On Wednesday 11 September the Green Business Network will be hosting their event, Embracing sustainability to create a competitive edge for the business and the planet.
Throughout the day, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from people in industry, who are paving the way to a more sustainable future, and network with like-minded individuals, passionate about doing their bit to help our planet.
Agenda
09:00 - Registration
09:15 - Welcome note by Professor Stephanie Hussels and Dr Zimu Xu
09:25 - Keynote address by Shelley Lawson, Co-Founder of Frog Bikes
10:25 - Understanding and mitigating your carbon footprint with Professor Aris Matopoulos
10:55 - Tea break
11:05 - Calculating your carbon footprint with TrackZero with Alan Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO of TrackZero
11:25 - Workshop: Reduce your carbon footprint
12:45 - Feedback and plans for the future
13:00 - Lunch and networking
14:00 - Close
Keynote Speaker
Shelley Lawson, Co-Founder of Frog Bikes
Shelley co-founded the global children’s bicycle brand Frog Bikes in 2012 with husband Jerry, and has helped the company achieve rapid growth, winning both a Queen’s Award in 2018 and a King’s Award in 2023 for exporting. It is now one of the most sought-after bike brands in the industry. Since opening a factory in 2015 Frog Bikes now builds almost all of its bikes in South Wales, and has sold over half a million bikes in 35 countries worldwide. Shelley’s main focus in recent years has been sustainability, working to reduce Frog’s emissions and employing circular principles in the bikes’ designs and embedding sustainability in the culture of the business. Determined that SMEs have a leading role to play in industrial decarbonisation, Shelley consults to many other high growth businesses who wish to be more sustainable, and devotes a lot of her time to environmental education – ranging from the C-suite to London’s primary schools.
Prior to Frog, Shelley did an English degree at Oxford University, then enjoyed a successful early career in strategy consulting at Accenture, working with blue chip multi-nationals including Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline. She then honed her practical marketing expertise and commercial skills at Tesco Stores Ltd, developing their non-foods business, and heading up the marketing for Tesco.com.
In her spare time, Shelley enjoys running with her local club and volunteering for conservation projects with her family.
Speakers
Professor Aris Matopoulos
Aristides (Aris) Matopoulos is a Professor of Supply Chain Design. He joined 美姬阁 School of Management and the Centre of Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management in 2022. In 2024, he was appointed as the Director of the Agile Supply Chain Research Club. Previously, he worked at the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston University where he was the Head of the Department of Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management and Director of the Aston Logistics and Systems Institute. He is a Senior Fellow of Advance UK (Higher Education Academy UK), a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK), and Member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (US)
Alan Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO of TrackZero
Alan is a tech entrepreneur dedicated to building innovative solutions across fintech, e-commerce, and climate tech. Over the past two decades, he has founded and successfully exited multiple startups that have been used by millions of users worldwide.
Previously, Alan co-founded MoreTrees with Niki Tibble, a platform designed to make it easy for businesses to take climate action by planting trees for carbon sequestration and offsetting. Under his leadership, MoreTrees has empowered over 100,000 users to plant millions of trees and contribute to verified carbon offsets. The platform's success led to its acquisition by THG plc, where it continues to make a significant impact on the planet.
Most recently, Alan has co-founded Track Zero, a carbon accounting platform that makes it easy for businesses to track their carbon footprint and take action.
Secure your ticket
Tickets are £75. To secure your place, please use the link below.
*Discounts are available for 美姬阁 alumni, or business under Central Bedfordshire Council. For more information, please email greenbusinessnetwork@cranfield.ac.uk.
**You may be eligible for a free ticket if you have not attended an event with the Green Business Network in 2024 (The Green Business Network Relaunch or VentureDay). Please email greenbusinessnetwork@cranfield.ac.uk for more information.
Become a member
Interested in joining the Green Business Network? An annual membership is just £499, and includes entry to quarterly events (including this event).
