Inside the Blue Earth Summit Programme

As we gear up for Blue Earth Summit 2024, we sat down with our Programme Editor Rosie Riley to get an exclusive inside look at this year’s event. From big-name speakers to cross-sector discussions and radical new content, this year’s programme promises to be bigger and better than ever. With a diverse range of topics covering everything from environmentalism to regenerative systems and future tech, the Summit is set to inspire meaningful change. In this Q&A, we’ll dive into the highlights of the Summit, bust some myths, and explore what makes this year’s programme stand out.

Book Now, Save 25% on Tickets

Q&A with the Summit Programme Editor Rosie Riley

Tell us what we need to know about this year’s Summit Programme

Honestly, this year’s programme is bigger and better than ever. We’ve really matured as an event, and our programme packs a punch. Expect a dynamic line-up that addresses the most critical environmental, social, and economic issues of our time. Across the three days, you can expect 122 hours of panels, interviews and keynotes, and across 4 stages and 2 workshop spaces, delivered by 300+ speakers and 80 partners. With more speakers and partners to be announced soon!

Tell us what we need to know about this year’s Summit Programme

Honestly, this year’s programme is bigger and better than ever. We’ve really matured as an event, and our programme packs a punch. Expect a dynamic line-up that addresses the most critical environmental, social, and economic issues of our time. Across the three days, you can expect 122 hours of panels, interviews and keynotes, and across 4 stages and 2 workshop spaces, delivered by 300+ speakers and 80 partners. With more speakers and partners to be announced soon!

What can we expect from the different stages?

Blue Earth Stage

The Blue Earth Stage sets the tone for the entire Summit. It spotlights the solutions needed to regenerate our natural world, with a focus on transformative discussions.

Who's on? Henry Dimbleby, Andy Cato, Deborah Meaden, Dominique P., Clover Hogan, James Buttress. These are just a few of the highlights!

Futures Stage

The Futures Stage is where we explore the future of key industries and the critical issues they face. This stage is perfect for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of how these sectors are evolving and the innovations driving change.

Trending sessions include: The Future of the Deep Sea, The Future of Tech for Nature & Climate, The Future of Food, The Future of Media, and The Future of Fashion.

Forum Stage

The Forum Stage is all about making meaningful connections between purpose-led founders and impact investors. It’s where businesses with a mission to drive change can find the support they need to fund the next generation of climate solutions.

What to expect? Sessions like "How to Build an Authentic Brand?" "Is This the End of ‘Purpose-Led’?, How to Maintain Integrity Through Growth and Exit, and Female Founders. These discussions are essential for anyone looking to scale with purpose while staying true to their values.

The Fourth Stage

The Fourth Stage is where we really push boundaries. It’s all about radical thinking and cutting-edge discussions led by our Blue Earth partners. This stage gives a platform to some of the most innovative and forward-thinking minds out there, tackling big ideas and bold solutions.

Some of the highlights include: “Habitat for Earth: Designing and Building a Regenerative Future” hosted by The Klosters Forum, “From Crises to Resilience: The Road Out” hosted by Business Declares, “The Future of Britain” hosted by Anthropy UK, and “Navigating People, Purpose, Profit” hosted by The Bio-Leadership Project.

Can you bust some Blue Earth Summit myths?

Sure, let’s clear up a few misconceptions about Blue Earth

• Not just an ocean event: While oceans play a role, they make up just 10% of our Summit programme.
• Not a provincial event: Our programme and community are global, and we’re excited to launch in London after three successful years in Bristol.
• Deliberately cross-sectoral: We unite different industries to share best practices (e.g., energy with travel, oceans with food, sport with fashion).
• Not just for purists: All business leaders are welcome as long as the conversations are genuine, unscripted, and open to dialogue.
• Inspired by the outdoors, but not exclusively focused on it: We tackle the most critical issues facing today’s working world, using the outdoors as inspiration.

What’s New for the Blue Earth Summit in 2024?

Blue Earth Unplugged

For 2024, we’re introducing Blue Earth Unplugged, an evening programme featuring curated networking and satellite events with key partners.

Wednesday 16th

• Blue Earth After-Hours: Join us for drinks and music at Woolwich Works after the main stage closes (18:00-22:00).
• People, Planet, and Pint Drinks: At Dial Arch (Wednesday, 16th).

Thursday 17th

• Reasons to be Cheerful: Hosted by long-standing Blue Earth friend Mark Shayler, featuring British rapper Speech Debelle, Asylum Speakers, ultra-endurance runner Kelsey Price, and more (Thursday 17th and Friday 18th | 19:00-22:00).
• Adventure Uncovered Film Festival: Featuring purpose-driven films curated by Adventure Uncovered with submissions from Protect Our Winters Europe, Blue Marine Foundation, and more (Thursday, 17th | 19:00-22:00).

Friday 18th

• Rewilding Site Visit: Explore Nattergal Ltd's Harold’s Park in Essex, a 206-hectare wildland transforming arable fields into biodiverse ecosystems (10:30-13:00).
• Breathwork with Hanli Prinsloo and Outdoor Swimming with Sophie Hellyer: Take a dip at Canary Wharf’s Middle Dock, or join a relaxing breathwork session. Powered by dryrobe Ltd and Finisterre.

Who are the Ecosystem Partners?

We’ve chosen 24 Ecosystem Partners—organisations, institutions, networks, and groups that align with the Blue Earth mission. These change makers are dedicated to finding innovative solutions to restore our natural world and drive impactful, lasting change. Through co-created content, cross-promotion of activities, and helping us highlight the boldest voices of our time, our Ecosystem Partners expand our reach and amplify the movement for a regenerative future.

How and why did you select the Summit Themes?

I selected this year’s themes to reflect the diverse and interconnected challenges we face in building a sustainable future. From Sport & Adventure, which inspires action through the power of nature, to Climate Tech and Innovation, which drive the solutions needed to accelerate change. Each theme, whether it’s Food & Agriculture, Energy, or Finance, plays a critical role in shaping a regenerative economy. By including Oceans, Built Environment, and Nature, we address the foundations of life, while Politics & People ensures we bring grassroots movements and policy into the conversation.

How is day 3 different?

Day 3 is all about reconnecting with nature. We offer a range of outdoor activities like open-water swimming at Canary Wharf’s Middle Dock, guided runs with Protect Our Winters Europe, and yoga with the Second Nature Sisters | Org. It’s a chance to foster a deeper connection with nature—an essential aspect of Blue Earth’s ethos.

So, don’t head straight back to the office-join us for a day of Reconnection.

What's not to miss? Can you give us your programme highlights?

This is difficult. But here are a few sessions I'm particularly excited about:

16 October | 10:30-11:00 | Futures Stage

The Future of Media

• Danielle Mulder, Global Head of Sustainability, BBC
• Julie Richards, The Guardian
• Lenaic Pineau, Global Head of Sustainability, JCDecaux
• Alice Aedy, Founder, Earthrise Studio

October 16 | 14:00-14:40 | Blue Earth Stage

The Future of Food: Transitioning to a Regenerative System hosted by Soil Association

• Anabel Kindersley, Co-Owner and CEO Neal's Yard Remedies
• Emma Keller, Head of Sustainability, Nestlé
• Helen Browning, CEO, Soil Association
• Claire Mackenzie, Producer, Six Inches of Soil

17 October | 14:00-14:30 | Blue Earth Stage

The Future of Environmentalism

• Will Travers OBE, Founder, Born Free Foundation
• Dominique Palmer, Youth Activist
• Bella Lack, Member Board of Trustees, Born Free Foundation and Author
• Juliet Davenport, Founder, Good Energy
• John Elkington, Founder, Volans

17 October | 14:00-14:30 | Futures Stage

The Future of The Deep Sea

• Oliver Steeds OBE , CEO, Nekton and Ocean Census
• Professor Jon Copley, Professor of Ocean Exploration and Science Communication, University of Southampton
• Dawn Kernagis, Director of Scientific Research, DEEP

17 October | 09:50-10:30 | Forum Business Stage

Purpose-led Organisations: The Road to Redemption or a Cul-de-Sac of Distraction? Hosted by British Business bank

• Tony Greenham, Managing Director, British Business Bank
• Guy Singh-Watson, Founder, Riverford Organic Farmers
• Andy Brown, CSO, Anglian Water Services
• Linzi Boyd, Founder, One Earth

October 17 | Fourth Stage | 10:30-11:00

How can high-integrity investment boost rewilding across Britain whilst ensuring equitable community benefit? Hosted by Rewilding Britain

• Ben Goldsmith, CEO, Menhaden Capital
• Helen Avery, Director, Nature Programme, Green Finance Institute
• Archie Struthers, CEO, Nattergal Ltd
• Angela Williams, Development Manager, Langholm Initiative
• Rebecca Wrigley, CEO, Rewilding Britain

16 October | 11:40-12:20 | Futures Stage

The Future of Impact Communications Hosted by Enviral

• Nina Hajikhanian, General Manager EMEA, Patagonia
• Emma Marsh FRSA, Executive Director of Digital Technology and Communications, RSPB
• Joss Ford, Founder, Enviral
• Chloe Tuck, Account Manager, Enviral

Check out our programme here 👉

The Role of Programme Editor: What’s the Best and Hardest Part?

I mostly enjoy working with inspiring and dedicated people in the Blue Earth community, such as our speakers, partners and long-standing friends, to develop content and session ideas from infancy through to fully fledged discussions on our stages. It’s exciting!

The hardest part is ensuring diversity across the programme. Often, the same people, usually white men who tend to put themselves forward. To create genuine impact, we need a diverse range of voices, which is why we’re committed to the DICE protocol. It ensures no more than 50% male participation on any panel and no more than 70% white/Caucasian representation. While we’re making progress, with 56% of our programme female and 80% white/Caucasian, we acknowledge there’s still work to do.

Check out our first 50 sessions now live 👉

Don’t miss out! We’re offering an exclusive 25% discount—grab your tickets before prices go up 👉