I've mentioned this before, and will doubtless mention it again... until I move from being a struggling and in need of help and connections business, to being nice and comfy and no longer in need of much except a cushy lifestyle surrounded by my fellow green elite.
For I have just had yet another 'invitation' - with major price tag attached - to attend yet another summit discussing things green and how to profit from them, this time from Alan Rusbridger, Editor of the Guardian: The Guardian Climate Change Summit 2007
It is 'a must-attend event for all directors and managers wanting to be at the forefront of solving the carbon challenge'. Well, unless you are not quite up for the £1k price tag for the day, once fee, travel and accommodation are totalled up.
I would like to go, as it could be of use to me and, who knows, I could have something to offer. Just look who is going to be there:
Peter Ainsworth MP, shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs
Keith Allott, head of climate change, WWF
Kathryn Barker, head of environment, BAA
Paul Dawson, director, Barclays Capital
Richard Gillies, director of store development, design and procurement, Marks & Spencer
Adrian Hewitt, energy and sustainability manager, Merton Borough Council
Senior executive, HSBC
Chris Huhne MP, shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary
Andrew Jones, senior manager, energy and environment, Boots
Tony Juniper, executive director, Friends of the Earth
Sir David King, chief scientific advisor to HM Government and head of the Office of Science and Innovation
Simon Lewis, group corporate affairs director, Vodafone
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London
Caroline Lucas, Green Member of the European Parliament
Paul Monaghan, head of ethics and sustainability, Co-operative Group
David North, community and government affairs director, Tesco
Ian Pearson MP, minister of state for climate change and environment
Jonathon Porritt, founder director, Forum for the Future
James Smith, chairman, Shell UK ltd
Ben Stimson, director corporate responsibility, BskyB
Karl Whiteman, Managing Director, Berkeley Homes (Central London)
Confirmed facilitators (for sector specific breakout sessions):
Simon Mills head of sustainable development unit, City of London
Bill Clark, sustainability policy manager, Southampton City Council
Nick Coad, head of group environmental strategy, National Express Group
Jo Confino, executive editor, the Guardian
James Stacey, head of sustainable business, Standard Chartered
But then again, what chance would I have of actually meeting them? They will be in the VIP enclosure or up there speaking. I would just be a face in the crowd and maybe get to chat to a few guys around me who may ask about my Vac:Sac, which is my mobile billboard.
Frankly, unless you are speaking, it hardly seems worth the money or effort.
However, I may have a rummage round the sponsors list to see who I can try and blag an invite from.
You never know, they could feel having someone from less rarefied places may bring them closer to earth, where the rest of us live.
3 comments:
Peter - Let me know if you want a ticket. As I'm speaking (briefly) at the event, I'm sure I can get you one. And you won't even need to blag...
Me and my big mouth... what would I do without it???
The lovely lady helping me with PR on the RE:tie win is on the verge of despair at some of the off-the-cuff comments I have made on a few issues.
So before even replying to this I had to have a quick scope to see just what the heck I may have put my foot in this time. Phew.. a little tactless perhaps (I accept that such gatherings do have network value and are expensive to organsise, but, oh, the fees are prohibitive to those paying from their own, moth-housing wallets, which in my view often can result in less than representative attendees from all who can can offer much and gain equally - to pass on - from such events, which is key if such as policy is being shaped), but nothing too awful.
David, I would be very grateful to try and take you up on your offer. I'm only sorry I wasn't reading my emails late last night Early to bed 'n all...
Trouble is, as it starts today in 2 hours and I'm writing this looking at the Welsh borders, there may be a few 'logistical' issues to address. Today is clear, but tomorrow I have wall-to-wall meetings that would need rearranging.
Still, never say never.
At the very least, as a speaker I would still very much value being able to talk WITH you whatever happens.
As you were up at 11pm I don't know if you'll be around to read this at 7am, but please pop an email to info@junkk.com (I'd put in my personal one but spam crawlers are a pain) with your contact and let's set up a chat at least.
Thanks for writing!
And as this would never have happened had I not been such a shameless whinger (what is an honest blog, if not an outlet for certain subjective views and personal frustrations?) in the first place, if it ever happens again please think kindly of this poor representative of the 'trying to do as well as talking' brigade:)
Oo-eck. I knew that the RE:tie adventure was adding a few too many extra spinning plates, and I was soon going to surrounded in crockery.
Now, do I cheat and as he who owns the (well, this) medium, delete the fact that I was thinking of a totally different conference?
Nah, I'll let my scatterbrained nature be laid bare.
The one today is this: Responsible Business Summit 2007 on http://www.ethicalcorp.com/europe2007/programme.shtml
With any equally glittering array of folk speaking and attending.
Though I do worry about this intro: 'Over four hundred corporate responsibility practitioners will gather in London tomorrow to discuss how they see responsible business evolving and changing over the next 15 years'.
Words like 'discuss' and 'see' seem depressingly familiar.
The one actually being reffered to here at least does seem a bit more proactive in intent, and I would value being a part of it.
And at least it got me to finding out Jonathan Porritt works just one city over. And if this pans out I can save up a blag from him 'til another time.
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