QUOTES
Sustainability Forum 2013 came to a succesfull end. Here is what some of the participants said about this unique event.
“The 2013 forum assembled a brilliant understandable set of sustainability experts from Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, UK, United States and beyond. It was intimate and helpful.”
Bruce Piasecki, Founder & President, AHC Group Inc., New York, USA
“It was a great conference to participate in. The speakers were all inspirational and engaged with the participants.”
Jackie Stroka, Associate, AHC Group Inc., London, UK
“It was a pleasure to present at the Sustainability Forum 2013. I was greatly encouraged by some of the new thinking about making sense of sustainable business. Events like the Sustainability Forum can provide the necessary sustainability management training and development.”
Sharon Jackson, Founder & President, European Sustainability Academy, Crete, Greece
“The Sustainability Forum 2013 not only served as a platform to learn from and network with sustainability professionals from all over the world but also as a forum for discussing the most salient issues and challenges in the sustainability field”.
Laura Espinach, Reporting Framework Coordinator at the Global Reporting Initiative, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Other participants said:
- “This was a useful daylong event.”
- “I had the chance to do a lot of networking.”
- “Excellent quality of speakers and organization.”
- “‘Out of the box’ thinking with business orientation.”
- “A great opportunity for an overview of sustainability issues.”
- “Elaborating sessions that lead us to a different way of dealing with sustainability. Great chance for networking.”
Completion of Sustainability Forum 2013
The Sustainability Forum 2013, a training, networking and professional development event took place at the ALBA Graduate Business School at The American College of Greece on October 4, under the auspices of The Hellenic Network for CSR and with the participation of more than 60 stakeholders, corporate representatives, and academics.
The participants had the chance to listen to prominent speakers from all around the world, gainhands-on experience, practical knowledge and professional skills through specialised workshops and plenary sessions.
The workshops of this all-day carbon neutral event, focused on issues such as: Doing more with less and doing more with teams, an introduction to CSR and sustainability, sustainability reporting assurance,integrated reporting, the GRI sustainability reporting guidelines – main features of G4, regulating sustainability, new leaders for shaping a new world: “New” sustainability, collaboration between business and academia for sustainability, carbon markets, sustainability challenges and opportunities in supply chain.
During the plenary session, Dr. Bruce Piasecki, President and Founder of AHC Group, Inc., shared the principles of Doing More with Less and the benefits of building a competitive advantage with innovation and growth through frugality, and talked about the power of teams and new skills and competencies needed by organisations.
Other workshop tutors included Ms.Laura Espinach, Reporting Framework Coordinator, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), who provided an overview of the main features and enhancements of the G4 Guidelines.
Mr. Joris-Johann Lenssen, Programmes Director, The Academy of Business in Society (ABIS), shared his insight about the collaborative work between business and academics, for the creation of a responsible business and the advance of research and knowledge.
Ms. Carla Neefs, Senior Manager, Cleantech and Sustainability Practice, EY Netherlands presented the need and concept of integrated reporting, its main features, outlook and trends.
Ms. Sharon Jackson, Founder & Director, European Sustainability Academy (ESA) talked about the future socio, economic and environmental challenges we face in the world from the two perspectives of sustainable business and sustainable living.
The successful completion of courses was followed by the distribution of attendance certificates and by a cocktail reception.
Sponsor: AlphaBank
Supporters: DEPA, SEV Business Council for Sustainable Development, Technical University of Crete, Hellenic Bank Association, Greenmind Advertising
Carbon Neutral Partner: Green Evolution
Web Partner: Think +
Airline Partner: Air France I KLM
Printing Partner: PressiousArvanitidis
Coffee Sponsor: Nespresso Business Solutions
Catering Sponsor: Degustation
Communication Sponsors: Kathimerini English Edition (International Herald Tribune), KERDOS, Direction Publications, CSR Review, csrnews.gr, Marketing Week, Daily Fax, Plant Management, HR Professional, www.greekinnovation.eu, csrwire.com.