How hard-edged business practices can live alongside an increasingly compelling environmental agenda will be discussed at South Bank this week (September 28-28).

Griffith University’s Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainable Enterprise hosts The Necessary Transition, a three-day conference exploring global transitions to greener and more resource-efficient modes of economic growth and development.

Internationally-renowned experts from all parts of the world will put forward their opinions on how this new era of global change should be managed.

Among these will be Professor Mark Swilling from the Sustainability Institute at the Stellenbosch University in South Africa, who asks what kinds of real-economy conditions could materially contribute to the possibility of a more sustainable future.

Richard Cassels, Director of Climate Leadership in Brisbane, will argue that the amount of social change required for the “Sustainability Revolution” has been seriously underestimated.

For Steve Killelea, Executive Chairman and founder of the Institute for Economics and Peace, peace lies at the core of being able to manage the shift.

The influence of the global financial crisis on what Sara Parkin calls “the irreversible shift to a new way of living on earth” will also be discussed.

Sara Parkin OBE, Founder-Director of Forum for the Future and Chair of the Richard Sandbrook Trust in the UK, will deliver the keynote address on the closing afternoon.

Bill Champion, Managing Director, Rio Tinto Coal Australia, will make a keynote address on Friday morning on the theme ‘How do we justify our business and earn our licence to operate?’

Professor Malcolm McIntosh (pictured), Director of the Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainable Enterprise will start proceedings at the Griffith Graduate Centre at the Ship Inn function room at 10am on Wednesday, September 26.

“Through The Necessary Transition, Griffith University is leading the debate and discussion on perhaps the greatest challenge facing society today,” he said. “This forum could not have been staged at a more appropriate time. This is reflected by the outstanding quality and range of presenters who will talk about why and how we must change the way we live and do business today.”

Professor Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh, Professor Brendan Mackey, Dr Nick Barter, Dr Jason West, Dr Tapan Sarker,Professor David Peetz, Associate Professor Georgina Murray, Dr Sally Russell and Professor Jem Bendell will be among the Griffith University experts also contributing to the discussion.

  • The Necessary Transition, September 26-28, South Bank campus.Further information and registration here.