As the world faces tough economic times and uncertain futures, sustainability, managing resource scarcity and top business management leadership in this direction offer  pragmatic and transformational prospects for creating jobs, stimulating innovation and inducing sustainable growth for Britain and the world in general. This is the focus of the event ‘bridging the gap between sustainability’ and the board organized by These Young Minds and the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. This event is inspired partly by Carbon Trust's recent survey which revealed a strategy conundrum around sustainability. This survey reveals that over 90% of UK Business decision makers believe that there is an opportunity that could be explored from the green economy while 31% believe that a profit could be made by harnessing this opportunity. In light of these findings, Martin Chilcott CEO 2degrees network will be delivering the keynote on the topic Pragmatic Strategies towards giving the Chief Sustainability Officer a voice in the Board room. Other speakers include William Roissetter Futerra, Mike Barry, Head of Sustainability M&S, Ian Bowman Director of CSR Siemens, Dr Mick Blowfield University of Oxford and Richard Smith Sustainability Manager, BBC.

Richard Smith who works with production staff at the BBC to help them make their programmes in a more sustainable way will be sharing insights on progress so far. He helped developed a carbon calculator - Albert - designed to work out the environmental impact of programme making. Albert is now being shared with the rest of the TV industry through a partnership with BAFTA. Richard will discuss the challenges of engaging staff with environmental issues and how the project relates to the BBC's sustainability strategy.

Ian Bowman, Director of CSR at Siemens who will be speaking on ‘Building the Foundation by the Roof’ says, "Organisation hierarchies produce compliance but the aim of leadership from the top should be to create individual leaders throughout the organisation that can deliver change. Sustainability leadership networked throughout the business makes for a positive force.” 

Rupert Younger, Director Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation believes that modern global companies understand that doing business sustainably is now an entry ticket to success. But how, specifically, does it create advantage and add value? This conference brings together leading experts from academia and business to discuss how company boards can think about this and how they can engage with it in practice. I am delighted to have been asked to Chair this event and look forward to a stimulating and thoughtful session.

Alim Abubakre Founding Executive Director of These Young Minds outlined the aim of the event; to equip participants with innovative skills, foster competency in identifying and utilizing opportunities, while solving societal challenges.

This event will begin at 15.00 on 20th October at Oxford Smith School of Enterprise & the Environment, Seminar room, Hayes House, 75 George Street Oxford, OX1 2BQ. This event is sponsored by Oxford University Press, CSRwire and lowcarbon.com. Attendance is free but spaces are limited and based on first come first served; members of the public are advised to register at: http://goo.gl/byqoU.

For more information of this event visit http://goo.gl/j86RT.

These Young Minds

These Young Minds

These Young Minds is a service based social enterprise that provides an all inclusive platform for all stakeholders in the area of corporate responsibility through high powered conferences which will explore areas of partnership and achieve innovation.

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