Speakers from different backgrounds: economy, sociology and philosophy, will explain why there is a need to change the economic model.

   Mr Paul-Marie Boulanger - Sociologist and demographer Director of the Institute for a Sustainable Development.

With a wide-ranging professional background Paul Marie Boulanger has became an eminent researcher and author. He wrote amongst others about demography, social insurance, food chain safety, politics, and ecology. He taught sociology at the University of Constantine in Algeria after that he got into the demographic department of the University of Louvain-La-Neuve as a researcher. He made a lot of research about the interaction between population and socio-economic and natural environment. In 1996 he co-founded The Institute for a Sustainable Development (IDD), he has been directing it since 1999. Within the framework of the IDD he coordinates research amongst others about “the indicators of sustainable development and well-being”.

  Mr Eric De Keuleneer - Professor at the Solvay Business School and Executive Director of Credibe and of the University Foundation.

He has a degree in sales engineering from The Solvay Business School and a master in Business Administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. After a broad career in the financial and banking sector amongst others by Kredietbank and General Bank he is now President of the Executive Committee OCCH (Office Central de Crédit Hypothécaire), now renamed Credibe. Currently is also professor at the Solvay Business School (Free University of Brussels) and teaches different academic disciplines like: financial intermediary, commercial and investment banks. He published various books and articles about financial regulation, CSR and socially responsible investment.

  Mr Hans Donckers - Human resources specialist and vice secretary general at Epegon.

After obtaining a bachelors degree in Social Work and a master degree in Philosophy, Hans Donckers performed doctoral research in applied ethics. He wrote articles on distributive justice, paternalism andpublic health. He also taught a variety of courses: ethics and economics, law and ethics, philosophy and ethics of care. In 2007 he decided to leave academia. He entered the corporate world as a consultant at Korn/Ferry International where he was responsible for HR diagnostic and RPO. Currently he is a senior HR consultant at Progress Associates Intl and vice secretary general at Epegon Foundation. In the later position he is able to combine his academic background in ethics with tackling the strategic people challenges of both public and private organisations.

Entrepreneurs will explain the reasons why they have integrated society values into their core business. Coming from different types of businesses (start up, SMEs and multinationals), they will speak about the methods they used and the advantages for their companies. Their testimonials will show that creativity and innovation are at the centre of this new type of economy.

Moderated by CSR Europe.

Olivier Desurmont is the CEO of Sineo an ecological car wash solution. In 2004 he quit a high level job at Suez to open his own company SINEO. Cars are hand washed, without water and with 100% biodegradable products. Those products are made from citrus fruits and essential oils. The French green chemistry lab SALVECO that has developed the Sineo products will also attend at the afternoon event. Since 2004 Sineo saved more than 25 million litres of water. Sineo’s commitment is global, environmental and social because one of its main goals was to reintegrate unemployed people into the labour market. Due to an original and dynamic management Olivier Desurmont has reached his goal with a 100% of rehabilitation. He has now more than 120 employees. Olivier Desurmont led his company to the top in France, its turnover grew from 1 million € in 2007 to 5 million € in 2008. Now he’s winning European and international markets.

Nicolette Mak is the founder of Valid Express a Dutch express freight service. Valid Express is a particular business because every courier has a physical disability or a chronically disease. Nicolette’s brother had a hereditary disease and couldn’t find any job for ten years, he was depending on allowances since he finished school. This situation was so frustrating for her that she decided to start a special business to give such kind of people the independence they deserve. In 1999 she decided it was enough and started valid express. She has now more than 600 clients over the whole Netherlands and employs more than 60 disabled people. Since this year, she has formatted, together with Arrad Eshel, the Valid Group. All the initiatives are there to create more possibilities for jobs for People with a difficult body. Since 2005, the turnover of valid group has doubled ( 2005 1.2 million / 2008 2.2 million ). This shows it’s possible to combine human values and business.
  Valid Express : express freight service
  Valid People : vacancy database
  Valid Academy : training & coaching company
  Valid Solutions : administration office

Linking social economy and eco-building François Marty has developed a new home-building pattern, which is relying on a network of building companies. Those companies have to work with people who are in progressive professional integration. Chênelet is also developing an eco-building certificate, 8 French companies have it already. As a pioneer in social and ecological accommodation, Chênelet has already built several houses in France and developed its network in France... At the crossroads of solidarity, environment and business dynamics, a bright future opens up to Chênelet. Ashoka has selected François Marty in 2008 as 1 of the 10 more innovative social entrepreneurs.

Edgar Neo is a well known Dutch serial entrepreneur and one of the founding fathers of lotsov, the business accelerator for cleantech companies. It was after investing in several sustainable start ups and talking to the late Dutch Green Venture Capitalist Eckart Wintzen and the founder of the Virgin Group Richard Branson that he saw what was keeping sustainable companies and NGO’s from growing into great organisations by themselves: the lack of political support or will, funding, sound advice, connections, access etc. Since it’s foundation in 2007 lotsov has been profitable. Grossing a combined revenue of ’a few million’ euro. In association with the Rotterdam Climate Initiative, Dutch Government and some of the world’€™s biggest companies like IBM, Microsoft, Shell, BP, Unilever, lotsov is developing an unique combination of a sustainable incubator and accelerator. Literally an eco-system for cleantech start ups and grow ups.

Guillaume Hermitte was only a business student when an enchanting chocolate factory in South America inspired him. He decided that chocolate would be his tool dedicated to social and environmental aims. In 2006 at the age of 24, he founded CHOC’ETHIC his own authentic and sustainable cacao beans importation channel. The Italian NGO Cesvi is now helping him with the organic labelling of his 3 Venezuelan micro producers. He has also a handicraft chocolate factory and bar in Paris called PUERTO CACAO, amongst its 5 employees 2 have a rehabilitation contract. Within 3 years CHOC’ETHIC doubled its turnover. A second shop will open in September 2009. Guillaume Hermitte would like to keep developing this responsible business model.

NEW : Watch the interview of Guillaume Hermitte filmed during the symposium.