On the heels of the Green Energy Act in Ontario and the COP15 climate change summit in Copenhagen, the Schulich chapter of Net Impact has decided to focus on clean technology for its annual GreenEdge Conference on sustainability being held at the Schulich School of Business at York University March 6.
GreenEdge will be a one-day event focused on clean technology, comprised of three phases: New Energy, New Business and New Leaders. Each phase is designed to build on the previous one so that as the day progresses, participants will move from theory to practice to action.
New energy: Renewable energy, green building, electric vehicles – these are the buzzwords that dominate the media today. Most people understand that clean technologies are a response to climate change and dwindling fossil fuel reserves. However, few people understand how these technologies work, which is a major barrier to understanding where the business opportunities lie. In Phase 1, attendants will have the opportunity to learn about specific clean technologies, their advantages and disadvantages, and what is driving innovation.
New Business: Traditional technologies follow traditional business models; when new technologies are brought to market using old business models, the numbers often do not work. The current regulatory environment demands a new set of tactics. Essentially, clean technologies require new business. In Phase 2, GreenEdge will break up into various interactive workshops designed to stimulate discussions around new business models and gaining access to new markets.
New Leaders: With new-found technical knowledge and business acumen, participants will be wondering, “How can I be positioned to take advantage of these opportunities?” In Phase 3, GreenEdge will provide concrete career guidance. A popular misconception is that the clean technology sectors are only for engineers; this could not be farther from the truth. Mobilizing these technologies will require the ultimate generalist: leaders who can connect the right people and resources at the right time by working across multiple disciplines and markets.
Business students and professionals are uniquely positioned to be these leaders. Regardless of career or educational background, attendees at GreenEdge 2010 will learn how they can empower themselves to create opportunities that will help their careers and the planet.
Peter Victor (right), economics professor in York’s Faculty of Enviromental Studies and author of Managing without growth: Slower by Design, Not Disaster, will deliver the keynote address.
Featured speakers:
- Nicholas Parker, executive chair, CleanTech Group
- Anthony Santilli, vice-president of corporate sales & marketing, Bullfrog Power
- Tyler Hamilton, Toronto Star columnist and author of cleanbreak.ca
- Gordon Graff, creator of the Skyfarm
- Tom Rand, adviser and practice lead, CleanTech, MaRS Institute
Breakfast, lunch, and hors d’oeuvres and drinks are included in this networking opportunity.
Net Impact is a global organization of business leaders who are improving the world through business. Spanning six continents, Net Impact’s membership makes up one of the most influential networks of business students and professionals in existence today. Net Impact members are current and emerging leaders in corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, non-profit management, international development, environmental sustainability and, last but not least, clean technology.
The Schulich chapter of Net Impact began in 2004 and has quickly gained popularity among students who are passionate about environmental and social issues in business. Each year, the club has organized a one-day conference focused on different areas of sustainability.
For more information on the conference, visit the Schulich Net Impact GreenEdge Conference Web site.
For more information on Net Impact at Schulich, visit their Web site.