Month: June 2023

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – We are excited to announce that Elizabeth Beck has recently joined Antea Group USA as a Senior Consultant and will lead our Climate Change Advisory service line.

Elizabeth has over 15 years of experience building corporate sustainability and climate risk management programs to reduce impact and drive ESG performance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and biophysics from the University of Southern Indiana and a master’s degree in geography from Murray State.

Elizabeth comes to Antea Group from CenterPoint Energy, a Fortune 500 investor-owned utility, where she served as the Director of Corporate Sustainability, accountable for the development of GHG Inventories, decarbonization target setting, and corporate sustainability reporting. In this role, she also was the primary company liaison for all ESG discussions with investors, non-governmental agencies, trade associations, stakeholder groups, and internal resources.

“Elizabeth’s depth of experience in the corporate sustainability and decarbonization space is exactly what Antea Group needs as our clients build programs and policies to support their corporate goals and targets,” shared Nate Kimball, Sustainability Practice Leader. “Emerging regulations in the US and Europe, as well as other countries around the globe, will increase the rigor and complexity of corporate carbon accounting and target setting, both areas where Elizabeth has demonstrated successful leadership over her years in the energy sector.”

Elizabeth is based in Indiana.

About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance.

Learn More Here

On May 16-17, almost 200 delegates gathered at the Dynamic Earth venue in Edinburgh, Scotland to dive into constructive conversations on water stewardship at the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Forum. Among the delegates was a group of 10 representatives of the Inogen Alliance, who are thrilled to share their insights with you.

The 2023 AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum opened with key messages and takeaways from the UN Water Conference in New York. While it was a once in a generation opportunity to galvanise energy and investments for a secure water future, many felt there was a lack of actionable items resulting from the event and noted the lack of strong commitments from the global governments towards global and local action on water stewardship. In this opening session we heard from influential global water initiatives on what we can do to use the momentum from the UN Water Conference to build mutually supportive relationships in pursuit of SDG6 and strengthen water governance.

The day continued with an interactive session fostering the renewed spirit of collaboration and collective ambition emerging across the water stewardship community as a consequence of the UN 2023 Water Conference. This discussion brought forth one of the biggest themes for the Forum – the idea of ‘convergence’. We discussed the architecture of water stewardship and the strength of existing initiatives and frameworks, and focused on ways we can use the foundation already laid to become more effective in our actions. As we move from collaboration towards alignment in goals, principles, approaches, and language, we will be able to achieve convergence on effective, scalable actions. In many ways, the water stewardship community has reached a critical mass in terms of public buy-in and available funding – the conversation surrounding water stewardship has already shifted towards action. The goal now is to simplify and consolidate water stewardship in the world of increasingly complex science, reporting frameworks, and stakeholder expectations.

We closed the first day of the Forum with practical perspectives on implementing the AWS Standard. Corporate leaders in water stewardship shared lessons learned, best practices, and tips for achieving AWS certification. According to Ashish Bhardwaj, Regional Point of Contact, AWS India, “Sometimes there are small industries that don’t have the resources and capacity to carry out all this work by themselves, and that’s where the role of AWS accredited consultants becomes very important.”

Some of the shared lessons included keeping things simple, building on existing water stewardship initiatives and programs, developing a strong action plan/roadmap, and finding opportunities to implement projects with add-on climate, biodiversity, and social benefits. The leading best practice, however, was making sure you have strong documentation procedures in place – sometimes, the biggest impacts are found in the simplest solutions.

On Day 2, we were back at Dynamic Earth bright and early, ready for another day of valuable discussions, collaboration, and learning. We began the second day with a dive into the AWS Standard review and revision process. Delegates had a chance to learn how the AWS approaches the revision process, when and where feedback is solicited, and we now eagerly await the next version of the Standard in 2025. We then heard from three organisations working at the interface of water and climate, discussing opportunities for the next iteration of the AWS Standard to strengthen the climate action agenda. Water practitioners know that water stewardship is a path to climate resilience, but we need to communicate this to governments and financial institutions. As consultants we can help bridge the gap which often arises between ‘policy’ and ‘delivery’’ levels, and between various sectors, such as private and public, with the scope of facilitating the implementation of granular and tangible actions.

We then got a chance to roll up our sleeves and put our thinking hats on as we heard about proposed changes to the Standard to revise certification requirements that could better enable certification at scale. A lively group discussion ensued, and we got to see the concept of “Scenius” in action as global water practitioners engaged in discourse and collaboration to gather feedback for AWS on the proposed changes.

In the afternoon, we heard from another group of AWS Members, who shared their experiences and knowledge on implementing water stewardship in their supply chains. Businesses and consultancies operating across multiple business sectors shared their experiences from developing and implementing water stewardship strategies across supply chains. Group discussions touched on the importance of making the business case for water and leveraging multi-sectoral collaborations and groups. The interactive discussion was followed by an illuminating session on data and technology’s role in enabling action. Data informs when, where, and how water stewardship initiatives can blossom. Emerging and existing technology can be leveraged to greatly accelerate and accentuate the impact of initiatives and interventions. We learned the many ways to use data and technology to optimize water stewardship decision-making and action.

We closed out our last day with reflections on the Forum and looking forward to what is next. We reiterated the need to continue fostering inclusivity both within the water stewardship community and as we engage and communicate with local communities and stakeholders. We need to build capacity and extend this to regulatory/governing bodies if we are going to achieve critical mass towards scalable global action. As Beatrice Bizzaro, Project Manager HPC Italy, Inogen Alliance Water Working Group Lead puts it, “Based on all the global goals and objectives that we have set, we need to work on bridging the gap and finding local targets and local actions that can really get these global goals moving on a local scale.” There are numerous global goals and commitments set forth and the need to translate them into local, granular actions is becoming an imminent need– this is where we can step in to help guide the path forward.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn. 
 

June 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – SkysTheLimit.org, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs, is thrilled to announce its participation in Juneteenth celebrations in Tulsa, OK. As part of the Town Business: Tulsa Juneteenth Weekend, Sky’s the Limit will connect those interested in starting a business with resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

At the Town Business Juneteenth Panel Discussions: Education + Career Exploration event on June 16, 2023, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about Sky’s the Limit’s comprehensive programs and initiatives, equipping entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in their respective industries. By providing mentorship from experienced professionals, access to a robust network of industry leaders, and valuable educational resources, the organization empowers entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and build thriving businesses.

“The Juneteenth events in Tulsa are a vibrant celebration of freedom, unity, and cultural heritage. They serve as an important platform for raising awareness about the challenges faced by African Americans throughout history and in the present day. Sky’s the Limit is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and economic empowerment and committed to creating equitable opportunities and driving positive change within the Black community,” said Laura Plato, Chief Operating Officer at Sky’s the Limit.

Diverse entrepreneurship plays a vital role in driving innovation, economic growth, and social progress. By supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs, Sky’s the Limit aims to dismantle systemic barriers and create a more inclusive business landscape that reflects the rich diversity of talent and ideas within society. Founded with a vision of creating equal opportunities for all, Sky’s the Limit strives to bridge the gap in access to resources, mentorship, and funding that often hinders aspiring entrepreneurs from reaching their full potential.

With a deep commitment to community engagement, Sky’s the Limit actively collaborates with local partners, organizations, and events by offering opportunities for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs – typically those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, women, veterans, disabled people, and people from low-income backgrounds – to connect with mentors to come together to foster, grow, and shape modern and future enterprise.

Join Sky’s the Limit for the Town Business Juneteenth Panel Discussions: Education + Career Exploration event on June 16, 2023 at 11:00 am CT, at the Big 10 Ballroom located at 1624 E Apache St. Sign up here. 

Be part of unlocking the potential of underrepresented entrepreneurs and building a more equitable and prosperous future for all. For more information about how to get your company involved in mentoring, please visit skysthelimit.org/partnerships.

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About SkysTheLimit.org: SkysTheLimit.org is a digital platform that connects young, historically excluded entrepreneurs with one-on-one support from experienced business advisors and mentors, entrepreneurship training, and community-voted startup grants. SkysTheLimit.org is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.