Realising sustainable business models: marketing and leadership

Victoria works on solutions to environmental and social issues across the fields of academia, business and the third sector. Her background in marketing, initially working for 3M and then as a marketing consultant for Accenture has been supplemented by a MSc in Environment and Development in South Africa and PhD in Sustainable Consumption at Exeter University. She is currently an Associate Professor in Marketing at the University of Plymouth and her research includes advancing sustainable marketing and understanding philanthropic behaviour. 

Victoria has worked on various business consulting and sustainability community projects including being a founder Director of Bread and Roses CIC. 

She is a regional board member for the Chartered Management Institute, a Chartered Marketer (CIM), a Chartered Manager (CMgr), a Fellow of LEAD International, the UK Lead expert for ISO on Sustainable City Indicators and a board member of the Fleming Policy Centre. 

Donna is Professor of Leadership and Ethics in the University's Plymouth Graduate School of Management. A philosopher and musician by background, her approach highlights the aesthetic and ethical qualities at the heart of leadership and how it gets done. She pursues a keen interest in the leadership qualities required to develop ecologically sustainable organisations, and has researched this question with companies such as M&S, The Eden Project, The Scarlet Hotel and Riverford Farm.

She is the author of numerous articles and her most recent book is Mastering the Ethical Dimension of Organizations, published by Edward Elgar earlier this year.

Martin is the Founder and Director of Innovation at Brands with Values, a values communications agency. He is an award-winning designer, strategist and writer and is a guest lecturer on the topic of values, sustainability and ethical branding at various leading universities. Brands with Values has been helping its clients connect with and communicate their values for the last 15 years working across culture, behaviour and communications. They enjoy a diverse client list including Fairtrade International, Barnardos, Land Securities, Payplan and the NHS.

Discussion topic: The role of values within decision making and its wider impact on brand and communications. 

Ben is the Chief Executive of Devon and Cornwall Business Council. His career with DCBC began in January 2010, shortly after a final stint at Plymouth University where he read for an MSc in Business and Management. Initially, Ben took over the management of a number of European funded economic development projects, namely; ATLANT KIS and CHAIN. As a result, Ben has a wealth of experience with EU funding, project management, partnership working and international relations. 

Since taking on the role of Chief Executive in May 2012, Ben has focused on developing an effective and efficient organisation, with long-term sustainability at its heart. Ben has been keen to reinforce key relationships with influential business representative organisations operating across Devon and Cornwall, through which he hopes to gain a better grasp on the wider issues affecting our businesses. Ben has a keen interest in business strategy, new technologies, financing business growth, and developing strong EU and global relations.