Sustainable Brands Aotearoa Conference 2025

How smart brands are proving The Value of Purpose

Sustainable Brands Aotearoa 13/14th May 2025

Sustainable Brands Aotearoa 13/14th May 2025

Remember when a sustainable future felt like the destination we were all heading for?

It wasn’t that long ago. But now we're watching global brands and politicians retreat from people and planet commitments and some values even being attacked. Meanwhile, our growing Gen Z workforce expects their employers to do what they said they would, and of course customers still want products that do right by the planet. 

What if there was a way you could prove the business case for ESG, measure the dollars behind sustainability, communicate the value of purpose?

This May, Sustainable Brands are hosting The Value of Purpose in Rotorua to solve this.

Our world-class speakers promise to deliver actionable insights from their brands - the ones who are doing purpose and winning, moving forward, not retreating. They know the value of their sustainability, people and purpose programs, and they want you to know yours too.

Because if you win, we all win.

Leave with the network and know-how to measure and communicate the value of your for-purpose programmes. Collect tools, metrics, case studies and evidence to prove the business case. 

Because now, more than ever, it's up to us to turn this ship around and make sustainability the destination again.

Only 300 places available for those committed to doing business better.

The conference flow

  • Day one Tuesday 13th May

    A mixture of plenary presentations and panel discussions with the brands who are doing purpose and winning. How are they doing it? - We look at the business case.

    We then hear from those businesses who are bringing more purpose into their organisations, why and how they’re making changes.

    Finally for the day we see case studies and details around what tools and metrics exist to measure the ROI of values, purpose and ESG.

  • At the end of the conference presentations we decompress with excellent kai and drink, building lasting connections and nourishing our bodies.

    We then move into our purpose in action experiences: your choice of either getting into nature at Whakarewarewa forest or Te Puia, or nurturing yourself at Wai Ariki hot springs or with a yoga and sound healing session onsite at the Rydges.

    If you’re not ready for bed, grab a drink in the hotel bar and continue the conversation.

  • Wednesday morning is an optional early start either mountain-biking (premium) or with a gentle 5km jog or walk, or feel free to get some additional shut-eye.

    The conference proper starts at 8am with your choice of one of three workshop/masterclass options and breakfast (unless mountain-biking).

  • Today is all about putting people at the heart of purpose and follows a plenary presentation and panel format.

    We start the day looking at how some of the the best are doing their internal culture and communications in a people-first way.

    In the afternoon look outwards at external marketing, communications and working across the whole supply chain. Closing with a call to build a coalition of the willing to work together, to collaborate for purposeful action.

Our speakers

World-class speakers from small, medium and large/global purpose-driven brands and those transitioning their business models to incorporate more purpose.

Our speakers are a mixture of Founders, CFOs, Sustainability practitioners, Designers, People & Culture specialists, authors and Marketing & Communications leaders behind the brands such as Ethique, Blunt Umbrellas, IKEA, Comvita, Silver Fern Farms, Icebreaker, Villa Maria, Dole, Mutu and Ecostore and more.

Who is The Value of Purpose for? 

CEOs, CFOs, Chiefs of: Strategy, Supply Chain, People, Communications, Marketing and Sustainability, practitioners and founders, who want to connect with and learn from other business leaders who are successfully turning purpose/values/sustainability/environment/social/people and culture programmes into opportunity.

Expect to expand your network with 300 delegates and get to know our world-class speakers both on and off the stage.

Kiwi brands who export into North America or Asia will want to be in the room. Sustainable Brands is a global network of thousands of businesses with the largest annual conferences in San Diego and Tokyo. This year in October Sustainable Brands Aotearoa will lead a delegation to San Diego to host a booth and you could be on board. CEO of Sustainable Brands Global (USA) Mike Dupee will be at The Value of Purpose this May to talk you through the opportunities for engagement with the global network.

If you’re interested in purpose, values-based, sustainability, repair, reuse, PaaS, Buy 1 gift 1 business models, or just kiwi brands commanding a premium on the global stage, you will want to be at The Value of Purpose.

Preliminary Programme

Surfacing the Value of Purpose

Day one - Tuesday 13th May 9.30am - 10.00pm/Late

  • 09:30: Registrations open, coffee and tea 

    10:30 - 10:45: Mihi whakatau and welcome

    10:45 - 12:00: Keynote address

    1. Shamubeel Eaqub, Economist

      Economics and Purpose

    2. Brianne West, Incrediballs, Ethique Founder, Now That’s What I Call Green

      Purpose from Day 1 – Returns on Being Values-led

  • Conference lunch provided in the exhibition space.

  • 13:00 - 15:15: Putting a Value on Purpose  

    Part A: Purpose by design – breaking down the business case 

    1. Greig Brebner, Blunt Umbrellas

    2. Paul Button, Canopy Tours

    3. Debbie Robertson, Wai Ariki Hot Springs

    4. Session chair: Brianne West

    Part B: Engineering purpose – the ROI of transformation

    1. Johanna Cederlöf, IKEA

    2. Leonardo Rabello, Dole (online)

    3. Tara Smith, Indevin NZ (Villa Maria, Esk Valley)

    4. Session chair: TBA

    15:30 - 17:00: Measuring What Matters: Tools for Purpose & Planet 

    What tools and frameworks help us articulate, measure and report on environmental costs and the value of purpose-led initiatives

    1. Daniel Aronson, Valutus

    2. Kat McDonald, Proxima

    3. Dr Ben Redwood, Mutu

    4. Debbie O’Byrne, Planet Price

    5. Session chair: Alec Tang, KPMG

  • 17:00 - 19:00

    Networking with drinks and nibbles 

    19:00 - 22:00

    Experience the Value of Nature and Nurture (included in your conference ticket) - your choice of

    1. Wai Ariki Hot Springs​

    2. Te Puia Geyser by Night​

    3. Redwoods Treewalk by Night ​

    4. Nurture Night: embodied Yin Yoga and sound healing

    22:00 - late: The Night Owl's Nest: continue the conversation with a beverage in the hotel bar 

Articulating the Value of Purpose

Day Two - Wednesday 14th May 6.30am - 3.30pm

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  • 06:30 - 07:15: Sunrise Stride, 5km walk or jog - Optional

    08:00 - 09:15: Purposeful Breakfast 

    Your choice of:

    1. Masterclass: How to Drive Value with Transition Planning with Kristin Renoux, Tania Hyde, Laura Robichaux, Beca​;

    2. Workshop: Integrating risks & values into the balance sheet with Natasha Telles D’Costa, Veeva Systems; OR

    3. Workshop: The Value of Values with Daniel Aronson, Valutus

    09:30 - 10:15: Keynote address

    Dr Ellen Joan Ford

    Belonging Autonomy & Purpose

    10:15 - 10:45: Morning tea

    10:45 - 12:15: The Inside Story

    Proving purpose to internal stakeholders 

    1. Session chair: Izzy Fenwick, Futureful, The Aotearoa Circle

    2. Nicola Taylor, Tax Traders, Taxi

    3. Brendan Haigh, Miraka

    4. Catherine Bryant, Simpson Grierson

    5. Julia Jackson, Kiwibank

  • Conference lunch provided in the exhibition space.

  • 13:15 - 14:45: Value Out Loud: when purpose creates connection

    Taking your values to market: authentic storytelling and purposeful partnerships that drive change 

    1. Jordi Beneyto-Ferre, VF Corp​ (Icebreaker, Smartwool)

    2. Angelina Ashcroft, ecostore​

    3. Erin Swanson, Comvita​

    4. Nicky Cummerfield, Silver Fern Farms

    5. Session chair: Laura Gemmell, Ecochoice

    14:45 - 15:15: The Opportunity for Collaboration

    1. Mike Dupee, Sustainable Brands Global CEO

    2. Rachel Brown, SBN Founder

    3. Gareth Hughes

    15:15 - 15:30: Closing blessing and farewell 

Day One - Choose Nature or Nurture

Tuesday 13 May 7.00pm – 10.00pm, times subject to change  

Included in your conference registration you choose one of the following experiences (limited spaces available):  

A geyser at night - Te Puia

Te Puia Geyser by Night

  • When darkness falls the true love story of Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland comes to life… The geothermal valley is revealed under night skies, providing a multi-sensory experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. Please note: Walking shoes and a moderate-medium level of fitness are needed and can be subject to weather. This activity is not accessible to wheelchairs; however, a mobility scooter is permitted. Parts of the guided experience involve tracks with a slight-moderate incline. 

A private pool at Wai Ariki Hot Springs

Wai Ariki Hot Springs

  • Our exclusive experience at Wai Ariki starts with a short presentation on how purpose is embedded throughout their operations, people and culture. Delegates will experience:  

    • Te Iringa, The Waterfall Showers  

    • Te Ahi Tupua, Tongariro Fire & Ice Caves  

    • Te Taiwhanga Matua, Thermal Pools  

    • Te Pae Paru, Geothermal Mud Lounge  

    • Kohu Wai Ariki, Steam Room  

    Please note swimwear required, transport provided. 

The Redwoods at night

Redwoods Treewalk™

  • Majestic and magical, the Redwoods Treewalk™ experience is truly a walk to remember.

    Bask in the glow of the magical wonderland as the 120-year-old Whakarewarewa Redwood forest comes to life by night. Walking high above the forest floor and beneath these gentle giants, you are transported to a captivating world of colour and light, where forest and fantasy come alive.

    90 mins includes walking bus. Please note: this experience is not wheelchair accessible, requires medium fitness level, please bring headtorch and walking shoes.

A picture of two people practicing yin yoga

Yin Yoga and sound healing

  • Hosted by Tineke Rose and Alice Sea. 
    Come and unwind after a big day 1 of conference.  

    Alice guides with her soulful sound healing utilising instruments such as the didgeridoo, flutes, heartbeat drum, hand pan and crystal bowls, played throughout the room and at times over the body.  

    Complementing this auditory experience, the practice of embodied yin yoga facilitates a gentle, introspective exploration of one's physical and emotional landscape.

Day Two - Purposeful Breakfast

Wednesday 14th May 6.30am - 9.15am, times subject to change  

Included in your conference registration please choose one of the following morning workshops, the masterclass (included in your registration).

Masterclass

How to drive Value with
Transition Planning

  • Join Beca specialists Laura Robichaux (DAPP - Dynamic Adaptive Pathways Planning), Tania Hyde (Circular Economy) and Kristin Renoux (Climate and Nature Reporting) to discuss three different approaches on the "how" of transition planning, and how transition plans can drive value. This session is critical for anyone looking at bringing more purpose into their organisation, driving value rather than just ticking a box, adapting their business to be more resilient in a changing climate, transitioning their business to a low emissions or circular model or investing in nature. 

    Hosted by: Laura Robichaux, Tania Hyde & Kristin Renoux, Beca

Workshop

Integrating risks & values into the balance sheet

  • Sustainability is a "right to operate" conversation not a nice to have- the biggest lie we tell ourselves is that we have time. We don't, especially as an exporting nation. 

    Join Veeva for a deep dive on identifying Risks & Opportunities and how to integrate these into the balance sheet.  Learn what global majors are doing in response to these changing sustainability goal posts and the role digital technology will play. You will leave this session with a new clarity on just how much your business could be exposed, and the equal and opposite opportunity to add value that this knowledge imparts!

    Hosted by: Natasha Telles D’Costa, Veeva Systems

    Limited spaces available

Workshop

The Values of Values

  • For many companies, a big barrier to sustainability action is the inability to demonstrate business ROI. If that's the case in your company, this workshop is for you. Over the course of this session, you'll learn (1) where the business value of sustainability hides (2) how to uncover and quantify this hidden value (3) how to identify key audiences and communicate business value in a way they'll find credible.

      - Hosted by: Daniel Aronson, Valutus

    Limited spaces available

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Two day full delegate registration 1499+GST