
Biodiversity, the fulcrum of life in our seas and on land, is at the heart of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15, but there is a critical interconnection with the other 15 Goals - not least on agriculture and food systems for zero hunger (SDG 2), health and wellness (SDG 3), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and the need for urgent climate action (SDG 13).
Join us for the ninth RELX SDG Inspiration Day - a free, online event for thought leaders, corporate representatives, students, investors, government and NGOs to explore issues, gain practical insights and be inspired to take action in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Keynote speakers

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE
Founder of The Jane Goodall Institute
and UN Messenger of Peace
Dr. Jane Goodall DBE is an ethologist and environmentalist, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Through more than 60 years of ground-breaking work, she has not only shown us the urgent need to protect chimpanzees from extinction; she has also redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and the environment.

Ban Ki-moon
8th Secretary-General of the United Nations & Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens
Ban Ki-moon is a South Korean diplomat who was the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) from January 2007 to December 2016. As UNSG, Ban Ki-moon's priorities were to mobilize world leaders around a set of new global challenges. He led the efforts for the landmark Paris Climate Agreement and, under his leadership, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda were created.
EVENT speakers
Join thought leaders and experts from across business, civil society and academia. Confirmed speakers so far include;

Dr Márcia Balisciano
Global Head of Corporate Responsibility
RELX

Michael Sheldrick
Chief Policy, Impact and Government Relations Officer
Global Citizen

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
Founder and CEO
Conservation Through Public Health

Sacha Dench
Co-Founder & CEO
Conservation Without Borders

Dr. Lin Li
Senior Director, Global Policy and Advocacy
WWF

Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu
Author of This Is Why I Resist; Lawyer; Founder of Women in Leadership Publication; Political & Women's rights activist

Youngsuk "YS" Chi
Director of Corporate Affairs, RELX and Chair, Elsevier

Steve Kenzie
Executive Director
UN Global Compact Network UK

Lara Douvartzidis
Business & Human Rights Lawyer
International Bar Association

Dr. Ankur Patwardhan
Associate Professor and Entrepreneur
MES Abasaheb Garware College, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India

Eva Zabey
CEO
Business for Nature

Sanda Ojiambo
Assistant Secretary-General
United Nations Global Compact

Dr Lewis Collins
Editor-in-Chief
One Earth

Feraye Ozfescioglu
CEO
World Humanitarian Forum

Virginia Gardiner
CEO
Loowatt Ltd

Videsha Proothveerajh
CEO
LexisNexis South Africa

Claire Melamed
Chief Executive Officer
Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data

Justin Webb
Journalist and Presenter
BBC

Gaythri Raman
Managing Director
LexisNexis Southeast Asia

David Wood
Founder & CEO
Waddapt

Andy Dewis
Founder & CEO
Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships

Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya
CEO
African Wildlife Foundation

Cymie Payne
Chair of the Ocean Law Specialist Group
International Union for Conservation of Nature

Juliette Pugliesi
Nature Manager
BSR

Jessica Wawoe
Founder
Tribal Wisdom Foundation

Dr Michiel Kolman
Senior VP Strategic Networks
Elsevier

Daniela Chiaretti
Environment Correspondent
Valor Economico, Brazil

Nick Luff
Chief Financial Officer
RELX

Dr. Esther Kanduma
Senior Lecturer & Animal Health Scientist
University of Nairobi Kenya

David Fox
Chair
African Bird Club

Dr Myriam Mujawamariya
Lecturer in forest ecology and biodiversity science
University of Rwanda

Josefine Gibson
Deputy Editor
The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

Soline Guerineau
Head of Commercial Strategy
I.C.I.S

Pascal Asselin
Co-Founder
MORFO

Chris Perceval
Senior Market Engagement Director
S&P Global Sustainable1

Helene Lindmark
Ancient Wisdom from Sapmi
Great-Grandmother "Máttaráhkka"
Event partnerS
schedule
Please note all times are in British Summer Time (BST). Speakers, timings and sessions may be subject to change. Although we intend for sessions to begin and end as stated below, note that this is a live-streamed event and these times may be subject to change. Please feel free to dip in and out of sessions as your own schedule permits throughout the day.
Time (BST) |
Session |
---|---|
10:00 – 10:45 |
Opening Plenary Welcome from your host: Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu Introductory remarks: Dr Márcia Balisciano, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, RELX
Keynote speech: Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the UN
Thoughts on the day: Eva Zabey, CEO, Business For Nature Juliette Pugliesi, Nature Manager, BSR |
10:45 – 11:30 |
Panel: Right to Nature – the legal case for biodiversity What are the legal dimensions of biodiversity? We will hear from experts about emerging legislation, ground-breaking treaties and prosecution of crimes against nature. Host: Justin Webb, Journalist and Presenter, BBC Panellists: Lara Douvartzidis, Environment, Climate and Human Rights Lawyer, International Bar Association |
11:30-11:45 |
Speakers Corner Guests include Ankur Patwardhan, Head of Biodiversity Department at Maharashtra Education Society’s Abasaheb Garware College and last year’s winner of the Elsevier Foundation and Sustainable Chemistry challenge Dr Myriam Mujawamariya, bringing back indigenous trees in Rwanda. |
11:45 - 12:00 |
RELX SDG Customer awards Part I |
12:00 - 12:45 |
Panel: Less biodiversity, more disease? Exploring the pathways between biodiversity and human health We will explore how biodiversity underpins health and strength of ecosystems and the impact on people, from food security to disease control to mental health. Panellists: Dr Lewis Collins, Editor in Chief, One Earth Journal |
12:45 – 13:00 |
RELX SDG Customer Awards Part II |
13:00 – 13:15 |
Musical Interlude |
13:15 - 14:00 |
At the Frontlines of Wildlife Conservation: Insights from Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya Wildlife conservation promotes sustainable management of natural resources, preserving habitats and encouraging responsible use of resources; conservation is therefore a vital tool for ensuring ecosystems remain productive and capable of supporting people and wildlife.
Host: YS Chi, Chair, Elsevier Guest: Kaddu Sebunya, CEO, African Wildlife Foundation |
14:00 – 14:45 |
Accelerating Action and Investment in Nature If we truly value nature, we need to invest in it. We will investigate the link between finance and nature and harness the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples – the world’s biggest, but least credited, conservationists.
Join Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships at the launch of their think tank: Accelerating Action and Investment in Nature which will harness the resources and skills of large organisations to accelerate nature-based solutions to fight the triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. |
14:45 – 15:15 |
Biodiversity problem solving spaces Interactive and informative session where attendees are invited to join a discussion to explore key themes and potential solutions |
15:15 – 16:00 |
Policy Perspectives on Biodiversity Perspectives on biodiversity commitments, the post 2020 global biodiversity framework, what should national biodiversity commitments look like and what barriers face policy makers. Host: Michiel Kolman, Senior VP, Research Networks and Academic Ambassador, Elsevier
Guests: · Lin Li, Senior Director of Global Policy and Advocacy, WWF · Daniela Chiaretti, Environment Correspondent, Valor Economico, Brazil |
16:00 – 16:30 |
Keynote speech: Dr Jane Goodall Host: Dr Márcia Balisciano |
16:30 - 17:00 |
Closing plenary and final remarks |