Posted in Economic Sustainability

The Business of Sustainability – The Conference 2012

The Association for Business Sustainability conference ‘Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” will be held on the 21st and 22nd May 2012 at the Radisson Resort, Gold Coast.

The conference will include case studies, keynote presentations, concurrent sessions and workshops.   You will Learn about governments’ sustainability plans and the relevant grants available, and find business opportunities and trends in the sector.

Topics include;

• Sustainable Natural Resource/Water Management
• Sustainable and Renewable Energy
• Sustainable Waste Management
• Sustainable Cities and Building Design
• Sustainable Food Production/Security
• Sustainable Investment and Finance
• Sustainable Leadership – Government and Business
• Sustainable Transport
• Carbon Price Management
• Business Case Studies
• Government Case Studies
• Education and Training
• Accreditation
• Green Procurement
• Personal Sustainability
• CSR

The conference will update delegates on a range of effective sustainable business practises from energy saving to carbon pricing and provide great opportunities to network and learn from other organisations.

There will be a B2B exhibition for organisations to promote their ideas, products and solutions to assist businesses and government departments achieve profitable sustainability. It will provide an avenue for emerging technologies and services that enable sustainability within business to be reviewed, discussed and promoted. It will be a Sustainable Education Forum to benefit businesses, individuals and government and provide viable sustainable business options to business.

A case study analysis of MCU Sustainable Banking – unique, innovative, competitive, “green” and successfull

The aim of this paper is to present a case study analysis of MCU Sustainable Banking Limited and contribute to the discussion on the importance and effects of various external environmental, social and governance factors on the success of investment institutions.  MCU is an innovative and leading, sustainable, financial institution that exemplifies the phrase “thinking globally, acting locally”.  MCU’s success supports the literature which suggests that corporate social responsibility (CSR) and being “green” are now mainstream and key ingredients in the complex combination of factors that contribute to the economic success and overall sustainability of financial institutions.

Dr Gayle Mayes, Sustainability Research Centre will present the study at the “Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” Conference, 15th & 16th September
Radisson Resort, Gold Coast, Australia. Visit the conference website here.

Present at the Sustainability Business Conference in September 2011

The “Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” conference wil be held on the 15th & 16th September 2011 at the Radisson Resort, Gold Coast, Australia.

If you would like to speak at the conference you have until the 15th of June 2011 to submit an abstract of your presentation here.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Hon Kate Jones MP, Minister for Environment and Resource Management, Queensland Government, to open conference.
  • Murray Hogarth, Director, The 3rd Degree, is a business environmentalist.  He advises corporate, government and community clients on climate and sustainability strategy and communications.
  • Gary Horsfield, Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain for PepsiCo, Australia & New Zealand.
  • Susanne Cooper B.A.(Hons); D.Ed; M.Sc, Associate; Sustainability Practice Leader, Sinclair Knight Merz
  • Karlson ‘Charlie’ Hargroves B.E, Co-Founder and Director, The Natural Edge Project
  • Professor John Cole, Director, Australian Centre for Sustainable Business and Development, USQ
  • Monique Chelin – Director of MJC Sustainability
  • Tim Eldridge – Founder, Eldridge Marketing. Former Senior Partner, Executive Marketing Director, IBM Brand Services for Ogilvy& Mather N.Y. Former Executive Vice-President, World-wide Account Director for Saatchi and Saatchi N.Y.
  • Associate Professor Retha Wiesner -Australian Centre for Sustainable Business and Development U.S.Q.
  • Bruce Mitchell – Founder, The Mitchell Enviro Industrial Estate; Finalist for the 2011 QLD Senior of the Year Award and Winner for the 2010 Premier’s Climate Smart Award.
  • Paula Drayton, Director, Resource Advisory
  • Rob  Cawethorne,  Managing Director  Carbon Reduction Institute
  • Kirsty  Chessher,  EnviroDevelopment National Manager,  Urban Development Institute of Australia (QLD)
  • Kristine Dewar,  Business Sustainability Analyst,  Carbon House
  • Egle  Garrick,  General Manager,  Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
  • Hugh  Grant,  Director,  Net Balance
  • Tony  Hall,  CEO,  GreenBizCheck
  • Simon McCabe, Business Relations Manager, Intelligent Pathways
  • Susan  Harris,  National Science Leader,  CPG New Zealand Limited
  • Robert  Hassett,  Senior Natural Resource Officer,  Department of Environment and Resource Management
  • Mark  Leckenby,  CEO,  Auzion Solar Power
  • La Vergne  Lehmann,  Researcher,  University of Ballarat
  • Dr  Gayle  Mayes,  Lecturer & Researcher,  Sustainability Research Centre
  • Rebecca  Miller  Senior Consultant  ARUP
  • Robert  Mrozowski, Senior Environmental Health Officer – Waste Management  Queensland Health
  • Ralph  Plarre,  Co-Owner,  Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses
  • Dr  Stephen  Skull,  Manager Environment Policy,  Sunshine Coast Council
  • Bernhard  Voll,  Managing Director,  Blue Diamond Energy Solutions
  • Kayt  Watts,  Chief Executive Officer,  Australian Forestry Standard Limited
  • Stella Whittaker – Senior Executive, Sustainability and Climate Change – Manidis Roberts

The full conference website is available here

Can Tourism Operators Manage Water Sustainably?

The relationship that water has with the tourism sector is complex. While the UNWTO has recognised that water is an essential component of tourism, the problem of overuse has also been highlighted as worldwide fresh water resources become scarcer.

The challenge for sustainable water management exists in many parts of the world and is no longer confined to arid destinations, high volume tourism destinations or developing nations. A significant portion of the water use in the tourism sector is associated with accommodation and hospitality. Responsibility for the way that water is used in accommodation venues is vested in both the accommodation operator, who controls that water at the source and the tourist, who can control their own use.

This means that the type of market that the accommodation venue aims to attract has a significant impact on the type and amount of water use that is required for their operation. In looking at different styles of accommodation, this research identifies the optimal ways of managing water for each style. While the water use reminder card currently available in many venues may encourage some responsible tourists to reduce their water use, more substantial responses from accommodation venues will be required to meet future water reduction use objectives.

 Mrs La Vergne Lehmann, PhD Candidate University of Ballarat

“Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” The Conference  15th & 16th September  – Radisson Resort, Gold Coast, Australia

Corporate understanding of ecosystem services

The reliance organizations have on ecosystem services such as clean water, air, climate, timber, fibres, food and genetic resources is fundamentally an element of corporate risk and strategy that is often overlooked.

Where traditional environmental management examines the impact the organization has on the environment, the idea of ecosystem services is novel in the sense that it is also concerned with the impact the environment has on the organization.

We surveyed corporate managers in the Australian resources and infrastructure sectors and found that most are ill-equipped to address ecosystem services as a strategic aspect of long-term organizational sustainability. A high proportion of respondents indicated that their organization has both the awareness and capacity to address ecosystem service issues. However, this contradicts previous research which suggests that it is unlikely that organizations implement strategies to secure access to multiple ecosystem services.

The results of this research indicate that corporate managers’ distinguish ecosystem services as a concern that transcends environment departments. This suggests that organizational culture has a role to play in fostering an environment where the management of ecosystem services is integrated across a range of business activities.

However, we also found that environment and sustainability managers are not empowered to enact the organizational transformation that is required to achieve holistic ecosystem management.
 
Kristine Dewar, Business Sustainability Analyst, Carbon House

“Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” The Conference

15th& 16th September  – Radisson Resort, Gold Coast, Australia