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John Elkington

John Elkington

A world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.

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A Week of Canadians, Skoll folk, Generation & B Corps

John Elkington · 19 April 2015 · Leave a Comment

Children's uniforms at the Foundling Musuem
Children’s uniforms at the Foundling Museum

What a week! It began with a reception at our Bloomsbury Place office for Canadians involved in social innovation and impact investment, bringing together perhaps 25 people from organisations like The McConnell Foundation, the MaRS Discovery District and Social Innovation Generation with people from our London ecosystem, including the Bridges Ventures, the Cabinet Office and the Finance Lab. A joyous, productive Monday evening.

Then on Tuesday I streaked west to Oxford for a dinner at Balliol College, launching the 2015 Skoll World Forum, with a wonderful before-dinner grace delivered by ‘Arch’ Desmond Tutu. A wonderful opportunity to catch up with social entrepreneurs from around the world, with my table including people from the Skoll Foundation, Barefoot College, Aflatoun and Lord Sainsbury’s office, among others. Could scarcely drag myself away.

Wednesday, back in London, involved a dinner at the Foundling Museum, hosted by Generation Investment Management. A fascinating dinner, with Al Gore and I flanking Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP at table. The Museum was deeply moving, telling the story of the Foundling Hospital. This continues today as the children’s charity Coram, but was established in 1739 by the philanthropist Thomas Coram to care for babies at risk of abandonment. Among those who helped Coram realise his vision were the artist William Hogarth and the composer George Frideric Handel.

Note on one indication of how international London was, even way back then
Note on one indication of how international London was, even way back then
Sheet music composed by Handel to support the Foundling Hospital
Sheet music composed by Handel to support the Foundling Hospital

Then Friday saw the first major event for the burgeoning UK chapter of the B Corporation community, originally catalysed by B Lab. Volans has been helping build the momentum, with our Charmian Love working alongside James Perry of COOK and Panahpur. A tremendous day in Spitalfields, with much of the Volans team involved, including Richard (Johnson) handling the technical side very much like a DJ.

During the day, I did a filmed interview, which involved me roving around the area with a cameraman in tow, having a meeting with someone from the OECD who wants me to speak at a big event they’re doing in Paris in June, and a panel session at the end of the day, alongside two B Lab founders: Andrew Kassoy and Bart Houlahan. Great sense of emergence and excitement – with a fascinating mix of people I have known for ages (including Fran van Dijk Dixon of One Stone Advisors, who used to be at SustainAbility) and a bunch of extraordinary people who were totally new to me.

In all, a week that showed how many waves we are surfing, or perhaps how many different waves are beginning to coalesce into a single superwave? Very relevant as we race to put the finishing touches to our new publication, The Stretch Agenda: Breakthrough in the Boardroom. Jacqueline, Sam and I have been working on this for much of the week – and the weekend. Very excited with how it is now coming together.

Then late this morning,, up to Clissold Park for a delightful home-cooked lunch with Gaia and Paul, followed by a memorial service for Mark Lushington, with Jake (Lushington) and Hania. A delightful celebration of some I sadly never met.

A skyline as I walked into Spitalfields
A skyline as I walked into Spitalfields
Street art
Street art
The Trumans Brewery
The Trumans Brewery
Have always loved the marriage of old and new buildings, done well
Have always loved the marriage of old and new buildings, done well
Inside the conference centre - though it proved to be the wrong conference centre
Inside the conference centre – though it proved to be the wrong conference centre
UFO painting inside the real venue
UFO painting inside the real venue, the Old Truman Brewery
I loved this truck
I loved this truck
Lunch!
Lunch!
Some of the badges, including mine
Some of the badges, including mine
Pinball wizard required
Pinball wizard required
Curtains
Curtains
Break-out session
Break-out session
Richard at the controls
Richard at the controls, wearing the B Corp T-shirt he designed
Street art on my way out
Street art on my way out

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Introduction

I began this blog with an entry reporting on a visit to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod, on 30 September 2003. The blog element of the website has gone through several iterations since, with much of the older material still available.

Like so many things in my life, blog entries blur the boundaries between the personal and the professional. As explained on this site’s Home Page, the website and the blog are part platform for ongoing projects, part autobiography, and part accountability mechanism.

In addition, my blogs have appeared on many sites such as: Chinadialogue, CSRWire, Fast Company, GreenBiz, Guardian Sustainable Business, and the Harvard Business Review.

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About

John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. He is currently Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of Volans, a future-focused business working at the intersection of the sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation movements.

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john@johnelkington.com  |  +44 203 701 7550 | Twitter: @volansjohn

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