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SustainabilityX Agenda

SustainabilityX 2024
May 14th 2024
133 Houndsditch | London

Shaping Management Strategies to Drive Positive Impact

Register

Title Sponsors

Agenda

13.00 – 14.00

Registration & Lunch

14.00 – 14.05

Chair Opening

Speaker

Ian Jindal
Ian Jindal
Ian Jindal
Editor-In-Chief
INTERNETRETAILING

Ian Jindal

Editor-In-Chief, INTERNETRETAILING

Ian Jindal is a consultant, publisher and advisor in eCommerce and multichannel retail. Ian cofounded and is Editor in Chief of InternetRetailing, providing insight and research for Europe’s etailers and multichannel retailers – www.internetretailing.net. To underpin the analysis Ian co-founded RetailX, researching performance in multichannel retail, brands and vendors.

In 2015 we launched the UK Top500 ranking of retailers (IRUK) and in 2016 the first performance-based ranking of European’s retailers (IREU) – www.internetretailing.net/iruk and www.internetretailing.net/ireu. Ian’s retail clients include Selfridges, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Asda, Couturelab, Waitrose, De Bijenkorf, Kering, Disney, IKEA, Walgreens Boots Alliance and VF Corporation (Timberland, The North Face, Vans etc). Previously Ian was Group eCommerce Director at Littlewoods Shop Direct, and Head of Online Operations at the BBC.

Ian founded the European eCommerce Forum, is an Advisor to eCommerce Europe and authored the UK’s first MSc in Internet Retailing. Ian’s skills encompass technology (Chartered IT Professional, Chartered Fellow of the British Computer Society), marketing, commerce and finance (Chartered Accountant) and business-wide innovation.

14.05 – 14.35

BUSINESS CASE – Embrace Sustainability. Empower Retail: Understanding the business case for sustainability

In an era where consumer preferences are evolving, businesses face a pivotal question: How does sustainability intersect with success in the retail industry? Consumer values are dominating conversations, with increased demand for eco-friendly products and ethical practices shaping the retail landscape. At the same time, regulations and legislation around sustainable reporting are changing rapidly, leaving many confused as to what is required of them and how to achieve it. What impact is this having on your business and what is the subsequent business case for embedding sustainability? Join this conversation and leave with a clearer understanding as to whether your sustainability endeavours are a response to purpose driven consumers, or a pull from purposeful business executives – or perhaps it’s a bit of both? How do you know where you sit on that spectrum and why is it important to know this?

Speakers

Natalie Deacon
Natalie Deacon
Natalie Deacon
Head of Purpose and Sustainability
AVON

Natalie Deacon

Head of Purpose and Sustainability, AVON

Natalie leads Avon’s ambitious purpose sustainability agenda, from addressing the climate crisis through to tackling equality and inclusion. In this role Natalie is responsible for crating and implementing triple bottom line strategy across operations in Avon’s international markets, including decarbonisation, circularity, social impact and brand activism.

Natalie is a passionate advocate for Avon’s mission to create a better world for women, leading Avon’s core purpose to deliver positive social impact through support of women and the issues that matter to Avon’s communities. She is also responsible for communications across all aspects of Avon’s sustainability efforts, from corporate responsibility reporting through to engaging and inspiring our independent beauty entrepreneurs to embrace sustainability.

Natalie has over 20 years’ experience in PR and communications. She is known for her energy, determination to deliver, and combination of strategic thinking with can-do pragmatism.

Saasha Celestial-One
Saasha Celestial-One
Saasha Celestial-One
Co-Founder & COO
OLIO

Saasha Celestial-One

Co-Founder & COO, OLIO

Saasha Celestial-One is Co-Founder & COO of OLIO, a free app harnessing the power of
mobile technology and the sharing economy to provide a revolutionary solution to the
problem of waste. OLIO is growing quickly, empowered by 160k+ volunteers. Since 2016,
8m OLIOers have successfully shared over 160m portions of food and 11m household items
with each other in 62 countries. Before OLIO, Saasha founded London’s first pay-as-you-go
high street childcare provider, and prior to that she spent 13yrs at Morgan Stanley, McKinsey
& American Express. Saasha was named one of the UK’s “Coolest Female Founders” by
Business Insider, has an MBA from Stanford, is mum to 11-year-old Nolan, and is the proud
daughter of hippy entrepreneurs.

  • The 21 most extraordinary women of 2021 – You Magazine
  • 14 women who are changing the way we eat and drink in 2021 – Time Out Magazine
  • Who are the Top 32 ESG pioneers in the UK? – Business Leader
  • 30 to Watch – The UK’s Top Funded Female Founders (#9) – Financial Times
Francesca Lascelles
Francesca Lascelles
Francesca Lascelles
Brand Partnership Manager
RESKINNED

Francesca Lascelles

Brand Partnership Manager, RESKINNED

Passionate and enthusiastic Retail Operations Manager with a wealth of experience in the fashion retail industry. Specialised in internal communications, in-store brand experience, team management and culture and engagement. A commercially strong fashion professional with a BA (Hons) degree in Fashion Brand Management combined with Journalism.

Fred Lill
Fred Lill
Fred Lill
Owner & Director,
LIL PACKAGING

Fred Lill

Owner & Director,, LIL PACKAGING

Trusted by the world’s largest internet retailers, Fred explains how paperboard typically represents 6-10% of their
total carbon footprint, encouraging the easiest way to slash total footprint upto 10% is by choosing Carbon
Neutral packaging. Lil came 2 nd at the 2023 Environmental Packaging ‘sustainability champions award.’
Fred has lead the company to become the first & only Zero Carbon packaging factory with its all-renewable-electric
manufacturing HQ in Cambridge & offsets their entire scope3. They’re proudly Europe’s largest independent
manufacturer of ecommerce packaging, producing peel & seal packaging 40% faster than any other, on a mission to
eradicate plastics from ecommerce.

Famed inventions include:
Lil envelope (invented for Amazon), Lil Breezebox (paper voidfill integrated box eradicating need for plastic
bubblewrap/polystyrene), Lil kraft bag (paper alternative to polythene mailbags), Lil ‘M’ mailer (price-matched
paper alternative to Jiffy bubble mailers) and Lil tube (flatpacked, plastic-free, price-matched alternative to round
tubes. Eradicates plastic bungs.)

Moderator

Clara Eisenberg
Clara Eisenberg
Clara Eisenberg
Interim General Counsel, ZERO CARBON FORUM
Former Legal & Sustainability Director, THE DUNE GROUP

Clara Eisenberg

Interim General Counsel, ZERO CARBON FORUM , Former Legal & Sustainability Director, THE DUNE GROUP

Clara Eisenberg is interim General Counsel and Advisory Board member at Zero Carbon Forum.  Zero Carbon Forum empowers its restaurant and pub industry members to reach carbon reduction targets at pace through collaborative action. Prior to that Clara was Legal & Sustainability Director at Dune London with responsibility for developing and integrating a responsible business agenda covering sourcing, materials, packaging and governance.

14.35 – 15.05

Keynote Debrief Discussion

In-depth practitioner-chaired peer conversations (held under Chatham House Rule) at round tables.

15.05 – 15.15

Refreshment Break & Visit the ‘Big Ideas’ Board

15.15 – 15.45

TRANSFORMATION – Mobilising for Sustainability: Effecting change to become a force for good

As we know, becoming a sustainable business is not the responsibility of one single department. Sustainability needs to be embedded across the entire organisation, requiring everyone from the board down to embrace and take responsibility, not just for climate change but for business change. Mobilising a business is not straightforward, especially when the path isn’t clear and it’s hard to know how to start. Many retailers worry that they are starting too late or too early – but is there a perfect time? During this discussion, speakers share the steps that they’ve taken to mobilise their brands to effect change, including stories of collaboration and innovation to become a force for good. We’ll discuss how new business models based on circular processes are generating new revenue streams, explore how speakers are addressing the end of life process for products, and redressing what has already been done in order to regenerate what has been lost.

Speakers

Julia Cove-Smith
Julia Cove-Smith
Julia Cove-Smith
Former CEO
EMMA BRIDGEWATER

Julia Cove-Smith

Former CEO, EMMA BRIDGEWATER

Julia is the former CEO of Emma Bridgewater Pottery Ltd. She is anexperienced leader of senior management and executive teams, with extensive retail and e-commerce experience having held senior positions in Marketing and Business Development at Waterstones and WHSmith.

With a focus on employee and customer engagement, she is keen to listen to feedback from cross-functional teams at all levels. Her recent experience at Emma Bridgewater Ltd includes securing an £8m investment from BGF to support further UK growth and international expansion, and leading the Emma Bridgewater business to achieve B Corp status in January 2022.

Alexis Cepeda Maule
Alexis Cepeda Maule
Alexis Cepeda Maule
Former Managing Director of UK & Europe
REFORMATION

Alexis Cepeda Maule

Former Managing Director of UK & Europe, REFORMATION

>Former MD of Reformation UK & Europe
> Ambassador for Retail Weeks’ Future Leaders Be Inspired Program
> Head of North America and Director of Business Transformation NET-A-PORTER and Mr PORTER (London)
> Director of Strategic Initiatives at YOOX NET-A-PORTER

A graduate of Stanford Business School and Harvard Alexis has a prestigious career path spanning investment banking at Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley to retail leadership with Amazon. She has held international roles, published articles and is an advocate for women in business having been selected by YNAP as one of the 10 Senior Leaders to join the Financial Times 125 Senior Executive Forum in London

Joe Mountain
Joe Mountain
Joe Mountain
Sustainability Lead
N BROWN GROUP

Joe Mountain

Sustainability Lead, N BROWN GROUP

I’m Joseph Mountain, currently focused on integrating sustainability into the heart of N Brown Group’s operations. My journey in this role started in 2022, and by 2023, I found myself leading our sustainability initiatives, a challenge I embrace daily with the goal of making a tangible impact. My work led to our team being recognized at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards 2023 for our innovative use of technology in sustainability.

Before this, my career path took me through various roles in fabric development and design across different countries, experiences that deeply influenced my perspective on the environmental impacts of fashion. These insights inspired me to pursue further education with an MSc in textile innovation and sustainability, solidifying my commitment to this cause.

In 2021, I launched the Future Fashion Fair in Manchester, aiming to spotlight sustainable brands and educate consumers about more responsible fashion choices. This event is a personal highlight, reflecting my belief in the power of community and collective action for a more sustainable future.

At N Brown Group, I strive to embed sustainability into every aspect of our business, from design to delivery. While the journey is challenging, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the positive changes we’re making, one step at a time.

Tim Jones
Tim Jones
Tim Jones
Director of Marketing, Communications & Sustainability
DPD

Tim Jones

Director of Marketing, Communications & Sustainability, DPD

Tim joined DPD in 2005 as Director of Marketing. He and his marketing team are responsible for the company’s marketing strategy, brand, corporate identity, employee communications, media relations, political affairs and event management.

In June 2021 Tim took on additional responsibility for leading DPD’s sustainability programme and team and became Director of Marketing, Communications & Sustainability.

Tim has over 25 years experience working in the transport sector, previously having held senior roles at TNT.

Moderator

Caroline Cartellieri
Caroline Cartellieri
Caroline Cartellieri
Director
C-SQUARED CONSULTING

Caroline Cartellieri

Director, C-SQUARED CONSULTING

Caroline is an award-winning Executive with over 25 years’ experience in retail,
hospitality and consumer goods. Leveraging technology to optimise the customer
experience, she brings deep expertise in digital transformation, marketing and
business strategy, in sectors ranging from luxury hotels to digital health.
She is passionate about sustainability and has led ESG reviews for her clients, as
well as published articles on circularity.

Her previous roles include Chief Commercial Officer at Ennismore, Chief Digital
Officer at Sun European Partners and Chief Operating Officer at MySpace
International.

Caroline currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at Saffron Building Society
and Europ Assistance, as Trustee of Asthma + Lung UK, and as a Non-Executive
Director of the Museum of London Trading Board.

She holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a BSc (Econ) from the
London School of Economics.

15.45 – 16.15

Keynote Debrief Discussion

In-depth practitioner-chaired peer conversations (held under Chatham House Rule) at round tables.

16.15 – 16.25

Refreshment Break & Visit the ‘Big Ideas’ Board

16.25 – 16.55

FUTURE FOCUS – Shaping forces for sustainability in the enterprise

In 2024, the retail sector continues to operate within a landscape heavily shaped by a mosaic of global and regional standards and legislations that significantly impact its strategic framework. Fueled by evolving consumer expectations, technological advancements, and a growing emphasis on sustainability, the retail industry faces a complex web of international standards aimed at ensuring product quality, safety, and fair trade practices. Furthermore, an increasing focus on data privacy and cybersecurity, along with shifting geopolitical dynamics, has spurred the implementation of comprehensive regulations that not only govern commerce but also influence supply chain management, market entry strategies, and cross-border trade agreements. This ever-evolving regulatory environment demands a proactive and adaptable approach from retailers to navigate the complexities and leverage opportunities while ensuring compliance and ethical practices in their global operations.

Speakers

Jade Snart
Jade Snart
Jade Snart
Senior Sustainability Manager – George Clothing, Home & GM
ASDA

Jade Snart

Senior Sustainability Manager – George Clothing, Home & GM, ASDA

Jade has over 20 years’ experience in the fashion industry, ranging from design, manufacturing, garment technology and for the last 5 years, in the world of sustainability. Jade has worked with her team, NGO’s and industry experts to build and develop Asda’s ‘George for Good’ sustainability strategy, and has recently expanding her remit into Home Textiles and General Merchandise too.

Neil Bradford
Neil Bradford
Neil Bradford
Group Sustainability & Procurement Director
JD SPORTS

Neil Bradford

Group Sustainability & Procurement Director, JD SPORTS

JD Sports Fashion plc Group Sustainability and Procurement Director, having previously undertaken roles including Group Head of Procurement and Environment at JD Sports Fashion plc, and Procurement Director at Sainsbury’s Supermarkets limited. Over the past 3-4 years my role as Group Head of Procurement expanded to encompass global ESG strategy. I am a member of the inaugural JD Group ESG Committee, with responsibility for Sustainability strategy, encompassing Climate Change, Sustainable Sourcing and Circular Economy. My retail experience started at 14 years old, and continued up until, during, and after gaining my Economics degree. I am a firm believer that the study of behavioural traits (cross-referenced with continued interrogation of related data) of customers, colleagues and citizens is key to influencing and embedding long-term change for climate and commercial impacting habits alike.

Laura Keay
Laura Keay
Laura Keay
Head of Marketing and Ecommerce
FINE BEDDING COMPANY

Laura Keay

Head of Marketing and Ecommerce, FINE BEDDING COMPANY

As the Head of Marketing and E-commerce at The Fine Bedding Company, Laura has been instrumental in driving the growth of the company’s branded portfolio, improving health and wellbeing through a better night sleep. She has led the establishment of the direct-to-consumer channel through finebedding.co.uk and expanded online retail partner distribution, which has led to the company becoming one of the leading sustainable bedding brands in the UK. Laura is deeply committed to advancing the company’s sustainability agenda and is proud of her role in securing the company’s B Corporation accreditation. Prior to her current role, Laura spent ten years at Kellogg’s UK and European headquarters, where she led on brand strategy and multi-channel campaign execution.

Christopher Davis
Christopher Davis
Christopher Davis
International Sustainability, Activism & Communications Director
THE BODY SHOP

Christopher Davis

International Sustainability, Activism & Communications Director, THE BODY SHOP

Christopher joined The Body Shop in 2003 to work with company founder Dame Anita Roddick. He has done some other things. He launched Ralph Lauren’s Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign, was a Board Director at MTV’s corporate charity and worked for Save the Children around the world. But it’s mostly The Body Shop. He graduated from Sussex and Cambridge Universities and lives near Brighton. He is believed to be an excellent snowboarder and surfer, loves music, football, ikebana, his dogs….and his two children (not necessarily in that order).

Moderator

Gursh Mendhir
Gursh Mendhir
Gursh Mendhir
Principal
TRUE.

Gursh Mendhir

Principal, TRUE.

I am a Principal in the Innovation team at True, Europe’s leading sector-specialist advisory & investment firm. As a B-Corp, True has helped over 25 household brands – like Marks & Spencer, 7-Eleven and Fortnum & Mason – to navigate changing trends, like sustainability, and use emerging technologies for competitive advantage. We provide tailored insights, including how to use emerging technology to unlock bottom-line efficiencies and top-line growth whilst considering the planet and the community, and scout best-in-class technology startups, many with sustainability use cases. Our unparalleled vantage point is a product of our cutting-edge knowledge and ever-expanding network spanning the whole capital spectrum. We leverage our venture capital team’s deal flow, market insights and investment judgment, and we have tested several emerging technologies in our private equity portfolio companies.

Before True, I built Virgin Media O2’s digital innovation department and, together with my team, spearheaded the company’s foray beyond telco, by creating a new consumer product portfolio. I started my career in strategy consulting and corporate venturing at Monitor Deloitte and Deloitte Ventures, respectively.

I am passionate about using emerging technology as a catalyst to meaningfully address intractable challenges, including sustainability.

16.55 – 17.25

Keynote Debrief Discussion

In-depth practitioner-chaired peer conversations (held under Chatham House Rule) at round tables.

17.25 – 17.30

Closing Summary

17.30

Networking Drinks & End of Day