Sustainable Business Conference Channel Islands

We are proud to have been the lead sponsor of the inaugural Sustainable Business Conference Channel Islands, held last week in Guernsey on Tuesday and in Jersey on Wednesday.   The conference welcomed leaders in the field of business sustainability to speak on the critical issues of long-term wellbeing for both people and the planet, offering actionable insights for businesses dedicated to a sustainable future.   Sally Rochester, Director at Mourant Consulting, delivered an inspiring opening address, calling for bold sustainable leadership across the islands. Managing Partner, Jonathan Rigby, set out Mourant's commitment to determining, and delivering on, the firm's future sustainability strategy which will build on the firm's ocean pledge and diversity and inclusion commitments.   Read more about the conference here: https://lnkd.in/gwjuvDNt   Photography by Chris George.

Last week, we were delighted to host our first conferences in Guernsey and Jersey, exploring sustainable business with experts Dr Victoria Hurth, Steve Kenzie, Dr Marc Kahn and panel hosts Estelle Levin-Nally and Michelle Ryan. Throughout the two days, there was a tremendous amount of material and guidance covered. For those not in attendance, or attendees who would like to share with colleagues, here are just 7 key takeaways for you. #SBCGSY #SBCJSY #SBCCI

When I try to summarise what was discussed at the Sustainable Business Conference Channel Islands I say “oh and also….” far too often for it to count as a summary! For those who attended it was a deep dive into some amazing topics but managed to be neither overwhelming nor mundane. A careful balance for sure and it’s testament to Sally Rochester’s selection of speakers and our long deliberated format on the day. The feedback I received was there was something for everyone and the feeling during the drinks reception was largely inspiration and energy. For me, there are some key things I will bring into our advice and reporting for clients at True Limited : - a wellbeing economy is driven by purposeful organisations and meaningful work and lives FOR ALL. - an Optimising Goal is the lens through which all decisions should be made, all strategies written and when a strategy doesn’t accord with the goal, people should have the freedom to challenge the strategy. - financial capital is a parameter, not a standalone goal. It’s one of the inputs needed to achieve the goal(s) for sure, and not to be ignored. But we need to be much clearer about the distinction and we will work this concept into our Purpose and Strategy work. - freedom vs control and their inverse relationship. It’s such a simple concept but fundamental when it comes to living systems. - living systems don’t operate like machines and we can’t dismantle them to one cog that needs fixing - the system is complex. Oh and also……. (Insert about a hundred other things I could write here!) If you want to reflect on what you learnt, hear more or think about what this means for you, let’s grab coffee!

Lovely summary video of an impactful event that I genuinely expect to result in a step change of action on these amazing islands.

Should all conferences have A Level students at them, like these did? One of the best things about the inaugural Channel Islands Sustainable Business Conference was that in both #Guernsey and #Jersey there was a full table of A Level #students getting fully involved. I think this should be a standard for all conferences (well those conferences that can help them be the leaders the world needs).

"I am delighted with the incredibly warm reception for the topic of sustainability and our speakers and the high level of commitment coming from attendees of both conferences. The number attending, the energy in the room and the call from many for our islands to do more serve as a wonderful base for progress by business leaders across both islands. The feedback from attendees has been very positive and we will be publishing an array of resources and information on the conference website shortly which attendees, and the public, are welcome to access in support of their sustainability ambitions." - Sally Rochester, Conference Host

When I try to summarise what was discussed at the Sustainable Business Conference Channel Islands I say “oh and also….” far too often for it to count as a summary! For those who attended it was a deep dive into some amazing topics but managed to be neither overwhelming nor mundane. A careful balance for sure and it’s testament to Sally Rochester’s selection of speakers and our long deliberated format on the day. The feedback I received was there was something for everyone and the feeling during the drinks reception was largely inspiration and energy. For me, there are some key things I will bring into our advice and reporting for clients at True Limited : - a wellbeing economy is driven by purposeful organisations and meaningful work and lives FOR ALL. - an Optimising Goal is the lens through which all decisions should be made, all strategies written and when a strategy doesn’t accord with the goal, people should have the freedom to challenge the strategy. - financial capital is a parameter, not a standalone goal. It’s one of the inputs needed to achieve the goal(s) for sure, and not to be ignored. But we need to be much clearer about the distinction and we will work this concept into our Purpose and Strategy work. - freedom vs control and their inverse relationship. It’s such a simple concept but fundamental when it comes to living systems. - living systems don’t operate like machines and we can’t dismantle them to one cog that needs fixing - the system is complex. Oh and also……. (Insert about a hundred other things I could write here!) If you want to reflect on what you learnt, hear more or think about what this means for you, let’s grab coffee!

Want to be at the forefront of change? 🌍 I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Sustainable Business Conference Channel Islands in Jersey – and it was nothing short of inspiring! 💥 A huge thank you to Sally Rochester for making this possible. One key takeaway that really struck me is the realization that unsustainability is a massive governance failure. For too long, financial capital has been falsely assumed as the best proxy for wellbeing outcomes. But it’s time for a change. If we don’t transform governance towards a 'Wellbeing Economy' – one that prioritizes meaningful work and lives – we risk losing the social wellbeing and sustainability benefits that markets should be providing. 📌 "Profit optimization, not profit maximization" – as the CEO of Starbucks said, it’s time to move away from short-term gains and adopt circular processes for long-term value. Technological advancements and rising consumption have led to environmental degradation, and it's clear that we need to shift focus from immediate profit to responsible resource management. Here are some of the key pathways forward: 1. Recommit to the basics 2. Provide a living wage 💰 3. Promote gender equality ⚖️ (Fun fact: gender-balanced boardrooms are 20% more likely to see improved outcomes! 💼) 4. Innovate responsibly 5. Accelerate climate action 🌱 (We must cut emissions in half by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C) 6. Protect nature 🦋 7. Improve water resilience 💧 (Did you know 2 billion people lack safe drinking water? By 2030, we’ll face a 40% gap between water supply and demand.) This aligns perfectly with the insights I gained from the conference, where #sustainability meets #entrepreneurship. The world needs to invest $3-5 trillion annually to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, opening up new revenue opportunities and driving sustainable corporate finance. 🌍 Not only was this a learning experience, but it was also a powerful networking opportunity for Planetora – my sustainable marketplace! 🚀 Thank you to Charlie Petulla for introducing me to Michelle Ryan, Director of True Limited . Our conversations about funding, female founders, and Michelle’s journey to building her business were incredibly insightful. It was also great to see Ryde - Jersey Taxi Booking – represented at the conference – exciting times ahead for sustainable travel in Jersey! A massive thank you to the speakers Dr Victoria Hurth, Dr Marc Kahn, Steve Kenzie and Michelle Ryan for all the actionable insights and steps to drive real change. 🌍 Let’s keep pushing forward, innovating, and driving impact towards a Wellbeing Economy. Want to hear more? #Connect or #Follow for updates! 💡 #Sustainability #Entrepreneurship #WellbeingEconomy #Governance #Planetora #Leadership

As a novice to the vast subject matter of ESG, I went along yesterday to the perfectly formed half-day Sustainable Business Conference Channel Islands to learn more about how my work with people policies might contribute. Fascinating speakers who, with limited time managed to impart a lot of their passion and knowledge. A few of key takeaways for me: ➡️ In optimising your goals, where are your parameters and guardrails? ➡️ The shift needs to be from profit-driven to purpose-driven, ➡️ To check out a BBC documentary called 'The Secret Life of Chaos' and ➡️ That there definitely is a strategic role for HR here (CISL's business transformation framework has People Processes right in there) and many of the UN's SDG have central issues such as gender equality and the living wage at their heart, and ➡️ I have loads more to learn! Thanks to Michelle Ryan (is there anyone more passionate about this subject in Jersey than Michelle?!), Mourants and Jersey Association of Sustainability Practitioners (JASP). And fabulous to see A Level students from Island schools participating in the event.