The region’s green future will be a key focus of the University’s fifth annual Kent and Medway Business Summit on Wednesday 27 April.
Organised and hosted by Kent Business School, the Summit will bring together some 300 businesses, key policymakers and leading academics to discuss regional business opportunity and sustainability, share the latest news from key projects and developments, and hear from speakers such as Councillor Roger Gough (Leader of Kent County Council) and Kitty Ussher (Chief Economist, Institute of Directors).
The 2022 Summit, which takes place in the Sibson Building on the Canterbury campus, will focus on sustainable innovation and opportunities for Kent and Medway businesses to move towards net zero in line with the nation’s net zero targets by 2050.
Interactive collaborative workshops will facilitate debate on vital business topics including productivity, place-making and skills, all contributing to a route map for the region’s future.
The Summit provides large and small businesses across multiple sectors with an opportunity to contribute to the debate shaping the future of the county, talking directly with key stakeholders and decision makers.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist, Institute of Directors
- Cllr Roger Gough, Leader, Kent County Council
- Richard Hicks, Director of Place, Deputy Chief Executive, Medway Council
- Andy Martin, Director of Communications and Strategy, London Resort Company Holdings
Workshop contributors include:
- Emma Wilcox, Project Director, Creative Estuary
- Simon Storey, Chief Executive, Kent Cricket
- Bal Sandher, Managing Director, Hectic Lifestyles, KEiBA 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year and Manufacturer of the Year
- Victoria Copp-Crawley, Principal, Canterbury College
- Gill Monk, Managing Director and Founder, All Health Matters
- Kresse Wesling CBE, Co-Founder Elvis and Kresse and Co-Farmer New Barns Farm
- Dan Crooks, Director, iFruits
This year’s keynote speech, titled 5 in 5: Five Innovations That Will Change Our Lives Within Five Years will be delivered by Andrea Martin, IBM Distinguished Engineer, Leader IBM Watson Centre Munich and IBM Client Centre in EMEA.
The full agenda is available here.
Professor Marian Garcia, Dean of Kent Business School, said: ‘As we start to emerge from the effects of the global pandemic, we have an extraordinary opportunity to create an exciting and sustainable future for our region.
‘The Kent and Medway Business Summit is an opportunity to come together to debate and plan for our future and move towards net zero carbon emissions.
‘We look forward to providing this platform for collaboration between business of all size and in all sectors with leading academics and local authority leaders.’
Tickets to the Summit cost £40, including refreshments and a sustainable Kentish buffet lunch. Registration and payment queries: eventregistrations@kent.ac.uk.