Day One
Big Zero Lectures
The lectures are short TED-talk style sessions where a range of industry leading speakers will inspire and challenge your thinking. This year we have an amazing array of subjects covered from EVs to religion! And our headline speaker is the Rt Hon Chris Skidmore.
Sumit Bose
Welcome Session
Join our welcome session with Sumit Bose, Founder of future net zero.
Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE
Net Zero: 5 Years On
The man who wrote net zero into law and authored the Mission Zero report gives us his insight into the UK's efforts so far.
Julia Hailes
System Change, Not Climate Change
Julia Hailes has been at the forefront of sustainability for 40 years. The author of The Green Consumer Guide, she has dedicated her life to engaging with businesses to produce more sustainable products. She gives her assessment of what businesses have done right and wrong over the last three decades and what we need to do now to ensure actual change.
Nick Molden
How We Can Actually Achieve Net Zero Transport, Not Just Officially
This session will give an overview of different technology paths to net zero, why zero emission vehicles are a myth, the importance of cost and timing and how to avoid another Dieselgate.
Vicky Pryce
Go Zero To Get Cash
Leading economist and author Vicky Pryce explains why your ESG credibility will soon be vital when it comes to raising investment or even trading. She will guide you through the policy landscape in the short term and why your financial models and forecasts will have to include your ambitions about emissions reduction.
Michael Pollitt
Can Religion Be The Secret Weapon In The Fight To Cut Emissions?
A fascinating session from professor Michael Pollitt of Cambridge Judge Business School who has done a study into the power of religious messaging and whether we could use this globally to speed up the net zero transition.
Jamie Elliott
Local Authorities And Their Key Role In Net Zero
Join Dr. Jamie Elliott from the West Midlands Combined Authority as he explains how the role of local authorities will be paramount on the road to 2050. Dr. Elliott will explore how engaging with local authorities will be vital for both businesses and the wider energy sector as we implement net zero technologies.
Tim Delport
The Future Of Heating
Tim Delport talks about where heating is heading and what that looks like and means for the domestic and commercial consumers of the country. He will cover the benefits for the transition to net zero, infrastructure aspects and responsibilities.
Simon Manley
Enhanced Rock Weathering, A Community-Based Carbon Removal Solution Helping Businesses Achieve Net Zero
All businesses planning their net zero journey should be engaging with carbon removal solutions now. If they don't, what is an opportunity today will become a problem tomorrow as high quality supply gets claimed. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW), UNDO's high value, permanent, nature-enabled approach, is ready to scale and comes with a wealth of socio-economic and agricultural benefits for rural communities. This talk will explain how ERW works and how it can be incorporated into organisations' carbon management plans.
Pathway to Net Zero
The pathway presentations cover case studies, methodologies and advice from your peers working in the energy, sustainability and ESG sector. They have faced the challenges you do and have the answers you need. There is an opportunity to ask questions in some of the sessions.
Alexandra Hammond
Tackling The Big Hairy, Scary Challenge: Supply Chain Decarbonisation In The NHS
Alexandra Hammond is leading the Carbon Footprint Plus program for the NHS. The NHS was the first health care system in the world to commit to net zero. The world-leading NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap sets a clear plan for the NHS’s 80,000 suppliers to align to the NHS carbon reduction commitments and the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment, developed by Alex and her team, creates a single source of information gathering to share supplier sustainability progress. Alexandra will outline the challenges and the progress made so far.
Tom Maidment
On Land And At Sea: Tackling Emissions In The Livestock Sector
Food production accounts for around 30% of global emissions and is a key part of many companies' supply chain. But this highly dispersed sector poses a unique challenge for decarbonisation as the majority of those emissions come from biological processes. In this session Tom will talk about the steps businesses can take to reduce emissions in this difficult to abate sector without impacting food security.
Rebecca Howard
Net Zero Into Action
This session is about how Coventry Building Society has involved stakeholders in determining ESG priorities, communications and initiatives. It will focus on net zero and greenhouse gas emissions but will also address travel, waste management, diversity & inclusion, social value, community initiatives and supplier payment practices. The presentation will demonstrate how effective inter-organisational collaboration enables acceleration towards a net zero future.
Vijay Chouhan
Virgin Media O2’s Pathway to Net Zero
Join Vijay Chouhan for an enlightening session as he delves into Virgin Media O2's ambitious journey towards achieving net zero emissions. Discover the innovative strategies, collaborative efforts and transformative technologies propelling Virgin Media O2 towards a sustainable future.
Fitzroy Hutchinson
The Celtic Collection: 30 Years Of Net Zero Success
Over two decades, our commitment to sustainability has been unwavering. This session will provide an overview of where we are currently and where we are looking to go. Low hanging fruit, to larger investment (BMS (linked to our booking system), LEDs, motors, pumps, heat pumps, de-gassing, biomass, hydrogen, green CHP, water management, sustainable maintenance and behavioural change creating a sustainable culture.
Bret Willers
Coventry's Net Zero Initiatives
Bret Willers dives into the innovative sustainability endeavours shaping Coventry's journey towards net zero. Explore the city's bold initiatives, collaborative partnerships and pioneering solutions driving environmental progress. From renewable energy projects to community engagement efforts, discover how Coventry is leading the charge towards a greener city and community.
Wendy Cheeseman
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's Journey To Net Zero
Join Wendy Cheeseman as she explores the challenges and opportunities pursuing the ambitious NHS carbon reduction targets and galvanising a workforce to action.
David Medori
Bringing Net Zero To Life
888 William Hill has an aggressive target to achieve Net Zero by 2035. David, who leads the Environmental Strategy will discuss the journey he has had to date from taking ownership and being accountable for the environment, focussing on emission reduction activities and to most recently setting and writing a full transitional plan. David will articulate the challenges, risks and opportunities to date with examples of practical key initiatives that have driven emissions down. This session will illustrate a clear path and plan to Net Zero while highlighting the necessity for collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders as imperative to achieving Net Zero.
Ola Bankole
Achieving And Sustaining A Net Zero Status For Your Organisation: The Key Elements
Net zero should not be considered as a destination but rather as a journey, one that continues beyond the target year. With this in mind the posture organisations must take on carbon reductions must be one that can be sustained into the future. This session provides insights into key elements organisations need in order to sustain their net zero journey while continuing to thrive in a competitive environment.
Matteo Deidda
Lloyds Banking Group's Journey Towards 50% Reduction In Supply Chain Emissions By 2030
The session will cover Lloyds’ journey in setting a supply chain emissions reduction target and the group's approach to suppliers’ engagement via the Emerald Standard.
Fiona Edwards
Net Zero Through Workspace Design
Up to 1.2million office desks and 1.8million still fit-for-task but simply out-of-fashion task chairs go to UK landfill every year. This results in the loss of potentially useful materials and resources, creating further emissions, pollution and nature degradation. With much of this redundant furniture then replaced with new items, the outcome is further carbon emissions, waste, pollution, nature degradation and finite resource depletion.
I’d like to share how a simple focus on SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production has helped our clients reduce furniture waste, carbon and pollution. This focus has also enabled clients to evidence sustainable procurement in action, generate baseline data for future carbon reduction and achieve significant budget savings.
Using furniture resources already in place or those we are about to buy for twice as long means we can reduce embodied carbon and costs by 50%, a good first step towards Net Zero.
Ollie Rosevear
Director of Sustainability, Fullers Smith & Turner
Morgan Roberts
Don’t Go It Alone: The Support Available For Putting Net Zero Into Action
Morgan works for Sustainability West Midlands (SWM), an independent not-for-profit organisation with 22+ years of presence in the region, expertise across the sustainability sector and a strong focus on stakeholder engagement. SWM utilises these features to make the region more sustainable, fairer and greener for all. In this presentation, Morgan will be giving practical, actionable advice on using support and collaboration to action your net zero goals. She will cover guidance on collaborating and creating partnerships for driving action, tips for finding and accessing the right support for you and will provide an overview of the net zero support currently available in the region, including the benefits of signing up to the West Midlands Net Zero Business Pledge, a free initiative delivered by SWM on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Guy Bradbury
Imerys - An Energy Intensive User's Guide to Decarbonisation
Energy Purchasing Manager, Imerys
Dr Bahareh Salehi
Navigating Toward NetZero: Mott MacDonald’s Journey
Global energy consumption presents a pressing challenge that demands immediate action from societies and governments, especially considering that 40% of it is linked to building energy consumption. At Mott MacDonald, we are committed to taking bold and innovative approaches to reduce energy consumption within buildings. Our NetZero journey has been characterized by significant progress, and we have developed a comprehensive strategy that we will discuss in detail during this session. If you are intrigued by Mott’s journey to NetZero and the groundbreaking methods we are using, do not hesitate to let me know.
For additional context, Mott MacDonald has developed net-zero route-maps not only for our own organization but also for clients within the water, transport, energy, and environment sector. Our approach is built around global best practices, including the use of PAS 2080, the international standard that we authored for managing carbon across the built environment. Let’s continue the conversation!
Haydn Young
The 24/7 Clean Energy Revolution And The Reshaping Of Renewable Energy Procurement
Initially driven from the tech sector in the US, the 24/7 clean energy concept now has a global reach within Europe, Asia and North America and boasts the backing of the United Nations and the US Government.
So, what’s the fuss about? In this session Haydn (Rutland Forums & Hudle) will outline how 24/7 could reshape the UK renewable energy market especially for REGO backed renewable power.
Net Zero Index
Just like the Index on futurenetzero.com, this content stream will cover technologies and tools for cutting emissions right now. We have presentations from an array of companies creating or using products and behaviours which can have an immediate effect on your carbon footprint.
British Gas
Bryt Energy
Engie
Inenco
Innova
JRP Solutions
Stark
Water Plus
Day Two
My Net Zero Journey
The stories of inspiration and perspiration. Our speakers will tell you how they got to where they are and what they do. You’ll hear how people changed career, started late, reinvented themselves and how they are all now united by the same goal, making things better.
Sumit Bose
Join our welcome session with Sumit Bose, Founder of future net zero.
Dr Benjamin Silverstone
Capability for sustainability and a greener economy
Delivering skills for sustainability and a greener economy is not just about focusing on "green jobs" There is an entire ecosystem around ensuring that we are able to create a greener economy in a way that is sustainable for communities and delivers equity within society. The University of Warwick, and Coventry Council, are taking the lead in supporting providers, businesses and local authorities to create the environment in which sustainability, in its broadest sense, is embedded within lifelong learning and how this can ensure that inward investment can be attracted through the establishment of a coherent skills ecosystem.
Noel Ferguson
Noel started his working life as a Marine Engineer in the Royal Navy, leading diverse teams to deliver everything from humanitarian assistance in Sierra Leonne to bringing Nuclear submarines out of the water for maintenance. The last 20 years has seen him working with organisations across all sectors to deliver cost and carbon reductions, from global PLCs to single site manufacturing companies and public sector organisations. With an ability to see Net Zero form the point of view of all stakeholders, his focus for the last 4-5 years has been partnering with businesses to make their Net Zero journey simple with a clear pathway to lower emissions.
Jen Johnson
Managing Director (UK), learnd
Kuram Gwakyaa
Harnessing Your Skills And Knowledge To Contribute To A Greener Future
An overview of the ever-evolving skills required to build and develop a career in the sustainability and net zero sphere. Offering career-based insights with a focus on transferability of skills and knowledge into the sector, as well as an outline of the range of sustainability and net zero roles at Mitie.
Aden Johnson
From Professional Sports To Leading Utility Net-Zero Roadmaps
Aden’s session will be focusing on how when he left school, he had no intention of being i the sustainability sector. His path was through professional football and then into the commercial water market where he got his first taste of sustainability in utilities.
Simon Alsbury
A Day In The Life Of A Sustainability Consultancy
Join Simon Alsbury for an insightful session exploring the evolving landscape of business from executive to operational levels. Discover what the future holds as he navigates the challenges and opportunities of sustainability. Learn how sustainability-focused companies are empowering customers to become a force for good, shaping a more responsible and impactful business environment.
Pamela Barbato
How Net Zero Inspired My Career... And Could Inspire Yours Too!
Pam will share insights from her career and shine a light on the critical role that engagement and inspiring people play in tackling the Climate and Nature crisis and the relevant skills required. She'll shine a light on the value of developing transferable green engagement skills and the role that partnerships and public private collaboration is playing in delivering impacts for people, planet and the green economy.
Action Net Zero's mission is to empower communities, people and businesses with easy, affordable actions to achieve a healthier and greener world, where carbon emissions are reduced, nature is protected and the climate is no longer in crisis.
Ashley Webber
Charting Your Path To A Net Zero Future
Get ready to be inspired at The Big Zero Show this July at the Coventry Building Society Arena, where Ashley Webber from Balanced Energy will share his journey and excitement in the world of Net Zero careers.
Ashley’s session is specially tailored for students like you, who are curious about the transformative roles in the Net Zero sector. He’ll talk about what it’s like to wake up every day knowing you are making a difference by helping companies tackle their emissions. Discover the passion and opportunities that come with a career dedicated to creating a sustainable future.
Fiona Edwards
Joining The Dots To Achieve Net Zero!
My Net Zero journey started when our largest client called a meeting in 2015 to ask what JPA Workspaces was doing about carbon reduction and sustainability. Encountering a professionally qualified sustainability manager for the first time was a truly terrifying experience in 2015 but we had to respond with a plan - which we did, albeit very simple. We began our sustainability adventure by focusing on environmental and waste issues which we already knew something about through ISO14001, joining the dots gradually as a larger sustainability picture formed. None of our other clients displayed any interest in environmental impact in the meantime but the arrival of Covid accelerated demand and indeed our own progress faster towards Net Zero than we had thought possible which is why I am here today sharing my experiences.
Paula Owen
From Atmospheric Science To Gaming: My Journey To Net Zero
Paula started her net zero journey with a PhD in atmospheric chemistry and her first role was trying to educate an oblivious British public about the dangers of accelerated climate change. Through three decades she has, in one form or another, continued in that vein – education and behaviour change to attempt to persuade people to take action. Around a decade ago, she happened upon the idea of using gamification to help engage people in climate action and that has been her focus ever since through her B Corp certified company, eco action games. In this talk, Paula will explain why she thinks gamification is a useful tool in the Net Zero professional’s armoury and demo her brand new game – the Great British Net Zero Lowdown – with the audience.
Stew Horne
From digital switchover to decarbonisation
Lowering energy demand is absolutely crucial to tackling the climate crisis. Being more energy efficient means we need to generate less energy in the first place, build less infrastructure and will make the 2050 targets more achievable. I studied green politics as part of my degree and have been looking for roles to help deliver the changes we need since then.
In my role as Head of Policy at Energy Saving Trust my team aims to provide the arguments and evidence to UK policy makers to delivery policy and delivery that will accelerate the retrofit of homes, take up of renewables and decarbonised heat and switching to sustainable transport.
My career didn’t start here. I began working on policy around digital television switchover, and then around food safety and food labelling before moving into energy. The thread that runs through my career is consumer policy and understanding behaviour change. These are such key parts of addressing climate change – and a key challenge in my role is making sure policy makers think about these changes when they design legislation, policy and delivery schemes.
My Net Zero Job
Don’t think your skills could be used in the low carbon economy? Think again! Our speakers from a range of companies, sectors and doing a vast array of jobs, will explain how wide the scope is for a career of any kind in our net zero future.
Ola Bankole
A Week In The Life Of A Sustainability Practitioner
The role of a sustainability practitioner goes beyond the technical know-how. This is important…but equally important are the soft skills that needs to accompany this. This can often mean the difference between success and failure of your agenda. This session will show the variety of competencies one needs to possess in order to make a real difference.
Sophie Wragg
Green Skills: What You Need For The Future Net Zero Workplace
If we have any chance of cutting emissions, reaching net zero and stalling climate change every job needs to become a climate job. It cannot just be left to one person or department, it needs to become part of everyone's roles. But how do we upskill our staff to do this and more to the point, how do we effectively engage everyone to embrace net zero?
Peter Starr
Start Where You Are. Use What You Have. Do What You Can: Transitioning To A Green Career
Unlocking a green career starts with mindset. Explore what might be holding you back – whether it's fear of change or uncertainty about your abilities. Next, hone in on your top transferrable skills for the green sector: critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and adaptability are invaluable in sustainability roles. But don't stop there. Learn how to sell your own value effectively: highlight your passion for sustainability, showcase relevant experiences and demonstrate your commitment to making a difference.
Rebecca Howard
Net Zero Into Action
This session is about Coventry Building Society has involved stakeholders in determining ESG priorities, communications and initiatives. It will focus on net zero and greenhouse gas emissions but will also address travel, waste management, diversity & inclusion, social value, community initiatives and supplier payment practices. The presentation will demonstrate how effective inter-organisational collaboration enables acceleration towards a net zero future.
Toby Costar
Knowing Nothing About Energy Can Be A Major Advantage
Toby will discuss how his lack of energy knowledge when entering the industry ended up being a major advantage when shaping brands in a cluttered market place.
Lydia Malley
The EI Academy offers expert-led training courses and free learning resources across a wide-range of topics, for all levels of capability and experience.
Stephen Henry
Set Up Your Sustainability Programme For Success With Insights From Stephen Henry Of Positive Planet
More than 9 out of 10 sustainability programmes fail to achieve their desired goals leading to disengaged employees, business risk and additional cost. Set up your sustainability programme for success with insights from Stephen Henry of Positive Planet.
Dr Bahareh Salehi
Dr Bahareh Salehi is a Chartered Building Physics Engineer/Consultant at Mott MacDonald, a global engineering, management and development consultancy company.
After completing her PhD in this subject and due to her knowledge and experience, she was invited to occupy a few hours a week as an Industry Lecturer at London South Bank University.
In addition to her occupations, she is an active member of the CIBSE Building Simulation Group with the aim of highlighting best practices in using computer simulation codes for building-related applications and a member of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)’s commercial retrofit task group to gain clarity on the most effective retrofit interventions for common office buildings found in the UK.
Amy Collins
Empowering Sustainability: The Crucial Role Of Supply Chains In Achieving Net Zero
Join Amy as she shares her personal journey from marketing to sustainability-driven leadership. Explore the pivotal role of trade associations and the electrification supply chain in driving the Net Zero agenda forward. Discover the essential skills and opportunities within this vital sector that could pave the way for your own impactful sustainability career.
Ruaire Glackin
Discovering Net Zero Remotely... Yes It’s Possible!
Faced with rising energy costs and demands for more sustainable organisations, more and more organisations were reaching out to Utility Aid for help. The challenge was to provide a service to customers that was both cost effective and informative. Ruaire developed a service for low to medium users of energy that allowed them to take advantage of expert advice without the traditionally high cost of an on site energy audit. “Onsite audit costs can quickly escalate when there are long travel times. Our thoughts were to remove the travel cost and try to conduct the audit remotely, using the latest video technology”. In the initial test phase 10 surveys were conducted, the outcome was positive for all 10 and so we developed the package throughout 2023. In January 2024 we launched version 3 of our audit which now provides all the necessary information organisations need to make good decisions and also the financial information funding providers were asking for. In todays talk we will discuss how the survey works, the benefits to organisations and how the Remote Discovery Document needs to be the start of your Net Zero Journey.
Stephen Atkins
A Net Zero Graduate Programme; Attracting Talent and Delivering Success
This session will look at our approach adopted to our successful Graduate Programme and the challenges and opportunities this has afforded the business in this fast growing and increasingly competitive industry. It will include a view of the steps undertaken in setting up and running the programme, and look at how this has delivered success for both the participants and for the development of the business.