 From the President's Desk
Ten Years of Doing Well by Doing Good
By Rob Andrejewski, ISSP-SA, Director of Sustainability, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
A decade ago, in February 2008, the heavily favored New England Patriots were dealt an upset Super Bowl loss; scientists worldwide warned about the dangers of thinning Arctic sea ice; and economics and presidential politics dominated U.S. news reports. The more things change...
Against this backdrop, a group of people who believed that better ways of doing business and governing were possible launched the International Society of Sustainability Professionals. They not only made a commitment to support the many forms and manifestations of on-the-job sustainability, but they also set out to find people around the world who shared their passion for doing well by doing good. By building connections, providing resources, and championing employees, they recognized that individual efforts could be combined to create a movement.
In that year's Millennium Development Goals Report - which marked the halfway point of an audacious and hopeful global effort to eradicate poverty and increase the quality of life worldwide - UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon explained that a willingness to work together over the long haul was more important to our collective success than knowledge of how to do it: "In almost all instances, experience has demonstrated the validity of earlier agreements on the way forward; in other words, we know what to do. But it requires an unswerving, collective, long-term effort...It is now our responsibility to make up lost ground - and put all countries, together, firmly on track towards a more prosperous, sustainable and equitable world."
Happy Anniversary, ISSP! Thank you to all of you who make this community a wonderful place to belong. Can't wait to see what the next ten years will bring.
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Celebrating a Decade of Service
Ten years ago, the launch of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) created the first professional association dedicated to promoting and supporting sustainability. What began as a volunteer-led initiative in the Pacific Northwest has grown to an organization with a dedicated staff and members all over the world that is now playing a crucial role in taking the field mainstream through certification, knowledge sharing, research, etc. Many individuals and organizations have focused on the moral case for sustainability. But with the majority of Fortune 500 companies now viewing sustainability as central to their business strategies, McKinsey&Company, among other authorities, maintains that the narrative has changed from 'why' to 'why not?'
It's no longer a question whether integrating such principles into practice allows companies to reduce costs, minimize risk, attract talent, retain customers, and drive innovation. Sustainability is finally unstoppable and the demand for the expertise of ISSP's vast network is greater than ever.
In honor of our being in business for a decade, we're speaking with the team who put in untold hours getting ISSP up-and-running and we'll be sharing their reflections with you. We would also like to hear from all of our members and long time supporters. Send your stories from ISSP's early years to i[email protected]
with the subject "
I Remember ISSP When."
In a future newsletter, we'll report on what we hear, reflect on how ISSP has evolved and consider what challenges remain ahead. We're also eager to disclose what our top priorities will be over the next few years.
Follow our homepage for more 10th anniversary news in the coming weeks!
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ISSP Credential Holders Share Their Stories
Last week, four ISSP credential holders who are leaders in higher education
shared their stories
with more than 100 webinar attendees, speaking about their own backgrounds in sustainability and the
value
their credentials have brought to their careers.
This was the latest in a series of free panel presentations designed to showcase how credentials recognizing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of sustainability professionals can have a far-reaching effect across many sectors and industries. Next month, we'll be hosting a similar panel of credential holders, this time featuring members of local governments and municipalities.
Let us know if you would like to schedule an online or in-person panel of credential holders aimed at your industry, association, or audience. If you're a credential holder, you could be a member of this panel and tell your own story.
Check out our website for more information about the ISSP credentials and our directory of ISSP credential holders to see who is already being recognized for their sustainability expertise!
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ISSP-NYC Chapter: Corporate Citizenship
By Camille Cannistraci
ISSP-NYC started the new year with our first Leaders in Sustainability event of 2018,
Corporate Citizenship: How the Private Sector is Advancing Sustainable Development, held in Freshfield's beautiful Manhattan offices. The event was co-sponsored by ISSP-NYC and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Moderated by ISSP member Wendy Hapgood, COO of Wild Tomorrow Fund, the panel featured Kim Weinrick, Head of Public Affairs at OppenheimerFunds, and Joy Tumang, North America Regional Lead for CSR & Pro Bono Programs at Freshfields. Our three fantastic speakers discussed the critical role of responsible business in enabling global development to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, including the importance of engaging senior corporate leadership.
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Profile:
Ljiljana Pantelic, ISSP-SA
This month, we profile Australian sustainability professional Ljiljana Pantelic, who works as Associate Director of Syrinx Environmental PL.
When asked why she earned an ISSP credential, Ljiljana responded:
"In recent years and as recognition of sustainability has grown, so too has the number of people practicing as 'experts' in the field. So, I was keen to ensure my own position and expertise was valid and was recognized by a reputable organization, and to be part of a professional international network. As in other fields, I think we will see a positive shift in the industry as the market matures and demands accredited professionals. "
Read the full profile on our ISSP Member Profiles page, and be sure check out our directory of all ISSP credential holders.
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Course: Stakeholder Engagement
Begins February 20th at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET
Stakeholder Engagement is an essential component of risk reduction and sustainability reporting standards, and an excellent optimization opportunity for organizations.
Join us for this two-week online course in which The Sustainability Learning Centre's Kathryn Cooper will share her expertise in community and stakeholder engagement. The course is designed for practicing sustainability professionals at every level. Gain insights into a proven, systematic process for engaging priority stakeholders and identifying material issues for action.
Recordings will be available for those who cannot attend live. ISSP credential holders who pass the course will earn 1 CEU.
Stakeholder Engagement is only $25 for ISSP members!
Register today
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Webinar: How to Increase your Capacity to Make Positive Change
February 7th at 11:00am PT / 2:00pm ET
Webinars are free for members, and all registrants will receive a recording of the live event.
Sign up today!
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Time to Rekindle that Flame
By Hillary Mizia, Executive Director at Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge
Have you ever had that feeling where you know you should feel more excited or passionate about something than you do? I remember feeling that about my work in sustainability just a few years ago. As a 20 year veteran of the field, I had seen a lot of exciting changes and was still deeply engaged, but my fire and passion for the work were starting to dwindle.
Something had to change. I needed something to stoke that fire once again. So, I dreamed up a new kind of sustainability retreat just for professionals that was some place beautiful, bathed its participants in outdoor experiences, engaged faculty as learners, created space for meaningful connections, and offered a different way of looking at the tools we use. With the help of the Colorado Chapter of ISSP,
Beyond Sustainability: A Workshop for Professionals was born.
Now in its third year, Beyond Sustainability is a proven success. For some it's an annual grounding and reunion. For others it's a one-time reconnect to the work we do and a rekindling of that internal fire. This un-conference is open to anyone in the sustainability field, from long time veterans to those looking to turn their personal passion and knowledge into a career. Located in Grand Lake, Colorado at
Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge, Beyond Sustainability is just what the doctor should have ordered.
I invite you to join me this September 23rd-27th in Colorado at Beyond Sustainability: A Workshop for Professionals.
Click here to learn more about the place, read the schedule of events, and register. Space is limited and so are single occupancy rooms, so don't delay. Early Bird pricing lasts just through the month of February. ISSP members get an additional discount! Feel free to
email me directly with any questions.
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Upcoming ISSP Chapter &
Regional Learning Network Events
ISSP
Chapters and
Regional learning Networks bring together local communities of practice to network, share resources, and provide professional support. Get involved in your local ISSP community with these upcoming events.
2/8 9:30-10:30am BDT Asia-Pacific Regional Learning Network Meeting - Join other sustainability professionals in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss the topic
Influencing Policy: How organizations and individuals are shaping national sustainability guidelines and priorities. Free for ISSP members.
2/15 5:30-8:30pm CT ISSP Chicagoland Networking Event - Join local members for an in-person meetup, including networking and a presentation on
Utilizing Appreciative Inquiry as a Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Management Tool for Embedding Sustainability.
2/22 6:30-8:30pm MT ISSP Alberta Chapter - Join the Alberta Chapter for a business-casual event in their speaker series,
Disruption - Sustainability in the New Age, featuring Dr. David Milia.
If you are interested in having a RLN meeting in your region, fill out the survey form and consider volunteering to be an ISSP Ambassador.
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ISSP board members and associates can be found sharing their kno
wledge, sharpening their skills and networking at sustainability gatherings around the world. Reach out and introduce yourself to the ISSP members listed below if you too are planning to travel to one of the many sustainability conferences going on this winter and spring. Let us know where you're headed by dropping a note to
execdir@sustainabilityprofessionals.org
.
February 6-8 GreenBiz, Phoeniz, Arizona. ISSP Board Members Tad Radzinski and Sarah Elaine Lewis attending
March 11-13 Seafood Expo North America, Boston, Massachusetts. ISSP Board Member Jeff Yorzyk attending
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