The Top 15 Keynote Speakers on Sustainable Supply Chain & the Future of Ethical Supply Chain

What is a Supply Chain?

A supply chain is a system of converting raw materials and resources into finished products which can then be distributed to consumers. The supply chain of a morning coffee, for example, starts as soon as the coffee begins to grow. It then ends when the coffee has been transported to the end consumer, which is anyone buying the coffee with numerous steps in between.

Sources: McKinsey and IBM

What is a Sustainable Supply Chain?

A sustainable supply chain is one which uses environmentally sustainable practices at every stage of the production and shipping process, for example, where the ingredients are sourced, how they are packaged and transported, and the sustainability practices their suppliers are using.

Source: IBM

What is an Ethical Supply Chain?

An ethical supply chain is one that ensures it treats both its workers, and the environment, ethically in every step of the supply chain process. Workers’ human rights need to be taken into consideration, for example, their working hours and their pay, and ensure they and not damaging the planet’s ecosystems by releasing toxic waste to name a few examples.

Sources: The Future of Commerce

Why is an Ethical and Sustainable Supply Chain Important?

In a recent study conducted by APICA and Loyola University, Chicago they found that 83% of supply chain professionals said ethics are extremely or very important to their organisations. An ethical and sustainable supply chain is also becoming more important to the consumer, with three-quarters of millennials willing to pay more for, and actively choosing, sustainable goods. This means, for organisations to flourish in our current day and age, with 93% of global consumers saying their views on sustainability have changed since the Covid-19 pandemic, a transparent supply chain is needed where ethics and sustainability are practised throughout.

Source: Supply Chain Management Review

How Can I Learn More About Sustainable Supply Chains & Ethical Supply Chain Trends?

Here at The Sustainability Speakers Agency, we are fortunate to work with world-leading experts on supply chains, who can be hired to share their expertise on the future trends of ethical supply chains. If you are interested in discovering more about sustainable supply chains or the future trends of supply chains, hire one of our top 15 sustainable supply chain speakers today!

Across 95 events between 2022 and 2024, these speakers have consistently received high official client ratings & verified feedback, making them the perfect choice for your next event.

The Top 15 Speakers on Sustainable Supply Chains & the Future of Ethical Supply Chain Trends

• Sheri Hinish
• Kathryn Wengel
• Lucas Joppa
• Jeremy Schwartz
• Sue Garrard
• Allan Lyall
• Alexandra Palt
• Göran Carstedt
• Steve Howard
• Pia Heidenmark Cook
• Martin Eberhard
• Jessica Sansom
• Sally Uren
• Tony Seba
• Mike Coupe

Sheri Hinish

Sheri Hinish is an expert in creating a sustainable supply chain within organisations. Having a very different outlook on the environment, believing sustainability is a mindset and not a tech project, coupled with her extensive experience working within supply chains, Sheri can deliver tailored strategies to organisations and help them with their sustainable development goals. Sheri has become so internationally renowned in her field for developing ethical and sustainable supply chains that she is known as the ‘Supply Chain Queen’ to her thousands of followers. Currently, she is the Principal of Global Sustainability Innovation and Eco System leader for Ernst Young, having previously held roles as the Consulting Global Leader for Sustainability Services for IBM and the Enterprise Supply Chain Lead for Breakthru Beverage Group.

Having received numerous awards for her talent in changing the sustainability supply chain landscape including ‘Top 50 Supply Chain Influencers’, ‘2023 Top Women in Supply Chain’ and ‘Top 50 Influencers in Sustainability’ there is no one more capable than Sheri to advise a company on their supply chain. As the host of the podcast ‘Supply Chain Revolution’ Sheri’s eloquent speaking style will keep any audience engaged.

Kathryn Wengel

Kathryn Wengel is Johnson & Johnson’s Executive Vice President, Chief Technical Operations & Risk Officer who was previously their Chief Global Supply Chain Officer. Kathryn’s incredible career has spanned over three decades, throughout which, she has won numerous awards and achievements including the 2014 Awesome Legendary Leadership Award, the Women of Excellence Award and the SC Thinkers and Movers Award. As a testament to her expertise to manage their supply chain, Johnson & Johnson is the only pharmaceutical company to ever be ranked in the top 5 on Gartner Inc.’s Supply Chain Top 25 List. Kathryn is also on the Awesome Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of GS1 Global Management and the Chair of the Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain Management Committee.

As the leader of Johnson & Johnson’s key technical operations, Kathryn has become an expert in ensuring supply chains have sustainability at the forefront of their operations. She has also partnered with external stakeholders to advance their technical operations and has since been elected into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame, and the recipient of the Lifetime Distinguished Service Award. There is no one more capable than Kathryn Wengel to hire as a sustainability supply chain speaker for your next event.

Lucas Joppa

Lucas Joppa is a world-renowned sustainability expert having sat at the forefront of his field as Microsoft’s first ever Chief Environmental Officer, after being promoted to this position from their Chief Environmental Scientist. He spent a successful 12 years with Microsoft and is now the Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Managing Director at Haveli Investments. In 2021 he also became a professor Adjunct at Yale University where he educates the next generation on sustainability. His knowledge is highly sought-after around the world – he was on the Science Advisory Board for Natural England, an External Advisory Board for The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Centre, and the Board of Directors for NatureServe. Currently, Lucas is an Advisory Board Member for the NCEAS, an Advisory Board Member for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and a Board of Visitors Member for Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment.

In 2016 he was the recipient of the USERN Prize and the 2014 Distinguished Service Award as a testament to his incredible work within the field of sustainability. Supply chain sustainability is an integral part of any company’s sustainability goals, making Lucas one of the most highly sought-after speakers on the subject having previously spoken for Virtual London Tech Week and GLOBAL 2020. Do not miss your chance to learn all about sustainable and ethical supply chains from Lucas Joppa today.

Jeremy Schwartz

Jeremy Schwartz has worked with some of the most successful businesses around the world and is known for creating strategies which improve a company’s numbers 10-fold without compromising on sustainability. With a boast-worthy resume, Jeremy has been the CEO of Pandora, Chairman and CEO of The Body Shop, the Managing Director of L’Oreal UK, CEO of The Sauce Co., Sainsbury’s Director of Brand Marketing, and the Director of Marketing for Northern and Central Europe for The Coca-Cola Company. Some of his impressive feats include making L’Oreal the overall number 1 cosmetic brand in the UK after being number 2 or 3 for 30 years, launching Pandora’s Programme NOW business transformation, halting Sainsbury’s 10-year decline, and inventing what is now known as Coca-Cola Zero. Jeremy is now the Chairman of Sustainability and Inclusion Transformation Practice for Kantar and is the host of the podcast ‘Saving Tomorrows Planet’ which is rated in the top 5% of podcasts worldwide.

During his tenure with The Body Shop, Jeremy launched the ‘Enrich Not Exploit’ campaign to ensure sustainability policies were adhered to whilst making profitable growth within the company. As a testament to Jeremy’s work, the company became the recipient of the World Retail Awards for Responsible Retailer. Whilst creating this campaign, ensuring an ethical and sustainable supply chain was a necessity. When looking to hire a speaker who can maximise profitability without compromising on the sustainability and ethics of your supply chain, hire Jeremy Schwartz today.

Sue Garrard

Holding two high-profile positions within Unilever, Sue Garrard has become renowned around the world for her ability to advise companies on their sustainability strategies and align them with their business objectives. Prior to her work in sustainability, Sue began her career working in advertising and Public Affairs. She was the Board Account Director at Fishburn-Hedges and Abbott Mead Vickers. She also spent time as the Director of Communications and then the Director General for the Department for Work and Pensions. Since 2011 Sue has been the SVP of Global Communications for Unilever and their EVP of Sustainable Business Development and Communications where she is future-proofing their sustainability strategy but still driving the growth of the company. In 2019 due to Sue’s input, Unilever’s sustainable living brands represented 70% of the company’s total growth.

More of Sue’s incredible feats include being placed at number 13 on the Top 100 Women Sustainability Influencers Worldwide by Forbes Magazine and has even advised the Ministry of Defence on the development of a Net Zero Carbon Strategy. As a Fellow at the University of Cambridge and Visiting Fellow for Cranfield School of Business Management, Sue is dedicated to educating the next generation on sustainability. As the Founder of Sue Garrad Consulting Ltd, Sue has advised some of the world’s leading companies on their sustainability strategy, encompassing ethical supply chains, including Mars, the BBC, O2, Nat West Banking, RHS and Primark. Do not your chance to hire Sue Garrard today.

Allan Lyall

Allan Lyall has worked with many of world-leading brands including Apple, Amazon and Tesco where he has gained plenty of experience working within the supply chain – such as when he was the Chief Global Supply Chain Officer for Wayfair. Allan has also previously held roles as Digital Equipment Corporations’ Manufacturing Manager, the Director of European Fulfilment for Apple, the Vice President of European Operations for Amazon and the Director of Online Customer Fulfilment at Tesco. Within his roles, Allan has been responsible for the worldwide product lifecycle management and supply chain and transportation where he gained much experience in building an ethical and sustainable supply chain having worked with distributors, suppliers and customer service representatives alike.

As the current Director of eTIPS and with his extensive knowledge of a wide range of business aspects coupled with his ability to predict future trends and build relationships with buyers, Allan will be the perfect addition to any speaking event. With over 40 years running supply chain logistics, do not miss your chance to hire Allan Lyall today when looking to expand your knowledge on sustainable and ethical supply chains.

Alexandra Palt

Despite becoming one of the most recognisable faces in sustainability, Alexandra Palt was not always headed down this path. She originally graduated from the University of Vianna with a degree in Law but was always passionate about women’s rights and asylum rights. Alexandra then became passionate about sustainability issues and thereafter dedicated her career to building a more sustainable and inclusive world. Alexandra has previously held roles as the Vice President for Equal Opportunities at HALDE and then became the Founder and General Manager of Fabric of Society. Alexandra currently holds three positions with L’Oreal including the Chief Sustainability Officer since 2012, CEO of the Foundation L’Oreal since 2017 and the Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer since 2019. She is currently leading L’Oreal’s 2023 sustainability targets, including trying to reduce its carbon footprint by 60%. Leading the way to creating a more ethical supply chain, Alexandra is dedicated to providing work for 100,000 people in underprivileged communities.

Previously, Alexandra has spoken at the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society and was an important figure in launching Women4Climate, mentoring at events in 2017 and 2018. Hoping to make 100% of L’Oreal’s products beneficial for the environment Alexandra has a deep understanding of ensuring an ethical and sustainable supply chain. Alexandra Palt is the perfect speaker on supply chains.

Göran Carstedt

Göran Carstedt created one of the most recognisable brand names of today as the former CEO of IKEA North America and has become an expert on sustainability, helping some of the world’s largest companies to become pioneers in sustainability, catapulting them towards a greener future. Having started his career with Volvo as their Manager of Market Planning, Göran then became their Manager of Corporate Planning, President of the car division and then President of Volvo Svenska Bil AB until 1990. After many successful years with Volvo, Göran then became the CEO of IKEA North America before then becoming the Head of IKEA Retail Group Europe. Since earning his PhD in sustainability in 1974, the issue has been a major concern for Goran who has become an avid supporter of climate action organisations.

In 2007 Göran became the Senior Director of the Climate Change Initiative and was responsible for building a relationship with 40 of the biggest cities all around the world to tackle climate change. In 2010 Göran gave a TEDx talk titled ‘Leadership for a Sustainable Future’ which cemented him as one of the most sought-after speakers to help create future-proof sustainable strategies. Göran Carstedt is the sustainability speaker you need to hire today to help create ethical and sustainable supply chains that will stand the test of time.

Steve Howard

Steve Howard is the Founder of WE MEAN BUSINESS, a group of international investors and businesses who are dedicated to combatting climate change to help the future of the planet. In 2022 Steve became the Founding Chair and Board Member of the company alongside his role as Chief Sustainability Officer for Temasek. In 2023 Steve then became the Vice Chair of Sustainability for the company and shares his worldly expertise on how to ensure organisations are tackling climate change head-on in his speeches. From 2011-2017 Steve was the Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA, responsible for ensuring the company remains at the forefront of sustainability. During his time at IKEA, Steve implemented the People and Planet Positive Scheme which resulted in 3 billion Euros being invested into renewable energy. This accomplishment placed IKEA in the top 5 Leading Sustainable Businesses.

As the Co-Chair of the Environment and Natural Resource Global Future Council for the World Economic Forum and an Advisory Board Member for Sustainable Energy for All, Steve is one of the leading speakers on sustainability. Having presented on the prestigious TEDx stage with his talk ‘Let’s Go All-In Selling Sustainability’, there is no doubt of Steve Howard’s ability to advise your organisation on its sustainability strategies at your next conference or event.

Pia Heidenmark Cook

Having always been passionate about the environment, Pia Heidenmark Cook graduated with a degree in Masters of Business Administration and Economics from Uppsala University before starting her career as an Environmental Consultant. Pia has since gone on to have an illustrious career within the sustainability sector and has become sought after all over the world to share her expertise on implementing sustainable practices to ensure business success. Throughout her career, Pia has been the Global Vice President of Responsible Business for The Rezidor Hotel Group, Chairman of the International Tourism Partnership for International Business Leaders Forum, Chairperson of The Do Group Limited, Non-Executive Director of MAX Burgers, Non-Executive Director of Bupa, Senior Advisor for Teneo and a Member of the Advisory Board for Decathlon.

In what was her most profound role within sustainability, Pia was the Global Head of Sustainability for IKEA before then being promoted to the Chief Sustainability Officer. A small selection of her impressive feats to ensure IKEA remains at the forefront of sustainability include coupling a 14% business growth with a 14% decrease in carbon footprint, 98% of wood used in products is either recycled or FSC, 100% of cotton is from sustainable sources and stopped selling single-use plastics to name a few. With Pia at its helm, IKEA won the Sustainable Leaders Award and the Circular Economy Award from the WEF. Pia has also won numerous awards herself such as one of the Top 5 Influencers on Climate Change Agenda, Top 100 Climate Influencers on Twitter and one of the Top 10 Female Leaders in Sustainability. Having given a TEDx talk ‘How IKEA is Growing its Business Whilst Shrinking Emissions’, do not miss your chance to hear from the seasoned speaker Pia Heidenmark Cook today.

Martin Eberhard

Award-winning businessman and former CEO and Co-Founder of Tesla Motors, Martin Eberhard is responsible for one of the world’s most environmentally conscious companies that has become synonymous with sustainability. In 2007 Martin became a member of the Advisory Board and still holds shares in the company. Striving to ensure his vision of economical vehicles is as widespread as possible, Martin has also been the Director of EV Development for Volkswagen and the Director of Electric Vehicles at the Volkswagen Electrics Research lab, putting into practice his master’s and undergraduate in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois. In 2018 Martin founded Tiveni Inc was the Chief Strategy Officer for SF Motors.

As a testament to his world-leading knowledge in the field of electrical engineering, Martin has won numerous awards including the Alumni Award for Distinguished Service issued by the University of Illinois, inducted to the Engineering Hall of Fame by the University of Illinois College of Engineering, Dean’s Distinguished Lecture issued by the University of Illinois Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concept Excellence Award by Volkswagen Group of America Electronics Research Laboratory and the Entrepreneurial Thought Leader Award issued by Stanford University to name a few. With sustainability at the forefront of Martin Eberhard’s work, he makes an excellent choice to hire as a speaker.

Jessica Sansom

As the Sustainability Director for Huel, and former Head of Sustainability for Innocent Drinks, Jessica Sansom is a name which has become synonymous with sustainability. Jessica has also been a Senior Consultant for the Institute for Sustainable Futures before then becoming the Environment Manager for McDonald’s. Soon working her way up the ladder at Mcdonald’s, Jessica eventually became the Sustainable Supply Manager for Europe for the fast food giant. During her tenure with Innocent Drinks, Jessica spent much time working with supply chains to ensure all of their ethical and sustainable practices were implemented throughout. For her work with Innocent, the company won numerous awards including Guardian Sustainable Business Award, the Rainforest Alliance Frog, the Business Community Big Tick Award and the ASDS Sustainable Brand Award. With Mcdonald’s, Jessica once again worked with suppliers to ensure the supply chain was ethical and sustainable, and introduced many of their sustainability programmes.

Named as one of the 100 UK Leading Environmentalists by Forbes, Jessica has become a popular sustainability speaker having contributed to the 2020 European Startup Festival. With a proven record of positively impacting organisations’ supply chains, ensuring they are both ethical and sustainable without compromising on performance, Jessica Sansom is the speaker you need to hire today.

Sally Uren

Sally Uren has dedicated her career to tackling environmental issues and developing a more sustainable future. As the CEO of Forum for the Future, she is accelerating this goal as she works with global organisations to help address complex sustainability issues faced by them. Some of the notable projects Sally is currently managing with Forum of the Future include Tea 2030, Cotton 2040 and Net Positive. Wanting the next generation to be educated on the importance of sustainability, Sally is also helping to develop the Forum for the Future’s School System Change. Sally has previously been the Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of Travalyst and founded the sustainability Consultancy, Casella Stranger. In 2017 she was appointed OBE for her services to sustainability and was named one of the 100 UK Leading Environmentalists by Forbes in 2020. In 2022, Sally then went on to judge for the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development.

With over 25 years of international experience helping businesses develop their sustainability goals across a wide range of sectors including philanthropy and non-profits, Sally is an expert at communicating and implementing systems change to ensure the future of the planet with sustainable and ethical supply chains. A seasoned speaker, having engaged audiences all over the world at engagements, Sally Uren is an expert at sharing her tips on how a sustainable and ethical supply chain will benefit us all in the future.

Tony Seba

The multi award-winning entrepreneur and thought leader, Tony Seba, is most well-known for predicting the rise of companies such as Google, Netflix, Apple and the rise of electric vehicles and equipment. There are very few people who possess the skills at predicting the future of sustainability and ethics like Tony – thoughts he shares in his number 1 bestselling book ‘Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation’, and ‘Solar Trillions’ ‘Winners Take All’. Tony has also co-authored a number of leading books and is frequently featured on numerous TV programmes such as Fox News, CNBA, CNN, the BBC and TVChosun and media outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Bloomberg to name a few. Throughout his career, Tony has been decorated with numerous awards as a testament to his work within his field including the Lean Energy Action’s Sunshine Award, Solar Transformation Recognition, the Solar Future Today’s Visionary Influencer Award and the Savvy Award.

As the Founder of ReThinkX, Tony is at the helm of forecasting technology-driven disruptions across a variety of sectors. He is also the Creator of the Seba Technology Disruption Framework and former CEO of PrintNation.com, and can share how the use of technology will influence sustainability and ethics, and how this can affect the supply chain. When looking to stay ahead of the Curve in predicting the future trends of ethics and sustainability in supply chains, look no further than Tony Seba to hire today.

Mike Coupe

Mike Coupe is renowned as Sainsburys’ former CEO who has used his knowledge in sustainability to turn it into the loved supermarket it is today. Before he was promoted to CEO, Mike was previously responsible for online operations, marketing and trading. Whilst with the company, Mike ensured the company stayed ahead of the trend by taking over Argos and Habitat, seeing a gap in the market, and reduced the company’s carbon emissions by 35%. Passionate about increasing the supermarket’s sustainability practices, Mike announced in 2020 they set the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Mike has also been the Non-Executive Director at Greene King plc, Board and Managing Director of Iceland Foods, Chairman of Oak Furniture Land and Harding Brothers Retail Limited, with his last role becoming the Non-Executive Director of New Look.

Having previously said “we must recognise that living well now also means living sustainably”, Mike is one of the forefront speakers on helping companies achieve their sustainability goals through the supply chain. Having successfully invested over £1 billion into Sainsbury’s achieving their 2040 goals, there is no one more capable than Mike Coupe at helping a wide variety of organisations ensure their supply chain is both ethical and sustainable now, and in the future.

How Do I Hire a Sustainable Supply Chain & Future of Ethical Supply Chain Speaker?

If you are looking to hire a speaker on sustainable and ethical supply chains for your next event, do not hesitate to contact us here at The Sustainability Speakers Agency. We have a dedicated team who will be happy to answer any queries via telephone on 0203 9355 587, or alternatively, fill out our online contact form. if you are looking for a wider selection of sustainability speakers, why not take a look at our roster of Sustainability Speakers?