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Sustainability Essentials for Core Functions
Supported by
Achieving a company’s sustainability targets – whether science-based net zero targets, living wage accreditation, or wider environmental and societal aims – cannot be accomplished by one person, or even one team. Sustainability is complex and requires consideration of a multitude of factors across the business, supply chain, and whole economy.
Sustainability professionals are increasingly struggling to keep up with all the demands that the role requires, including emissions reductions, compliance and reporting, stakeholder engagement, innovation, and much more. However, sustainability within many companies currently operates within a silo without active engagement from other relevant functional areas in the business.
For sustainability to be truly integrated across the business, all core functions must be involved in helping the company achieve its sustainability objectives. This means that, at the very least, those working in key functions should have a fundamental understanding of sustainability and how their role impacts and contributes to company goals. This may include considerations around the Sustainable Development Goals, net zero and decarbonisation, nature and biodiversity, resource use, just transition, human rights, anti-corruption, sustainable supply chains, and more.
To support this, the UN Global Compact Network UK organised a series of in-person events to provide those working in the following core business functions with the necessary knowledge and understanding to contribute to their organisation’s sustainability goals in their day-to-day jobs.
Over the course of three hours, each session featured presentations, case studies, panels, collaboration activities, and networking opportunities to empower participants to take direct action following the events. Sustainability professionals were requested to invite a colleague from the respective function and attend alongside them to facilitate discussions on the day.
This event series was generously supported by our member, Clyde & Co.
Each session explored how a specific function impacts sustainability, what that function should know or consider to promote the integration of sustainability throughout the business, and what the two functions can do to work together towards sustainability goals. During the event, attendees:
- Gained a greater understanding of the sustainability landscape and how their role impacts and is impacted by sustainability issues;
- Learned how they can work in their own role and with their sustainability colleagues to further the company’s sustainability ambitions;
- Heard from leading businesses on the systems, processes, and initiatives they have in place to integrate sustainability into the focus function;
- Identified concrete actions that they can take away from the event to share with their teams;
- Connected with other like-minded professionals to share challenges and solutions around sustainability.
Past Sessions
UPCOMING EVENT:
Function-specific Briefs and Session Recordings Launch
Over the past two years, the UN Global Compact Network UK has brought together sustainability professionals and their colleagues from procurement, finance, legal, marketing, human resources, corporate affairs, and business development through our Sustainability Essentials for Core Functions event series. With over 400 attendees and 30 speakers across the seven events, the series has gathered advice, case studies, and solutions from businesses of all sizes, sectors, and maturities.
To share the insights from these sessions more widely, we are pleased to launch a new collection of function-specific briefs and session recordings on Monday 2 November, 15:00–17:00 GMT at the Clyde & Co offices.
The briefs and recordings draw on the experiences of leading businesses and are designed to give those working in core functions a framework to contribute to their organisation's sustainability goals in their day-to-day work. At the launch, you will:
- Get a first look at the briefs and recordings, and how your teams can use them;
- Hear from speakers who contributed to the series on the systems, processes and initiatives that have helped them move sustainability out of its silo;
- Connect with like-minded professionals to share challenges and solutions around integrating sustainability across your operations.
In the spirit of the series, sustainability professionals are encouraged to invite a colleague from another function and attend alongside them on the day. Please note that this event is open to UN Global Compact Network UK members only, and registration is subject to approval.
This event series is generously supported by our member, Clyde & Co.
Past Speakers
Andrew Roper
Global Head of Procurement
Clyde & Co
Ben Ngobi
Global Supplier Impact & Sustainability Lead - Accenture
Chris Low
Director, Sustainability Procurement & Packaging
Haleon
Emma Crates
Business and Human Rights Lead
Marshalls plc
Charlotte Horder
Strategist, Facilitator & Project Manager
Paddy Linighan
Chief Sustainability Officer
Clyde & Co
Mark Lumsdon-Taylor
Partner, Head of Sustainability & ESG - MHA
William Brewster
Global Head of Communications
Clyde & Co
Alexis Steadman
Global Head of community
RELX
Victoria Moorhouse
Group Climate and Nature Lead
Kingfisher
Richard Colbert
Chief Financial Officer
Monica Vinader
Lucy Klinkenberg-Matthews
Group ESG Director
Paragon
Harshana Amarasuriya
Global Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
Clyde & Co
Ciara Burke
Director of CFO Programme, Europe
Accounting for Sustainability
Jonathan Hall
Managing Partner - Sustainable Transformation Practice
Kantar
Matt Bourn
Director of Communications
Advertising Association
Catie Sheret
General Counsel
Cambridge University Press
Zoe Dittmann
Corporate Purpose & Strategic Impact Manager
Holland & Barrett
Cecilia Crossley
Founder
Uplifting People
Tom Lakin
Global Head of Future of Work
Robert Walters
Melanie Hetherington
Chief People Officer
NatWest Cushon
Rebecca Ricketts
Director of HR Strategy, Transformation and People Experience
Clyde & Co
Elizabeth Spry
Global Head of Sustainability
Spirax Sarco Engineering
Carly Thomas
Head of Sustainability
Sky
Amanda Powell-Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Forster Communications
Helen Sanders
Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability
SSE Thermal
Fiona Duggan
Global Sustainability Senior Manager
Unilever
Sonia Thimmiah
Corporate Affairs Director
Heineken UK
Alaric Marsden
Partner - EMEA Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change
ERM
Alexandra Florea
Head of Sustainability
Medik8
Joanna Gilroy
Group Sustainability & Innovation Director
Balfour Beatty
Please contact Alexandra Ranft, Senior Project Manager, Environment, for more information or to explore speaking opportunities.