Few businesses have made sustainability a core part of their strategy, some are doing the minimum for compliance sake, the majority are on a carry on a “business as usual” path without stopping to question their negative impacts on society or the environment, let alone looking at the full life cycle of their brands.
How many of us in the industry actually know what sustainability or future proofing is? Yes we have all heard and experienced the scare tactics out there, but do we really know what to do and how to do it. Surely communications is key to this?
The 11th Aegis Media Thought Leadership Digibate will be live audio-streamed on bizradio.co.za on 7th November 2013 @ 10h00 central African time – post the live stream the edited podcasts will be made available for global sharing at no cost.
The panel will share insights and debate the following key issues;
If we are to Future Proof Africa, we need a sustainability Revolution. What role does communication play in this?
- What are some of these unexpected consequences and what are the risks to companies either embracing transparency and authenticity as a communication strategy or ignoring it at their own peril?
- Do we actually need a new word for sustainability? Should that word be Future Proof?
- What role can African businesses play to Future Proof Africa and ensure Africa can deliver Enough, For All, Forever.
- Is business keeping up with this shift in consciousness and are they doing enough to educate and communicate sustainability to an aspirational and demanding Africa?
- Is the marketing and advertising sector guilty of not future-proofing their own or their clients businesses by not seeing the major marketing opportunities of embracing true sustainability? What should advertising agencies be doing to change this?
- What examples of Future Proofing in Africa can you give us, and what are the benefits not only for African Business but for Africa as a whole?
- Dawn Rowlands, CEO Aegis Media SSA
- Kevin James, Founder – Global Carbon Exchange
- Deon Roberttze, Founder – The Change Agent
- Mpumelelo Ncwadi – Independent Sustainability Consultant
- Mike Freedman, Partner – FreedThinkers
- Chris Loker – Strategist, & Entrepreneur
Thank you to CHANGE AGENT for being part of the Digibate and assisting with the panel and topic. To find out more about them – thechangeagent.co.za
2 Comments
Thanks for the engaging and fascinating debate this morning about future proofing Africa. You addressed many critical issues about the sustainability in Africa that few people are willing to grapple with.
I share your concern that there are far too few individuals and organisations tackling the dramatic change that is needed in society to enable our future. You have taken a bold step to be open about that today’s way of life just cannot be sustained.
* How can these deep areas of change become communicated widely around the continent?
* And how can business leaders all over Africa be made aware of new paradigms of doing business?
I understand that often it is not the politicians, corporates, institutions or scientists that generate great social change, but the small groups of thought leaders that craft new paradigms and perspectives that infiltrate and spread around the countries.
I which way could African think-tanks become so innovative and creative in crafting very different concepts of sustainability and purpose that can transcend the present short-term consumerism into long-term collaborative living?
Rudolf
Thank you Rudolf, we’ve shared it with the panelists for their responses.