John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. In 2004, BusinessWeek described him as “a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades.” In 2008, The Evening Standard named John among the ‘1000 Most Influential People’ in London, describing him as “a true green business guru,” and as “an evangelist for corporate social and environmental responsibility long before it was fashionable.” John’s latest book is The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change the World, co-authored with Pamela Hartigan and was published by Harvard business School Press in 2008.
2010 SESSIONS
Climate Change, Societal Demand And Food Security
By 2050, there will be an estimated 2.3 billion more people to feed, one third more than today. Additionally, new sources of food demand have emerged with increased use of food crops for bio fuels. Longstanding under-investment in agriculture, along with sharp increases in fuel and food prices followed by the economic crisis, have driven an estimated 100 million more people into poverty. This session brings together recognised experts and innovators in the field to outline solutions to this looming global threat.
Speakers: Mark Fulton, Mark Lynas, Ndidi Nwuneli, Richard Jefferson, John Elkington
2009 SESSIONS
Pathways To Scale: From Prototyping To System Change
Explore the necessary conditions and models for taking innovative solutions to scale, with the ultimate objective of systemic change. Panel members will focus on sustainable transport systems and explore how this sector can serve as a model for scaling and engaging multiple stakeholders. Panel members will map their initiatives against a 5-stage model of innovation, from early prospecting, through prototyping and start-up enterprises, to networked solutions and, ultimately, system change.
Speakers: Ion Yadigaroglu, Nancy Kete, Peter Head, John Elkington, Michael Granoff
2008 SESSIONS
Strategic Partnerships Between Multinational Corporations And Social Entrepreneurs
Is it possible to strike a win-win partnership between a global corporation and a social enterprise? What are the drivers for partnership and how do they play out in reality? Using current case studies, this session will explore the benefi ts of partnership – including access to ideas, inspiration, capital and markets – as well as the challenges in making a successful partnership. Participants will take part in dynamic ‘empathy exercises’ in order to better understand the internal drivers and constraints on both sides of the fence.
Speakers: Maggie Brenneke, Richard Kelly, James Parr, Ros Tennyson, Sophia Tickell, John Elkington
2007 SESSIONS
Moving Capital
Speakers will discuss with delegates how social ventures can access different sources of external capital to increase their impact. The panellists are creating new and innovative ways to use finance that work for their unique needs and structures, as well as providing appropriate returns to finance providers.
Speakers: Penny Newman, Michele Giddens, Tim Reith, John Elkington, Jan Piercy, Arthur Wood
“Moving Capital” panel at 2007 Skoll World Forum
2007 SESSIONS
Closing Plenary of the 2007 Skoll World Forum
REFLECTIONS FROM A PIONEER IN SOCIAL INNOVATION
Larry Brilliant, MD, MPH, Executive Director of Google.org
SUPPORTING MORE SOCIAL INNOVATION
A facilitated discussion by John Elkington, Founder and Chief Entrepreneur, SustainAbility, to explore how society’s frameworks (public and private) need to change at local, regional, national and international levels to support more social innovation.
Bill Drayton, CEO and Chair, Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
Ed Miliband MP, Minister for the Third Sector, UK
SOCIAL INNOVATION: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Leading social entrepreneurs in conversation with delegates reflect upon ideas and learnings for moving forward from the conference.
Moderator: Roger Martin, Dean, Rotman School of Management and Director, AIC Institute for Corporate Citizenship
Roshaneh Zafar, Founder and President, Kashf Foundation
Martin Fisher, Co-founder and CEO, Kickstart
Taddy Blecher, CEO, Cida City Campus
Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
CLOSING REMARKS
Colin Mayer, Peter Moores Dean, Saïd Business School
Speakers: Taddy Blecher, Ed Miliband MP, Martin Fisher, Mindy Lubber, William Drayton, John Elkington, Colin Mayer, Roger Martin, Roshaneh Zafar, Larry Brilliant
2006 SESSIONS
Sustainability And Capital Markets
The global context for business is changing. Challenges such as climate change, HIV/AIDS, and poverty have reached a point where civil society is demanding a response from business. This session will explore Generation’s view of a sustainable firm and how it aims to impact capital markets through its own investment strategies.
