Tokyo Conference on Innovation in Sustainability
Katerva Founder and CEO Terry Waghorn was in Tokyo on March 7 for the first Katerva Conference on Innovation in Sustainability. He spoke on the unique space the Katerva Awards are forging for visionaries to find support to move their ideas forward. Sanergy, the grand prize winner of the first Katerva Awards, was recognized for its ground-breaking ideas, as were additional awardees who traveled to Tokyo from as far as Uganda, Australia and the U.S. to participate. The event was held at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan on March 7. The program featured a full day of distinguished guest panelists and moderators discussing trends and breakthroughs at the intersection of innovation and sustainability.
Katerva Community Study on the Global Spotter Network
For the Katerva Conference on Innovation in Sustainability, the market research firm Harrison Group pulled on the collective expertise of Katerva's global spotters - our worldwide network of sustainability experts, scientists, policy-makers, and opinion leaders - to analyze the future of the sustainability movement. According to the survey, energy, resources, and water are top of mind concerns for the Katerva community. The study also noted that the biggest challenge to the sustainability movement is not just cost control, but also coordinating change across multiple disciplines such as business, government, and academia. The study validates the need for Katerva, which is focused on brokering solutions to looming sustainability challenges through multiple stakeholders from varied backgrounds.
New Talent on the Katerva Executive Team
As awareness of the Katerva brand grows, so does its organizational expertise. In the last few months, the executive committee has expanded to include three principal stratgists.
Dr. Robin Wood has taken the role of Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Wood is a futurist and architect of transformational systems, working at a board level with the world’s leading enterprises.
Barbara Erskine, a specialist in media relations, communications, and branding, will be stepping in as the new Chief Communications Officer. Ms. Erskine directed the World Economic Forum’s communication strategy for 10 years.
Finally, Scott Noppe-Brandon has agreed to become the managing director of the Katerva Institute. Currently the managing director of the Lincoln Center in New York, Mr. Noppe-Brandon will work to launch the Katerva Institute in the upcoming year.
Interactive Katerva Database
Katerva is requesting a high-resolution professional photo from all spotters and experts to complete an interactive database of our community. If you have not already provided a photo, please send one to victoria@katerva.org.
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Katerva Awards
You play an important role in the Katerva process by identifying and nominating the best programs on the planet for recognition and award! Fill out this short nomination form to recommend ideas, initiatives, projects or businesses for the Katerva Awards. We ask you to provide basic contact and descriptive information about the organization as well as the core principal that makes your nominee a “game-changer.” That’s it!
The cut-off date for Katerva Awards submissions is June 15!
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Community Happenings
The Community Happenings section of the newsletter offers Katerva members the opportunity to broadcast what they're up to. This month, we are excited to introduce you to:
Dr. Robin Wood: Rio+20 Consultation held in the Hague 11-12 April 2012
Katerva CTO Dr. Robin Wood recently represented Katerva at the Rio+20 Consultation held in the Hague 11-12 April 2012. Dr. Wood described Katerva's open global platform for change as a unique instrument to significantly accelerate the goals of Rio +20 as put forward in the UN preparatory document.
Dr. Wood made a full report during a final panel session on the priorities government leaders and the UN should take forward to Rio. During his presentation, Dr. Wood stressed that there is no champion for breakthrough initiatives in the white spaces between civil society, business, and government and posited Katerva’s groundbreaking network as a solution to this challenge. His full report can be found here.
Rio+20 Katerva Submission
he analysis of what's wrong with the French economy appears to be clear: France is mired in idleness, a quasi-religious belief in an expansive role for the state, outdated economic structures and an inability to combat rising unemployment. The advice is perfectly clear as well: Francois Hollande,…
