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Event

Future-proof: preparing for a sustainable tomorrow

25 apr. 2023

Event details

25 April 2023 | 13:30 - 20:00

Living Tomorrow, Indringingsweg 1, 1800 Vilvoorde

Environmental, social and governance (ESG): these are the three central factors in which organisations today are increasingly investing to ensure a more sustainable way of working and living. With the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), organisations are given an extra push to take action. Although this directive, in the short run, applies to large companies, SMEs as well will need to incorporate ESG into their organisation based on their own conviction, under the influence of their main stakeholders or in accordance with the principle of best practice.

Whether you have already taken initiatives in your ESG journey or you are wanting to take the first steps, it is still a challenge to decide on how to make sustainability part of your organisation's strategy. How do you realise valuable impact? How do you get a grip on ESG-related risks and opportunities? How do you report clearly on sustainability performance and social value to your various stakeholders or in your supply chain?

What can you expect?

During the whole afternoon we will take you on an ESG journey with interactive workshops, interesting content and captivating panel discussions, moderated by Francesca Vanthielen.

To end the content sessiosn, Stefaan Vandist, our key note speaker of the day, will inspire us by linking the desired components or elements of a future-proof organisation: foresight, sustainability, innovation and artificial intelligence. Learn about how they might interact in your organisation.

Programme

We put together an attractive programme that we think will meet your various needs and interests. To make the afternoon as relevant to you as possible, you will have the opportunity to put together your own programme when subscribing.

13:30 | Welcome

Doors are open from 13:30. You will be welcomed with a drink at your arrival.

14:00 | Introduction by Grant Thornton

Ria Verheyen, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton, welcomes you to our client event.

Isabel Derison, Partner Business Risk Services, will present a short introduction by setting the ESG scene for you.

14:30 | Personalised programme

We put together a varied programme that we think will meet your various needs and interests. To make the afternoon as relevant to you as possible, you will have the opportunity to put together your own programme when registering.

Your ESG journey

Speakers

Katherine Jespers, Manager Business Risk Services
Niels Breugelmans, Manager Business Risk Services

Description

Do you want to learn everything about the Grant Thornton ESG-journey, our practical framework to bring sustainability theory into your practice?

In this session we will explain the opportunities and competitive advantages of integrating ESG in your organisation.

We will focus on:

  • Importance of ESG for an SME (even if you don't meet the criteria to comply with CSRD)
  • Hands-on approach and further deepdive in:
    • Stakeholder management
    • Materiality assessment
    • Prioritisation of actions, linked with strategy and governance
    • Measuring impact and reporting ESG progress

At the end of the session, we hope to have inspired you with some specific thoughts and actions, so you can get started in your own organisation.

How to incorporate ESG and risk management

Speakers

Mark Ernots, Partner Transaction Advisory Services
Deep Parekh, Business Risk Services

Description

ESG is not only about being more sustainable, but organisations that incorporate ESG in their organisation will be able to anticipate faster on risks and opportunities, which gives you one step ahead in managing your risks. Incorporation of ESG in your day-to-day decision making will make you better prepared for the future.

Our Transaction Advisory team will explain you how they integrate ESG and risk management during the M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) processes, to add another layer of value for the client.

How to combine ESG and compliance

Speakers

Frederik De Graeve - Partner Tax & Legal
Isabel Derison - Partner Business Risk Services

Description

With the emerging importance of ESG and the potential advantages, we can not ignore the 'compliance' aspect in this area. One thing is sure, ESG compliance comes in different layers and whatever the size of your organisation may be, you will always be subject to ESG compliance in one or multiple ways.

We will look at it from a holistic point of view but also provide insights on relevant legal changes in the ESG domain, think about: electrification of the car fleet and protection of the whistleblower.

You will also leave this session with good insights on 'sustainability washing' and the ESG Fraud risk. We will demonstrate that pursuing compliance (potentially combined with assurance) will give you a strong foundation to report your own impact to society and boost your organization's reputation.

Inspiration journey with our guide from Living Tomorrow

Speaker

Dirk Gaudeus, Innovation coach at Living Tomorrow


Description

Get inspired by Living Tomorrow. In a storytelling way, your Living Tomorrow guide will give you insights on the link between ESG and Innovation by referring to Living Tomorrow's own ESG journey, to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and Artificial Intelligence

15:30 | Coffee break

During the break, you can enjoy coffee/tea and refreshments.

15:50 | Personalised programme

We put together a varied programme that we think will meet your various needs and interests. To make the afternoon as relevant to you as possible, you will have the opportunity to put together your own programme when registering.

Workshop: Stakeholder and materiality mapping

Speakers

Katherine Jespers, Manager Business Risk Services
Niels Breugelmans, Manager Business Risk Services

Description

Taking those ESG-related actions that are most valuable to your organization and your stakeholders requires some preparation. This preparation will bring the FOCUS in your organisation

In this practicle workshop, we will go through the following ESG-journey stages:

- stakeholder identification & mapping
- materiality assessment & prioritization (linked to stakeholder importance).

After this session, you can get started by drafting your ESG-action plan, taking your organisation to the next level.

Workshop: Strategy and business model mapping

Speakers

Deep Parekh, Business Risk Services
Kiara Conings, Business Risk Services

Description

You can put ESG in the FOUNDATION of your organisation. 

During this session, you will use the internationally recognised Business Model Beacon © framework to:

- update or design your Strategy & Business model
- see the ESG integration possibilities to increase resilience AND develop competitive advantage
- set the basis for compliance and monitoring of your actions and goals.

ESG and Reporting: Data measurement

Speakers

Lodewijk Babi, CEO Juvo
Gregory Desmet, Partner Audit & Assurance

Description

CSRD audit-proof compliant reporting will increase the need for a broad spectrum data measurement in relation to the companies material ESG topics. An organization needs the correct 'Facts and Figures' for a compliant and transparent sustainability reporting. Data measurement will be the basis for that, requiring adequate processes and data management.

Measuring data is one challenge for an organisation, but using the data insights (through dashboards and reporting tools) will bring an extra added value to the day-to-day management of your organisation and ESG journey.

This session will be hosted by Lodewijk Babi, CEO of JUVO. JUVO's purpose is "to make your data profitable", focussing both on the financial and non-financial side of your business.

Inspiration journey with our guide from Living Tomorrow

Speaker

Dirk Gaudeus, Innovation coach at Living Tomorrow

Description

Get inspired by Living Tomorrow. In a storytelling way, your Living Tomorrow guide will give you insights on the link between ESG and Innovation by referring to Living Tomorrow's own ESG journey, to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and Artificial Intelligence

16:40 | Coffee break

During the break, you can enjoy coffee/tea and refreshments.

17:00 | Testimonial panel

Panel members

Catherine Bals (Sustainability department lead at Proximus)
Kris Kippers (Co-Head Equity research at Degroof Petercam)
Gill Scheltjens (CEO at D-CRBN)
Gilda Neiman (Citicorp, Greenomy, Board member in different organizations)
Didier Appels (Business Development Director at Close the Gap)

Moderation by Francesca Vanthielen

17:30 | Key note speaker: Stefaan Vandist

Stefaan Vandist, our key note speaker of the day, will inspire us by linking the desired components or elements of a future-proof organisation: foresight, sustainability, innovation and artificial intelligence. Learn about how they might interact in your organisation.

18:20 | Closing

Isabel Derison will conclude the afternoon with some key takeaways.

18:30 | Network reception with walking dinner

We invite you to a walking dinner where you will have the opportunity to get in touch with our experts.

For whom

Our clients and relations are welcome to the event, whether you have already taken initiatives in your ESG journey or want to take the first steps.

Registration

Participation in this event is free of charge. Go to our registration site and confirm your presence. Registrations are open until 19 April 2023.

If you have questions, feel free to contact us.

Register now