Sancroft

Sancroft is delighted to welcome Group Sustainability Director at Wates Group Cressida Curtis to the panel for our in-person event tomorrow: “No more business as usual: Collaboration, Sustainability and the Future of the Built Environment”.  Cressida’s work focuses on embedding environmental and social outcomes into every project, decision and place. At Wates, she works to deliver the best possible environmental, social and financial performance as an integrated system that supports long-term value. During the panel, Cressida will share insights from experience working closely with supply chain partners to deliver stronger sustainability outcomes and increased long-term security of supply and demand. She will also discuss why bringing customers on the journey is increasingly important, leaning on specific examples – from the impact of the war in Iran to heightened water stress – to show why we need to be taking action today. Event details:  Our Chairman, John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben, will open our upcoming event with a keynote on businesses involved in the built environment and why these challenges require a collaborative, system wide approach. We will then move to a panel discussion moderated by our CEO Felix Gummer, featuring Cressida and fellow panelists Dr. James Ritson, Cat O'Donovan and Ruth Shilston MBE. Interactive roundtable discussions will follow, focused on charting a shared path forward towards a built environment that is fit for the future. 📅 Wednesday 24th June  🕣 8:30 – 11:30am  📍 London Scottish House, 95 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2DX  This is an invitation-only event. To attend, please reach out to your Sancroft contact, DM us or email events@sancroft.com. #BusinessResilience #BuiltEnvironment #LCAW #Collaboration #SustainabilityEvent

This Wednesday, Sancroft is delighted to welcome Global Discipline Lead - Engineering Sciences at Mott MacDonald, Ruth Shilston MBE as part of our panel event: “No more business as usual: Collaboration, Sustainability and the Future of the Built Environment”.  Ruth is leader of specialist engineering on major construction projects worldwide and brings expertise on adapting to extreme heat and ensuring building design is sustainable and resilient to climate change. She brings experience from a range of building functions including healthcare facilities and sports venues, as well as mixed use masterplans.   We're interested to hear Ruth's insights on how the increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves are disrupting how people live and work today. She'll also share how we can work together to build future-fit buildings and give some real-world examples of how the built environment has already started adapting to a changing climate. Event details:   Our Chairman, John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben, will open our upcoming event with a keynote on businesses involved in the built environment and why these challenges require a collaborative, system wide approach. We will then move to a panel discussion moderated by our CEO Felix Gummer, featuring Ruth and fellow panellists Cressida Curtis, Cat O'Donovan and Dr. James Ritson. Interactive roundtable discussions will follow, focused on charting a shared path forward towards a built environment that is fit for the future.  📅 Wednesday 24th June   🕣 8:30 – 11:30am   📍 London Scottish House, 95 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2DX   This is an invitation-only event. To attend, please reach out to your Sancroft contact, DM us or email events@sancroft.com. #FutureFit #ClimateResilience #BuiltEnvironment #LCAW #SustainabilityEvent

On the 24th  of June, this Wednesday, Associate Professor of Sustainability of the Existing Built Environment Dr. James Ritson will join the panel for our in-person event: “No more business as usual: Collaboration, Sustainability and the Future of the Built Environment”.  James is an architecturally trained building conservator specialising in sustainability and recording of the historic built environment. He is also the vice-president of ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Energy and Sustainability (ICOMOS ISCES) and is published widely on sustainability, health and conservation issues. During the panel, James will share insights on why we cannot afford to not retrofit our existing built environment to be resilient to a rapidly changing climate. He will also share his experience and research into ensuring buildings remain fit for purpose, including productivity and psychological impacts.  Event details:  Our Chairman, John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben, will open our upcoming event with a keynote on businesses involved in the built environment and why these challenges require a collaborative, system wide approach. We will then move to a panel discussion moderated by our CEO Felix Gummer, featuring James and fellow panelists Cressida Curtis, Cat O'Donovan and Ruth Shilston MBE. Interactive roundtable discussions will follow, focused on charting a shared path forward towards a built environment that is fit for the future. 📅 Wednesday 24th June  🕣 8:30 – 11:30am  📍 London Scottish House, 95 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2DX This is an invitation-only event. To attend, please reach out to your Sancroft contact, DM us or email events@sancroft.com. #BuiltEnvironment #SustainabilityEvent #LondonClimateActionWeek #BusinessResilience

On the 24th of June, EMEAA Corporate Responsibility Director at IHG Hotels & Resorts, Cat O'Donovan, will join the panel for our in-person event: “No more business as usual: Collaboration, Sustainability and the Future of the Built Environment”.  Cat has a wealth of experience across the energy infrastructure and sustainability sectors, spanning science journalism, renewable energy advisory, ESG due diligence, and international development. She is now responsible for turning IHG’s “Journey to Tomorrow” strategy into real-world environmental and community initiatives across Europe, IMEA and East Asia & Pacific. During the panel, Cat will share her experience in cross-functional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and driving positive impact alongside commercial upsides and community involvement. Ensuring a sustainable future for the built environment demands genuine collaboration across disciplines, from architects and contractors to estate managers and operators, all working toward a shared vision. Event details:  Our Chairman, John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben, will open our upcoming event with a keynote on businesses involved in the built environment and why these challenges require a collaborative, system wide approach. We will then move to a panel discussion moderated by our CEO Felix Gummer, featuring Cat and fellow panelists Cressida Curtis, Dr. James Ritson and Ruth Shilston MBE. Interactive roundtable discussions will follow, focused on charting a shared path forward towards a built environment that is fit for the future. 📅 Wednesday 24th June  🕣 8:30 – 11:30am  📍 London Scottish House, 95 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2DX This is an invitation-only event. To attend, please reach out to your Sancroft contact, DM us or email events@sancroft.com. #BuiltEnvironment #SustainabilityEvent #Construction #BusinessSolutions

The way we have always planned, built and operated is no longer enough. The built environment faces pressure from all directions: resource and material constraints, tightening regulations, slim margins, complex supply chains and competing priorities. The pace of change is only accelerating, and a shifting climate is fundamentally reshaping how we design, construct and work in both today's buildings and tomorrow's. Join us for No more business as usual: Collaboration, Sustainability and the Future of the Built Environment, brining together leaders from across the build environment value chain including materials manufacturers, developers, contractors, investors and businesses with a footprint in the built environment. Our Chairman, John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben, will open our upcoming event with a keynote on businesses involved in the built environment and why these challenges require a collaborative, system wide approach. Featuring a panel with Cressida Curtis, Dr. James Ritson, Ruth Shilston MBE and Cat O'Donovan, alongside interactive roundtable discussions, the session will focus on charting a shared path forward towards a built environment that is fit for the future, integrating systems-level thinking across organisations, disciplines and supply chains. 📅 Wednesday 24th June  🕣 8:30 – 11:30am  📍 London Scottish House, 95 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2DX This is an invitation-only event. To attend, please reach out to your Sancroft contact, DM us or email events@sancroft.com. #BuiltEnvironment #SustainabilityEvent #Construction #Collaboration

"Ultimately, the levers for change and collective momentum are human" This was the sentiment that anchored our Board Dinner on Wednesday, bringing together senior business leaders to explore what it will actually take to embed climate risk at every level of an organisation. Below, Kathleen Enright reflects on why language, leadership and breaking down silos are the most powerful drivers of collective climate action.  If you're working through how to embed climate risk across your organisation and want to explore the practical steps to take, we would love to hear from you. #BusinessResilience #ClimateRisk #BreakingSilos #Sustainability

"An annual climate risk report is like checking your smoke alarm once your house is already on fire" Too many businesses are still treating climate risk as a reporting exercise, but that approach fails to reflect the tipping points and non-linear risks that define the true risk landscape seen in 2026. In our latest Sancroft Insight, our Managing Partner - Kathleen Enright - makes the case for treating climate risk the same way organisations treat innovation. The article explores the strategic, commercial and competitive value of a mindset shift and what this means for your organisation in practice. Read the full article below, and email hello@sancroft.com if you'd like to talk through your organisation's approach. #TippingPoints #ClimateRisk #BusinessResilience #MindsetShift

Some conversations change the way you think. Last Wednesday was one of them.  At London Scottish House, we gathered sustainability and business leaders to get real about climate risk. No jargon, no buzzwords, just honest, pragmatic dialogue about what 1.5°C actually means for your operations. The conversations were bold, and the energy in the room was electric. Here is what we heard. Our Chairman, John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben, set the scene with a powerful keynote. A politician since the 1970s, Lord Deben traced how discourse around climate change has evolved in the last 50 years. Originally treated as a distant and long-term concern, climate change is now recognised as one of the most materially significant challenges of our time. He left us with a rallying call: “We should be encouraged by the fact that it can be done and is being done - and action must continue to happen, now”. Kathleen Enright, our Managing Partner, led a bold panel structured around provocative “prove-me-wrong" statements. Our panellists brought unique and complementary perspectives: Eleanor Winton 🔭🔮 reframed how we think about risk, putting behaviour change at the centre of the conversation  Abi Fitzjohn brought real world experience from Lush’s sustainability journey.   Iain Watt didn’t shy away from the dooming reality of the situation, making the case for why climate risks demand urgent, unflinching action.  Ian Whiteford, drew a striking parallel between the vulnerabilities of the cashmere supply chain and the fragility of global supply chains in an era of climate shocks.  As promised, we wanted to get real about climate change. The interactive roundtables offered a place for dialogue for professionals. The challenges may be complex, but they are far from unique. Collective learnings more across sectors made one thing clear: amid reporting obligations, external expectations and internal disconnect, climate adaptation must be treated as a business imperative.  The conversation doesn’t stop here. If you’d like to hear more about what was discussed or are interested in how Sancroft has supported others on their circularity journey, please do get in touch we’d love to continue the conversation.  In the upcoming weeks, we will publish our event report capturing the key lessons and strategic insights from the day. Stay tuned.  #SupplyChainResilience #BusinessResilience #Sustainability #ClimateAction

Still a couple of spots remaining for tomorrow's event on real-world climate risk and resilience. Join us for a dose of inspiration with opening remarks by our Chairman John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben. Followed by what looks set to be a very rich panel discussion with Iain Watt, Eleanor Winton 🔭🔮, Abi Fitzjohn and chaired by Kathleen Enright

We are pleased to announce our final speaker for our upcoming event “Beyond Buzzwords: How to Build Real-World Resilience in Your Supply Chain”, on 29 April. Abi Fitzjohn, Creative Buyer at Lush, will be joining our panel to bring her experience and insight to our discussion of climate risk and building real-world supply chain resilience. With 15 years of experience in global sourcing, Abi has spent the last seven years as a Creative Buyer at Lush. Her expertise spans a portfolio ranging from complex natural raw materials—such as essential oils and butters—to primary packaging categories. Through deep collaboration between Lush’s UK and global buying teams, Abi focuses on building resilient, transparent supply networks capable of navigating the challenges of a volatile global landscape. Abi is passionate about sharing the Lush Buying vision and strategy, aiming to inspire industry-wide shifts toward more conscious, regenerative sourcing models. Event Details:  This event is designed for sustainability leaders across agriculture-adjacent sectors: fashion, beauty, retail, construction and other industries that depend on specific sourcing regions and climate-sensitive materials.  If your organisation relies on complex global supply chains, the discussion has been shaped with you in mind. The session will open with a keynote from our Chairman, John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben on what climate risk means for businesses today, and why it demands immediate, practical action.  This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Abi alongside Eleanor Winton 🔭🔮, Ian Whiteford and Iain Watt, and interactive roundtables focused on moving beyond siloed approaches to climate risk and turning insight into collective action and accountability.    📅 Wednesday 29 April  🕣 8:45-10:45am  📍 Central London    This is an invitation-only event. To attend, please reach out to your Sancroft contact, DM us or email events@sancroft.com.