ESG Future Growth Forum 2024

The Event

Join other business leaders for a day of expert talks and panels, on how ESG can help drive business growth and help society, together.

Delivered in partnership between Colmore BID, GFA Exchange and City AM, this national event is focused on helping you adapt to economic uncertainty, by balancing commercial growth with sustainable and responsible impact!

Come and interact with over 15 of the UK’s leading business experts across Inclusive Technologies, Access to Finance, Regulation, Governance, Talent Development and so much more!

Hear from SWMs Chief Executive, Anna Bright, along with Jessica Wilkes Ball from Mills & Reeve, on a session providing practical insights and actionable steps, empowering you to make better decisions on how to make your organisation become more environmentally responsible.

SWM member, the University of Birmingham, will also speaking at this event and launching the ESG Centre for Responsible Growth (CfRG)!

What to expect

Expert Keynote Talks: Access expertise on how to embrace ESG-led practices to adapt to the evolving world of business.

Interactive Panel Sessions: Take part in thought leadership panel sessions, tailored to your ESG challenges!

High Calibre Networking: Connect with like-minded business leaders, to build new relationships and share best practices!

Key highlights

• Hear from Guest Keynote Speaker Sacha Sadan, Director of ESG, The Financial Conduct Authority on how your business and society can benefit from ESG-led practices!
• Be the first to hear about the new regional CfRG!
• Meet 15+ expert thought leaders for solutions on how you can build a more inclusive and purposeful business in these modern times!
• Receive proven strategies to drive your business growth, enhance your resilience, and improve your workforce productivity, whilst adding value to people and the planet!
• Network with like-minded leaders, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, and game-changers!
• Engage in interactive discussions tailored to address your specific ESG challenges and future business growth plans!
• Grab an energising breakfast, hearty lunch, and cool refreshments during the day!

This is a landmark event that is focused on helping you to become a pioneer in a new way to do business where your impact not only increases your bottom-line, but creates a multiplier effect to drive positive inclusion, social impact, and sustainable change at scale!

Agenda

• 08:15 – 09:00. ESG Future Growth Forum 2024 – Networking Breakfast!

Meet and network with other like-minded delegates over a hearty and energising breakfast, before the event formally begins!

• 09:15 – 09:25. Formal Welcome & Opening Video Address

– Andy Street CBE, West Midlands Mayor

– Joel Blake OBE, Founder, GFA Exchange

• 09:30 – 09:50. Keynote Address: Embracing The Future of ESG

– Sacha Sadan, Director of ESG, Financial Conduct Authority

• 09:55 – 10:20. Inclusive Technologies: Powering Tomorrow’s World!

– Dr Olinga Taeed, Director, CCEG

– Paulette Watson, Founder, Academy Achievers

– Unette Spencer, VP Cus. Solutions/ESG Lead, Mastercard

Gain leading insights on the convergence of technology and ESG, to identify how innovative solutions can drive cost efficiencies whilst amplifying inclusivity, and sustainable impact.

• 10:25 – 10:35. Exclusive Launch: ESG Centre for Responsible Growth (University of Birmingham)

– Professor Karen Elliott, University of Birmingham

Learn more about the new ESG Centre for Responsible Growth led by the University of Birmingham, and how you can benefit from its mission to combine academic data-driven expertise, with real-life business practice to revolutionise financial inclusion for all!

• 10:35 – 10:55. Mid-morning break

• 11:00 – 11:20. Charting the Course: The Future of Corporate Governance

– Dr Karl George MBE, Head of Governance, RSM

Access expert insight on the evolution of traditional and digital governance models, structures and frameworks, and the actions that you can take to ensure better transparency, accountability, and ethical practices.

• 11:25 – 11:45. Mastering ESG Compliance: Navigating the Regulatory Landscape

– Sarah Sinclair, Co Founder & CEO, Change Gap

Discover the latest approaches to staying compliant alongside the updates and insights that you need, to ensure that your organisation can both adapt and thrive in an evolving regulatory landscape.

• 11:50 – 12:20. Building a Sustainable Future: A Practical Approach

– Anna Bright, Chief Executive, Sustainability West Midlands

– Jessica Wilkes-Ball, Senior Sustainability Manager, Mills & Reeve

This session will provide practical insights and actionable steps, empowering you to make better decisions on how to make your organisation become more environmentally responsible.

• 12:30 – 13:45. Lunch Break – Networking

• 13:50 – 14:10. Property and Infrastructure: Building For The Future!

– Mitesh Parmar, Co-Founder & CEO, Wellspace Architects

Explore how the intersection of ESG, and health and well-being is changing the world of property, and the evolving role of property investment in adding value to society.

• 14:15 – 14:35. Impact Finance: Driving Sustainable Business Growth!

– Stephen Waud, Chief Executive, BEF Group

– Kate Cooper-Fay, CEO, DeepClear

– Tony Greenham, MD, Sustainability, British Business Bank

– Conrad Ford, CPO/CSO & ESG Lead, Allica Bank

Discover practical approaches to integrating sustainable impact into investment and finance support strategies, equipping with the knowledge to align your financial risk decisions with more sustainable outcomes.

• 14:40 – 15:00. Inclusive Innovation: Unleashing The Power of Diverse Talent!

– Joanne Dewar, NED/Chair

– Alex Cole FRSA, CEO, Tin Ventures

Learn how companies with strong ESG values attract the diverse talent they need to unlock unrivalled innovation at scale. Gain tips on accessing the benefits of wider talent pools and a future workforce that embraces difference.

• 15:00 – 15:15. Afternoon Break

• 15:20 – 15:40. Harnessing The Power of Social Mobility

– PJ Ellis, Co-Founder LoveBrum, Chair, Stormworks Studios

– Diane Vernon MBE, Founder & CEO, Employability UK

Learn from the work of leading entrepreneurs to gain gems to help you foster an environment that develops equitable and innovative career journeys for all.

• 15:45 – 16:00. Supply Chain Leadership: Creating and Communicating Stakeholder Impact!

– Gihan Hyde, Founder & CEO, Communique

Learn practical strategies for building effective communications with external supply chains and stakeholders, alongside the development of measurable processes and systems of change.

• 16:00 – 16:15. Event Summary, Next Steps and Thanks to Close

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to spearhead change dedicated to creating a future, where you can do well and do good!

Please use the referral code ESG1004 when registering your place.