Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       To provide the Committee with an update on the Net Zero Faster event hosted by the Management and Leadership Network (MLN) who host a prominent climate business conference ‘Sustain Exchange’ in Belfast with up to 300 business leaders on Thursday 27th October 2022.

 

1.2       To request approval for a funding agreement to be put in place between the Council and the event organiser with the value of £10,000.

 

2.0       Recommendation

 

2.1       It is recommended that Committee approve a funding contribution of £10,000 towards the Net Zero Faster event. This will be allocated from the Climate Unit budget.

 

 

3.0       Main Report

 

3.1       The Committee will recall that, at its meeting on 23rd September, it had agreed to defer consideration of a report seeking approval for the Council to enter into a funding agreement, to the value of £10,000, with the organisers of the above-mentioned climate business conference being planned for Belfast, to enable further information to be provided on other potential funders. 

 

3.2       Purpose and Format of Event

 

            The event will be planned to deliver on the objectives above and will connect local business leaders with international thought leaders with those at the forefront of the transition locally. The event will put the challenges, opportunities and absolute need for positive action associated with climate change, on the agenda for local organisations and leaders.

 

            The event is expected to attract some 300 local leaders (primarily business leaders but also those from the public, NDPB and third sectors) and will either be delivered as an in-person-only event or a hybrid event which would see 120 leaders gather in-person with some additional 200 leaders attending the event via a live stream. Both delivery models will ensure the messages, around the importance of positive climate action, have reach and that partners get a level of profile, amongst the NI business / leadership community, to justify their investment. Planning for the event is currently in its final stages.

 

3.3       Opening Address and Format

 

            The opening keynote address will be delivered by three world-renowned authorities on how to achieve ‘net zero faster’. They will focus on the business threat of the climate crisis, the legacy of the imperative for businesses and leaders to act fast and meaningfully. The keynote speakers will be followed by a carefully selected line-up of local leaders who will be challenged to share their story (exemplar), insights (expert) or support offering (stakeholder).

 

            As exemplars these businesses will share their story and associated lessons in an engaging, informative, and entertaining manner.  The speakers will encourage and empower other sectoral representative bodies (insurance, banking, hospitality transport and logistics etc) to consider their own climate impact and take the first steps on their pursuit of net zero faster.

 

            The keynote speakers are:

 

            Norman Crowley – Mr. Crowley founded and sold 3 businesses for over three-quarters of a billion dollars before the age of 40. He began his first business, a welding company at age 16, employing a team of 8 within a year, and sold that business when he was 20. He then started an internet business called Trinity Commerce, growing the company to 170 employees by the time he was 28. He went on to cofound Inspired Gaming Group (the world’s largest server-based gaming company), which was sold for $500 million; and Europe’s largest Wi-Fi hotspot provider, The Cloud, which was bought by BSkyB for $77 million. Feeling his next venture should make a real difference in addressing the global climate change issue, Norman founded CoolPlanet which helps firms reduce consumption, optimise systems, lower emissions and achieve net zero. Aiming to cool the planet as fast as possible, the business has already saved some 2,597,963 tonnes of CO2. In 2021, he founded AVA, a company which transforms some of the world’s most desirable classic cars to electric. It brings together a team of F1-grade engineers to create cars that not only have the lowest carbon footprint on the road, but that are built in a way that has the least impact on the planet.

 

            Eric Lonergan – Mr. Lonergan is described by The Irish Times as ‘probably the finest, and certainly the most thoughtful, Irish economist of his generation’. An internationally renowned thinker, he is best known as a policy economist, macro hedge fund manager, and writer. His most recent book is entitled Supercharge Me: Net Zero Faster and he is also the author of the international bestseller, ‘Angrynomics’, and ‘Money’ (2nd ed) published by Routledge. He has written for Foreign Affairs, The Financial Times, and The Economist. Invited to speak around the globe, he also advises governments and policymakers.

 

            Corinne Sawers – Ms. Sawers has spent the last decade advising global business and governments on climate, sustainability and food systems. She has previously worked with McKinsey, KKR and SystemIQ (a boutique sustainability advisory firm and fund). She co-founded More United (with the late Lord Paddy Ashdown) and also co-founded a social enterprise focused on improving diversity in the technology sector. Corrine holds an MBA from INSEAD, an MSc from the London School of Economics and a BA from the University of Oxford. She is the co-author of Supercharge Me: Net Zero Faster.

 

3.4       Management and Leadership Network Experience

 

            Management and Leadership Network (MLN) provide managers and leaders in Northern Ireland with access to the thinking, insights and experiences of high-achievers and thought-leaders with the aim of supporting and developing individual managers, companies and our economy. MLN is funded by a small number of forward-thinking champion organisations (Amet, Mills Selig law firm, Danske Bank, Electric Ireland, FPM, Ulster University, CPL and Xperience) which means the network it is free to join and use.

 

            MLN has previous experience in hosting several large events with 500 + attendees.

 

            Virtual summits organised by Management and Leadership Network include:

 

·        Galvanise NI May 2020 - 1400 Business leaders

·        Re- launch July 2020- 900 business leaders

·        Unlearn 2021 December 2020- 700 business leaders

·        WELL – February 2021 – 1000 business leaders

 

            Leadership Summit - February 2020 Prior to first lockdown MLN hosted 500 paying business leaders at Titanic Belfast. BCC was a partner on this event which featured world class speakers including Lord David Puttnam at Titanic Belfast. Podiem and MLN’s virtual events have been created and delivered in a 3-to-4-week lead time (and have consistently attracted business leader audiences of 500+).

 

            As host, MLN will facilitate the event and invite all speakers to provide their slides in advance so that the idea-sharing session is delivered in a concise, visually impactful and professional manner. Belfast City Council would once again be invited to participate and profile its extensive climate work i.e Mini – Stern Report, and associated Housing and Transport Readiness Assessments, Climate Ambitions Report, Reset Agenda, internal climate mitigation and adaptation plans and /or the work of the Belfast Climate Commission, Resilience and Sustainability Board etc.

 

3.5       Legacy Platform and Annual Event

 

            The conference is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the activity that is already underway in Belfast. As the host city it positions Belfast as a centre of excellence and activity when it comes to businesses and getting to net zero faster. The climate challenge will inevitably move further up the political and business agenda as we move through the decade and the pace of change on this issue is fast, so there is a need for annual event for the NI business/leadership community to share knowledge, experience and progress and supporting platforms available all year round to share resources.

           

3.6       Net Zero Faster Branding

 

            The conference will be branded with the theme of ‘Net Zero Faster’. It is deigned to speak to and encourage participation from those businesses well on their way and those just starting their zero-carbon pathway. It acknowledges the challenges involved in committing to take meaningful action and will offer examples, insights and inspiration for individuals, businesses and policy makers. Podiem will complete a comprehensive evaluation report on the conference.

 

3.7       Date, Venue and Contingence

 

            The total cost of the conference will be in excess of £60,000. Podiem has already secured some corporate sponsorship for the event from Danske bank and are in advanced conversations with Belfast Harbour along with other corporate partners of MLN. The event will be hosted at Titanic Belfast to encourage use of public transport and cycle networks and to accommodate both in-person and virtual attendees.

 

3.8       Partner Contribution and Profile Benefits

 

            Should the Council choose to support the conference it would be profiled as an ‘Event Partner’ alongside several other lead event partners. The Council brand will be prominent on all event marketing collateral as well as ‘at-event’. A Council representative would be invited to participate in the event press launch and MLN would like the Council to deliver a presentation. The Council would also promote the conference through its social media and other relevant communication channels.

 

3.9       Sponsors

 

            Confirmed sponsors for the event are Danske Bank and Mills Selig (Belfast based law firm). There will be no formal role for energy companies at the event - they will neither be sponsors nor speakers.

 

 

            Financial and Resource Implications

 

3.10     There is provision for £10,000 contribution towards the event via the Climate Unit budget.

 

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Implications

 

3.11     There are no direct equality and good relations implications. Any good relations or equality implications will be identified as part of the Council’s screening process.”

 

            After discussion, it was

 

Moved by Councillor Ferguson,

Seconded by Councillor McLaughlin,

 

            That the Committee agrees, in light of the significant cost involved and the limited level of participation/recognition to be afforded to the Council, not to sponsor the Sustain Exchange Climate Business Conference.  

 

            On a vote, eight Members voted for the proposal and nine against and it was declared lost.

 

            Accordingly, the Committee agreed that a funding agreement be put in place between the Council and the event organiser to the value of £10,000.