Former Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at IKEA Group, Steve served on IKEA’s Executive Group Management from 2011 to 2017. Widely respected as a leading sustainable business professional and a recognised authority on sustainability and climate change.
At IKEA, Steve led the development and implementation of the People and Planet Positive strategy and put in place strategies that led to more than 3 billion euros of investments from wind power to recycling at the same time as creating a sustainable products category that more than tripled in revenue to a 2-billion-euro business. Steve used sustainability to drive growth and innovation, including supporting IKEA’s rapid transition to only selling LED lights, the launch of vegetarian meatballs (which sold 100 million in the first nine months), and the roll-out of a retail solar business in several markets.
Steve also supported the rollout of a comprehensive approach on diversity, inclusion and fair pay. By the end of his tenure, IKEA was recognised as one of the world’s top five leading sustainable businesses.
A serial entrepreneur, in 2015, Steve co-founded We Mean Business, the leading climate change coalition of organisations and businesses which helped support the Paris Climate Agreement and has led to more than 500 businesses making more than 1000 commitments on climate action.
Prior to IKEA, Steve was Founder and CEO of The Climate Group, an independent global non-profit organisation which has built extensive networks of cities, states, regions, businesses and entrepreneurs committed to a net-zero carbon world. During his time at the Climate Group, along with Steve, he was an advisor to Vantage Point Venture Partners on their Clean Tech fund.
Before the Climate Group, Steve consulted on sustainability for major corporations and institutions, working as a partner at ERM Group in London and URS Corporation. He has worked with various NGOs and UN bodies on a wide range of global sustainability topics.
Earlier in his career he worked in WWF, chaired the UK Forest Stewardship Council and helped launch and chair The Forest Trust. Trained as an ecologist, he has a PhD in…
Tech expert Peter Hinssen, a fantastic speaker and one of the world-leading innovation experts, is renowned for his insights on corporate innovation, leadership, and digital transformation. Peter led groundbreaking initiatives shaping the future. A sought-after Peter Hinssen speaker, his keynote speeches inspire organisations worldwide to embrace change and drive innovation.
Doug is a versatile motivational speaker, workshop leader, and musician. Known for his profound understanding of business dynamics and an innate ability to foster collaboration, Doug’s talks and workshops are designed to invigorate and unite people across live, hybrid, and virtual events.
Known internationally as ‘Mr. Body language’ is the master of communication from verbal and nonverbal perspectives. Using humour, he takes you through powerful techniques and teaches the audience how to decode others’ behaviour and what to do about it.
Meet Chris Barton, the inventor of Shazam and founder of Guard, a drowning detection system. A former member of Google’s Android Partnerships team and an early contributor to Dropbox, Chris continues to inspire with his journey of overcoming obstacles to create transformative technologies.
Brett Scott is an author, journalist and economic anthropologist who examines the complex relationship between money, technology and society. He helps audiences understand the transformation of global finance through digital innovation, fintech and cryptocurrency, offering insight into how these shifts impact business and policy.
Andrew Keen is an author, entrepreneur and one of the world’s most influential critics of the digital age. He challenges audiences with thought-provoking insights on technology, social media, privacy and the future of business in a hyper-connected world
Tom Morley made his name as the original drummer and a founding member of Scritti Politti, the 70s/80s band who were pioneers of DIY music before appearing on the dance scene. Unlike other bands, Scritti used to make half their songs up on stage.
Lewis Pugh is a world-renowned endurance swimmer and ocean advocate whose record-breaking swims inspire audiences to achieve the impossible, lead with courage, and protect our planet’s fragile ecosystems.
Over the course of a diverse career that spans entertainment, education and consulting, Adam Kingl has worked for decades immersed in the fields of innovation, strategy, culture, and leadership. As a dual British-American, he sees leadership as a creative pursuit – shaping the future through vision and adaptability – informed by his background in entertainment, consulting and education.
Dominic Alldis is a distinguished musician and innovative business speaker, renowned for creating transformative learning experiences. He combines rich musical insights with business wisdom, addressing key areas like leadership, innovation, and collaboration in today’s dynamic business environment.
