Xplore Sustainability: Sedex Conference London 2023

Join Sedex CEO Jon Hancock as he launches Sedex’s exciting 2023 – 2028 Strategy. Learn how Sedex will empower businesses to improve social and environmental sustainability in their supply chains through the power of technology, assessment and data.

Speaker:
Jon Hancock, Chief Executive Officer, Sedex

Joanna Yarrow, international expert in sustainability, highlights how embedding core sustainability principles across an organisation and its stakeholders is a critical enabler of positive change while also supporting commercial benefits, business resilience, and corporate reputation. Drawing on her previous experience as Global Head of Sustainable and Healthy Living for IKEA, Joanna traces the evolution of IKEA’s strategy from “sustainability as a specialism” to company-wide foundational pillar – including how they secured buy-in from every business department to achieve this, and the rewards IKEA reaps as a result. She explains how an integrated approach combining insight, engagement and impact – which she now brings to creative agency M&C Saatchi – strengthens a company’s own ESG performance while also fuelling the development of sustainability-centred commercial services to bring benefits for all.

Speaker:
Joanna Yarrow (Founding Partner at M&C Saatchi LIFE; NED Human Nature; former Head of Sustainable & Healthy Living at IKEA; established sustainability professional; speaker & presenter)

How do businesses satisfy demands from investors, governments and consumers in the same sustainability strategy, and perform well across each ESG area? Our panellists explore the challenge, realities, and solutions for business. 

Speakers:
Daniel Leader, Partner, Leigh Day
Peter Collyer, Chief People Officer, Ted Baker
Steve Kenzie, Executive Director, UNGC
Matt Crossman, Stewardship Director, Rathbones Group
Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times (moderator)

Hear from the Sedex Training team around the progress and development of the e-Learning platform

The Sedex Technology team will take you through some of the recent releases from the platform.

As legislation and stakeholder pressure around the world push companies to address and prevent human rights abuses in the supply chain, the mechanisms to do so can drive unintended consequences. Our multi-stakeholder panel brings together three experts to discuss the trends we are seeing, how different stakeholder groups are responding and what the impacts of the shifting behaviours are on businesses and society.

Speakers:
Didier Bergeret, Director of Sustainability, Forest Positive Coalition & Human Rights Coalition, Consumer Goods Forum
Richard Mojica, Practice Lead of Customs and Import Trade, Miller & Chevalier Chartered                                                                                              Sophie Zinser, Lead International Relations Officer, Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking (OCFT), US Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), US Department of Labor
Bex Hall, Head of Consulting, Sedex (Moderator)

Learn key updates around Sedex’s leading audit SMETA and hear from those who are part of its evolution.

For many companies the path to sustainability has followed a well-trodden path of management systems, impact assessments, efficiency and effectiveness reviews. Is it easier or faster to solve sustainability challenges within a purpose-driven business? Jessica shares some stories of her efforts to protect people and the planet from her roles at McDonald’s, innocent and now Huel.

Speakers:
Jessica Sansom, Sustainability Director, Huel

Learn how one of the world’s largest energy tech, infrastructure and automation companies fuels sustainable growth through continuously evolving and driving their ESG programme. From green criteria aligned with commercial goals to promoting social excellence across supply chain tiers, Bernard Faure-Geors shares his perspective and experience from the heart of Schneider’s global procurement department – and speculates on what the future holds for supply chain sustainability and ESG.

Speaker:
Bernard Faure-Geors, Procurement Director Global Supply Chain, Schneider Electric

How can businesses use data throughout their sustainability and due diligence initiatives – from setting targets to demonstrating progress? How is the use of data evolving across ESG areas?

Speakers:
Sonya Bhonsle, Global Head of Value Chains & Regional Director Corporations, CDP
Jo Webb, Head of Sustainable Procurement, The Body Shop (Natura & Co)
Clare Fitton, SMETA Evolution and Impact Manager, Sedex (Moderator)

Boden and &Wider explain how worker feedback technology has enabled Boden to better understand working conditions at sites in their supply chains, by hearing directly from the people who work there. This forms a key part of Boden’s efforts to prevent modern slavery.

Speakers: 
Lea Esterhuizen, Founder & CEO, &Wider
Martin Seale, Responsible Sourcing & Compliance Manager, Boden

Learn how to draw better insights and guide your decisions using the social and environmental data you already hold.

Speakers:
Clare Fitton, SMETA Evolution and Impact Manager, Sedex
Oscar Luiz Muzilli Junior, Sustainable Procurement Manager, Natura & Co

Businesses of all sizes can drive positive impact – even small changes make a difference, especially in local communities. What does that look like in action?

Speakers:
Arnab Dutt OBE, Chair Social Value Unit, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
Campbell McDonald, Chief Executive, Ownership at Work

Sedex’s Consulting team answer your questions around the most challenging areas of sustainability and supply chains.

Australian supermarket Coles explore the evolution of their ethical sourcing strategy.. Aaron Hill demonstrates how Coles took learnings from other large supermarket chains around the world to build a multi-pronged, supplier-engaged approach, first to support horticultural workers in Australia then expanded to other supply chain areas such as logistics, and how supply chain data from different sources is validated to support every public statement Coles makes on addressing social risks.

Speaker:
Aaron Hill, Group Ethical Sourcing Manager, Coles

Hear the future features from the Sedex Platform Team and have your say in their development.

Speaker:
Jeremy Schwartz, Former CEO of The Body Shop, Pandora & MD of L’Oreal and Chairman of Kantars Sustainability Transformation Practice

Q&A

Speakers:
Jon Hancock, Chief Executive Officer, Sedex
Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times

Take the opportunity to network with sponsors and other conference attendees 

Join us for an evening of recognition and fun at the Awards Dinner.  

This is a ticketed event.  

Sedex Director of Member and Customer Relations, Allison Hudson, opens day 2 with an update on how Sedex’s Strategy is transforming Sedex’s customer experience through our tools and community.

Speaker:
Allison Hudson, Director of Member & Customer Relations, Sedex

Should business engage with stakeholders on their ESG agenda? To what extent? And how has this changed over the years? Michael Dickstein from Duracell reflects on the corporate journey from very limited touch points in the past, to increased stakeholder dialogue and engagement, up to the recent rise of partnerships. Michael will cover some of Duracell’s own approach, including a feature on lithium coin batteries and child safety.

Speaker:
Michael Dickstein, Corporate Affairs Director (Europe and Africa), Duracell

Our panel explores ways to make sustainable sourcing decisions and build supply chain resilience amid crisis, conflict and disruption, with practical examples and on-the-ground insight.

Speakers:
Leong Siew Mui, Head of Social Compliance, Hartalega
Manal Ramadan White, Chief Executive Officer, Zaytoun
Rachel Munns, Head of Sustainable Sourcing, World Wise Foods
Kenzo Taniuchi, Deputy Senior General Manager, Sustainability Management Division, Suntory Holdings Ltd
Chloe Tilley, Breakfast Presenter, Times Radio (Moderator)

What do stakeholders want to know about your company’s sustainability performance? Identify the data to answer their questions and communicate your progress credibly.

Speakers:
Clare Fitton, SMETA Evolution and Impact Manager, Sedex
Katie Shaw, Chief Partnerships and Communications Officer, Open Supply Hub

Hear about Sedex’s Ethical Trade Co-ordinator programme, how they are impacting their clients and how they can help your business.

The “worth” in good ESG performance isn’t just about profit – how else do businesses quantify and demonstrate this worth, and educate stakeholders on the value in long-term sustainability? The session will explore how businesses can use assessment data to demonstrate improvement in social and environmental sustainability.

Speakers:
Sandra Schoonhoven, Lead, Center of Expertise on Climate Risk, ING
Louise Herring, Executive Director, AIM-Progress
Bex Hall, Head of Consulting, Sedex (Moderator)

Working together APSCA and Sedex are driving the future of audit. Hear how they can support your organisation and how Sedex’s Audit Quality Programme is ensuring a high level of delivery. 

How far down your supply chain do you need visibility to be impactful and truly meet ESG goals? Our panellists discuss the inevitable compromises, intelligent solutions, and power of collaboration to scale your efforts.

Speakers:
Paul Bradley, Senior Director of Product Marketing, TraceGains
Robin Sundaram, Sustainable Sourcing Manager, Nestle UK & Ireland
Pavi Ram, Impact Navigator, Tony’s Chocoloney
Mark Hooper, Commercial Director, Sedex (Moderator)

Nine British retailers, working with sustainable trade organisation IDH have just committed to enabling workers in their banana supply chains to receive living wages by 2027. How did these fiercely competitive supermarkets agree to collaborate, and why now? IDH, Marks & Spencer and Co-op highlight how the initiative developed, and the learnings that other sectors, buyers, and supply chain actors can take to help address other challenges that are simply too big to tackle alone.

Speakers:
Amanda Penn, Senior Partnerships Manager, IDH the Sustainable Trade Initiative
Heather Cadden, Responsible Sourcing Manager, M&S
Johanna Wilson, Sustainability Programme Manager, Tesco

How does Olio help businesses to measure, evidence and report on the great work they do with them – with credible, accurate data? 

Speaker:
Liam Jones, Head pf Business Development, Olio

Complying with legislation is one of the biggest challenges businesses face in managing sustainable supply chains. Sedex’s Consulting Team share how to overcome some of these challenges and convert them into opportunities. 

Speakers:
Bex Hall, Head of Consulting, Sedex
Miranda Murphy, Principal Consultant, Sedex
Francisca Sassetti, Senior Consultant, Sedex

Our speakers discuss the need for bridging competitive boundaries and working together – collaboration isn’t anti-competitive, it’s a business advantage when the outcome is sustainability. This collaborative approach across competitors, regions, supply tiers and industries is also an essential component of positive change.

Speakers:
Luis Bueno, Group Director of Employment Equity and Social Impact, Compass Group
Dr Kristian Moeller, Managing Director, GLOBALG.A.P.

3 innovative companies showcase their smart solutions to solve sustainability challenges – from clever climate tech to intelligent data tools. Featuring solar tech company Ubiquitous Energy, worker advice platform creator Fifty Eight, and human rights toolkit app Everyone’s Business.

Speakers:
Miles Barr, Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Ubiquitious Energy
Hattie Godber, Partner Manager, Carnstone Everyone’s Business by Carnstone
Quintin Lake, Director, Fifty Eight
Ross Heritage, Chief Technology Officer, Sedex (Moderator)

Join us for a summary of key messages and takeaways from the Sedex Conference 2023. 

Speaker:
Jon Hancock, Chief Executive Officer, Sedex