Social Responsibility & Sustainability Conference, London

12 May 2016 – The Crystal, Royal Victoria Docks, London

Conference Agenda

Join the ‘sustainable business’ debate of the year and leave your carbon footprint at the door!

09:15

Registration & coffee

10:00

OPENING KEYNOTE: We build better businesses together. How our investments can change the world.

Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive, ShareAction

10:30

Business Transformation: Ethics versus Profits?

Most businesses seek to balance the need to serve people and planet on one side, and achieve shareholder satisfaction on the other. But is trading off profits against ethics an outmoded approach incapable of solving the big problems of climate change, population growth, resource depletion etc., which is a short term fix at best? How can businesses contend with the pressures of the short term while being part of a necessary transformation in the long term? Our panel will share their ideas and transformation strategies.

CHAIR: Paul Robinson – CEO, Alquity

Claudine Blamey – Chair, Institute of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability

Paul Monaghan – Director, Up the Ethics & Co-Founder, Fair Tax Mark

Will Akerman – Founder, MyKindaFuture

11:20

Break

11:40

Social Responsibility Innovations Spotlight – Responsible 100

With so many businesses claiming to be responsible, how do you tell which ones are genuine? This is essentially the question which sparked the development of Responsible 100. Futerra’s Ed Gillespie leads a discussion with R100’s founder and director and some of the organisations which are part of the initiative. Find out how to identify businesses which are truly responsible and, as a consumer, employee or investor, how you can support and reward them.

CHAIR: Ed Gillespie – Author & Co-Founder, Futerra

Michael Solomon – Director, Responsible 100

Graham Precey – Head of Corporate Responsibility & Ethics, Legal & General

Tracey Rawling Church – Head of CSR, Kyocera Document Solutions UK

12:30

Lunch & Crystal ‘Future of Cities’ exhibition tours

13:30

Squaring the Circular Economy

Successful transition to the desperately needed circular economy will require radical leadership. Joan Walley leads expert panellists in an exploration of government intervention, business innovation and fundamental behaviour change as essential components of the circular economy. Join the session to discover what other essential ingredients are required, who the current leaders in this space are, and where the next generation of ideas will emerge from.

CHAIR: Joan Walley – Chairman, Aldersgate Group

Jonathan Garrett – Director of CSR, Jaguar Land Rover

Professor Dr Raimund Bleischwitz – BHP Biliton Chair, Sustainable Global Resources, UCL

Gavin Ellis – Co-founder, Hubbub

14:20

Cashing in on Climate Change Commitments; How to deliver on Paris Pledges

Businesses and investors were instrumental in shaping the COP21 agreement. They showed up in great numbers, pledged trillions, promised support for clean energy, a carbon floor price, responsible policy and more. Will this agreement deliver the transition to the low carbon economy and in time? Or will cheap oil and the government withdrawal of support for renewables and clean tech throw spanners in the works?

Chair: Dr Paula Owen – Trustee, 10:10

Trevor Hutchings – Director of Advocacy, WWF-UK

Martin Powell – Global Head of Urban Development, Siemens

Raj Thamotheram – CEO, Preventable Surprises

15:10

Break

15:30

Corporate Taxation – Game Changing Strategies for Responsible Businesses

Corporate tax avoidance has been the primary ethical concern for the British public since 2013, and businesses must increase transparency to regain public trust, according to research conducted for the Institute of Business Ethics. Will businesses always seek to game the rules to their advantage? Are regulators doing enough? What is the role of campaigners? What is a better, fairer, more transparent system and how are we going to achieve it? Responsible 100’s Michael Solomon will ask the difficult questions of leading tax experts from opposite ends of the debate. Expect a lively discussion!

Chair: Michael Solomon, Director,  Responsible 100

Tim Law – Director, Engaged Consulting

Matti Kohonen – Principal Adviser-Private Sector, Christian Aid

Bianca Shead – Sustainable Development Advocacy & Policy, SABMiller

16:15

KEYNOTE SPEECH: In Conversation with Roz Savage MBE and Adam-Freeman-Pask

World Record Breaking adventure rower, Roz Savage MBE, the first woman to row solo across three oceans will be joined by Olympic rower Adam Freeman-Pask to deliver an ‘In Conversation’ session, speaking candidly about their personal experiences and aspirations for a sustainable future.

17:00

Pre-Ceremony Drinks Reception & Crystal ‘Sustainable Cities’ Tours

18:00

Evening Ceremony Proceedings start (Estimated finish 21:00)