The Growing Role of Sustainability Professionals Inside Organisations: The Critical Skills Businesses Need in a Changing World
About the Event 🌍
Join us for The Growing Role of Sustainability Professionals Inside Organisations, a pivotal event in the DSO ESG & Sustainability Cluster Series. This interactive session brings together industry leaders and sustainability experts to explore how businesses can develop and nurture sustainability talent within their organizations.
This event offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from experienced professionals who have successfully integrated sustainability into their organizational DNA. Whether you're looking to build a sustainability team from scratch, enhance existing capabilities, or simply understand what skills your business needs to develop, this session provides practical guidance and actionable strategies.
Event Details:
📅 Date: Wednesday, 28th of May 2025
🕙 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM UAE time
📍 Location: DTEC Auditorium, A5 Building, Dubai Silicon Oasis
🎯 Key Themes:
Organizational structures that support sustainability integration
Strategies for building and developing sustainability teams
Practical approaches to embedding sustainability throughout organizations
Innovative technologies and methodologies for advancing sustainability goals
Keynote Speakers:
🔹Michael Drummond
Senior Director - Human Capital Effectiveness, Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA)
"Michael Drummond, a seasoned Human Capital Leader with over 20 years of experience in the GCC, he is renowned for his expertise in building engaged, high-performing teams across industries like Oil & Gas, Mining, and Aerospace. He combines hands-on mastery of Talent Acquisition, Leadership Development, and Business Partnering with a passion for driving employee engagement through Positive Psychology, Wellbeing Initiatives, and innovative Employee Happiness programs. As an Executive Coach and mentor, he has empowered leaders and founders to unlock their potential while fostering sustainable organizational cultures."
🔹Victoria Shapovalova
Senior Manager - Sustainability, Deloitte
"Victoria Shapovalova is a sustainability expert at Deloitte, where she advises organizations on integrating sustainability into their core business strategies. Her expertise includes sustainability reporting, ESG integration, and developing sustainability competencies within organizations."
🔸 Firestarter Session:
Ali Rahmanpour
CEO and Co-founder, Smartzi
"Ali Rahmanpour is the CEO and Co-founder of Smartzi, a smart building platform driving energy and operational efficiency with a focus on the hospitality sector. With 10+ years of experience deploying IoT and proptech solutions across emerging markets, he leverages technology to create sustainable built environments. His entrepreneurial approach to sustainability equips organizations with actionable insights for future-focused growth."
Event Agenda:
🕙 09:30 - 10:00 AM
Registration & Networking Breakfast
Enjoy a light breakfast while connecting with fellow sustainability professionals and industry leaders.
🕙 10:00 - 10:10 AM
Opening Remarks
Welcome address by The Surpluss Team, setting the context for the day's discussions.
🕙 10:10 - 10:35 AM
Building Sustainable Human Capital
Keynote by Michael Drummond, Senior Director of Human Capital Effectiveness at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), exploring how organizations can develop and nurture sustainability talent.
🕙 10:35 - 10:40 AM
Q&A Session
Interactive discussion with Michael Drummond.
🕙 10:40 - 11:05 AM
Sustainability Skills for the Future
Presentation by Victoria Shapovalova, Senior Manager at Deloitte, on the critical competencies and skills that businesses need to develop in their teams.
🕙 11:05 - 11:10 AM
Q&A Session
Interactive discussion with Victoria Shapovalova.
🕙 11:10 - 11:25 AM
Firestarter Session: Innovation in Sustainability
Dynamic talk by Ali Rahmanpour, CEO and Co-founder of Smartzi, sharing insights on innovative approaches to sustainability in the property technology sector.
🕙 11:25 - 11:30 AM
Q&A Session
Interactive discussion with Ali Rahmanpour.
🕙 11:30 - 12:00 PM
Collaborative Session & Closing
Interactive discussion on future topics, group photo, and feedback collection via QR code.
Sponsored by:
🏢 DSO (Dubai Silicon Oasis) | 🏛️ DTEC
Exclusive Perks for Attendees:
Early access to The Surpluss Platform for resource-sharing
Complimentary sustainability toolkits and expert guides
Priority registration for upcoming cluster workshops (Q2-Q4 2025)
Don’t miss your chance to connect with like-minded changemakers—reserve your spot today!💡✨