Thomas Rau is an architect, entrepreneur, and visionary in sustainability and the circular economy. Founder of RAU Architects in 1992, his office leads in creating carbon-neutral, energy-positive, and circular buildings such as the Triodos Bank headquarters, Liander’s circular office, Juf Nienke housing, and the Dutch Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka. A pioneer in rethinking resource use and renewable energy in architecture, he developed groundbreaking concepts including Light as a Service, Material as a Service, and the Material Passport. With Sabine Oberhuber, he coauthored the bestseller Material Matters and cofounded Madaster. Named Dutch Architect of the Year 2013, he has received numerous awards, including the Circular Hero Award (2021) and the ULI Germany Leadership Award (2022).