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Building Sustainable Futures podcast

Do corporations need to choose between success or sustainability? As sustainability climbs the global agenda, Accenture assembles experts, influencers, and innovators to help leaders and board members keep abreast of the hot topics. Listen for sensible advice – and sometimes surprising solutions – that can help businesses make a positive difference.

Episode 4 Professor Hannah Fry on the power of ingenuity

Strap in for a whistle-stop tour of the science and technology ideas which will build our sustainable futures. Our wide-ranging interview covers AI, exponential curves, Goddard’s Law, and protein folding. For all this innovation, Hannah explains, it’s human ingenuity which will ultimately help us prevail in the transition to a more sustainable world.

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    Hannah Fry

    Mathematician and broadcaster

    Hannah is lecturer in the mathematics of cities at University College, London, and an award-winning science communicator. Her expertise is regularly called upon to develop and host documentaries and her fun and lively radio programmes and podcasts have a large and devoted following. Her ability to engage and enthuse people with even the most complicated topics is equally evident on the page and her books delight readers around the globe.

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    Simon Eaves

    CEO, Accenture UK and Ireland

    Simon Eaves is the market unit lead for Accenture in the United Kingdom and Ireland (UKI) with responsibility for all industries and services in the area. UKI is Accenture's third largest market unit globally. He is a member of Accenture's Global Management Committee.

    Before assuming his current role in January 2021, Simon was Accenture's chief strategy officer in charge of all aspects of the company's strategy and investments, including ventures and acquisitions.

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    Reya El-Salahi

    Podcast host

    Reya El-Salahi is an award-winning British news and current affairs presenter, reporter and journalist working in TV, radio, podcasts, digital media and events.

Covered in this episode

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    Uniting technology and sustainability

    Research by Accenture reveals that companies with most comprehensive sustainable tech strategies perform better across the board.

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Episode 3 Saving seas with supply chain traceability

A third of the fish caught every day are illegal and unreported, sold by independent fishermen who must choose between going fishing, or going hungry. As a result, over 90% of world fish species are now under threat. Today’s guest, Alistair Douglas, believes blockchain offers a solution to overfishing. He explains how his blockchain initiative, Fishcoin, financially rewards fishermen for maintaining fish stocks, and brings end-to-end traceability to a market where illegality is rife.

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    Alistair Douglas

    CEO of Eachmile Technologies, developer of Fishcoin

    Alistair has been involved in the seafood industry as a researcher, trader, and auditor for almost 20 years. His research includes the world’s first digital grading and sensory analytical profiling of sashimi grade tuna, and a fillet level traceability system that demonstrated the DNA traceability from an individual fish down to a piece of sushi through the supply chain is possible.

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    Toby Siddall

    Sustainability and Resources Lead, Accenture UK and Ireland

    As Accenture’s UK and Ireland Sustainability Services lead, Toby is driven by the belief in the enormous opportunity to deliver a positive impact at real scale for clients, people and the communities Accenture works in. He is particularly passionate about driving the energy transition and also leads Accenture’s Resources business in the UK and Ireland.

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    Reya El-Salahi

    Podcast host

    Reya El-Salahi is an award-winning British news and current affairs presenter, reporter and journalist working in TV, radio, podcasts, digital media and events.

Covered in this episode

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    The Red String

    Accenture's video reveals we now have a trusted, secure connection with producers all around the world with blockchain.

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    One connected supply chain

    Billions of dollars are trapped in inefficient supply chains around the world. Read how blockchain and multi-party systems can improve supply chain resilience, efficiency, and sustainability.

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Episode 2 Circular Economy insights from the Queen of Waste

Today, we focus on the circular economy, a potentially £3.4 trillion market where nothing new is made, and nothing goes to waste. Our guest, May Al-Karooni, is CEO of Globechain, one of the fastest-growing circular economy start-ups. She talks about her journey from £800 website to fully-fledged digital platform, and some of the surprising ways business waste can come back to life in new hands.

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    May Al-Karooni

    CEO of Globechain

    May Al-Karooni realised no one had digitised the waste industry when the bank she worked for moved offices across the road. Rather than moving the office furniture, most of which was in perfect condition, the bank disposed of it and purchased brand new. Her response was to found Globechain, the world’s first digital marketplace for the circular economy. Today, it boasts over 10,000 members around the world.

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    Wesley Spindler

    Managing Director, Sustainability & Global Circular Economy Lead

    Wesley Spindler is a Sustainability Strategy Managing Director within Accenture and Co-Author of The Circular Economy Handbook. As Global Circular Economy Lead, she drives programs with partners and companies across industries, applying expertise in business, technology and innovation. She is Program Director of The Circulars, a circular economy Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with the World Economic Forum that relaunched in 2020.

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    Reya El-Salahi

    Podcast host

    Reya El-Salahi is an award-winning British news and current affairs presenter, reporter and journalist working in TV, radio, podcasts, digital media and events.

Covered in this episode

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    Accenture circular economy handbook

    Learn how organisations can take steps toward circularity and create new opportunities for competitiveness and sustainable prosperity

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Episode 1 We all have to imagine this world we need to hurry towards

Do business leaders have to choose between profit or planet? Not according to Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She believes companies have the imagination, innovation, and people power we need to quickly green our economies – and capture new opportunities for growth.

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    Mary Robinson

    Chair, The Elders, Former UN High Commissioner for Refugees

    Mary Robinson was the first female President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She is also Chair of The Elders, an independent group founded by Nelson Mandela that supports global leaders ‘working together for peace, justice and human rights’. She is a passionate advocate for gender equality and climate justice.

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    Jasmine Dhiman

    Technology Sustainability Lead, UK and Ireland

    Jasmine Dhiman leads Accenture’s Technology Sustainability business. She ensures sustainability is positioned at the heart of Accenture’s client’s technology strategies and supports clients in their sustainability journeys. Previously, she was Accenture’s People and Diversity Executive sponsor, overseeing employee experience, talent strategy, and inclusion and diversity.

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    Reya El-Salahi

    Podcast host

    Reya El-Salahi is an award-winning British news and current affairs presenter, reporter and journalist working in TV, radio, podcasts, digital media and events.

Covered in this episode

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    Shaping the sustainable organization

    Learn how responsible leaders create lasting value and equitable impact for all stakeholders

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