Sustainable Futures conference 2025

Agenda

• 9:00 AM | Registration and breakfast
• 10:00 AM | Welcome introductionProfessor Danny Ralph, Academic Director, Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies
• 10:10 AM | The art of uncertainty: planning for a future that is hard to imagineThis talk, based on Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter’s recent book: ‘The Art of Uncertainty’, explores some essential qualities for navigating our uncertain age. Imagination allows us to envision potential futures, particularly adverse scenarios. Organisations, like the UK Ministry of Defence, employ science-fiction writers and ‘red teams’ to challenge assumptions and prevent optimistic groupthink. Both individuals and organisations need physical and mental reserves rather than systems optimised solely for current conditions. By cultivating imagination, humility and resilience, we can better face an unpredictable future—not by eliminating uncertainty but by developing the capacity to adapt and recover when the unexpected inevitably occurs.Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter FRS OBE, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at the University of Cambridge and author
• 11:00 AM | Business value of sustainabilitySustainability professionals are increasingly asked to identify the business value of their initiatives to achieve net-zero emissions and nature-positive sustainability. Initiatives need near-term investment but generate long-term pay-back, which can be optimised for risk-adjusted returns. At the same time, the future of climate risk itself is uncertain and our understanding of it is changing over time. We present our views of climate-and-nature-related risks in 2025 and how these can underpin a corporate transition strategy that delivers profitable growth.Dr Andrew Coburn, CEO, Risilience
• 11:30 AM | Break and networking
• 12:00 PM | [PANEL] Staying the course: how to deliver sustainability in an uncertain worldIn a world where sustainability is politicised like never before, navigating these risks and opportunities is critical for business leaders. This panel will delve into de-risking the sustainability agenda and how this delivers business value.Ursula Heng, UKI Sustainability and Supply Chain Sector Leader, IBM
  Tom Maidment, Group Product Sustainability Senior Manager, Hilton Foods
  Nadja Koerner, Global Head of Sustainability, Coty
  Madeleine Prince, Head of ESG – UK, Refresco
  Andy Garraway, Climate Policy Lead, Risilience
• 12:25 PM | Just Transition for CorporatesCorporations should prioritise the Just Transition as it is fundamental to managing risks, capitalising on opportunities associated with the low-carbon transition, enhancing long-term strategic planning, improving stakeholder relations and, ultimately, achieving sustainable business success. In this presentation, Michael will outline how key actions such as integrating Just Transition principles into corporate strategy, committing to decent work and skills development, engaging in social dialogue, and advocating for supportive policies are better for business.Michael Wilkins, Executive Director and Professor of Practice at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment at Imperial Business School, London
• 12:40 PM | Navigating transition risks and opportunities: what to expect in 2025 and beyondWe are living through a period pummelled by economic and political volatility, which has created a hard-to-navigate business environment. In this session, we’ll take you through the key trends firms need to know in the coming twelve months – our 2025 view of transition risk in six charts.Oliver Carpenter, VP Climate Risk, Risilience
• 12:50 PM | Nature: the next frontier in transition riskThe vitality of our natural world is not a ‘nice to have’ for corporates but a central pillar of economic stability. Risilience Director of Environmental Analytics sets out the reasons to look beyond climate, shares her view on nature-related transition risk and explains why natural capital is material to the success of both sustainability and business strategies alike.Mary Goldman, Director of Environmental Risk Analytics, Risilience
• 1:00 PM | Lunch and networking
• 2:00 PM | The power of digital twins: build a model of the business, plan for the futureA digital representation of your company’s value chain can be a powerful tool to unlock value for your business strategy. Learn how the digital twin can help inform business decisions through the exploration of complex business-value flows, and unearth insights into emissions forecasts and the impact of wider economic decarbonisation.Angela Brown, Chief Product Officer, Risilience
• 2:10 PM | The value of transition planning: building a costed, net-zero and nature-positive strategyTemperamental times call for temperate measures. Building a costed business plan for net zero and nature positive; understanding the trade-offs and synergies, enhances resiliency within your business strategy at a time of uncertainty. In this session, hear how to mitigate climate-and-nature-related risks in favour of opportunities as part of your corporate transition planning in 2025.Sam Vosper, Head of Environmental Consulting, Risilience
• 2:20 PM | ABF Sugar: connecting the dots on the nature-positive journeyKatharine Teague, Group ESG Director, ABF Sugar
• 2:40 PM | [PANEL] A natural choice: promoting a nature-positive business agendaAchieving buy-in for the nature-positive agenda from the board can be a significant challenge. In this panel discussion, hear from leading experts on the opportunities the nature-positive agenda can bring to business to ensure corporates remain resilient in the face of increasingly unpredictable times.Chris Allen, Director of Sustainability, Decathlon UK
  Nigel Brook, Consultant, Clyde & Co LLP
  Kuram Gwakyaa, Head of Sustainability, Mitie
  Sam Pettifer, Climate and Nature Impact Tools Lead, Textile Exchange
  Mary Goldman, Director of Environmental Risk Analytics, Risilience
• 3:05 PM | Break and networking
• 3:30 PM | Breakout session one: one vision, one language: unifying business and sustainability strategyCompanies are challenged to align sustainability strategy with core business objectives. Sustainability goals exist in a silo, disconnected from financial and operational decisions. To drive real impact, businesses need a shared language and clear KPIs that resonate across the organisation. In this breakout session, learn how a shared language and approach to internal communications can move the dial on getting buy-in and integrating your sustainability strategy.Fran Haycock, Head of Sustainability, Greencore
  Heiko Schmadlak, Associate Director Finance – Sustainability, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
  Thomas Harvey, SVP Product, Risilience
• 3:30 PM | Breakout session two: quantify the value of your transition planBusinesses increasingly recognise the need for credible, costed transition plans – but how do you quantify and optimise the cost of delivering net zero? What’s the return on investment of a transition plan and how can companies decarbonise while maintaining profitability? This session will examine the financial case for sustainability, offering tangible insights into cost optimisation, investment timing and value-chain collaboration.Scott Kelly, SVP Model Development and Analytics, Risilience
• 3:30 PM | Breakout session three: adapting to sustainability regulationsThe world of geopolitics is volatile and fast-moving, so how should organisations respond to these changes and what does global policy change mean for business? This session will unpack the latest regulatory developments, including the much-anticipated EU Omnibus plans, and discuss tactics and challenges for responding to an ever-evolving corporate sustainability landscape.Andy Garraway, Climate Policy Lead, Risilience
  Rob Hardie, Lead of Client Solutions, Risilience
• 4:30 PM | Breakout sessions in review
• 4:50 PM | Closing remarks
• 5:00 PM | Drinks and networking

Confirmed Speakers

What Sustainable Futures attendees say

My highlight from Sustainable Futures 2024 is the amazing energy, the amazing insights that we’ve seen in the room, today. And that determination that we’re really going to make a difference.

Sarah Webster, Sustainable Business Director, Britvic

I think sustainability leadership is changing because we’re moving into a more volatile and more complex world. One where regulation is putting huge demands on businesses and businesses need to adapt to that regulation, that legislation, to be able to comply. But also to be able to look at how we become resilient to the future, how we build the business case around sustainability, how we integrate risk into our thinking.

Chris McKenry, Group Director – International Sustainability, ALDI SÜD

I would recommend Sustainable Futures. I came last year to the 2023 event – I’m back this year – and I’ll see you next year!

Ellie Riddle, Global Environmental Assistant, Linklaters

Our heritage is rooted in science

At Risilience, our award-winning technology applies the research frameworks pioneered by our conference partner, the Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.

Read our Sustainable Futures magazine

Where to find us?

Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS

The nearest Tube station to the Barbican Centre is Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan Lines)