Programme

Leaders for Nature offers an annual programme of activities for member companies:

  • Three sessions constituting the Leaders for Nature Forum:
    • Part I: forum.
    • Part II: follow-up event.
    • Part III: annual closing event.
  • Three master classes with a focus on ecosystems and biodiversity and how to incorporate this in the core businesses and sustainability strategies of the member companies.
  • An introduction session per company about the value of biodiversity for your company given by IUCN NL experts.
  • Inspiration meetings and exchange of best practices. These meetings are driven by the network and member companies are invited to organize these meetings themselves.
     

  

Leaders for Nature Forum
The Forum is the official start of the Leaders for Nature programme and is the business event on the planet side of sustainability. With 250-300 company representatives, leading inspirational experts, environmental and business leaders present, the Forum is the platform to showcase corporate sustainable environmental leadership.

During the LFN Forum a team of 10 young professionals, 5 managers and the CEO or Board member from each member company work together to develop concrete commitments on business level for the year ahead in order to contribute to the sustainability agenda and to improve the impact of their business on biodiversity. Impression of the Forum in 2012.

Leaders for Nature Forum follow-up event
After the LFN Forum each company develops an action plan based on the commitments made during the Forum. The action plans are presented by the member companies to their peers, and a jury during the Leaders for Nature. Impression of the follow-up event in 2011.

Leaders for Nature annual closing event
The results of the action plans are presented by the member companies to their peers and a jury. Success stories and lessons learned are shared to motivate and inspire, as well as showcase how commitments have been used to drive change. The theme of the next Leaders for Nature Forum is also announced during this event to prepare for the next Leaders for Nature cycle.

Master classes (3)
A master class addresses in depth a topic related to the planet aspects of sustainability, with a link to biodiversity and ecosystems. The focus is on applying content that can be used by professionals to enhance and execute sustainability policies. Examples are ‘Mapping your impacts and dependencies’ and ‘Energizing the future, naturally’. The topics are selected based on the needs of the Leaders for Nature membership. Impression of the 3rd Master Class in 2011.

In-company introduction session on biodiversity
The in-company session offers your company a chance to work together with experts from IUCN NL in mapping your company’s impacts on biodiversity and the value biodiversity offers to your company. The session is designed as a first building block in incorporating biodiversity in your business, as well as facilitation of your action plan.

Inspirational meetings
An inspirational meeting addresses a topic in a general way. The purpose of the meeting is to raise awareness and to create a better understanding of a particular issue at stake, as well as facilitate leadership. The inspirational meetings and the exchange of best practices are initiated by the member companies with support from IUCN NL. For example the session ‘Embedding sustainability in your core business' by InterfaceFLOR.

Leaders for Nature also facilitates:

  • High level meetings: during these meetings, executives of the member companies and the board of patrons get together to discuss sustainability and biodiversity issues. For example, the executive dinner at the 5th Leaders for Nature Forum.
  • Best practice exchange: during the year, contact between IUCN NL, environmental professionals and employees of member companies is facilitated by the LinkedIn community and Twitter. LinkedIn facilitates members to exchange ideas and examples on sustainable topics.