Better by Design CEO Summit

Media Release

3 July 2008

Time Magazine’s “Visionaries and Entrepreneurs” in New Zealand at Better by Design CEO Summit

Better by Design CEO Summit International Speakers focus on Increasing Profits through Sustainable Design for the Bottom Line

Five of the world’s leading advocates of sustainable business have been confirmed as headline speakers at this year’s Better by Design CEO Summit on the September 1st 2008.  Specifically designed for New Zealand CEOs and senior managers, the focus of the one day summit is on how businesses can engage profitably with growing mass-market demand for sustainable products and services.

Each of the international speakers has made headlines around the world with their groundbreaking approach to innovation and sustainable business practice. Three of the five international speakers were named among the world's top 50 sustainability leaders, visionaries, and entrepreneurs by Time Magazine in 2007. Four have written books considered 'must-reads' about business, innovation and sustainability.

The international speakers include:

Ray Anderson, Founder and Chairman, Interface Inc
Michael Braungart Principal, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry. Professor, Process Engineering at Universität Lüneburg (Germany)
Janine Benyus, Writer, Innovation consultant and founder of the Biomimicry Guild
Alex Steffen, Founder and Executive Editor, WorldChanging.com
Lee Weinstein, Principal, LWA PR; Former Director of Nike’s US and global public relations

According to Jeremy Moon, Chairman of the Better by Design’s Advisory Board, the summit will have an opportunity-focused agenda.

“Our exporters have always competed and won by being ahead of the next wave. The sustainability wave is here and it’s not just a fad. Simply acting with tokenism or ‘eco-improving’ your business is not going to cut it. We want to inspire New Zealand business people and help them to address this challenge. The focus of this summit is to showcase how companies can be environmentally responsible at the same time as increasing their profitability,” he says.

“The Better by Design CEO Summit is a must attend event” says Dame Cheryll Sotheran, NZTE’s Sector Director for the Creative Industries and Tourism.

“It has a highly respected range of international speakers and local business leaders sharing valuable insights into how sustainability can offer true business opportunity,” she says.

In addition to the acclaimed international key note speakers, five leading New Zealand CEOs will present their case studies. Further details will be released shortly.

The summit will be held at Auckland’s Hilton Hotel on Monday 1st September 2008. Last year’s CEO Summit was a sell out success and this year’s event is expected to reach capacity in record time. For further information or to register for the CEO Summit please visit: http://www.betterbydesign.org.nz

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