Sustainability – Making the Difference

We are pleased to announce the special event “Sustainability - Making the difference”, organized by the Henley Alumni Association Netherlands (HAAN) to celebrate the 70th year anniversary of Henley Business School, U.K.. It is also an opportunity to meet up with old friends and classmates.

We have an exciting and inspiring programme with two reputed personalities who will share their experiences and thoughts on the grand challenge faced by us today : Sustainability, Business and Corporate Responsibility.

“The Stone-age didn’t end because we ran out of stones”
The fossil fuel age will also eventually come to an end. The world will transition to a low carbon and circular economy. The benefits of low-carbon and circular economy is estimated at some EUR 1,6 trillion by 2030, compared to today, states a McKinsey Center for Business and Environment report of 2015. Other sources have published reports suggesting mind boggling market opportunities in terms of value. So the question is whether your company is ready or not to benefit from this massive opportunity? Is your mind set as a manager geared to looking at the emerging opportunities and these world developments through a new lens? Or are you still betting on a horse that would eventually lose the race?
“Shifts in our climate bring potentially profound implications for insurers, financial stability, and the economy” - Mark Carney, Speech at Lloyd’s of London on 29 September 2015.
Mark Carney is the Governor of the Central Bank of UK. Sounds like a wake-up call for businesses.

This evening is about exploring what you may or may not be missing as a business but also as a manager when it comes to understanding and acting on climate change related issues and their impact. On a broader perspective, it is about the role of business in societies and how to behave as a company as well as an individual, taking into account and balancing the interests of all the stakeholders. Therefore about sustainability and businesses in the context of People, Planet and Profit.

Marjan Minnesma, the CEO of Urgenda, a Dutch action oriented non-governmental organization, based in Amsterdam, will share her experiences, motivations and concrete actions to move the Netherlands towards a low carbon and circular economy by 2050. Marjan does not hug and kiss trees to “save the world”. But she has walked from Amsterdam to Paris to make her case. Got many others to walk with her too. That is her leadership skill to mobilize support for the cause. She takes a more business and realistic approach to dealing with the grand challenges faced today by the peoples of the Netherlands. Marjan was three times number 1 on the list of the most influential personalities on sustainability related matters in the Netherlands. She is a Henley alumnus, what else!

“ Niet lullen maar poetsen” : Getting things Done!
In 2010 Marjan organized the collective sourcing and the installation of 50.000 photo-voltaic panels (PV), 10 Mw, in homes and demonstrating the potential to drive down costs at that time by 30%. Importing, and persuading others also to drive, electric cars already in 2009. Not for fiscal or tax reasons but to demonstrate that electric mobility is a doable proposition. Even challenging the Dutch government in courts for being negligent about its own national environmental objectives and winning in 2015, an internationally, unique legal battle in the Dutch courts.

These are just a few examples of how Marjan has been tirelessly pursuing the objective of orchestrating the transitioning of the Netherlands towards a much more environment friendly and low-carbon based society. These efforts are not just to safeguard the present but also the future generations.

New opportunities – New management thinking
Businesses have a major role to play in transitioning towards low carbon and circular economies. But are the current business practices suitable to meet the complex demand of stakeholders. There is a maybe a need to take a balanced view about business concepts Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Management practices. What is the current thinking about the linkages between CSR and human (management) behaviour, business strategy and sustainability? What is the rosy lens to view a green business future? Kevin Money, Professor for Reputation and Responsible Leadership and Director of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation at Henley Business School, will share his views on the current business concepts that could inspire managers towards (sustainable) action.

The sceptics can challenge Marjan about her views about climate change and the need for action. It is also an evening to share views and maybe even be inspired to take action in transitioning the Netherlands towards a low carbon and circular economy.

The Speakers

Marjan Minnesma (1966) is the CEO of Urgenda, an action oriented foundation, based in Amsterdam, with the key objective to stimulate, encourage and act so Netherlands could transition faster towards a sustainable society with a circular economy. Marjan studied law and philosophy at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands and MBA at Henley Management Collage UK. She worked at Shell, Novem – Governmental organisation for energy and environment , Greenpeace, The Institute for Environmental Studies - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, DRIFT: research institute for transitions at the Erasmus University Rotterdam before founding Urgenda in 2007. Marjan is one of the most influential personalities driving the sustainability agenda of the Netherlands. She was driving force which won a historic climate change victory in court in The Hague. In a world’s first climate liability suit, in June 2015 Urgenda persuaded three judges of the Dutch courts to order the state of the Netherlands to cut emissions so to achieve its own objectives to reduce carbon emissions by 2020 and to protect its citizens from the dangers of Climate change. Marjan is the mum of three teenagers and plays the hobo to get energized!

Kevin Money is Professor of Marketing, Responsible Leadership & Reputation, the Director of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation, and the Director for Research in the School of Marketing and Reputation at Henley Business School, U.K.
Kevin is Chartered Psychologist and former Editor of the Journal of General Management and Manager Update. He is also a director of several organisations, including the Positive Psychology Forum, iSolon and Edutain. Kevin is interested in the foundations of functional identities, reputations and relationships at both a personal and organisational level. He is the author of numerous publications in outlets such as the Journal of Business Research, Group and Organisation Management, the Journal of Business Ethics, the British Journal of Management and the Harvard Business Manager. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences. Kevin is recognised as a leading international consultant and has led projects with both public and private sector organisations including Shell, Unilever and Zurich Insurance as well as working with governments, the civil service and not-for-profit organisations.

The Programme: 29 September 2016

18:00 hours               Registration with Sandwiches, Tea and Coffee.

19:00 – 19:10            Introduction to Session

19:10 – 19:45             Talk by Marjan Minnesma
                                    CEO, Urgenda, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
                                    Will share her experiences in taking leadership in moving towards a
                                    Circular Economy and Sustainable Netherlands.

20:00 – 20:35            Talk by Professor Kevin Money
                                    Professor of Marketing, Responsible Leadership & Reputation,
                                    Director of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation,
                                    Director for Research in the School of Marketing and Reputation
                                    at Henley Business School, U.K.
                                    Will share his views on current thinking on Corporate reputation, Corporate                                    Social Responsibility and Leadership.

20:45 – 21:15            Discussions and acknowledgement