The Global Biodiversity Framework and the role of business

Missed the webinar? Watch again below.

Event date: Thursday, 12 May 09:00–10.00 BST

Agenda

Later this year at COP15 – the fifteenth meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity – world leaders will adopt a new Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework as the nature equivalent of the Paris Climate Agreement. This framework is seen as our last and best chance to turn the tide of nature loss and it sets out an ambitious plan to achieve a nature-positive world by 2030.

Join us on 12 May, as a panel of experts explores what the draft framework entails, how it will be translated on the ground and the role of business in delivering a nature-positive future. This webinar will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the draft framework and, more importantly, will equip you to start developing a plan for how your organisation will deliver against the targets for business.

The panel includes Dr Rich Young of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, sharing the conservation science perspective on the importance and goals of the framework; Maelle Pelisson of Business for Nature, discussing the role of business as an actor of positive change; Amanda Williams of Spirax Sarco Engineering plc, sharing her industry views on the framework and the practical implications for business; and Dr Rossa Donovan of Nature Positive, discussing the steps that businesses should be taking now.

Moderator

Caroline Frost

Caroline is the TV Nominations Chair of the Broadcasting Pres Guild and, as a regular news commentator, speaks on media, politics and culture. She trained as a producer with BBC News in London, UK, before being headhunted to help launch the digital arm of News Limited in Australia. Once she returned to London, Caroline became the founding entertainment editor of HuffPost UK before going freelance in 2017. Caroline has written three bestselling books; her fourth will be published in April 2022.

Speakers

Dr Rich Young, Director of Conservation Knowledge, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Rich Young has worked in wildlife conservation practice for 20 years and is currently Director of Conservation Knowledge at the international charity Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. As part of the charity’s senior management team, he leads the science, training, education and impact programmes to support Durrell’s mission of saving endangered species and restoring ecosystems. Rich has published widely across a range of conservation topics, with over 50 papers in scientific journals. He is a member of the task force developing the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green Status of Species, a global framework for measuring species recovery and conservation impact.

Maelle Pelisson, Advocacy Director, Business for Nature

Maelle Pelisson is Business for Nature’s Advocacy Director, leading the coalition’s policy engagement around the United Nations (UN) negotiations on nature, including the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Before joining Business for Nature, Maelle worked for WWF, including in Cambodia, where she led private sector engagement and landscape management to secure sustainable livelihoods for local communities. Maelle spent several years working in Brussels, advocating for and engaging with the European Union on renewable energy policies. She holds a master of political science from the Institute of Political Studies, Lyon.

Amanda Williams, Head of Sustainability – Steam Specialties for Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc

Amanda joined Spirax Sarco Engineering plc in December 2020, to lead the newly created Steam Specialties Sustainability function and to oversee the implementation of the company’s One Planet: Engineering with Purpose strategy in the Steam Specialties business. Amanda is a Chartered Environmentalist and a full member of the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment with almost 20 years’ experience of working in sustainability across a range of sectors, including higher education, facilities management, defence and manufacturing. Amanda is also the strategic initiative lead for the biodiversity net gain initiative at Spirax Sarco Engineering and has a particular interest in how businesses can help protect and restore nature through their corporate sustainability strategies.

Dr Rossa Donovan, Technical Director, Nature Positive

Rossa Donovan is a Chartered Ecologist and sustainability expert with more than 25 years’ experience. With his blend of ecology and sustainability experience, he understands the challenges facing organisations when integrating sustainability into the heart of their operations and provides technical advice across a range of client projects. Before joining Nature Positive, Rossa worked as head of environment and sustainability at Network Rail, where he led the development of the company’s 30-year sustainability strategy, encompassing decarbonisation, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and the circular economy.