Agenda

Rockstar Insight:

Paul Roben, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor, Innovation & Commercialization
UC San Diego
 
Why You Should Listen to Paul:
Dr. Roben oversees the Office of Innovation & Commercialization to establish a campus-wide innovation platform in service of three goals- 1) build a systemic and sustainable innovation culture, 2) create a vibrant regional ecosystem, and 3) accelerate the commercialization of UC San Diego inventions. Working with the Vice Chancellor for Research in this position since June 2015, Dr. Roben is transforming the functions provided by the Technology Transfer Office, Industry Research Alliances, and Industry Contracting into an integrated organization to include patenting, strategic corporate research partnering and industry contracts.

Abstract:
The future of sustainability is uncertain. There is a recognition that climate action is needed but the path to a green future is still developing as businesses are look for solutions that balance customer wants with shareholder expectations. By examining trends in the consumer space we can learn to identify signals, make connections and explore future scenarios to prepare for the next stage.

Key Take-Aways:

• Insight on identifying consumer signals and trends in the sustainability space
• Foresight framework to better prepare for the future
• Guide to leverage uncertainties to your advantage

Headliner:

Jennifer Brace
Chief Futurist
Ford
 
Why You Should Listen to Jennifer:
Jen is the Chief Futurist at Ford where she leads discussions on long-term thinking, planning and strategic development. By researching demographic shifts, identifying market outliers and developing data driven scenarios for the future, she challenges her colleagues to think through a broad range of possible narratives before settling on a plan of action.

Abstract:
Forty years ago, Cisco’s founders accelerated the transition to the digital age by connecting disparate computing systems and enabling them to communicate. This technology innovation profoundly transformed how we work, learn, interact, access healthcare, conduct commerce and more. But our growing reliance on digital innovations and advanced technologies like generative AI requires increasingly more energy. This has repercussions for our planet and creates the need to accelerate the clean energy transition and net zero globally. Today, I will speak to how Cisco is addressing this dichotomy and working to make the next transition both digital and low carbon.

Rockstar Insight:

Kelsi Doran
Director, Sustainability Strategy & Business Architecture
Cisco
 
Why You Should Listen to Kelsi:
Kelsi leads Sustainability Strategy and Business Architecture at Cisco, a role that puts her at the intersection of sustainability and technology. She recently led the development of the company’s next-generation environmental strategy, and her team works across the Cisco ecosystem to accelerate its strategic priorities and to integrate the company’s sustainability goals with its culture of ongoing innovation.
 

Abstract:
In this session, Dr. Juhasz will provide practical insights about establishing a course and keeping momentum on driving your sustainability journey with the Sun Chemical’s journey highlighted as an example. While the specific journey will be different for every organization, the basic steps will be similar. This discussion will delve into how to develop a strategy and make meaningful progress towards 2025 and 2030 sustainability goals.

Rockstar Insight:

Dr. Nikola Juhasz
Global Technical Director, Sustainability
Sun Chemical
 
Why You Should Listen to Nikola:
Dr. Juhasz is a scientist by day, unwrapping the mysteries of sustainable packaging development, and a drummer at night, driving the rhythm forward. With a mind wired for analytical thought and hands skilled in the art of percussion, she brings a unique blend of precision and passion to every endeavor. You do not want to miss a beat … or this session on sustainability!
 

Abstract:
Innovation has been part of ExxonMobil’s DNA for over 135 years. Our innovations have helped drive outcomes that improve many elements of modern life. However, today we are faced with two very real challenges – climate change and universal access to energy. On one hand GHG emissions are having a very real societal impact, while far too many people do not have access to energy and are trapped in poverty. Oil and gas are at the center of both. Energy is essential, but GHG emissions have a real societal cost.

Today I will speak to how ExxonMobil is addressing these complex problems to enable our global net zero commitment. In short, we must think about energy and climate.

Rockstar Insight:

Scott Hartman
Market Development Manager
ExxonMobil
 
Why You Should Listen to Scott:
Scott began to hone his skills as an innovation practitioner when he moved to the US for an assignment building new businesses through technology partnerships across the downstream. In 2018 Scott joined ExxonMobil as Commercial Innovation manager within the Chemical company where advanced recycling was first initiated. A dedicated innovator, Scott takes his inspiration from many sources including the late great Clayton Christensen, Eric Ries, and not least of all, his three young daughters. Scott believes innovation can be defined very simply in five words: something new that creates value.
 

Abstract:
The retail landscape has undergone seismic shifts over the past decade, propelled by technological advancements, evolving consumer behavior, and global disruptions. Alongside these shifts and advances, fashion has become a major contributor to climate change and over consumption is depleting natural resources while driving global textile waste. As we look to the future of fashion and retail, businesses find themselves asking a critical question – can innovation make fashion sustainable? Today we explore critical innovation to deliver a more sustainable future, assessing the fashion industry’s need for bold action and transformative thinking.

Rockstar Insight:

Heather Werner
Deputy Director, Sustainability and Mobility Department
City of San Diego
 
Why You Should Listen to Heather:
Heather oversees the implementation of the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan, transition to zero emissions energy, and enabling mobility options for all residents and visitors. She was most recently the Deputy Director for Energy, leading teams dedicated to municipal energy, zero emissions vehicles, and energy market and regulatory activities.

Abstract:
We looked up and down our value chain to identify where we had the greatest opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint. What yielded was prioritizing suppliers who were embracing circularity and transforming our solvents portfolio. Solvents, traditionally petroleum-based, are one of the most frequently used chemicals in labs, biopharma production processes, and everyday household items such as paint, inks, and adhesives. Today, we’re expanding our family of bio-based solvents with a significantly lower product carbon footprint, engaging suppliers in sustainability, and offering customers significant levers to reduce their Scope 3 footprint.

Key Take-Aways:

• Insights on how to build the business case for introducing more sustainable materials
• Best practices taken when identifying the right supply chain partner
• Guide to maximizing sustainability benefit and minimizing product carbon footprints through supply chain & raw materials

Fab Facilitator:

Kevin Reyer
Program Manager, Value Chain Sustainability
MilliporeSigma
 
Why You Should Listen to Kevin:
Kevin is a rising leader in MilliporeSigma’s Sustainability and Social Business Innovation group. He is spearheading the strategic development of a supply chain sustainability program aiming to reach climate neutrality by 2040. His challenge to revolutionize supply chain sustainability is not unique, but he aims to accomplish these milestones through partnerships and co-innovations with engaged suppliers.

Abstract:
As sustainability becomes center stage for more and more businesses, there is an increasing need to drive sustainable innovation. It is critical for businesses to understand how to best drive innovation in sustainability and successfully merge innovation and sustainability funnels to deliver on customer demand.

Key Take-Aways:

• Insights on making a business case for focusing resources on innovative sustainability solutions
• Lessons learned and tradeoffs identified in developing sustainable solutions for existing and new products
• Examples of how other companies have successfully integrated sustainability into their design and innovation funnels

Fab Facilitator:

Elizabeth Rhue
Vice President Global Environmental, Sustainability, & Technical Services
Sonoco
 
Why You Should Listen to Elizabeth:
Elizabeth has been a product development and sustainability leader in the packaging field for nearly two decades. Her experience in supporting customers across several industries from consumer goods, to healthcare, to the industrial sector gives her a broad perspective of the sustainability challenges faced across these industries and the role innovation can play in solving these challenges.
 

Abstract:
Integrating social and environmental concerns into a company’s business operations is no longer just an option but a responsibility. In this interactive session we will explore how to align on and communicate sustainability priorities through assessment of the entire production and consumption value chain, balancing awareness of risk versus demand.

Key Take-Aways:

• Insights on how to transform ‘business as usual’ into a more conscious approach to global sustainability
• Proven framework to guide and align your company on sustainability priorities
• Best practices on how to establish your brand as a leader in sustainability

Fab Facilitator:

Cassandra Wilfore
Senior Director, Innovation and Product Development
Daymon
 
Why You Should Listen to Cassandra:
Cassie has spent the last 19 years rising as an innovation thought leader with world’s largest private brand development company, where she has partnered with some of the world’s leading grocery retailers to help them build their strategy, talent, structure, and processes to stay competitive and become more innovative in their brand & product development efforts. Globally she has been invited to consult and share on her experience as an innovation leader by leading retailers, suppliers and government trade associations across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
 

Abstract:
The climate emergency and a pivotal shift of the global economy towards net zero has prompted a need for frameworks that can catalyse the transformative journey towards net zero. The Future of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG), Sustainability and the Circular Economy will rely on delivering “more with less” and this is shaped by the pathway of the 6P framework from Policies through to Platforms.

Key Take-Aways:

• Guide to policies such as the Green Taxonomy that influence the design and development of products as well as a focus on process workflows to identify synergies and opportunities around carbon reduction and resource optimization
• Insights on the importance of recognizing the needs of people/personas both on the supply side and demand side to achieve key sustainability focused outcomes
• Critical factors of B2B partnerships for stakeholders to come together to solve key sustainability challenges as well as develop and drive new business models and revenue streams. And rapidly growing opportunities for platforms aimed to support with measuring, monitoring, reporting and verifying as well as support the trading of the circular economy and future course of policy

Rockstar Insight:

Fredrick Royan
Global Practice Area Leader, Sustainability & Circular Economy
Frost & Sullivan
 
Why You Should Listen to Fredrick:
Fred is one of the leading thought leaders in the sustainability field with more than two decades of experience focused on water and resource management. He is able to bring together a system thinking and data driven approach to tackling some of the complex sustainability challenges.

Abstract:
As businesses face pressure to generate short-term gains, our panelists will unveil how they’ve successfully navigated the push for immediate results while steering their companies towards long-term, sustainable innovation. They’ll share real-world examples, demystifying the process of convincing C-Suite and stakeholders to invest in disruptive technologies and business models geared for longevity and shared value, and bust the myth that sustainable initiatives cannot also be profitable.

Key Take-Aways:

• Key considerations for strategic long-term investment, balancing and articulating the need for short-term financial performance with the imperative for long-term sustainable growth
• Real-world examples demonstrating how untapped market opportunities can open up new revenue streams while adhering to eco-friendly and ethical practices.
• Key insights on how cross-industry collaborations and the emergence of new industries fueled by sustainable initiatives can lead to groundbreaking products and services

Moderator:

Elizabeth Rhue
Vice President Global Environmental, Sustainability, & Technical Services
Sonoco
 
Why You Should Listen to Elizabeth:
Elizabeth has been a product development and sustainability leader in the packaging field for nearly two decades. Her experience in supporting customers across several industries from consumer goods, to healthcare, to the industrial sector gives her a broad perspective of the sustainability challenges faced across these industries and the role innovation can play in solving these challenges.
 

Panelists Include:

Jeff Fried
Director of Product Management
InterSystems
Partner, Growth Innovation Leadership Council
 
Why You Should Listen to Jeff:
Jeff is a long-standing data management nerd, and particularly passionate about helping people create powerful data-driven applications. Prior to joining InterSystems, Jeff was CTO of BA Insight and Empirix, and ran product management for FAST Search and Transfer and for Microsoft. He has extensive experience in data management, text analytics, enterprise search, machine learning, and interoperability.
 
Vishnu Jayamohan
Director, Portfolio Strategy, Innovation & Software Services
Nissan North America
 
Why You Should Listen to Vishnu:
Vishnu has led product strategy and innovation teams both in the physical and software worlds in 3 different Fortune 500 companies. His multi-disciplinary experience in engineering, manufacturing, program management and marketing worlds helps him convince organizations cross-functionally to embrace new innovations with a customer-first mindset. He believes finding a balance between a collaborative, startup-like mindset within his teams against the backdrop of established corporate expectations can lead to high employee satisfaction and real customer value.
 
Dr. Nikola Juhasz
Global Technical Director, Sustainability
Sun Chemical
 
Why You Should Listen to Nikola:
Dr. Juhasz is a scientist by day, unwrapping the mysteries of sustainable packaging development, and a drummer at night, driving the rhythm forward. With a mind wired for analytical thought and hands skilled in the art of percussion, she brings a unique blend of precision and passion to every endeavor. You do not want to miss a beat … or this session on sustainability!
 
Russ Schneidewind
Director of Business Development
HydraForce, Inc.
Partner, Growth Innovation Leadership Council
 
Why You Should Listen to Russ:
With extensive experience spanning decades in manufacturing, product development, and innovation, Russ brings a wealth of practical knowledge and insights to the table. He has led cross-functional teams in conceptualizing, designing, and launching successful products that meet customer needs and exceed market expectations. Russ’s expertise encompasses every stage of the product lifecycle, from ideation and prototyping to testing, manufacturing, and commercialization.
 
Kevin Tubbs
Vice President, Chief Ethics, Compliance and Sustainability Officer
Oshkosh Corporation
 
Why You Should Listen to Kevin:
Kevin has been a thought leader in Sustainability for over a quarter century for Fortune 500 Companies. His experience in the development and implementation of sustainability processes and practices give him an informed perspective on the business value of sustainable practices. Kevin was named to the inaugural list of the Purposeful 50 ESG influencers who are driving change and received the Wisconsin Sustainability Champion Award. Under his leadership, Oshkosh Corporation has been on the DJSI World Sustainability Index for 5 consecutive years and recognized as One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies” for the ninth consecutive year.
 

Rockstar Insights:

David Szmigielski
Executive Director and Senior Lead Investment Banker, Sustainable Finance & Advisory
Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking
 
Why You Should Listen to David:
David leads Wells Fargo Securities’ sustainable finance cross-product origination and structuring practice. He focuses on advising companies in the diversified industrials, energy, power, and infrastructure sectors.
 
Rebecca O’Neill
Global Head of Sustainability
Marvell Technology
 
Why You Should Listen to Rebecca:
Rebecca has over 17 years’ experience in the sustainability field, having served in a wide range of roles within media, non-profit, consulting and corporate in-house teams. She has advised Fortune 500 companies on stakeholder engagement on sustainability, helping them to drive strategy via stakeholder dialogue and collaboration. As Head of Sustainability for the global semiconductor company Marvell, she leads the firm’s sustainability strategy and engagement with investors, customers and employees on environmental and social issues.