Sustainability is often equated with environmental protection, but the social dimension is equally important. People perform business operations, and these affect people’s lives. The inherently social nature of business begs the question of what social processes and outcomes are associated with sustainable business.
Responsible products, projects and practices
At the RSM Sustainability Forum 2016, which will take place at the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship’s (ECE) campus in the Rotterdam Science Tower on 15 April, speakers from the worlds of business, civil society, and academia will shed light on these issues.
After the keynote speech by Unilever’s vice-president sustainable business and communications Truus Huisman, attendees can participate in breakout sessions to explore issues such as fostering employee well-being, procuring socially responsible products, accounting for social aspects, financing social-welfare projects, strategising for socially-driven competitive advantage, marketing social benefits, and innovating for humane working practices.
Combining sustainability and academics
Speakers in these breakout sessions include Michiel Dijkman, head of corporate affairs at Samsung Benelux; Sylvia Nieuwenburg, regional co-ordinator ABN AMRO; Marijn Bergsma, investment manager at Enviu; Maarten de Vuyst, private sector lead at Oxfam Novib; and Laura Jungmann, specialist product sustainability and product integrity.
Another highlight of the RSM Sustainability Forum is the KPMG-RSM Sustainability Master Thesis Award presentation. Each year since 2006, KPMG has acknowledged the best sustainability-focused thesis written by a student from one of RSM’s MSc programmes with a cash award.
The RSM Sustainability Forum 2016 will conclude with an interactive quiz and networking drinks.
