The Sustainability Summit

Join the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce for The Sustainability Summit, a crucial event exploring the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in sustainable business practices. Connect with industry leaders, learn from expert speakers, and discover practical strategies to integrate sustainability into your organisation. This summit will provide valuable insights and networking opportunities to help drive positive environmental and social impact while enhancing your business resilience.

If you are interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities for this event you can see our packages here.

Why is the event being hosted at DSM Group?

The summit is being hosted at DSM Group, a leader in sustainable infrastructure, to showcase real-world examples of eco-conscious business practices in action. Home to an innovative Eco Data Centre, DSM Group integrates cutting-edge water-cooled racks, a cooling lake, a 200kW solar farm, and an evolving nature reserve. These features demonstrate how businesses can achieve operational efficiency while prioritising environmental responsibility. By holding the event at DSM, attendees will experience sustainability in practice and gain inspiration for their own organisations.

Keynote Speaker: Greg Ritt, Group Head of Sustainability, Stagecoach Group

Greg is an accomplished sustainability professional with over 15 years of experience in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, stakeholder engagement, project management, and reporting.

Greg started his working life as an apprentice engineering fitter and machinist with BHP Billiton in Tasmania, Australia. A career shift to environmental management and sustainability provided Greg with the opportunity to work with leading national and international organisations, including Unilever, Rothschild & Co, and Stagecoach Group Ltd, across diverse regions such as Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and North America.

Greg is passionate about driving positive change within businesses and supply chains, focusing on fostering transparent, inclusive, and collaborative environments that promote sustainable practices. His aim is to support and inspire future leaders in the sustainability field to create long-lasting contributions to business and society through the achievement of environmental and social objectives.

Keynote Speaker: Lalit Chauhan, Zed Pods

Lalit Chauhan is a highly accomplished and visionary Design Director at ZED PODS, with an impressive career spanning 15 years in the architectural and construction industry. His exceptional skills in leadership, project management, sustainable design, and innovative solutions have solidified his reputation as a prominent figure in the field.

Lalit’s primary strength lies in his ability to lead and inspire teams of architects and technicians. Under his guidance, these teams consistently deliver outstanding results, pushing the boundaries of design and construction. His leadership extends beyond the design studio, as he excels at coordinating between clients, consultants, suppliers, and contractors. His adeptness in fostering effective collaboration ensures that projects run smoothly from inception to completion.

One of Lalit’s notable achievements is his role in delivering multiple award-winning projects across the United Kingdom. His dedication to excellence and commitment to innovation have consistently garnered recognition from industry peers and organizations. These accolades underscore his unwavering pursuit of design and sustainability excellence.

Early in his career, Lalit Chauhan was part of a pioneering team that developed a US-patented part-modular system. This groundbreaking work not only demonstrated his capacity for innovation but also set the stage for his future contributions to the industry. The innovative thinking and problem-solving skills that were honed during this period continue to shape his approach to design and construction.

Lalit possesses a profound understanding of zero-carbon building systems, positioning him as a leading expert in sustainable architecture. His vast experience in this area enables him to integrate cutting-edge green technologies seamlessly into projects, reducing their environmental footprint and setting new standards for eco-friendly construction.

Throughout his career, Lalit Chauhan has consistently demonstrated a passion for pushing the boundaries of design, a commitment to sustainability, and a talent for fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams. As Design Director at ZED PODS, he continues to shape the future of architecture and construction, creating spaces that are not only aesthetically remarkable but also environmentally responsible. His visionary leadership and innovative thinking make him a driving force in the industry, and his legacy of excellence is sure to endure for years to come.

Panel 1: Beyond Greenwashing: Authentic Sustainability Practices for Business

Kindly sponsored by PPS Independent Consultants

Panel Host: Alex Hughes, Green Jobs Foundation

Chair of the Green Jobs Foundation, bringing my experience in entrepreneurship and community-focused initiatives. I’ve worked extensively in creating educational and employment pathways for young people, particularly focused on East of England. I’ve also had the privilege of being involved in multiple startups and scaleups, employing over 150 people in those businesses I have started and more recently built the first Citizen Hub in the UK, the reimagination of what a Job Centre could look like in the future. My skills are in facilitating and convening citizens and businesses to drive socioeconomic change.

The Green Jobs Foundation is dedicated to mitigating climate change-driven employment risks by raising awareness of and access to green jobs. Through collaboration with job seekers, businesses, NGOs, and governments, the foundation aims to deepen knowledge of green job opportunities and support a more equitable and sustainable future. Its mission focuses on providing access to the right jobs, using the right skills, in the right places, at the right time, ensuring that no one is left behind in the green transition.

Panel Speaker: Katherine Fleet, PPS Independent Consultants

Katherine is a Director at PPS Independent Consultants and has more than 16 years of experience working across a range of sustainability roles. At PPS, she leads on sustainability and circularity focused projects supporting clients to embed sustainable practices into their operations and strategies. Her work often involves developing partnerships across the value chain to help address complex, industry-wide challenges. Katherine’s previous experience spans corporate sustainability strategy, reporting, and communications, with a strong focus on aligning environmental goals with broader business objectives.

Panel Speaker: Helen Porter, DSM Group

Helen is an experienced professional in management, marketing, business development, web development, and business strategy, having successfully run multiple businesses. With expertise in information security and sustainability, she brings a strategic and hands-on approach to driving growth and innovation. Soon to be IEMA Foundation qualified, Helen is committed to integrating environmental best practices into business operations while ensuring robust security and resilience.

Panel Speaker: Andrew Masters, Practical Energy Solutions

With his background in owning and operating businesses, working with business support organisations and experience in the field of commercial energy supply, Andrew is now engaged as a senior consultant with Practical Energy Solutions.

The company provides assessment of energy consumption for businesses and guidance in exploring
renewable energy alternatives to meet demand. Being well versed in the range of renewable solutions
available means that the most suitable technologies can be recommended, as there is no ‘one-size fits
all’. Energy efficiency is a key part of any solution ensuring that any waste is addressed to reduce such
costly losses to a minimum.

The aim is to provide the business with a high level of autonomy in respect of their energy and how it is produced, along with a significant reduction in harmful emissions, that benefits both the environment and their own ESG/Net Zero goals.

Sustainability is of key importance to Andrew along with his colleagues, and Practical Energy Solutions was in part created to further awareness of the need for businesses to take appropriate steps to become more energy efficient and decarbonise their energy supplies as far as possible.

Practical Energy Solutions in partnership with its Sunderland based sister company Northern Renewable Energy Services, has provided businesses throughout the UK with sustainable energy solutions since 2014.

Panel Speaker: David Knight PIEMA, Investors in the Environment

David Knight is the Technical Lead and a Principal Sustainability Consultant for Investors in the Environment (iiE) where he has worked with a wide range of organisations across various sectors to find successful ways to make vital operational changes to reduce their impact on the environment.

David’s main areas of expertise are in carbon and energy management and environmental management systems, but as an IEMA Practitioner, he has a broad depth of knowledge and understanding of all areas of environmental performance and is passionate about making sustainability accessible to all organisations.

As well as his main role with iiE, David is the lead practitioner for the Low Carbon Lincolnshire programme and is the senior trainer for iiE’s IEMA accredited training centre.

He has previously provided support to a range of organisations as part of funded programmes including the Business Energy Efficiency Programme; Eastern New Energy and the Green Business Impact Programme.

Panel 2: Supply Chain Sustainability: From Traceability to Ethical Sourcing

Kindly sponsored by Oakdene Hollins

Panel Host: Dr Denise Taylor, PIEMA, Wylde Connections

Denise is a sustainability consultant with over 30 years of international experience in manufacturing and construction. As co-founder and Managing Director of Wylde Connections, she helps businesses develop sustainability strategies, achieve regulatory compliance, and showcase ESG credentials.

Wylde Connections provides consultancy, workshops, and digital learning to support organisations at all stages of their sustainability journey. Denise specialises in ESG reporting, leadership development, and embedding sustainability into operations with practical, tailored solutions.

Committed to biodiversity and conservation, she is a board member of the International Wildlife Coexistence Network (IWCN) and a trustee for several charities. Her work bridges business and environmental stewardship, driving positive change for both people and the planet.

Panel Speaker: Martin Traynor OBE, FIH, MIoD, Business 2 Business Ltd

Martin has recently completed five years as the Small Business Crown Representative, at the Cabinet Office, where he was tasked to work with government departments and arm’s length bodies to make public procurement policies, practices, and procedures simpler for SMEs to navigate. This culminated in the Procurement Act 2023.

Following a successful career in hotel management, in 2001 Martin decided to change career and take up the role of Group Chief Executive of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce (including CEO of Business Link, Leicestershire).

After leaving the Chamber in 2014 to set up his own consultancy business, Martin took on a number of key non-executive roles, including Chair of the King Richard lll Visitor Centre Trust, Chair of The Forest Experience Ltd, and Deputy Chair of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

Martin has a long history of working with local, region, and central government on economic development, regulatory reform, and procurement. In 2018, Martin completed six years on the HM Govt’s Regulatory Policy Committee. He has also served as a Champion for the Govt’s Red Tape Challenge and an Advocate for Business Focus on Enforcement. Martin successfully piloted the Better Business for All programme and worded with colleagues from Regulatory Delivery to role out the programme across the UK.

In the 2007, Martin was awarded an OBE in HM The Queen’s New Year’s Honours for “services to business and the community of the East Midlands”.

Panel Speaker: Mark Connolly, British Sugar

Mark is the Senior Category Manager, Directs and ESG and has over 25 years’ experience in procurement and supply chain, spanning various industries including energy, chemicals, food ingredients, engineering, and medical devices. He has a strong focus and passion for sustainability and ESG, along with broad experience in project management and team leadership. Within his current role at British Sugar, Mark is leading on responsible sourcing and ensuring its principles are embedded into the procurement function across all sites.

Panel Speaker: Taiwo Muraina-Akinboade, Huntingdonshire District Council

Taiwo is the Contract Management Officer at Huntingdonshire District Council, where they manage procurement activities from tender to post-award phases. Focused on strategy, compliance, and seamless contract execution while ensuring that social value and sustainability are key considerations in the Council’s procurement process.

Panel Speaker: Sonia Sanchez, Oakdene Hollins

Sonia is passionate about the power of sustainability to elevate brands and brands’ potential for positive impact. She has a Master’s Degree in Sustainability and since 2011, has supported organisations of all kind and sizes in designing and implementing sustainability initiatives that drive competitive advantage while delivering positive effects to society and the environment.

Sonia specialises in sustainability and Net-Zero strategy and the circular economy. She has directed projects on the fields of eco-design, bio-based and recycled plastics, sustainable packaging, Extended Producer Responsibility, carbon accounting and SBTs. She is the author of several sustainability guides and reports, a co-organiser of the bio!TOY Conference and a seasoned speaker and workshop facilitator. She is also a B Corp Leader with experience in certification.

Sonia is convinced that collaboration is key to expediting progress in fighting climate change and pollution and in protecting biodiversity. She is deeply interested in multistakeholder projects to drive sustainability in value chains.

Exhibitors

During the networking breakfast, you’ll have the chance to visit some exhibitors showcasing the work they do:

HBSL