Sustainable Design Summit announces speaker line-up

Sustainable Design Summit stage
1024 640 Hamish Kilburn
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Sustainable Design Summit announces speaker line-up

The second edition of Sustainable Design Summit is just around the corner and, as a proud media partner of the event, Hotel Designs is able to unveil this year’s complete agenda…

Sustainable Design Summit stage

There is nothing more the design community wants more than an event that not only unites the hospitality sectors, but also cuts through the noise to expose clear solutions when it comes to designing consciously. Cue the arrival of Sustainable Design Summit that, following last year’s successful inaugural event, takes place on November 28 at Museum of London Docklands.

The full agenda of the summit has been released – the world’s only forum to unite the cruise, hotel, and aircraft interiors sectors. The thought-leadership event serves as a catalyst for change in interior design across these three chosen industries.

With a strong focus on collaboration and innovation, interior designers, specifiers, sustainability specialists and suppliers alike meet to share insights and explore the new era of sustainability goals.

Highlighted sessions and headline speakers:

The one-day Summit tackles today’s biggest challenges with designing and sourcing responsibly. The pivotal opening keynote ‘Progress, leadership, and transparency through the supply chain’ unites decision makers across each sector, including Joshua Wilkie, Manager, Waste Management and Circularity Programs at Air Canada; Mathieu Petiteau, Newbuilding and R&D Director at Ponant and Sam Hall, Director of Interior Design, Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Hosted by Darian Stibbe, Global Leader, Partnerships for Sustainable Development; Executive Director at The Partnering Initiative, delegates will be guided through a CPD-certified programme of keynotes and topic-specific breakout sessions focussing on case studies and companies that are at the forefront of sustainable design. Stand-out sessions include ‘Understanding your emissions: what are your numbers really telling you?’, ‘Materials innovation and collaboration in the supply chain’ and ‘From collaboration to impact: developing approaches and next steps’.

Two people on a stage talking to an

Image credit: Sustainable Design Summit

The revered speaker line-up features interior designers, both highly specialised and those who work cross-industry, lead specifiers, and sustainability specialists. Brands leading the conversation include Hilton, Royal Caribbean Group, Air Canada, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Holland America Group, Bombardier, Hurtigruten Norway, Winch Design and PriestmanGoode. Certification and sustainability advisory companies such as Lloyds Register, TU Delft, and Mind Click will also be sharing their knowledge and what the delegates as brand owners require from the supply chain.

Speaker Mirja Rasi-Mäki, Sustainability Specialist at Meyer Turku emphasises the importance of seeking cross-disciplinary solutions to sustainable design obstacles: “Product Development Partnering and collaboration in sustainability issues are essential in addressing the unique challenges of the maritime industry; bringing together diverse expertise, ensuring regulatory compliance, maximising resource efficiency, adopting innovative technologies, and promoting a positive passenger experience while minimising environmental impact. Through collaboration, the different stakeholders can contribute to making the cruise industry more sustainable and environmentally responsible.”

Included in the day’s agenda is the zero-waste product showcase of intrinsically green materials and solutions, and numerous opportunities to network allowing delegates to expand their knowledge, discover the latest innovations, and create new relationships across the sectors.

Sustainable Design Summit was created to make sustainable choices easier for those working within cruise, hotel, and aircraft interiors. Designers, decision-makers, and trusted suppliers join to challenge existing practices and together create practical solutions. The Summit is organised by Elite Exhibitions, organisers of Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas and Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe. 

Main image credit: Sustainable Design Summit

Hamish Kilburn / 05.10.2023

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