Program and Agenda

Over the course of two days, Ceres conference attendees will engage in a dynamic and interactive program that will examine some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges, create a forum for sharing best practices and present groundbreaking solutions that will drive us toward a more sustainable economy.

Below is a detailed agenda for both days at the Ceres Conference. We will be updating the program and agenda regularly, so check back often for new workshops, plenaries and speakers. You can download a pdf of this agenda here.

12-6 PM

Invitation-only Members Events

6:00 PM

Joan Bavaria Award & Welcome Reception

Speakers:

• Norm Dean, Co-Chair, Ceres Board and Executive Director, TopTen USA
• Cheryl Smith, Managing Partner, Trillium Asset Management
• Hugh Wheelan, Managing Editor and Co-Founder, Responsible Investor
  
  

7:30 AM

Registration Opens

8:00 AM

Breakfast Session: Ceres 101

Whether you're a first-timer at the conference or a long-time friend of Ceres, you probably have a question or two about who we are and what we do. So join us for breakfast, come meet our staff and learn more about how Ceres is mobilizing investor and business leadership to build a thriving, sustainable global economy. You'll have an opportunity to meet some of our experts, ask questions and more importantly, learn how you and your organization can get more involved in creating a more sustainable world.

9:30 AM

Conference Opening: Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres

Special Announcement: Michael Jantzi, CEO Sustainalytics

Plenary Panel: Sustainability: The Business Imperative

In the current context of economic volatility, population growth and increasing demands on natural resources, companies and investors recognize that addressing sustainability is the imperative for long-term success.  21st Century companies will drive sustainability from the board room to the copy room and through their supply chains, meeting expectations laid out in the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability. This plenary discussion brings together leading business, investor and academic thought leaders who have successfully integrated sustainability into their analysis and business practices to get results. It is time to accelerate the actions of our individual organizations and to collaborate with other businesses, investors and stakeholders. The business case for sustainability is clear.

Speakers:

• Robert Eccles, Professor, Harvard Business School (moderator)
• Margaret Foran, Chief Governance Officer, Vice President, Corporate Secretary, Prudential
• Sarbjit Nahal, Head of ESG, SRI & Sustainability Research, BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research
• Anne Simpson, Senior Portfolio Manager, Investments, Head of Corporate Governance, California Public Employees’ Retirement System

10:30 AM

Networking Break

11:00 AM

Morning Workshops

Smart Utilities: Investing Capital Amid Historic Uncertainty and Risk

Despite enormous regulatory, technology and market uncertainties, the U.S. power sector is set to invest trillions of dollars in power plants, "smart grid" technologies and other resources to build a smarter, cleaner, more resilient energy system for the 21st century. Poor investment decisions and mismanagement in prior major build cycles cost investors and consumers billions. What are today's power companies doing to make sure they get it right, and what could be the consequences of getting it wrong?

Join this provocative discussion to hear how some companies are modernizing and diversifying their fleets and identifying prudent investments to deliver benefits to customers and shareholders.

Speakers:

• Ron Binz, Principal, Public Policy Consulting (moderator)
• Steve Corneli, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Policy and Strategy, NRG Energy
• Anne Hoskins, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Sustainability, PSEG
• Ellen Lapson, CFA, Lapson Advisory

• James Newcomb, Program Director, Rocky Mountain Institute

Great Expectations: Building a Sustainable Supply Chain

Establishing a sustainable supply chain--one where workers are treated with dignity, respect and fairness in healthy, safe job environments--is critical for business success. Leading companies in apparel, technology and other sectors are now establishing integrated management strategies that recognize not only the inherent sustainability risks embedded within their supply chains, but also the business benefits of improving supplier performance in this regard.

Following the panel dialogue, participants will have an opportunity to engage in interactive discussions with panel speakers and featured experts including Tim Mohin of AMD, Virginia Terry of BSR, Jerry Lynch of General Mills, Suzy Glucksman of Oxfam America, Darren Beck of Sprint and Beth Holzman of Timberland. This shared learning session will explore the challenges and opportunities for implementing sustainable supply chain strategies designed to improver worker lives, protect natural resources and strengthen the bottom line.

Speakers:

• Catherine Feingold, Director, International Department, AFL-CIO
• Michael Kobori, Vice President, Social and Environmental Sustainability, Levi Strauss & Co.
• Andrea Moffat, Vice President, Corporate Program, Ceres (moderator)
• David Schilling, Director of Human Rights and Resources Programs, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
• Dan Viederman, CEO, Verite

Building Sustainable Cities

Cities are at the forefront of change in energy use, water availability and extreme weather resilience. As companies and investors increasingly focus on energy and other sustainability issues in siting and investment decisions, cities have big opportunities to distinguish themselves as leaders that are ripe for future growth. This workshop will explore new models that Philadelphia, Boston, New York and other cities are using to catalyze investment in resilient, energy efficient buildings and sustainable infrastructure.

Speakers:

• Jim Hunt, Chief of Environment and Energy, City of Boston
• Sharlene Leurig, Senior Manager, Insurance Program, Ceres (moderator)
• Jeffrey Odefey, Director, Stormwater Program, American Rivers
• Dan Probst, Chairman, Energy and Sustainability Services, Jones Lang LaSalle

• Mark Way, Head of Sustainability Americas, Swiss Re North America, USA

Beyond Equities: Emerging Strategies in Sustainable Investing

A growing number of investors are looking to integrate ESG considerations into alternative or specialty investments, including green bonds, private equity and clean infrastructure, in their investment portfolios. Investors believe incorporating ESG in these asset classes will help diversify their portfolios, adjust their risk profiles and improve long-term returns. But barriers and questions still exist. How are leading private equity funds incorporating ESG factors into due diligence? Are corporate bonds focused on alternative energy really a "better bet"? How can investors partner in sustainable water infrastructure financing to get competitive long-term returns, create jobs, and mitigate water shortage risks? Panelists will discuss challenges and successes on these topics.

Speakers:

• Vonda Brunsting, Deputy Director, Capital Stewardship Program at SEIU
• Sean Kidney, Chair and Co-founder, Climate Bonds Initiative
• Erica Scharn, Investor Programs, Manager, Ceres (moderator)
• Elizabeth Seeger, Principal, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
• John  Wilson, Director of Corporate Governance, TIAA-CREF

12:15 PM

Networking Break

12:30 PM

Luncheon

Discussion Tables hosted by Ceres Coalition Members

Plenary Panel

Last Call at the Oasis: Solutions to the Water Crisis

From dwindling aquifers to increasingly polluted water supplies to unpredictable droughts and floods, the pressures on our freshwater resources are having growing economic and human impacts in the US and around the world. Solutions to these issues exist, from recycled water technologies to policy innovation. But what will it take to catalyze action on the part of citizens, companies and investors to prepare for one of the most significant challenges ahead?

This plenary will bring together experts featured in the forthcoming documentary film, Last Call at the Oasis, and feature clips of key scenes from the movie.

Speakers:

• Jack Ehnes, Chief Executive Officer, California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) (moderator)
• Alex Prud’homme, Journalist & Author, The Ripple Effect the Fate of Freshwater in the Twenty-First Century
• Jay Famiglietti, Professor, University of California, Irvine
• Michael E. Sullivan, Worldwide Program Director, IBM Smarter Water Management Solutions

2:15 PM

Networking Break

2:45 PM

Afternoon Workshops

Trends in Transparency: The Changing Definition of Materiality

There is a flurry of innovation going on in the world of sustainability disclosure and the landscape for corporate reporting is shifting. With the development of new standards for disclosure–from integrated reporting to the Global Reporting Initiative’s G4 guidelines–the central question is how do companies decide what is material to disclose?

Join this session as a group of experts debate the ramifications of a more robust definition of materiality–one that recognizes the growing expectation for disclosing environmental and social risks and opportunities to shareholders. The workshop will also explore how sustainability disclosure can become more meaningful to investors, while continuing to recognize the importance of reporting to other key stakeholders.

Speakers:

• Nelmara Arbex, Deputy Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative
• Brendan Leblanc, Executive Director, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young (moderator)
• Steve Lydenberg, Founding Director, Initiative for Responsible Investment
• Rob Malli, Chief Financial Officer, Vancity
• Thomas Niemann, Reporting Manager, Ford Motor Company

State of Play: Leveraging State Level Success into Federal Energy Policy

Many U.S. businesses are looking to boost energy efficiency and renewable energy use, but are being thwarted by restrictive policies. Come hear how two Fortune 500 companies, a consumer brand and an electric utility, took action in advocating for state policies that spurred clean energy development, opened doors to new business opportunities and helped them meet ambitious sustainability goals. Join us as we discuss how these successes illustrate the important role the private sector can play in moving state and national clean energy policies.

Speakers:

• Nick  d'Arbeloff, President, Regional Development and National Programs, Advanced Energy Economy (moderator)
• Annie Lescroat, Senior Manager, Sustainability Communications, eBay Inc
• Sue Reid, Vice President and Director, Conservation Law Foundation
• Terence Sobolewski, Vice President, Sales and Program Operations, National Grid
• Sarah Wright,Executive Director, Utah Clean Energy

Clean Energy for Buildings: The Role of Distributed Generation and Energy Efficiency Finance

What do distributed generation (DG) and energy efficiency (EE) have in common? Buildings. Buildings are the key hub for distributed generation and energy efficiency, both physically and financially. 2011 saw a flurry of activity and pilots in this space, much of it supported with federal stimulus funds. What worked, what could work better, and where do banks think they will have the most traction scaling these ideas going forward? This panel will explore innovative financing structures, including Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), Warehousing Pools and On-Bill Repayment.

Speakers:

• Dan Bakal, Director, Electric Power Program, Ceres (moderator)
• Craig Clark, Program Administrator, Connecticut Light and Power/Yankee Gas
• Joanna Karger, CFO, Renewable Funding
• Bruce Schlein, Director, Corporate Sustainability, Citi
• Keith Welks, Deputy State Treasurer for Fiscal Operations/Senior Advisor for Policy, Pennsylvania Treasury Department

The Road to 2020: Following the Progress of the 21st Century Sustainable Corporation

In 2010, Ceres released The 21st Century Corporation: Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability, which outlines 20 key expectations for sustainable corporations to achieve by 2020. How are companies doing two years later? Join us for an interactive session where Ceres and data provider Sustainalytics present a new report evaluating the progress of nearly 600 major U.S. companies on key expectations such as reducing carbon emissions, energy and water use, effectively managing sustainability governance, stakeholder engagement, and disclosure, and improving sustainability in the supply chain. Speakers will discuss the report's key findings and interactive web platform, highlight leading company examples and reflect on progress still to come on the road to 2020.

Speakers:

• Julie Gorte, Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing, Pax World Management Corp.
• Suzanne Fallender, Director of CSR Strategy and Communications, Intel
• Heather Lang, Director, Research Products, North America, Sustainalytics
• Andrea Moffat, Vice President, Corporate Program, Ceres (moderator)

4:00 PM

Networking Break

6:00 PM

Networking Reception

7:30 AM

Registration opens

8:00 AM

Breakfast Session: Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy (BICEP)

Join BICEP members for a timely conversation on the state of climate and energy policy in Washington, DC. What steps are being taken, and still need to be taken, to advance policies that will drive a more sustainable economy? Learn about the progress being made and the need for more business and investor voices in the policy conversation.

9:30 AM

Morning Opening: Lance Pierce, Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, Ceres

Plenary Conversation: Building the Clean-Energy Economy

• Alisa Gravitz, Treasurer, Executive Director, Green America
• Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Executive Director, Green for All

10:30 AM

Networking Break

11:00 AM

Morning Workshops

Straight to the Top: Engaging Corporate Board Members on Sustainability

Influencing corporate directors on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues has become an effective shareholder engagement strategy that is rapidly evolving. Board members, meanwhile, are more proactively interfacing with investors on a variety of important and sometimes controversial topics. What are the most effective ways for corporate boards to engage on ESG issues? How can corporate executives better prepare directors for effective dialogues with shareholders on such topics?

Join us for a lively conversation focusing on the latest trends and best practices in engaging corporate boards on sustainability.

Speakers:

• Margaret Foran, Chief Governance Officer, Vice President, Corporate Secretary, Prudential
• Kimberly Gladman, Director of Research, GMI Ratings

• Brandon Rees, Deputy Director, AFL-CIO Office of Investment

• Julie Tanner, Assistant Director of SRI, Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc.

Protecting People and Investments: The Role of Enterprise Risk Management

Can environmental accidents be avoided? How do companies address escalating extreme weather risks? This workshop discusses these issues and provides new solutions for corporations to better manage risks.

Experts will discuss Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) best practices related to fracking, offshore drilling and property and casualty insurance. By incorporating environmental issues into ERM and improving reporting on these issues, corporations can go a long way toward managing these risks on behalf of shareholders and the public.

Speakers:

• Bennett Freeman, Senior Vice President for Sustainability Research and Policy, Calvert Investments (moderator)
• David Ingram, Executive Vice President, Willis Re
• Sanford Lewis, Counsel, Investor Environmental Health Network
• Larisa Ruoff, Director of Shareholder Advocacy, Green Century Capital Management
• Barney Schauble, Managing Partner, Nephila Advisors

Clearing the Waters: Assessing & Managing Water Risk

In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to wear the shoes of either investors analyzing water risk exposure in their portfolios or company executives developing and communicating sound water management strategies. Participants will be introduced to two tools for assessing and managing water risk and will then self-select into groups and role-play in the context of several company case studies.

Attendees are encouraged (but not required) to read the Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21st Century Water Risk Management and visit WRI's website before the workshop.

Speakers:

• Brooke Barton, Senior Manager, Water & Corporate Programs, Ceres (moderator)
• Greg Koch, Managing Director, Global Water Stewardship, Coca Cola
• Betsy Otto, Aqueduct Director, World Resources Institute

Tipping the Scale: Accelerating System Change

Today's global sustainability threats require bold new approaches in how companies think, act, and interact. Siloed, solo strategies are insufficient in responding to climate change and other challenges before us. New business paradigms - marked by collaboration, information sharing and technology - are emerging quickly. This workshop will explore complex systems changes underway, focusing on the enormous opportunities they create for business. What incentives are required for further advancing these system changes? What role can technology solutions play in enabling breakthroughs and scalable innovation? Join us for a provocative discussion to examine potential tensions and challenges, as well as scalable collaborations that can expedite significant change.

Speakers:

• Helen Clarkson, Head, Forum for the Future
• Peter Miscovich, Managing Director, Corporate Solutions, Jones Lang Lasalle (moderator)
• Sarah Severn, Stakeholder Mobilization Director, Sustainable Business and Innovation, Nike (moderator)
• Trisa Thompson, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, Dell

12:15

Networking Break

12:30 PM

Luncheon

Plenary Keynote: Creating a New Economic Paradigm

• Jeremy Rifkin, President, Foundation on Economic Trends

Closing Keynote:

• Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency

3:00 PM

Conference Adjourns

For more information:
Contact Stacy Thompson at 617-247-0700 ex. 149 or email thompson@ceres.org.