Episode 22: In Conversation with John Elkington, a world-renowned authority on corporate responsibility and sustainability

From his early work to the present day, John shares his experiences, challenges, and observations on how the landscape of corporate responsibility has transformed over the years. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that delves deep into the past, present, and future of sustainability in business.

About John Elkington

In 2004, BusinessWeek recognised John Elkington as “a dean of the corporate responsibility movement for three decades.” This accolade was followed by The Evening Standard in 2008, which listed him among the ‘1000 Most Influential People’ in London, hailing him as “a true green business guru” and “an evangelist for corporate social and environmental responsibility long before it was fashionable.” His influence was further affirmed in 2009 when a CSR International survey ranked him fourth among the Top 100 CSR leaders, placing him alongside prominent figures such as Al Gore, Barack Obama, the late Anita Roddick of the Body Shop, and Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank.

John Elkington’s multifaceted career can be outlined through the ten roles he plays. As an advisor, he has served on over 70 boards and advisory boards across business, government, and citizen sector organisations. Currently, he chairs advisory boards for Neste and Novartis and is actively involved in around 20 organisations. As an advocate, Elkington champions emerging agendas including environmental sustainability, social innovation, entrepreneurship, and exponential progress.

In his capacity as an author, Elkington has written or co-written 20 books, with his latest work being “Green Swans: The Coming Boom In Regenerative Capitalism” (scheduled for release in April 2020 from Fast Company Press), along with over 50 published reports. His role as a consultant has seen him successfully execute numerous projects for leading clients. Furthermore, he has held directorships in successful businesses and organisations, as well as in two social enterprises that ultimately failed.

Elkington’s editorial contributions include his tenure as editor for several publications such as The ENDS Report (1978-1983), Earthlife News (mid-1980s), and Biotechnology Bulletin (for 15 years starting in 1983). As a journalist, he has penned hundreds of articles and blogs. He also holds academic positions as a Visiting Professor at the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility/Cranfield University, Imperial College, and University College London (UCL).

Finally, as a sought-after speaker, Elkington has delivered over 1,000 speeches, addressing audiences ranging from the World Economic Forum and corporate board meetings to town hall events.

Find out more about John Elkington HERE.

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