Conference to future-proof NZ’s clean, green economy

New Zealand’s leading sustainable businesses will come together to identify practical ways of future-proofing our clean, green economy at a Conference on ‘Transforming Business’ on 4 September at Te Papa in Wellington. 

“New Zealand’s clean, green reputation is in the spotlight at the moment so this is the ideal time to bring together the leading minds in sustainable business to identify ways in which we can secure New Zealand’s future as a world leader in sustainable business,” says Rachel Brown, CEO of the Sustainable Business Network, which is organising the Conference.

“Many businesses in New Zealand are already world leaders in sustainability across a range of sectors – from clean technology to community engagement to sustainable agribusiness. We want to bring them together to collaborate on practical solutions to bring about transformative change – and that means breaking through the ‘change as usual’ barrier and genuinely integrating sustainability throughout business.”

‘Transforming Business 2013’ includes keynote speaker John Elkington, founding partner and Executive Chairman of Volans and co-founder of SustainAbility. John, who is regularly listed among the top 100 Global Sustainability Leaders, will share his international expertise on the latest global trends in sustainable business via a recorded interview. New Zealander Roger Dennis, Director of IdeaPort, the second keynote speaker, will explain how to bring about transformative change within an organisation from a New Zealand perspective.

Other speakers include Rod Oram (award-winning business journalist), Derek Handley (CEO, The B Team, via recorded interview), Rebecca Mills (Strategist, The B Team), Sacha McMeeking (Principal at Catalytic), Ian Proudfoot (Head of Agribusiness at KPMG), Eric Martinot (Senior Research Director at Tokyo’s Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies) and many other sustainability leaders. The full programme and tickets are available online at www.sustainable.org.nz/conference-2013.

The Conference will be structured around the Sustainable Business Network’s four new Transformation Areas, each of which has been identified as a key focus for breakthrough change: Renewables, Community, Mega efficiency and Restorative.

“If businesses understand the potential for transformative change, and get the solutions right, the opportunities are massive and global. I would encourage anyone with an interest in understanding the role of business in the 21st century economy to attend,” says Rachel.