From the BBC to Burberry: More speakers confirmed for BusinessGreen Leaders Summit 2018

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 3 min read

Sam Taylor, executive editor of the BBC News Channel, to discuss what makes green business stories cut through with the media

The speaker line-up for this year's BusinessGreen Leaders Summit is now nearly complete, with top executives from the BBC, Heathrow, Burberry, and others joining the programme for the day.

This year's BusinessGreen Leaders Summit will take place at The Crystal venue in London's Docklands on October 16th, the Tuesday of the government's Green Great Britain Week.

The day will start with a keynote address from Professor Corinne Le Quéré, director of the Tyndall Centre, who will set the scene with an update on the latest climate projections the business community faces.

The opening address will then be followed by a speech from ClientEarth founder James Thornton on the huge legal risks and immense business opportunities that come with the low carbon transition.

The business opportunities that arise from the transition to a greener economy will also be the subject of both our first panel session and a series of case studies offering a unique insight into how some businesses are developing and deploying best in class sustainability strategies. For example, Pam Batty vice president of corporate responsibility at Burberry will provide an overview of how the luxury goods giant is working to enhance the green credentials of its global supply chain.

The afternoon session will start with a keynote address on the government's green innovation agenda from Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry, which promises to provide clear pointers for those businesses working to develop innovative new green technologies and business models.

The afternoon's panel session will discuss the long term trends shaping the green economy, including the growing momentum behind calls for a net zero emission target. It will feature Tim Crosland, director of campaign group Plan B, Julie Hirigoyen of the UK Green Building Council, Eliot Whittington of the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, and Jorge Pikunic, managing director at energy giant and Summit headline sponsor Centrica Business Solutions.

The debate will be followed by an hour of workshop sessions providing a chance for delegates to discuss how to drive green innovation and deep decarbonisation across their organisation and supply chains.

The Summit closes with a speech from John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow, on how the airport is tackling the environmental challenges it is facing and working to deliver on a long term vision of sustainable aviation, and an on-stage discussion between Sam Taylor, executive editor of the BBC News Channel, and BusinessGreen's James Murray on what it takes for the green economy to achieve 'cut through' with the mainstream media.

"From leading corporates providing a unique insight into how they are wrestling with the challenges and opportunities presented by the green economic transition to some of the most authoritative thought leaders working in the fields of law, science, campaigning, and the media, this year's BusinessGreen Leaders Summit line up is not to be missed," said Murray. "The Summit provides a unique opportunity to discuss the trends shaping the green economy and network with those leaders tasked with driving the all important low carbon transition."

Tickets for this year's BusinessGreen Leaders Summit are on sale now, with discounts on offer for subscribers and past finalists at the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards. Further speakers will be announced in due course.

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