On Wednesday November 20th, over fifty business leaders gathered at Chester Zoo for the ‘Balancing the Sustainability Tightrope’ event, co-hosted by regional law firm DTM Legal and executive search firm Sherrington Associates. The evening brought together key voices in sustainable leadership to explore how businesses can navigate the complex challenges of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies while driving meaningful change.
The event featured an insightful panel discussion led by Tom Evans, Head of Employment at DTM Legal. Panellists included:
- Amrit Sandhar, CEO of &Evolve
- Alastair Pattrick, Head of Sustainable Sourcing at Co-op
- Laura Hothersall, Founder of Truth
- Hannah Williams Skinner, Working Life Manager at Moneypenny
The discussion delved into topics such as collaboration on sustainability strategies, employee engagement, effective reporting, and the importance of leadership education in sustainability.
Jamie Christon, CEO of Chester Zoo, opened the event with an enlightening speech on the zoo’s sustainability journey, including its ambitious Networks for Nature project, which seeks to connect businesses, communities, and conservation efforts to build a more sustainable future. Cllr Razia Daniels, Lord Mayor of Chester, followed with an inspiring address about the role of leadership in tackling global sustainability challenges.
The panellists highlighted the importance of engaging all levels of an organisation in achieving a successful ESG policy. Transparency, effective communication, and inclusivity were emphasised as essential tools for fostering team buy-in and creating a community that supports sustainability goals. Hannah Williams Skinner reinforced this point, explaining how listening to employee voices and building trust through openness can create harmonious collaboration and galvanise teams around shared sustainability targets.
Alastair Pattrick addressed the vastness of the sustainability challenge, urging organisations to prioritise areas where their efforts can have the most significant impact. He emphasised that businesses cannot tackle everything at once and should instead identify opportunities where collaboration can amplify their results, citing how when businesses engage with NGO’s and third sector organisations, it can lead to powerful impact on sustainability initiatives.
The discussion also underscored the importance of effective measurement and reporting. Laura Hothersall pointed out that “you can’t improve what you don’t measure,” urging businesses to set clear targets and track their progress using robust frameworks such as B-Corp or other initiatives. This process, she explained, not only helps to identify areas for improvement but also ensures accountability and transparency in achieving sustainability goals.
Amrit Sandhar reminded guests of the fundamental goodness in people and that our collective desire to do the right thing can be the solution to sustainability challenges. He encouraged leaders to tap into this innate motivation, fostering an organisational culture that supports sustainable practices and empowers employees to contribute meaningfully.
The evening concluded with a hopeful perspective from Rob McKay, Founder of Sherrington Associates, who spoke about how collective action has the potential to reach a positive tipping point where the overwhelming momentum behind the purposeful business movement, forces the change we need in the world. He encouraged attendees to consider the potential for significant, collective change, driven by businesses embracing sustainability as a cornerstone of their operations.
“This event was not only informative but truly transformational,” said Tom Evans, reflecting on the impact of the discussion. “The insights shared by our panellists, combined with the inspiring setting of Chester Zoo, demonstrate that we have the tools and the passion to make a real difference.”
DTM Legal and Sherrington Associates extend their gratitude to all attendees, panellists, and speakers for making this event a success.
This article was originally published on – https://www.sherringtonassociates.co.uk/blog/sherrington-and-dtm-legal-host-sustainable-leadership-seminar-at-chester-zoo
