Women in Sustainability Network: ESG & Social Value Clarity: Cutting through the Noise of Greenwashing
Event description
This event is now sold out.
However we are running a waitlist in case of returns.
Do get in touch with us on contact@womeninsustainability.net
if you'd like you name to be added to that list - or if you'd like to be notified of similar events happening in the future.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“To avoid a climate catastrophe, we need bold pledges but matched by concrete, measurable action”
António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Come and unpack the nuances of increasing number of ESG regulations and the challenges of measuring, reporting and communicating social value initiatives over a delicious afternoon tea with other fabulous women working across the ESG and sustainability sectors, all looking to deepen their understanding of this complex area and strengthen their professional network.
We'll be gathering together in the intimate setting of the dining room at Old Session House, the old magistrates court where literature's Oliver Twist was sent for pick pocketing with The Artful Dodger and where many a wretched convict saw their sentencing for deportation to Australia.
Whilst our afternoon perhaps won't be quite so dramatic, you can expect stimulating conversations over a very tasty afternoon tea with brioche rolls, cake and plenty of scones, jam and cream (all dietary requirements catered for), and plenty of opportunity to mingle and get to know others working across this challenging space.
Why attend this event now - the context:
Businesses face mounting pressure to provide more information on their environmental commitments and credentials in a world where consumers seek purpose-driven brands and investors prioritize ESG considerations.
ESG regulations have surged in recent years - research shows that disclosure frameworks and regulations have increased by 155% over the last decade, reflecting the rapid development of policies surrounding ESG investments.
While ESG reporting is not yet mandatory in all countries, an increasing number of companies disclose this information voluntarily since they’ve recognized the importance of communicating their business strategy and the impact their business has on our planet, including social value.
2024 is set to be a pivotal year for ESG strategies, with standards evolving and unifying.
But with increased scrutiny comes the risk of greenwashing if organisations cannot showcase data and reports that back up their claims.
Greenwashing undermines credible efforts to reduce emissions and address the climate crisis. Through deceptive marketing and false sustainability claims, greenwashing misleads consumers, investors, and the public, hampering trust, ambition, and action.
It is crucial therefore for organizations to define and measure their progress, especially around social value, collecting, publishing and communicating factually accurate information to build trust and drive meaningful action.
Are you ready to navigate the complexities of ESG reporting?
Our guest experts will guide you through best practices in data collection, standardization, and storytelling for audit-ready, error-free reporting.
Our conversations will explore..
- How can organizations get excited and motivated by this journey rather than fearing naming and shaming?
- What defines success in this journey? How can organizations overcome the lack of accurate data, especially around social value?
- How can organizations overcome the complexity of working with various standards?
- What are the steps/structure to craft a compelling strategy and effective ways of communicating it?
- How could SMEs build capacity to navigate this challenge?
Sharing their insights and expertise with the room, we are delighted to have the following speakers join us....
Guest Experts
Catherine Manning, Head of Impact Practice, Impact Reporting
Catherine Manning is a social value impact consultant with a wealth of experience delivering projects, programs, training and events across various sectors. Her passion lies in using these skills to make a positive impact on society. Previously, Catherine led the engagement and technical teams at Social Value UK. Catherine holds an International Development master’s degree and has been recognised as a WISE100 Star of the Future finalist in 2022. She holds a Level 1 Social Value Associate Practitioner certification and as the Impact Practice at Impact Reporting, brings her expertise in social value, impact management, procurement, project management, events, research and problem-solving to help businesses make a difference in the world.
Sian Conway-Wood, Senior Managing Partner 181st Street Communications
Ethical Hour
Sian is a communications specialist, founder of #EthicalHour, the UK's largest sustainability-focused news network, and Senior Managing Partner at communications firm 181st Street. She has over a decade of experience taking ethical and sustainable brands mainstream in FMCG, fashion, services, finance and tech and is a trusted ESG partner to a number of financial institutions, charities and large corporates. Sian was Sustainability Influencer of the Year, a UK government green ambassador, and is author of the book "Buy better consume less create real environmental change".
Event Sponsor:
Impact Reporting - simplifies social value measurement. No more scattered spreadsheets or manual data entry—our framework-independent software streamlines the process, making it easy and time-efficient for organisations to quantify (and amplify!) their impact on society.
What sets us apart is our commitment to making social value reporting not just manageable but relevant, actionable and sustainable. We empower users to shine with compelling social impact data that drive boardroom-level decisions and unlock further investment.
More than just a tool, Impact Reporting is a catalyst for positive change, helping forward-thinking businesses of all sizes align their initiatives to environmental, social and governance goals – no matter the framework.
Learn more: www.impactreporting.co.uk
And kindly hosted by:
Event Organizers & Facilitators:
Rhian Sherrington, Founder & CEO, The Women in Sustainability Network
Yousra Salem, WINS London Hub Lead
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Opportunity: Professional headshot with photographer Jonathan Perugia
As we are being hosted in the historic and beautiful setting of Old Session House, we have invited Jonathan to capture the conversations. Given the uniqueness of this opportunity, Jonathan has kindly offered to take an informal, professional headshot for FIVE participants for only £50.
If you would like to book one of these 5 slots, please click this ticket option at checkout.
More about Jonathan
I am a photographer, visual storyteller, and facilitator helping people who work for environmental and social change to show and grow their impact.
My work is all about creating and capturing human connection. I love the process of connecting with a new person, and creating a portrait that helps them to show up in the world confidently and authentically.
I've worked with organisations ranging from the United Nations, the Guardian, and the NHS to local Hackney charities and solopreneurs.
I've facilitated photography workshops for organisations including UNICEF and Plan International, helping their teams to take better pictures and tell better stories using their phone cameras.
My personal portrait work explores fatherhood and masculinity and the importance of bringing up emotionally intelligent and mentally healthy young men.
A portrait from one of these projects was one of the winners or Portrait of Britain in 2020.
I make these short sessions fun, relaxed and easy, even if you hate being in front of the camera (I do too!)
You can see my portrait work here:
And some testimonials from people I've worked with here:
..................................................................................................................................................
And don't just take our word for how fab this will be!
86% of our recent survey respondents said they would recommend us to female colleagues. They also said....
"It's always been a welcoming, helpful and exciting place to meet new people, and learn new things"
" Inspiration, motivation, new ideas, new connections - feeling supported by an incredible diverse array of fabulous females in this network - it's intangible but profound"
This event is kindly supported by Impact Reporting and Knotel.com