The Hillary Symposium

June 5th, World Environment Day, marks the second annual Hillary Symposium in Christchurch. We’re delighted you could join us.

Here in Christchurch, the symposium will be attended by people from a cross-section of industries, including the financial; science; education; cultural; legal; not for profit; local and central government sectors. Some of our leading environmental thinkers will be offering thought-provoking presentations, followed by a pragmatic ‘trading floor’, focused on the opportunities inherent in the global financial challenges we all face, and the strategies necessary for climate change solutions.

You can see the complete programme here.

But this day will be exponentially more powerful with your involvement. That’s why we’ll be live-blogging both the presentations and the trading floor outcomes — and inviting your contributions.

The discussions are to be based on a four-faceted model of livable cities:

1. Livable cities are highly visitable
2. Livable cities are highly workable
3. Livable cities are highly investable
4. Livable cities are carbon positive

The Symposium will be facilitated by Peter Townsend, and will include a presentation from the Hillary Institute’s 2009 Hillary Laureate, Jeremy Leggett, an award-winning social entrepreneur, an author, the Executive Chairman of leading European solar energy company Solarcentury and a founding director of the world’s first private equity fund for renewables, run by Bank Sarasin (Switzerland).

The Symposium is focused on the city-state of Christchurch, but Jeremy will further enhance the theme later this year in our equivalent international event in his home city of London. And outcomes will be provided to the global climate round in Copenhagen in December.

In the spirit of the extraordinary leadership Sir Ed demonstrated and inspired throughout his life, and with warm greetings from our Hillary Summit governors across the globe, we thank you for being an essential part of serious cross-sectoral dialogue on this vital leadership challenge of our times.