The evidence is there — climate initiatives in business aren’t just ‘nice-to-have’, they’re key.

Consumer expectations around sustainability are increasing, and now more than ever, startups and VCs need to implement climate-conscious strategies and processes to keep up.

The majority of global consumers are changing their consumption habits to reduce their negative impact on the environment. And businesses face growing risks of consumer activism, public backlash, boycotts and petitions, resulting in abandoned projects and market or product retractions.

But for startups with competing priorities — creating a great product, thriving company cultures, fundraising and more — planning for sustainability tends to take a back seat. But what if we told you that there are ways you can fast track your sustainability efforts?

Join us as we dig deeper into the hows, whys and whats of climate action for startups with Eytan Lenko (CEO of Boundless and Chair of JCN), Joel Hanna (Sustainability Lead at Xero) and Emma Jenkin (Investment Director at Kilara Capital).

This session will cover:

practical ways to action climate-forward processes in your biz;
how community and business leaders can exercise climate leadership; and
methods for sustained impact as your business scales.

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Panellists:

Eytan Lenko:

Over the past 25 years, Eytan has been an innovator and leader across three of the most significant technological disruptions, the advent of the web, mobile technology and the current impetus towards decarbonisation. He is currently CEO of the Mike Cannon-Brookes-founded, ‘Boundless’, responsible for investing $500 million in climate solutions. Prior to joining Boundless, Eytan was Chair of the internationally-recognised think-tank Beyond Zero Emissions. Eytan started his career in tech, including as co-founder and CEO of Outware Mobile, growing Outware to become the recognised Australian leader in mobile software development. Eytan is also a direct investor and advisor to a number of ambitious cleantech companies and understands the challenges that businesses face to practically achieve decarbonisation outcomes in a real-world environment. Eytan is also Chair of the Jewish Climate Network.

Joel Hanna:

Joel is a Global Projects Lead in the Sustainability team at Xero, based in Melbourne. As Xero's first employee in Australia, he has a deep passion and connection to the potential of small businesses, particulary when it comes to making our planet a better, and more sustainable place. He is also the founder and managing director of Big Little Brush, a social enterprise based on the Mornington Peninsula focussed on creating a healthy and sustainable future for all Australians.

Emma Jenkin:

Emma has over 20 years’ experience in finance across portfolio management, fixed income and impact investing. She is considered a climate pioneer and has led a number of domestic and global innovations across the clean energy transition, ESG investing, carbon finance and emissions trading. Initially working in investment banking, she also has entrepreneurial experience working directly in and with start-ups and early-stage ventures and has successfully established partnerships to accelerate innovation and product development.

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This event is being organised in line with the COP27 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place between November 6 and 18 to help highlight and accelerate a global transition to a zero emissions world.

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Event overview:

5.30 - 6 pm: Networking

6 pm - 7 pm: Panel Discussion and Q&A

7 pm - 7:30 pm: Networking over drinks and snacks

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Organisers:

Jewish Climate Network (JCN):

JCN was established in 2019 with the aim of catalysing the Australian Jewish community, its friends and networks to accelerate the transition to a zero emissions world. It achieves this by creating opportunities for community members, business leaders and philanthropists to exercise climate leadership in their spheres of influence. JCN has worked with close to 50 community organisations, hundreds of community leaders, and reached 8,000 community members with climate education, workshops, events, tools and knowledge, driving change at the grassroots and leadership levels.

LUNA:

LUNA is a full-service startup studio that has helped launch and grow over 2000 startups and social enterprises, bolstering partnerships across 50+ industry-leading ecosystem supporters and venture capital funds to deliver a premium service and experience for founders, investors, and their supporters across Australia.

With its dedicated ‘Team Impact’ working on NFPs, social enterprises, and impact holistically, LUNA’s proud to work with climate-conscious clients including the likes of Future Super, Seedling, EnergyLab, Verve Super, Climate Subak and Wood for Good who are championing social good and sustainability on the daily.