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Rewriting our future 

Whether it’s shifting to sustainable finance systems, realigning company cultures, restoring nature or tackling social inequality – every transformation needs a clear vision and effective leadership. Our Strategy Stage connects the most influential business and climate thought-leaders with powerful ideas, helping you shape and execute your sustainability strategy.

DAY 1 - 1 March 2023

9:00 am - 9:10 am

Welcome to edie 23

1. STRATEGY STAGE Leadership, purpose & the emergency response

Speakers

9:10 am - 9:30 am

OPENING KEYNOTE: What the climate crisis now looks like, and how we can overcome it

1. STRATEGY STAGE Leadership, purpose & the emergency response

The evidence is clear: the time for climate action is now. But what must that action look like, at both a policy and a business level? Setting the scene for edie 23, this powerful opening keynote will provide an honest assessment of the state of the climate emergency, and a much-needed call to action for business leaders to deliver the emergency response.

Talking points:

  • The burning question: Can we hold the 1.5C line?
  • UK policy demands: What are the enablers to accelerate action?
  • Analysing industry: Where is radical change most urgently needed?

Chaired by Solitaire Townsend, Co-Founder, Futerra

Speaker

9:30 am - 9:40 am

KEYNOTE: Business and the Breakthroughs Agenda

1. STRATEGY STAGE Leadership, purpose & the emergency response

Achieving the breakthroughs required to shift to a net-zero, resilient and just economy is only possible when governments and businesses converge on a common set of clear, simple goals. In this keynote talk, former COP26 High-Level Climate Action Champion, Nigel Topping, reflects on three years in the role and provides a powerful call to action for sustainability leaders.

Talking points:

  • From COP27 to COP28: Key messages for government and business leaders
  • Race to Zero and Race to Resilience: What’s next?
  • Unleashing the power of radical collaboration

Chaired by Solitaire Townsend, Co-Founder, Futerra

Speaker

9:40 am - 10:30 am

KEYNOTE PANEL: Our next giant leap: How business leadership is being redefined in the age of great uncertainty

1. STRATEGY STAGE Leadership, purpose & the emergency response

With the right business leadership, the seeds of transformative climate action can flourish. Join this keynote panel of visionary sustainability leaders for an exploration of the “giant leaps” we must all now make to reverse the trajectory of climate change and achieve the future we want.

Talking points:

  • Climate chaos, cost of living, perverse inequality: What true sustainability leadership now looks like
  • Examples of transitioning to an ethical, regenerative and social impact business
  • From activists to activators: The key principles that every CEO must uphold today

Chaired by Solitaire Townsend, Co-Founder, Futerra

Speakers

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Refreshment & networking break

Break
11:00 am - 11:15 am

KEYNOTE: Green finance and investment: Seizing the business opportunity

1. STRATEGY STAGE Climate finance, sustainable investment & ESG

Talking points:

  •  The impact of global crises on sustainable investment
  • The areas most in need of climate finance to achieve a just transition
  • How businesses can drive sustainable growth through ESG standards

Chaired by Ryan Jude, Programme Director, Green Finance Institute

Speaker

11:15 am - 12:10 pm

PANEL: Navigating the Wild West of ESG

1. STRATEGY STAGE Climate finance, sustainable investment & ESG

Talking points:

  • Are investors really getting it?
  • How can we create more consistency in corporate ESG data, across companies, sectors and borders?
  • Avoiding greenwashing amidst the growth in sustainable investing
  • Horizon-scanning: What’s next for climate finance and ESG?

Chaired by Ryan Jude, Programme Director, Green Finance Institute

Speakers

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

FIRESIDE CHAT: Global CFOs – Ask us anything…

1. STRATEGY STAGE Climate finance, sustainable investment & ESG

Talking points:  

  • How you can get your CFO to “push the green button” amidst squeezed-budgets and high-inflation
  • Using TCFD, TNFD and other non-financial reporting frameworks to your advantage
  • Should the sustainability functions with within corporate finance teams?

Chaired by Ryan Jude, Programme Director, Green Finance Institute

Speaker

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Lunch break

Break
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Refreshment & networking break

Break
3:30 pm - 3:50 pm

KEYNOTE: The fundamental importance of an Earth Competent Board

1. STRATEGY STAGE Governance, team & culture

Talking points: 

  • A force for change: Your board of director’s responsibility in changing the way we do business
  • How to reassess the purpose of your organisation and secure a long-term, resilient future for all its stakeholders
  • How to enable an Earth Competent Board: Ensuring your directors are proficient in sustainability and adopt a renewed approach to governance

Chaired by Sarah Mukherjee, CEO, IEMA

Speaker

3:50 pm - 4:45 pm

PANEL: Building a culture of sustainability leadership

1. STRATEGY STAGE Governance, team & culture

Talking points:  

  • Building a winning sustainability team
  • Attracting and retaining sustainability talent during The Great Resignation
  • The secret sauce for creating a sustainable company culture

Chaired by Sarah Mukherjee, CEO, IEMA

Speakers

4:45 pm - 6:00 pm

edie’s 25th Birthday Drinks

1. STRATEGY STAGE

As a packed first day of edie 23 draws to a close, we’ll be celebrating edie’s 25th anniversary as the industry-leading sustainable business media brand in style – an exclusive networking drinks reception for all edie 23 speakers and attendees.  

5:15 pm - 6:00 pm

Mess-up Night: Celebrate sustainability failures

1. STRATEGY STAGE

Location: Chatham house – 17:15-18:00 – Engage Lounge

“I’ve not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison.

Following edie’s Birthday Drinks, head over to the Engage Lounge for an informal gathering of business leaders to discuss some of the times that things didn’t quite go to plan… This intimate and candid session will see speakers abandon all pretences and share the good, the bad and the ugly behind corporate sustainability – and the lessons learned along the way. Perfectionists not invited.

Chaired by Will James, Leadership Coach, Sanamente

Speakers

Day 2 - 2 March 2023

9:00 am - 9:05 am

Welcome to Day 2

1. STRATEGY STAGE COP27, the Global Goals & our just transition

Speaker

9:05 am - 9:20 am

KEYNOTE: Business as usual: a Ticking Time Bomb

1. STRATEGY STAGE COP27, the Global Goals & our just transition

We know what’s at stake if we don’t change business as usual. And while the Sustainable Development Goals provide us with a roadmap towards the peaceful, equitable and prosperous future we owe the next generation, we find ourselves veering dangerously off track.

This opening keynote will address the progress made, the task yet to be done and offer some practical steps that any individual or business can implement.

 Talking points:

  • Falling behind: How business can lead the urgent rescue effort for the SDGs
  • Mitigation and adaptation: Learning from crises to accelerate sustainable development
  • Examples of local leadership to drive Global Goals progress

Chaired by Luke Nicholls, Content Director, edie

Speaker

  • Paul Polman

    Paul Polman
    Business leader and campaigner; former CEO of Unilever

9:20 am - 9:30 am

KEYNOTE: How we can achieve systemic change through collective action

1. STRATEGY STAGE COP27, the Global Goals & our just transition

Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti’s powerful words at COP26 were watched by hundreds of thousands across the globe. Fresh from COP27, Wathuti will take to the edie 23 stage with a message for business and sustainability leaders as to how we can win hearts and minds outside of this event, and ultimately put the people and our planet above profits.

Talking points:

  • Lessons from COP27: What happened, what didn’t?
  • Harnessing the power of youth to accelerate climate action
  • The interconnection between climate and social justice

Chaired by Luke Nicholls, Content Director, edie

Speaker

9:30 am - 9:45 am

Paul Polman and Elizabeth Wathuti in conversation

COP27, the Global Goals & our just transition

Chaired by Luke Nicholls, Content Director, edie

Speakers

9:45 am - 10:30 am

CASE STUDIES & FIRESIDE CHAT: The just transition, in action: Learning from the leaders

1. STRATEGY STAGE COP27, the Global Goals & our just transition

We know the people-and-planet-first future we want achieve, but how are we going to get there? This hybrid session will kick off with an industry-leading example of social and environmental sustainability going hand-in-hand, followed by an audience-led fireside chat about the drivers, challenges and opportunities of re-positioning business as a genuine force for good.

Talking points:

  • Spearheading a just transition within your business, and bringing stakeholders on the journey
  • Addressing inequality and embedding social sustainability throughout your supply chain
  • Understanding social data and using it to drive change inside and outside of your business

Chaired by Luke Nicholls, Content Director, edie

Speakers

10:30 am - 11:00 am

Refreshment & networking break

Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am

KEYNOTE: The Global Biodiversity Deal: Our new 2030 nature goals

1. STRATEGY STAGE Biodiversity & nature-based solutions

Talking points:

  • COP15 reflections: Turning global ambitions into business actions
  • Protecting and restoring nature: What are the sticking points?
  • Expanding net-zero strategies beyond GHG emissions to encompass deforestation, water, and biodiversity

Chaired by Katie Leach, Head of Biodiversity, ShareAction

Speaker

11:20 am - 12:10 pm

PANEL: Business actions for a nature-positive planet

1. STRATEGY STAGE Biodiversity & nature-based solutions

Talking points:

  • Measuring, managing and mitigating impacts on nature
  • What Biodiversity Net Gain looks like in practice
  • Financing biodiversity: How can we bridge the gap?

Chaired by Katie Leach, Head of Biodiversity, ShareAction

Speakers

12:10 pm - 12:30 pm

CASE STUDY: What if Nature really was the boss

1. STRATEGY STAGE Biodiversity & nature-based solutions

Talking points:

  • Environmental personhood: what is it and why does it matter?
  • How Nature was made a director of Faith In Nature: the background, the structure, the legals
  • Six months of working with Nature as a director: early learnings and observations.
  • How you too can appoint Nature to your board

Chaired by Katie Leach, Head of Biodiversity, ShareAction

Speakers

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Lunch break

Break
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Refreshment & networking break

Break
3:30 pm - 3:50 pm

KEYNOTE: Courageous business leadership: A call to action

1. STRATEGY STAGE A call to action

Talking points: 

  • Heart-and-mind shifts to bring leaders on this journey (not just facts and stats)
  • Illuminating a new path forward by inviting voices from the outside in
  • Channelling eco-anxiety to create meaningful change

Chaired by Solitaire Townsend, Co-Founder, Futerra

Speaker

3:50 pm - 4:20 pm

PANEL & AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Co-creating the edie 24 Manifesto for business leaders

1. STRATEGY STAGE A call to action

Talking points: 

  • Leadership through crisis: Key principles for business leaders
  • Holding yourself accountable in pursuit of a better future
  • Policy recommendations to deliver the transformations we need

Chaired by Solitaire Townsend, Co-Founder, Futerra

Speakers

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