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Terra Tuscany 2024: A gathering for global sustainability leaders


As we contend with climate change and accelerating environmental decline, Terra Tuscany 2024 stands as a meeting point for supporting real transformation. We all agree that the road ahead will not be easy and that focusing on meaningful actions today is the only way to shape our future. 

Hosted at Villa Lena in Tuscany from September 2nd to 4th, this event is designed as a conference and an immersive experience—combining thought leadership, strategic discussions, and the beauty of the Italian countryside.

Why Terra Tuscany? 

As scrutiny intensifies on businesses and governments for their environmental impact, navigating the transformation demands accurate information, deep insights, and a well-devised strategy for meaningful progress. Hence, Terra Tuscany offers an opportunity to engage with some of the brightest minds in sustainability. 

The summit is a way to move beyond traditional conversations, focusing instead on actionable strategies that can drive change. While discussing challenges is important, prioritising critical evaluation and implementing solutions swiftly holds even greater significance.

For professionals in sustainability, climate action, and corporate responsibility, Terra Tuscany is a chance to connect and acquire a multi-dimensional view of the options ahead. We hope the insights gained here could guide the direction of global sustainability efforts for years to come.

Event highlights: panels, workshops, and networking

Day 1: Immersion and strategic insight

The event kicks off with an inspiring keynote by Sandrine Dixson-Declève, President of The Club of Rome, titled "From Limits to Growth to an Earth for All: Meeting 21st Century Challenges." This session sets the tone for the entire summit, framing the discussions within the context of urgent global challenges.

In an evening keynote titled "Why Having a Sustainability Strategy is Not Enough," Daniel Schmid, Chief Sustainability Officer at SAP, will discuss how businesses can use sustainability as a driver for innovation. This discussion is critical for leaders looking to evolve their sustainability initiatives from mere compliance to a core component of business strategy.

Day 2: Engagement and collaboration

The second day focuses on engagement and the power of collaboration. Workshops like "Decision-Making Power," participated by Elena Morettini, Global Head of Sustainable Business at Globant, will offer attendees the chance to explore how effective communication within organisations can enhance decision-making processes. The interactive nature of these sessions ensures that participants can directly apply the lessons to their organisations.

A particularly timely panel, "Creating Incentive Systems," will explore how the public and private sectors can work together to develop incentives that promote climate action. With insights from experts like Patricio Lombardi, First Secretary of the Climate in the Americas, and Simon Glynn, Founder of ZeroIdeas, this session promises to offer innovative approaches to one of the most significant challenges in sustainability today.

The day concludes with a Sustainability Leadership Masterclass led by Nancy Mahon of Estée Lauder and Michael Kobori of Starbucks. This session will explore how these industry giants lead sustainability efforts and what other organisations can learn from their experiences.

Day 3: Commitment and forward-looking strategies

The summit's final day is dedicated to consolidating insights and planning future actions. Sessions like "Compliance & Regulations," moderated by Sarah Thuo from EY-Parthenon, will address the evolving landscape of sustainability regulations and how businesses can stay ahead of the curve. The "Biodiversity Credits and the Carbon Market" discussion will further expand on how innovative financial instruments like Biodiversity credits can drive conservation efforts.

The event will culminate with a Climate Action Game Plan session, where all the actionable insights from the summit will be summarised, providing attendees with a clear roadmap to implement within their organisations. This session is not just about what was discussed; it's about ensuring that every participant leaves with concrete steps to contribute to a more sustainable future.

The Tuscan experience: nature meets nurture

The choice of Tuscany as the venue is no accident. Every aspect of the event, from the workshops to the dining experiences, is designed to deepen attendees' connections with the natural world. 

Participants will have the chance to reconnect through activities such as hikes in the Tuscan hills. With its 500 hectares of vineyards, gardens, and wildlife, Villa Lena offers a setting to reflect on climate change and the fragility of the environment and provide the mental space needed to think deeply about the issues at hand. 

Looking forward: the impact of Terra Tuscany

The impact of Terra Tuscany 2024 will extend far beyond the event's three days. The conversations, connections, and commitments made here are expected to influence global sustainability practices and innovation for the future. By bringing together leaders from various sectors, the summit creates a unique ecosystem where ideas can be exchanged freely, and collaborations can be formed.

Sustainability is no longer optional but essential. With this in mind, Terra Tuscany offers a rare opportunity to be part of the solution. For those who attend, the insights gained will enhance their professional capabilities and contribute to the broader goal of ensuring a better future for all.

We look forward to meeting you there!

For those seeking last-minute tickets, kindly request them here.

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About the authors

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Daniel Schmid is the Chief Sustainability Officer at SAP, leading global sustainability initiatives and integrating them into business strategies, processes, and operations. With a career beginning at Kiefer & Veittinger, Schmid advanced through senior management and consulting roles at SAP, contributing to its first strategic approach to sustainability. He chairs the board of econsense e.V. and serves on the Sustainability Research Advisory Board of The Conference Board. His work emphasizes innovation for sustainable impact.

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Morten Dyrholm serves as Group Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications, Sustainability, and Public Affairs at Vestas Wind Energy, having been with the company for over a decade. Based at Vestas Headquarters in Denmark, Dyrholm leads external relations and public affairs. His tenure includes three years in China focusing on business development and government affairs.

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Patricio Lombardi is the Executive Director of the Environmental Markets Fairness Foundation, a strategic alliance forged between regions, governments and civil organizations from the Global South. Patricio was the first ever appointed climate minister in the Americas, as Secretary of Climate Change of Argentina.

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Pierre Abadie is Group Climate Director at Tikehau Capital and Co-head of the Group's private equity energy transition and decarbonisation practice. He has over 20 years of experience in the energy and energy transition sectors. Pierre previously worked at TotalEnergies for 16 years, most notably in the Gas and Renewables division, before joining Tikehau Capital and becoming Co-head of Tikehau Capital's Energy Transition private equity fund, which was launched in 2018.

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Sade Fritschi is the Minister of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition of Ecuador. Originally from Galápagos, she actively supports the Las Flores de Galápagos Foundation, combating gender violence.

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Michael Kobori is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks, overseeing global sustainability, social impact, and ESG initiatives. He serves as an independent Director at Bunge Ltd., and on the Advisory Committee for Voluntary Foreign Assistance, The Asia Foundation’s President’s Leadership Council, and is Executive Producer of Utopia Theatre Project. Formerly, he was Vice-President at Levi Strauss & Co., and taught corporate sustainability at the University of California at Berkeley.

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Gregg Meyer serves as Steve Madden's Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of CSR and ESG. He brings extensive legal and advocacy expertise across private, corporate, and non-profit sectors. In his role, he spearheads initiatives to enhance Steve Madden's and the fashion industry's environmental footprint while mitigating negative impacts. 

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Nancy Mahon serves as the Chief Sustainability Officer at Estée Lauder, where she has led the transformation of the company's ESG practices across the CPG and luxury industries for over a decade. 

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Markus Müller is Chief Investment Officer ESG & Global Head of Chief Investment Office at Deutsche Bank Private Bank.

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Marvin Rottenberg is the Founder and CEO of terras, a company dedicated to organizing high-impact offsites for global sustainability leaders. A Thought Leader in Marketing, his prior roles include Vice President of Marketing at Tourlane and Senior Vice President of Consumer Business at Ada Health. There, he led large-scale growth initiatives. 

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Andrea Gori is an entrepreneur & global expert in sustainability, green tech and energy transition. He is the founder & "Chief Earth Officer" (CEO) of illuminem.com. Previously, he served as BCG's Global Green Champion, delivering projects on sustainable investments around the world. He has been awarded one of Italy's Leading Innovators of 2023 and Angel List’s Top Startups in Europe. His latest TEDx, where he explores the challenges and solutions for effective ESG implementations, is recognized as "the most-watched talk in Italian on sustainability". 

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Nicolas Vecchioli is a climate quitter who is passionate about the power of innovation to solve the big challenges of our time. He has experience in strategy consulting at BCG, private equity at The Carlyle Group, venture capital at Global Founders Capital and policy-making in the cabinet of the French Minister for Digital Affairs Cedric O. He holds degrees from the London School of Economics and HEC Paris.

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Maria Vittoria Bassetto is a co-founder at illuminem managing both legal and operational aspects of the company, thanks to her legal background from Bocconi University and 5 years of experience at a leading Italian law firm. With a strong affinity for startups and their ecosystem, she ensure seamless day-to-day operations, leveraging her expertise to drive organizational efficiency.

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Vilhelmiina Vulli is the Head of Media at illuminem. She devises comprehensive communication strategies, managing content creation, and nurturing the vibrant community of illuminem Voices, which stands as the world's largest and premier expert network in sustainability. With over a decade of experience in marketing, analytics, and SaaS product development, Vilhelmiina blends her expertise to communicate with purpose and drive positive change. Her approach underscores her commitment to fostering a sustainable future through strategic communication and community engagement.

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Hector Gbaku Toe work as Media Analyst with illuminem's Media Team, curating and creating content for the world's largest sustainability network of leading executives and scientists. Having worked with Conservation International to conduct ecological assessment and monitor Conservation Agreement projects in Liberia, he is now pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability at the University of Milan. Trained in Environmental Conservation, Sustainability Leadership, and Green Project Management, Hector focuses on promoting environmental sustainability and resource management in corporate and public sectors.

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 Prof. Dr. Phil. Anabel Ternès von Hattburg is the President of Germany of the Club of Budapest, a professor involved in think tanks and NGOs, and a member of the Club of Rome.

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Emilce Cuda is an Argentine theologian, university professor, and high official of the Roman Curia (“minister” of the Holy See). She has been dubbed "the woman who knows how to read Pope Francis" for her unique development of the Theology of the People, as well as the concepts of Integral Ecology and pueblo-pobre-trabajador. She holds several degrees beyond her Ph.D. in Theology, including an MBA and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree honoris causa from Loyola University Chicago. She is the first woman to hold an executive position in the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, at a ministerial level in the Vatican.

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Andrea Licata is a former peace activist who found a new home in the climate movement. He works in the field of innovation and sustainability, organizing, among other things, events for green startups, companies and investors. Photo: audacieuse-galerie.ch

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Elena Morettini is the Global Head of Sustainable Business at Globant, a native digital multinational company. She is a PhD geoscientist and a passionate expert in energy and sustainable tech.

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Roberta Boscolo is leading the Climate and Energy workstream at the World Meteorological Organization, managing a multi-million global portfolio.

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