Nyssa Thongthai

Nyssa worked as a senior R&D scientist at WestRock, leading the Fit-For-Use service platform that performs barrier and product testing primarily for plastic replacement projects. Her experience includes material and packaging testing, new product development, customer engagement, and project management. Nyssa received her master’s degree in chemistry from Old Dominion University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and Japanese language from the University of Virginia. Nyssa’s interest in sustainability began while working on plastic replacement projects which led to a deeper dive into sustainability topics. She completed a Sustainable Business course through the McIntire Institute at the University of Virginia and was a participant in the U.S. Department of State seminar in Copenhagen that focused on understanding the climate crisis through an interdisciplinary and foreign policy lens. When she’s not trying to save the world, you can find Nyssa enjoying her yoga practice, cooking and exploring vegan recipes, and playing with her two cats – Haggiss and Bridie.