The two-day workshop will bring together scholars and practitioners to explore the emerging field of regenerative business. The workshop will support knowledge exchange, identify future research directions, and build a collaborative community around regenerative business.
With seven of the nine planetary boundaries now exceeding safe operating spaces, the risk of irreversible environmental changes is rapidly increasing.
It is no longer sufficient for companies to be sustainable. There is urgent need for businesses to move beyond sustainability towards regenerative models that actively enhance the health of the natural and social systems.
The workshop will explore the following themes:
Theme 1: Why Regenerative Business? Why now?
Theme 2: How might Regenerative Business happen?
Theme 3: Co-creating Regenerative futures
Agenda
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| Day 1 Morning session: hybrid | |
| 10:00–10:30 | Arrival and networking (coffee) |
| 10:30–10:45 |
Welcome and Introduction Prof. Miying Yang (ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ University) |
| 10:45–11:20 |
Keynote Speech 1 Prof. Steve Evans (University of Cambridge) |
| 11:20–12:30 |
Speaker 1: Learning from Regenerative Agriculture Speaker 2: A Compass for Just and Regenerative Business Speaker 3: Design Regenerative Business Panel discussion (Q&A) |
| 12:30–13:30 | Lunch break & networking |
| Day 1 Afternoon session: in person | |
| 13:30–14:45 | Group Work 1: Regenerative Business Cases |
| 14:45–15:00 | Break & networking |
| 15:00–16:15 |
Group Work 2: (Re)framing for Regenerative Transformations Prof. Luisa D. Huaccho Huatuco (University of York) Dr Susan Evans (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) |
| 16:15–16:30 | Reflection and wrap up |
| 16:30–17:30 |
Sustainability campus tour Gareth Ellis (ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ University) |
| Day 2 Morning session: hybrid | |
| 09:00–10:00 | Pre-morning session (in-person only) |
| 10:00–10:30 | Arrival and networking (coffee) |
| 10:30–10:40 |
Welcome and Introduction Prof. Miying Yang (ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ University) |
| 10:40–11:20 |
Keynote Speech 2 (TBC) Former Chief Sustainability Officer, Unilever |
| 11:20–12:30 |
Speaker 4: New Economy for Scaling Regenerative Businesses Speaker 5: (Re)framing for Regenerative Transformations Speaker 6: From Sustainability to Regenerative Manufacturing Panel discussion (Q&A) |
| 12:30–13:30 | Lunch break & networking |
| Day 2 Afternoon session: in person | |
| 13:30–14:30 | Group Work 1: Ecological Design Thinking (TBC) |
| 14:30–14:45 | Break & networking |
| 14:45–16:15 |
Group Work 2: Research Agenda Design Prof. Miying Yang & Prof. Steve Evans |
| 16:15–16:30 | Reflection and wrap up |
Speakers
Martin Rich
Martin Rich is a sustainability and impact specialist with nearly 30 years’ experience in both mainstream and social investment. Following a successful career in international finance working for UBS, JPMorgan, HSBC and Social Finance Ltd, he co-founded Future-Fit Foundation with a vision to create a truly sustainable future for all. He now works on the cutting-edge of regenerative business and new economic thinking, helping companies and financial institutions of all sizes address the radical transformation that the future demands of their business models.
Martin is a non-executive director and advisory committee member for a range of organisations, including Foresight Group, North Star Transition and CERSIA CIC. He is also formerly the Senior Independent Director of the UK Government’s Access Foundation and a member of the Asset Allocation Working Group for the G7 Social Investment Task Force.
Martin holds Master’s degrees with First and Distinction in Engineering from Queens’ College, Cambridge University.
Ben Kellard
Fellow, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership & Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity
Ben educates and advises senior business leaders on how to align their purpose and strategy with the transition to a sustainable economy. His clients include boards and executive teams of large multi-national companies in a range of industries from food to construction and consumer goods.
He was on the steering committee for the first national standard for a sustainable purpose-driven organisation, that is now becoming an international standard.
He is currently working independently with global thought leaders and representatives of business, finance and government to co-create a narrative for a new economy that serves people and the planet. This is intended to help leaders to see the urgent need to transform the economy and find their place in it.
He draws on over twenty years of experience as an organisational development consultant, eleven of which were with the international not-for-profit Forum for the Future.
Attendance options
- Day 1: online only (10:30-12:30, 30 June)
- Day 2: online only (10:30-12:30, 1 July)
- Both mornings online
- Day 1: in-person only (10:30-16:30, 30 June)
- Day 2: in-person only (10:30-16:30, 1 July)
- Both days in-person
Note: if you attend both days, in-person, you will be eligible to apply for EU COST travel funding, available for up to 25 participants.
Registration deadlines
Registration for in-person ends on 15 June 2026
Registration for online only ends on 26 June 2026
Accommodation
On-site accommodation is available at either ÌúÅ£ÊÓƵ Management Development Centre: cmdcresrvations@cranfield.ac.uk or Mitchell Hall: mhsales@cranfield.ac.uk.
Photography
We may take photographs and/or videos at the physical event, which may be used in general promotional material recording or relating to the event, including use with websites, emails, social media and tangible literature. If you have any concerns relating to this, please contact the events coordinator Ms Mel King (mel.king@cranfield.ac.uk) at the event.
Acknowledgement
The event is supported by COST Action CA23157 - European Network for Multiple View Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (MultiViewLCSA), funded by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).
