Insights from the CEO of Centre for Big Synergy, Sourav Roy

On 12 November, Sustainability LIVE will expand its captivating event series by hosting a virtual event that will delve into the vital relationship between sustainable development and diversity and inclusion - Sustainability LIVE: Diversity & Inclusion.

Through a range of engaging keynote conversations and panel discussions, the event will explore how players in the industry can enhance collaboration, leverage innovation and join the movement to a better tomorrow.  

Join us at Sustainability LIVE: Diversity & Inclusion and discover how you can drive real change in your organisation by integrating D&I principles into your sustainability agenda. 

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To get your free virtual ticket, click here. 

Dr Sourav Roy

Dr Sourav Roy is the CEO of the Centre for Big Synergy (CBS), a Civil Society organisation of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Since Co-Founding CBS in 2018, the organisation has helped more than 250 million people in more than 120 countries globally.

To address the UN SDGs, the organisation launches and supports many local and global projects alongside its partners to engage and inspire many stakeholders. 

At Sustainability LIVE: Diversity & Inclusion, Dr Sourav Roy will feature on our ‘Impact of AI on Diversity & Inclusion’ panel discussion alongside Helen Milner, the CEO of Good Things Foundation, Peter Mouseriadis, Founder & CEO of Cultural Infusion and Adam Karnama, Founder of Spritju. The panel discussion will uncover how AI can influence diverse opportunities and experiences across several contexts for businesses. 

We recently caught up with Sourav to discover what inspired him to get involved with our exclusive event, what he hopes to achieve through it, as well as his predictions for the future of our industries. 

What inspired you to get involved with Sustainability LIVE: Diversity & Inclusion?

As an ethnic minority in the UK, I have been the subject of conscious and unconscious bias like many others (and being an immigrant has its share as well). 

As a sustainability advocate, I have risen above the ‘noise’ to focus on the wider need of society to evolve as a more equal and inclusive one. 

With the future heavily reliant on AI-driven decisions, the time for setting the dial on DE&I in AI algorithms is now. 

Future generations would otherwise be even more polarised and disjointed than ever if this is not done with utmost urgency and with all the diligence necessary.

At Sustainability LIVE 2023, Ragini Roy, Director of Global Programmes and Impact at Centre for Big Synergy, featured on our 'Circular Economy Forum' alongside Oleseaden Lale, Sustainability Manager at Wilson James, Julie Owst, Head of Sustainability at Bidfood and Sarah Watt, Sustainability Change Leader at Gartner. 

Provide us with an overview of what you hope to focus on through the ‘Impact of AI on Diversity & Inclusion’ panel discussion

By working with governments, businesses and civil society through a multitude of projects, I have gained a well-rounded vision of the gaps that exist in today's DE&I frameworks, especially for larger organisations.

I have seen a lot of overdoing and tokenism during my career. I want to focus on three areas during the panel discussion in which I have professional expertise; DE&I in the workplace, ethics and the indispensable role of D&I leaders in helping shape processes whilst avoiding biases over some time. 

If we are leading the decision on AI to help us evolve to be an inclusive, equal and diverse society, I think these three areas are crucial to address.

What do you hope to achieve through Sustainability LIVE: Diversity & Inclusion?

The event is very timely and necessary for setting the right tone and language around integrating DE&I in AI algorithms - and the event is doing that in the most efficient way possible. 

While we have general ideas of how to go about including the multitude of voices in this process of integration, it is important to identify the nuances often missed in mammoth initiatives such as these and focus on constant feedback and fine-tuning. 

At Sustainability LIVE: Diversity & Inclusion, I hope to communicate my opinions and ideas to industry leaders to complement their knowledge, understanding and vision around the subject. By doing this, they can be aware and conscious of such nuances in developing collaborative AI models - it is a space to collaborate rather than compete.

What emerging trends do you believe will shape the future of the sustainability industry over the next decade?

I think it is encouraging to see innovative collaborations across business verticals taking the lead in the industry, especially in ensuring transparency of product life cycle and their services in creating a circular economy. 

I also believe new hi-tech and low- or no-tech solutions that will enhance food security both in the global north and south will have one of the biggest impacts on the future of how we can feed ourselves and is a space to invest and grow sustainably.

 With recent lessons learnt from failures and widespread call for improvement in carbon counting- this area perhaps is the most crucial to watch over the next few years to ensure accurate reporting and accountability rather than sleepwalking into uncertainty. 

Last to mention - AI has the ability to catalyse progress exponentially in all these areas of sustainability.

Essential diary dates for 2024 and 2025…

Discover the essential diary dates for Sustainability Magazine and its sister publications – Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital. 

To follow Sustainability LIVE on LinkedIn, click here.

2024 diary dates:

• Sustainability LIVE: Diversity & Inclusion | 12 November 
• NEW | The CSO Network
• NEW | ClimateTech Digital
• NEW | Scope3 Magazine

2025 diary dates: 

• Sustainability LIVE: Malta | 20 February 
• Sustainability LIVE: Net Zero | 5-6 March 
• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: Sustainability | 5-6 March
• Sustainability LIVE Singapore | 18 March 
• Sustainability LIVE Dubai | 22 April 
• Sustainability LIVE Chicago | 4-5 June 
• Sustainability LIVE: London Climate Action Week | 25 June
• Sustainability LIVE London | 9-10 September 
• Sustainability & ESG Awards | 10 September 
• Sustainability LIVE: DE&I | 11 November

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