East Midlands Sustainability and CSR Conference 2026

Our Framework for Growth and annual Green Growth Trends Report highlight that “Green” growth is increasingly central to the East Midlands’ competitiveness, resilience and international positioning.

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have”—it is a defining factor in business success.

Across the East Midlands and beyond, companies are facing rising costs, tighter regulations, shifting customer expectations, and increasing pressure from investors. In this environment, sustainability is not just about responsibility but about resilience, profitability, and long-term competitive advantage. There is also a focus on the importance of CSR to organisational strategy and the associated benefits.

In the current economic climate this year’s conference is built around a simple but critical premise that sustainability must pay.

On the day there will be a range of keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitors and opportunities to network with like-minded businesses. There will be lunch provided, which will be followed by the final workshop sessions.


Agenda

- 9:00am — Opening Remarks: Introduction to the conference's theme and objectives.
- 9:30am — Year 11 of the East Midlands Green Growth Trends Report: Presented by Dr Polina Baranova, Associate Professor of Strategy and Sustainability, University of Derby.
- 10:00am — Net Zero Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth: A discussion led by Torben Starkey, Carbon & Procurement Specialist, and Julie Adams, exploring how organizations can balance growth, profitability, and sustainability.
- 10:45am — Lifting the Lid on Power Purchase Agreements (PPA): Led by James Cunningham, Managing Director, Geo Green Power.
- 11:30am — Pay now or pay more later: The real economics of sustainability: Talk by Richard Smith, Director, PS:Planet discussing the implications of delaying sustainability measures.
- 12:15pm — Beyond CSR: Building shared value: Presented by Dr Barbara Tomasella and Dr Elaine Conway.
- 1:00pm — Panel discussions on Sustainable Business and CSR: Expert panel exploring current trends in sustainable business practices.
- 2:00pm — Workshops: Interactive workshops focusing on various aspects of sustainability.


What's included

- Lunch provided
- Networking opportunities
- Workshops and sessions


Speakers

Dr Polina Baranova — Associate Professor of Strategy and Sustainability
Specializes in sustainable practices and their implications for business growth.

Torben Starkey — Carbon & Procurement Specialist
Expert in sustainable procurement strategies for businesses.

Julie Adams — Client Relationship Manager
Advises clients on financial sustainability solutions.

James Cunningham — Managing Director
Focuses on renewable energy solutions and their economic benefits.

Richard Smith — Director
Expert in sustainability economics and its long-term implications.

Dr Barbara Tomasella — University of Derby
Researcher on CSR strategies and their impact on value creation.

Dr Elaine Conway — Loughborough University
Researcher specializing in sustainable business practices.


Who this is for

Anyone interested in sustainability and corporate social responsibility.