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The RSB Annual Conference is around the corner, taking place on 11th December at CERN’s Science Gateway in Geneva, Switzerland.
This year, under the theme of Sustainable Markets: Accelerating Finance for Good, we’re looking to galvanise action by demonstrating how finance can be a powerful force for good, driving transformative change in the bioeconomy. Through a meticulously curated programme – in partnership with Airbus, Amazon, Boeing and IFF – this conference will bring together visionary leaders, financial innovators, and sustainability pioneers to forge the path towards a resilient, net-positive world. With finance at the heart of the discussions, the event is designed to break down barriers, inspire confidence, and catalyse the investments needed to scale up the most ambitious and impactful bioeconomy projects.
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We are especially proud that the RSB Annual Conference 2024 has been designed to foster confidence in sustainable bioeconomy solutions, to bridge the gap between project developers and finance professionals, and to ensure the long-term viability of these critical initiatives. Read a summary of the planned sessions below for some insight into proceedings.
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Session 1 – Sustainability Executive Roundtable
9:35am – 10:45am
We kick off things by inviting sustainability leaders from various sectors – including CSOs and NGOs within the RSB membership and beyond – to share their insights and perspectives on the most pressing sustainability challenges. This roundtable will inspire a powerful call-to-action for the bioeconomy.
- Julie Kitcher – Chief Sustainability Officer, Airbus
- Brian Moran – Chief Sustainability Officer, Boeing
- Kevin Welsh – Chief Sustainability Officer, Airlines for America
- Andreas Marschner – Vice President of Worldwide Operations Sustainability, Amazon
- Renee Henze – Chief Sustainability Officer, International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
- Reza Azmi – Executive Director, Wild Asia
- Rachel Wanyoike – Managing Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Solidaridad
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Session 2 – Sustainable Finance Unlocked: Navigating the Bioeconomy with Credible Standards
11:15am – 12:30pm
In the second session, a panel discussion with finance and sustainability professionals space will explore how collaboration between the finance sector and sustainability frameworks can drive coherent assessments and expand investment portfolios. This session will also include a showcase of how RSB certification is used to demonstrate reduced risk and positive sustainability impacts.
- Theye Veen – Chief Operations Officer, SkyNRG
- Ulrike Ziegler – President, Impact Aviation
- Laura Hutchinson – Manager, Climate-Aligned Industries, RMI
- Tim Thomson – Chief Financial Officer, Charm Industrial
- Freya Burton – Chief Sustainability Officer, LanzaTech
- Dan Lieberman – Global Sustainability Strategy & Engagement Lead, Nuseed
- Neville Hargreaves – Vice President of Waste to Fuels, Velocys
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Session 3 – Policy Pathways to a Sustainable Bioeconomy
1:30pm – 2:45pm
The third session will delve into the importance of robust policy development and green taxonomies in creating an enabling environment for sustainable investment. A case study on the landscape-level approach to bioeconomy development will highlight the significance of early engagement with policymakers, financiers, and innovators.
- Gerry Ostheimer – Manager, Clean Energy Ministerial’s Biofutures Campaign
- Aung Moe Soe – Senior Officer (Air Transport), ASEAN Secretariat
- Giorgio Parolini – Aviation Decarbonisation Lead, World Economic Forum
- Nancy Young – Chief Sustainability Officer, Gevo, Inc.
- Valentina Vecchio – Global Sustainability Policy & Business Integration, Boeing
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Session 4 – Unlocking Brand Power for Sustainable Bioeconomy Growth
3:15pm – 4:45pm
This session will discuss how brands can leverage their purchasing power and investments to signal demand and grow the sustainable bioeconomy. A showcase will examine how demand signals are recognised and their impact on sustainable markets, with insights from the aviation sector applicable to other industries.
- Jess Zeuner – Senior Program Officer, Plastic & Material Science, WWF
- Adam Klauber – Vice President of Sustainability and Digital Supply Chain, World Energy, LLC
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Session 5 – Empowering People for a Sustainable Bioeconomy
4:45pm – 5:15pm
In the final session, we will launch the RSB Academy – an exciting new capacity-building programme by RSB that particularly focuses on the Global South. This session will emphasise the importance of developing a capable and equipped workforce to power the bioeconomy’s transformative potential.
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Exclusive Access to Science Gateway
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The day will conclude with a networking reception, followed by a private viewing of CERN’s brand-new Science Gateway Exhibition. This rare opportunity will allow attendees to explore the forefront of particle physics and draw inspiration from one of the world’s leading scientific institutions.
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The RSB Annual Conference 2024 offers a unique forum for all stakeholders in the bioeconomy to tackle critical issues and connect with key players driving the just and sustainable transition to a net-positive world.
Whether you are an investor, project developer, policymaker, or sustainability professional, this event is designed to provide you with the knowledge, connections, and inspiration needed to build a sustainable bioeconomy and accelerate finance for good.
We look forward to seeing you at the event!
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* More speakers to be announced soon.
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