Blog

Fairly busy week so far, driving down yesterday to Highgrove, for a meeting of the alumni of what is now called The Prince of Wales’s Business & Sustainability Programme, developed by the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. The S-word just adopted in the first case. Terrible jam on the M4 on the way down, where I lost over an hour, because of a fire in a truck of charcoal. Eventually passed the burned-out wreck. Rubbernecking drivers headed eastward had created jams that extended for miles in that direction, too.  The spotlight of the event was on natural capital, Polly Courtice and Jonathon Porritt steered, and Pavan Sukhdev talked about his TEEB study on ecosystem services.

My sense overall, however, was that there were fairly low energy levels – surprising given what has been happening in the Gulf of Mexico.  Maybe it was just the heat? The best speech, by far, was an extempore one from the Prince in the open air. My comment to him: “I should have worn a sombrero.” My scalp seems more sun-sensitive these days – and the sun was pretty intense for England. I then decided to drive across to Little Rissington, to see my parents, which I did, arriving around 18.30. Tim conjured up a bantam egg curry – and it was wonderful to see the three of them.

Then, today, there was a session at McKinsey’s 1 Jermyn Street offices, hosted by Generation Investment Management, and steered by Al Gore and David Blood. The theme was the prospects for – and dynamic of – sustainable capitalism. About 40 people present, but subject to the Chatham House Rule, so limit to what I can say. But one theme that came through both at Highgrove and at today’s event was the need for behavioural and culture change, which are the focus on a new program we are developing at Volans.

Queen Victoria and Winston Wong Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle, Imperial College Jimi, Ray and Jacqueline, Royal Albert Hall Elton John’s piano taps its three toes Alison on stage Dancers Winston Wong 2 Winston Wong 3

As I walked uphill from South Kensington to the Royal Albert Hall this morning, my eye was caught by Winston Wong’s Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle in the front window of Imperial College – and had to go in and take a photo or two, which I also did on my way back. Fascinating piece of sculpture, apart from anything else.

Struggled to break into the Royal Albert Hall, since pretty much all the doors were closed, but found my way in through the Stage Door eventually, only to be told that the way in was the next door over. Was there to do a keynote at the launch of a new report on reducing the carbon footprint of the music touring industry in the UK, produced by one my favourite social enterprises, Julie’s Bicycle, founded by Al(ison) Tickell. Was introduced by JB Chairman Tony Wadsworth, who I got to thank for his extraordinary role in getting out some of my favourite music over the decades.

Back to office for a meeting with JWT – and to film a short interview for Zheng Jieying’s new organisation in New Zealand, using the Flip camera I was given by the Volans team for my sixtieth birthday last year.

RCA Show – whence came, many years back, the seahorse print that now adorns the Volans offices

Soon-to-be hot seats at Daunt’s Elephant observes FDR and WSC FDR and WSC

Went across to Daunt Books in Marylebone High Street – one of my favourites worldwide – this evening, to listen to Robert McCrum interviewed on his book Globish, which I have been enjoying this past week or so on flights and trains. As Elaine and I walked back to Green Park, we passed the wonderful sculpture (Allies) by Lawrence Holofcener of Roosevelt and Churchill, where – appropriately – Old Bond Street joins New Bond Street. The sculpture is intriguingly overlooked at the moment by one of the elephants that currently dot town, emplaced by the Elephant Family, who occupied our 2 Bloomsbury offices before we did.

Place Vendome – with mummified white cars Inside Above our heads as we dine Sky as I head ‘home’ View from ‘home’, on 23rd floor Ready for the Big Think debate In the garden of Le Pre Catalan

Fairly busy day, then Eurostar to Paris, dinner at Hotel d’Evreux, Place Vendome. Part of the Atlantic Dinners series, the theme this time: Brazil – the Atlantic’s Wild Card? Stayed at the Hotel Concorde La Fayette, which afforded spectacular view over the city towards La Defense.

I periodically have the sort of anxiety dream in which everything goes wrong on a journey – and the next morning was a living version of that. With taxis to and from the dinner having chewed up more euros than I had expected, I asked the concierge in the hotel where I could get out some euros: was there an ATM? Yes, he said, but deep in the heart of the Porte Maillot complex.

There began the most anxiety-inducing quest, which included blind alleys galore, an ATM machine that swallowed my card and refused to give it back until I hit all the buttons more or less simultaneously, at which point another ATM coughed up, then there were no taxis outside the main conference hall, so I headed back through the complex to the hotel to join the taxi line in front, only to find that there were some 25 people in it. When, finally, I got a taxi, the African driver was new to Paris and, though he knew where the Bois de Boulogne was, had no idea where Le Pre Catalan was, so we went back and forth until I told him to stop and ask. Which he did, and then we found our way. Happily, though, I was still early.

I was moderating a panel session that was being filmed for the Big Think, which my panellists being Philippe Delorme (Executive Vice President, Strategy and Innovation, Schneider Electric), Neville Isdell (former CEO of Coca-Cola and Chairman of the International Business Leaders Forum), Girish Paranjpe (Joint Chief Executive of Wipro’s IT business) and Bjorn Stigson (President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development). Session ran for around an hour and a half, and among the issues we covered were BP’s Gulf spill, the changing role of CEOs, the race to build the Green Economy, and the question whether the financial sector is a help or hindrance in all of this?

Will post a link when the session is posted on Big Think. Really liked their approach and am keen to see whether there are other ways we can work together. Wonderful lunch at Le pre Catalan, then back to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar home.

Bumblebee on poppy in garden Cycladic head in glass cupboard

A couple of images snapped this morning in the garden and kitchen. I love Cycladic art (and its variants) almost as much as I love bumblebees.