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Date: 29 January 2020 Venue: UWE Bristol, Bristol Business School, North Entrance, Frenchay Campus, Filton Road, Bristol, BS16 1ZG Venue Location: https://www1.uwe.ac.uk/about/visitus/campusmapsandinformation/frenchaycampus/frenchaycampusmaps.aspx Time: 18:00-21:00 Register for this event
This event is fully booked, if you wish to be added to the waiting list, please register your details here. We will contact you on the day of the event to let you know if a place has become available.
Could banks serve the needs of society better? Are they undermining our long-term ability to sustain ourselves by not actively seeking to address the climate emergency, inequality and societal needs?
Perhaps the first and only environmentalist to lead a UK bank, Dr Bevis Watts puts forward the case that much of the financial sector is undermining efforts to tackle these issues. In fact, the UK's current banking system holds the potential, through adaptation, to be a catalyst for a sustainable future.
For 25 years in the UK, Triodos Bank has demonstrated a model of sustainable banking that uses the intermediary power of finance to benefit people and the planet. They are also 100% transparent about who they lend to - focusing only on organisations that deliver positive environmental, social or cultural change. With the right values, banks can be a force for good and affect real positive systemic change in society.
Discuss this event on Twitter using the hashtag #BristolLectures.
Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis for those that have registered. Not everyone who has registered will turn up, so to ensure we have a full house, we allow more registrations than there are places. Please ensure you arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time of the lecture to avoid disappointment. If you arrive late and the lecture theatre is full, you may be able to watch the talk from the live streaming room.
Dubbed by some media as 'the first environmentalist to run a UK bank', Bevis has led Triodos Bank UK since April 2016, having previously been head of business banking for almost five years (2008-12). He has spent over 20 years working in sustainability in public, private and voluntary sectors, including ten years in the recycling industry, where he created WRAP's Financial Mechanisms Programme which leveraged tens of millions of private sector investment into recycling in the early 2000s. During his time leading Triodos Bank UK, the bank has delivered strong growth, launched a personal current account and a crowdfunding platform, as well as transitioned to a new legal identity as a subsidiary in preparation for Brexit. Triodos Bank UK Ltd was established in May 2019.
Bevis has always worked for values-led organisations and was previously chief executive of Avon Wildlife Trust. He has held numerous Directorships and Trusteeships and was a Board member of Bristol 2015, the delivery company for Bristol European Green Capital 2015, inaugural Chair of the West of England Nature Partnership, and elected to represent Local Nature Partnerships at a national level on the ESI Funds National Growth Board (2013-2015). Advisory roles have included the steering committees for the BankingFutures project and the UK government's taskforce on Impact Investing, the forerunner to the Impact Investing Institute.
He has a first-class business degree, a PhD in Management Science, is a Chartered Environmentalist (MCIWM, CEnv) and a Fellow of the RSA. He has been the author of papers published in academic journals, conference proceedings, as well as opinion pieces published in national and international press including the Huffington Post and Reuters.
The Bristol Distinguished Address Series provides a unique opportunity to hear about the challenges, issues and decisions being made at the highest level of strategic leadership.
The series is delivered by the Bristol Business School in partnership with ACCA, Bristol City Council, Bristol Junior Chamber, Bristol Law Society, Bristol Media, Business Leader, Business West, CBI, CIPD, CIPFA, CMI, FSB, IoD, ICAEW and the West of England Combined Authority.
UWE Bristol is a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) member and we are pleased to announce that this lecture series has been certified in principle by the CPD Certification Service.
For delegates who wish to obtain a CPD Certificate of Attendance, please register your details with a member of the events team after each lecture. Please note that we will not be able to administer any retrospective certificate requests.
Subject to each lecture being certified, you will receive a personalised CPD certificate direct from CPD up to 28 days after the event.
If you have any queries relating to CPD please contact events@uwe.ac.uk.
We will aim to make all addresses available as a podcast one week after the lecture, subject to approval of the speaker and no technical difficulties with the recording. Podcasts can be viewed on our previous address archive.
Please contact the Media Relations office if you would like to request a media seat or have a media query about this event, email pressoffice@uwe.ac.uk.
If you are planning to attend this event and have any access requirements or would like details on venue accessibility, please email the Events Team at events@uwe.ac.uk or ring us on the number below.
UWE Bristol aims to ensure, as much as possible, that all our public events are fully accessible. Early notice of access requirements is much appreciated.
Cost: Free Contact: Events Team Telephone: +44(0)117 32 84517 E-mail: events@uwe.ac.uk
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University of the West of England Frenchay Campus Coldharbour Lane Bristol BS16 1QY United Kingdom Switchboard: +44 (0)117 9656261 View full contact details
