Sustainability Forum 2016

For the 5th consecutive year the “Sustainability Forum 2016, a training, networking and professional development event" by Global Sustain, was completed with great success on October 7, at the OTE Academy premises.

Participations exceeded expectations, with guest speakers of international prestige and profile, but also high level attendees representing almost all sectors of economic activity. Participants from all around the world exceeded 75, and had the opportunity to attend specialized workshops and listen to internationally renowned speakers and experts in sustainability issues, acquiring knowledge about major issues and international trends, interacting with each other in a continuous, all-day networking.

In the opening session, Mr. Aris Vrettos, Director of The Prince of Wales's Business and Sustainability Programme, Director of Open Programmes, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), spoke about the ever changing role of business in society in conjunction with political, socio-economic and technological developments in the Anthropocene era.

Dr. Bruce Piasecki, President & CEO AHC Group, Inc, explained to the participants the importance of sustainable capitalism and creating shared value, making reference to the growing importance of ESG criteria (Environmental, Social and Governance) for investors.

Dr. Jeremy Pearce, Research Associate, Global Sustain, spoke about managing up sustainability strategy to senior executives.

Mrs. Kiara Conti, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, EY, spoke about measurement and valuation of extra financial aspects of value creation. According to Mrs. Konti, the concept of value is broadening to encompass resources that are shared between an organization and wider society, with emphasis on intangibles assets such as people and innovation.

Mrs. Shivani Rajpal, Deputy Director Services, GRI, described the UN Sustainability Goals and referred to the GRI contribution to the implementation of the SDGs by businesses, through the SDG Compass.

O Dr. Christian Avérous, Vice-President, Blue Plan and former head of Environmental Performance and Information, OECD, reported on the international framework for sustainable production and consumption, with particular reference to case studies of businesses around the world.

Mrs. Alka Banerjee, Managing Director, S&P Dow Jones Indices, talked about measuring sustainability with the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, referring to international trends but also on sustainable investments.

Mr. John Zeppos, FBCI Managing Director, Resilience Guard GmbH, emphasized the need for risk management culture to ensure business continuity and sustainability.

Mr. Todd Fein, Chief Executive Officer, Green Diamond, LLC, spoke about the role of technology and Big Data on sustainability, with special reference to corporate practices.

Mr. Sebastian Fairhurst, Head of Public Policy Germany, Santander Consumer Bank AG and Yannis Salavopoulos, Managing Director, Global Sustain GmbH & Group Head Int. Affairs, highlighted the importance of public affairs and sustainability strategy in order to improve corporate performance (risk management, corporate reputation, revenue growth, cost reduction).

Mr. Tero Pietila, Head of Division Corporate Social Responsibility, European Investment Bank, provided an overview of the organization's CSR strategy, with particular reference to the financing programs and “green bonds”.

Mr. Gabriel Karageorgiou, Head of Client Services, Partner, Arabesque Partners, analyzed the role of ESG criteria in investment decisions.

Mr. Gerasimos Georgopoulos, Head on Institutional Regulations (Company Law) & Business Registry (GEMI), Ministry of Economy, Development & Tourism, General Secretariat of Commerce & Consumer Protection, D.G. Market, D. Enterprises & Business Registry (GEMI), analyzed the new European Directive on the disclosure of non-financial information, providing explanations on transposition issues (deadlines, report content, companies covered by the Directive).

Mrs. Stavroula Aggelopoulou, Corporate Responsibility Senior Manager and Mr. Costas Provataris, Enterprise Risk Management Senior Manager, OTE Group, spoke about integrating materiality assessment into Enterprise Risk Management.

At the end of the Forum, participants received certificates of attendance and had the opportunity to network with each other. 

• The next Sustainability Forum is scheduled for October 6, 2017.

• Further information about the Sustainability Forum is available at www.sustainabilityforum.gr.  

Supporters and Sponsors

Golden Sponsors: Hellas Gold

Silver Sponsors: Alpha Bank, Interamerican.

Supporters: Berling, DEPA, FISIKON, European Reliance, Gilead, Nea Odos, Kentriki Odos, Philips, AHC Group, CAPITALS Circle Group

Hospitality Sponsor: OTE Academy

Catering Sponsor: Papaspyrou

Cocktail Sponsor: Glenfiddich

Beer Sponsor: Athenian Brewery

Web & Social Media Supporter: Think Plus

Graphic Design Partner: Greenmind

Printing Sponsor: Pressious Arvanitidis

Carbon Offset Partner: Green Evolution

Conference Experience Partner: Conferience

Institutional Supporters: American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, CEO Clubs International, Hellenic Management Association, Hellenic Fund and Asset Management Association, Institute of Communication, Hellenic Corporate Governance Council, Hellenic Advertisers Association, Safety for Sea, The Hellenic-Dutch Association of Commerce and Industry, Union of Listed Companies.

Communication Supporters: Huffington Post, Re:CSR, CSRweek, csrnews.gr, Marketing Week, Plant, marketingweek.gr, CSRindex, Insurance Marketing, Insurance Daily News, Business Wire, 3BL Media, CSRwire, Ethical Performance, Asian NGO, Governance & Accountability Institute, Sustainability HQ, accountabilitycentral.com

Global Sustain Limited (Ltd.)

Global Sustain Limited (Ltd.)

About Global Sustain

Founded in 2006, Global Sustain with offices in Athens, Berlin, Brussels, London, New York and Nicosia, creates awareness and inspires and supports companies and organisations to embody sustainability, through advisory, communications, networking and training, with a focus on the people-planet-profit philosophy. Its members include corporations, non-governmental and non-profit organisations, municipalities and local authorities, educational foundations, media, professional bodies, think tanks and other public or private entities. Global Sustain is a signatory to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), a GRI Data Partner and Organisational Stakeholder (OS), an affiliated member of the Academy of Business in Society, Social Value International, Institute of Directors, CEO Clubs and EFQM. www.globalsustain.org / www.globalsustaingroup.com

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