European Sustainable Industry Summit 2025 – Speakers Confirmed!
On 23–24 October, CSR Europe will host in Mechelen its annual European Sustainable Industry Summit: Building Sustainable and Competitive Markets: two-day of high-impact dialogue and collaboration across diverse stakeholders, empowering companies to make sustainability a real business advantage.
Too often, sustainability is perceived primarily as a compliance exercise. At CSR Europe, we believe it is far more: a driver of value creation, competitiveness, and innovation. This Summit will showcase how industry leaders are embedding ESG principles into their core strategies to seize new market opportunities, drive long-term prosperity and build a future-proof economy.
Day 1 – Sustainability For Business Value & Market Leadership
Day one opens with a high-level plenary featuring EU and industry representatives, who will explore how sustainability strengthens Europe’s market leadership. Kicking off the plenary, Jakub Boratyński, Director of GROW.G – Compliance and Responsible Business Conduct at the European Commission, will deliver a special address. He will be followed by Dara Murphy, Vice-President of Rasmussen Global and former Irish Minister for European Affairs, who will set the stage with an impactful keynote speech on how smarter regulation can unlock sustainable growth and business-led transformation.
The plenary will then bring together leading business voices including:
Wouter Vermeulen, Coca-Cola Europe
Fieke Fleskens, Vanderlande
Chris Coulter, GlobeScan
Maria Cristina Papetti, Enel
Renata Mele, Leonardo
Amaryllis Verhoeven, European Commission
These speakers will examine how ESG can unlock progress, strengthen adaptability and deliver lasting value alongside the policy frameworks needed to enable transformative change.
What’s in it for you: insights from the forefront of industry and the chance to shape the sustainability agenda together with decision-makers.
In the afternoon, participants will join interactive roundtables covering topics like circularity and supplier engagement, alongside NPOs gatherings, and the CSOs Network meeting, offering rich opportunities for peer exchange and cross-sector collaboration.
Day 2 – The Competitive Power of Diversity & Inclusion
Day two turns the spotlight on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), a crucial part of sustainability’s social pillar. Sessions will show how DEI is not only a moral imperative but also a business enabler, with benefits ranging from talent attraction to innovation and long-term performance.
Keynotes will include:
Ana Carla Pereira, European Commission
Bart Somers, Mayor of Mechelen
Monica Perez Lobo, Toyota Motor Europe
Panellists will bring a wide range of perspectives, with contributions from Greg Renders (Syensqo), Frank Starling (Lions), Linda O’Sullivan (BITC Ireland), Sabrina Menasria (Singularity), Carla Bonino (ONCE Foundation), and Edgar Colmenares Morillo (IKEA). Sessions will be moderated by Federica Di Sario, journalist at The Parliament.
What’s in it for you: actionable insights to harness DEI for stronger teams, greater adaptability, and long-term business success
A Platform for Impact
More than a conference, the Summit is a platform for companies to share best practices, engage with policymakers, and collaborate on solutions to today’s sustainability challenges. It is a unique opportunity to demonstrate how sustainability is being transformed from a checkbox obligation into a strategic advantage embedded in corporate culture.
👉 Join us in Mechelen on 23–24 October! Don’t miss the chance to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and explore how sustainability can power competitiveness across Europe’s industries.
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