We are delighted to welcome to Hong Kong again Dr Alan Knight, who has spent nearly 20 years in sustainable development in the fields of retail, global finance and advising government. Not just an environmentalist, Dr. Knight’s specialty is actually to work with businesses and policy makers to ensure they are profitable in business, but within our planetary means.  This is the focus of the lecture, which he illustrates particularly through the lens of the use of sustainable consumer products.

Dr Knight was appointed as Environmental Director of B&Q, Europe's largest DIY chain, in October 1990.  Since then, Dr Knight has played an instrumental role in developing and co-ordinating the retail industry’s environmental policies and advising B&Q, then subsequently companies worldwide, on sustainability.

A NGO, Single Planet Living, was founded by Dr Knight in 2006 to advise on sustainable development in the fields of retail, finance, mainly for global operations, and advising government.  Dr Knight's speciality is to work with businesses and policy makers to ensure that they understand each other's agendas, to operate profitably but within the planet’s means, especially for consumer products.  His principal objective, illustrated in the lecture, is to help businesses to unlock their own internal expertise, develop their skills and confidence to enable them to manage innovative product and consumer-focused sustainable development strategies within their organisations.

With a deep understanding of the scale of the environmental challenges humanity faces this century and what this means for business, both in terms of challenges and opportunities, Dr Knight gives an update on the latest thinking on sustainable development and the massive impact it has on international commerce.

Dr Knight read Geology at the University of Southampton, subsequently receiving a PhD from the University of London in Marine Biology.  He was awarded the OBE in June 1998 for Services to the Environment   In 1993, B&Q won the Royal Society of Art's Environmental Award under his leadership.  In 1995, Dr Knight won the 'Environmental Leader Award' from Tomorrow Magazine.  Dr Knight sits on the British Government’s Sustainable Development Commission, chairs the British Government's "Advisory Panel on Consumer Products and the Environment” and is an ambassador to the WWF.  He has also served on the board of the Forest Stewardship Council.  Before founding Single Planet Living, Dr Knight’s roles included Head of Corporate Sustainability at SABMiller, the world's second largest brewer, followed by Head of Social Responsibility for the Kingfisher Group.  He is an independent advisor to the Virgin Group, ensuring a single co-ordinated approach to Sustainable Development.  He also runs the Virgin Earth Challenge, is a senior associate of the Cambridge University Programme for Sustainability Leadership for Industry and is director of the Tropical Forest Trust.

Members and their guests are most welcome to attend this lecture, which is HK$100 for Members and HK$150 for guests and others.
 

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