati Wijsen went on to start the people movement One Island One Voice as well as Mountain Mamas, a social enterprise.

TIME honoured the social entrepreneur who graduated from high school a year early by naming her one of the most influential teens in the world. Melati Wijsen is also one of CNN’s Heroes Young Wonders and on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.

A social entrepreneur, Melati Wijsen has co-chaired the World Economic Forum GPAP committee, sat on the inaugural Expert Advisory Panel for the Earthshot Prize, and had her film Bigger Than Us premier at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. The experience garnered during the making of the film fueled her love for hosting and navigating through other people’s stories.

In 2020, Melati Wijsen launched her latest company YOUTHTOPIA on the stage of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The company focuses on youth empowerment through short and meaningful programmes. With YOUTOPIA, she has started a new series where she hosts conversations with changemakers across the globe.

Melati Wijsen – Speaker

As a conference speaker, Melati Wijsen has spoken on various world stages. These include TED and the UN. She talks about various subjects that focus on women, change, sustainability, youth, and the circular economy. She lives in Indonesia and presents in English.

Speaker Topics

• Youth Empowerment
• Education
• Women in Leadership
• Change
• Sustainability
• Circular Economy