Sustainability Reporting in Construction Related Industries Breakfast

Date: 2nd March 2011 – 8.30 to 11.30

Format: Panel Discussion with Networking and Breakfast

Audience: Heads of Sustainability, Heads of Communication from Construction related industries

Location: NOVOTEL LONDON, ExCeL

Come discuss with your peers what best practice looks like for a construction company in terms of reporting and third party ratings.

Why would a company choose to disclose information on its approach to sustainability, and open itself up to further scrutiny, even though such disclosures are not (yet) required by regulators? Yet non-financial reporting is becoming an integral part of most company’s relationship with its employees, suppliers, customers, investors and communities. The construction sector is no different. Non-financial reporting is increasingly used by construction companies to disclose the economic, environmental, social and governance dimensions of their activities and services, and to differentiate themselves from the competition.This half-day conference will focus on sustainability reporting in the construction sector, providing an opportunity to learn about and discuss some of the main challenges facing construction companies:

•What particular challenges do construction companies face in terms of reporting their progress on sustainability?
•What is the CDP, for example, really looking at when grading a company?
•What value does sustainability reporting add, does it improve actual sustainability performance and is it good for business?
•What is industry best practice for reporting sustainability, and do external standards or assurance help?
We want to discuss different ways of reporting and, in particular, highlight the challenges the construction industry faces because of:

•Being project based
•The positive impact it can have on clients' and end-users' sustainability performance
•Public sector disclosure requirements

Speakers include: 

Dr Miles Watkins, Director of Sustainable Construction, Aggregate Industries

Miles graduated from University of Hertfordshire (UK) in 1996 with a degree in Environmental Studies and has since completed a PhD in stakeholder management at the University of Bath (UK). At Aggregate Industries, Miles has held leading positions in sustainability management and is currently Director of Sustainable Construction. He takes a proactive role in the industry and has led sector wide developments through trade bodies such as the Mineral Products Association and the British Pre-Cast Concrete Federation. Taking a keen interest in personal development, Miles chairs the Education Committee of the Institute of Quarrying and is an Advisory Board Member and active participant in the various programmes of the UK Green Building Council. Miles has been instrumental in the establishment of the sustainable development agenda within Aggregate Industries which forms a vital part of the company's overall strategy.

Alan Smith, Director of Corporate Communication, Kier Group plc

Kier's vision is “to be the most highly respected company in the industry.” To achieve this vision they aim to build, maintain, protect and enhance their reputation among their employees, customers, supply chain partners and investors, as well as among the community at large. A fundamental contribution to making this vision become reality is their approach to corporate responsibility, led by the Board and embedded in all the processes and services they undertake as a business.

Alan Smith is overseeing the communication on CR and will be speaking about the point of view of Kier on reporting and third party ratings.

Shaun McCarthy
Leading advocate of sustainable business. His current portfolio includes:

•Chair, Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, a ground breaking assurance body directly advising the Mayor of London and Olympics Minsiter,
•Director, Action Sustainability, a social enterprise with a mission to inspire sustainable procurement,
•Environmental advisor, Transport for London, expert advisor to the non-executive Health, Safety and Environment board,
•Senior advisor, Institute for Sustainability, a research based charity for sustainable solutions,
•Commissioner, London sustainable development commission, a strategic advisory body to the Mayor of LondonShaun has over 20 years senior management experience with large companies, mainly Shell and BAA.
During his time with BAA, Shaun developed pioneering strategies for carbon management, sustainable construction and procurement, he also developed programmes in the mid-1990s to increase business participation by small, local and ethnic minority businesses.

Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

The CDP is an independent non-profit organization providing primary corporate climate change information. CDP serves as a system through which organizations and businesses disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies. CDP subsequently uses this data in order to help shape financial and policy decisions with the goal of motivating investors, corporations, and governments to prevent dangerous climate change. This mission is accelerated by CDP`s initiatives to unify corporate CEO`s, investors, and political leaders to take action against climate change. As the only global climate change reporting system, CDP is an essential resource in making effective policy decisions.

Paul sits on the board of EIRIS, the advisory panel of Guardian Sustainable Business and on the steering committee of Forest Footprint Disclosure. Paul has previously worked with Chesham Amalgamations & Investments Ltd and the International Society for Ecology & Culture and is the former Director of the Social Venture Network. He has a BSc in Business and Finance from City University, London and an MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice at the University of Bath (with distinction).

Andrew Kluth, Sustainability Director, Halcrow

Andrew is the Halcrow Group Sustainability Director. He has been in sustainability and corporate responsibility (CR) roles for over 25 years. He worked for the Hong Kong Government up to 1997, developing policy for municipal and chemical waste management, land development, nuclear safety, aviation security and prisoner rehabilitation. He was Jarvis’ first Head of CR, led Royal Mail Group’s CR R&D team and, as Head of CR for Likemind, advised FTSE 100 clients and other organisations on sustainability and CR strategy and communications.
He has degrees in psychology and environmental sciences. His hobbies include H2Optiflow, which is seeking to get a patented irrigation device developed and to market, and running the occasional marathon.

Richard Westaway, Research, IMS Consulting

IMS specialises in developing and delivering sustainability strategies for organisations. We will put you on the right path, help you achieve your chosen objectives and ensure that the activities you undertake to improve your level of sustainability are communicated clearly; internally and externally, to all your chosen stakeholder groups.

For more information contact Laura Da Silva email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   telephone: 0117 315 5239 or visit  www.imsplc.com/events