Film of the Bristol Green Week Schumacher Lecture 2012: No more business as usual.
Speakers: Andrew Simms (Fellow of the new economics foundation), Deborah Meaden (BBC TV’s Dragon’s Den) & Juliet Davenport (CEO of Good Energy). Three top thinkers address the crucial role that business has to play. All are leading innovators: Andrew in the many programmes he has led at nef, Deborah in her passionate role as a TV Dragon, and Juliet in setting up Britain’s foremost renewable energy company.
More info on speakers
Andrew Simms
Andrew Simms is the founder of the New Economics Foundation’s Climate Change Programme, and NEF’s Policy Director until 2010.
His latest book is ‘Eminent Corporations – the rise and fall of the great British corporation’. He was co-author of the ground-breaking Green New Deal report and co-founded the Green New Deal group. Andrew writes regularly for the national press and is on the boards of the climate campaign 10:10 and The Energy and Resources Institute Europe.
For many years he has worked for international development organisations writing extensively on issues of climate change and poverty reduction.
Deborah Meaden
Deborah Meaden started her business career launching her own glass and ceramics import company straight out of Business College. With several successful businesses in the leisure and retail sector under her belt, she became managing director of Weststar Holidays, acquired the major shareholding in a management buyout and later sold the company in a deal worth 33 million whilst retaining a 23% stake. She sold her remaining stake when the business was sold for 83 million in August 2007.
In 2009, accepting a role as an Ambassador for the WWF, the world’s leading environmental organization, Deborah actively supports environmental charities and initiatives. Deborah sits on the Board of the Roundhouse, the North London arts centre, is an Ambassador for Lend with Care, Patron for Tusk Trust, Fellow with the RSA, Trustee for the Design Council and has recently become an Ambassador for WorldSkills London 2011.
Deborah joined the panel of investors for series three of the BBC2 program Dragons’ Den’ and has since invested in a number of businesses, ranging from Market Research to online Antiques valuations. Most recently she stepped in to acquire Fox Brothers, a Historic Textile firm based in the South West which was on the verge of closure.
Juliet Davenport
Juliet Davenport is founder and CEO of Good Energy, the UK’s only 100% renewable electricity supplier.
Since Good Energy was founded over a decade ago it has effected real change in the energy market. It now supplies energy to more than 28,000 homes and businesses across the UK, and supports a community of more than 25,000 independent renewable generators, all harnessing natural power from the wind, water, sun or through sustainable biogeneration. Good Energy wants to change the way energy is made in this country and connect people with where it comes from – so they will value it more and use it less. Its vision is a 100% renewable future for the UK by 2050.
Juliet has won several accolades for her work, including the PEA Business Award CEO of the Year 2012, First Women Award (Retail and Consumer) 2011 and PLUS Markets CEO of the year 2009, 2010 and 2012. Good Energy has won a Sunday Times Best Green Company Award twice, an Observer Ethical Award and was named West of England Business of the Year 2009.
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