SDG Roadshow 2026
Driving Local Action on the SDGs
In partnership with
Across the UK, businesses are under pressure to respond to the social and environmental challenges playing out in the communities where they operate. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain a clear and widely recognised framework for action, but with 2030 fast approaching, expectations have shifted towards measurable, place-based impact. Done well, embedding the SDGs at a regional level can strengthen supply chains, unlock investment, and build trust with communities and policymakers.
Delivering on the Goals will depend on practical collaboration between business, finance, government, and civil society, particularly in the regions where national ambition becomes lived reality. In 2026, the SDG Roadshow will bring that collaboration to key business hubs across the UK. Each one-day event will be shaped by regional priorities, connecting global SDG ambition to local risks, opportunities, and investment decisions.
The Roadshow will offer practical insight, targeted networking, and partnership opportunities, equipping businesses to integrate the SDGs into core strategy and accelerate impact where it matters most.
Manchester
Wednesday, 23 September 9:00 - 15:30 BST
With growing expectations from investors, regulators, employees, and customers, companies are under increasing pressure to set and deliver ambitious corporate goals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To address complex sustainability challenges, build resilience, maintain short-term performance, and enable long-term growth, businesses must take meaningful action.
To support this journey, our SDG Roadshow is back, visiting Manchester to take a deep dive into the SDGs. Delivered in partnership with DWF, the event will feature interactive workshops and high-level roundtables designed to explore how businesses can drive local action on the SDGs, build internal buy-in to embed the SDGs across core functions, and foster regional partnerships among sustainability professionals.
SPEAKERS
Matt Richardson
Head of Social Impact and Procurement
GM Business Growth Hub
Matt Richardson: As well as heading up the Social Impact and Procurement service at the GM Business Growth Hub, Matt also leads on the wider Growth Company’s social impact agenda. He has worked in community development and social impact for 20 years, previously with local authorities and a national drug and alcohol charity, before joining the Hub in 2017.
Passionate about value and societal benefit, Matt has fronted programmes that challenge ways of working more responsibly within businesses, championing good employment practices, community partnerships and, most recently, a more inclusive procurement landscape across Greater Manchester.
Matt is the co-founder of the Greater Manchester Anti-Slavery Business Network and sits on various leadership groups focused on topics such as the real living wage, VCFSE development, work experience and is the former Chair of the Greater Manchester Social Value Network.
Samantha Nicholson
Director
Manchester Climate Ready
Sam Nicholson is the Director of Manchester Climate Ready, a network of stakeholders in the public, private and charitable sectors collaborating with local people to create a city where climate action improves lives, drives prosperity and restores nature.
She has over 25 years’ experience in the sustainability field and is passionate about the positive role that cities can play in tackling the climate crisis.
Championing the value of collaborative working, she has a proven track record in delivering award-winning, impactful services that reduce carbon emissions, deliver social and economic benefits, and build resilience to our changing climate.
Rachel Morrison
Senior Policy and Partnerships Officer
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Dr Rachel Morrison is a Senior Policy and Partnership Officer at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), where she leads major programmes focused on nature recovery and access to nature. Over the past two years, Rachel played a central role in the preparation and adoption of Greater Manchester’s first Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and now leads its delivery across the city-region. She has worked extensively with all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities, supporting them on nature recovery, biodiversity enhancement, and climate adaptation.
Rachel holds a PhD from the University of Manchester, and since 2012 has worked across the UK and Ireland at the intersection of environmental policy, biodiversity planning, and green finance — bridging the gap between environmental need and practical delivery.
Nina Howells
Strategic Lead - Social Value and Impact
Salford City Council
Nina Howells is Strategic Lead for Social Value and Impact at Salford City Council. Over the last 15 years, Nina has worked on a range of regeneration programmes, ensuring that local people benefit from development through making community and partner connections, developing policy and practice and employing a range of social value measurement tools alongside storytelling to drive impact for communities.
Nina has collaborated with colleagues and partners to ensure social value is embedded through the planning process in the city, moving social value beyond a procurement setting to lever private sector investment towards social purpose and maximise impact for places and communities through inclusive growth. She now leads the council-wide approach to social value and impact, building on firm foundations to ensure the council’s activities drive local impact and lasting change, and investment in the city leads to positive outcomes beyond bricks and mortar.
Nina is also the current chair of the Greater Manchester Social Value Network – a collective of public, private and voluntary sector, coming together to improve outcomes through social value by sharing learning and good practice.
Emma Degg MBE
Chief Executive
North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT)
Emma Degg is the Chief Executive of the North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) that brings together leaders of national and international businesses with substantial commitments and interests in the North West of England. The Team works to exert its collective influence for the long-term good of the region, economically, environmentally, culturally and socially. Emma has spent her career focussed upon bringing together business leaders and policy makers to make a tangible difference, nationally, across the region and in local government.
She serves on the UK2070 independent House of Lords Commission and is a Trustee of 'Best For Britain'. In addition, Emma is a Board Member of Net Zero NW and SP Electricity North West's Independent Scrutiny Group. She was awarded an MBE for services to business in 2024 and was named as both Transformational Leader and Business Leader of the year 2026 at The Business Desk NW awards.
Amy House
Director
Green Economy
Amy House, Director, Green Economy. Amy is a charter Environmentalist with 20 years’ experience working with businesses at the heart of the net zero transition. As director of Green Economy supporting Local Authorities and working directly with businesses, she brings deep expertise in the enablers and barriers to local economic growth, the market failures affecting low‑carbon adoption, and the design of targeted interventions to unlock supply‑chain growth through the net zero transition.
Glasgow
Tuesday, 29 September 9:00 - 15:30 BST
With growing expectations from investors, regulators, employees, and customers, companies are under increasing pressure to set and deliver ambitious corporate goals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To address complex sustainability challenges, build resilience, maintain short-term performance, and enable long-term growth, businesses must take meaningful action.
To support this journey, our SDG Roadshow is back, visiting Glasgow to take a deep dive into the SDGs. Delivered in partnership with DWF, the event will feature interactive workshops and high-level roundtables designed to explore how businesses can drive local action on the SDGs, build internal buy-in to embed the SDGs across core functions, and foster regional partnerships among sustainability professionals.
SPEAKERS
Tayler Henderson
Nature Lead
Scottish Power Transmission
Gavin Slater
Head of Sustainability
Glasgow City Council
Aoife Hutton
Associate, Environmental Impact Assessment and Reporting
Scottish National Investment Bank
Prof Jamie Toney
Director of the Centre for Sustainable Solutions and Professor of Environmental and Climate Science
University of Glasgow
Prof Jamie Toney:
Jamie is the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Solutions and a Professor of Environmental and Climate Science. She leads the BECS research group that is focused on developing an understanding of organic molecules in modern organisms and environments that can be applied to analysing and interpreting past environments and climates. She is Principal Investigator of the NERC Strategic Programme: GALLANT: Glasgow as a Living Lab Accelerating Novel Transformation.
Jamie is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and a member of the Scottish Government's Clyde Mission Groups on Climate Adaptation and Net Zero, UKRI NERC Review College and Chair of the Geochemical Society's C.C. Patterson Award Committee.
Cheryl McCulloch
Senior Project Manager
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Cheryl McCulloch: A core member of the Circular Glasgow team, Cheryl has a passion for working with businesses to support their growth and development through the adoption of circular principles. With a particular focus on engaging with the construction and built environment sectors, and manufacturing industry, Cheryl takes an innovative approach to raise awareness, connect SMEs and identify potential opportunities for business, whilst supporting with Glasgow’s ambitions to be a leading circular city.
With an academic background in law, Cheryl previously worked in leadership development, working with businesses across all sectors to bring them together and facilitate change.
Alison McRae
Senior Director
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Alison McRae is Senior Director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, responsible for creating a portfolio of strategic partnerships, working across a range of public and private organisations, which seek to innovate and anticipate new opportunities for Glasgow city region and its business community with demonstrable socio-economic impact. Her experience spans Board and C-suite level engagement and she specialises in identifying and then translating innovative concepts into tangible and commercial business outcomes across themes of climate, labour market & skills and innovation.
Alison leads an award-winning team whose work has been recognised by World Chambers of Commerce, World Economic Forum and the Global Good Awards.
Alison holds a range of Board positions including being a NED of British Chambers of Commerce and the Scottish Tourism Alliance; Independent Chair Argyll & Isles Tourism Strategic Partnership and Co-Chair of the Glasgow Employment & Skills Board. She is also Co-Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Climate & Environment policy group and a member of the following groups: National Developing the Young Workforce Chairs Forum; BCC Green Innovation Challenge and the UK Business Group Alliance for Net Zero. Alison is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
Previously, she was Director of Destination Liverpool with Liverpool City Council and prior to that an her own creative consultancy Blue Toucan as well as being a BBC Radio Scotland Broadcaster. Alison holds a Masters in Architecture from Trinity College, Cambridge University.
Belfast
Friday, 2 October 9:00 - 15:30 BST
With growing expectations from investors, regulators, employees, and customers, companies are under increasing pressure to set and deliver ambitious corporate goals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To address complex sustainability challenges, build resilience, maintain short-term performance, and enable long-term growth, businesses must take meaningful action.
To support this journey, our SDG Roadshow is back, visiting Belfast to take a deep dive into the SDGs. Delivered in partnership with DWF, the event will feature interactive workshops and high-level roundtables designed to explore how businesses can drive local action on the SDGs, build internal buy-in to embed the SDGs across core functions, and foster regional partnerships among sustainability professionals.
SPEAKERS
Debbie Caldwell
Climate Commissioner
Belfast City Council
Carmel Giblin
CEO
Ethical Supply Chain Program
Clare Guinness
CEO
Belfast Chamber
Claire Hanna
MP for Belfast South and Mid Down
Daniel Egerton
Head of ESG
Eakin Healthcare
Joshua Watts
Facilitator, Northern Ireland CleanTech Cluster
Sustainable Ventures; and
Chief Innovation Coach
Innovate; and
Board of Directors Member Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL)
Josh is the Facilitator for the NI CleanTech Cluster, funded by Invest NI and powered by Sustainable Ventures, bringing entrepreneurs, academics, capital, and government together for the Green Economy. He is a Director of Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) and previously led the National Trust's Greater Belfast portfolio.
Bristol
Thursday, 8 October 9:00 - 15:30 BST
With growing expectations from investors, regulators, employees, and customers, companies are under increasing pressure to set and deliver ambitious corporate goals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To address complex sustainability challenges, build resilience, maintain short-term performance, and enable long-term growth, businesses must take meaningful action.
To support this journey, our SDG Roadshow is back, visiting Bristol to take a deep dive into the SDGs. Delivered in partnership with DWF, the event will feature interactive workshops and high-level roundtables designed to explore how businesses can drive local action on the SDGs, build internal buy-in to embed the SDGs across core functions, and foster regional partnerships among sustainability professionals.
SPEAKERS
Jessie Agnew
Green Skills and Retrofit Manager
West of England Combined Authority
Jessie Agnew is the Retrofit and Green Skills Manager at the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, where she leads work to support the development of the green skills ecosystem needed for a successful transition to net zero. In this role, she works across education, training, industry, community and public sector partners to increase access to green skills opportunities, strengthen green career pathways, and help meet the growing demand for low-carbon and retrofit skills across the region.
A passionate advocate for inclusive green careers, Jessie has led initiatives to develop green careers resources, support careers and employment services, and build collaboration between employers, training providers and local stakeholders. Her work focuses on ensuring that people are equipped with information to benefit from the opportunities created by the transition to a greener economy.
Lizzi Testani
CEO
Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership
Lizzi Testani, CEO, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership (BCNP). BCNP is a network of over 1,400 organisations working for a zero-carbon, nature-rich, and socially just Bristol. The Partnership supports a movement via a core programme of inclusive events like monthly Green Mingles and annual Partnership-wide gatherings; leads citywide action through initiatives like the Climate Action Programme (working with businesses) and Community Climate Action Project (working with communities); and collaborates with Bristol City Council and other partners represented on the One City Environment Board and beyond to align regional strategies and accelerate climate and nature goals.
Lizzi was born and grew up in Bristol and has led the Partnership since 2019, driving collaborative strategies for climate and nature recovery. With experience in environmental and social justice projects in the UK and US, she champions inclusive, community-led approaches and works closely with regional partners to deliver Bristol’s One City Climate Strategy and a fair transition to net zero.
Douglas Ure
CEO
Business West
Douglas Ure, CEO, joined Business West in January 2026 from Marsh McLennan, a global professional services firm, where he held various leadership positions in the UK and Asia. Douglas’s experience includes leading high-performance teams and developing strategic partnerships across both the private and public sectors. He has advised clients on risk, strategy and transformation.
Poku Osei
CEO
Babbasa
Dr Poku Osei, MSc, FRSA - Social Impact & Social Sustainability Leader
Poku Osei is an award-winning social impact leader and adviser with over 15 years’ experience helping businesses, public institutions and communities turn social ambition into measurable outcomes. Founder of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise-winning social enterprise Babbasa and Founder & Chief Executive of Merop Consulting, he advises leaders on corporate responsibility, social mobility, workplace inclusion, stakeholder engagement and inclusive growth.
His cross-sector work includes collaborations with organisations such as the World Economic Forum, NatWest, Arup and the NHS, alongside major civic and educational institutions. His work combines commercial understanding with systems leadership to help organisations create lasting value for business and society.
Poku’s recognitions include the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize, Business Person of the Year, NHS Inclusive Leader Award and Lord Mayor’s Medal, alongside Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts. He is also a TEDx speaker and has received royal recognition for his contribution to communities and social mobility.
With experience spanning Africa and the UK, Poku brings a global perspective to responsible leadership - connecting business performance with inclusive economic opportunity, community impact and long-term social value.
Chloe Barratt
Project Manager and Green Lead on the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)
Business West
Chloe Barratt: Chloe is the Project Manager and Green Lead on the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) team at Business West. The LSIP is a central government funded research project working to help ensure post-16 technical education and training align with business needs. Chloe leads the clean energy and green skills research and engagement.
Judith Langdon
Head of City Office
Bristol One City
Judith Langdon is Head of the City Office, the team that convenes and drives Bristol’s One City approach, bringing together partners from the public, private, voluntary, community and academic sectors to address Bristol's long-term opportunities and challenges. Hosted by Bristol City Council, the City Office works across organisational, sectoral and geographical boundaries to enable collaboration, shared ambition and collective action. In leading the One City approach, Judith oversees the Bristol City Council's international service, helping to connect Bristol with partners around the world and fostering global collaboration that strengthens the city's social, economic and sustainability ambitions.
With more than 25 years' experience spanning local government, higher education and cross-sector partnerships, Judith specialises in the intersection between public policy, civic leadership and local action. She has held several voluntary and trustee roles in her local community and serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Aberystwyth’s Social Innovation Research Group, helping to strengthen links between research and practice. Her work is driven by a belief that complex challenges are best addressed through strong relationships, shared purpose and partnerships that transcend traditional boundaries.
Tom Crawford
Global Head of Sustainability
Vodafone
Who should attend?
Senior decision-makers working within sustainability functions, or those who play a key role in shaping and influencing their organisation’s sustainability strategy and operations.
Why Participate?
- Gain practical tools, insights, and peer learning opportunities to help embed the SDGs into business strategy;
- Explore regional sustainability challenges and opportunities through place-based discussions tailored to local business contexts and investment priorities;
- Build valuable cross-sector partnerships to support collaboration on shared sustainability challenges;
- Strengthen internal leadership and organisational capability through expert-led sessions focused on driving sustainable business transformation;
- Demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to responsible business and measurable progress towards the SDGs, helping to build trust with stakeholders and communities.
Agenda
| Time | Activity |
| 09:00-09:30 | Coffee and Registration |
| 09:30-09:40 | Welcome Remarks: Localising the SDGs
With 2030 approaching, the business case for localising the SDGs has never been clearer. By strengthening supply chains, unlocking investment, and building partnerships through measurable regional impact, the SDG Roadshows turn ambition into action. |
| 09:40-10:00 | Making Connections
Introductions and conversations |
| 10:00-11:30 | World Café: A Place-Based Approach to the SDGs
Participants will come together to explore the core enablers that accelerate SDG progress, shaped by the distinct economic, social, and environmental realities of each city. Grounded in regional priorities and market dynamics, discussions will focus on turning high-level commitments into practical, locally relevant strategies that deliver tangible impact. |
| 11:30-12:00 | Coffee Break & Networking |
| 12:00-13:00 | Catalysing Partnerships: Turning Local Insight into SDG Impact
Achieving the SDGs requires an unprecedented effort across all aspects of society, and multi-stakeholder collaboration sits at the heart of it. In this session, attendees will be joined by a diverse group of leaders, including business, civil society, local government, and/or academia, for an interactive discussion on how to enhance collaborative working across industry and remit to create impactful, regional networks which advance SDG action. |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch Break & Networking |
| 14:00-15:15 | Taking Action: Peer-to-Peer Exchange
A structured session to enable participants to gain ideas and advice to help unlock a current sustainability challenge. This may include solidifying priority SDGs, thinking about who needs to be influenced inside (and outside) the organisation, or how to secure buy-in from senior leadership stakeholders. |
| 15:15-15:30 | Closing Remarks: From Local Action to Lasting Impact
As the day closes, we reflect on the insights and partnerships surfaced, focusing on what they mean for action in each region. Participants will leave ready to move from dialogue to delivery, identifying the commitments and collaborations needed to drive measurable impact on the road to 2030. |
Contact
For any questions about the SDG Roadshow, please contact Alexandra Ranft or Katie Stuart.
With thanks to our facilitation partner:
